Bobcat Pop Pads on Saturday
3/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Mike Kramer has no idea how his 2004 Bobcat football team will end up, but he likes how it's started.
"This team has put an emotional investment into being a good team," Kramer said on Saturday, after snow flurries capped off Montana State's first live contact practice session. "I'm pretty proud of these guys for showing up every day not only ready to work, but really, really ready to play."
Kramer said that while this year's defense is not right now the dominant unit that has led the Big Sky in total defense for three straight seasons, he likes what he sees. "The defense is not where we were last year at any time, but we're going to get there," Kramer said. We will get there primarily because of Ray Sebestyen and Roger Cooper and Mac Mollohan. They are really goo players. It's really a veteran defensive front (seven)."
Montana State returns five full-time starters among the defensive linemen and linebackers, but has a player who has started at least five games at each of those positions. The secondary, however, needs rebuilding. "Our secondary is new," Kramer said. "Those guys are young, but they're playing well and we have three potential starters that won't join us until fall camp." Cornerback Eddie Smith and safety Corky Lindsay join the team next fall, and cornerback Kahiam Hunter is out this spring with an injury.
Last spring, offensive tackle Joe Hirst emerged from a redshirt season to grab a starting spot, and turned in an outstanding season. This year, sophomore guard Brant Birkeland appears to be doing the same. "Brant Birkeland at left guard and Peder Jensen at left tackle are really doing a nice job. Branton Sherman at wide receiver and (cornerback) Andre Fuller and (safety) Toph Grenfell are showing quite a bit in the secondary."
MSU will practice next on Monday at 3:30 pm.
-msu-
"This team has put an emotional investment into being a good team," Kramer said on Saturday, after snow flurries capped off Montana State's first live contact practice session. "I'm pretty proud of these guys for showing up every day not only ready to work, but really, really ready to play."
Kramer said that while this year's defense is not right now the dominant unit that has led the Big Sky in total defense for three straight seasons, he likes what he sees. "The defense is not where we were last year at any time, but we're going to get there," Kramer said. We will get there primarily because of Ray Sebestyen and Roger Cooper and Mac Mollohan. They are really goo players. It's really a veteran defensive front (seven)."
Montana State returns five full-time starters among the defensive linemen and linebackers, but has a player who has started at least five games at each of those positions. The secondary, however, needs rebuilding. "Our secondary is new," Kramer said. "Those guys are young, but they're playing well and we have three potential starters that won't join us until fall camp." Cornerback Eddie Smith and safety Corky Lindsay join the team next fall, and cornerback Kahiam Hunter is out this spring with an injury.
Last spring, offensive tackle Joe Hirst emerged from a redshirt season to grab a starting spot, and turned in an outstanding season. This year, sophomore guard Brant Birkeland appears to be doing the same. "Brant Birkeland at left guard and Peder Jensen at left tackle are really doing a nice job. Branton Sherman at wide receiver and (cornerback) Andre Fuller and (safety) Toph Grenfell are showing quite a bit in the secondary."
MSU will practice next on Monday at 3:30 pm.
-msu-
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