With spring practice a third of the way in, practice was outdoors for the first time this spring and the team was wearing full pads.
Traveling As One
Outside linebacker Kallen Wade was back at practice today after traveling home to Cincinnati following the loss of his mother. Saturday’s open practice has been bumped ahead to 7:30 a.m. and there will be buses available for the players to go to Wade’s mother’s funeral later that day.
Crowded Sidelines
There looked to be more spectators present at practice today after being moved outdoors. Athletic Director Kevin White was seen talking to former All-America running back Reggie Brooks for a bit, while Jimmy Clausen’s dad, Jim, came out to the practice fields as well. Some coaches who looked to be in town early for the Coaches Clinic this weekend were around too.
2008 signee Braxston Cave made it over to campus and 2009 offensive tackles Hunter Poole and Patrick Ward came to watch practice also. When Ward arrived, Rob Ianello and John Latina were seen greeting him as he exited his car and headed over to the practice field.
Defensive Unit
The defense started things off again today with pursuit drills. The coaches were all very vocal today and keeping all the players in check. “Hey Ian (Williams), do you know what you’re dong,” Jon Tenuta shouted. “Get up field 98,” Jappy Oliver added to Sean Cwynar.
After they broke into individual drills, the defensive backs went with Corwin Brown to work on their pass coverage, doing the same stem, open, and break drill.
The linebackers worked on hitting their gaps and playing downhill again, while Tenuta demonstrated some “colorful” language to get his players to do the drill correctly.
Maurice Crum showed some leadership today by trying to get his fellow linebackers going a bit. “Let’s go, pick it up,” he shouted during a drill that had the backers come through the gap and fit in for the tackle on the running back.
Kerry Neal was working with the defensive line again at the start of practice doing get off drills, so we could see the 4-3 alignment being used more to bring some pressure off of the edge.
.jpg)
