Bobcats Sharp in Second Scrimmage
4/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Bobcat quarterbacks completed 24 of 38 passes for 274 yards in Montana State's second scrimmage of the spring on Friday in Bobcat Stadium, and seventh-year head coach Mike Kramer could barely suppress his enthusiasm.
"That was fun," Kramer said, selling his position further with a megawatt smile. "It was fun to get out here in the Stadium, fun to play in a game setting. We had some new guys that had not played in the Stadium, so it was good to get out here and get our work in."
Fourth-year junior Cory Carpenter, who Kramer said "demonstrated he is a ways ahead" of backup Jack Rolovich, a junior transfer from Hawai'i, completed 11 of 16 passes for 122 yards. He threw for the only touchdown of the scrimmage, a five-yarder to junior tight end Elliott Barnhart, and his interception was the day's only turnover. His 37-yard pass to Arizona transfer Michael Jefferson was the day's longest scrimmage play.
Rolovich was also impressive just six days after MSU quarterbacks completed less than half their passes in the spring's first scrimmage. He was 10-for-15 passing for 117 yards, including a 35-yarder to Derek Green.
Kramer is pleased with the progress his team is making in the passing game. "We are making tippy-toe progress at wideout," he said. "Cory demonstrated he is a ways ahead of Jack. Jack has a lively arm, but he doesn't understand the nuances of what we want."
The Bobcat offense used a wide array of formations, ranging from two tight ends to two backs, a development Kramer chalks up to life "PL," he said. "Post-Lulay. We're not going to be just a four or three-receiver team. The tight end corps is carrying the brunt of the game-day performance expectations, especially (Brandon) Bostick and Barnhart, and Elliott is swimming some right now because he's essentially playing fullback."
Although Kramer said Barnhart and the rest of the tight end crew needs to make progress blocking, the strides taken since last week in catching the ball were visible on Friday. Barnhart caught a team-high four passes for 30 yards, while Ty McDonald caught two, and Nick Parker and Bostick each caught a single pass.
Kramer said that his team is feeling the effects of a somewhat grueling spring session. "The key thing to remember is that because of weather we've experienced 11 practices in 14 days, and because of academic reasons we need to be done at the end of this week. That would tax any program, but to me it's just a tremendous mental challenge that this team must face. Physically we're fine, but the challenge is to be able to be productive and rise to the emotional challenge."
Montana State concludes the spring with four practices next week, culminated with the annual coaches-versus-players softball game in the Stadium on Thursday and the Sonny Holland Scrimmage on Friday.
RUSHING: Evin Groves 12-23, Isaiah Taito 11-34, Chase Gazzerro 8-36, Terrance Foster 1- -2, Dustin Baxter 1-0.
PASSING: Cory Carpenter 16-11-1, 122, 1; Jack Rolovish 15-10-0, 117, 0; Colin Beeson 4-3-0, 35; Michael Jefferson 1-0-0.
RECEIVING: Elliott Barnhart 4-30-1, Michael Jefferson 3-62, Isaiah Taito 3-18-0, Ty McDonald 2-19; Derek Green 2-41, Mike Brown 2-28, Evin Groves 1-0, Nick Parker 1-6, Luke Holden 1-12, Deon Toliver 1-11, Chase Gazzerro 1-4, Brandon Bostick 1-26, Skylar Johnson 1-23.
"That was fun," Kramer said, selling his position further with a megawatt smile. "It was fun to get out here in the Stadium, fun to play in a game setting. We had some new guys that had not played in the Stadium, so it was good to get out here and get our work in."
Fourth-year junior Cory Carpenter, who Kramer said "demonstrated he is a ways ahead" of backup Jack Rolovich, a junior transfer from Hawai'i, completed 11 of 16 passes for 122 yards. He threw for the only touchdown of the scrimmage, a five-yarder to junior tight end Elliott Barnhart, and his interception was the day's only turnover. His 37-yard pass to Arizona transfer Michael Jefferson was the day's longest scrimmage play.
Rolovich was also impressive just six days after MSU quarterbacks completed less than half their passes in the spring's first scrimmage. He was 10-for-15 passing for 117 yards, including a 35-yarder to Derek Green.
Kramer is pleased with the progress his team is making in the passing game. "We are making tippy-toe progress at wideout," he said. "Cory demonstrated he is a ways ahead of Jack. Jack has a lively arm, but he doesn't understand the nuances of what we want."
The Bobcat offense used a wide array of formations, ranging from two tight ends to two backs, a development Kramer chalks up to life "PL," he said. "Post-Lulay. We're not going to be just a four or three-receiver team. The tight end corps is carrying the brunt of the game-day performance expectations, especially (Brandon) Bostick and Barnhart, and Elliott is swimming some right now because he's essentially playing fullback."
Although Kramer said Barnhart and the rest of the tight end crew needs to make progress blocking, the strides taken since last week in catching the ball were visible on Friday. Barnhart caught a team-high four passes for 30 yards, while Ty McDonald caught two, and Nick Parker and Bostick each caught a single pass.
Kramer said that his team is feeling the effects of a somewhat grueling spring session. "The key thing to remember is that because of weather we've experienced 11 practices in 14 days, and because of academic reasons we need to be done at the end of this week. That would tax any program, but to me it's just a tremendous mental challenge that this team must face. Physically we're fine, but the challenge is to be able to be productive and rise to the emotional challenge."
Montana State concludes the spring with four practices next week, culminated with the annual coaches-versus-players softball game in the Stadium on Thursday and the Sonny Holland Scrimmage on Friday.
RUSHING: Evin Groves 12-23, Isaiah Taito 11-34, Chase Gazzerro 8-36, Terrance Foster 1- -2, Dustin Baxter 1-0.
PASSING: Cory Carpenter 16-11-1, 122, 1; Jack Rolovish 15-10-0, 117, 0; Colin Beeson 4-3-0, 35; Michael Jefferson 1-0-0.
RECEIVING: Elliott Barnhart 4-30-1, Michael Jefferson 3-62, Isaiah Taito 3-18-0, Ty McDonald 2-19; Derek Green 2-41, Mike Brown 2-28, Evin Groves 1-0, Nick Parker 1-6, Luke Holden 1-12, Deon Toliver 1-11, Chase Gazzerro 1-4, Brandon Bostick 1-26, Skylar Johnson 1-23.
Wednesday, June 10
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Friday, March 13
