At this point of Aggie spring football practices, don't expect a declaration or clear-cut winner at the starting quarterback position. It's not deception, just fact: The race for the QB position appears to remain dead-even, and wide-open, entering the final week of spring practices.
We'll start with Andrew Manley, because it's proven to be a good story amongst the three competitors (of course, the candidates are Manley, Travaughn Colwell and Andrew McDonald). The general assumption was that Manley wouldn't be a great fit for the offense installed by new offensive coordinator Gregg Brandon, because the junior quarterback will never be confused as a mobile player in the offensive backfield. But he's adapted to the system the best he can — he's lost weight, and has provided a little movement in the pocket. Most importantly, Manley is doing what he does best — throwing the football — at a very effective rate, and looks good doing so.
I tip my hat to him whether he comes out on top or not, because he's displayed leadership — adapting while going right after the quarterback competition.
In terms of mobility, Colwell clearly brings that to the table, and probably runs the option-offense best of all three. Yet while athletic, Colwell remains inconsistent as a passer to this point.
And then McDonald, a player who's in the middle of Manley's and Colwell's skill sets — the lone senior, he can run the offense, while bringing better foot speed than Manley on the ground, and more consistent accuracy than Colwell in the passing game.
In general, the Aggie offense is much improved schematically this spring, and will be more exciting in 2013. Last year the quarterback position was mismanaged, and was a microcosm of the entire offense (one could make the argument it was a lost year for all three QBs currently competing for the starter's job). But this spring, it would seem the three are receiving the best coaching they've had at NMSU, and it should pay dividends.
Perhaps Saturday's spring game will allow a QB or two to emerge in the race. But so far, it's looked to be an even competition.
•••
I will also say this: To me, the jury remains out on the Aggie defense.
Ironically, I do not think it's from a skill standpoint, because it would appear there's improved personnel on the defensive line (Matt Ramondo, Willie Mobley to name a couple upgraded players amongst the down-linemen).
The question here does comes down to scheme, however (bear in mind, Ramondo is being held out currently with an ankle injury, although it does not appear to be serious).
The Aggies are playing a one-gap, slanting style along the defensive front, designed to get quick players up field and apply pressure on the opposing quarterback. Such a philosophy can create the big play on defense — arrant throws, resulting in interceptions to defensive backs in zone coverage. But that can also leave such a defense vulnerable to the big play as well.
We'll bring it into view by observing 2013 spring practices, where NMSU's offense has ran the ball very effectively. Of course, running backs Germi Morrison and Brandon Betancourt have looked good doing so (and we did talk about an improved offensive system), but in turn, what does this say about the Aggies run defense?
After all, NMSU averaged just 3.0 yards per carry all of last year, and while it's offensive line has some solid players, it also has some holes to it as well. Yet it's been a pattern virtually every spring scrimmage: Aggie backs ripping off runs to the second and third levels of the defense.
In a nutshell, they're finding an open gap up front, and it could mean trouble if such a trend continues heading into a 2013 independent schedule.
Some weekend stories
Some attention-grabbers from over the weekend, that surely we'll have commentary on over the coming days. Click on the headlines below to go directly to the stories at the LCSN website:
NMSU presidential candidate Garrey Carruthers tells forum participants he's open to dropping football
Jeremy Harris became the third Aggie cornerback in three years to be selected in the NFL Draft, and will reunite with former head coach DeWayne Walker
Follow me on Twitter @TeddyFeinberg
Monday, April 29, 2013
Friday, April 26, 2013
Q&A: Clint Barnard goes from 8-man football, to playing middle linebacker for the Aggies
From the very first day of 2013 Aggie spring football practices, there was an eye-catching turn of events in the middle of New Mexico State's defense.
A new middle linebacker running with the first-team, No. 48 on his jersey. A look at the roster had him listed as Clint Barnard, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound redshirt sophomore. His hometown: Melrose, NM, located in the eastern part of the state, 20 miles west of Clovis. It's home of the Buffaloes, a high school program that plays eight-man football, competing against the likes of Carrizozo, Gateway Christian, Tatum and Floyd.
Barnard, who was on NMSU's scout team a season ago, has looked good this spring, and said he expects to receive a scholarship this fall.
Following a recent practice, we sat down and talked to him about his journey to NMSU, and his transition from small-town New Mexico high school football to the Division-I gridiron:
Sun-News: What position did you play in high school?
