Receiver Keon Stephens (in blue) is among a diverse pack of MSU pass-catchers
Photo by: Brian Morse
Bobcat Fall Camp Notebook - August 15
8/15/2016 5:03:00 PM | Football
Coordinators debrief on first fall scrimmage
And on the 11th day, they rested.
Tuesday offers Montana State's players their first off day of fall camp. It comes 11 days after the team began preparing for the 2016 season. MSU head coach said the break will be welcome. "I like the effort and the enthusiasm they've shown," he said. "This comes at a really good time."
Here is a look at tidbits from MSU's fall camp:
Offensive Coordinator Courtney Messingham on film review of Saturday's scrimmage: "I thought we did some good things. I thought we still need to do a better job of not shooting ourselves in the foot. You can't have penalties, you can't have things that make it first-and-15, second-and-20. I really believe that will be a key for us to continue to improve, to clean up the mental mistakes."
Defensive Coordinator Ty Gregorak on film review of Saturday's scrimmage: "Long way to go. There were a lot of really good things, actually. In terms of open field tackling you can see eight days of camp in our legs. I'm not making excuses because obviously the offense was dealing with that, too, but you could see things in the open field, in the posture and all that stuff. Some guys are starting to stand out, though, that's for sure."
Can You Hear Me Now? Saturday's scrimmage offered a brand of winging it that often only arises on game day. A portion of the team's phone lines were out, which forced a pre-scrimmage scramble. "Coach ended up giving his headset to Kane, so it was a two-man show," said defensive coordinator Ty Gregorak of his press box-to-field communication with linebackers coach Kane Ioane. Head coach Jeff Choate said the adversity was a blessing. "I'm glad it happened. It gave us a chance to work through those issues."
Johnny D: Former Bozeman High star Johnny D'Agostino has continued to turn heads on fall camp on the heels of establishing himself as a candidate for starting inside receiver honors in April. "He did a great job in the spring, and really it's continued as far as understanding where he fits in the offense," offensive coordinator Courtney Messingham said. "I'm not talking as an individual, I'm talking as an offensive player, where (he fits) in the offense. He's done a nice job finding windows to get open in, getting open when it is man-to-man. I'm very happy with what Johnny D's done."
Choate praised D'Agostino for his steady play. "He's been pretty consistent all the way through," he said. "He's not probably going to blow you away with his clock time on the 40, but he's going to be very, very consistent, he's got good body control, great ball skills, excellent hands, and he's very smart so he puts himself in position to make plays."
The Long and Short of Bobcat Receivers: MSU offensive coordinator Courtney Messingham likes having a variety of styles and body types in his receiver corps. "We definitely have that," he said Monday. "Cam (Sutton) is a big, long tall (receiver), Herbie (Mitchell Herbert) is a big, long, tall (receiver), (Jayshawn) Gates is short, quick, anything can happen (receiver). (Will) Krolick and Johnny D('Agostino) are more explosive type guys, Keon (Stephens) kind of brings both, he's not a small guy, he's got some length to him, but he's pretty quick-twitch. You need to have it, but diversity can only go so far. You can be the best-looking guy in the world, but if you don't make plays on Saturday it doesn't matter."
Backup Banter: Messingham likes the competition he's seen for the backup quarterback spot. "I'm really happy with all four guys that took reps today, and all five guys that are in camp have really done a nice job."
Kicking Critiques: Bobcat head coach Jeff Choate offered a rundown of the race for starting honors in the three kicking categories – place-kicking, kickoffs and punting – on Monday. The race is between redshirt freshman Devon Tandberg and true freshmen Gabe Peppenger and Jerred Padmos. "Peppenger has the strongest leg," Choate said. "I think Devon is probably a little bit more accurate and consistent at times, and Padmos is probably the most versatile. As far as a guy that can do (punts, placements and kickoffs), Padmos is probably the closest on that." Choate said simulating the pressure situations of games often comes down to kicks at the end of practices giving the team a chance to gather "around him, harass him, call him names, whatever."
Tuesday offers Montana State's players their first off day of fall camp. It comes 11 days after the team began preparing for the 2016 season. MSU head coach said the break will be welcome. "I like the effort and the enthusiasm they've shown," he said. "This comes at a really good time."
Here is a look at tidbits from MSU's fall camp:
Offensive Coordinator Courtney Messingham on film review of Saturday's scrimmage: "I thought we did some good things. I thought we still need to do a better job of not shooting ourselves in the foot. You can't have penalties, you can't have things that make it first-and-15, second-and-20. I really believe that will be a key for us to continue to improve, to clean up the mental mistakes."
Defensive Coordinator Ty Gregorak on film review of Saturday's scrimmage: "Long way to go. There were a lot of really good things, actually. In terms of open field tackling you can see eight days of camp in our legs. I'm not making excuses because obviously the offense was dealing with that, too, but you could see things in the open field, in the posture and all that stuff. Some guys are starting to stand out, though, that's for sure."
Can You Hear Me Now? Saturday's scrimmage offered a brand of winging it that often only arises on game day. A portion of the team's phone lines were out, which forced a pre-scrimmage scramble. "Coach ended up giving his headset to Kane, so it was a two-man show," said defensive coordinator Ty Gregorak of his press box-to-field communication with linebackers coach Kane Ioane. Head coach Jeff Choate said the adversity was a blessing. "I'm glad it happened. It gave us a chance to work through those issues."
Johnny D: Former Bozeman High star Johnny D'Agostino has continued to turn heads on fall camp on the heels of establishing himself as a candidate for starting inside receiver honors in April. "He did a great job in the spring, and really it's continued as far as understanding where he fits in the offense," offensive coordinator Courtney Messingham said. "I'm not talking as an individual, I'm talking as an offensive player, where (he fits) in the offense. He's done a nice job finding windows to get open in, getting open when it is man-to-man. I'm very happy with what Johnny D's done."
Choate praised D'Agostino for his steady play. "He's been pretty consistent all the way through," he said. "He's not probably going to blow you away with his clock time on the 40, but he's going to be very, very consistent, he's got good body control, great ball skills, excellent hands, and he's very smart so he puts himself in position to make plays."
The Long and Short of Bobcat Receivers: MSU offensive coordinator Courtney Messingham likes having a variety of styles and body types in his receiver corps. "We definitely have that," he said Monday. "Cam (Sutton) is a big, long tall (receiver), Herbie (Mitchell Herbert) is a big, long, tall (receiver), (Jayshawn) Gates is short, quick, anything can happen (receiver). (Will) Krolick and Johnny D('Agostino) are more explosive type guys, Keon (Stephens) kind of brings both, he's not a small guy, he's got some length to him, but he's pretty quick-twitch. You need to have it, but diversity can only go so far. You can be the best-looking guy in the world, but if you don't make plays on Saturday it doesn't matter."
Backup Banter: Messingham likes the competition he's seen for the backup quarterback spot. "I'm really happy with all four guys that took reps today, and all five guys that are in camp have really done a nice job."
Kicking Critiques: Bobcat head coach Jeff Choate offered a rundown of the race for starting honors in the three kicking categories – place-kicking, kickoffs and punting – on Monday. The race is between redshirt freshman Devon Tandberg and true freshmen Gabe Peppenger and Jerred Padmos. "Peppenger has the strongest leg," Choate said. "I think Devon is probably a little bit more accurate and consistent at times, and Padmos is probably the most versatile. As far as a guy that can do (punts, placements and kickoffs), Padmos is probably the closest on that." Choate said simulating the pressure situations of games often comes down to kicks at the end of practices giving the team a chance to gather "around him, harass him, call him names, whatever."
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