Texas Tech Practice 8/15

[NamelessHusker]

For those of you who are wondering how Texas Tech is doing during practices, here is a glimpse of some news that might be disturbing. Lets hope Joel Filani doesn't see any action against NU

 

 

 

Red Raider football notebook

 

 

 

Flying colors

Junior flanker Joel Filani has had the most impressive first week of practice among Texas Tech's wide receivers, position coach Sonny Dykes said.

 

Filani has had confidence problems and concentration lapses in the past, but he's been catching everything so far in training camp - tough chances included.

 

During Monday's 11-on-11 team drill, Filani ran an out pattern and had to go up high to pull in a tall pass from Graham Harrell. Filani hung on, even though he took a solid hit from cornerback Chris Parker.

 

Ten plays later, Filani laid out to make an impressive catch over the middle. The latter play covered about 20 yards.

 

"He's really caught the ball well and is just playing with a lot of confidence right now,'' Dykes said.

 

 

Johnson coming along

 

Wide receivers coach Sonny Dykes called Marquis Johnson "probably the most improved guy out here'' among the team's outside receivers.

 

Dykes said Johnson is showing signs of overcoming the lack of football experience that kept him off the field last year.

 

"The light's starting to come on,'' Dykes said. "He's starting to understand things that he probably didn't understand before. He's playing without as much hesitation. In the spring, he just had a lot of uncertainty. Now he's starting to play with more confidence.''

 

Dykes said Johnson has an edge on Anthony Jenkins to be the top backup to Joel Filani at flanker.

 

 

Hairy situations

 

With TE Bristol Olomua being cleared to rejoin the team, head coach Mike Leach was asked if Olomua's new, longer hairdo might eventually rival that of long-locked OT Glenn January.

 

Olomua had sported a shaved head his first two years on campus until recently letting his hair grow out.

 

"January's has been a work of art that he obviously set in motion years ago,'' Leach said. "I don't think a johnny-come-lately hair grower with a lack of experience ... I don't see January getting caught on this deal. Some forces are big enough that you've just got to tip your hat to it.''

 

Still, Leach said former CB Derrick Briggs (1998-00) was the hair champion as far as he's concerned. Briggs alternately wore his hair tight in braids and up in an Afro of immense proportions.

 

"Briggs was my favorite,'' Leach said. "Part of it is Briggs' (hair) provided a great deal of contrast.''

 

 

Position checkup

 

Here's a look at how the Raiders stack up at inside receiver.

 

IR (Y): Robert Johnson, Jr.; L.A. Reed, Fr.-RS; Slade Hodges, Sr.

 

TE (Y); Bristol Olomua, Sr.; Rylan Reed, Fr.

 

IR (H): Danny Amendola, So.; Eric Morris, Fr.-RS; Slade Hodges, Sr.; Kelly Hildebrandt, So.

 

TE (H): David Schaefer, So.

 

 

Inside receiver talk

 

Eric Morris from Shallowater and Slade Hodges from Hereford probably will get near equal repetitions for the next week and a half to determine the top backup at "H'' inside receiver, position coach Dana Holgorsen.

 

The starter is sophomore Danny Amendola. Holgorsen said Amendola and Morris give the team "two solid guys there right now,'' but noted that Hodges is still pushing Morris.

 

Hodges is the third option at both "Y'' and "H'' inside receiver spots, which Holgorsen said is an unfair situation.

 

"It's unfair because guys get really good when they don't have to play two positions,'' Holgorsen said. "When they can settle in at one position, they get better at that position. (Hodges') role has always been like that. He's just very versatile. That's why he's valuable to us.''

 

Morris was hurt for much of his first year on campus. He got too heavy, Holgorsen said, and that diminished his quickness, his best asset.

 

"He has regained his quickness,'' Holgorsen said. "He does a great job coming out of his cuts.''

 

 

In brief

 

DE Shane Wagner has left the team, and OG David Chatterton will miss another season for medical reasons, Tech announced Monday. Chatterton, a 2004 signee, has had back problems throughout his career. They have been replaced on the 105-man roster by IR Kelly Hildebrandt from Roosevelt and DS Michael Bettenhausen from Plano, both sophomore returnees. ... Today is the team's first session of two-a-day workouts. The Raiders will practice at 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The team will have only three sets of two-a-days, the others being Thursday and Saturday. ... Monday was the team's fifth practice, the first during which NCAA rules permit full pads. The Raiders stuck with helmets and shoulder pads, which head coach Mike Leach prefers. ... C Brandon Jones was sidelined with what appeared to be a left ankle or foot injury. Tech does not disclose information about the nature or severity of injuries, but Jones was in an orthopedic boot. ... CB Antonio Huffman aggravated an injured right shoulder, causing him to pull off his pads and finish practice early. Huffman hurt his shoulder during a late June voluntary workout. ... During 11-on-11, CB Khalid Naziruddin went for the interception, but IR Danny Amendola outfought him for the football, spun away and outran everyone to the end zone. ... As QB Cody Hodges scrambled for 15 yards around the right side, IR Robert Johnson peeled back and laid a solid block on DE Randall Cherry.