Commodores Scrimmage Highlights Thursday Practice

Commodores Scrimmage Highlights Thursday Practice

3/10/2004

Commodores Scrimmage Highlights Thursday Practice
Squad Enters Spring Break Halfway Through Drills

Practice 8 of Spring Practice – Head Coach Bobby Johnson put his squad through an intense 50-play scrimmage Thursday in its last practice before Spring Break.

While highlights included another strong performance by the “A” defense and an effective outing by the “B” offense, Johnson was very pleased by the effort and intensity displayed by his Commodores.

“In terms of guys working hard and trying to get better, that was an outstanding scrimmage,”  Johnson said as he left Vanderbilt’s John Rich Practice Facility.  “As a coach, if your team is going to get a week off, you want them to leave on a positive note. There were plenty of positives today.”

We’re still making too many mental errors, but we have a team that is working hard.  If this squad continues to work when they get back, we’ll get a lot accomplished this spring.”

The Commodores completed their eighth spring practice Thursday.  Seven practice sessions remain when the squad returns in 10 days, including the featured Black & Gold Scrimmage on Saturday, March 20.

Scrimmage Recap
Both units could point to several impressive performances during the eight-series scrimmage.  The offense posted multiple first-downs in five of the eight possessions, and produced a pair of long touchdown drives.  The “A” defense stiffened when necessary, never allowing the offense inside the 20-yard line.

Sophomore quarterback Steven Bright guided the “B” offense to both scores.  The first touchdown drive consumed 10 plays, and featured Bright’s passing ability and the rushing of sophomore Tim Miller, who kept the possession live with a 28-yard scamper.  Bright moved the offense to the 10-yard line, connecting with redshirt freshman receiver George Smith for 26 yards.  On third and goal from the 8-yard line, Bright found sophomore receiver Marlon White on a corner route in the end zone.

Bright’s passing and running ability sparked the second score, a 9-play, 70-yard touchdown drive.  Bright scrambled for two first downs, hit Miller on a 11-yard screen pass, then found senior receiver Chris Young on a deep route for a 39-yard touchdown pass.

The “A” offense produced several first downs, but was unable to convert key third-down plays in failing to sustain two drives. Junior Jay Cutler completed five of nine passing attempts while junior tailback Kwane Doster and junior fullback Matthew Tant had effective runs.

The “A” defense featured several players making key plays to stop drives.   A key play in the first possession was senior defensive end Aaron Carter’s tackle of Cutler for a six-yard loss.  In the fourth possession, juniors Otis Washington and Jovan Haye combined to stop Doster for no gain on a third-and-short yardage play.  Earlier in the drive, junior Moses Osemwegie contributed two hard hits for short yardage.

Junior Andrew Pace continued his strong play at safety, contributing a sure tackle of junior receiver Erik Davis to hinder the offense’s third possession.  Haye and Osemwegie keyed the defensive stand in the sixth series after a pair of long runs by Tant and a Bright-to-Davis connection for 12 yards had the offense poised for more points. Haye pressured Bright into an incompletion, then Osemwegie tackled Doster for a short gain on third down.

A sack by junior defensive tackle Trey Holloway and tackle for no gain by redshirt freshman linebacker Jonathan Goff were key plays for the defense during a three-and-out possession late in the scrimmage.

Alford, Dunning Earn Gold Jerseys Thursday
In the second week of practice, several veteran Commodores have worn gold jerseys for their impressive spring performance.

Senior cornerback Bill Alford and junior tight end Dustin Dunning were chosen by Coach Johnson to wear the gold tops on Thursday.  Two of the team’s most impressive linemen, senior offensive tackle Justin Geisinger and senior defensive tackle/end Robert Dinwiddie, had the coveted attire Wednesday. Doster and Pace were selected to wear the jerseys Tuesday.

Commodore Receiver Out of Spring Practice After Injury Wednesday
Jason Caldwell, a junior from Hoover, Ala., suffered a knee injury Wednesday afternoon and is expected to miss the rest of Spring Practice.  Caldwell was competing for a key reserve role at wide receiver.

Caldwell becomes the third Commodore to injure a knee this spring, joining junior defensive end Chris Booker and sophomore offensive lineman Adam Dossett.

Hatcher Will Not Return in 2003
Ronald Hatcher, who became the Commodores’ top punt returner last season after suffering a broken leg early in the 2002 campaign, is not expected to return to the squad.

Hatcher told Coach Johnson last week that he would not be back for his fifth year after graduating his spring.  He is scheduled to earn a Bachelor’s degree in economics from Vanderbilt’s College of Arts and Science.

Hatcher was granted a medical redshirt after the broken leg, which came against Furman early in the 2002 season.  His Commodore career will conclude with 114 rushing yards, 182 receiving yards and 647 punt return yards.

Upcoming Schedule
The Commodores are off for at least a week as part of Vanderbilt’s Spring Break.  The team’s spring highlight, the Black & Gold Scrimmage, is part of the week’s activities when players return to class March 15.

The Black & Gold Scrimmage, free to all Commodore fans, is scheduled Saturday, March 20, in Vanderbilt Stadium.  The scrimmage and practice starts about 2:30 p.m.