From the MSU Web Site <a href='http://msuspartans.collegesports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/081904aac.html' target='_blank'>MSU Football Article</a> :
Running Game Emphasized In First Preseason Football Scrimmage
DeAndra Cobb, Jason Teague and Tony Howard combined to rush for 150 yards.
Aug. 19, 2004
EAST LANSING, Mich. - With temperatures in the low-60s, Michigan State second-year head football coach John L. Smith sent his team through a 97-play "controlled" scrimmage on Wednesday, Aug. 18. The 90-minute scrimmage featured 61 running plays and 16 passing plays.
"I saw some positives on the offensive side of the football," Coach Smith said. "The offensive front, especially the first team, did a good job creating enough push to open up some running lanes. The four running backs (DeAndra Cobb, Jason Teague, Jehuu Caulcrick and Tony Howard) ran hard, but they have to do a better job of hanging on to the football.
"The defense created a couple of turnovers but that was the only positive on that side of the ball. We simply weren't physical enough.
"Not enough of the veterans stepped up on defense today. They simply didn't go to the field with enough intensity. Our best players have to play well and that didn't happen across-the-board like it needs to. The defensive coaches are disappointed and upset about today's performance. The players lacked fire and missed far too many tackles. In many ways, today's scrimmage was a carbon copy of last year's first scrimmage, so we have a long way to go on the defensive side of the football."
DeAndra Cobb (5-10, 197, Sr.) paced a well-balanced ground attack with 56 yards on 14 carries, including a 14-yard run. Tony Howard (5-10, 193, Fr.), who saw action with the second- and third-team units, gained 51 yards on 13 carries, including a 43-yard run around left end. Jason Teague (5-9, 193, Jr.) rushed for 43 yards on 10 attempts, including runs of 11 and 14 yards. Jehuu Caulcrick (6-0, 235, R-Fr.) added 26 yards on eight carries, including a 22-yarder.
"We came into today's scrimmage wanting to emphasize the running game," Smith said. "We got some good results too as the four backs each broke several long runs, but we still didn't get the job done in the short-yardage and goal-line situations. It becomes much more difficult to have success in those situations when everybody in the stadium knows a running play is called. The line has to find a way to create seams and the backs need to be able to push the pile."
"I like to run the ball, so I liked the attention the running game received today," Teague said. "The offensive line did a good job of creating running room. I broke some tackles today because I kept my feet moving after first contact.
"My mindset is to work as hard as I can on every snap. We have a lot of talented running backs in camp, so I know other guys are fighting for playing time as well. That's definitely in the back of my mind."
Damon Dowdell (6-1, 222, Sr.) and Drew Stanton (6-3, 225, So.) split 30 snaps with the first-team offense. Dowdell hit 2-of-3 passes for 42 yards, including a 34-yard touchdown strike to Matt Trannon (6-6, 217, Jr.). Stanton was a perfect 4-for-4 for 55 yards, including a 17-yard TD toss to Jamar Jones (6-3, 207, R-Fr.).
"Both Damon Dowdell and Drew Stanton played pretty well today," Smith said. "Damon adds some athleticism to that position, especially in terms of using his running ability to escape trouble. He did a lot of positive things today, but he must work to avoid the glaring mistakes.
"Drew made a good adjustment today and checked into a play to avoid a (pass) pressure situation."
Stephen Reaves (6-1, 206, R-Fr.), who took the majority of snaps with the second-team offense, connected on 3-of-7 throws for 52 yards, including a 38-yard completion to Terry Love (5-11, 174, R-Fr.).
"Stephen Reaves isn't out of the quarterback race, but Damon and Drew have certainly inched ahead because they have a better grasp of our entire offensive package," Smith said.
Brian Hoyer (6-2, 199, Fr.), who took 22 snaps with the third-team offense, went 2-for-2 for 11 yards.
"We'll continue to get snaps for the third team on both sides of the ball," Smith said. "We're going to have to count on a bunch of those guys at some point this year, so it's important to put the third-team players in scrimmage situations."
Teague and tight end Kellen Davis (6-6, 230, Fr.) had two catches each for 18 and 11 yards, respectively. Nine different receivers caught at least one pass.
Linebacker Ronald Stanley (6-0, 234, Sr.) paced the first-team defense with nine tackles, including three for losses (6 yards), and caused a fumble. Free safety Jason Harmon (5-11, 202, Sr.) recorded six tackles.
