It's looking more and more like Tulane will not have Keyshawn McLeod against Grambling. He did not practice again today and, although he no longer has a protective boot on his leg, he was walking with a slight limp while his teammates worked out in full pads.
There are two possible starting lineups up front. One has John Leglue at LT, Leeward Brown at LG, Junior Diaz at C, Corey Dublin at right guard and Dominique Briggs at RT. The other possibility has Tyler Johnson at RT and Briggs at RG with Dublin on the bench. Both would be more scary if Tulane were not facing Grambling.
Thakarius Keyes has returned to practice. He worked with Willie Langham on the third unit today, with Tre Jackson and Jaylon Monroe on the second team.
For the second straight preseason, Donnie Lewis has been the interception king in practice. He picked off two more passes today, and it will be interesting to see if he can translate that play-making ability into games, which he did not do a year ago.
Lawrence Graham, who was on the scout team last week, got some reps with the regular defense today, playing with the second unit alongside Zach Harris, who is coming off that knee injury that sidelined him early in drills. Graham is on the second unit on the depth chart Tulane posted today, too, instead of Marvin Moody. It's a fluid situation there, with KJ Vault still in the picture, too.
The depth chart Tulane posted also has Peter Woullard as a tackle and De'Andre Williams at end. I did see Williams getting a few reps at end in a 3-4 look, but Woullard was an end and Williams a tackle on the second unit in the base defense. Other than those differences, there's nothing on there I haven't already reported, and you can ignore the offensive line depth chart since it has McLeod starting.
I talked to Grambling coach Broderick Fobbs last night, and he explained what happened to Edward Williams. It's the same problem he had at Tulane--academics.
"He was enrolled for a while, but he had some academic concerns that he needed to take care of, and he was unable to take care of those academic concerns," Fobbs said.
Fobbs had this to say about former Tulane players Dedrick Shy, who is the second-string right cornerback after getting limited time a year ago, and Keeyon Smart, who went to a juco after leaving Tulane and has resurfaced at Grambling as the projected starting right tackle. Smart, the younger brother of Tanzel Smart, checks in at a hefty 370 pounds on his 6-5 frame.
"Both of them are playing extremely well and working extremely hard," Fobbs said. "Keeyon is working himself in condition to be in shape, and Dedrick Shy, the light has come on for him and he's playing very, very well for us, so we're pleased with what we're getting from those guys and they've been pleasant additions to our program."
Freshman defensive lineman Nick Kubiet, who almost certainly will be redshirted this year, practiced today for one of the first times this preseason. I can't say for sure it was his first since Tulane's practice yesterday was closed and I didn't look for him in the first few days of camp, but he had been out with a knee injury.
Glen Cuiellette was wearing headphones during the team drills in practice, so he may be functioning as a quasi-coach as someone suggested a couple weeks ago. He still has a role as the holder for kicks.
Walk-on receiver Brian Newman, who earned positive reviews from coaches before getting a leg injury recently, played pitch and catch with a trainer while sitting on a bench today. He wants to keep those hands alert.
The first player I saw as I entered Yulman Stadium was Miles Strickland--on the exercise bike.
Jabril Clewis will start against Grambling, and he made a nice play with a sideline reception from Jonathan Banks. I no longer can say I have not seen him do anything in the preseason. He used his size well on that route, making a precise cut and shielding the defender from his body.
There were a few more dropped passes on both sides than normal. The most notable ones were by sure-handed receiver Darnell Mooney and safety P.J. Hall on a poorly thrown ball by Johnathan Brantley, who did not have one of his better days. Brantley apologized for another throw behind an open receiver.
Aside from McLeod, Tulane is extremely healthy entering the season. The most significant preseason injury came to Corey Dauphine, who is ineligible to play anyway as a transfer. He is wearing a bulky brace on his left knee and dragging his leg when he walks.
Practice was cut short by maybe just a couple of minutes when rain arrived shortly after sunny skies prevailed. That was good fortune because it would have been tough to practice after that brief, but torrential downpour. It turns out Tulane practiced last night at the Saints indoor facility. We had been informed a night earlier there would be no interviews because the Tulane campus was closed, but when the opportunity to practice indoors arose, Fritz jumped at it.
