Football Practices Winding Down
4/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 14, 2009
By Ted Bryant, Mizzou Media Relations Student Assistant -
The Tigers were inside Dan Devine Pavilion yet again for the 13th of their 14 spring practices. ESPNU is in town, and has been gathering footage yesterday and today for the network's Big 12 feature show, “This Week In The Big 12.” The episode featuring today's content should air during the first week of May.
The Tigers would end today's practice on a three-series scrimmage, but there were plenty of highlights from the various pre-scrimmage drills. During inside run, running back Derrick Washington took his first carry, an off-tackle to the left, all the way to the house. Shortly after, Washington's backfield mate De'Vion Moore bobbled a pitch to the left, managed to grab it, and dashed up the left sideline for a score. To finish inside run, defensive end Aldon Smith caught running back Matt Davis with a hard, diving shove that sent Davis to the ground.
The receivers continued to put their athleticism on display, carrying over some momentum from the unit's impressive scrimmage on Saturday. Brandon Gerau had a leaping grab over cornerback Carl Gettis on the right sideline, and managed to keep a foot in bounds as he fell backwards. During seven-on-seven, tight end Andrew Jones scored twice. His first score was on a deep streak from the left slot, where quarterback Blaine Gabbert found him all alone past the secondary. His second touchdown really tested his vertical leap, as he stretched to catch a Gabbert pass in the middle of the end zone. Wide receiver Jerrell Jackson just keeps making freak catches. After Gabbert was forced out of the pocket to his right, he darted the ball to Jackson on the opposite side of the field who made a sprawled, leaping catch. Later in the drill, Jackson caught a ball in the right flat and tiptoed down the sideline past oncoming defenders for a touchdown.
The brief scrimmage began with a square off between the third team offense and defense. Quarterback Ashton Glaser began the series with a nice six-yard scramble to the left, followed by an incomplete pass. It didn't take long for the defense to capitalize, however, as cornerback Munir Prince picked off Glaser's pass in the left flat and ran it in for a touchdown.
The second series was fiercely contested between the first team offense and the second team defense. After strong safety Zaviar Gooden broke up Gabbert's first pass, the sophomore-to-be quarterback completed back-to-back passes to Gerau for 16 yards and to Jerrell Jackson for 10 yards. The defense put the pressure on Gabbert the next three plays, however, forcing three straight incompletions. The play of the day came on the next play, fourth-and-ten from the 35-yard line. Gabbert was again forced out of the pocket, but found Wes Kemp in the back right corner of the end zone for an impressive score.
The third and final series pitted the second team offense against the first team defense. Quarterback Jimmy Costello completed three of his first four passes for eight yards. After defensive end Brian Coulter tore into the backfield for a sack, Costello found Andrew Jones over the middle for an eleven-yard pick up. The series would end on a near pick by strong safety Hardy Ricks.
The Tigers will have their final practice this Thursday, April 16, leading up to the 2009 spring football game this Saturday. Be sure to check back with mutigers.com for the finale of the 2009 spring practice session on Thursday.
