Sophomore Kerry Sloan is a young RB earning more carries in fall camp
Photo by: Kelly Gorham
CATS IN CAMP: Day Eight
8/12/2011 4:37:00 PM | Football
Ash Pleased with Video of Scrimmage
The day after Montana State's first fall scrimmage on Friday, Bobcat coach Rob Ash remained please with the intensity and effort his team put forth on their first action inside Bobcat Stadium this fall.
“That was really fascinating,” Ash said. “There was great effort on both sides, that's what I noticed first of all. They really competed. I was shuttering at times. If they were doing those things against their own teammates, we'll be pretty tough on game day, I think.”
An evaluation of film confirmed that good things happened on both sides of the ball Thursday, Ash said. “There was some give and take (between the offense and defense),” he said. “The execution on offense was pretty good most of the time, but we were one guy away from some big plays.
“Defensively,” Ash continued, “I thought guys played with great effort, made some big plays. Line play, as we were able to evaluate on film, both sides played well against each other. It was a battle. I thought the front five on offense did a pretty good job.”
The handful of position battles that marked the beginning of camp one week ago remain, Ash said, and likely won't be settled until “after Wednesday. We'll keep rotating around quite a bit through two (practices on Saturday), two on Monday, Tuesday's a single (practice session), and Wednesday is a scrimmage in the morning. That will be pretty important. Coming out of those practices and that scrimmage, I think that we will narrow it down a lot.”
Full-contact practice sessions give coaches their first real evaluation of the running game, and Ash liked what he saw in that regard.
“Cody Kirk and Tray both ran extremely well,” he said. “Cody Kirk early in the scrimmage had a couple really nice runs, some nice cuts and did a good job. His third down carries were really good. Tray had some good opportunities, too, and ran well. They're both playing well. And my inclination at the time was correct, that CJ and Kerry just haven't had enough daylight to be evaluated. We have to find a way to fix that.”
The Cats incurred no major injuries during Thursday's scrimmage, Ash reported. “It's all just bumps and bruises and that type of thing,” he said. Reserve tight end Rick Haluszka suffered a knee injury which appeared severe, but Ash said it no longer seems serious. “It's very sore (Friday), he has to get another exam, but we don't think it's a serious, season-ending type injury.”
Montana State practices at 9:15 am and 3:45 pm on Saturday before getting Sunday off of practice.
MSU PRACTICE SCHEDULE FOR NEXT WEEK
Sat, Aug 13 9:15 am, 3;45 pm
Sun, Aug 14 No practice
Mon, Aug 15 9:15 am, 3:45 pm
Tue, Aug 16 9:15 am
Wed, Aug 17 9:15, 3:45 pm
Thu, Aug 18 Media Day/No practice
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Thursday, July 31
A Conversation with President Dr. Waded Cruzado | Montana State Athletics
Monday, May 19
Big Cats, Little Trucks - Willie Patterson
Wednesday, May 03
Matt Houk Introductory Press Conference
Wednesday, May 03
