This is a day late, but I had some personal business to take care of yesterday. Tulane had a light practice in helmets but not full pads at Yulman Stadium. Wide receiver Jha'Quan Jackson returned for individual drills, and freshman safety Shi'Keem Laister and freshman linebacker Matthew Hightower were back after both missing time. Wideout Jacob Robertson did not practice along with Sorrell Brown, safety Chase Kuerschen, defensive end Angelo Anderson and defensive tackle Davon Wright. Safety Macon Clark, tight end Keitha Jones and linebacker KJ Vault were not in evidence, Running back Ygenio Booker practiced in a no-contact jersey. For the first time, quarterback Michael Pratt did not participate in 7 on 7 or team work, but he was out there and spent some time taking under-center snaps from Sincere Haynesworth to pass the time.
Instead of a regular 11-on-11 session at the end of practice, they had a two-minute drill, and the right side of the offensive line clearly remains an area that has not been settled. Cameron Jackel, who worked with the third team on Tuesday, was on the first unit at right tackle, with Josh Remetich working as the first-team right guard for the second consecutive day. Jaylen Miller was on the second unit at right tackle with Ben Knutson, joining LT Nik Hogan, left guard Stephen Lewerenz and center Caleb Thomas.
Keon Howard took the first series in the two-minute drill, with the possession starting at the 30. He completed a 16-yard pass to tight end Tyrick James for one first down, and when acing a fourth-and-10 after three consecutive incompletions, he hit Booker for a first down on nickelback Ajani Kerr. The yardage on the drive was not always accurate because Willie Fritz was creating specific situations, but it was pretty close. After Howard picked up a third first down on a keeper, The drive ended unsuccessfully. Willie Langham defended a fade to Duece Watts in the end zone on second-and-goal from the 7, and Howard scrambled with no timeouts left on the next play after finding no one open. The offense could not get the next play off before time ran out.
Justin Ibieta and the second-team offense had their turn next. After an offsides penalty on Carlos Hatcher, he completed four passes in a row, getting first downs on throws to Tyrek Presley, Phat Watts and Christian Daniels before hitting Stephon Huderson for a 29-yard touchdown over the middle. It figures that a day after I praised linebacker Dorian Williams for his excellent pass coverage, he was beaten badly on the play.
The defense was in its dime package for both possessions. The first unit had Cameron Sample and Patrick Johnson outside, De'Andre Williams in the middle, Marvin Moody and Kevin Henry at linebacker, Jaylon Monroe and Kyle Henry at cornerback, Kerr and Langham as slot defenders and Larry Brooks and Cornelius Ingram at safety. The second team had Hatcher and Noah Seiden (because of injuries) outside, Eric Hicks in the middle, Dorian Williams and Nick Anderson at linebacker, Kiland Harrison and Kevaris Hall at cornerback, Ton'Quez Ball and Rishi Rattan as slot defenders and Laister and Jonathan Mestayer at safety.
When I arrived, they were doing individual position work. The linebackers did drills in pairs, with Jesus Machado and walk-on Andrew Wilkes on the third team and Hightower and walk-on Hayden Beal on the fourth team. Howard, who has not been as accurate this week, missed Jackson on a roll out throw in the end zone.
They went to special teams work next, with Amare Jones, Tyjae Spears and Mykel Jones fielding punts. All of them muffed or bobbled one, but that was an outlier for Jones. I'm not sure about the ball security of the other two if they were forced into that role.
Howard and Ibieta alternated in 7 on 7. Cameron Carroll dropped a deep ball on the first play, and Howard overthrew a wide open Duece Watts on the next. Ibieta went in and threw a beautiful pass to Jaetavian Toles over the middle before throwing late over the middle on the next attempt and getting what he deserved, an interception from Dyson. On the next play, Harrison paid the price for breaking up a pass over the middle, getting shaken up in a big collision with another defender. He walked gingerly off the field but looked OK.
Howard threw wide of James on his next series, hit Jones inside on a late-breaking play and had Kerr break up a deep ball for Jones.
Ibieta's second series featured a completion to Keshon Williams where Willams juggled the ball with Dyson trying to cut in front of him before bringing it in.
