Beyond that, the Montana Grizzlies were as crisp as can be expected for the first practice of fall camp, Wednesday at the South Campus fields.
Fifth-year head coach Bobby Hauck suited up 90 players, including three new faces: Ciarre Campbell, Mike Vandenberg and Joseph Smith.
“We got the practice in, which was good,” said Hauck. “We were worried about the smoke, but we got it in.
“We've got a long ways to go. If we'd played today, we would've got beat.”
The passing game was sharp at times, with quarterback Clint Stapp hitting Rob Schulte for a long touchdown in 7-on-7 drills, and Cole Bergquist running a two-minute drill near the end that culminated with a bomb to Ryan Bagley.
On the other side, safety Shann Schillinger intercepted a pass and tipped another that teammate Van Cooper, Jr. picked off.
Among those returning after an injury-shortened 2006: Lex Hilliard at running back, Tyson Johnson at punter, Tyler Corwin at linebacker and offensive lineman Chris Dyk.
Dyk, a 6-foot-8 tackle who had an excellent spring after a leg injury shelved him last fall, was in with the No. 1 offensive line on Bergquist's bomb - along with fellow tackle Cody Balogh, guards Dan Carter and Terran Hillesland and center Eric Michel.
The aforementioned Corwin steps into the spot held last year by Shawn Lebsock, who watched in street clothes Wednesday. Lebsock, a junior-to-be, is not on the 90-man roster, and Hauck said odds are the Billings Skyview standout would redshirt.
Another absence is receiver Craig Chambers, who hasn't practiced since early in spring ball because of a shoulder injury.
“He's working through some medical, stuff too,” Hauck said.
The No. 1 defense featured Chris Clark and Quinton Jackson at the corners, but everybody - Tim Parks, Brandon Dwyer, Jeremy Pate, freshman Jamaine Olson and Campbell, Smith and Vandenberg - got in the mix.
Campbell, 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, is a Colorado State transfer whose brother, Severin, is a redshirt freshman linebacker for the Griz. Ciarre Campbell redshirted at CSU in 2005 and lettered last season, and was athletic enough to take second in the Mountain West Conference indoor track championships in the long jump, marking 25 feet.
Smith, out of Mount San Antonio College, is 5-10 and 185. He started in 2006 for the Mounties, who were the Mission Conference champs and won the Beach Bowl title.
Vandenberg played mostly receiver at New Mexico last year, after spending the 2005 season as a redshirt. He had 11 interceptions and 85 tackles as a senior at Campolino High School in Moraga, Calif.; he also had 35 catches and nine touchdowns as a receiver.
Campbell is from South High School in Denver, and Smith prepped at Damien High in LaVerne, Calif.
NOTES: Also on the field was Nick Haynes of Butte, an all-state safety for the Bulldogs last season. Š The 12th Great Grizzly Encounter is set for Aug. 23, the same day as the Grizzlies' second fall scrimmage. It will be in conjunction with the Missoula Downtown Association's weekly “Downtown Tonight” event at Caras Park. Griz players and coaches will be introduced, and the players will be available to sign the 2007 football posters.
To watch a video report on the opening of fall practice
|
 |
 |
Add your comment now! Write your comment in the form below.
(Email address is for verification only. If you'd like to email a story, look for the link above)