Tuesday practice report

Missouri is past the halfway point of the open portion of fall camp. The Tigers lead up to the second scrimmage of the fall this Thursday. The team worked out for about two-and-a-half hours on Faurot Field Tuesday morning and PowerMizzou.com has the report:

*The red brigade included Will Ebner, Jared Parham, Dan Hoch, Kirk Lakebrink and Kendial Lawrence all in pullovers, but all participated in parts of practice. Kerwin Stricker, Jerrell Jackson and Jimmie Hunt were held out completely.

*All three of the above receivers opened camp at the slot position (H-receiver). With all the injuries, Bud Sasser is now behind T.J. Moe at that spot. We'll have more on Sasser later in the week, but the fact that he's already working at a second receiver position is a pretty good indication he may play. Gary Pinkel said that they don't start using a receiver at a second spot until he's shown he's got the first one completely down and he said they try to avoid moving a young player around much at all.

*Offensive lineman Taylor Davis and tailback De'Vion Moore were not at practice. Davis is serving a suspension for a violation of team rules and Moore was back in St. Louis because his mother is having surgery today.

*A quick update on freshmen I expect to play: Sasser, Darvin Ruise, Hunt if he's healthy soon enough, James Franklin, Eric Waters and Henry Josey are the ones I'd predict. Throw in juco transfer Kenronte Walker and that is seven members of the 2010 class I think see the field.

*Franklin made a beautiful throw today to Brandon Gerau, who laid out and made a nice diving catch at the goal line over the top of Will Ebner. It wasn't bad coverage, just a great throw.

*I've trumpeted L'Damian Washington since just about the first time I saw him practice. He looks good and I think it would surprise me if he relinquished the starting spot he grabbed after the first scrimmage.

*Derrick Washington continues to impress, both with his play and his leadership. He was really getting on his offensive teammates for losing a second straight practice. Washington made a nice bobbling catch in the end zone of a Blaine Gabbert pass, but the defense won the final two periods to keep the black jerseys.

*We haven't talked much about special teams, but I did ask Pinkel about the kickoff duties a couple of days ago. Both Grant Ressel and Trey Barrow are in the discussion and no decision has been made.

*Jasper Simmons looks faster to me on kickoff returns and I still think he's probably your leading candidate to win that job.

*A few notes from 11-on-11:

Henry Josey had a nice touchdown run in which he outsprinted Zaviar Gooden and Simmons to the corner. Gooden is supposed to be one of the fastest Tigers, so that shows you Josey's speed.

Kevin Rutland made a nice play, batting a ball down intended for Rolandis Woodland. The Tiger corners have impressed me so far.

Michael Sam built on his five-sack scrimmage performance by beating Anthony Gatti to sack Ashton Glaser. Gatti worked with the second team offense at times due to Lakebrink's injury. He has been more impressive than I expected coming off a major knee injury.

Tough day for T.J. Moe, but I don't mean anything about his performance. He took two huge hits on the day, the first from Andrew Gachkar and the second from Kenji Jackson. The latter hit caused a fumble by a player that nearly never coughs up the ball. If Moe still knows where he is as I type this, he's a tough customer.

*Play of the Day: Ruise cut in front of Michael Egnew on a quick out and had Blaine Gabbert picked off. But as Ruise took his first step with the pick, Egnew reached in and ripped the ball right back, keeping possession for the offense. Yet another big play from a Tiger who's having as good a camp as any.

Missouri will return to the field for two practices on Wednesday, at 7:15 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. As always, PowerMizzou.com will have all the big news

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