Looking for defensive depth
4/9/2011 3:25:00 PM | Football
Happy with their front line players, Sam Houston head coach Willie Fritz and his staff now are looking to develop more depth as 2011 football spring training is nearing its end.
In Saturday morning's 80-play scrimmage, there were flashes on both sides of the ball, but also a lot of emotional competition between teammates who know each other's strengths and weaknesses.
"We got a lot better, but going against the same defense, they know all our plays and we're just trying to fight through it," said freshman running back Ridgeway Frank.
Frank scored on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line and saw action in special teams drills as a return specialist and also fumbled near the end zone.
Fritz said he was pleased with the defensive effort, aside from mental errors.
"I thought defensively we really did some nice things, particularly earlier in the scrimmage," Fritz said. "We're just trying to develop depth on the defensive side of the ball. We really feel good about 15 or 16 guys. We need to get more."
Junior transfer quarterback Si'Darius Blackshire connected with Trey Diller for a 30-yard touchdown. Senior Greg Sprowls threw a 25-yard touchdown to Brandon Closner. Diller was also on the receiving end of freshman quarterback Matt Merkins' 25-yard touchdown pass at the end of the scrimmage. The Kats also scored on Miguel Antonio field goals from 25, 32 and 35 yards.
Blackshire hit Vincent Dotson for a 26-yard pass play and Closner for a 12-yard play to highlight big plays for the offense. Brian Bell connected with redshirt freshman wide receiver SaQan Edwards on a 30-yard throw.
Wide receiver Richard Sincere saw action at quarterback in the wildcat formation, but didn't attempt a pass.
The Kats offense is working on getting the ball downfield with more explosiveness and a more proficient passing game. Some of the areas seeking improvement, according to coaches, are route running and pass protection.
Fritz said the Kats have to be able to catch the deep ball, particularly against a defense like their own, which brings the house and also covers man-to-man.
"We also have to catch the ball over the middle of the field," Fritz said. "I counted three balls that we dropped that were well-thrown over the middle of the field and our guys dropped them."
Receivers Kevin Matthews and Torrance Williams will receive most of the slant route passes to make plays in the middle. Diller and Edwards, neither of whom played for the Kats last fall, bring new downfield threats for Sam Houston.
"(Being a) downfield threat is what my biggest thing is," Diller said. "I'm a very aggressive blocker and I like to get physical. The main thing I need to work on is getting out of the breaks. All I have to do is work my hands and my feet a little more and if I can do that, there will be a lot better improvements."
Diller added that the Kats need to work on mental discipline, saying they have done better since the start of spring practice.
Offensive coordinator Bob DeBesse said he didn't think the team was as ready to play as it needed to be.
"There is a certain mental frame you have to be in to come out here and compete," DeBesse said. "What you try to do in scrimmages is simulate games as much as possible. So that means your preparation has to be game-like. When you have motion penalties, it's a reflection of your mental readiness."
DeBesse admitted the Bearkats are behind at the wide receiver position and coaches are still expecting one or two guys to step up. He said they need consistency, or defenses will pick them apart.
"Some of it is a confidence factor," DeBesse said. "Sometimes when you're in a situation like our receivers are in, you have to create your own confidence. You have to create your own swagger if you're not having positive reps. It may not be that we're making plays, but we're running better routes, or we're lining up faster. We're just cleaner at that spot. That would be a goal."
For the first time ever, Sam Houston's spring football game will be held on a Thursday night instead of the traditional Saturday date.
And if that's not enough to make the 2011 Orange-White clash exciting, there's all kinds of extra events planned for the contest when the game brings spring drills to an end on Thursday, April 14 at 7 p.m. on the field at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium.
"This has been an exciting spring for the football team," Sam Houston head coach Willie Fritz said. "We feel like the program is heading in the right direction and we want the fans and students to get excited too. We're looking forward to making the Orange-White game an event for everyone."
Attractions include free food for students, the ROTC rock wall, 40-yard dash and punt, pass and kick competitions. Sam Houston State fraternities and sororities are involved and prizes in the punt, pass and kick contests include a special sidelines pass at the season-opening game for 2011 in September.
Seating at the game will be limited to the west side (press box) stands. The Sam Houston band and cheerleading groups will be present to add to the excitement.
Following the game, there were be a special on-field autograph session for youngsters with the Sam Houston football players.
The Bearkats return 46 lettermen including 22 starters from last year's young team that won six of its final nine games and tied for third place in the Southland Conference.
The Bearkats will play six home games at Bowers Stadium in 2011 plus the "Battle of the Piney Woods" with SFA at Reliant Stadium in Houston. Now on sale, packages for new season ticket holders and Bearkat Champions are $275 per seat. The cost includes a chairback seat, tax deduction, parking pass and a Bearkat football "Special Event" invitation.
Bleacher reserved season ticket holders will pay $100 for their seven-game season ticket.
Fans can order their season tickets online at www.gobearkats.com/tickets or at the Sam Houston athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone number is (936) 294-1729.
