Football Opens Week Two Of Fall Camp With Double Session
Aug 15, 2011 | Football
Aug. 15, 2011
Video Interview With Head Coach B.Toledo
Video Interview With Kicker C.Santos
Video Interview With Fullback T.Bullock
NEW ORLEANS - It was a day so nice they practiced twice as the Tulane University football team opened week two of fall camp with a full-pad, 24-period session in the morning and before donning helmets shoulder pads and shorts in an 18-period afternoon session Monday at the Westfeldt Practice Facility.
While it was more of the same for the Tulane team in its eighth day of preseason camp, one big change came as the coaching staff decided to switch redshirt-freshman Taylor Bullock from quarterback to fullback. Originally signed out of Catholic High in New Iberia, La., Bullock sat out last season and opened fall practice No. 3 on the depth chart under center. On Monday, he turned in his red, no-contact jersey for the more traditional green blouse the offense wears daily.
"What we did is we talked to Taylor and we said right now he's third (on the depth chart at quarterback) at best," Tulane head football coach Bob Toledo said. "Obviously Ryan Griffin is the quarterback and D.J. Ponder has really come on and he's playing really well so he's a capable back-up. You usually don't play more than two, and (Bullock) is a kid who likes to play football. He was a safety in high school as well.
"We just felt that he had an opportunity to play at fullback and also be on special teams. This morning, he did some special teams stuff and really caught our eye. He's a good athlete, 6-2, 225 pounds and he can run. He can get on the airplane, so to speak, go to games and play as opposed to being a guy holding a clipboard on the sidelines."
A first-team All-District 6-3A honors in each of his final two prep seasons and first-team all-state honors as a senior, Bullock is still a work in progress at his new position. On Monday, he went through the regular position drills with the fullbacks and tight ends, and his knowledge of the offense and athleticism was evident as he made several plays both on offense and on the Green Wave's special teams units.
As a result of the move, a pair of freshmen will duke it out for the No. 3 spot on the depth chart as rookies Leon Blouin IV and Nick SanGiacomo will get more snaps in practice. Also in the mix for time under center is freshman walk-on Jordy Joseph.
"By moving (Bullock) to fullback, now we have four quarterbacks, and the other two are true freshmen in Leon Blouin and Nick SanGiacomo," Toledo said. "Both of them are playing pretty well right now and they just need a lot more reps. This will give them an opportunity to get a lot more reps, learn the offense, learn what the defense is doing against them, and get better. Hopefully if we need them down the road, they'll be ready to play."
The Green Wave spent a large amount of time in the morning practices on special teams as the squad held extensive drills working on kickoff defense, kickoff return, field goal, field goal block, punting and punt coverage.
The defense had its time to shine during the 7-on-7 and full-team drills as senior linebacker Kristofar Rhymes, sophomore corner Derrick Strozier and freshman defensive back Sam Scofield all posted pass break-ups while redshirt-freshman linebacker Steven Funderburk nearly came up with an interception when he undercut a crossing route.
Junior linebacker Trent Mackey, a member of the 2011 Lobardi Rotary Award Watchlist, posted several "thud" tackles, a forced fumble and a sack. Not to be left out, sophomore linebacker Zach Davis tallied an interception, rookie backer Matthew Bailey had a sack and senior defensive tackle Cedric Wilson posted a tackle for loss.
The offense picked things up in the afternoon practice as walk-on receiver Darius Tenney made a nice leaping catch, senior Joe Kemp picked up a sizeable chunk of yardage with a diving reception and redshirt-freshman Carlos Wilson showed good hands, speed and moves with a catch-and-run over the middle.
Biletnikoff Award Watchlist member Ryan Grant drew hoots and hollers from his offensive mates following a nice adjustment on a deep post, sophomore Brent Comardelle burned the defense for a long reception, and rookie running back Robert Kelley ripped off a long run with a cutback against the grain as practice wound down.
"We're putting a lot of stuff in and we're looking at a lot of players, so it's hard to get good execution particularly on the offensive side of the ball," Toledo said. "This morning, our starting center, one of our defensive ends and a linebacker had class. We need to get the 15 or 16 guys on each side of the ball to be playing. Right now, I'm not concerned with that. I'll be concerned with it in about a week."
The Green Wave return to practice on Tuesday, Aug. 16, with a full-pad session at 8:45 a.m. at the Westfeldt Facility. From there, Tulane will hold another two-a-day practice on Wednesday with a closed session in the Louisiana Superdome in the morning before returning to campus for an open session in the afternoon.
Tulane formally kicks off the 2011 season on Saturday, Sept. 3, when the Green Wave play host to Southeastern Louisiana at 2:30 p.m. in the Louisiana Superdome. Season and individual-game ticket sales are currently for sale through the Tulane Athletics Ticket Office. The Ticket Office is located on the first floor of the James W. Wilson, Jr., Center on Ben Weiner Drive, and tickets can be purchased in person, over the phone at 504-861-WAVE (9283) or via the Internet at www.TulaneGreenWave.com.
