The latest news from MSU SID

[SonomaCat]

This contains some interesting news on the O-Line and D-Line.

BOZEMAN, Mont. -- Mike Kramer's want list for Thursday
afternoon's scrimmage finale is a short one.
"I'm looking for tempo and performance," Kramer said as his
fifth Bobcat team prepares to bring training camp to a close and segue
into preparation for the team's season opener against Adams State on
September 11. "It will be a quick scrimmage, but I want to see a
game-like pace, and I want to see the veteran players and the guys who
have not yet started that we're going to rely on perform well."
"We have a distinct three levels of players," Kramer said. "We
have starters, we have backups, and we have the young pups. The
starters
and backups will play 50 plays (Thursday), and the pups will get in
about 10."
Kramer indicated that, as is custom, Montana State's scrimmage
will feature "good on good." Pitting the offensive and defensive
starters against each other, he said, does nothing but help each unit.
"The only way our defense can adequately prepare for a game tempo is by
running against our first offense," he said. "It's a tremendous
opportunity for our offense to try to block and run and pass against a
very sophisticated, talented defense. Once they experience Pete
Kwiatkowski's defense everything else is easy to attack. And our
offense
is getting veteran enough that it's beneficial for our defense to face
them, too."
Kramer said that while personnel issues remain to be settled at
several position groups, he will have his eye on a couple particular
battles. "We still need to make the ultimate determination who our
kicker will be," he said. "That will be 90% done by (Thursday), so we
won't kick field goals and PATs three at a time. Each kicker will take
turns and we'll see who performs the best under game-like
circumstances.
We want to continue to develop depth at cornerback, and we need to see
game-day performance from our receivers. The receivers will show us a
lot of flash and fire, but there won't be a lot of substance there
until
after the second game."

* * * BOBCATS SOLIDIFY LINES * * *
A pair of question marks became more clear for the Bobcats this
week with progress from offensive line reserves and a shuffle along the
defensive front. Clive Lowe moved from the second defensive end spot on
the rush side to the starting spot on the anchor side, supplanting Andy
Matakis, who moved to defensive tackle. "Clive just has to be on the
field. Those are our best four guys," Kramer said, referring to
projected starters Lowe, Gluhm, tackle Ray Sebestyen, and nose tackle
Beau Clark. "Ryan Cogley, with Clive and Chad, gives us three quality
ends, and we're solid inside with Ray and Andy and Beau and Aaron
Papich, and Tim O'Tool has looked good." Kramer indicated he's pleased
with the play of his young backup offensive linemen. "Adam DeCock has
started progressing again, and (true freshman) Troy Watson is clearly a
guy who has earned playing time and will travel and probably play right
away. With Joaquin Echauri at left guard and Garrin Brewton at tackle,
that group of backups in the offensive line has really stabilized."

* * * TAILGATE PRACTICE * * *
While the MSU football team is making its final preseason
tune-up in Bobcat Stadium on Thursday afternoon, Bobcat fans will be
going through the paces, as well. "We're encouraging our fans to come
out for a 'Practice Tailgate' party Thursday," said MSU Athletic
Director Peter Fields. "This is a great chance to get a taste for the
season, which starts a week from Saturday, to have some fun in the
parking lot and in the Stadium, and to continue a tradition we began
last year." Kickoff for the scrimmage is at 4 pm Thursday.

[kmax]

BAC you forgot to highlight the most important part of that...Tailgate Practice. Probably the only practice most of us armchair quarterbacks could make it through anymore.