Troy Andersen has shown ability at linebacker early in the spring
Photo by: Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez
BOBCAT SPRING FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK #1: Staff and RB Changes Mark First Week
3/12/2018 8:00:00 AM | Football
Newcomers catch coaches eyes early in spring camp
BOZEMAN, Montana – It took three tries, but Montana State recorded its first quality practice of the spring on Thursday.
"Thursday was really the first opportunity to let it go," Bobcat coach Jeff Choate said. "They got out there and ran around pretty good. But I think everyone's ready for spring break and we'll get refocused when school starts again."
The Bobcats practiced in poor weather and field conditions on March 3 and moved their Tuesday session into Worthington Arena before hitting the Bobcat Stadium turf at full speed Thursday. While Choate said "nothing earth-shattering" occurred during MSU's first week of spring ball, he liked what he saw up front.
"Mitch Brott is going to be a really good left tackle," Choate said of the junior who started throughout his first two seasons at right tackle. "He's played a lot of football for a guy who's only a junior, and he's had good success."
Brott anchors a line that includes returning starters Alex Neale at center, Taylor Tuiasosopo at guard, and Lewis Kidd, who moves from guard to right tackle. Among the talented young players challenging for time at left guard are redshirt freshmen Connor Wood and sophomore Jake Sessions. Colin Hammock, Sean Hatten and Jarod Asche add depth at tackle.
* * * * *
RUNNING BACK CHANGES, PART I: The running back position looks considerably different after a week of spring drills than it did before that session began. It begins on the sideline, where quarterbacks coach DeNarius McGhee took over as running backs coach, a spot essentially vacated by Michael Pitre's departure during the winter. "It makes a lot of sense," Choate said, adding that passing game coordinator Bob Cole takes over as quarterbacks coach.
RUNNING BACK CHANGES, PART II: Senior Logan Jones brings starting experience to the Bobcat backfield, but there is little other experience at running back. "We're taking a look at a lot of different things," Choate said. Those wrinkles include swapping junior receiver Karl Tucker II and running back Tyrel Burgess. "Tyrel Burgess might be a good fit in the slot, and Karl has the physical attributes you look for in a running back," Choate said. "We experimented with that during his first season when Chad (Newell) and Gunnar (Brekke) were injured and it might be a more natural fit for him."
NEW KIDS IN TOWN: Choate also praised transfer Tyler Natee, who he calls "a great addition. He fits our program as a person, he's a hard worker, and he's really talented. He played some quarterback in high school so he really picks things up quickly." The 260-pounder, who Choate says "is really light on his feet," has turned heads with an under-appreciated element of running back play. "He's really good in pass protection. He's about as big as a lot of defensive linemen in our league, so how would you like to be a linebacker trying to get around him? I think Chris (Murray, MSU's third-year starting quarterback) is really going to appreciate him." Two other newcomers show possibilities of an immediate positive impact. Kicker Tristin Bailey (a junior college transfer) "really has some good pop in his leg," Choate said, with the opportunity to apply that as a place kicker and on kickoffs. Defensive end Bryce Sterk has also caught the coaching staff's eye. "He's an excellent athlete, very long, and he runs very well," Choate said of the Washington transfer.
LENGTH: One factor Choate discusses in recruiting more than coaching has finally become a strength of his team's defense. "We have really good length," he said. "At one point on defense we had 6-5 Jacob Hadley at Buck, 6-4 Michael Jobman at Mike, Troy Andersen (a 6-3 sophomore) at Sam, and (6-3 sophomore) Chad Kanow at Will. That's a rangy, fast, long group of guys."
MOVING ON, MOVING AROUND: Jeff Choate said that last season's defensive intern Kendrick Van Ackeren has moved on to a graduate assistant position at Oregon State. Offensive intern Joe Dunning moves across the line of scrimmage this season, while Patrick Carroll, a former MSU offensive lineman, picks up duties as the team's offensive intern. The plan is for him to assist offensive line coach Joshua Taufalele in a non-coaching capacity.
