Murray State University Athletics
Practice 2-MSU Spring Football
3/30/2006 6:00:00 AM | Football
On a brisk 75 degree, warm windy day, the Murray State Racer football team took the practice field for the second time this spring under new head coach Matt Griffin.
The team practiced once again in helmets and shorts, as NCAA rules state you may only practice in helmets for the first two practices of spring.
Defensive coordinator Rich Nagy and assistant coaches Johnny Jernigan, Mark Lister, and Aaron Hutsell all worked their groups on agility skills and defensive positioning at the line of scrimmage. The linebackers and cornerbacks worked on their drop-back coverage, and their footwork and technique.
Another main point of emphasis was open-field tackling, and the defensive players worked on a drill where you have to pick up an opposing player and carry him five yards before dropping him back on his feet.
Offensive coordinator Mickey Fein and assistant coaches Kevin Cahill, Michael Hayes, and Matt Wise all worked their groups through various offensive drills. The offensive linemen performed a drill teaching staying low while blocking, and the o-line also worked on protection for the running backs and fullbacks. The wide receivers worked on establishing position at the line of scrimmage, while the quarterbacks threw basic over-the-middle routes for about 15-20 yards each throw.
The offense worked on several drills on ball protection. Ball protection will be big for Murray State this season, as the Racers fumbled the ball 26 times last season and lost 18 of those fumbles. The players performed a set of three drills. The first drill included a player holding onto the ball while another player comes up from behind and tried to swat it out of their hands repeatedly. The second drill contained a player catching a ball, then hitting the ground several times, to get used to the ground jarring a fumble out of their hands. The final drill involved coach Cahill throwing hard passes from about 10 yards away, and the player would have to catch the ball cleanly, and then hit a tackling dummy while holding on to the ball.
As for special teams, Gary Crass worked on his long-range accuracy, while newcomer Dustin Smith worked on short-range field goals. Punters Tim Wright and Barkley Carr worked on their hang-time and distance, while Shawn Seldat served as the long snapper.
RACER NOTES:
Senior running back Chad “Tank” Cook looks to be poised for a big season. In one-on-one contact drills, he looked great, and he seems to be in the best shape of his life. Look for him and sophomore Dante Woods, who sat out last season, to shape a formidable ground game for the Racers this season.
Another Racer in better shape was offensive lineman Wayne Lomax, who played sparingly last season as he battled injuries. He has lost weight down from the 345 pounds he was listed at last season.
If you attend a MSU spring workout you will that some of the footballs are covered in blue silk. This is used to help players, mostly quarterbacks and running backs, get a better grip on the ball, and the silk also makes the balls more noticeable if someone does fumble.
The Racers next practice is on Friday at 4 p.m. All public are invited to attend, and admission is free.
The Racers practice Saturday morning at 9 a.m., all workouts will be at the MSU pracrtice field or on the turf at Stewart Stadium.
