Tiger Training Camp Report
8/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 22, 2009
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The two-time defending Big 12 North champion Missouri Tiger football team held practice #21 of its 2009 training camp Saturday morning on Faurot Field. The workout went for a little over two hours and was conducted in shorts and shoulder pads amid unseasonably pleasant August weather that featured temperatures in the 70s.
The practice was the last before a couple of days off as the start of the school year looms on Monday with the first day of classes. The team will have its regular rundown of afternoon meetings today, then will have lifting and meetings Sunday. On Monday, the team will revert to its typical regular-season weekly schedule, with no practice, followed by meetings in the afternoon. Practices resume Tuesday with a 3:30 p.m. session, and another one on Wednesday, prior to the final of three scrimmages, set for Thursday at 3:30 p.m.
Head Coach Gary Pinkel said that with camp winding down, it is important to work on getting his team accustomed to the routine of a game week, that's why there is no practice scheduled for Sunday and Monday -- the team typically doesn't practice on those days during the season.
"We had a good day today, a little lighter on the contact, we'll lift plus meetings tomorrow and then Monday we'll really get into game-week mode for our players so that we go into the next week and we've been there, especially for our younger players," Pinkel said.
"Monday they'll have off, like they normally do, and we'll be game-planning," Pinkel said. "Then we'll have practice Tuesday, Wednesday and have a scrimmage Thursday. Then we kind of lock into Illinois, we try to get several days head start to that game, as we always do, regardless of who the opponent is, it's just kind of what we do. The days are ticking away, 14 days," he said.
Without full pads Saturday, the contact was limited to tag only, so no score is kept between the offense and defense. Highlights on the day included some good work in two minute drills at the tail end of the practice.
The number one offense marched downfield 67 yards in just :45 seconds against the number two defense for a touchdown. QB Blaine Gabbert was precise on the drive as he connected with WR Wes Kemp for a gain of 25 yards on the seam, and after an incompletion that was caught but out of bounds, he connected with TB De'Vion Moore for 10 yards on the sideline to stop the clock. After a 5-yard pass to WR Jared Perry on 3rd-and-1 extended the drive, Gabbert hit TB Derrick Washington on a nice 17-yard gainer to get down to the 10-yardline. On the next snap, Gabbert found WR Danario Alexander on a crossing route in the endzone for a 10-yard touchdown with 1:05 left on the clock.
The number one defense next went up against the number two offense in the same scenario. After allowing one first down to near midfield, the defense stiffened and created a 4th-and-9 situation, as good pass coverage and a strong pass rush from DE Brian Coulter forced an incompletion on 3rd down. But on 4th down, WR Rolandis Woodland got behind coverage and QB Jimmy Costello lofted a perfect pass that Woodland caught in stride inside the 10-yardline, and he took it the rest of the way for what amounted to a 51-yard score.
Junior LB Jeff Gettys then ended practice on the next series with an interception against the #3 offense.
Pinkel said after practice that while the depth chart is still a work in progress, that it's beginning to take a little more shape.
"Everything is tightening down a little bit," Pinkel said. "The veteran players that were here in spring football, they've been practicing 35, 36, 37 practices so we're starting to really solidify the depth and that's going to happen this next week, we'll finalize it next Friday. We're focusing on trying to get players better and fix problems, and continue to do what we do," he added.
Stay tuned to mutigers.com for continuing coverage of Tiger training camp!
