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SPORTS
Anderson starts sharp
Quarterback Brian Anderson warms up his arm during the opening Marshall football practice on Friday, Aug. 7, 2009, at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
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HUNTINGTON -- Particularly for an opening football practice, Marshall University provided an eventful workout Friday at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
Forget about the "everybody looks good in T-shirts and shorts" cliché.
Junior quarterback Brian Anderson, leading candidate for the starting job, was sharp from start to finish of a two-hour plus practice. Decisive and accurate, Anderson continues to distance from competitors Mark Cann, the incumbent starter, and junior college transfers Press Taylor and Jake Laudenslayer.
Anderson excelled in his lone start last season, completing 14 of 19 passes for 177 yards and three touchdowns in the final game against Tulsa.
"He knows what he's doing," Thundering Herd head coach Mark Snyder said. "It's carried right over from spring. He started coming on and the end of last season, had an opportunity against Tulsa. I thought he did well in spring and it was good to see today that he's continued on that development.
"As you know, we turned the ball over (during a 4-8 record last season). That's what killed us last year. It wasn't anything else than we started turning the ball over. You can't put points on the board when you turn the ball over.
"And I think Brian understands that. And he's got some guys to go out wide to now. That's what's exciting me.
"I continue to like Press Taylor. He knows it. He continues to learn it. He feels comfortable. I feel comfortable with him too."
Anderson was fronted Friday afternoon by a new-look offensive line. Starters return, but have shifted positions, in part because of center John Bruhin's back injury. Chad Schofield has shifted from guard to Bruhin's spot, and Ryan Tillman, a 12-game starter at left tackle in '08 has assumed Schofield's former role.
"The first group, we're going to be fine there," Snyder said. "They were the most pleasant surprise. The key this year is to stay healthy along the offensive line, because we do not want to put one of those young guys in the football game.
"That group (the first team) has got a little moxie going. I said it after spring. I sat in meetings today. I like that group and it's going to open up a lot of things for us because if you run the football, you can throw the football downfield.
"The move of Tillman to guard still gives us some athleticism. I was nervous because Chad is so athletic that we were going to lose some of that athleticism. Ryan's pretty athletic though. I think we're going to OK there. We have to stay healthy. That's the key."
Optimism themed throughout Snyder's post-practice press conference. Throughout his tenure, the fifth-year coach has remained frank, whether he's praising players or otherwise.
"We're a lot further along than we've ever been," Snyder said. "Those first couple of groups, they know what's going on.
"The young guys are struggling. They're swimming. And they're going to swim for a while."
Along with Anderson and the offensive line, Snyder especially was impressed by a collection of inexperienced, but talented wide receivers including rangy newcomers Wayne Bonner (6-foot-4), Michael Rhynes (6-5) and Aaron Dobson (6-3), slot receiver Troy Evans and speedy wideout Chuck Walker.
"Talking about the new guys, that wide receiver group is going to help us," Snyder said. "They're going to have to learn how to practice, but there is some talent in that group.
"They need to learn what to do. I was very, very, very impressed with the wide receiving group, the new guys.
"For them to go along with the guys who have been here for a long time, this looks like a different group. There's some speed out there, and we've got some height out there.
"I was commenting during (practice) -- we've got some Houston-type guys (speed receivers). We've got a Memphis-type guy, two Memphis-type guys (taller wideouts). I was impressed with that group."
Defensively, Snyder noted true freshmen Phil Walker ("Thank goodness because we're going to need a linebacker," he said), and first-year cornerback Monterius Lovett.
As for defensive veterans, former Cabell Midland High School standout John Saunders heads competition to take over at free safety, vacated by C.J. Spillman, now with the San Diego Chargers. Saunders is competing with Omar Brown for starting duties.
"Right now, John's our guy," Snyder said. "Not to say that Omar can't take him over because Omar's got range and all of those things and he's learning.
"But John, we hope he has a career-best senior year. From his attitude it looks like he's going to do that."
Practice continues today and the initial workout open to the public begins at 3 p.m. Sunday. Tuesday's full-pads practice is also open to the public.
Sessions open to public
HUNTINGTON -- Marshall's football practices on Sunday and Tuesday are open to the public, beginning at 3 p.m. in Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
Head coach Mark Snyder made the announcement following Friday's practice.
No recording devices or cameras of any kind are permitted at practices.
-- The Herald-Dispatch
