Miami Ohio University Athletics
Football Closes First Week of Practice with Scrimmage
4/3/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 3, 2004
OXFORD, Ohio - The Miami RedHawks football team closed out its first full week of practice Saturday with a 119-play scrimmage at Yager Stadium. After the defense dominated the first few drives, the offense heated up as the first and second teams each scored 14 points each, under the direction of Josh Betts and Mike Kokal, respectively.
On the first drive of the day, cornerback Darrell Hunter made the first of two picks of Betts, returning it 20 yards. Later in practice, fellow first-teamer Alphonso Hodge intercepted a Betts' third-down attempt in the endzone.
Despite the two interceptions the two quarterbacks both looked solid showing off a vertical passing game that included seven passes of over 20 yards or longer, highlighted by a Kokal to Ryne Robinson touchdown pass that covered 93 yards. Kokal also hooked up again with Robinson later for 41 yards.
The running game showed off its versatility as six different backs carried the ball, led by redshirt freshman Akim Lanamann, who ran for 31 yards, including a 22-yard scoring run. Mike Smith, the team's No. 2 rusher last season, put up 19 yards on 11 carries, including a one-yard scoring jaunt. Redshirt freshmen Brandon Murphy and Cory Jones registered 20 and 15 yards, respectively.
The scrimmage also was highlighted by the debut of Miami basketball player Danny Horace as a tight end. Horace, who has been with the team for a week, took 15 snaps in the scrimmage as he has tried both defensive end and tight end so far.
The RedHawks continue Spring Ball this week with their second scrimmage on Thursday afternoon.
Comments on Scrimmage No. 1
Terry Hoeppner, Head Coach "If I would have plotted out camp I would have to say that what we saw today was about what I expected. It was our version of the Clint Eastwood movie, "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. There were some really good things because we have some talented players, some bad things and some really ugly things, but we have young guys in some key positions and that's why Spring Practice is so important. I'm not ecstatic and I'm not disappointed."
"I thought we had some good performances. The defense came out early and took it to the offense and then the offense responded. I think we have the makings of another good football team, but we need to keep building and learning from today."
Shane Montgomery, Offensive Coordinator "The biggest thing we are looking for this Spring is more consistency because we have some new guys in some new positions and a couple offensive linemen that haven't started before. We're trying to look at some young running backs to see who can give us depth there and obviously at quarterback we have to see what we have. Even though Josh got to play a lot last year this would be his first year starting."
"This was our first scrimmage and I figured there were going to be some rough spots. We didn't start out the way we would like and we were slow early. Once we got in a grove we did some good things. The defense is going to give us some good looks since we have so much left."
Joe Palcic, Co-Defensive Coordinator "So far we are happy for Week One. We are trying to find replacements for the three guys we lost, Phil Smith, Will Stanley and Terrell Jones. With the loss of our defensive captain Terrell Jones, you would expect that to be a big loss, but Derek Rehage has played a lot and stepped up filling in. You loose Terrell's leadership but that will come in time for Derek. In the secondary we have everyone back but we need to develop some depth."
"We're missing John Busing, John Glavin and Dontae Wright, who all had off season surgery, but we know all of those guys can play so this let's us get some other guys some reps. The more experience we get the new guys the better off we will be."
"We allowed (the offense) to get some big plays on us. I know a couple were unbelievable catches but we need to get a little more consistent."
"I think Clayton Mullins has shown some great improvement this Spring. He is a true freshman that should be still be in high school. He has come in and today was running with the "ones" in (John) Busing's spot. He and Justin Davis have been battling it out and Clayton has picked up mentally. That experience will be great for him."