There are two possible starting lineups up front. One has John Leglue at LT, Leeward Brown at LG, Junior Diaz at C, Corey Dublin at right guard and Dominique Briggs at RT. The other possibility has Tyler Johnson at RT and Briggs at RG with Dublin on the bench. Both would be more scary if Tulane were not facing Grambling.
Thakarius Keyes has returned to practice. He worked with Willie Langham on the third unit today, with Tre Jackson and Jaylon Monroe on the second team.
For the second straight preseason, Donnie Lewis has been the interception king in practice. He picked off two more passes today, and it will be interesting to see if he can translate that play-making ability into games, which he did not do a year ago.
Lawrence Graham, who was on the scout team last week, got some reps with the regular defense today, playing with the second unit alongside Zach Harris, who is coming off that knee injury that sidelined him early in drills. Graham is on the second unit on the depth chart Tulane posted today, too, instead of Marvin Moody. It's a fluid situation there, with KJ Vault still in the picture, too.
The depth chart Tulane posted also has Peter Woullard as a tackle and De'Andre Williams at end. I did see Williams getting a few reps at end in a 3-4 look, but Woullard was an end and Williams a tackle on the second unit in the base defense. Other than those differences, there's nothing on there I haven't already reported, and you can ignore the offensive line depth chart since it has McLeod starting.
I talked to Grambling coach Broderick Fobbs last night, and he explained what happened to Edward Williams. It's the same problem he had at Tulane--academics.
"He was enrolled for a while, but he had some academic concerns that he needed to take care of, and he was unable to take care of those academic concerns," Fobbs said.
Fobbs had this to say about former Tulane players Dedrick Shy, who is the second-string right cornerback after getting limited time a year ago, and Keeyon Smart, who went to a juco after leaving Tulane and has resurfaced at Grambling as the projected starting right tackle. Smart, the younger brother of Tanzel Smart, checks in at a hefty 370 pounds on his 6-5 frame.
"Both of them are playing extremely well and working extremely hard," Fobbs said. "Keeyon is working himself in condition to be in shape, and Dedrick Shy, the light has come on for him and he's playing very, very well for us, so we're pleased with what we're getting from those guys and they've been pleasant additions to our program."
Freshman defensive lineman Nick Kubiet, who almost certainly will be redshirted this year, practiced today for one of the first times this preseason. I can't say for sure it was his first since Tulane's practice yesterday was closed and I didn't look for him in the first few days of camp, but he had been out with a knee injury.
Glen Cuiellette was wearing headphones during the team drills in practice, so he may be functioning as a quasi-coach as someone suggested a couple weeks ago. He still has a role as the holder for kicks.
Walk-on receiver Brian Newman, who earned positive reviews from coaches before getting a leg injury recently, played pitch and catch with a trainer while sitting on a bench today. He wants to keep those hands alert.
The first player I saw as I entered Yulman Stadium was Miles Strickland--on the exercise bike.
Jabril Clewis will start against Grambling, and he made a nice play with a sideline reception from Jonathan Banks. I no longer can say I have not seen him do anything in the preseason. He used his size well on that route, making a precise cut and shielding the defender from his body.
There were a few more dropped passes on both sides than normal. The most notable ones were by sure-handed receiver Darnell Mooney and safety P.J. Hall on a poorly thrown ball by Johnathan Brantley, who did not have one of his better days. Brantley apologized for another throw behind an open receiver.
Aside from McLeod, Tulane is extremely healthy entering the season. The most significant preseason injury came to Corey Dauphine, who is ineligible to play anyway as a transfer. He is wearing a bulky brace on his left knee and dragging his leg when he walks.
Practice was cut short by maybe just a couple of minutes when rain arrived shortly after sunny skies prevailed. That was good fortune because it would have been tough to practice after that brief, but torrential downpour. It turns out Tulane practiced last night at the Saints indoor facility. We had been informed a night earlier there would be no interviews because the Tulane campus was closed, but when the opportunity to practice indoors arose, Fritz jumped at it.
