Don't make the boss mad

Nothing like a downfield block during a run-and-catch along the sideline to get the competitive juices of the defense flowing and Rick Neuheisel's blood pressure boiling.

But that was the scenario during 11-on-11 competition Sunday, when Kevin Prince threw a short screen pass to senior fullback Chane Moline, who rumbled 21 yards along the right sideline. Just as senior defensive back Alterraun Verner was about to push Moline out of bounds, he was leveled by redshirt sophomore tight end Nate Chandler.

It was easily the hit of the day. But it caused some words to be exchanged between Chandler and other defensive players, who considered the contact to be perhaps a cheapshot and unnecessary given the context of the drill.

Senior linebacker Reggie Carter was prepared to deliver a jarring hit to any offensive player that got in his way, given the opportunity, on the next play, but cooler heads prevailed.

Verner popped up and jogged back to the huddle, but the same couldn't be said for Chandler, who was quickly replaced on offense, with Neuheisel and several assistants yelling at him, "That's our guy."