MUTS Saturday Scrimmage

[MeanGreen61]

Football - August 20, 2005

Blue Raiders hold 62-play scrimmage prior to Fan Day

MT Media Relations

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Both the Middle Tennessee offense and defense had their moments during Saturday's 62-play intrasquad scrimmage with each unit coming away with not only positives, but also plenty to work on two weeks prior to the season opener at Alabama. The Middle Tennessee offense racked up 393 yards of total offense, including 250 in the air, while the defense came away with six turnovers and allowed just 10 points.

"We made some plays out there this morning, but we still have a long ways to go before we are ready to play," said Head Coach Andy McCollum. "My biggest complaint today came in the turnover department. We put the ball on the ground too many times and we can not do that and be successful. The one thing we preach everyday is taking care of the football and we have to improve in that area.

"It was a very physical day in the heat and sloppy at times, but I think our team battled well today and I like how both our front lines performed. We also need to do a better job of converting on third down."

Junior quarterback and Davey O'Brien Award candidate Clint Marks went 5-for-7 for 88 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown strike to Cleannord Saintil. Marks led the first-team offense down the field more than 60 yards on the opening drive of the scrimmage, which included a 22-yard reverse play to Pierre Ingram. But miscommunication between Marks and running back Eugene Gross led to a careless fumble recovered by defensive lineman Christopher Sapp.

The next series concluded with the only touchdown of the day, a 27-yard connection between Marks and senior Cleannord Saintil. Saintil led the receiving corps with four catches for 71 yards and a TD, while senior Linnie Yarbrough had three receptions for 51 yards.

Lou Groza Award candidate and junior Colby Smith connected on a 47-yard field goal for the only other scoring.

Senior QB Josh Harris completed four of his seven attempts for 61 yards, while redshirt freshman Patrick Jackson put the ball in the air 17 times, completing 13 for 101 yards and one interception.

The defense struggled at times but was able to come up with an interception from J.K. Sabb after the ball deflected off the helmet of safety Jeremiah Weaver. DeMarcus Green and Sabb also had fumble recoveries, Green's on the last play of the workout.

Erik Walden and Jason Elam both had sacks, while Tavares Jones and Josh Dutton both totaled five tackles. Jonathan Bonner, who has returned to the field this season after missing all but one game in 2004, had four stops and a tackle for loss. Four other Blue Raiders - Chance Dunleavy, Jordan Wilson, Reggie Doucet, and Bradley Nix - all had four tackles. Sean Mosley and Trevor Jenkins both had tackles for loss.

STATS

Offense

Passing

Clint Marks 5-7, 88 yds, 1 TD

Josh Harris 4-7, 61 yds

Patrick Jackson 13-17, 101 yds, 1 INT

Receiving

Cleannord Saintil 4-71 yds, 1 TD

Linnie Yarbrough 3-51 yds

Bobby Williams 2-22 yds

Michael Cannon 2-3 yds

Eddie Brown 2-14 yds

Thomas Osteen 2-15 yds

Luke Paschall 1-13 yds

Dale Galvin 1-8 yds

Jonathan Grigsby 1-12 yds

Derek Shropshire 1-8 yds

Ronald Steed 1-19 yds

Jay Robinson 1-10 yds

Paul Cantrell 1-4 yds

Rushing

Eddie Brown 10-51 yds

Ralph King 7-41 yds

Pierre Ingram 1-22 yds

Alex Suber 2-18 yds

Eugene Gross 2-11 yds

Ronald Steed 4-8 yds

Abdual Henderson 3-(-3) yds

Josh Harris 1-(-5) yds

[PlummMeanGreen]

Looks like the MUTS have gotten into the "award nominee in articles" game, too. Wonder which SBC school may have inspired that? That's OK because it tells some of the others who seemedly are (sometimes) intimidated by a 5 year old football conference that we do have some talent. I have in mind a handful from the WAC on that statement as I don't think we are intimidating many others.

Seems after reading their board that they are concerned with some kind of lack of experience from their receivers corps. Do any of you who read their board get the same drift on that subject?

Of course, this is the time of Fall practice that some 1'st year newcomers are the 2'nd coming of whoever, yet MT with a good QB but without many experienced receivers seems to be something that could be an "early season" pitfall or glaring omission? Probably just wishful thinking on my part, eh?

Edited August 20, 2005 by PlummMeanGreen