Clint Barnard: "Being an (eight-man) school we played both ways. So I played quarterback and linebacker."
SN: You were part of some successful teams?
CB: "My junior and senior year, we were 13-0 both seasons. We had a 26-game (winning) streak my junior and senior years with two state championships. I was also the New Mexico Player of the Year for my division two years running."
SN: What were your stats in high school?
CB: "My junior year, I don't know my defensive stats. Offensive stats I know I threw for over 3,000 yards, had over 20 touchdowns on the ground and over 20 in the air. Actually, my senior year, the rushing went up and the passing went down."
SN: And you come from an athletic family?
CB: "I've got two younger sisters, one is 18 right now, she was a senior, and one is 16. They were on the (Melrose) state championship basketball team in 2012. They got to the state championship game again this year, and lost. .... Apparently, my little brother who's an eighth grader, he dunked it. He's going to be the basketball player I think."
SN: Talk about your journey. How did you get to NMSU?
CB: "When I was in high school, being from a small school, I wasn't recruited very heavily by any D-I schools. I had several D-II schools: West Texas; Eastern, New Mexico; New Mexico Highlands; Western New Mexico. All the local D-II schools, they were recruiting me. I ended up accepting a scholarship to go to New Mexico Highlands, actually as a quarterback. My first year there, I was redshirted. I traveled with the team, but I never played .... They moved me to linebacker. . I played all three linebacker positions there. I started, I think seven games. Had 50-something tackles, five or six sacks . Our quarterbacks ended up getting hurt, and I had to play on offense as a quarterback for the last two, three games of the season. Then I got moved from linebacker to that. After that, I just really had a hard decision to make. I really felt like I wasn't satisfied with where I was. I wanted a better academic curriculum (Barnard's a biology major and a minor in biochemistry). That's when I kind of poked around to see if anybody was welcoming to let someone like me in. I knew if I went to D-I, I'd have to sit out a year. The NCAA rules from the D-II to a D-I (transfer), you usually have to sit out. But I always wanted to be a Division-I player . I wanted to prove to myself and to others that I could do it. I felt like I had accomplished that. When I came here and I talked to (recruiting coordinator R. Todd Littlejohn) .... He got me on the preferred walk-ons list. Go to camp last year, I went all through camp, all through the season last year. I just worked hard, I did everything right. That's the position I'm in now for the spring."
SN: If you go to a Las Cruces, Oñate or Mayfield, you're going to be known. Obviously that's not really the case playing eight-man. How did that affect your recruiting?
CB: "Not many people or that many coaches pay attention to eight-man games. If (they) do, you have to be a complete standout. Which I thought, if anybody could be a standout, I would have been the one. UNM, they had a coach my senior year come talk to me. I was on their list, but they never offered .... Other than that, I don't think there was any Division I that even took the look or called my coach. The thing about that, my coach, he never really had dealt with people that had college potential. He didn't have the contacts for coaches, or D-I coaches. He had several D-II coaches to contacts, but as far as higher up .... he'd never done that before. He's not as connected as the coaches would be for the big schools. . Even though you have all these awards and statistics and stuff you have, it doesn't do you any good if you never get your name out there. It's more publicizing yourself than anything."
SN: Coming from a small school and being overlooked, is that motivation for yourself personally?
CB: "I've always been that type of person that kind of plays with a chip on my shoulder, with something to prove. Everything I've had, I've earned. I haven't ever been given anything. When I first came out here, I wanted to prove to myself, for one, that I could do it. And, two, to the coaches that I could do it. I'm still doing it right now. Still in the process."
SN: Do you want to prove small-school players can play college football?
CB: "I've thought about that quite a bit. I have my two roommates I graduated with in high school. They tell me all the time, they would love to be in my shoes. They would love to have the physical ability to do what I do. A lot of times, those small-town (kids), they have dreams just like any other kid. How many of those small-town kids get to live their dream? Get to do the things that bigger-city kids get to do? Not many. When someone does get the chance, does have the ability, it just seems like a shame to waste it. I keep that in mind. I want to be able to go back to there, if there's that kid that's in the sixth grade that really wants something that's his dream, say 'hey, go after it. You can prove it. You can do it.'"
SN: At Melrose, what't the typical opposing offense you're seeing? From a pass standpoint and run standpoint?
