Scrimmage Recap
April 17, 2010 03:22 PM | General
April 17, 2010
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Coach Bill Stewart was happy with his team’s 56-play scrimmage on Saturday afternoon at Milan Puskar Stadium.
“I liked our defensive tenacity. They got after it,” said Stewart. “They bent a little bit. A couple of those runs were against the younger guys, but they need to play a little bit. I was really proud of our first team defense.”
Sophomore quarterback Coley White operated both offenses, leading the first group to a pair of field goals and directing a pair of touchdowns with the second group, including his own score on a 35-yard scramble when no defender was able to touch him. White was wearing a yellow no-tackle jersey.
White completed 9 of 13 passes for 50 yards with the No. 1 group and was 12 of 18 for 84 yards directing both offenses. He also ran 12 times for 53 yards with both units.
“I thought Coley did some nice things. Coley runs the option very well and I thought he made some nice throws,” said Stewart.
Sophomore Shawne Alston led all rushers with 11 carries, gaining 37 yards with both the first and second groups. Senior Jock Sanders led all pass catchers with four receptions for 28 yards.
Parkersburg’s Matt Lindamood had the longest play from scrimmage, racing 52 yards down the far sideline against the third defense. Andrew Goldblaugh, a sophomore wide receiver from Wheeling, scored the other touchdown of the scrimmage, going in from 13 yards out against the No. 3 defense.
Jorge Wright, Casey Vance and Pat Lazear made sacks for the defense, and J.T. Thomas had the hit of the day when he separated tight end Tyler Urban from the football on a pass out in the flat.
Alabama transfer Corey Smith made field goals of 39 and 31 yards, and John Howard successfully converted a 34-yard field goal. Regular kicker Tyler Bitancurt was once again wearing a green jersey today.
Others sitting out today’s scrimmage included Scooter Berry, Daquan Hargrett and J.D. Woods.
Geno Smith ran the offense for the entire pass skeleton portion of practice and he made several impressive throws, including a pretty post for a touchdown to Tavon Austin to beat Brodrick Jenkins, and another deep out to Austin when Smith put the ball perfectly between safety Robert Sands and corner Keith Tandy for a 37-yard gain.
“Today was as good a day as I’ve seen from a Mountaineer quarterback throw the ball in pass skelly in a long, long time,” said Stewart. “Geno was hot. He was hitting the right targets. His reads were good. The timing throws were good and he looked really good.”
The first group on defense consisted of Tandy and Jenkins at corners, Sands, Sidney Glover and Terence Garvin at safeties, Thomas, Lazear and Anthony Leonard at linebackers, and Chris Neild, Julian Miller and Wright up front.
“Defensively I’m really pleased with the front three. I think Chris Neild is a force,” said Stewart. “Julian Miller busted his helmet today he was playing so hard. J.T. Thomas has looked well at linebacker and I’m so excited about our safeties. I just see Robert Sands and Sidney Glover doing a really, really good job. This is the best our safeties have looked since the Ryan Mundy-Eric Wicks days.”
Working with the No. 1 offensive line on Saturday was Joe Madsen at center, Josh Jenkins and Eric Jobe guards, with Jeff Braun and Don Barclay at tackles.
It was a relatively flag-free scrimmage with only two motion penalties being called on the second offense.
“Up to day eight I’m pleased with the exception of the kicking,” said Stewart. “I’m really pleased with half the side of the line on offense. The right side has got to come and it will. I’m really pleased with the receivers. Ryan Clarke, I thought ran hard today.”
Practice resumes on Tuesday.
Briefly:
“We’ve got a lot of nice rising seniors here on campus today,” said Stewart. “I know they saw an enthusiastic scrimmage. They saw a spirited practice. They saw some good plays and some not-so-good plays, but that’s what spring is about.”
“He caught a touchdown pass yesterday but he had a couple of plays when he wasn’t going full speed,” noted Stewart. “He sought me out today and he said, ‘Hey, I’m telling you coach I will never loaf again. I watched the film and I was really displeased.’ He’s out there at receiver and he’s going to be the future running back, he will take over for Noel and he and Ryan Clarke will be the one-two punch just like we have right now,” said Stewart.
I am told Austin now weighs 173 pounds after playing last year at 158 pounds.
Scrimmage Stats
Rushing: White 12-53, Lindamood 1-52, Alston 11-37, Devine 8-23, Goldblaugh 1-13, Clarke 4-9, Sanders 1-5.
Passing: White 12-18-0-84-0.
Receiving: Sanders 4-28, Davis 2-20, Urban 2-15, Devine 2-8, Snook 1-14, Austin 1-minus 1.
