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MARSHALL SPORTS
MU Notebook: Scrimmage passes second review on film
Upon further review, original impressions stand.
That was Mark Snyder's take nearly two days after his team's 94-play scrimmage. Marshall University's head football coach was pleased overall following Saturday's workout, but cautioned that some analysis be delayed until he and his coaching staff "watch the film."
Video was scoured for the remainder of the weekend, revealing few Easter Eggs (DVD talk for those unaware).
"It was about what we saw," Snyder said Monday. "It was a good, solid scrimmage. We got some work done. Some situations we got cleaned up this morning.
"We had a lot of good teaching, a lot of good learning. The kids were playing hard. I have no complaints."
Offensive tackle certainly was a spotlight position on Saturday with Daniel Baldridge, Brandon Campbell, Ryan Tillman and C.J. Wood sharing first and second team snaps. After a bit of prodding, Snyder offered his updated thoughts on the scrutinized tackle spots.
"C.J. probably had the best (scrimmage Saturday)," Snyder said. "It's still a work in progress, but not as bad as I thought it would be to be honest with you.
"We'll be fine."
Saturday capped a demanding run of 15 preseason camp practices in 12 days. The grind was evident both late in Saturday's scrimmage and Monday morning, when a refreshed Thundering Herd squad enjoyed a brisk workout.
"This is one thing you see on film, too," Snyder said. "The first two or three series we looked crisp and sharp, and at the end it becomes mush, dead-legged. And it showed up on the film too.
"You could hear it down here and it looked like it on the field."
Asked if after two weeks, Marshall football would downshift to fine-tune mode, the fourth-year coach was quick to respond. This week marks the finale of two-a-day practices, and coaches and players remain in an all-football, all-the-time mindset.
"No. No. No," Snyder insisted. "We're still in camp. We are still in camp. We'll start coming out of our camp phase about Thursday-ish."
Marshall will emphasize special teams today, leading to Wednesday afternoon's special teams scrimmage. A rehearsal scrimmage is scheduled for Friday afternoon. All sessions this week are closed to the public.
LESSON LEARNED: Boxers are taught not to lead with their head, a fundamental that also serves offensive linemen well.
Baldridge fully gets that now.
The 6-foot-9, 305-pound junior was working with offensive line coach Mike Cummings Monday morning, working to keep his head back while engaging defenders. To ensure Baldridge would do just that, his helmet was removed for a blocking drill.
It's probably easy to guess the rest. Yes, Baldridge again led with his head, and six stitches above his nose later, the point literally was hammered home.
"I'm fine," Baldridge chuckled. "I learned my lesson the hard way."
QB CLUB PARTY: The Quarterback Club's 22nd Annual Membership Party, a key fundraiser on Marshall football's calendar, begins at 8 p.m. Saturday in the Memorial Student Center's Don Morris Room.
Cost is $100 per person and includes hors d'oeuvres and beverages. Santa Cruz will provide musical entertainment and Marshall's coaching staff will be in attendance.
All proceeds benefit the Thundering Herd football program. For information, call Edna Justice at 696-6464 or Quarterback Club president Mark George at 690-0602.
"That's our vehicle for football, to allow us to run this program like a BCS school," Snyder said. "It gives me the funding to do things like go get two vans and take all of my seniors to Paint the Capital Green."
Wednesday's annual Paint the Capital City Green event begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Embassy Suites in Charleston. Marshall president Stephen J. Kopp, athletic director Bob Marcum, Snyder and numerous other coaches and officials will attend. Cost is $35 per person.
IF IT'S NOT ONE HAND ...: It was nearly a surreal sight viewing John Jacobs with a heavily-bandaged hand following practice. The junior defensive end, who missed three games last season with a broken left hand, now is nursing an injured right hand.
"I just have a little fracture here in this joint (pointing to his right thumb)," said Jacobs, who started eight games in 2007.
Like Baldridge, Jacobs shrugged off the injury, saying he wouldn't miss any practice or game time.
NOTES: Safety Ashton Hall, linebacker Maurice Kitchens and Ian Hoskins sat out Monday's morning practice, continuing an effort to occasionally rest veterans. ... Backup center John Bruhin shed his protective boot and dressed for practice on Monday. True freshman wide receiver Cory McCutchen, who did not participate in Saturday's scrimmage, did not dress for Monday's morning session. ... Quarterback Jonathan Garner (hand) returned to practice Monday.
Anthony Hanshew covers Marshall football for The Herald-Dispatch. He can be reached at 526-2766. His e-mail address is hanshew@herald-dispatch.com.
Paint the Capital City Green
Marshall's annual football pep rally in Charleston is Wednesday in the Embassy Suites Hotel. The event is advertised by Marshall as the largest indoor pep rally in the nation.
Head coach Mark Snyder and some players will be joined by other members of the Thundering Herd staff. Marco and the cheerleaders will entertain as well as members of the Marching Thunder band. Tailgate food served.
Sponsored by Friends of Coal, Big Green Scholarship Foundation, Marshall University Alumni Association, Greater Kanawha Valley Alumni Club and Charleston Quarterback Club.
When: 6 p.m., Wednesday
Where: Embassy Suites Hotel, Charleston
Cost: $35. Call 696-7138