Howard's final series had three straight incompletions, with the DBs providing tight coverage on all of them. I rarely see players getting open against Meyers and Monroe.
Ibieta's final series had a completion to Presley on the outside, but when he tried to hit Dane Ledford deep, Ball deflected it. The session ended with Ibieta overthrowing Keshon Williams.
With Kuershen not practicing, Kerr took his spot in the 7 on 7 work.
Instead of a regular 11-on-11 session at the end of practice, they had a two-minute drill, and the right side of the offensive line clearly remains an area that has not been settled. Cameron Jackel, who worked with the third team on Tuesday, was on the first unit at right tackle, with Josh Remetich working as the first-team right guard for the second consecutive day. Jaylen Miller was on the second unit at right tackle with Ben Knutson, joining LT Nik Hogan, left guard Stephen Lewerenz and center Caleb Thomas.
Keon Howard took the first series in the two-minute drill, with the possession starting at the 30. He completed a 16-yard pass to tight end Tyrick James for one first down, and when acing a fourth-and-10 after three consecutive incompletions, he hit Booker for a first down on nickelback Ajani Kerr. The yardage on the drive was not always accurate because Willie Fritz was creating specific situations, but it was pretty close. After Howard picked up a third first down on a keeper, The drive ended unsuccessfully. Willie Langham defended a fade to Duece Watts in the end zone on second-and-goal from the 7, and Howard scrambled with no timeouts left on the next play after finding no one open. The offense could not get the next play off before time ran out.
Justin Ibieta and the second-team offense had their turn next. After an offsides penalty on Carlos Hatcher, he completed four passes in a row, getting first downs on throws to Tyrek Presley, Phat Watts and Christian Daniels before hitting Stephon Huderson for a 29-yard touchdown over the middle. It figures that a day after I praised linebacker Dorian Williams for his excellent pass coverage, he was beaten badly on the play.
The defense was in its dime package for both possessions. The first unit had Cameron Sample and Patrick Johnson outside, De'Andre Williams in the middle, Marvin Moody and Kevin Henry at linebacker, Jaylon Monroe and Kyle Henry at cornerback, Kerr and Langham as slot defenders and Larry Brooks and Cornelius Ingram at safety. The second team had Hatcher and Noah Seiden (because of injuries) outside, Eric Hicks in the middle, Dorian Williams and Nick Anderson at linebacker, Kiland Harrison and Kevaris Hall at cornerback, Ton'Quez Ball and Rishi Rattan as slot defenders and Laister and Jonathan Mestayer at safety.
When I arrived, they were doing individual position work. The linebackers did drills in pairs, with Jesus Machado and walk-on Andrew Wilkes on the third team and Hightower and walk-on Hayden Beal on the fourth team. Howard, who has not been as accurate this week, missed Jackson on a roll out throw in the end zone.
They went to special teams work next, with Amare Jones, Tyjae Spears and Mykel Jones fielding punts. All of them muffed or bobbled one, but that was an outlier for Jones. I'm not sure about the ball security of the other two if they were forced into that role.
Howard and Ibieta alternated in 7 on 7. Cameron Carroll dropped a deep ball on the first play, and Howard overthrew a wide open Duece Watts on the next. Ibieta went in and threw a beautiful pass to Jaetavian Toles over the middle before throwing late over the middle on the next attempt and getting what he deserved, an interception from Dyson. On the next play, Harrison paid the price for breaking up a pass over the middle, getting shaken up in a big collision with another defender. He walked gingerly off the field but looked OK.
Howard threw wide of James on his next series, hit Jones inside on a late-breaking play and had Kerr break up a deep ball for Jones.
Ibieta's second series featured a completion to Keshon Williams where Willams juggled the ball with Dyson trying to cut in front of him before bringing it in.
Howard's final series had three straight incompletions, with the DBs providing tight coverage on all of them. I rarely see players getting open against Meyers and Monroe.
Ibieta's final series had a completion to Presley on the outside, but when he tried to hit Dane Ledford deep, Ball deflected it. The session ended with Ibieta overthrowing Keshon Williams.
With Kuershen not practicing, Kerr took his spot in the 7 on 7 work.
