I got there later today than the last two practices, but I was in time for the entire 11-on-11 drill at the end of the workout. On the first play, freshman quarterback Michael Pratt showed why he has created some buzz with teammates when he threw a rope to Jha'Quan Jackson on a slant for a nice gain. Tulane has not had a quarterback making throws like in the Willie Fritz era. Pratt drilled it through a tight window, and although Jackson fumbled at the end of the play (there's no live tackling, but someone stripped him as he ran, it was a heck of a connection. Pratt still has a lot to learn, but the arm talent is there. I hesitate to say who he reminds me of on first impression--Tanner Lee. Lee did not pan out for a variety of reasons, but he made throws like that when he first arrived before becoming hesitant in games. Pratt can take a very different course.
The rest of the drill was not as good for Pratt. He scrambled a few times but does not have the speed of Keon Howard. He missed Jacob Robertson on a corner route in the end zone. He apparently made some poor decisions in practice before I arrived (see Willie Fritz Q&A at the bottom). But he has the tools.
Howard, who definitely is throwing better than in the past, had a pretty connection with tight end Keshon Williams on a post route on his first pass, hitting him in stride. He also hooked up with running back Corey Dauphine, whose lone catch in the Armed Forces Bowl was the first of his college career. Dauphine ran into the flat and was wide open due to a coverage bust, but if they ever could get him involved in the passing game, he would be a weapon.
Howard missed walk-one wideout Ryan Thompson on a throw a little later, and that was it for him. Walk-on Josh Holl came in for some reps, and they finished with walk-on Josh Coltrin getting one play. He tried to connect with Phat Watts in the corner of the end zone and had him, but a defender tackled Watts before the underthrown ball arrived. It would have been an obvious interference call if they had had refs like they did on Saturday.
Practice wrapped up with one Oklahoma-style battle in the center of the field between the Glover brothers, with backup kicker Casey representing the offense and starting kicker Merek representing the defense. Again, I was blocked from viewing it by a circle of players, but Casey won, apparently bulldozing Merek to the edge of the circle as offensive players whooped and hollered. "You've got bragging rights, Casey," Fritz yelled.
If I were rating the receivers purely on what I've seen in the first four days, Jackson would be No. 1. He's quick, has good hands and runs good routes. As I interviewed him after practice, offensive coordinator Will Hall yelled over to me, "you're talking to a good fellow right there." Jackson played in six games last season, making a 14-yard catch for a touchdown against UConn and a 17-yard grab against Temple for his only two catches, but he clearly has gotten better in the offseason and with the motivation of open receiver spots.
If I had to pick a running back, and they are harder to judge in non-tackling workouts, it would be Tyjae Spear. I expect him to lead the team in rushing this year because he does everything well, but the competition is stiff. Ed Daniels was at practice today and he really likes Cam Carroll because of his size and decisiveness. Dauphine led the running backs last season, and the coaches still love Amare Jones. It's a nice problem to have not knowing who the best of a really good group will be.
I got buck's tip confirmed about Patrick Johnson, and this is something I should have known but did not. He had surgery right after the bowl game for a torn labrum that he played through for the last five or six games a year ago. He did not have more than three tackles in any of the last six games and his only sack in that span was one where he came in untouched and clobbered the Southern Miss QB in the bowl game. He did not set the world on fire in his first six games, either, but he recorded three sacks and had two games with five or more tackles (Houston, Memphis). I remember thinking he was the only defender playing well against Memphis, when he made a season-high six stops and was very active.
Johnson will miss all of spring drills, and Fritz said he would be ready to go by June.
The depth chart was no different today than Saturday. Chase Kuerschen missed his second straight practice with an injury, and Fritz said he would be back Saturday hopefully. The other guys out were Juan Monjarres, Kanyon Walker, who still is on crutches, Ygenio Booker, Deuce Watts, Jackson Fort, Tyrek Presley and walk-on tight end Connor Prouet.
They were doing a kickoff drill when I arrived. Amare Jones, Mykel Jones and Jha'Quan Jackson were the returners.
The rest of the drill was not as good for Pratt. He scrambled a few times but does not have the speed of Keon Howard. He missed Jacob Robertson on a corner route in the end zone. He apparently made some poor decisions in practice before I arrived (see Willie Fritz Q&A at the bottom). But he has the tools.
Howard, who definitely is throwing better than in the past, had a pretty connection with tight end Keshon Williams on a post route on his first pass, hitting him in stride. He also hooked up with running back Corey Dauphine, whose lone catch in the Armed Forces Bowl was the first of his college career. Dauphine ran into the flat and was wide open due to a coverage bust, but if they ever could get him involved in the passing game, he would be a weapon.
Howard missed walk-one wideout Ryan Thompson on a throw a little later, and that was it for him. Walk-on Josh Holl came in for some reps, and they finished with walk-on Josh Coltrin getting one play. He tried to connect with Phat Watts in the corner of the end zone and had him, but a defender tackled Watts before the underthrown ball arrived. It would have been an obvious interference call if they had had refs like they did on Saturday.
Practice wrapped up with one Oklahoma-style battle in the center of the field between the Glover brothers, with backup kicker Casey representing the offense and starting kicker Merek representing the defense. Again, I was blocked from viewing it by a circle of players, but Casey won, apparently bulldozing Merek to the edge of the circle as offensive players whooped and hollered. "You've got bragging rights, Casey," Fritz yelled.
If I were rating the receivers purely on what I've seen in the first four days, Jackson would be No. 1. He's quick, has good hands and runs good routes. As I interviewed him after practice, offensive coordinator Will Hall yelled over to me, "you're talking to a good fellow right there." Jackson played in six games last season, making a 14-yard catch for a touchdown against UConn and a 17-yard grab against Temple for his only two catches, but he clearly has gotten better in the offseason and with the motivation of open receiver spots.
If I had to pick a running back, and they are harder to judge in non-tackling workouts, it would be Tyjae Spear. I expect him to lead the team in rushing this year because he does everything well, but the competition is stiff. Ed Daniels was at practice today and he really likes Cam Carroll because of his size and decisiveness. Dauphine led the running backs last season, and the coaches still love Amare Jones. It's a nice problem to have not knowing who the best of a really good group will be.
I got buck's tip confirmed about Patrick Johnson, and this is something I should have known but did not. He had surgery right after the bowl game for a torn labrum that he played through for the last five or six games a year ago. He did not have more than three tackles in any of the last six games and his only sack in that span was one where he came in untouched and clobbered the Southern Miss QB in the bowl game. He did not set the world on fire in his first six games, either, but he recorded three sacks and had two games with five or more tackles (Houston, Memphis). I remember thinking he was the only defender playing well against Memphis, when he made a season-high six stops and was very active.
Johnson will miss all of spring drills, and Fritz said he would be ready to go by June.
The depth chart was no different today than Saturday. Chase Kuerschen missed his second straight practice with an injury, and Fritz said he would be back Saturday hopefully. The other guys out were Juan Monjarres, Kanyon Walker, who still is on crutches, Ygenio Booker, Deuce Watts, Jackson Fort, Tyrek Presley and walk-on tight end Connor Prouet.
They were doing a kickoff drill when I arrived. Amare Jones, Mykel Jones and Jha'Quan Jackson were the returners.
