Spring FB Notebook #1: Bailey Cooks Up Reprise
4/1/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Don Bailey didn't get too worked up during the eight-day period of bad weather that kept the Bobcat football team from beginning spring football practice sessions on time. Instead, he did what any mad scientist would do.
He retreated to the laboratory.
"We had a lot of time, so we drew up defenses," said Bailey, Montana State's fifth-year offensive coordinator who has led the Bobcat offense from the bottom of the Big Sky to the top in offensive production. "We looked at all kinds of different things. We stayed busy."
The week off the field fits into what Bailey hopes to accomplish with the Bobcat offense as the team gets going, primarily because of the team's offensive experience. "You can do a lot more experimenting, look at different protections, because we can be confident with it," Bailey said. "We know that the kids will understand what we're trying to do, and we'll be able to evaluate what the kids can handle."
Bailey says the Bobcats will move quickly to put in the Bobcat offense. "We put it all in during the first three practices," Bailey said. "I used to try to do the insertion in seven or eight days, but we've done it in three days since I've been here, and never had a problem."
The team's experience allows Bailey to evaluate Montana State's younger players as he puts in the Bobcat offense. "I'm looking at the young tight ends, all of them," Bailey said. I'm looking at the wide-outs, the young quarterbacks, and (running back) Evin Groves."
* * * * *
Mike Kramer was positive about Montana State's first practice sessions Thursday and Friday. "Acceptable," he said.
Kramer calls the presence of quarterback Travis Lulay an abiding factor in the team's early progress. "The quarterbacks have a lot of experience," he said. "Those two young guys are in their second spring with us so they are functioning, and when you have an offensive line with experience you'll look like you know what you're doing."
Still, Kramer said Montana State's defense draws a lot of his attention. "We're working to re-tool and re-build our defense this spring, so that is a primary concern."
* * * * *
One position flying under the radar early this spring is long snapper. The loss of Dusty Daws may have been extremely damaging at various points in MSU's recent football history, but not so this year.
"(Freshman tight end) Brandon Bostick has done a nice job," Kramer said.
Offensive line coach Jason McEndoo, who coaches the team's long snappers, said Bostick is at least on schedule. "He is where Dusty Daws would have been as a freshman," McEndoo said. "He's a good one. He snaps a nice, crisp ball, he has good speed, good velocity."
Still, there's one issue that won't be resolved until the fall, McEndoo said. "The only concern is getting a couple of games under his belt. That's a different situation than doing it in practice."
* * * * *
Montana State practices at 11 am on Saturday, the team's first day in pads this spring, then goes Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 3:30 pm next week before traveling to Great Falls on Friday. The 'Cats scrimmage Saturday at 1 pm in Great Falls' Memorial Stadium.
-msu-
He retreated to the laboratory.
"We had a lot of time, so we drew up defenses," said Bailey, Montana State's fifth-year offensive coordinator who has led the Bobcat offense from the bottom of the Big Sky to the top in offensive production. "We looked at all kinds of different things. We stayed busy."
The week off the field fits into what Bailey hopes to accomplish with the Bobcat offense as the team gets going, primarily because of the team's offensive experience. "You can do a lot more experimenting, look at different protections, because we can be confident with it," Bailey said. "We know that the kids will understand what we're trying to do, and we'll be able to evaluate what the kids can handle."
Bailey says the Bobcats will move quickly to put in the Bobcat offense. "We put it all in during the first three practices," Bailey said. "I used to try to do the insertion in seven or eight days, but we've done it in three days since I've been here, and never had a problem."
The team's experience allows Bailey to evaluate Montana State's younger players as he puts in the Bobcat offense. "I'm looking at the young tight ends, all of them," Bailey said. I'm looking at the wide-outs, the young quarterbacks, and (running back) Evin Groves."
* * * * *
Mike Kramer was positive about Montana State's first practice sessions Thursday and Friday. "Acceptable," he said.
Kramer calls the presence of quarterback Travis Lulay an abiding factor in the team's early progress. "The quarterbacks have a lot of experience," he said. "Those two young guys are in their second spring with us so they are functioning, and when you have an offensive line with experience you'll look like you know what you're doing."
Still, Kramer said Montana State's defense draws a lot of his attention. "We're working to re-tool and re-build our defense this spring, so that is a primary concern."
* * * * *
One position flying under the radar early this spring is long snapper. The loss of Dusty Daws may have been extremely damaging at various points in MSU's recent football history, but not so this year.
"(Freshman tight end) Brandon Bostick has done a nice job," Kramer said.
Offensive line coach Jason McEndoo, who coaches the team's long snappers, said Bostick is at least on schedule. "He is where Dusty Daws would have been as a freshman," McEndoo said. "He's a good one. He snaps a nice, crisp ball, he has good speed, good velocity."
Still, there's one issue that won't be resolved until the fall, McEndoo said. "The only concern is getting a couple of games under his belt. That's a different situation than doing it in practice."
* * * * *
Montana State practices at 11 am on Saturday, the team's first day in pads this spring, then goes Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 3:30 pm next week before traveling to Great Falls on Friday. The 'Cats scrimmage Saturday at 1 pm in Great Falls' Memorial Stadium.
-msu-
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
