Michigan State University Athletics
Defense Wins First Preseason Football Scrimmage
8/13/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 13, 2007
EAST LANSING, Mich. - With temperatures near 90, first-year Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio sent his team through a 148-play scrimmage Sunday, Aug. 12 on the grass practice fields behind the Duffy Daugherty Football Building. Utilizing a modified scoring system, the defense (White team) forced four turnovers en route to winning the first preseason scrimmage, 90-67.
The scrimmage format provided the defense with 17 different scoring opportunities, while the offense had 10 ways to put points on the scoreboard, including the traditional touchdown and field goal.
The defense took control midway through the scrimmage, thanks to strong safety Travis Key's 7-yard fumble return for a touchdown, good for 12 points. The defense also came up with three interceptions (worth five points each), including two by free safety Otis Wiley (6-2, 214, Jr.). Freshman cornerback Chris L. Rucker (6-2, 185) also picked off a pass.
"We saw some guys making plays on both sides of the football," Coach Dantonio said. "The defense made some athletic plays and came up with some turnovers.
"Offensively, Javon Ringer looked very good early before we pulled him, but he's obviously a difference-maker. Jehuu Caulcrick ran hard and picked up some tough yards. Brian Hoyer looked very sharp early. Some of the younger guys opened some eyes today, especially at the skill positions. For example, Mark Dell made some nice plays down field.
"I think some guys definitely made strides today, but it's tough to get a true evaluation until I get the opportunity to watch the film. We scrimmaged for two-and-a-half hours and there were no delay-of-game penalties. We had a couple of off-sides and some jumps, but there weren't many flags even with the full officiating crew. The players did a good job from a penalties standpoint."
First-team quarterback Brian Hoyer (6-2, 212, Jr.) completed 7-of-20 throws for 113 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Hoyer led the first-team offense to scores on three of its first five possessions. His 33-yard completion to tight end Kellen Davis (6-6, 246, Sr.) on the scrimmage's third series set up Brett Swenson's 26-yard field goal. On his next series, Hoyer capped an eight-play, 65-yard drive with a 14-yard TD toss to fullback Jeff McPherson (6-1, 245, Jr.). Later, his 13-yard strike to Mark Dell (6-2, 185, Fr.) led to another Swenson (5-8, 160, So.) field goal, a 52-yarder.
Six different quarterbacks saw action during the 2 1/2-hour scrimmage. Freshmen Nick Foles (6-5, 235) and Kirk Cousins (6-3, 181) each took snaps with the first- and second-team offense. Foles connected on 10-of-17 passes for 93 yards, two TDs and one interception, while Cousins hit 5-of-12 throws for 35 yards.
"We had an opportunity to get a lot of work for Nick Foles and Kirk Cousins with the ones and twos, which is something we must do," Dantonio said. "Nick played pretty well and looked sharp throwing the football, and Kirk made some athletic moves to avoid the pass rush. Both guys were limited in terms of what they were asked to do today, but we asked them to take charge and I thought they both did a nice job."
"I think both Nick (Foles) and Kirk (Cousins) are really progressing," offensive coordinator Don Treadwell said. "To be true freshmen, you are seeing some positive things out there. Their attention is very good. Once Coach (Dave) Warner goes over a few things, they usually come out the next day with an even a better grasp of what's going on. Like Brian Hoyer, they are tremendous students of the game. One of the things they did today was come back after something negative happened and that shows they have great poise."
 Nick Foles completed 10-of-17 throws for 93 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.  | |
Foles engineered four scoring drives, resulting in two field goals and two TDs. On his third series, he went 6-for-6 for 50 yards to set up a 42-yard field goal by Matt Haughey (5-9, 176, Jr.). His 29-yard completion to tight end Charlie Gantt (6-4, 245, R-Fr.) set up his first scoring pass, a 6-yard slant to Ryan Allison (6-3, 210, Jr.). Later, Foles finished off a goal-line series with a 2-yard TD pass to McPherson.
Freshman Ashton Leggett (5-11, 223) gained a scrimmage-best 64 yards on seven carries, including a 46-yard TD run on a fourth-and-one play on the second-to-last series. Javon Ringer (5-9, 200, Jr.) played only two series and rushed seven times for 35 yards, including runs of 11 and 14 yards.
"It's a little tough to recognize who stood out because we had ones, twos, and threes all playing against each other," Treadwell said. "We did spring a couple of runs in there, and we obviously are emphasizing being physical and being tough (in the running game). I think from there we'll identify who those running backs were. Javon (Ringer) was limited to a certain degree on purpose, but outside of that, we tried to just get a feel for all the pieces to the puzzle and tried to put guys in certain game-like situations."
 Otis Wiley tackles Mark Dell after his 6-yard catch from Brian Hoyer. | |
B.J. Cunningham (6-2, 200, Fr.) and Dell each had three receptions for 35 and 34 yards, respectively, as 13 different receivers caught at least one pass.
Linebacker Eric Gordon (6-0, 220, R-Fr.) produced a scrimmage-best eight tackles, including 3.5 for losses (21 yards). Key (5-10, 185, Sr.) recorded five tackles, including one for a 4-yard loss, while Wiley contributed five stops, including a 5-yard sack.
"The kids flew around pretty good today and for the most part, they did the right things," defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi said. "We had a couple of busts and some disappointing things did happen out there, but for the most part, it was pretty good.
"We just have to keep getting better. I told them we have half of our defense in, and we still have half of it to go. We have to continue to mentally pick up on things, and we have to polish some things up, because there were still some breakdowns out there that we can't have.
"Eric (Gordon) has been playing good, and he continues to get better and better. He has some busts here and there that he has to clean up, but overall, we're happy with the way Eric has been playing. He's really pushing for that (starting) WILL linebacker position."
Freshman defensive end Kevin Pickelman (6-3, 250) registered six tackles, including 3.5 for losses (17 yards), while freshman linebacker Greg Jones (6-1, 220) made five stops.
"Both Kevin Pickelman and Greg Jones got 25-30 reps each today, and both of those guys made some plays," Dantonio said.
"(Kevin) Pickelman is a freshman who is coming in and having to learn a lot on defense," Narduzzi said. "I think you could see today that he was starting to play faster - it was like you saw some burst out of him. What you find out in the eighth day of practice is that he's starting to understand what he's doing. He's not sitting on the line wondering what to do, then the ball is snapped, and he kind of does it - he's doing it much faster. He's playing good."
Under NCAA legislation, prohibiting consecutive days of double sessions, the Spartans will continue alternating between double and single workouts through Friday, Aug. 17 before conducting their second preseason scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 18.
Michigan State's 2007 season and home opener, Sept. 1 against UAB, will be televised by ESPN2, with kickoff set for 12 p.m. EDT.
