Head coach Bill Cubit answered a few questions after the second day of practice on Tuesday evening. The energy level is high for the Broncos and the staff likes what they are seeing out of the younger players. One area where this is evident is at receiver. Both the newcomers and veterans are making plays early and often.
With no pads on and the inability of the defense to "stop" a play with contact, the offense may tend to look dominating but there is no doubt that on some of the WMU receivers catches, the defense would have had to make a spectacular play record a pick or a break up.
Juan Nunez was as sure-handed as any of the receivers, catching short and deep balls. Robert Arnheim is looking very comfortable in his new receiver "skin." The sophomore hauled in all but one pass thrown his way on Tuesday, and this is after catching everything on Monday.
What is as impressive is the play of Ansel Ponder and Trey Smith the two freshmen are showing their size and leaping ability, but more importantly, both have a knack for grabbing the ball at its highest point. That is something that is usually learned and worked on throughout a career, or at least the first couple weeks of camp.
One place the receivers hone their skills is with the jugs machine. Equipment manager Kenico Hines runs the machine during position special teams periods of practice and the wideouts practice catching the ball in various positions, one handed, turning around, etc.
The defense would not be kept silent all afternoon. David Lewis showed closing speed, breaking up a pass from Alex Carder intended for Brooks Bunbury. Andy Dorcely almost had his second pick in as many days and, on 7-on-7 drills, Doug Wiggins ripped the ball way on a play that if was at game speed would have left the intended receiver not only wondering where the ball went but where he was as well.
The Broncos move to shells on Wednesdays. It will be the first time this camp that the shoulder pads are taken out of the lockers and put on under the practice jerseys.
