Ash Sees Good Things in First Bobcat Scrimmage
8/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Between storm fronts that passed through the Gallatin Valley on Saturday afternoon, Rob Ash put his 2008 Bobcats through their first full-contact scrimmage. And while the Bobcats didn't generate as many lightning strikes as Mother Nature, Ash liked what he saw.
"I thought the offense started strong," Ash said, "but when the defense settled in and started playing well the offense looked a little sloppy. More than anything, I thought that was a function of where we are in camp, of this being the first live scrimmage. Overall, I thought it went well."
While the Bobcat coaching staff allowed 90 minutes for the scrimmage, it lasted just more than an hour. "I think (the lightning storm moving in from the west) motivated us to move quickly," Ash laughed.
Ash liked the productivity and versatility displayed by MSU's running backs. "I thought CJ Palmer and Ricky Evans both ran well," Ash said. "CJ is a strong back, but I think we saw that he has a burst. Ricky has been running well, too. But ahead of both those young guys are the veterans, Aaron Mason and Demetrius Crawford. They have both looked really good in camp, and they both ran well today, and they both do other things well, too, like catching the ball and pass blocking."
The defense had its moments, with each of the varsity defense ends - returning starters Dylan Kinkelaar and Dane Fletcher, returning redshirts Brad Smith and Leo Davis, and Oregon transfer John Laidet - making plays. "Those guys have been very hard to block," Ash said. "There are some good battles going on between our defensive and offensive lines."
While the quarterback competition between JC transfer Mark Iddins, Oregon transfer Cody Kempt and returner Mark Desin, who played receiver last year, continues to generate curiosity outside the Bobcat camp, Rob Ash is in no rush to judgement. "We're still in a holding pattern with those three," Ash said. "They each show good things. The evaluation process continues."
Saturday marked Montana State's first double-day practice session, and Ash said taking Sunday off is a reward for a team that has worked hard in the first week of fall camp. "The offense remains just a little behind because of the reps we lost Thursday and Friday, but I'm glad we got our work in today. The day off will be a positive."
"I thought the offense started strong," Ash said, "but when the defense settled in and started playing well the offense looked a little sloppy. More than anything, I thought that was a function of where we are in camp, of this being the first live scrimmage. Overall, I thought it went well."
While the Bobcat coaching staff allowed 90 minutes for the scrimmage, it lasted just more than an hour. "I think (the lightning storm moving in from the west) motivated us to move quickly," Ash laughed.
Ash liked the productivity and versatility displayed by MSU's running backs. "I thought CJ Palmer and Ricky Evans both ran well," Ash said. "CJ is a strong back, but I think we saw that he has a burst. Ricky has been running well, too. But ahead of both those young guys are the veterans, Aaron Mason and Demetrius Crawford. They have both looked really good in camp, and they both ran well today, and they both do other things well, too, like catching the ball and pass blocking."
The defense had its moments, with each of the varsity defense ends - returning starters Dylan Kinkelaar and Dane Fletcher, returning redshirts Brad Smith and Leo Davis, and Oregon transfer John Laidet - making plays. "Those guys have been very hard to block," Ash said. "There are some good battles going on between our defensive and offensive lines."
While the quarterback competition between JC transfer Mark Iddins, Oregon transfer Cody Kempt and returner Mark Desin, who played receiver last year, continues to generate curiosity outside the Bobcat camp, Rob Ash is in no rush to judgement. "We're still in a holding pattern with those three," Ash said. "They each show good things. The evaluation process continues."
Saturday marked Montana State's first double-day practice session, and Ash said taking Sunday off is a reward for a team that has worked hard in the first week of fall camp. "The offense remains just a little behind because of the reps we lost Thursday and Friday, but I'm glad we got our work in today. The day off will be a positive."
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