Bobcats Face First Fall Scrimmage Saturday
4/13/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Don Bailey knows how it feels to have an experienced quarterback during spring drills. The sensation of having two returning starters, however, is something new.
"It is," Bailey said, acknowledging the unusual dynamic two quarterbacks who have started games brings to an offense, adding that while the approach doesn't change, the pace does. "We usually limit what we do (early in the spring), but with Cory and Jack (returning) we'll be able to do as much as we've ever done in the spring. It changes the thought process, in terms of seeing what they do best and how they mesh in the offense. But for the most part, it really doesn't change dramatically.
Bobcat coach Mike Kramer displays his two returning quarterbacks and the rest of his squad on Saturday at 11 am in Bobcat Stadium, when MSU conducts its first spring scrimmage. "I'm looking forward to seeing how those guys operate, how they respond," Kramer said of his quarterbacks. "We have a chance to be really, really good at that position."
The challenge facing the Bobcat offense, Bailey said, is adapting his scheme to quarterbacks whose in-game styles are diametrically opposed. "Their strengths and weaknesses are opposite," MSU's seventh-year offensive coordinator said. "Jack is a down-the-field, vertical passer, while Cory is a little more conservative, he takes what the defense gives him. We keep that in mind when they're calling plays, and those are the things that they work on."
Quarterback isn't the only position when the Bobcat offense enjoys depth and experience. Three players who have started games at running back spur the offensive backfield. "We need to get Aaron Mason to learn what it takes to continue to get better as a college football player," Bailey said. "He and (Evin) Groves and (Isaiah) Taito are solid football players, so we have a good core of three backs coming back, and we want to get each of them active in the running game."
While the Bobcat offensive line appears ready to progress without missing a beat, returning Jim Verlanic to the starting center role, plugging Jeff Hansen in at one guard slot, and moving Adam DeCock into the vacated tackle position. Bailey said that what doesn't get resolved at receiver, where the 'Cats have to replace a pair of departed starters, in spring ball will be addressed during summer recruiting and fall camp.
Still, Bailey said spring practice returns to the basics. "In the spring we want to teach the fundamentals of our offense," Bailey said. "That's what it's really about."
"It is," Bailey said, acknowledging the unusual dynamic two quarterbacks who have started games brings to an offense, adding that while the approach doesn't change, the pace does. "We usually limit what we do (early in the spring), but with Cory and Jack (returning) we'll be able to do as much as we've ever done in the spring. It changes the thought process, in terms of seeing what they do best and how they mesh in the offense. But for the most part, it really doesn't change dramatically.
Bobcat coach Mike Kramer displays his two returning quarterbacks and the rest of his squad on Saturday at 11 am in Bobcat Stadium, when MSU conducts its first spring scrimmage. "I'm looking forward to seeing how those guys operate, how they respond," Kramer said of his quarterbacks. "We have a chance to be really, really good at that position."
The challenge facing the Bobcat offense, Bailey said, is adapting his scheme to quarterbacks whose in-game styles are diametrically opposed. "Their strengths and weaknesses are opposite," MSU's seventh-year offensive coordinator said. "Jack is a down-the-field, vertical passer, while Cory is a little more conservative, he takes what the defense gives him. We keep that in mind when they're calling plays, and those are the things that they work on."
Quarterback isn't the only position when the Bobcat offense enjoys depth and experience. Three players who have started games at running back spur the offensive backfield. "We need to get Aaron Mason to learn what it takes to continue to get better as a college football player," Bailey said. "He and (Evin) Groves and (Isaiah) Taito are solid football players, so we have a good core of three backs coming back, and we want to get each of them active in the running game."
While the Bobcat offensive line appears ready to progress without missing a beat, returning Jim Verlanic to the starting center role, plugging Jeff Hansen in at one guard slot, and moving Adam DeCock into the vacated tackle position. Bailey said that what doesn't get resolved at receiver, where the 'Cats have to replace a pair of departed starters, in spring ball will be addressed during summer recruiting and fall camp.
Still, Bailey said spring practice returns to the basics. "In the spring we want to teach the fundamentals of our offense," Bailey said. "That's what it's really about."
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