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Herd looks balanced in scrimmage

Defensive coordinator Chuck Heater spent the third week of spring practice continuing to install his defense and expand the blitz packages and coverages in the playbook.  The work was evident Saturday during Marshall’s second scrimmage of the spring.

The defense racked up four interceptions, seven sacks, 12 tackles for loss and four pass break-ups Saturday afternoon.

“I’m anxious to see the film and see exactly what we got but I thought there were some guys that made plays,” Doc Holliday said after the scrimmage.

The offense came out clicking and moved the ball effectively from its own 30-yard line.  The 12-play scoring drive culminated with a one-yard touchdown Steward Butler touchdown run.  Butler finished the day with six carries for 63 yards and a pair of touchdowns.  The other scoring scamper was a 44-yard dash up the middle.

“I had a good day,” Butler assessed.  “Cato checked to me and the hole opened up. Your eyes get big when you see the touchdown.”

The defense’s new blitz packages caused trouble for the offense throughout the scrimmage.  The pressure forced the quarterbacks to flee the pocket and gave the secondary opportunities to make plays on the ball.  Corie Wilson picked off Blake Frohnapfel for the first interception of the day and would have had a 67-yard return had the play not been whistled dead.

Frohnapfel was intercepted again on his next drive when A.J. Leggett stepped in front of a pass over the middle intended for sophomore Jack Gammon.  Monterius Lovett and Shawn Samuels also collected interceptions on the day.

“He’s (Chuck Heater) got a little different package that’s creates some issues and it’s hard sometimes with that front we’re playing to identify where the blitz is coming from,” said Holliday.

Quarterback Rakeem Cato gave the defense credit for coming at the offense with some different looks but felt given another chance the offense would be able to come out ahead.

“It’s good but the blitzing they were doing, everyone was accounted for so the only thing we have do on the offense is adjust to it,” believed Cato.

The offensive star of Saturday’s scrimmage was redshirt freshman Chris Alston, who had 105 yards receiving and a touchdown.  With the offense starting out at is own one-yard line, Blake Frohnapfel connected with Alston for a 95-yard completion inside the defense’s five-yard line.

“I took off and I saw him cock back so I just took off and caught it,” said Alston.  “It was funny because my coach started running down the sideline with me.”

For Alston, the spring has been a chance to prove to the coaching staff he can get the job done if called upon this fall.

“He’s been here three years now and its time for him to start being a football player,” remarked Holliday.   “He’s become more consistent in catching the ball and that’s what he needed to do.  We got to find out about those other guys to see if we can trust them when they get in the game.”

Tight end Eric Frohnapfel led the offense with seven receptions and a touchdown.

Defensively, Jermaine Holmes registered ten tackles a tackle for loss and a sack.

Marshall will go hard one more time on Tuesday and then will go in shorts on Thursday ahead of the annual Green/White game on Saturday.

SCRIMMAGE STATS

Team Rushing: 44-97 2 TDs
Team Passing: 38-61-449 3TDs
Total Offense: 105 plays-546 yards

Individual Rushing:
Butler 6-63, 2 TDs
Taliaferro 10-49
Watson 5-19
Grooms 4-5
Rodriguez 3-2
Cato 8-(-2)
B. Frohnapfel 5-(-24)
Holcombe 3-(-15) 

Individual Passing:
B. Frohnapfel 15-22-220, TD, 2 INTs
Cato 14-21-150
Holcombe 8-17-79, 2 TDs, 2 INTs 

Individual Receiving:
E. Frohnapfel 7-61, TD
Gammon 6-43, TD
Reaves 4-46
D. Smith 4-33
Shuler 3-24
Grace 3-22, TD
Kersey 3-21
Taliaferro 3-11
Alston 2-105, TD
Garrett 2-24
Evans 1-39
Butler 1-20

 

Defense (4 INTs, 7 sacks, 12 TFLs, 4 PBUs):
Holmes 10 tackles, TFL, sack
Houston 9 tackles
Hunter 5 tackles
Tindal 5 tackles
Dillon 5 tackles, 2 TFL, sack
Baxter 4 tackles, 2 TFL, sack, 2 PBUs
Yamoah 4 tackles, PBU
Letman 4 tackles, TFL
Massaquoi 4 tackles, 1.5 TFL, sack
Samuels 3 tackles, INT
D. Mitchell 3 tackles, 1.5 TFL, sack
Myers 3 tackles, TFL, sack
K. Smith 3 tackles, TFL, sack
Carter 3 tackles
Leggett 2 tackles, INT
Daniel 2 tackles
B. Mitchell 2 tackles, TFL
Wilson 2 tackles, INT
Roberts 2 tackles, PBU
Pickett 1 tackle
Strong 1 tackle
Bazzie 1 tackle
Gilchrist 1 tackle
Samuel 1 tackle, FF
Sparrow 1 tackle
Lovett INT





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