With Alex Terrien (61), Ben Tauanuu (62) and Conrad Burbank (68) all shelved, MSU's O-line still played well in Great Falls
Photo by: Kelly Gorham
Bobcat O-Line Holds Up in Face of Injuries
4/13/2010 8:42:07 AM | Football
Patchwork front, dynamic skill players lead offense during Triangle Classic
It's not a riddle, but Rob Ash knows exactly when one actually equals two.
That mathematical oddity occurs when Montana State's fourth-year head coach is discussing his team's “tattered” offensive line. “Especially the ones,” he said in lauding the play of his offensive line in last Saturday's Triangle Classic Scrimmage in Great Falls, “which are actually the twos.”
The ones are actually the twos because returning four returning starters - Alex Terrien (center), Conrad Burbank (tackle) and Leo Davis (tackle) are recovering from injury, while Ben Tauanuu (guard) is suspended for the remainder of the spring – missed the scrimmage. “We had to move people up (from the second unit), and I thought they responded well. I thought Casey Dennehy did a very serviceable job at center, and Bernard and Hoffmann played OK at times at guard. Killian (Fitzpatrick) showed some progress, which was good.”
MSU offensive line coach Jason McEndoo, who is experiencing his eighth consecutive spring working with an offensive line different than the one he will go to work with in the fall, is cautiously pleased with his current unit's play. “It's a work in progress,” McEndoo said. “Mike (Person) is the only starter out there right now, so we have four new guys. We're just trying to get better every practice, to work on fundamentals, play as a unit.”
While Ash knows that offensive success “begins with the offensive line,” he was pleased with other elements, as well. “The receivers caught the ball well,” he said, “ran good routes. The passing game in general was pretty solid. I liked the way (running backs Everett) Gilbert and Cody (Kirk) complemented each other in the running game. Cody gives you the power and the physical play, and Everett came in and did a nice job with the big play stuff, the screens and the pass game, and I thought he ran the ball pretty decently, saw his holes. He's still not all the way there, but he's made progress becoming more versatile every day.”
MSU's offensive line cleared the way for run game success Saturday. Kirk rumbled for 103 yards on the ground, while Gilbert added 24 rushing yards and 51 more through the air. While Ash cited the play of the offensive line and the offense in general, he cautioned that some portion of it relates to the current battered state of the Bobcat defense. “I like what (the running backs) did (Saturday), but that had something to do with our inexperience at linebacker,” Ash said. “Those young linebackers aren't quite making plays that our group will typically make.”
Still, Ash was impressed with his offense's productivity last weekend. “In terms of our offensive execution in general, I really like the way that group is being taught,” Ash said. “It all starts with the quarterback. Our quarterbacks are picking things up and running with them well. Cody (Kempt) is experienced, and Denarius (McGhee) and Cody Davies are quick studies.”
As is the case across the board in the spring, McEndoo said the greatest benefit is derived by young players. “It's always a big thing for the young guys to see live bullets flying by their heads,” he said. “You can do all the chalk talk and classroom work you want, but live looks are different. The tempo is different, the speed things are coming at you is different.”
Ash received more troubling injury news Monday, although it didn't further thin the offensive line. Linebacker Shonquille Dorsey suffered a broken hand Saturday. Dorsey may miss some action this week. Defensive end Preston Gale suffered a concussion Saturday, and is likely out for the week.
MSU's spring drills continue with practices Wednesday and Friday at 3:30 pm. Saturday's practice is tentatively scheduled for 11 am, with an in-practice scrimmage possible. Ash said the weekend plans are subject to change.
That mathematical oddity occurs when Montana State's fourth-year head coach is discussing his team's “tattered” offensive line. “Especially the ones,” he said in lauding the play of his offensive line in last Saturday's Triangle Classic Scrimmage in Great Falls, “which are actually the twos.”
The ones are actually the twos because returning four returning starters - Alex Terrien (center), Conrad Burbank (tackle) and Leo Davis (tackle) are recovering from injury, while Ben Tauanuu (guard) is suspended for the remainder of the spring – missed the scrimmage. “We had to move people up (from the second unit), and I thought they responded well. I thought Casey Dennehy did a very serviceable job at center, and Bernard and Hoffmann played OK at times at guard. Killian (Fitzpatrick) showed some progress, which was good.”
MSU offensive line coach Jason McEndoo, who is experiencing his eighth consecutive spring working with an offensive line different than the one he will go to work with in the fall, is cautiously pleased with his current unit's play. “It's a work in progress,” McEndoo said. “Mike (Person) is the only starter out there right now, so we have four new guys. We're just trying to get better every practice, to work on fundamentals, play as a unit.”
While Ash knows that offensive success “begins with the offensive line,” he was pleased with other elements, as well. “The receivers caught the ball well,” he said, “ran good routes. The passing game in general was pretty solid. I liked the way (running backs Everett) Gilbert and Cody (Kirk) complemented each other in the running game. Cody gives you the power and the physical play, and Everett came in and did a nice job with the big play stuff, the screens and the pass game, and I thought he ran the ball pretty decently, saw his holes. He's still not all the way there, but he's made progress becoming more versatile every day.”
MSU's offensive line cleared the way for run game success Saturday. Kirk rumbled for 103 yards on the ground, while Gilbert added 24 rushing yards and 51 more through the air. While Ash cited the play of the offensive line and the offense in general, he cautioned that some portion of it relates to the current battered state of the Bobcat defense. “I like what (the running backs) did (Saturday), but that had something to do with our inexperience at linebacker,” Ash said. “Those young linebackers aren't quite making plays that our group will typically make.”
Still, Ash was impressed with his offense's productivity last weekend. “In terms of our offensive execution in general, I really like the way that group is being taught,” Ash said. “It all starts with the quarterback. Our quarterbacks are picking things up and running with them well. Cody (Kempt) is experienced, and Denarius (McGhee) and Cody Davies are quick studies.”
As is the case across the board in the spring, McEndoo said the greatest benefit is derived by young players. “It's always a big thing for the young guys to see live bullets flying by their heads,” he said. “You can do all the chalk talk and classroom work you want, but live looks are different. The tempo is different, the speed things are coming at you is different.”
Ash received more troubling injury news Monday, although it didn't further thin the offensive line. Linebacker Shonquille Dorsey suffered a broken hand Saturday. Dorsey may miss some action this week. Defensive end Preston Gale suffered a concussion Saturday, and is likely out for the week.
MSU's spring drills continue with practices Wednesday and Friday at 3:30 pm. Saturday's practice is tentatively scheduled for 11 am, with an in-practice scrimmage possible. Ash said the weekend plans are subject to change.
Thursday, July 31
Monday, May 19
Wednesday, May 03
Wednesday, May 03
