- The practice had at least one casualty as DL Kenny Bigelow went down with a knee injury. He will have an MRI to see the extent of the damage. "We'll all be saying our prayers tonight for him," said head coach Clay Helton. "He's very much a leader of our team, and we need him."
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In other injury news, DL Noah Jefferson remains out with a lower back issue. WR Michael Pittman Jr. will likely be non-contact for the rest of spring, so his collarbone can fully heal. WR JuJu Smith-Schuster is out with a hamstring injury. TE Tyler Petite is going through concussion protocol. LB Osa Masina (hamstring) is close to returning.
- Helton has emphasized physicality and toughness since taking over last season. Today, he challenged both lines with a 3rd and 2 competition. The veteran offensive line dominated their counterparts, winning three of four plays to send the defense running. "I expect that from our offensive line right now," said Helton about his most experienced unit. "I want it every period. They should be dominating."
- The defense had its most success in practice sending pressure off the edge, which is a staple of Clancy Pendergast's 5-2 scheme. "I'm standing behind the quarterback, and I can feel the pressure," said Helton about the outside rushers collapsing the pocket.
- Porter Gustin on the change in aggressiveness under Pendergast: "As a Predator, we're just blitzing more, more up on the line, playing the run a little more, not dropping back as much. It's great. I love the way he coaches. I'm loving the defense so far. It's very aggressive, and he's letting us play. I don't have to think too much, just go at it."
- Pendergast, who emphasizes communication over everything, has been working closely with the middle linebackers so far because they are the "quarterback" in his scheme, along with the free safety, and the group is inexperienced. He did not look at any of last year's tape, choosing to give the players a "clean slate."
- At linebacker, Quinton Powell is emerging as a breakout player this spring. The senior is playing in the middle for Pendergast. "I'm playing fast because I know what I'm doing and the coaches are working with me," said Powell. "I couldn't say the same when the old coaches were here, but the coaches now, they support me and I'm able to play with confidence and with speed."
- Powell loves working with Pendergast, saying, "[Pendergast] judges my heart. He knows I've got heart and at the end of the day, anyone can play linebacker if you've got heart."
- In the secondary, Pendergast brought in Ronnie Bradford to coach up a talented group, and the defensive backs have responded. "I got to give these guys credit," said Bradford. "They've been working their butts off. This time of year, you start working on fundamentals, but you're still installing a new defense. They come out here with a great attitude and great energy."
- With that said, like the entire defense, the secondary play has been inconsistent as they figure out the new defense. "Right now, we're throwing a lot at them. They're swimming," Bradford said. "They're drinking from a fire hose. There's a lot of defense coming at them right now."
- Here is Helton after practice:
