Bobcat Offense Shines in Scrimmage
4/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
On one of the most spring-like days Montana State's football team has experienced during spring drills, the Bobcat offense played much of Saturday's scrimmage at an fall-like tempo.
"I felt like that was a major plus today for the offense," Bobcat coach Rob Ash said of MSU's offensive pace and rhythm in scoring four touchdowns and six field goals in the 95-play session. "One advantage the offense has is that it can always control the temp. (Co-offensive coordinators) Dale (Ploessl) and Jim (Svoboda) have really worked hard on that this spring, and I felt like today was closer to where we want to get."
Quarterback Mark Iddins completed 17 of his 25 passes for 166 yards, while Blayde Becksted (87 yards on 20 carries) and CJ Palmer 73 yards, 11 carries) combined to rush for 160 yards. Even MSU's injury-riddled receiving corps got into the action, with Dan Malison catching four balls for 57 yards, and Derek Green catching two for 29.
With all the big offensive stats MSU posted, Ash was more impressed with one category that featured a zero. "First and foremost we protected the ball," Ash said. "No turnovers. To me, that was maybe the highlight of the day."
Although the Bobcat offense started the 100-minute scrimmage slowly, picking up just two first downs in the first three series, things clicked at a high level for much of the afternoon. "We started slow and we finished a little slow," said senior guard Jeff Hansen. "But we picked up some big plays, we had a great tempo, and that's the thing we have to keep working on."
After Jason Cunningham nailed a 35-yard field goal on MSU's third offensive possession, Mark Iddins led the team on a 70-yard scoring march, capped by CJ Palmer's 14-yard touchdown run. Palmer gained 24 rushing yards in that drive.
Following a punt and another Cunningham field goal, this one from 48 yards, Iddins marshaled the two most impressive offensive drives of the spring. The senior quarterback, who became the starter for the time being after Mark Desin moved back to receiver last week, completed a 13-yard pass to Kruiz Siewing then a 20-yarder to Joe Schreibeis. One first down going in from the 37, CJ Palmer rumbled 37 yards for a touchdown.
After an incomplete pass opened the next drive, Iddins found Derek Green for 26 yards, and then Blayde Becksted dashed 44 yards for a touchdown.
"I thought both (Palmer and Becksted) had great days," Ash said. "It's a great example of what competition can do, because those guys are both competing very hard to be the starting running back. The O-line did a great job, too."
While the offense appeared in control for much of the scrimmage, the defense had the last word. After the back-to-back three-play scoring drives, MSU entered a red zone segment of the scrimmage, with seven drives starting at the 15-yard line. The defense immediately took control, limiting the offense to a 30-yard Cunningham field goal on the first possession. After CJ Palmer scored on a one-yard run, the defense held the Bobcat offense to -7 yards on 15 plays, without a first down and with only three field goals.
"I think the defense really stepped up in the red zone, more than the offense wearing down or anything," Ash said. "They're not used to giving up the big plays, so when we switched gears there the defense rose up."
Ash tipped his cap to Cunningham as one of MSU's steadiest performers on the afternoon. "I thought Jason Cunningham had a great day," Ash said of his place kicker, who was six-for-seven on field goals and four-for-four on PATs. "He was really impressive."
MSU practices on Monday and Wednesday afternoon, before traveling to Great Falls Friday for the annual Triangle Classic weekend. The Triangle Classic Banquet is Friday at 6 pm at Four Seasons Arena, while the kids' cheer and football clinics are at 2 pm Saturday at the Paris Gibson practice fields, and the Triangle Classic Scrimmage kicks off at 6 pm Saturday at Memorial Stadium. NFL Hall of Famer Deacon Jones is the guest speaker at the banquet, and also signs autographs at 1 pm Saturday at Paris Gibson.
RUSHING: Blayde Becksted 20-87-1, CJ Palmer 11-73-2, Mark Iddins 7- -2-0.
PASSING: Mark Iddins 25-17-0, 166, 0; Byron Campbell 11-5-0, 76, 0.
RECEIVING: Shane Robison 4-27, CJ Palmer 1-24, Dan Malison 4-57, Derek Green 2-29, Kruiz Siewing 2-19, Joe Schreibeis 3-35, Blayde Becksted 1-17, Reil Cornelius 2-24, Foster 1-7, Kyle Begger 1-4.
DEFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS: Michael Rider - 1 pass breakup; Dustin O'Connell - 1 sack, 1 pass breakup; John Laidet - 1 sack; Leo Davis - 1 sack.
