Are we really expecting lots of information after the first day of practice? Real clues? In non-contact, padless practice? Don’t we know better?
Sure we do. It’s just that it has been an eternity since any semblance of actual sport. After the off-the-field police blotter stuff. Recruiting obsessions. Parsing every puff interview. It doesn’t matter. Give us the crumbs!
First practice in the books. No questions really answered. No depth chart issues resolved. From that, the only reasonable conclusion one can make is that Chryst is not the answer. A real coach would have everything resolved and set in stone. He would know exactly what players will be starters and where based on their unsupervised off-season conditioning program. It is time to move on to another coach.
The most noticeable thing from the first day of practice was that Todd Thomas was not playing with the first team defense at weakside linebacker (WLB). Instead, Mike Caprara was moved over from middle linebacker (MLB). There was no subtlety to the move and Coach Paul Chryst and Todd Thomas didn’t hide from its meaning:
“I did (need motivation), a little bit, little extra,” Thomas said after practice. “I am going to keep working hard and see how it unfolds. … That’s how the cookie crumbles. I have to go out and earn a spot.”
Chryst downplayed the existence of first and second teams in practice, even though there is a clear division during drills.
“Right now, everyone has to prove they can provide a role that you can rely on and play with,” he said. “Then, you find out how many of those guys you can use.”
Thomas said he used the demotion as motivation while knocking away three passes. He practiced with an attitude, getting physical in coverage with tight end J.P. Holtz and running back Rachid Ibrahim.
“The motivation worked, definitely,” Thomas said.
Chryst said before practice that Thomas can make an impact.
“I think he can give us some stuff, but he can play at a higher level than what he’s been, need him to. That’s not negative.”
He added, however: “I think he thinks a lot of himself, you know, and match it.”
Told after practice that Thomas used the demotion as motivation, Chryst said, “I would hope so.”
“You love the energy he brings. You love the competitiveness he brings. If you look around, a lot of players respond to Todd. That’s all good stuff.”
When Thomas is healthy, he is one of the best players on the defense. The problem has been staying uninjured. It has to be hard to want to bring it in practice when you were injured during practice as a freshman. Then njured again in 2011 which was slow to fully heal and delayed a return last year. So the temporary demotion right at the start of practice was a good way to get his attention.
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