Inside the ropes
NO JOKE: Defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads lit into the first-team defense for its lackluster effort in the first pursuit drill. “Are you kidding me?” Rhoads screamed. “Half-(hearted) on the first drill of the first day! Do it again.”
FIRST FIGHT: The first camp scuffle was between center Joe Villani and defensive tackle Vernon Botts during one-on-one drills in the morning session. They exchanged words and clung to each other’s jerseys, but it wasn’t broken up until Botts slapped Villani upside the helmet.
THE PICK: When a Tyler Palko pass slipped out of the hands of Oderick Turner, outside linebacker Adam Gunn intercepted it with a wide-open field in front of him.
REDEMPTION: Turner quickly redeemed himself. Palko rolled left on a play-action fake and found Turner behind cornerback Darrelle Revis for a deep pass.
EARLY WOES: Freshman quarterback Dexter Davidson struggled in the second practice, fumbling the first two snaps from freshman center Scott Corson and later an exchange with freshman tailback Kevin Collier, who showed nice quickness in his cuts in traffic.
Kevin Gorman is a Tribune-Review sports columnist. You can contact Kevin by email at kgorman@tribweb.com or via Twitter .