"Defensively, Ronald Stanley and Jason Harmon played extremely well," Smith said. "Those two consistently give great effort. However, too many guys have missed practice time with minor injuries and it really showed today. A player can't expect to simply show up on Saturday and perform at a high level. I firmly believe that players play like they practice."
Several rookies on the defensive side of the football caught Smith's attention during Wednesday's preseason scrimmage, including defensive end Nick Smith (6-6, 273, Fr.) and linebacker Hugh D'Imperio (6-4, 229, Fr.). Smith produced six tackles, including three for losses (17 yards), while D'Imperio registered five stops.
"Nick Smith and Hugh D'Imperio did some good things today," Smith said. "Those two guys are big enough and physical enough to contribute early on, and they play positions where we need immediate help. We're going to continue to expect them to contribute more and more in the coming weeks. Nick and Hugh still make some mistakes because they're green from an experience standpoint, but those things can be corrected."
The scrimmage format also included 20 special teams plays. Brandon Fields (6-6, 234, So.) averaged 48.3 yards on four punts, including a 57-yarder.
"We highlighted punt protection today and it paid off," Smith said. "Brandon Fields hit the ball better and the protection was solid. We tried to bring pressure but the line protected Brandon well. We still need to improve our punt coverage but that will come. At times, Brandon still outkicks his coverage, but we'll continue to work on improving his hang time."
The Spartans were whistled for just two (defensive) offside penalties during the scrimmage.
"We've stressed this part of the game, so it was good to see so few (penalty) flags," Smith said. "The quarterbacks made an effort - by changing cadence and the snap count - to create four or five offside situations, but it only worked twice. I was really pleased with the overall mechanics, considering it was the first preseason scrimmage."
Under NCAA legislation, prohibiting consecutive days of double sessions, the Spartans continue alternating between double and single workouts through Friday, Aug. 27. The team has another closed scrimmage scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 21 in Spartan Stadium.
"Saturday, I'm looking forward to somebody creating separation in the quarterback race," Smith said. "The time has come for one of these guys to step out of the pack and lead this offensive team. Defensively, the players need to take a different attitude to the field. They better go to the field and compete from the opening whistle. We also need to get some guys off the sidelines and back on the field. Players are always going to get their share of bumps and bruises during two-a-days, but we're simply not good enough for guys to miss a lot of work. Everybody needs snaps."
Michigan State opens the 2004 season Saturday, Sept. 4 at Rutgers. ABC Sports will televise the game on a regional basis with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m. EDT.
Additional Preseason Football Notes:
* Children 12 and under are invited to attend "Meet The Spartans" on Saturday, Aug. 21 from 6:30-8 p.m. at Meridian Mall in Okemos, Mich. Michigan State head coach John L. Smith and members of the 2004 football team will be available for autographs and pictures in the Center Court area of the mall.
The Michigan State Dance Team and Spartan Cheerleaders will help distribute free schedule posters.
During the autograph session, children ages 6-10 can sign up for an opportunity to become a Kickoff Kid at a 2004 Spartan home football game. Two children are selected for each home game to join the Michigan State team on the sidelines. After each Spartan kickoff, one child will run on to the field and retrieve the kicking tee. Winners, determined by random drawings, receive two tickets to the game and a Spartan football jersey.
The Michigan Education Savings Program sponsors the Kickoff Kid program for the fourth-straight year.
* Two different three-game mini-plans are on sale for Michigan State's 2004 home football schedule. The mini-plans are priced at $108 each.
The Green Plan features the Sept. 18 night game vs. Notre Dame plus Big Ten matchups vs. Illinois (Oct. 9) and vs. Wisconsin (Nov. 13). The White Plan includes the Sept. 11 home opener vs. Central Michigan plus Big Ten contests vs. Minnesota (Oct. 16 Homecoming) and vs. Ohio State (Nov. 6). Tickets for MSU's home games against Notre Dame and Ohio State are available through the mini-plan options only.
In addition to the two different three-game mini-plans, single-game tickets for Central Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin are on sale. Single-game tickets (for those four games) are priced at $42.
The MSU Athletics Department Ticket Office, located in Jenison Field House, is open weekdays from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Football tickets also may be purchased online at
http://www.msuspartans.com or by phone at 1-800-GO-STATE or (517) 355-1610.
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First Preseason Football Scrimmage
