CATS IN CAMP #4: Energy and Effort Key to Progress Between the Lines

Photo by: Andrew Pedersen

CATS IN CAMP #4: Energy and Effort Key to Progress Between the Lines

8/6/2017 3:35:00 PM | Football

The Bobcats completed their fourth practice of their fall camp schedule Sunday at Bobcat Stadium. While the offensive and defensive units are starting to take shape, learning the playbook and understanding assignments are still a work in progress at this point in camp.

By: Andrew Pedersen

Montana State football makes its 2017 debut in less than a month and there is still plenty of work to get done.

The Bobcats completed their fourth practice of their fall camp schedule Sunday at Bobcat Stadium. While the offensive and defensive units are starting to take shape, absorbing the playbook and understanding assignments are still a work in progress at this point in camp.

The players with experience may look more comfortable than the newcomers out on the field in a game-like setting now, but what stands out about all of MSU's squad to this point is the determination they've competed with in practice.

"We're not in a game plan mode yet, we've still got some install to do," head coach Jeff Choate said. "What I've seen and what I expect to see are kids giving their best efforts. Bringing a great attitude, energy and effort every day. Controlling what they can control. It's not going to be perfect, especially with the young guys. At the end of practice today we took a good chunk of time and let those guys just play against each other. We took the vets out and let them get out of here a little earlier."

What coincided was plenty of repetitions for not just the first team offense and defense, but opportunities for more 'Cats to see the field on Sunday. In the game of football, every individual has to be prepared because it can be their time to play at any moment.

"We've got a long way to go and it's a marathon, not a sprint," Choate said. "We've got to keep hanging in there and doing our thing and encouraging one another. Knock on wood, hopefully we can continue to stay relatively healthy."

THE NEXT PHASE: Montana State introduces the final stage of preseason camp Monday when the team dons full pads. Choate said the upcoming week remains about improving and evaluating personnel. "Generally what we want to do is equalize things for the first eight days, then you're kind of honing in on the ones and twos. Past that second scrimmage, here's the starters, here's the backups, let's start game-planning."

TIME TO SHINE: Senior guard Caleb Gillis has bided his time, working hard, waiting for his opportunity. The former walk-on from Glen, Mont., has earned his opportunity and seems to be taking advantage. "Probably the biggest challenge he's had is the weight," said Choate. "He's always had the frame, but he's still not a very heavy guy. At the guard position, generally speaking, those guys are earth movers so you have to have the body." His experience, and MSU's scheme, has benefited Gillis. "Some of the things we're doing offensively lends to helping Caleb. We have a very athletic offensive line and you don't have be as big a guy when you're blocking on angles."

IN THE MIDDLE: Montana State's guards may be inexperienced, but Choate is not worried. "The biggest benefit is that we have veterans around each of those guys," he said. MSU returns starters at the tackle (Dylan Mahoney, Mitch Brott) and center (Alex Neale) positions. Senior Caleb Gillis and sophomore Jake McFetridge ran with the first offensive line in the first four practice sessions.

TURNING BAD INTO GOOD: While admitting that a quarterback as mobile as Chris Murray can be a major positive for an offensive line – "If they screw up, he can make it right," Jeff Choate said with a laugh – it's not without its issues. "It can be challenging for an offensive lineman when a guy breaks the pocket when it's not designed, when it's outside the offense," Choate said. "You may be leveraging a block for a guy inside out and he takes off and makes it wrong." Still, Choate said the benefits of playing with a running quarterback in general, and Murray specifically, far outweigh any drawbacks. "But most of the time Chris can make (the defense) miss. I know those guys love him, he's a humble kid, he makes sure he gives those guys credit, and I think they love playing with him."