NEXT UP: After a week off for MSU Spring Break, the Cats return to practice March 20. The team's spring game, the Sonny Holland Classic, is April 7 at 2 pm in Bobcat Stadium. The Triangle Classic is the following weekend in Great Falls, with the banquet on Friday, April 13, and youth clinics and a practice the next day.
#GoCatsGo
"Thursday was really the first opportunity to let it go," Bobcat coach Jeff Choate said. "They got out there and ran around pretty good. But I think everyone's ready for spring break and we'll get refocused when school starts again."
The Bobcats practiced in poor weather and field conditions on March 3 and moved their Tuesday session into Worthington Arena before hitting the Bobcat Stadium turf at full speed Thursday. While Choate said "nothing earth-shattering" occurred during MSU's first week of spring ball, he liked what he saw up front.
"Mitch Brott is going to be a really good left tackle," Choate said of the junior who started throughout his first two seasons at right tackle. "He's played a lot of football for a guy who's only a junior, and he's had good success."
Brott anchors a line that includes returning starters Alex Neale at center, Taylor Tuiasosopo at guard, and Lewis Kidd, who moves from guard to right tackle. Among the talented young players challenging for time at left guard are redshirt freshmen Connor Wood and sophomore Jake Sessions. Colin Hammock, Sean Hatten and Jarod Asche add depth at tackle.
* * * * *
RUNNING BACK CHANGES, PART I: The running back position looks considerably different after a week of spring drills than it did before that session began. It begins on the sideline, where quarterbacks coach DeNarius McGhee took over as running backs coach, a spot essentially vacated by Michael Pitre's departure during the winter. "It makes a lot of sense," Choate said, adding that passing game coordinator Bob Cole takes over as quarterbacks coach.
RUNNING BACK CHANGES, PART II: Senior Logan Jones brings starting experience to the Bobcat backfield, but there is little other experience at running back. "We're taking a look at a lot of different things," Choate said. Those wrinkles include swapping junior receiver Karl Tucker II and running back Tyrel Burgess. "Tyrel Burgess might be a good fit in the slot, and Karl has the physical attributes you look for in a running back," Choate said. "We experimented with that during his first season when Chad (Newell) and Gunnar (Brekke) were injured and it might be a more natural fit for him."
NEW KIDS IN TOWN: Choate also praised transfer Tyler Natee, who he calls "a great addition. He fits our program as a person, he's a hard worker, and he's really talented. He played some quarterback in high school so he really picks things up quickly." The 260-pounder, who Choate says "is really light on his feet," has turned heads with an under-appreciated element of running back play. "He's really good in pass protection. He's about as big as a lot of defensive linemen in our league, so how would you like to be a linebacker trying to get around him? I think Chris (Murray, MSU's third-year starting quarterback) is really going to appreciate him." Two other newcomers show possibilities of an immediate positive impact. Kicker Tristin Bailey (a junior college transfer) "really has some good pop in his leg," Choate said, with the opportunity to apply that as a place kicker and on kickoffs. Defensive end Bryce Sterk has also caught the coaching staff's eye. "He's an excellent athlete, very long, and he runs very well," Choate said of the Washington transfer.
LENGTH: One factor Choate discusses in recruiting more than coaching has finally become a strength of his team's defense. "We have really good length," he said. "At one point on defense we had 6-5 Jacob Hadley at Buck, 6-4 Michael Jobman at Mike, Troy Andersen (a 6-3 sophomore) at Sam, and (6-3 sophomore) Chad Kanow at Will. That's a rangy, fast, long group of guys."
MOVING ON, MOVING AROUND: Jeff Choate said that last season's defensive intern Kendrick Van Ackeren has moved on to a graduate assistant position at Oregon State. Offensive intern Joe Dunning moves across the line of scrimmage this season, while Patrick Carroll, a former MSU offensive lineman, picks up duties as the team's offensive intern. The plan is for him to assist offensive line coach Joshua Taufalele in a non-coaching capacity.
NEXT UP: After a week off for MSU Spring Break, the Cats return to practice March 20. The team's spring game, the Sonny Holland Classic, is April 7 at 2 pm in Bobcat Stadium. The Triangle Classic is the following weekend in Great Falls, with the banquet on Friday, April 13, and youth clinics and a practice the next day.
#GoCatsGo
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