Tulane continued preparing for UAB today with what in Jon Sumrall's schedule is the most intense practice of the week. Urban Meyer had the same philosophy when I covered him at Florida. going really hard on Tuesday and then tapering off slightly on Wednesday.
After making three changes on the defensive line last week, Tulane appears set with Parker Peterson starting at nose guard next to Patrick Jenkins, which is a big surprise to me. If I had done a film review of the ULL game like I planned to before other things got in the way, I would have pointed out how Peterson got blocked easily on the Cajuns' 73-yard run to to start the second half (LB Sam Howard got out of position, too) and that he probably should be used less often, but that one play obscured the fact he has been productive. His eight tackles and two sacks are more than Eric Hicks and Adonis Friloux have combined (seven stops, zero sacks) at the same position. Peterson recoverd a fumble against USF, too, doing a much better job than the O-lineman who tried to fall on it first of controlling it, leading to Tulane's final touchdown of a dominant first half.
Kam Hamilton, who has been double-trained at end just like Patrick Jenkins was in the spring, was active starting for an injured Adin Huntington there Saturday despite being credited with only one tackle and half-a-sack (on a play he did not finish but was the creator). I know Huntington has not lived up to the preseason hype, but he had his best game against ULL before being limited to about seven downs against USF. Throw in Gerrod Henderson, who was named AAC defensive player of the week after making his first two sacks of his career against USF and forcing a fumble on one of them, and this is a deep position. That trio should be effective at end the rest of the way. Hamilton practiced with the first team today, with Henderson second and Huntington still getting limited time due to injury.
It appears they have found a starting bandit (I use terms like bandit and joker grudgingly) in Matthew Fobbs-White, who played easily his best game while starting for the first time on Saturday (two tackles, one breakup, frequent pressure). Terrell Allen did not play at all after starting three of the first four games at a spot that simply was not productive for most of September. Michael Lunz, Javon Carter and Shi'Keem Laister all have logged time there with modest results. No bandit has registered a sack through five games.
Tulane goes two deep at almost every defensive spot, with nickelback the notable exception. Caleb Ransaw has 15 tackles there while backup Jayden Lewis and Javio White have combined for four, but Ransaw is capable of playing better than he has thus far. He was solid on Saturday with four tackles, but he has had a bunch of almost plays this year where his man beats him by half a step.
Saturday will be big for Darian Mensah, who is 47 of 63 for 873 yards with seven touchdowns and one interception at home and 25 of 49 for 249 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in two road games. If he plays the same way in Birmingham as he has at Yulman Stadium, Tulane should win going away against a UAB team that is more talented--particularly on offense--than its 1-3 mark shows. Turnovers have killed this team--nine in four games--but turnover margin is the most volatile stat in football and can change dramatically from week to week. The Blazers gave Arkansas all it wanted but played like garbage against ULM and Navy. They gave up 200-plus rushing yards to all three, so Makhi Hughes should have a fun return to his hometown, and if Mensah is sharp, Tulane will score a lot.
Sumrall, Tyler Grubbs and Hughes talked at the Tuesday presser.
After making three changes on the defensive line last week, Tulane appears set with Parker Peterson starting at nose guard next to Patrick Jenkins, which is a big surprise to me. If I had done a film review of the ULL game like I planned to before other things got in the way, I would have pointed out how Peterson got blocked easily on the Cajuns' 73-yard run to to start the second half (LB Sam Howard got out of position, too) and that he probably should be used less often, but that one play obscured the fact he has been productive. His eight tackles and two sacks are more than Eric Hicks and Adonis Friloux have combined (seven stops, zero sacks) at the same position. Peterson recoverd a fumble against USF, too, doing a much better job than the O-lineman who tried to fall on it first of controlling it, leading to Tulane's final touchdown of a dominant first half.
Kam Hamilton, who has been double-trained at end just like Patrick Jenkins was in the spring, was active starting for an injured Adin Huntington there Saturday despite being credited with only one tackle and half-a-sack (on a play he did not finish but was the creator). I know Huntington has not lived up to the preseason hype, but he had his best game against ULL before being limited to about seven downs against USF. Throw in Gerrod Henderson, who was named AAC defensive player of the week after making his first two sacks of his career against USF and forcing a fumble on one of them, and this is a deep position. That trio should be effective at end the rest of the way. Hamilton practiced with the first team today, with Henderson second and Huntington still getting limited time due to injury.
It appears they have found a starting bandit (I use terms like bandit and joker grudgingly) in Matthew Fobbs-White, who played easily his best game while starting for the first time on Saturday (two tackles, one breakup, frequent pressure). Terrell Allen did not play at all after starting three of the first four games at a spot that simply was not productive for most of September. Michael Lunz, Javon Carter and Shi'Keem Laister all have logged time there with modest results. No bandit has registered a sack through five games.
Tulane goes two deep at almost every defensive spot, with nickelback the notable exception. Caleb Ransaw has 15 tackles there while backup Jayden Lewis and Javio White have combined for four, but Ransaw is capable of playing better than he has thus far. He was solid on Saturday with four tackles, but he has had a bunch of almost plays this year where his man beats him by half a step.
Saturday will be big for Darian Mensah, who is 47 of 63 for 873 yards with seven touchdowns and one interception at home and 25 of 49 for 249 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in two road games. If he plays the same way in Birmingham as he has at Yulman Stadium, Tulane should win going away against a UAB team that is more talented--particularly on offense--than its 1-3 mark shows. Turnovers have killed this team--nine in four games--but turnover margin is the most volatile stat in football and can change dramatically from week to week. The Blazers gave Arkansas all it wanted but played like garbage against ULM and Navy. They gave up 200-plus rushing yards to all three, so Makhi Hughes should have a fun return to his hometown, and if Mensah is sharp, Tulane will score a lot.
Sumrall, Tyler Grubbs and Hughes talked at the Tuesday presser.
