While offensive line coach Tim Daoust was running his unit through a sled drill, freshman defensive tackle Wayne Williams agitatedly walked to the end zone away from the rest of the unit. He tugged at an elbow guard — SU head coach Scott Shafer said his elbow has been bothering him — and jogged to midfield to join strength and conditioning coach Will Hicks.

When Shafer was asked about Williams at his post-practice press conference, he said that the two “got deep” on the walk back from practice — discussing life lessons, former SU standout Chandler Jones and where Williams can go from here.

“I was just challenging him to leap over the next hurdle,” Shafer said. “Wayne’s got a little elbow thing that’s sore. He’s done a nice job cutting weight. He’s done a nice job learning to deal with so much more structure in his life. He’s done a nice job working for more plays in practice.

“Now he’s at the point where he’s never had any injuries. And when you’re banged up you’re hurt but not injured, and that’s the next hurdle.”

Before that drill, Daoust had the linemen duck under a canopy before spinning right or left. It emphasized keeping their eyes forward and maintaining enough balance to pivot in either direction. Then he moved the group to the sled, which has brought out energy all week.

Senior defensive end Donnie Simmons received the highest praise from Daoust, as the coach yelled, “Donnie has the juice today. Three points for Donnie for having the juice.”

Secondary works on footwork, hands

After the entire defense worked on batting down passes and corralling fumbles, the secondary worked on shuffling around cones and catching passes from defensive backs coach Fred Reed.

Reed started off throwing them right into the chest of the corners and safeties, and then started to challenge his unit with harder, inaccurate throws. He rocketed one over senior safety Jaston George’s head, and George threw his hands into the air to make a sprawling catch.

Right before practice was closed to the media for the rest of the day, the secondary worked on a basic coverage set. The cornerbacks lined up with a corner-turned-receiver on the outside and a safety lined up across from a receiver in the slot, and Reed walked them through a zone scheme.

Published on August 8, 2014 at 8:32 pm

Contact Jesse: jcdoug01@syr.edu | @dougherty_jesse