CATS IN CAMP NOTEBOOK: Day #9
8/18/2015 5:13:00 PM | Football
Enthusiasm punctuates MSU's Tuesday practice
The din during Montana State's Tuesday morning football practice erupted occasionally, ringing throughout empty Bobcat Stadium and at times rattling across Kagy Boulevard and beyond. Not surprisingly, it caught Rob Ash's attention.
"I loved the enthusiasm today," MSU's ninth-year head football coach said after his team's morning practice, Tuesday's only formal session. "That was great. Each side kept ratcheting up the other side with some celebrations on good plays. The offense would make a play and celebrate, the defense would make one and celebrate louder, and it kept going back and forth. That really helped our practice, the enthusiasm and energy the guys had."
As much as Ash liked what happened during Tuesday morning's practice, he was even happier after. "The cool thing at the end of practice was that everyone celebrated together," Ash said. "There was no animosity or carryover (from practice), at the end of the day we were all one day. I think they can see the light at the end of the tunnel."
Montana State practices twice Wednesday (9:15 am and 4 pm) before taking Thursday off for team photos.
YOUNG DUDES: Several members of Montana State's 2015 recruiting class fared well Tuesday, starting with one of its most high-profile members. "I thought Jordan (Hoy, a true freshman quarterback) had his best practice in camp, by far, I really did. He's very decisive. That's the thing I like about him the best, he makes a quick decision and he throws the ball and he's usually right. He was a little off on some of his accuracy earlier, but today he put the ball right on the money. I thought he ran the ball nicely. He got a lot of reps yesterday afternoon because Dakota sat out, and that may have helped him." A pair of young offensive linemen also performed well. "Mitch Brott is playing well as a true freshman in the offensive line. I thoguth Jake McFetridge had his best day in the offensive line today, he's doing well."
LINING UP: The offensive line has operated in a state of flux throughout camp as senior starters Kyle Godecke and Alex Eekhoff recover from off-season surgeries. Ash said Tuesday that the two are making progress. "We're bringing Godecke along slowly on purpose. He's actually 100% healthy, it's just precautionary with him. Alex, his shoulder is a little more dicey. Our target all along has been to get them ready for (the team's scrimmage this) Saturday, see if we can get them some reps in the scrimmage and see how they hold up."
DETAILS: Ash said one of his team's top priorities in preparation for Saturday's final scrimmage of the fall is to clean up assignment issues. "The film was good on Saturday for the most part. I always say it's tough to evaluate a guy if he's not doing the right assignment, so we still have to clean that up. If a guy is wrong on the assignment, then you don't know if he's able to make the play or not. That's our goal this week is that we make sure we get everybody taught the assignments."
INJURIES: While two of the team's offensive staples – running backs Gunnar Brekke and Chad Newell – were full go Tuesday, a pair of younger players missed time. Running back Nick LaSane sprained a knee Saturday and was limited to running on the side Tuesday, while tight end Austin Barth suffers from what Ash called a "stomach ailment" and missed practice.
FUN, FUN, FUN: Saturday is the program's annual Family Fun Day at Bobcat Stadium. The event, held in the Sonny Holland End Zone Complex, begins at 2 pm.
TICKETS: Tickets remain for Montana State season-opening Gold Rush game on Thursday, Sept. 3. For information, call 406/994-CATS or visit msubobcats.com.
"I loved the enthusiasm today," MSU's ninth-year head football coach said after his team's morning practice, Tuesday's only formal session. "That was great. Each side kept ratcheting up the other side with some celebrations on good plays. The offense would make a play and celebrate, the defense would make one and celebrate louder, and it kept going back and forth. That really helped our practice, the enthusiasm and energy the guys had."
As much as Ash liked what happened during Tuesday morning's practice, he was even happier after. "The cool thing at the end of practice was that everyone celebrated together," Ash said. "There was no animosity or carryover (from practice), at the end of the day we were all one day. I think they can see the light at the end of the tunnel."
Montana State practices twice Wednesday (9:15 am and 4 pm) before taking Thursday off for team photos.
YOUNG DUDES: Several members of Montana State's 2015 recruiting class fared well Tuesday, starting with one of its most high-profile members. "I thought Jordan (Hoy, a true freshman quarterback) had his best practice in camp, by far, I really did. He's very decisive. That's the thing I like about him the best, he makes a quick decision and he throws the ball and he's usually right. He was a little off on some of his accuracy earlier, but today he put the ball right on the money. I thought he ran the ball nicely. He got a lot of reps yesterday afternoon because Dakota sat out, and that may have helped him." A pair of young offensive linemen also performed well. "Mitch Brott is playing well as a true freshman in the offensive line. I thoguth Jake McFetridge had his best day in the offensive line today, he's doing well."
LINING UP: The offensive line has operated in a state of flux throughout camp as senior starters Kyle Godecke and Alex Eekhoff recover from off-season surgeries. Ash said Tuesday that the two are making progress. "We're bringing Godecke along slowly on purpose. He's actually 100% healthy, it's just precautionary with him. Alex, his shoulder is a little more dicey. Our target all along has been to get them ready for (the team's scrimmage this) Saturday, see if we can get them some reps in the scrimmage and see how they hold up."
DETAILS: Ash said one of his team's top priorities in preparation for Saturday's final scrimmage of the fall is to clean up assignment issues. "The film was good on Saturday for the most part. I always say it's tough to evaluate a guy if he's not doing the right assignment, so we still have to clean that up. If a guy is wrong on the assignment, then you don't know if he's able to make the play or not. That's our goal this week is that we make sure we get everybody taught the assignments."
INJURIES: While two of the team's offensive staples – running backs Gunnar Brekke and Chad Newell – were full go Tuesday, a pair of younger players missed time. Running back Nick LaSane sprained a knee Saturday and was limited to running on the side Tuesday, while tight end Austin Barth suffers from what Ash called a "stomach ailment" and missed practice.
FUN, FUN, FUN: Saturday is the program's annual Family Fun Day at Bobcat Stadium. The event, held in the Sonny Holland End Zone Complex, begins at 2 pm.
TICKETS: Tickets remain for Montana State season-opening Gold Rush game on Thursday, Sept. 3. For information, call 406/994-CATS or visit msubobcats.com.
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