|
Second Week of Commodore Spring Practice Starts With 55-Play Scrimmage Session Tuesday 3/23/2005 Rich Practice Complex at Vanderbilt – The Commodores opened the second week of Spring Practice and preparations for the featured Black & Gold Scrimmage this Saturday with 45 minutes of live contact Tuesday afternoon. Much like the scrimmage last Saturday in Vanderbilt Stadium, the session Tuesday was controlled by the Commodore defense, which limited their counterparts to a lone field goal in 12 possessions with a combination of forced turnovers and gang-tackling. From a pass deflection by cornerback Andrew Pace in the opening drive to a hard-hitting tackle by cornerback Jared Fagan and safety Funtaine Hunter on the final play, the defense maintained control through the 55-play session. Afterward, Commodore Head Coach Bobby Johnson gave credit to the defense, while saying both units have to show improvement. “I was pleased with the defensive effort and intensity. A lot of guys were getting to the ball, stepping forward to make big plays defensively,” Johnson said. “We kept hurting ourselves on offense. There were some miscues and mental mistakes that stopped their momentum. It shows the coaches and players that they have a lot of work in the days ahead.” The Commodores return to the Rich Practice Complex for sessions on Wednesday and Thursday before taking Friday off. This Saturday, the squad stages its annual Black & Gold Scrimmage, starting at 10 a.m., in Vanderbilt Stadium. Numerous Commodore defenders made plays to stop offensive possessions during the Tuesday scrimmage. In the second drive, linebackers Moses Osemwegie and Kevin Joyce batted down pass attempts while linebacker Marcus Buggs wrecked the third possession with a pair of solid tackles. After a quarterback sack by Joyce put the offense in a deep hole in the sixth drive, cornerback Josh Allen ended the sixth possession with a forced fumble. When the offense appeared poised for points, the defense again stepped forward. On consecutive plays inside the 20-yard line, cornerback Cheron Thompson made a punishing tackle of receiver Jason Burns, then intercepted a pass. Other defenders making individual plays were defensive end Chris Booker, linebacker Otis Washington and defensive tackle Ray Brown. The offense’s best production came from the running of Jennings and Cassen Jackson-Garrison. Both showed an ability to elude tacklers while giving as much punishment as they received. Jennings has five carries of eight yards or more. Jackson-Garrison provided consecutive carries of 12 and 14 yards late in the session. Dick Sheridan Visits Practice Sheridan, now retired from the coaching profession, served successful tenures at North Carolina State and Furman. Johnson worked three years as Sheridan’s defensive coordinator at Furman. Several Commodore assistants, including Robbie Caldwell, Bruce Fowler, Ted Cain, Jimmy Kiser, Charlie Fisher and David Turner, also worked under Sheridan at Furman or N.C. State. |
