The Green Wave kicked off game prep week with some strong red zone work by Zeon Chriss-Gremillion as the passing offense takes shape ahead of the season opener.
New Orleans, La. – The Tulane Green Wave officially started game prep week on Monday ahead of the season opener in the indoor practice facility, and it featured quite a bit of red zone work.
With the inclement weather being persistent through fall, the bubble has been in use more often than perhaps anticipated. Its smaller size has been reported on, and it makes it a bit hard to situate oneself to watch both side of the ball work.
So, on Day 1 of game week prep, the offense was more of the focus, and it’s one that has settled in quite a bit since the end of the quarterback competition.
There’s undeniably something psychological about the quarterback competition that has dissipated since Zeon Chriss-Gremillion was named the starter.
He’s been more decisive with his throws, quicker to release, more accurate, and has thrown with better touch.
That’ll all have to hold up against a real pass rush this weekend against the Duke Blue Devils, but the uptick in play under center has been noticeable over the last week.
Tulane heads to Raleigh, NC., as the underdogs, despite handily defeating the Blue Devils 34-27 last season.
The emotional component of playing against former quarterback Darian Mensah won’t be there, not that it really had an effect on Jake Retzlaff, who wasn’t on the team when that whole situation unfolded.
But the Green Wave won that game largely thanks to Retzlaff’s legs.
The ground game will be of focus this weekend, even likely without Jamauri McClure, who has yet to practice since fracturing his foot a few weeks back.
It’ll also be a ground game that features the new super back, which will be an intriguing position to watch headlined by Jaylin Lucas.
But one question stuck out, especially in light of last season – which position group will get the first receiving touchdown of the season?
Last year, Retzlaff arriving on campus late showed up in the early contests, and it led to him relying on his legs – fairly, a strength – until things settled down.
He wasn’t even the first quarterback to throw a touchdown to a receiver. That came by Brendan Sullivan to Anthony Brown-Stephens late against Ole Miss in Week 4.
This year, the reason that question is still up in the air is because of the involvement of the other positions in the passing game.
Many of the plays on Monday were designed catches to running backs, frequently Johnnie Daniels and Maurice Turner.
But the tight ends have also been a major presence in the passing game.
How that all unfolds in a real game setting will say a lot about the offensive strengths.