"I felt like that was a major plus today for the offense," Bobcat coach Rob Ash said of MSU's offensive pace and rhythm in scoring four touchdowns and six field goals in the 95-play session. "One advantage the offense has is that it can always control the temp. (Co-offensive coordinators) Dale (Ploessl) and Jim (Svoboda) have really worked hard on that this spring, and I felt like today was closer to where we want to get."
Quarterback Mark Iddins completed 17 of his 25 passes for 166 yards, while Blayde Becksted (87 yards on 20 carries) and CJ Palmer 73 yards, 11 carries) combined to rush for 160 yards. Even MSU's injury-riddled receiving corps got into the action, with Dan Malison catching four balls for 57 yards, and Derek Green catching two for 29.
With all the big offensive stats MSU posted, Ash was more impressed with one category that featured a zero. "First and foremost we protected the ball," Ash said. "No turnovers. To me, that was maybe the highlight of the day."
Although the Bobcat offense started the 100-minute scrimmage slowly, picking up just two first downs in the first three series, things clicked at a high level for much of the afternoon. "We started slow and we finished a little slow," said senior guard Jeff Hansen. "But we picked up some big plays, we had a great tempo, and that's the thing we have to keep working on."
After Jason Cunningham nailed a 35-yard field goal on MSU's third offensive possession, Mark Iddins led the team on a 70-yard scoring march, capped by CJ Palmer's 14-yard touchdown run. Palmer gained 24 rushing yards in that drive.
Following a punt and another Cunningham field goal, this one from 48 yards, Iddins marshaled the two most impressive offensive drives of the spring. The senior quarterback, who became the starter for the time being after Mark Desin moved back to receiver last week, completed a 13-yard pass to Kruiz Siewing then a 20-yarder to Joe Schreibeis. One first down going in from the 37, CJ Palmer rumbled 37 yards for a touchdown.
After an incomplete pass opened the next drive, Iddins found Derek Green for 26 yards, and then Blayde Becksted dashed 44 yards for a touchdown.
"I thought both (Palmer and Becksted) had great days," Ash said. "It's a great example of what competition can do, because those guys are both competing very hard to be the starting running back. The O-line did a great job, too."
While the offense appeared in control for much of the scrimmage, the defense had the last word. After the back-to-back three-play scoring drives, MSU entered a red zone segment of the scrimmage, with seven drives starting at the 15-yard line. The defense immediately took control, limiting the offense to a 30-yard Cunningham field goal on the first possession. After CJ Palmer scored on a one-yard run, the defense held the Bobcat offense to -7 yards on 15 plays, without a first down and with only three field goals.
"I think the defense really stepped up in the red zone, more than the offense wearing down or anything," Ash said. "They're not used to giving up the big plays, so when we switched gears there the defense rose up."
Ash tipped his cap to Cunningham as one of MSU's steadiest performers on the afternoon. "I thought Jason Cunningham had a great day," Ash said of his place kicker, who was six-for-seven on field goals and four-for-four on PATs. "He was really impressive."
MSU practices on Monday and Wednesday afternoon, before traveling to Great Falls Friday for the annual Triangle Classic weekend. The Triangle Classic Banquet is Friday at 6 pm at Four Seasons Arena, while the kids' cheer and football clinics are at 2 pm Saturday at the Paris Gibson practice fields, and the Triangle Classic Scrimmage kicks off at 6 pm Saturday at Memorial Stadium. NFL Hall of Famer Deacon Jones is the guest speaker at the banquet, and also signs autographs at 1 pm Saturday at Paris Gibson.
RUSHING: Blayde Becksted 20-87-1, CJ Palmer 11-73-2, Mark Iddins 7- -2-0.
PASSING: Mark Iddins 25-17-0, 166, 0; Byron Campbell 11-5-0, 76, 0.
RECEIVING: Shane Robison 4-27, CJ Palmer 1-24, Dan Malison 4-57, Derek Green 2-29, Kruiz Siewing 2-19, Joe Schreibeis 3-35, Blayde Becksted 1-17, Reil Cornelius 2-24, Foster 1-7, Kyle Begger 1-4.
DEFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS: Michael Rider - 1 pass breakup; Dustin O'Connell - 1 sack, 1 pass breakup; John Laidet - 1 sack; Leo Davis - 1 sack.
Wednesday, August 19
Wednesday, June 10
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