CB: "The coverages, they're completely different. But it's still football. You still have your gap as far as the run game goes. You know where there's A, B or C (gap). That's all the same .... The pass coverage and the concepts of the pass defense are the most dynamic and difficult for me to understand. We played man most of the time (at Melrose) - you have to in eight man. . I did that at Highlands. That's where I got my experience, being able to understand more about that. That was my first, real 11-man pass coverage and really understanding it. That helped me when I got here. I wasn't completely in the dark. . I have the size. The height, the build. Just have to put on a little bit more weight. I have the speed."
SN: We hear all the time, high school to Division-I football, speed and size is a big adjustment. How about from your standpoint?
CB: "When I was in high school, the average offensive lineman I was going against was smaller than me. Or just a little bit bigger than me. And definitely not as fast. To be honest with you, in high school I didn't need any technique. I was just that much more stronger, faster than anyone else. But when you get to these monsters, 300-pound guys that can move .. You've got to learn technique. You have to be very technical about everything you do."
SN: What's the one thing in particular you have to get better at? Run stopping, pass coverage, adding additional weight?
CB: "A little extra weight, I think. The strength and conditioning coaches here want me to get up to 240, and I'm at, like, 234. It's not a whole big weight gain. But that's going to help me . the little extra pounds can help when I get pushed down by 300-plus linemen from Texas. The toughness, I've never had a problem with. The whole concepts of the defense I need to get better at, as far as the pass coverage. A lot of the pass coverage, understanding pass coverage and the run game. Understanding where I need to fit at a particular call, at a particular play. Just getting used to that so I don't have to think all that much, I just react."
SN: What's the one reason you've made it this far?
CB: "My work ethic. I got it from my family. .... My great granddad, he was just a ranch foreman . He taught my granddad his work ethic, my dad his work ethic. We have a place down there by (Melrose) that we own now. I've worked there over my summers most of the time. It really instilled in me a great work ethic. It comes along with it, you've got a little bit of stuborness and a little bit of not wanting to take no for an answer. But sometimes I think you need that. Especially in this game. You need that type of attitude. That's probably the one thing that's really helped me along. And not accepting failure."
SN: You're running with the ones right now. I take it you don't intend to leave your spot on the depth chart?
CB: "No. I do not."
Follow me on Twitter @TeddyFeinberg
A new middle linebacker running with the first-team, No. 48 on his jersey. A look at the roster had him listed as Clint Barnard, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound redshirt sophomore. His hometown: Melrose, NM, located in the eastern part of the state, 20 miles west of Clovis. It's home of the Buffaloes, a high school program that plays eight-man football, competing against the likes of Carrizozo, Gateway Christian, Tatum and Floyd.
Barnard, who was on NMSU's scout team a season ago, has looked good this spring, and said he expects to receive a scholarship this fall.
Following a recent practice, we sat down and talked to him about his journey to NMSU, and his transition from small-town New Mexico high school football to the Division-I gridiron:
Sun-News: What position did you play in high school?
Clint Barnard: "Being an (eight-man) school we played both ways. So I played quarterback and linebacker."
SN: You were part of some successful teams?
CB: "My junior and senior year, we were 13-0 both seasons. We had a 26-game (winning) streak my junior and senior years with two state championships. I was also the New Mexico Player of the Year for my division two years running."
SN: What were your stats in high school?
CB: "My junior year, I don't know my defensive stats. Offensive stats I know I threw for over 3,000 yards, had over 20 touchdowns on the ground and over 20 in the air. Actually, my senior year, the rushing went up and the passing went down."
SN: And you come from an athletic family?
CB: "I've got two younger sisters, one is 18 right now, she was a senior, and one is 16. They were on the (Melrose) state championship basketball team in 2012. They got to the state championship game again this year, and lost. .... Apparently, my little brother who's an eighth grader, he dunked it. He's going to be the basketball player I think."
SN: Talk about your journey. How did you get to NMSU?
