The House of Blue

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Matt May said...

Notes from Joker Phillips after Thursday's practice:

+++I asked Joker Phillips who would start this Saturday thinking he'd probably not divulge that info, but I was a bit surprised that he did say, although it's clear they don't want to let on how they will split the snaps. Joker was also asked whether Whitlow might be a bit more comfortable given he's played some:

"Time to go. We'll throw them out there and see what they can do," Phillips said. "Jalen will run out there first. It's really not a starter it's Whitlow or Towles, but Jalen will run out there first. I guess you guys deem it as a starter but it's a slash. "I would think (he's more comfortable) but Patty Ice, I asked him just a minute ago if he's ready and he said that he wished the game was in two hours. I don't. But you like that. I don't want them to try and hide behind anything though because you're going to be nervous no matter how you spin it being the first time (Towles) runs out on the field, but he's a confident guy and has a lot of confidence in his ability."

+++Asked whether he was more nervous when they had to go with Matt Roark vs. Tennessee last season, or this week, Phillips said it was an easy answer: "I was more concerned about Matt Roark, no doubt. We were really one-sided and had one pass (in the game plan). These guys have enough that they can execute individually and keep (Mississippi State) off balance. It will be more situational. We've committed to playing them both and we'll play them both."

+++Phillips praised offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Randy Sanders for what he has been able to accomplish with so many different QBs since he arrived on campus, especially when they've had to get young guys ready on short notice. They've had a lot of different style players too and for the most part they've all worked out:

"The first thing Randy has is the ability to communicate with those guys," Phillips said. "They really like how he interacts with them on and off the field. He's able to spend a lot of time with them in the meeting room so they get a little bit closer to his guys. They trust him. He's done a really good job of developing a lot of different quarterbacks. He does a really good job and he has a lot of experience. That helps too."

+++Phillips was asked about the attitude of his team with them sitting at 1-4:

"I think the attitude has been great," Phillips said. "We've never had to prod them to get them going, they've always been upbeat and came out here with a lot of juice in practice. We have to carry it from the practice field to the game. This is like another game, I mean, everything is at stake when you're playing an SEC game. It's not any different than any other week."

+++Looks like they are going to have to work some magic at the S/LB spot, as there are more nagging injuries there than they had previously mentioned:

""Miles Simpson practiced today and we think he might (play) but we'll take a look at him tomorrow. You don't have all day Saturday like we had (last week). Josh Forrest is questionable now after going too days and came up gimpy today. We're playing Lowery at that position a little bit since we're moving Neloms to safety. We've got to be creative, that's where we're at. Lowery is probably more suited (at SAM linebacker)."

+++Saw Maxwell Smith coming through Nutter Training Facility today. He's on crutches and had his left ankle in a boot. Seemed to be in decent enough spirits after having surgery yesterday. I asked Phillips if there was any significant news from the trainers after the surgery: "They thought it went good but doctors always say it went well. They don't have any timetable. Again, it's going to be hard to get back this year but we'll work towards it."

+++Also saw safety Dakotah Tyler, who has his left leg/knee heavily wrapped and in one of those almost full-leg knee braces on. He was on crutches and also even managed a smile as he came through. Another crutches guy was freshman OL T.J. Jones, who was not putting any weight on his right leg. He was redshirting this season anyway, but unsure what his injury is. RB CoShik Williams walked through and if you didn't know better you'd wonder what was wrong. Doesn't look obvious but that's how injuries can be, the worst ones sometimes aren't the noticeable ones.

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Big Sarge said...

Here's to hoping Towels gets his first TD!

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jamccain said...

Are so many guys hurt because we have players who are NOT physically ready (too young) to be competing with the more mature players of other teams? BTW, I realize we have some older players hurt too...

Or could it be that the staff focused on "injury prevention" instead of toughening them up in the S&C program and fall camp?

Just thinking out loud, not making any assertions....

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1003blue said...

I said when we started playing all these young pups that they were not physically ready. SEC is a BIG MANS game. 3 - 4 months ago these were boys in HS. You don't get yourself ready for this high level play in 3 - 4 months. Just not going to happen. Thus, I believe they are injury prone. It's a shame because they are burning a year of elgibility fighting off injuries all year, when this should be their redshirt year getting bigger, faster, stronger, learning the system. JMO