March 4, 2016
On campus in Nashville – The Commodores reached the midway point of Spring Ball after concluding Friday’s practice with a physical, full-contact scrimmage.
Head Coach Derek Mason put the squad through its first full-go session of the spring, staging a 6-drive, 33-play scrimmage Friday in Vanderbilt Stadium. Earlier in the morning practice, the squad also staged a 30-play, limited contact segment.
The scrimmage was highlighted by a pair of completions between Wade Freebeck (Jr., QB) and Nathan Marcus (Jr., TE) that resulted in a score and numerous punishing tackles by several young Commodore defenders.
Afterward, Mason said both sides of the ball were improving as the team prepares to take the upcoming week off for Spring Break.
“Both units played well and I growth on both sides of the ball,” Mason said. “Defensively, we had guys running to the ball and some young guys lining up and playing physical at the point of attack. On offense, Wade had a really good day and made some tight-window throws. I also thought the running backs ran hard and caught the ball well.”
“We had a couple miscues early, but overall, we compete really well. We’re seven practices in and we’ve done a lot of good things. I’m really looking forward to the second half of Spring Ball,” the coach added.
Scrimmage summary
Series I Starting from the 1-yard line, the offense generates one first down before the drive stalls after seven plays. Josh Crawford (So., RB) runs for five yards behind Delando Crooks (Jr., OL) and Barrett Gouger (SR., OL). On 3rd and 5, Freebeck and Darrius Sims (Sr., WR) connect for eight yards and a first down. Later in the drive, pressure by Caleb Peart (R-Fr., OLB) forces a third down incompletion by Freebeck.
Series II Jalen Banks (JR., RB) gives the offense a quick first down, gaining 15 yards on two rushes. A first down sack by Charles Wright (So., OLB) puts the offense behind the chains. After a pass deflection by Oren Burks (Jr., safety), a third down pass from Kyle Shurmur (So., QB) to Trey Ellis (Jr., WR) for 12 yards comes up short of a first down.
Series III Starting at the defense’s 35-yard line, Shurmur quickly moves the offense into the red zone with completions to Sims and Jared Pinkney (R-Fr., TE), who ran through two tackles on an 18-yard gain. On the next play, a Shurmur pass intended for Pinkney is deflected by Ja’karri Thomas (Sr., ILB) and results in an interception by Torren McGaster (Sr., CB). The possession also includes impressive hits by linebackers Jordan Griffith (So., ILB) and Jay Hockaday So., OLB).
Series IV Freebeck leads the offense on a quick, 2-play touchdown drive. After connecting with Nathan Marcus for 11 yards on first down, Freebeck founds Marcus alone in the end zone for a 24-yard score. Marcus goes high in the corner of the end zone to haul in the pass.
Series V Starting on the 35-yard line, Shurmur guides the offense inside the 15-yard line, but a 3rd and 14 completion to Trent Sherfield (Jr., WR) for eight yards brings on a field goal attempt by Tommy Openshaw (Jr., PK) , who splits the uprights. During the possession, Dare Odeyingbo (So., DE) contributes a punishing tackle on a short gain by Khari Blasingame (So., RB).
Series VI The drive starts with Hockaday deflecting a sideline pass by Freebeck. After completions to Blasingame and Pinkney, the drive stalls after back-to-back quarterback sacks by Peart.