The Tulane Green Wave football team had some juice when they put pads on for the first time on a chilly Thursday.
New Orleans, La. -- Unsurprisingly, the first day of pads popped for the Tulane Green Wave football team and brought the energy. It certainly helped that a torrential downpour overnight and severe winds that carried into the morning brought a brisk morning with considerable wind chill – something some coaches may have wished hadn’t been the case. But it allowed for some high-speed collisions and juice, with some physicality particularly in the 1-v-1 drills between wide receivers and defensive backs. Head coach Will Hall also pointed to player leadership after practice playing a factor in the team’s energy.
At its simplest level, pads are real football, and that’s what these players ultimately love. What was promising about the first day of pads in this spring practice under Hall was that the energy was matched on both sides. Last season, for example, former coach Jon Sumrall was audibly displeased at the offense’s effort the first few days of pads. They broke some runs today while the defense also made plays. The next progression on Saturday, or day four, will be a bit more situational football. Specifically, third and mediums. They’ll also pick up the tackling and see who can really make a one-on-one, fundamentally sound yet physical tackle. On the offensive side, it’ll also show who’s able to make those guys miss.
But third and medium is such a critical install for the team, and that’ll reveal performers in high leverage situations as the team is trying to fill out the depth chart and look at who can fill in the voids of starter roles. Pads are almost necessary to look at how the trenches and running back rooms perform as well.
The offensive line has been intriguing to watch as pieces have moved around a bit there. The team has to replace nearly every position there. They lost seniors left tackle Derrick Graham, center Jack Hollifield, and right guard Jordan Hall, and also lost left guard Shadre Hurst in the transfer portal, leaving right tackle Reese Baker as the only remaining starter from last season. Intriguingly, he’s been playing primarily at right guard through spring camp, which is what he switched between last season, ultimately settling in at tackle. Transfer Ryan Mickow from Boston College has slotted in at right tackle, kicking Baker in at right guard, while John Bock has played at center. Elijah Baker has moved from backup to first team reps at left guard, while another returning player they’ve developed, Dominic Steward, has been at right tackle. That’ll be a really important position group to continue watch growing as the offense finds its shape.