Sorry for the delay posting this practice report, but I had some errands to run and work to do before I could get down to blog business.

First, an update on senior kicker John Sullivan. He officially has a torn ACL in his left leg, which is the leg he plants on to kick. He is going to try some rehab and a brace instead of surgery because it turns out he doesn't meet the requirements for a medical redshirt season. He spent one season at San Jose State before coming to UNM and is a fifth-year senior. You have to miss substantial parts of two seasons due to injury in order to qualify for the medical redshirts and that isn't the case for Sullivan. UNM head trainer Dave Binder has had a few athletes under his care pull off the return from an ACL surgery with a brace and no surgery. I suspect it will be painful, but it could work. Long said he didn't have anyone use the no surgery approach, but the UNLV starting kicker did it last season and was effective. "I think he has a better chance because it's the plant foot that's injured," Long said.

Eric Garrison, who now owns the starting kicker job, sat out practice Monday and will see a doctor to make sure the hit he took during Saturday's scrimmage didn't cause any trouble. But Binder said it is merely a precaution and he thinks Garrison is fine.

OJ Swift had his knee scoped yesterday, and Binder said the surgery was very successful. Swift tried to play through a torn miniscus during spring ball, but it hurt too much and he wasn't mobile enough to be effective. So he had the surgery and should be back in good shape in three to six weeks, with most guys coming back in three weeks.

Sylvester Hatten was officially back in the lineup today, giving the offensive line a bit of a boost. At this point, bodies help the line that just has nine healthy players. The line is struggling because the guys are young and learning a new offense O-line coach Jason Lenzmeier seems to be doing everything he can to help the guys, and he can demonstrate form and technique better than any other coach on the field. The other coaches are close, but Lenzmeier is so much younger and in great physical shape to push guys around and show them the ropes. Despite struggling, they seem to be listening and I think they have a much better relationship with Lenzmeier than the line did last year with Bob Stanley.

The defense continues to dominate every drill, but UNM coach Rocky Long was happy to see the offense focus a little more and receivers catch more passes. "I think the offense was more focused and did a better job today," Long said. "They showed a little more effort, and had some success because of it."

I don't know that the passing game was especially sharp, but there were two flashy plays to end practice. Donovan Porterie went deep to Marcus Smith, who outran a second or third-string defensive back for a pretty touchdown that had to be for somewhere in the neighborhood of 70 yards. But the best play that drew applause and ended practice on a high note was Porterie's pass to Daryl Jones that went for a touchdowns. The pass was behind Jones, but he reached out with one arm, tipped it to himself, tucked it under his arm and ran for the touchdown. I think it was about 10-yard pass that turned into something like 50-yard touchdown.

That's all for now. Check out Tuesday's Trib for more spring football coverage.

Posted by ilimon at 08:52 PM | Permalink