Fall Practice - Day 7: Graunke, D-Line, Special Forces

Woe be the d-back who intercepts the Phoenix out of Arizona.

"We're not supposed to hit the quarterbacks and I guess they're not supposed to hit us but it's all good," Thomas said. "I was sitting there about to pitch the ball and I ended up keeping it and Tyler just comes on a frickin' sprint from 20 yards away straight down and just blows me up. ... Next thing I know, BOOM. ... I think I might have a little something for him tomorrow."

Graunke is a combative player even when he's not protected by the orange jersey.

"Dez understands I got a competitive nature. The only pick I threw in college I brought the guy down by his neck," Graunke said.

Man! Also from the article:

• JC transfer defensive lineman Josh Leonard likes how he's playing right now.


• Linebacker Brashton Satele talks about trying to stay healthy.


• June Jones talks about the injuries to Blaze Soares and John Estes. He says that JC corner Calvin Roberts should be able to practice soon, as well as d-lineman Chris Leatigaga, but doesn't know when or if corner Ryan Mouton will show up or not. Here's hoping for the best.

Michael Tsai, Stephen's bro-bro, writes a great article about the defensive line. He talks to coach Jeff Reinebold, who discusses the nature of pass-rushing.

And it takes a certain sort of stubbornness and controlled aggression to maintain focus down after down when the payoffs are so few and far between, Reinebold said. Hence, the defensive team motto: "The main thing is the main thing."

"You're not going to win all the time, so you have to be relentless," Reinebold said. "You can't take 'no' for an answer. You have to keep pushing, keep pounding that rock or it's never going to break."

Reinebold also talks about several key players. This d-line is gonna be awesome.

And Jason Kaneshiro writes about the kicking and special teams.

"We've got bigger, faster, stronger athletes this year and that should compute to having more success on special teams," Miano said.

On the other end of the equation, Malcolm Lane and Kealoha Pilares were the first in the rotation as kick returners yesterday, backed up by Jason Rivers and Michael Washington.