CB: "When I was in high school, being from a small school, I wasn't recruited very heavily by any D-I schools. I had several D-II schools: West Texas; Eastern, New Mexico; New Mexico Highlands; Western New Mexico. All the local D-II schools, they were recruiting me. I ended up accepting a scholarship to go to New Mexico Highlands, actually as a quarterback. My first year there, I was redshirted. I traveled with the team, but I never played .... They moved me to linebacker. . I played all three linebacker positions there. I started, I think seven games. Had 50-something tackles, five or six sacks . Our quarterbacks ended up getting hurt, and I had to play on offense as a quarterback for the last two, three games of the season. Then I got moved from linebacker to that. After that, I just really had a hard decision to make. I really felt like I wasn't satisfied with where I was. I wanted a better academic curriculum (Barnard's a biology major and a minor in biochemistry). That's when I kind of poked around to see if anybody was welcoming to let someone like me in. I knew if I went to D-I, I'd have to sit out a year. The NCAA rules from the D-II to a D-I (transfer), you usually have to sit out. But I always wanted to be a Division-I player . I wanted to prove to myself and to others that I could do it. I felt like I had accomplished that. When I came here and I talked to (recruiting coordinator R. Todd Littlejohn) .... He got me on the preferred walk-ons list. Go to camp last year, I went all through camp, all through the season last year. I just worked hard, I did everything right. That's the position I'm in now for the spring."
SN: If you go to a Las Cruces, Oñate or Mayfield, you're going to be known. Obviously that's not really the case playing eight-man. How did that affect your recruiting?
CB: "Not many people or that many coaches pay attention to eight-man games. If (they) do, you have to be a complete standout. Which I thought, if anybody could be a standout, I would have been the one. UNM, they had a coach my senior year come talk to me. I was on their list, but they never offered .... Other than that, I don't think there was any Division I that even took the look or called my coach. The thing about that, my coach, he never really had dealt with people that had college potential. He didn't have the contacts for coaches, or D-I coaches. He had several D-II coaches to contacts, but as far as higher up .... he'd never done that before. He's not as connected as the coaches would be for the big schools. . Even though you have all these awards and statistics and stuff you have, it doesn't do you any good if you never get your name out there. It's more publicizing yourself than anything."
SN: Coming from a small school and being overlooked, is that motivation for yourself personally?
CB: "I've always been that type of person that kind of plays with a chip on my shoulder, with something to prove. Everything I've had, I've earned. I haven't ever been given anything. When I first came out here, I wanted to prove to myself, for one, that I could do it. And, two, to the coaches that I could do it. I'm still doing it right now. Still in the process."
SN: Do you want to prove small-school players can play college football?
CB: "I've thought about that quite a bit. I have my two roommates I graduated with in high school. They tell me all the time, they would love to be in my shoes. They would love to have the physical ability to do what I do. A lot of times, those small-town (kids), they have dreams just like any other kid. How many of those small-town kids get to live their dream? Get to do the things that bigger-city kids get to do? Not many. When someone does get the chance, does have the ability, it just seems like a shame to waste it. I keep that in mind. I want to be able to go back to there, if there's that kid that's in the sixth grade that really wants something that's his dream, say 'hey, go after it. You can prove it. You can do it.'"
SN: At Melrose, what't the typical opposing offense you're seeing? From a pass standpoint and run standpoint?
CB: "The coverages, they're completely different. But it's still football. You still have your gap as far as the run game goes. You know where there's A, B or C (gap). That's all the same .... The pass coverage and the concepts of the pass defense are the most dynamic and difficult for me to understand. We played man most of the time (at Melrose) - you have to in eight man. . I did that at Highlands. That's where I got my experience, being able to understand more about that. That was my first, real 11-man pass coverage and really understanding it. That helped me when I got here. I wasn't completely in the dark. . I have the size. The height, the build. Just have to put on a little bit more weight. I have the speed."
SN: We hear all the time, high school to Division-I football, speed and size is a big adjustment. How about from your standpoint?
CB: "When I was in high school, the average offensive lineman I was going against was smaller than me. Or just a little bit bigger than me. And definitely not as fast. To be honest with you, in high school I didn't need any technique. I was just that much more stronger, faster than anyone else. But when you get to these monsters, 300-pound guys that can move .. You've got to learn technique. You have to be very technical about everything you do."
SN: What's the one thing in particular you have to get better at? Run stopping, pass coverage, adding additional weight?
CB: "A little extra weight, I think. The strength and conditioning coaches here want me to get up to 240, and I'm at, like, 234. It's not a whole big weight gain. But that's going to help me . the little extra pounds can help when I get pushed down by 300-plus linemen from Texas. The toughness, I've never had a problem with. The whole concepts of the defense I need to get better at, as far as the pass coverage. A lot of the pass coverage, understanding pass coverage and the run game. Understanding where I need to fit at a particular call, at a particular play. Just getting used to that so I don't have to think all that much, I just react."
