FOOTBALL REPORT #3
MISSOULA, MONTANA (8/25/10) -
JUST 11 MORE DAYS! Counting today the second-ranked Grizzlies are just 11 days from their season opener, Sept. 4th, hosting the Western State Mountaineers.
FINAL SCRIMMAGE THURSDAY MORNING: Head Coach Robin Pflugrad and his University of Montana Grizzlies will hold their third and final scrimmage of 2010 fall camp tomorrow (Thursday, August 26), starting around 9:15 a.m. in Washington-Grizzly Stadium. The scrimmage is free to the public.
SHORTER VERSION: Coach Pflugrad said that the scrimmage will be a shorter version than last Saturday's 95-play session.
COACH PFLUGRAD'S COMMENTS:
"We are still looking for starters and depth. Those are the two things that we are after, no question about that. We will have to cut down on the number of reps we allow this Thursday which is just due to some injury issues and our legs. Our legs are tired and that is showing up.
We are lacking a little speed due to physical exertion. We've been out here running around for 19 practices, so that is going to show up."
BACK IN ACTION: The Griz have had (and continue to have) some key players missing from practice, but a few of them have now returned to action. Sophomore wide receiver Sam Gratton, junior wide-out Jabin Sambrano, and junior halfback Dan Moore have all returned to the practice field. Gratton and Moore missed a week and resumed practice last Monday, while Sambrano was banged up after last Saturday's scrimmage and returned this morning (Wednesday).
A few of key players who have been out for quite awhile have been junior offensive tackle Jon Opperud (Portland) and redshirt freshman wide receiver Aaron Roberts (Spokane). Opperud, a projected starter, has missed all of fall camp so far, while Roberts, a key back-up, has been out for more than a week.
COACH PFLUGRAD:
"I wish I knew what Jon Opperud's status was, but I really don't. He really, really needed this camp. I talked to him yesterday about where he was mentally as well as physically. Because when you miss this many practices, it takes a toll on your mind as well as your body. We hope he can go maybe in Saturday's walk-through, and game simulation and maybe give us a few days next week, and we can see where he is. He's not ready to play a full game by any means, so that is a little concerning.
"We still don't have Aaron Roberts back, which is very concerning, because he's kind of a clutch guy for us. We just trust him as a receiver, so not having him in there is very disappointing.
"Jabin Sambrano is dressed down today after missing two practices, so that is a plus. Now that we have him back he will play a little tomorrow."
ALSO OUT: Junior halfback/fullback Beau Donaldson (Missoula) is still out with an injury. Redshirt freshman Lance Carl, a former standout at local Big Sky High School along with Donaldson, it also out with an injury. Donaldson did play as a true freshman, therefore has a redshirt year available.
Junior cornerback Donny Lisowski (Seattle) has returned to practice after suffering an injury in UM's first scrimmage on August 15th but is practicing on a limited basis.
As mentioned in previous fall camp reports, senior defensive tackle Carson Bender (Deer Lodge), sophomore linebacker Brock Coyle (Bozeman), and junior linebacker Cole Lockwood (Missoula) will all miss the 2010 season.
Bender had a re-occurring injury he could not recover from.
Coyle will redshirt after undergoing off-season surgery. Lockwood, who was a first team All-Big Sky Conference pick at special teams where he had 11 tackles last season, is recovering from a serious car accident and it is unknown whether he will be able to play again.
As recently reported, Montana suffered a major loss in sophomore defensive end Josh Harris, a projected starter, who was injured in the scrimmage last Saturday and is lost for the season, undergoing surgery yesterday (Tuesday, Aug. 24).
PFLUGRAD ON ANY NEW PLAYERS WHO HAVE SURFACED RECENTLY:
"It's been the same players who I have mentioned previously who have continued to look good for us. Antwon Moutra, our receiver from UCLA, has had two really good practices. We're using him on offense, and he seems to be picking up things very well.
But, no one else has really shown up, and I think a big part of that is we are just a little bit tired. Hopefully that will happen tomorrow morning."
WAITING GAME: The NCAA allows players to practice with their team for 14 days as they await news from UM's compliance office on their eligibility. Four Griz players were recently unable to practice until they get that approval. This applied to one drop-down transfer, two junior college transfers, and a player from the prep ranks, although late in today's (Wednesday) morning practice, junior cornerback Houston Root (from Sierra College in Rocklin, Calif.) got word that he was good to go and resumed practicing.
QUOTING COACH PFLUGRAD:
"We feel confident that it's going to happen and those players will be able to play for us this season, and soon. I know we are not unique. Every school in the country probably has one or two guys who have employed that 14-day grace period which we are allowed by the NCAA.
Then after that, if everything (paperwork) is not in, we have to pull them (players) off the field, and unfortunately we did that yesterday."
POSITION CHANGES: Sophomore quarterback Gerald Kemp (San Diego) has settled into his new position of running back. Kemp was at QB several times for the Grizzly offense last season in their "wildcat"
formation until he was injured late in the season. He had 11 carries for 61 yards against Portland State last year.
Redshirt freshman Chris Bradford (San Bernadino, Calif.) has been moved from defensive tackle to defensive end. He is a 6-2, 260-pounder who was a redshirt at UM last season.
Junior cornerback Trumaine Johnson (Stockton, Calif.) Has not only been playing wide receiver and working on the kickoff return team, but he has also been playing a bit at free safety.
CAPTAINS: Pflugrad said the team will select 2010 team captains some time next week.
LAST PRACTICE ON SOUTH CAMPUS: The team will hold its last practice on the South Campus practice fields by Dornblaser in their second session of today's two-a-days this afternoon. They will begin full-time practices at the Riverbowl site starting Thursday, August 26th.
GREAT GRIZ ENCOUNTER: This Thursday, starting at 6:30 p.m. in Caras Park, the team (there are 90 players in fall camp) attend this annual event, where UM's 2010 All-American and honors candidates are introduced. Coach Pflugrad will also talk about the team and a couple of Griz players will also talk to the fans. After that the players will sign Griz posters and other collectibles.
REALITY CHECK: After the opener on Sept. 4th against Western State, the Grizzlies have back-to-back games at Cal Poly and at Eastern Washington.
Cal Poly returns 19 starters - all 11 on offense, and is ranked in the Sports Network and the FCS Coaches preseason polls. The Griz beat the Mustangs 35-23 in Missoula last season, but starting quarterback Tony Smith was injured early in that game.
The Eagles return 10 starters from an 8-4 team, including junior running back Taiwan Jones, a Payton Award candidate, and Buck Buchanan Award candidate J.C. Sherritt, a senior linebacker. Jones led the Big Sky in all-purpose yards (195.4 a game) last season and averaged 7.5 yards per carry. Sherritt finished second in the Buchanan award balloting last year and averaged a league-best 14.2 tackles per game.
Montana beat EWU 41-34 a year ago, but Chase Reynolds scored a touchdown on a fourth-and-goal from the one with 3:32 left to play for the game-winner.
