Just about every injured player who was supposed to be back at practice today, was back, with the notable exception of Keyshawn McLeod as Tulane worked out at the Saints indoor facility in shoulder pads and shorts.
The list included linebacker Zach Harris, who practiced with the second unit behind Luke Jackson and likely will need to show something in Tuesday's heavier practice to prove he is ready to play. Also practicing were backup center Hunter Knighton, who has been out with a knee injury for nearly three weeks,and backup tackle Tyler Johnson, but the coaches will still have a dilemma if McLeod cannot return for the game. He was wearing a boot on his right leg, but those are customary for any injured player with a leg issue.
Their solution right now is moving Dominique Briggs to right tackle from his normal guard spot, with John Leglue at left tackle, Corey Dublin at left guard, Junior Diaz at center and Leeward Brown at right guard. Briggs does not have the body type of a tackle, but Willie Fritz has labeled him versatile from day 1 in the spring. They also gave him some reps at right guard, with Tyler Johnson playing right tackle, so those appear to be the two possible lineups if McLeod is not ready. The backup line had Joey Claybrook at left tackle, Dublin at left guard, Knighton at center, Brown at right guard and Briggs at right tackle, with Devon Johnson and Cameron Jackel no longer getting any reps in the tint part of practice I watched. Knighton got yanked for a play after a false start.
There's not much else to report from a light practice, which took the place of the Sunday night practice Tulane has after games. Jaetavian Toles dropped a pass after getting open on an intermediate route. While checking out where the 12 Texas players on the team are from because of the horrendous flooding caused by Harvey.
It appears that all six Tulane players from Houston or close to Houston did not have floodwaters reach their houses--Jonathan Banks, Johnathan Brantley, Kevin LeDee, Jaetavian Toles, Brian Newman and Quentin Brown (from Conroe, 40 miles north of Houston) I did not get to talk to all of them because the team was in a race to get back to campus on the buses on the first day of the fall semester, but I know for sure the two QBs did not have flooding because I talked to them after practice, and Fritz said the other guys appeared to be OK. too.
Corey Dauphine is from Port Arthur in the southeast corner of the state, another area that experienced flooding. The other players from Texas are not in the storm's target area--Rocky Ferony of Cedar Park near Austin, Dane Ledford of Argyle near Fort Worth, Geron Eatherly of San Antonio, Toles of Stratford and Jaylon Monroe and Chase Napoleon from the Dallas area.
I will see if I can get more details later today or tomorrow.
Here are Fritz' quotes:
How did the flooding affect your players from Texas?
"We were real lucky. All those guys are in pretty good shape. I've been monitoring it because my daughter lives there, so I've been monitoring the heck out of it, and they're all good. It's kind of hit and miss. In some areas it's horrible and in some areas it's just a little wet."
(Note: that's his daugter, Lainie, who is a sportscaster for KPRC-TV in Houston. She was in New Orleans and was called back to Houston to report on the flooding and had to drive there)
How did Zach Harris look today?
"I haven't had a chance to really look at him, but it looked like he was moving around good early. Hunter Knighton was back, too, and hopefully Keyshawn will be back later in the week."
What are you looking to see from Jonathan Banks this Saturday?
"Great, great, great, great ball security and just understanding what we're doing. We're trying to do a great job of running the same plays over and over again so everyone feels confident with it. Just getting the game to slow down for him. That's true for everybody."
What are your thoughts on Grambling?
'They were one of the top 1-AA programs in the country. I was at that level for a long time as an assistant and a head coach. The top teams at that level can beat a bunch of Division I teams, so this is a big game for us."
BRANTLEY
Did your family come out OK in the flood?
"As far as I know. They got out yesterday and as far as I know it's good. There wasn't flooding in my neighborhood but around it."
You've had a good camp. How much do you feel you progressed?
"I progressed a lot from my freshman year getting back healthy with my shoulder. It's a different approach and I'm a year older. I didn't get the spot (as starter) but I think the coaches are proud of me."
How rough was last year? You played, which was great, and started twice, which was even better, but you weren't healthy enough to show what you could do.
"It was rough to go through as a freshman, but everything happens for a reason so I had to bounce back. I feel confident now that if they put me out there, I'll be ready."
BANKS
How is your family doing in Houston?
"I am going to talk to them this morning. I haven't really talked to them much, but as far as last night, everything was cool."
What do you want to show Saturday?
"I just want to be able to come out and execute and look sharp. That's pretty much it--execute and look sharp."
What do you do best?
"I feel like I can make throws on the field, be able to throw on the run and take off when needed."
How much are you looking forward to running when guys have to tackle you instead of just touching you to get the whistle?