SN: What's the one reason you've made it this far?
CB: "My work ethic. I got it from my family. .... My great granddad, he was just a ranch foreman . He taught my granddad his work ethic, my dad his work ethic. We have a place down there by (Melrose) that we own now. I've worked there over my summers most of the time. It really instilled in me a great work ethic. It comes along with it, you've got a little bit of stuborness and a little bit of not wanting to take no for an answer. But sometimes I think you need that. Especially in this game. You need that type of attitude. That's probably the one thing that's really helped me along. And not accepting failure."
SN: You're running with the ones right now. I take it you don't intend to leave your spot on the depth chart?
CB: "No. I do not."
Follow me on Twitter @TeddyFeinberg
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Q&A: Leading off with Aggie senior softball player Amber Olive
One of four seniors on this year's New Mexico State softball team, left fielder Amber Olive is also a standout away from the field.
Her 2013 numbers speak loudly: A team-high 68 hits, a .405 batting average, 15 stolen bases and 32 runs scored. With a 13-2 conference record, the Aggies sit atop the WAC standings, a game ahead of second-place San Jose State.
But Olive's also made her mark away from the diamond: An integral member of a softball program that leads all Aggie sports in community service hours, a 3.886 Grade Point Average as a double-major student in communication studies and psychology, and named Outstanding Scholar Athlete during the Aggies 2013 Spring Commencement.
Just prior to NMSU's final home series of the 2013 season, we sat down and spoke with the Simi Valley, Calf. native about her Aggie career's past, present and future. For Aggie softball senior capsules, click here.
Sun-News: Talk about hitting leadoff and the responsibility that comes with that particular spot?
Amber Olive: "Your job is to get on any way you can. There's a lot of emphasis put on that. There's a lot of pressure sometimes because you start the engine. You'll get the most at bats in the lineup, so you have the most opportunities to keep the fire going."
SN: Is leadoff the most important spot in a softball batting order?
AO: "In softball, because of how short our game is, every spot has it's own job and every job is very important. They're all different. Leadoff just happens to be that you get to start the game and continue to make things happen. When they turn the lineup over, your role changes. .... when you have runners on base, your job does change to more of a get on base and try to get a run in. I think every spot in the lineup has it's own job. Just because of the duration of our game and how fast things happen, every spot is key."
SN: It's a young team this year. What's it like being a senior and bringing along younger teammates?
AO: "As a senior, you can see and feel the experience .... What you see on some of the other kid's faces that haven't been in that spot is, they don't know what's going to happen. With us (the four Aggie seniors), it's knowing that's part of the game and being able to really just (have) trust in yourself. (The underclassmen) have the talent. .... We can see their talent. They just don't know it yet. That's the fun part, it's also kind of frustrating, when they get scared and you're like 'you can do this.'"
SN: Do you consider it part of your job? To help bring those young players along?
AO: "Definitely. Definitely. And once they get old enough to see it, they're going to bring it to their younger classmen too. I guess the best part of my job is, when they have Emma (Adams) in the nine spot, her being a freshman, and being able to calm her down in the box, being in the on-deck circle, talking to her. And her just producing like crazy."
SN: How loose is the team right now? Is there pressure to seal the deal in conference?
AO: "The big part about this team is, we haven't really focused on what's beyond the next game. I think that's really helped us a lot, because that's kept us off the radar and really just focused in on one game at a time. I don't think there's really any pressure other than going into this next game and really getting ready and prepared for this next game. We're not really loose, we're not really stressed, we're just kind of us."
SN: Two years ago you had a very good team that reached the NCAA Tournament. Does this year's team have the potential to not just accomplish that, but also take the next step forward and advance in the postseason?
AO: "Yes .... If I could put myself outside of this team, they definitely have the talent. .... The girls, especially the sophomore class and the freshman class coming up .... If they can just even tap into a little bit of what they have right now, we're going to go a long way."
SN: The 2011 team was very talented, a power-hitting team. This year's club is balanced, a little more station-to-station, a little more small ball. What's it been like playing on two different teams that have both found success?
