August 11th -- PM Practice

Today was a short practice, scheduled from 2:45 to 3:45. At first it was really dull to me, the same old same old for afternoon practices. Started out with the usual running drills, featuring the back up offensive players holding up pads and just simulating plays. For a while I thought it was just going to just consist of that, luckily it picked up and I've got a lot of highlights for you guys, along with some pretty good pictures.

Observations

• As I mentioned earlier this morning, there was a different #66 on the field, wearing a white jersey instead of the Mike Jones normally wearing the purple. Along with DE Chris Norwood (#66), there were two #73's and two #61's on the field. The new comers were offensive linemen Sean Dumford and Brock Pasteur, brough in after Farwell, Jones, and Mitchell were placed on IR. (the other 73 and 61 are Otis Grigsby and Martial Burnett)
• Tyrell Johnson and Madieu Williams were both absent from the afternoon practice, after sitting out of the morning practice
• Robison showed up later on walking around the field talking to a team staff member, he was limping as he walked, but thats expected for a guy who just had surgery on his calf

11 on 11s
Today I had a very good view point of these practices, so I've got a lot of play by plays for you guys.

• First up, the first team offense took the field vs the second team defense.
  
• On the first place from scrimmage, Adrian Peterson completely burned the LB's in coverage while running a short route, picking up a big gain on the play
• Tavaris Jackson had a very errant throw to Bobby Wade, which sailed wide left over the sidelines. However, Jackson came right back, finding Bobby Wade again, this time hitting him in stride on the same route for a touchdown
• Robert Ferguson had a nice leaping catch over Charles Gordon with the Safety closing in (didn't catch the number), easy 20+ yard gain on the play
• Sidney Rice looked reminiscent of the #80 of old, coming to a stop along the sidelines and leaning over and hauling in a Jackson pass for a first down on a 2nd & 6 drill
• Gus Frerotte took center and immediately found Martin Nance on a play action pass, gaining around 15 on the play. On the next play, Frerotte went back to Nance, who let the ball bounce right off of his hands on a slant route over the middle
• Naufahu Tahi had a 35 yard touchdown reception, and went untouched to the endzone

The switched things up here, running drills as 1st & 10 from their own 20.

• Brooks Bollinger had a beautiful pass to Branden Jones for about a 15 yard gain. However, if it was full speed/full contact, Bollinger would have already been on the turf courtesy of Jared Allen, who seemed to immediately be in the backfield
• Darius Reynaud had a great leaping catch over Eric Frampton on the next play
• On a Tight End Wing, Albert Young ran wide right, he made it about 5 yards up field, but once again, if it was full contact, Rufus Alexander would have blown him up for about a 3 yard loss

At this point they flipped it around, setting the offense up in different Red Zone situations

• They started out as 1st and 10 from the 12
• On the first play, Shiancoe let a ball sail pass him (which would have hit me if I didn't step to the side, I was about 2 feet behind the endzone) drawing criticism from Brad Childress
• Next up was 1st and goal from
  
• Tavaris Jackson dropped back, and found Bobby Wade for a quick TD strike
• 1st and goal from the 3
• Martin Nance had a great TD reception with Cornerback Marcus Walker draped all over him. Nance reached over Walker and tipped the ball up in the air, then was able to come down with it. Nance received praise from the crowd and Walker received praise from the coaches for sticking with him
• 2nd and goal from the 4
• Aundrae Allison hauled in the first TD reception
• Shiancoe got his TD this time, running to the far back right corner of the endzone
• Allison picked up one more TD reception, this time beating Marcus McCauley on the play
• To finish things out, they flipped it around again, going from the 22 yard line I believe. Booty took center and started things out with a screen to Albert Young. Ray Edwards was already dancing in front of Booty, and at the risk of sounding repetitive, would have impaled him in a full contact situation
• Leger Douzable had a nice play from Defensive End position today, rushing Booty to get rid of the ball, who almost placed the ball right in Marcus McCauley's hands
• They seem to like running the reverse with Booty under center, this time going to Jaymar Johnson, who was nearly tackled for about a five yard loss by #73 (either Dumford or Pasteur, not sure which is which)
• On another play, #61 had what would be a "touch sack", again its either Dumford or Pasteur, good to see these prospects each making a play on their first day here
• For the final play of the practice, they went to the reverse one more time. This time, the entire defense bit just enough for speedy WR Darius Reynaud to beat the safeties deep, and pick up around an 80 yard TD. He even cut right across the field after having the whole D beat deep along the left sideline. He still went untouched.

Overall turned out to be a good practice this afternoon, after a boring first half hour or so. I'll have those pictures up for you guys as soon as they're done uploading. Skol!