Daws' Move Lands Frosh in RT Spot
8/22/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
The future arrives Monday morning for Montana State’s offensive line.
When the Bobcats begin their first session of two-a-day practices on Monday, senior Dusty Daws will be back in number 96, signifying his return to the tight end position. The effect of that move, according to Bobcat head coach Mike Kramer, is significant. “That means we’re about to force-feed Adam DeCock the right tackle position.”
DeCock, a freshman from Harlowton who has been sporadic but improving during the first week of MSU’s fall training camp, officially -- for now -- inherits the starting right tackle spot occupied by Joe Hirst last year. Hirst will miss the season with a knee injury suffered this summer. Sophomore Garin Brewton will serve as DeCock’s backup.
The moves, according to Kramer, amounted to a weighty decision. “Dusty is 235 lbs, and we are just not going to beat anybody with a right tackle at 235 lbs,” Kramer said. “Dusty just wasn’t able to keep weight on because of his shoulder injury (that kept him from lifting weights this summer), and those young tight ends didn’t show us enough the last five days for us to feel like any of them are ready for prime time.”
Whether he’s ready or not, DeCock will be cast in a prime time situation the next two weeks. “We’re going to see,” Kramer said. “He’s 6-6, 285 lbs, and he has some of the skills that give him a chance right now, as young as he is. He’ll get all the reps at right tackle in the next two weeks. Even if this isn’t Adam’s time to take over a starting job, he’s essentially no worse than our sixth lineman this year, so this is an important period of growth and learning for him.”
Down the road, Kramer has other options at the right tackle position. Daws could move back, or Jeff Bolton, MSU’s starting right guard, could move out to tackle, which would open a spot for senior Lawrence Figueroa. “There may come a point that Fig simply has to be on the field,” Kramer said of the player who became MSU’s starting center at mid-season last year before a broken leg ended his season. “He’s almost there. We have some things to look at.”
Kramer said that he doesn’t feel the need to become settled in the offensive line until the team boards the charter flight for the Colorado State game, MSU’s third tilt of the season. “Until the CSU game, we’ll be mix-and-match in the offensive line, and maybe we’ll be that way all season. I knew back in May that losing Joe (Hirst) would be a difficult situation to overcome, and that’s proving out.”
When the Bobcats begin their first session of two-a-day practices on Monday, senior Dusty Daws will be back in number 96, signifying his return to the tight end position. The effect of that move, according to Bobcat head coach Mike Kramer, is significant. “That means we’re about to force-feed Adam DeCock the right tackle position.”
DeCock, a freshman from Harlowton who has been sporadic but improving during the first week of MSU’s fall training camp, officially -- for now -- inherits the starting right tackle spot occupied by Joe Hirst last year. Hirst will miss the season with a knee injury suffered this summer. Sophomore Garin Brewton will serve as DeCock’s backup.
The moves, according to Kramer, amounted to a weighty decision. “Dusty is 235 lbs, and we are just not going to beat anybody with a right tackle at 235 lbs,” Kramer said. “Dusty just wasn’t able to keep weight on because of his shoulder injury (that kept him from lifting weights this summer), and those young tight ends didn’t show us enough the last five days for us to feel like any of them are ready for prime time.”
Whether he’s ready or not, DeCock will be cast in a prime time situation the next two weeks. “We’re going to see,” Kramer said. “He’s 6-6, 285 lbs, and he has some of the skills that give him a chance right now, as young as he is. He’ll get all the reps at right tackle in the next two weeks. Even if this isn’t Adam’s time to take over a starting job, he’s essentially no worse than our sixth lineman this year, so this is an important period of growth and learning for him.”
Down the road, Kramer has other options at the right tackle position. Daws could move back, or Jeff Bolton, MSU’s starting right guard, could move out to tackle, which would open a spot for senior Lawrence Figueroa. “There may come a point that Fig simply has to be on the field,” Kramer said of the player who became MSU’s starting center at mid-season last year before a broken leg ended his season. “He’s almost there. We have some things to look at.”
Kramer said that he doesn’t feel the need to become settled in the offensive line until the team boards the charter flight for the Colorado State game, MSU’s third tilt of the season. “Until the CSU game, we’ll be mix-and-match in the offensive line, and maybe we’ll be that way all season. I knew back in May that losing Joe (Hirst) would be a difficult situation to overcome, and that’s proving out.”
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