AO: "I think the 2011 team that we were a part of had a really tight-nit group that was based on power. Two slap hitters at the top of the lineup that could both mash as well. The one thing with them was they all worked together in their own way. We all got to kind of watch them take lead and their leadership role to a (NCAA) regional position. With this team, we all kind of utilize the strengths of each other, which is a lot different than two years prior, where we all kind of just relied on the long ball and people hitting that home run when we needed it. This time, we need people to get on base. We draw on the strengths of each other to get the job done. Which is really good. You need that in a team."
SN: Two former Aggie outfielders - Tiare Jennings and Kandis Jones - were very good here when you were a younger player. Did you learn anything in particular from them?
AO: "They kind of set the foundation of what our outfield lives up to today. Pretty much, no ball drops. If it comes into our field, they're done. We got that from Tiarre, her kind of cockiness. No one's better than us on this field. We kind of set the tone out there. With Kandis, she was just kind of the silent but deadly type. We learned a lot from her, just kind of being stealth."
SN: You've put a major emphasis on your academics and community work during your time here. Talk about being heavily involved in those areas.
AO: "Academics is a given. This is what we're here for, it's what's going to get us into the real world. My stance on academics is, the material you're learning is not to pass or fail, you're supposed to learn it. No teacher's making a test, just for you to fail. None of my teachers have .... Community service, it's a great way to get our name out there, but also to give back. .... That's just an awesome experience. Building those connections and ties - I got to run community service for our team this year, it was just priceless. A lot of people willing to work with our team because we've come out and worked in support of them, and what they wanted to do. I think it kind of raises the bar for athletics here, what we do in softball and how involved we are in the community. It really sheds a positive light on us."
SN: What are your plans after NMSU?
AO: "Well, I heard my mom and dad miss me so I'm going to go back out there for a little bit. Hang out with my mom and dad, and grandparents."
Weekend series
Who: Seattle (19-24 overall, 7-8 in the WAC) at NMSU (32-15 overall, 13-2 in the WAC)
What: WAC softball series; senior weekend
Where: NMSU Softball Complex
When: Friday's game is scheduled for 6 p.m., while a Saturday doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.
If you can't make it: Friday's game can be heard on radio at KSNM-AM 570. Saturday's opener will be televised on AggieVision.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
VIDEOS: Doug Martin talks Aggie QB competition
New Mexico State's head football coach says tam's starting quarterback won't be determined until after spring, and perhaps not until fall camp. Also, video interviews with offensive lineman Andy Cunningham on reaching his potential in this his sophomore season, and wide receiver Joseph Matthews, who continued his impressive spring with a beautiful one-handed grab during Saturday's practice:
Trout falls to Alvarez in unanimous decision
Austin Trout, the Las Cruces boxer, lost to Canelo Alvarez on unanimous decision Saturday night in San Antonio, Texas.
The humbling truth is that it wasn't incredibly surprising: Alvarez is a power puncher, Trout a finesse fighter. Considering such, Trout would have had to likely take the fight the distance and hope a decision would go in his favor when all was said and done.
With that as the backdrop, Trout was also fighting an uphill battle via the decision makers. Three of four officials (three judges and referee) represented the WBC (Alvarez was the WBC junior middleweight champion entering the fight). The match was also in San Antonio, Texas, giving Alvarez the home advantage on his side. In other words, not only would Trout likely have to take the fight a full 12 rounds, he'd also have to win in convincing fashion for a decision to go his way.
That's not to say Alvarez didn't win the fight outright, because it appeared he did (even if it was closer than some cards would have suggested). He's a quality fighter, and it showed it Saturday against an underdog.
Follow me on Twitter @TeddyFeinberg
Friday, April 19, 2013
VIDEO: Teddy and Brook Show (4/18)
Las Cruces Sun-News sports duo comes to you from a new location. We preview Austin Trout vs. Canelo Alvarez's championship fight, as well as look back on the week that was local sports:
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
VIDEO: Aggie football lightens mood in practice
The New Mexico State football team broke out in a game of dodgeball Tuesday, in part to lighten the mood following cornerback Miles Washington's neck injury this past weekend during spring practice.
"We've all had a tough week here. Players, coaches, everybody," said head coach Doug Martin said. "I wanted to ease the players back into practice and I also wanted them to come out here and have some fun. Be able to laugh and smile a little bit."
Washington's recovering from surgery at University Medical Center in El Paso. It's believed he suffered a cervical fracture, and his condition following the injury — he could talk and move his arms, although had no movement in his lower extremities — remains the same. For a story following Tuesday's practice, click here.
Other stories on the recent injury can be found here, and here.
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