"I feel like I can break tackles and use my speed. My philosophy is to never let one man bring me down. My motto is 'all gas, no breaks.'"
The list included linebacker Zach Harris, who practiced with the second unit behind Luke Jackson and likely will need to show something in Tuesday's heavier practice to prove he is ready to play. Also practicing were backup center Hunter Knighton, who has been out with a knee injury for nearly three weeks,and backup tackle Tyler Johnson, but the coaches will still have a dilemma if McLeod cannot return for the game. He was wearing a boot on his right leg, but those are customary for any injured player with a leg issue.
Their solution right now is moving Dominique Briggs to right tackle from his normal guard spot, with John Leglue at left tackle, Corey Dublin at left guard, Junior Diaz at center and Leeward Brown at right guard. Briggs does not have the body type of a tackle, but Willie Fritz has labeled him versatile from day 1 in the spring. They also gave him some reps at right guard, with Tyler Johnson playing right tackle, so those appear to be the two possible lineups if McLeod is not ready. The backup line had Joey Claybrook at left tackle, Dublin at left guard, Knighton at center, Brown at right guard and Briggs at right tackle, with Devon Johnson and Cameron Jackel no longer getting any reps in the tint part of practice I watched. Knighton got yanked for a play after a false start.
There's not much else to report from a light practice, which took the place of the Sunday night practice Tulane has after games. Jaetavian Toles dropped a pass after getting open on an intermediate route. While checking out where the 12 Texas players on the team are from because of the horrendous flooding caused by Harvey.
It appears that all six Tulane players from Houston or close to Houston did not have floodwaters reach their houses--Jonathan Banks, Johnathan Brantley, Kevin LeDee, Jaetavian Toles, Brian Newman and Quentin Brown (from Conroe, 40 miles north of Houston) I did not get to talk to all of them because the team was in a race to get back to campus on the buses on the first day of the fall semester, but I know for sure the two QBs did not have flooding because I talked to them after practice, and Fritz said the other guys appeared to be OK. too.
Corey Dauphine is from Port Arthur in the southeast corner of the state, another area that experienced flooding. The other players from Texas are not in the storm's target area--Rocky Ferony of Cedar Park near Austin, Dane Ledford of Argyle near Fort Worth, Geron Eatherly of San Antonio, Toles of Stratford and Jaylon Monroe and Chase Napoleon from the Dallas area.
I will see if I can get more details later today or tomorrow.
Here are Fritz' quotes:
How did the flooding affect your players from Texas?
"We were real lucky. All those guys are in pretty good shape. I've been monitoring it because my daughter lives there, so I've been monitoring the heck out of it, and they're all good. It's kind of hit and miss. In some areas it's horrible and in some areas it's just a little wet."
(Note: that's his daugter, Lainie, who is a sportscaster for KPRC-TV in Houston. She was in New Orleans and was called back to Houston to report on the flooding and had to drive there)
How did Zach Harris look today?
"I haven't had a chance to really look at him, but it looked like he was moving around good early. Hunter Knighton was back, too, and hopefully Keyshawn will be back later in the week."
What are you looking to see from Jonathan Banks this Saturday?
"Great, great, great, great ball security and just understanding what we're doing. We're trying to do a great job of running the same plays over and over again so everyone feels confident with it. Just getting the game to slow down for him. That's true for everybody."
What are your thoughts on Grambling?
'They were one of the top 1-AA programs in the country. I was at that level for a long time as an assistant and a head coach. The top teams at that level can beat a bunch of Division I teams, so this is a big game for us."
BRANTLEY
Did your family come out OK in the flood?
"As far as I know. They got out yesterday and as far as I know it's good. There wasn't flooding in my neighborhood but around it."
You've had a good camp. How much do you feel you progressed?
"I progressed a lot from my freshman year getting back healthy with my shoulder. It's a different approach and I'm a year older. I didn't get the spot (as starter) but I think the coaches are proud of me."
How rough was last year? You played, which was great, and started twice, which was even better, but you weren't healthy enough to show what you could do.
"It was rough to go through as a freshman, but everything happens for a reason so I had to bounce back. I feel confident now that if they put me out there, I'll be ready."
BANKS
How is your family doing in Houston?
"I am going to talk to them this morning. I haven't really talked to them much, but as far as last night, everything was cool."
What do you want to show Saturday?
"I just want to be able to come out and execute and look sharp. That's pretty much it--execute and look sharp."
What do you do best?
"I feel like I can make throws on the field, be able to throw on the run and take off when needed."
How much are you looking forward to running when guys have to tackle you instead of just touching you to get the whistle?
"I feel like I can break tackles and use my speed. My philosophy is to never let one man bring me down. My motto is 'all gas, no breaks.'"
