- It was a full-pads practice on Thursday, the fifth of the spring. It marked the session's third-of-the-way point.
- As OB originally reported was likely, LT Connor Williams and OT Tristan Nickelson remained out with minor setbacks Thursday - Williams (toe), Nickelson (ankle).
- Both players should be back very soon per one good source. Williams is working on the side with trainers and doing pass-protection drills, so he's having to move his feet and plant and use force. I don't think they'll push him back too quickly for Saturday practice/scrimmage, but folks are making it seem like he should be able to pick back up with participation next week.
- Haven't gotten a firm update on Nickelson's exact injury, but we were told it was an ankle that got rolled up on Tuesday. Regardless, one person said Nickelson was doing work in the pit Thursday that involved doing lunges, etc. so it's clear the injury is not a break or anything serious.
(Speaking of the pit, someone said that on Thursday, injured players had to do lunges (if able) across the whole field holding a cinder block on their backs. S&C coach Pat Moorer keeps coming up with ways to make his training room a less and less appealing place to be.)
- Ronnie Major handled most of the starting left tackle duties on Thursday, not Garrett Thomas. One source says Major "has the body" to be a player but still "needs major work." Regardless, it seems that the pecking order at LT for the coming season goes Williams, Nickelson, Major.
- Some good news and some not-great news on the defensive injury front: LB Edwin Freeman reportedly returned to practice on Thursday but veteran DT and key cog Paul Boyette Jr. is apparently banged up and in the pit. The good news is we were told this injury, too, was minor. The source even said Boyette was hitting the sled today and doing sprints, so it's not terrible news, but it's concerning. The most important part of spring ball from a personnel standpoint is keeping the interior DL healthy and Boyette is already showing signs of possibly having an issue to monitor.
- The defensive line, as a whole, is getting worked pretty hard. Poona Ford had to leave one practice this week with cramps. One source said, "(they) all looked good during drills and in much of the (team period of drills) but in the last portion were totally gassed."
- I asked one person which defensive lineman has stood out the most through spring camp and he said "definitely (Charles) Omenihu."
- One name that keeps popping up: RB/WR Roderick Bernard - he's one to keep an eye out for. The source said the only player he saw at practice with a similar "burst" was CB Kris Boyd on kickoff returns.
- The same source said Kris Boyd is still getting little-to-no work with the ones at corner in practice. Boyd's little brother, Demarco, was noted by one person at practice Thursday as beginning to work his way into some reps with the twos.
- PJ Locke has lined up as the starter at nickel all through camp and should probably be thought of as the top option at the position. Not bad for a player who was only taken as a backup-plan when Jamile Johnson de-committed to follow his high school coach to Texas Tech at the last minute.
- Per a person at practice on the QBs: "Swoopes wasn't great, but his arm is so much stronger, and he's way more accurate on short throws. Buechele got the ball out quickly and accurately and had more velocity than Heard. Locksley threw during the opening QB drills, but I never saw him after that."
- The DBs apparently dominated against the WRs in both Tuesday and Thursday practice, "not many open receivers," a source said. At least one big play occurred, though, when Sheroid Evans had Armanti Foreman well covered on a go route but didn't turn around to locate the ball and allowed a long completion. (Dunlap)
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Spring practice began three weeks ago, and there has not been any movement on the quarterback depth chart – and that is a problem.
Tyrone Swoopes entered spring practice as the number one quarterback. Jerrod Heard is currently his backup. Shane Buechele is the third-string quarterback. Kai Locksley and Matthew Merrick are on the depth chart, but remain on the outside looking in. There are basically three quarterbacks battling for playing time right now.
Realistically, there are only two quarterbacks competing during the spring.
This spring is all about Swoopes and Heard. Buechele is in the mix, but the people I have spoken to say his lack of college experience is an issue. Everybody loves his arm, and they believe Buechle has a lot of potential. Right now, nobody is mentally ready for a true freshman to start in the season opener against Notre Dame. That does not mean Buechele may not receive playing time at some point this year. It just seems unlikely Buechele will receive the first snap in week one.
That leaves Swoopes and Heard battling for the number spot. This situation has also led to the frustrations from many within the building.
Everybody is waiting for one of these quarterbacks to step up and just take the job. They are tired of a competition battle. This is only the second week of practice, but that has been long enough for Swoopes or Heard to gain some momentum, according to people inside the building. As a result, each quarterback was challenged by the staff to step up during practice earlier this week.
When it comes to Swoopes, the sentiment is he has the most experience, and there is no reason why he is not head and shoulders above everybody else. Swoopes is a senior who has appeared in 30 games, with 14 stars. A quarterback with his playing experience should be blowing away the competition. Actually, there should not be a competition. This should be Swoopes’ team.
Instead, Swoopes is ahead because of his ability to grasp the playbook and his consistency during practice. He is winning the race, but by default. Nobody in the building wants Swoopes to win the job by default for a second consecutive year. Instead, they want him to be the undisputed champion. He just has not kicked down the doors, and those facts were communicated to Swoopes this week.
Meanwhile, Heard was a starter last season, but fell behind during the offseason. He is not a guy who should be behind a quarterback who was benched after one game last season and regulated to running the football. This should be his team, but Heard has not taken control of the competition. Heard should be able to beat Swoopes in a one-on-one competition.
Yet, Heard must show offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Sterlin Gilbert he is a better option than Swoopes. He has to become more consistent as a passer. Heard’s decision-making ability must improve, too. The quarterback is being given an opportunity to win this job, and they want him to make a run at Swoopes.
Sure, it is easy to say both quarterbacks are just being pumped up to add more life to this competition. If each quarterback pushes his competitor, it should make Gilbert’s room better. However, this week’s frustrations from those close to the situation are understandable, and the challenge issued to both quarterbacks makes sense.
Obviously, this is Swoopes’ job to lose. If Heard does not close the gap, it will be Swoopes’ job.
The challenge has been issued.
Now it’s up to Swoopes or Heard to take the job (Richardson)
