Kramer Gives Scrimmage Thumbs Up
4/12/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
On task, on time. That's how Mike Kramer saw Montana State's first scrimmage of the spring last Saturday in Great Falls.
"We functioned well on both sides of the ball," Kramer said. "I saw pretty good awareness on the part of all three quarterbacks. They threw well and saw things well. They're right where I thought they'd be. They're a pretty talented group."
Kramer has enjoyed watching reserve quarterbacks Cory Carpenter and Rick Coppack battle for backup duty behind returning All-Big Sky signal caller Travis Lulay. "They looked pretty smooth," he said. "They both have a strong sense of awareness and aplomb."
While Montana State's defense has drawn attention after collapsing under a cascade of injuries late last fall, several question marks have been addressed this spring. "(Defensive linemen) Aaron Papich and Ryan Cogley have played pretty well at times, they both look good," Kramer said. "Clive Lowe has played well at Sam, and Mac and Nick are just good linebackers. The experience those guys bring is a real key element for our defense right now."
Kramer identified the receiver corps, depleted as it is by injuries to starters Brandon Roosevelt and Rick Gatewood and reserve Mike Brown, as an area of improvement. "We had some drops," Kramer said. "It's obvious that we have to catch the ball better, we had too many drops Saturday."
* * * * *
While Mike Kramer said he's not trying to turn the clock ahead a year, he will get a look at what his Bobcat offense is like without Travis Lulay on Saturday. The 'Cats stage a live scrimmage at 11 am Saturday, and all players -- including quarterbacks -- will be live. The twist is that Travis Lulay will sit out the scrimmage, giving way to reserves Cory Carpenter and Rick Coppack.
"I see it as a situation with a lot of opportunities," said MSU coach Mike Kramer. "It will be a full-fledged scrimmage, live on the quarterbacks, with as close to a game-day feeling as we can get. This gives our young quarterbacks a game-type feeling, with the possibility of impromptu plays. It also gives our defense the chance to go at the quarterback. It should be good for the young quarterbacks, and good for the defense."
* * * * *
Mike Kramer has set Montana State's practice schedule for the remainder of the spring, which included setting the team's final scrimmages. Montana State holds its second scrimmage of the spring this Saturday at 11 am in Bobcat Stadium, then stages the Sonny Holland Classic on Thursday, April 20 at 4 pm in the Stadium.
Wednesday April 13 3:45 pm
Thursday April 14 3:45 pm
Friday April 15 3:45 pm
Saturday April 16 11 am -- Scrimmage #2 -- Bobcat Stadium
Monday April 18 3:45 pm
Wednesday April 19 3:45 pm
Thursday April 20 4 pm -- Sonny Holland Classic -- Bobcat Stadium
"We functioned well on both sides of the ball," Kramer said. "I saw pretty good awareness on the part of all three quarterbacks. They threw well and saw things well. They're right where I thought they'd be. They're a pretty talented group."
Kramer has enjoyed watching reserve quarterbacks Cory Carpenter and Rick Coppack battle for backup duty behind returning All-Big Sky signal caller Travis Lulay. "They looked pretty smooth," he said. "They both have a strong sense of awareness and aplomb."
While Montana State's defense has drawn attention after collapsing under a cascade of injuries late last fall, several question marks have been addressed this spring. "(Defensive linemen) Aaron Papich and Ryan Cogley have played pretty well at times, they both look good," Kramer said. "Clive Lowe has played well at Sam, and Mac and Nick are just good linebackers. The experience those guys bring is a real key element for our defense right now."
Kramer identified the receiver corps, depleted as it is by injuries to starters Brandon Roosevelt and Rick Gatewood and reserve Mike Brown, as an area of improvement. "We had some drops," Kramer said. "It's obvious that we have to catch the ball better, we had too many drops Saturday."
* * * * *
While Mike Kramer said he's not trying to turn the clock ahead a year, he will get a look at what his Bobcat offense is like without Travis Lulay on Saturday. The 'Cats stage a live scrimmage at 11 am Saturday, and all players -- including quarterbacks -- will be live. The twist is that Travis Lulay will sit out the scrimmage, giving way to reserves Cory Carpenter and Rick Coppack.
"I see it as a situation with a lot of opportunities," said MSU coach Mike Kramer. "It will be a full-fledged scrimmage, live on the quarterbacks, with as close to a game-day feeling as we can get. This gives our young quarterbacks a game-type feeling, with the possibility of impromptu plays. It also gives our defense the chance to go at the quarterback. It should be good for the young quarterbacks, and good for the defense."
* * * * *
Mike Kramer has set Montana State's practice schedule for the remainder of the spring, which included setting the team's final scrimmages. Montana State holds its second scrimmage of the spring this Saturday at 11 am in Bobcat Stadium, then stages the Sonny Holland Classic on Thursday, April 20 at 4 pm in the Stadium.
Wednesday April 13 3:45 pm
Thursday April 14 3:45 pm
Friday April 15 3:45 pm
Saturday April 16 11 am -- Scrimmage #2 -- Bobcat Stadium
Monday April 18 3:45 pm
Wednesday April 19 3:45 pm
Thursday April 20 4 pm -- Sonny Holland Classic -- Bobcat Stadium
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
