The Jayhawks took advantage of warm weather and moved practice up one day to avoid Thursday's forecast.
I mentioned this yesterday but the pace and the tone from the coaches has picked up a lot. There has definitely not been a lot of "nice guy" approach. Very much business-like. Lot of coaches jumping on players to do things right. I'm not saying this in a bad way but it was different than the first two days.
The players had pads on today and did some popping. I saw some guys jawing and extra hitting after the whistle. Jayson Rhodes and DJ Williams got into it. Those were a couple big ole boys going head to head.
Derrick Neal is exclusively on defense from what I can tell. Neal and Quiv were the two key guys to start kick returns. On special teams I can tell you this....you better be where you are supposed to be with DeForest. He has some bark to his bite.
Something I haven't ever seen much of the kickers worked on onside kick drills. They had a target and they worked on kicking the ball at the target. I have to admit I was impressed with each kick how the bounces were going right at the target. I have never seen it done like that.
On kickoffs Wyman, Bartolotta, and Conaway all got a chance to kick off. I couldn't tell with the strong wind the differences between the three. The kickoffs all seem to be going about the same distance. I know it is practice but the ball seems to jump off Wyman's foot.
Something else I know people get tired of hearing is the physical presence or change of the team. But there is no doubt I can see the change in players like Harrell, Hughes, McCauley, Gonzalez, Olobia, Armstrong and other guys. Their body style has changed.
The Qbs were doing footwork drills and Stanley looked good. He has quick feet and good footwork. I think he is throwing the ball better. Right now I think it is Cozart and Stanley with Willis out.
The receivers look good. I think there is going to be some major fighting for playing time. There are a lot of capable guys in the group. And physically many of them look better. Booker looks bigger. Harrell looks bigger. So does Patrick. I feel between Sternberger and Johnson the TE spot will be just fine. The fastest feet goes to Brewer or Quiv.
I watched the RBs for a while and Hull working with them. He has a laid back demeanor similar to that of Mitchell. They can't afford any injuries. It is a thing group. Herbert will play this year IMO.
Likens was working with a group of OL. It gave the OL a ton of reps because they had them in two groups and they were getting a lot of coaching. It is almost like a bonus because the OL are getting way more reps. I like Ribordy. He's bigger than I thought. I think the inside part of the OL is going to be good for a while. I heard Likens yell a couple times during drills "thataway Hunter" to Saulsbury in contact. So he must have been doing some good things. They have some versatile guys who can change positions.
Tyrone Miller was working with the safeties.
There was a group from Park Hill there watching practice.
I mentioned this yesterday but the pace and the tone from the coaches has picked up a lot. There has definitely not been a lot of "nice guy" approach. Very much business-like. Lot of coaches jumping on players to do things right. I'm not saying this in a bad way but it was different than the first two days.
The players had pads on today and did some popping. I saw some guys jawing and extra hitting after the whistle. Jayson Rhodes and DJ Williams got into it. Those were a couple big ole boys going head to head.
Derrick Neal is exclusively on defense from what I can tell. Neal and Quiv were the two key guys to start kick returns. On special teams I can tell you this....you better be where you are supposed to be with DeForest. He has some bark to his bite.
Something I haven't ever seen much of the kickers worked on onside kick drills. They had a target and they worked on kicking the ball at the target. I have to admit I was impressed with each kick how the bounces were going right at the target. I have never seen it done like that.
On kickoffs Wyman, Bartolotta, and Conaway all got a chance to kick off. I couldn't tell with the strong wind the differences between the three. The kickoffs all seem to be going about the same distance. I know it is practice but the ball seems to jump off Wyman's foot.
Something else I know people get tired of hearing is the physical presence or change of the team. But there is no doubt I can see the change in players like Harrell, Hughes, McCauley, Gonzalez, Olobia, Armstrong and other guys. Their body style has changed.
The Qbs were doing footwork drills and Stanley looked good. He has quick feet and good footwork. I think he is throwing the ball better. Right now I think it is Cozart and Stanley with Willis out.
The receivers look good. I think there is going to be some major fighting for playing time. There are a lot of capable guys in the group. And physically many of them look better. Booker looks bigger. Harrell looks bigger. So does Patrick. I feel between Sternberger and Johnson the TE spot will be just fine. The fastest feet goes to Brewer or Quiv.
I watched the RBs for a while and Hull working with them. He has a laid back demeanor similar to that of Mitchell. They can't afford any injuries. It is a thing group. Herbert will play this year IMO.
Likens was working with a group of OL. It gave the OL a ton of reps because they had them in two groups and they were getting a lot of coaching. It is almost like a bonus because the OL are getting way more reps. I like Ribordy. He's bigger than I thought. I think the inside part of the OL is going to be good for a while. I heard Likens yell a couple times during drills "thataway Hunter" to Saulsbury in contact. So he must have been doing some good things. They have some versatile guys who can change positions.
Tyrone Miller was working with the safeties.
There was a group from Park Hill there watching practice.
