Bobcat Coaches Like Looks of Safeties
4/16/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Saturday afternoon began with Mike Kramer wondering about his team's safeties. It ended with him pretty good about his 2007 Bobcat defense.
"I liked how our safeties were able to apply our defense and pick up the things we try to do," Kramer said. "Safety is the guts of our defense. Safety carries all of the variability in our defense."
If Saturday's spring-opening scrimmage is an indicator, Bobcat defensive coordinator Rob Christoff said this year's stop unit could be versatile and adaptable. "I thought as a unit they did a good job adjusting to different positions," Christoff said. "We moved (Kevin) Retoriano from strong safety to extra safety, and Abe (Muheize) from free safety to strong safety. The fact that they all did a good job playing each other's positions when he had an injury makes us more versatile."
Christoff said a safety's ability to line up on a top-flight receiver is key. "Right now we're trying to find out who is best playing in man-to-man coverage against the slot," he said. "Once that clears itself up we'll have a better idea of who fits where."
Christoff identified Kevin Retoriano, who saw considerable action at both safety spots last year, leads the way early in fall camp. " Kevin is probably the leader in that group. He's been in the system for three years, and he's a head of Abe and Jeff Brown right now."
Even after the spring, the Bobcats will continue to evolve at safety. "In the fall we'll try to play Epikopo King at safety and Ramon Lewis and maybe two or three others to see what else we can accomplish," Kramer said.
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Bobcat coach Mike Kramer said the MSU coaching staff continues to implement offensive and defensive systems this week, while pushing the team to improve. "Our emphasis this week is to introduce more of our offense and defense and to ask our players to show they can handle it and pick it up. The pace of practicing four straight days then practicing on the fifth adds the kind of mental strain that we want the guys to show they can handle this spring."
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Montana State remains on track for Friday's scrimmage. MSU practiced Monday afternoon in beautiful weather conditions, and is scheduled to work out the next three days at 4 pm. Friday's scrum is 4 pm in Bobcat Stadium.
* * * * *
Former Bobcat quarterback Travis Lulay's professional debut Saturday was spectacular. He led his Berlin Thunder squad of NFL Europa to a 15-3 win, capping it with a 61-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter. He finished 22-for-32 passing, and was his team's leading thrower and ball-carrier.
"I liked how our safeties were able to apply our defense and pick up the things we try to do," Kramer said. "Safety is the guts of our defense. Safety carries all of the variability in our defense."
If Saturday's spring-opening scrimmage is an indicator, Bobcat defensive coordinator Rob Christoff said this year's stop unit could be versatile and adaptable. "I thought as a unit they did a good job adjusting to different positions," Christoff said. "We moved (Kevin) Retoriano from strong safety to extra safety, and Abe (Muheize) from free safety to strong safety. The fact that they all did a good job playing each other's positions when he had an injury makes us more versatile."
Christoff said a safety's ability to line up on a top-flight receiver is key. "Right now we're trying to find out who is best playing in man-to-man coverage against the slot," he said. "Once that clears itself up we'll have a better idea of who fits where."
Christoff identified Kevin Retoriano, who saw considerable action at both safety spots last year, leads the way early in fall camp. " Kevin is probably the leader in that group. He's been in the system for three years, and he's a head of Abe and Jeff Brown right now."
Even after the spring, the Bobcats will continue to evolve at safety. "In the fall we'll try to play Epikopo King at safety and Ramon Lewis and maybe two or three others to see what else we can accomplish," Kramer said.
* * * * *
Bobcat coach Mike Kramer said the MSU coaching staff continues to implement offensive and defensive systems this week, while pushing the team to improve. "Our emphasis this week is to introduce more of our offense and defense and to ask our players to show they can handle it and pick it up. The pace of practicing four straight days then practicing on the fifth adds the kind of mental strain that we want the guys to show they can handle this spring."
* * * * *
Montana State remains on track for Friday's scrimmage. MSU practiced Monday afternoon in beautiful weather conditions, and is scheduled to work out the next three days at 4 pm. Friday's scrum is 4 pm in Bobcat Stadium.
* * * * *
Former Bobcat quarterback Travis Lulay's professional debut Saturday was spectacular. He led his Berlin Thunder squad of NFL Europa to a 15-3 win, capping it with a 61-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter. He finished 22-for-32 passing, and was his team's leading thrower and ball-carrier.
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