Murray State University Athletics
Spring Practice #4
3/29/2008 5:00:00 AM | Football
The pads were popping on Saturday morning inside Stewart Stadium as the Murray State football donned full pads for the first time this spring. The team worked in their individual groups before coming together for the first scrimmage of the spring.
Head Coach Matt Griffin began practice with some excitement as he lined his players up for some one-on-one drills that pitted the offense against the defense in full contact drills.
In the first series, the defense was able to hold and force a three-and-out. That was not the case on the second series as quarterback Jeff Ehrhardt rolled right and found Antoinne Lightfoot for a 73-yard scoring strike.
On the ensuing drive, the offense looked to score via the ground as Ehrhardt kept the ball around right end and raced to end zone, but it would not stand as it was called back on a penalty. The offense was not discouraged Kenny Benjamin hauled in a pass and turned up field for a big gain before Paul McKinnis capped the drive with a one-yard plunge.
"A positive is the speed. I think defensively we are running very well, better than we have the past two springs," said Griffin. "Offensively, it was not bad today for the first scrimmage. I certainly think the defense is ahead a little bit. I was pleased with the play of a couple guys. The competition at positions helps. As long as we have that, we will get better."
The Racers return to the field on Tuesday, April 1. Practice is set to begin at 5:30 a.m. at Stewart Stadium.
Matt Griffin comments on the first week of Spring Practice
On the progress of the offense
Your expectations are always higher. I think you have to be because you always get what you expect. I think what we have to clean up is we still had a couple procedure penalties, its not that we are flinching, but having trouble with the cadence. It's all new, but four practices in you can't say it is all new and it is OK. We just have to keep getting after these guys.
On who has stepped up this Spring
I think a couple guys on the defensive line, Austen Lane and Danny Blakemore, have played well and made plays. I think Tamar Butler is playing well, as well as Zach Kutch. I think our secondary as a whole is a couple steps ahead of where they were a year ago and that is because they are all sophomores now. They have some experience and they are playing better. They have to keep improving because they still have a long way to go.
Offensively, I thought both our quarterbacks, as far as operation and knowledge of the offense, are doing a good job. I would like to be a little more productive at receiver.
On wide receiver play
Antoinne Lightfoot needs to step up and be more productive and he was just OK today. We are little short handed right now due to family situations. That goes with it and the next guy has to step up and be ready to go. That's the same as an injury situation. We can't rely on those things and say that is why we are just average. We have to be better than that.
On the play of the offensive line
We have been a little bit better. I can't speak for today without seeing tape, but yesterday we were pretty good. I really liked our inside run and team period. We have bodies there now, we have 12 or 13 guys competing so we need to find the best five. I think we have six or seven that can play very well at this level. It is just a matter of getting them to really work together as a group.
