Aug. 11, 2005
Columbia, Mo. -
The Missouri Tiger football team went through a morning practice today as it continued preparations for its 2005 season opener set for Sept. 3rd against Arkansas State in Kansas City, Mo.
The team practiced for the first time on the grass practice fields located to the West of the Tom Taylor Complex, and even though the morning was hot and steamy, it was noticeably cooler on the natural grass than it would have been at Faurot Field on the FieldTurf. Thursday proved to be another spirited practice that Head Coach Gary Pinkel was pleased with. Here are just a few of the highlights observed...
In 11-on-11 play in the redzone...
- S Brandon Massey made a big stop on the edge to stuff a running attempt...
- LB Van Alexander and S Justin Scott teamed to snuff out a reverse attempt and turn it into a big loss...
- QB Chase Patton hit TB John Ruth (who is now wearing #41) for a nice gain on a swing pass...
- TB Marcus Woods had a nice-looking run for around 10 yards in tight quarters...
- QB Brad Smith scrambled 5 yards for a TD as he dove across the goalline and displaying great strength...
- TB Connell Davis had a nice gain of around 10 yards on a counter play...
- QB Chase Daniel hit WR Lucas Null for a gain of 15 yards...
- LB Brock Christopher had a big hit moments later on Null to end a play...
Later, in other 11-on-11 scrimmaging...
- QB Brandon Coleman hit WR Jerrill Humphrey over the middle for a nifty first down play on a 3rd-and-5 situation...
- CB Trenile Washington made a nice break up on a deep ball that appeared to be on the money from QB Brad Smith to WR Brad Ekwerekwu...
- S William Moore made a diving deflection to break up a pass over the middle...
- QB Brad Smith and TB Marcus Woods teamed up on a nifty shovel pass that Woods took and scampered for a gain of over 20 yards. On the next play, Smith kept and had another big gain of over 20 yards...
- Smith later connected with WR William Franklin for a 10-yard gain on a 3rd-down situation in which there was a nice blitz pick up and adjustment by the offense...
- QB Brad Smith and QB Chase Daniel each had scrambles of over 10 yards...
- Daniel hit TE Chris Hudgins for a gain of around 15 yards...
- QB Brandon Coleman had a gain of around 15 yards on a keeper...
- CB Domonique Johnson had a near QB sack and forced a throw away...
- LB Brock Christopher got an interception for the second straight day when he grabbed a deflected pass and took off running before the whistles blew the play dead...
- QB Chase Patton had a scramble of over 10 yards...
- DE Xzavie Jackson broke through the line to stuff a run play for a loss...
- QB Brad Smith hit TE Martin Rucker over the middle for a nice catch-and-run gain of around 20 yards...
- DE Brian Smith stayed home and dropped TB Tony Temple for a loss, as Smith didn't fall for Temple's attempts to elude him...
- QB Brad Smith hit WR William Franklin for a nice gain of around 25 yards...
- S Jason Simpson had a tackle for loss, and to the surprise of no-one, he had a few comments to make afterward...
- TB Connell Davis had a nice-looking gain of around 10 yards to bring the practice to a close...
News and Notes...
- Just a reminder to Tiger fans about the Fan Fest event that is scheduled at Faurot Field this Sunday at 4 p.m. It's a fun time for Tiger fans of all ages to roam the field and meet their favorite Tiger players and coaches, and to get autographs and personal photos taken with everyone. Last year, it was estimated that between 4,000 and 5,000 people took advantage of this day...
- Contratulations go out to the following Tigers who were recognized today as Spring Semester Academic Achievers: DL Josh Barbo, TE DeQuincy Howard, OL Tyler Luellen, OL Kyle Riggs, S Jason Simpson, OL Adam Spieker, DL Scott Wheatley, QB Brandon Coleman, DL Zach Kauflin, QB Brad Smith, CB Calvin Washington, and QB Chase Patton...
- Coach Pinkel announced that John Dirk has decided to leave the program so that he can transfer to Stephen F. Austin and play for his father, who is a coach there...
- Camp continues Friday with a single morning workout that will feature full pads for the first time. Be sure to stay tuned to www.mutigers.com for continuing practice reports.
