Bobcats Scrimmage Sunday Afternoon
3/28/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Montana State football coach Rob Ash is looking for "game-like" conditions during his team's first major scrimmage of the spring, scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 1:40, but he could do without "winter-like."
"We won't keep score in any way," Bobcat coach Rob Ash said of Sunday's scrimmage, "but in other ways it will be game-like. We'll set the scrimmage up to get good individual evaluations."
Ash said the Bobcat staff plans to pay particular attention to the passing game on Sunday. "We are looking to evaluate the play of the quarterbacks, and we're evaluating the young receivers." Ash indicated that, with Cody Kempt shelved during live competition this spring, Mark Iddins and Mark Desin "will rotate reps with the ones and twos," while freshman Byron Campbell will engineer drives with the threes.
The two key elements of MSU's ground game will also receive looks from the Bobcat staff on Sunday, with a special eye on depth. "The offensive line has been excellent so far, especially the guys we project to start," Ash said. "We need to develop a second unit, so battles between the twos and threes are important. At running back, we will give the three guys a lot of turns and see if anyone takes a step ahead of the others."
Sunday's scrimmage marks the first opportunity for the Bobcat staff to evaluate the defense without linebacker Chase Gazzerro, a projected starter who is suspended for the remainder of the spring. "We're looking forward to evaluating Jody Owens in Chase's absence, and we are experimenting with some nickel packages using five defensive backs and two linebackers. We're also looking to evaluate some of the young defensive linemen to identify who can play from among that group, as well as the two young cornerbacks, James Andrews and Zach Coleman."
Ash said Sunday's scrimmage will feature some live elements of the kicking game, without the coverage and return units going live. "It will be good to get an early read on the kicking game," he said. "We're looking for increased consistency from Eric (Fisher, MSU's punter) and (place kicker Jason) Cunningham."
"We won't keep score in any way," Bobcat coach Rob Ash said of Sunday's scrimmage, "but in other ways it will be game-like. We'll set the scrimmage up to get good individual evaluations."
Ash said the Bobcat staff plans to pay particular attention to the passing game on Sunday. "We are looking to evaluate the play of the quarterbacks, and we're evaluating the young receivers." Ash indicated that, with Cody Kempt shelved during live competition this spring, Mark Iddins and Mark Desin "will rotate reps with the ones and twos," while freshman Byron Campbell will engineer drives with the threes.
The two key elements of MSU's ground game will also receive looks from the Bobcat staff on Sunday, with a special eye on depth. "The offensive line has been excellent so far, especially the guys we project to start," Ash said. "We need to develop a second unit, so battles between the twos and threes are important. At running back, we will give the three guys a lot of turns and see if anyone takes a step ahead of the others."
Sunday's scrimmage marks the first opportunity for the Bobcat staff to evaluate the defense without linebacker Chase Gazzerro, a projected starter who is suspended for the remainder of the spring. "We're looking forward to evaluating Jody Owens in Chase's absence, and we are experimenting with some nickel packages using five defensive backs and two linebackers. We're also looking to evaluate some of the young defensive linemen to identify who can play from among that group, as well as the two young cornerbacks, James Andrews and Zach Coleman."
Ash said Sunday's scrimmage will feature some live elements of the kicking game, without the coverage and return units going live. "It will be good to get an early read on the kicking game," he said. "We're looking for increased consistency from Eric (Fisher, MSU's punter) and (place kicker Jason) Cunningham."
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