I asked Willie Fritz if he had to be mindful of the short week coming up before the Houston game as he set the schedule for Tulane's preparation for Missouri State, and he said no, that they were treating this is as a normal week with no adjustments.
One thing almost all coaches are loathe to do is to publicly play down an opponent, but I think Fritz meant it. He has played Thursday night games before and knows how to handle short weeks.
Tulane did not play that many guys against Auburn. You find out what a team's true depth is when it faces a top-notch opponent because the marginal players aren't good enough to get on the field like they can in other games.
Defensively, Juan Monjarres, Mike Hinton, Davon Wright and Alfred Thomas played on the line behind the starters. That's it. Malik Lawal and Nick Anderson played as linebacker reserves. Dorian Williams might have, but I think he was limited to special teams. The usual four safeties and usual four cornerbacks played, and that's it. The only spot where Tulane went three deep on defense was nickelback, with Tirise Barge and Larry Bryant backing up Will Harper.
On offense, four running backs played, but Cam Carrroll, Tyjae Spears and Ygenio Booker did not. Tyrick James and Will Wallace were the only tight ends. Offensive lines rarely substitute anyway, but Cameron Jackel, Timothy Shafter and Sincere Haynesworth logged a few snaps. Tyler Johnson definitely did not play even though the official stat sheet had him participating. Jacob Robertson, Jorrien Vallien and Kevin LeDee played wideout along with starters Darnell Mooney, Jaetavian Toles and Jalen McCleskey.
Dane Ledford did not get on the field. Neither did Quentin Brown or Jamiran James or Carlos Hatcher or KJ Vault, although he usually plays on kick coverage and might have been missed by the official stat keepers.
Haynesworth was the only freshman to play.
I would not be surprised if Tyler Johnson sits out again this Saturday. Willie Fritz would not commit one way or the other when I asked him today, but there's no reason to risk re-injury against an overmatched opponent. He needs to be ready for Houston.
Will Hall was not happy with the offense at one point against the scout team today, making everyone do push-ups.
Macon Clark is getting his normal reps at safety even though he will miss the first half on Saturday because of his targeting suspension. Tulane does not have a fifth viable safety.
The second-team D-line against the scout team was Monjarres, Wright, James and Hinton. Alfred Thomas, who caught me off guard by playing Saturday, did not practice in the portion I watched but may have gotten in earlier. He had his helmet on.
Troy Dannen and Ron Hunter sat next to each other on a bench and watched practice.
WILLIE FRITZ
When you have a short week coming up after a normal week, do you make any adjustments during the normal week or do you worry about it after the game?
"We'll worry about it after the game. We have to prepare and understand what you've got coming up. This is a regular week we normally have."
Will you sit Tyler Johnson this week?
"Yeah, we're going to see how he's doing tomorrow."
How has the team bounced back physically and emotionally?
"I think pretty good. Not bad. For us, it was like the game was a month ago. There were a lot of good, teachable moments without question, but we've got to move on."
How good a player has DeAndre Williams become?
"He's really doing a good job. He's pretty good friends with him and he reminds me so much of Tanzel (Smart). He's from the same high school and is a really hard worker. Jeffery, DeAndre, Cam and Patrick really played well. They were giving it a hell of a lot more than they were receiving."
The line has lived up to its billing coming into the year. How good a unit is it?
"It's a really good unit. The thing they do such a good job of, which sometimes goes unnoticed, is they really play the run well. They do a good job of playing gaps and locking out on people. They are just real good overall players and good young men, too, easy to work with and a lot of fun to be around."
DEANDRE WILLIAMS
How good is the defensive line working as a unit right now?
"I think we're working real good as a unit. Every day we give glory to God and we just come out every time trying to get better, from Cam all the way back to my end and Patrick at the joker. We are all working real hard trying to get better every day."
What makes you and Jeffery Johnson work so well?
"When Jeff came in I really tried to help him as much as I could because I knew he was going to play as a freshman. I didn't play that much, but I knew a lot about the defense and I was just trying to help him as much as I could. He listens a lot. We are just like brothers really. He coaches me. I coach him. We work real good together."
Did you gain even more confidence as a group after playing Auburn?
"We approach every week the same. We held our hats up to Auburn and we played real well against him. We just have to keep playing our best football and we should be able to do that every week."
JEFFERY JOHNSON
The ESPN2 color guy, Rod Gilmore, could not stop talking about how immovable you were in the first half even though you were double-teamed.
"As long as I'm doing my job, everyone else is happy. Most of it has to do with body weight and just playing technique and stuff like that. I'm a pretty big heavy guy to move in the middle."
Auburn had 13 carries for 20 rushing yards in the first half. How well did you play as a group?
"I feel like we played a really great game. There are some things we can improve on. We left a lot of plays out there on the field, but overall up front we played a great game."
What makes you and DeAndre such a good tandem?
"I feel like it's the pressure. DeAndre is great as a person and great as a person and he's a really good role model. We talk to each other and help each other out on the field."
How tough is it to know you are going to get double-teamed?
"I know it's coming, so it's no surprise. It's easy to take on. Before I got here I struggled with it, but now I know it's coming and I know I'm going to get it and I know how to play it. Nobody can move me."
What is the difference between you this year and last year?
"I can play a heck of a lot faster. Last year was a slow year for me learning the pace of things and getting into the flow, but this year I can pick it up and play real faster."
Did the Auburn offensive linemen say anything during the game?
"They were pretty chill for the most part. They knew we were kicking their butt."
If you can win the battle up front against Auburn, how good can you be the rest of the year?
