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Competition Across the Line-of-Scrimmage Pushes Each Line in Bobcat Camp
8/6/2017 2:53:00 PM | Football
D-line depth, O-line competition mark early days of MSU preseason camp
In football's trenches, iron sharpens iron is more than a slogan or a t-shirt catch-phrase. It's a way of life.
Montana State head coach Jeff Choate has preached the importance of line-of-scrimmage players pushing each other to improve throughout his coaching career, and he's watching that philosophy unfold in the early days of his team's preseason training camp. "We've got a veteran group of guys on both sides of the line right now," Choate said, "and that's a huge change from a year ago when we were very, very young on the defensive line because of injuries. It's been a day in and day out battle. One day the O-line will get the best of the D-line, and the next day the D-line will come back. That's what you love to see."
On the defensive line, at least one player at each defensive line position returns with starting experience. First-year Bobcat offensive line coach Joshua Taufalele said that has benefited his group early in preseason camp. "The biggest thing that stands out to me is the competition between the O-line and D-line. That's been fierce. Once we put the shoulder pads on the guys have come out of their shell and played good, old-fashioned football."
Jake McFetridge, a sophomore battling for a starting guard position, said the familiarity of battling the same group of players every practice, and the camaraderie built training with that same guys all summer, pushes each group to get better. "I think the competition is so high right now because of how hard we trained together, and we've all become so close," he said. "Just me versus Zach Wright or Tucker Yates, with how hard we've been working together it's who can beat who and who can show who what we can do. It's really impressive to see how much we compete and get after each other."
Defensive tackle Fou Polataivao said MSU's offensive line has pushed him to be better. "Going against them every day helps our D-line get better, and we're working to get (the offensive line) better. Competing is what we're doing, what it's about. Like Coach (Choate) says, competing is what we do here."
Taufalele echoes that assessment. "The more we can push each other on both sides of the ball to be physical and compete, it creates a game-like atmosphere. Once the team sees the big boys fired up it snowballs and we have a good practice. It's fun."
Montana State head coach Jeff Choate has preached the importance of line-of-scrimmage players pushing each other to improve throughout his coaching career, and he's watching that philosophy unfold in the early days of his team's preseason training camp. "We've got a veteran group of guys on both sides of the line right now," Choate said, "and that's a huge change from a year ago when we were very, very young on the defensive line because of injuries. It's been a day in and day out battle. One day the O-line will get the best of the D-line, and the next day the D-line will come back. That's what you love to see."
On the defensive line, at least one player at each defensive line position returns with starting experience. First-year Bobcat offensive line coach Joshua Taufalele said that has benefited his group early in preseason camp. "The biggest thing that stands out to me is the competition between the O-line and D-line. That's been fierce. Once we put the shoulder pads on the guys have come out of their shell and played good, old-fashioned football."
Jake McFetridge, a sophomore battling for a starting guard position, said the familiarity of battling the same group of players every practice, and the camaraderie built training with that same guys all summer, pushes each group to get better. "I think the competition is so high right now because of how hard we trained together, and we've all become so close," he said. "Just me versus Zach Wright or Tucker Yates, with how hard we've been working together it's who can beat who and who can show who what we can do. It's really impressive to see how much we compete and get after each other."
Defensive tackle Fou Polataivao said MSU's offensive line has pushed him to be better. "Going against them every day helps our D-line get better, and we're working to get (the offensive line) better. Competing is what we're doing, what it's about. Like Coach (Choate) says, competing is what we do here."
Taufalele echoes that assessment. "The more we can push each other on both sides of the ball to be physical and compete, it creates a game-like atmosphere. Once the team sees the big boys fired up it snowballs and we have a good practice. It's fun."
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