Aug. 6, 2013

Columbia, Mo. - The Missouri Tiger football team found themselves practicing in the third different location in four days Tuesday, as morning thunderstorms moved Head Coach Gary Pinkel's squad inside the Dan Devine Indoor Pavilion for the first time this fall. Tuesday's sixth practice of the 2013 fall camp followed Sunday and Monday practices on the John Kadlec Athletic Fields, which were preceded by a Saturday session on Faurot Field.

Tuesday's practice was fully-padded for the second-straight day, and it was the Tiger offense which came up with the overall win on the day, to even the season series at one win apiece.

In early 11-on-11 scrimmaging today, the defense stood out with some big plays. In goal line work, sophomore LB Kentrell Brothers came bursting through the line to get severe pressure on sophomore QB Corbin Berkstresser on a roll out pass, forcing a throwaway. Later, in red zone work, sophomore DE Shane Ray got free in pursuit of senior QB James Franklin, also forcing an incomplete pass that could possibly have been a sack in live action. Sophomore CB Ernest Payton later had good coverage on senior WR L'Damian Washington on a go route, and broke up a pass near the goal line by timing his leap just right to swat the ball away. Sophomore TB Russell Hansbrough countered with a quick burst up the middle against the #2 defense for a big gain nearing 15 yards, to give the offense some points.

Later in the action, redshirt freshman LB Donavin Newsom read an attempted pass over the middle by freshman QB Eddie Printz perfectly, and stepped in front of a crossing route to intercept the ball. Freshman DB David Sowell also got in on the action, as he was seen breaking up a pair of passes within a short amount of snaps, including one high leap in the end zone to bat away a potential TD pass for the offense. Later, junior S Braylon Webb came flying in downfield to break up a pass from redshirt freshman QB Maty Mauk to Washington that looked like an easy touchdown. Franklin next hooked up with sophomore WR Dorial Green-Beckham on a nice timing route for about 10 yards.

The day concluded with the offense and defense scrimmaging live in a game-clock situation that had the offense with the ball near midfield, holding the lead with three minutes left in the game, and looking to get a first down to bleed the clock. With the number two units going against each other first, junior TB Marcus Murphy got to the left edge for a gain of seven yards, and then got two more on second down, before Shane Ray stopped junior TB Greg White for no gain on 3rd-and-1. On a fresh series, junior DE Markus Golden also got a key stop, as he held sophomore TB Tyler Hunt to just one yard on a 3rd-and-2 snap.

When the #1 units squared off in the same scenario, senior LB Donovan Bonner made a big first-down play, when his pursuit led him to throw Hansbrough for a five-yard loss. Franklin then hit junior WR Bud Sasser for a quick out and a gain of six yards, but pocket pressure on 3rd-and-9 forced a quick throw into the flat, and the ball intended for Green-Beckham couldn't be completed. Junior TB Henry Josey opened the next series by going off tackle for a gain of 10 yards and a first down. With a new set of downs, Josey tried the middle on first down, but was held to two yards, as junior DT Matt Hoch wrapped him up bear-hug style for the short gain. Mauk connected with Sasser on a quick out for a gain of seven yards, but on 3rd-and-1, Shane Ray again got penetration and wrapped up Steward by the legs before the back could leap over traffic, and held him to no gain.

The Tigers will hold single sessions each of the next three mornings, which will lead up to the first major scrimmage of fall camp, this Saturday at Faurot Field.

Stay tuned to www.MUTigers.com for continuing coverage of the Mizzou Football 2013 Fall Camp.