"I feel like we can be unstoppable. After the way we played against Auburn and dominated the running game, we have a pretty good chance this year. A lot of teams are going to come in here thinking they are going to win, but they are not."
One thing almost all coaches are loathe to do is to publicly play down an opponent, but I think Fritz meant it. He has played Thursday night games before and knows how to handle short weeks.
Tulane did not play that many guys against Auburn. You find out what a team's true depth is when it faces a top-notch opponent because the marginal players aren't good enough to get on the field like they can in other games.
Defensively, Juan Monjarres, Mike Hinton, Davon Wright and Alfred Thomas played on the line behind the starters. That's it. Malik Lawal and Nick Anderson played as linebacker reserves. Dorian Williams might have, but I think he was limited to special teams. The usual four safeties and usual four cornerbacks played, and that's it. The only spot where Tulane went three deep on defense was nickelback, with Tirise Barge and Larry Bryant backing up Will Harper.
On offense, four running backs played, but Cam Carrroll, Tyjae Spears and Ygenio Booker did not. Tyrick James and Will Wallace were the only tight ends. Offensive lines rarely substitute anyway, but Cameron Jackel, Timothy Shafter and Sincere Haynesworth logged a few snaps. Tyler Johnson definitely did not play even though the official stat sheet had him participating. Jacob Robertson, Jorrien Vallien and Kevin LeDee played wideout along with starters Darnell Mooney, Jaetavian Toles and Jalen McCleskey.
Dane Ledford did not get on the field. Neither did Quentin Brown or Jamiran James or Carlos Hatcher or KJ Vault, although he usually plays on kick coverage and might have been missed by the official stat keepers.
Haynesworth was the only freshman to play.
I would not be surprised if Tyler Johnson sits out again this Saturday. Willie Fritz would not commit one way or the other when I asked him today, but there's no reason to risk re-injury against an overmatched opponent. He needs to be ready for Houston.
Will Hall was not happy with the offense at one point against the scout team today, making everyone do push-ups.
Macon Clark is getting his normal reps at safety even though he will miss the first half on Saturday because of his targeting suspension. Tulane does not have a fifth viable safety.
The second-team D-line against the scout team was Monjarres, Wright, James and Hinton. Alfred Thomas, who caught me off guard by playing Saturday, did not practice in the portion I watched but may have gotten in earlier. He had his helmet on.
Troy Dannen and Ron Hunter sat next to each other on a bench and watched practice.
WILLIE FRITZ
When you have a short week coming up after a normal week, do you make any adjustments during the normal week or do you worry about it after the game?
"We'll worry about it after the game. We have to prepare and understand what you've got coming up. This is a regular week we normally have."
Will you sit Tyler Johnson this week?
"Yeah, we're going to see how he's doing tomorrow."
How has the team bounced back physically and emotionally?
"I think pretty good. Not bad. For us, it was like the game was a month ago. There were a lot of good, teachable moments without question, but we've got to move on."
How good a player has DeAndre Williams become?
"He's really doing a good job. He's pretty good friends with him and he reminds me so much of Tanzel (Smart). He's from the same high school and is a really hard worker. Jeffery, DeAndre, Cam and Patrick really played well. They were giving it a hell of a lot more than they were receiving."
The line has lived up to its billing coming into the year. How good a unit is it?
"It's a really good unit. The thing they do such a good job of, which sometimes goes unnoticed, is they really play the run well. They do a good job of playing gaps and locking out on people. They are just real good overall players and good young men, too, easy to work with and a lot of fun to be around."
DEANDRE WILLIAMS
How good is the defensive line working as a unit right now?
"I think we're working real good as a unit. Every day we give glory to God and we just come out every time trying to get better, from Cam all the way back to my end and Patrick at the joker. We are all working real hard trying to get better every day."
What makes you and Jeffery Johnson work so well?
"When Jeff came in I really tried to help him as much as I could because I knew he was going to play as a freshman. I didn't play that much, but I knew a lot about the defense and I was just trying to help him as much as I could. He listens a lot. We are just like brothers really. He coaches me. I coach him. We work real good together."
Did you gain even more confidence as a group after playing Auburn?
"We approach every week the same. We held our hats up to Auburn and we played real well against him. We just have to keep playing our best football and we should be able to do that every week."
JEFFERY JOHNSON
The ESPN2 color guy, Rod Gilmore, could not stop talking about how immovable you were in the first half even though you were double-teamed.
"As long as I'm doing my job, everyone else is happy. Most of it has to do with body weight and just playing technique and stuff like that. I'm a pretty big heavy guy to move in the middle."
Auburn had 13 carries for 20 rushing yards in the first half. How well did you play as a group?
"I feel like we played a really great game. There are some things we can improve on. We left a lot of plays out there on the field, but overall up front we played a great game."
What makes you and DeAndre such a good tandem?
"I feel like it's the pressure. DeAndre is great as a person and great as a person and he's a really good role model. We talk to each other and help each other out on the field."
How tough is it to know you are going to get double-teamed?
"I know it's coming, so it's no surprise. It's easy to take on. Before I got here I struggled with it, but now I know it's coming and I know I'm going to get it and I know how to play it. Nobody can move me."
What is the difference between you this year and last year?
"I can play a heck of a lot faster. Last year was a slow year for me learning the pace of things and getting into the flow, but this year I can pick it up and play real faster."
Did the Auburn offensive linemen say anything during the game?
"They were pretty chill for the most part. They knew we were kicking their butt."
If you can win the battle up front against Auburn, how good can you be the rest of the year?
"I feel like we can be unstoppable. After the way we played against Auburn and dominated the running game, we have a pretty good chance this year. A lot of teams are going to come in here thinking they are going to win, but they are not."
