MSU's first scrimmage

The offense is back in the green jerseys, having won the first scrimmage of fall camp. Here are the statistics provided by MSU from the scrimmage, which took place Sunday and was closed to the public and media:

Offense wins the 134-play scrimmage, 88-71, in Spartan Stadium to reclaim the Green jerseys.

Rushing Leaders:
Andre Anderson 14-53-1 (scored on a 1-yard run during the goal-line period)
Ashton Leggett 7-32-0 (his 28-yard run set up Javon Ringer's 3-yard TD run)
Javon Ringer 6-28-1 (scored on a 3-yard run for the scrimmage's first score; played only three series)

Passing Leaders:
Brian Hoyer 20-27-2 for 227 yards and 2 TDs (2-yard TD toss to Charlie Gantt and 21-yard TD strike to B.J. Cunningham)
Kirk Cousins 13-17-0 for 73 yards and 1 TD (3-yard TD pass to Josh Rouse during the goal-line period)
Keith Nichol 8-10-0 for 112 yards and 2 TDs (25-yard TD pass to Fred Smith and 37-yard TD pass to Keshawn Martin) -- took snaps with the third-team offense

Receiving Leaders:
B.J. Cunningham 6-99-1 (scored on a 21-yard TD pass from Brian Hoyer)
Charlie Gantt (4-57-1 (scored on a 2-yard pass from Brian Hoyer)
Fred Smith 4-52-1 (scored on a 25-yard pass from Keith Nichol)
Mark Dell 4-45-0
Blair White 4-40-0

Defensive Leaders:
Greg Jones 7-2-9 (2.5 for losses: 11 yards)
Eric Gordon 4-3-7
Chris L. Rucker 6-0-6 (returned an interception 55 yards for a TD)
Adam Decker 3-2-5
Otis Wiley 4-1-5
Trenton Robinson 5-0-5 (interception)

    Mark Dantonio spoke briefly at this morning's practice on the scrimmage and cited his quarterbacks and receivers for playing well. He also said the secondary needs to improve its communication. Cunningham was the first guy lauded by Dantonio for standing out.
    Now that pads are in effect, injuries are sure to follow. The list of guys who are banged up and who didn't fully participate today includes: Greg Jones, Andrew Hawken, Brynden Trawick, Roderick Jenrette, Dan Fortener, Deon Curry, Steve Gardiner. Brandon Long is back at full go. Trawick was limping pretty good, but Dantonio said all of the injuries are "two to three day injuries" at worst. That's as specific as he'd get.
    One more thing I saw today. The punt return competition looks like a four-way race between Otis Wiley, Mark Dell, Keshawn Martin and Johnny Adams. Martin certainly looks like the kind of fluid athlete who could be a threat in that role, as long as he's able to catch the ball reliably.

Comments

[Hondo]

Hey Joe...anyword on Diehl?

[zing]

Two things...how hot is Coach Arndt-Molis? I assume her 2008-09 calendar will be in stores soon.

Shocker...Hoyer threw the only 2 interceptions. Curious if you can find out if they were the usual "hoyer staring down the wr" type or (as I suspect) good plays by our DBs.

[brian schultz]

Joe,
Thank you for being the first one to post ANY feedback from Sunday's MSU scrimmage. While reading your summary, I became concerned that the weaknesses from last years team (secondary pass coverage & Hoyer INT's) seem to linger on. Can you comment if the DB's were looking for the ball while in pass coverage or simply trailing the receivers like a shadow? There was no mention of Trevor Anderson or how the DL played, was there any pass rush? Thanks. Brian '84

[beeedubbb]

She is SCORCHIN'!!!! We'll miss her.

Go Green!

[Michael Motta]

It looks like out of 54 passes, only 11 hit the ground. That seems strange to me for this time of year and I'm not sure how to take it. I'd think that completing passes with such precision would be the kind of thing to come late rather than early.

One way to take it is to say that we have good hands (for a change), including on defense judging by the two picks! I think it's safe to say we had good hands because you still have to catch the ball regardless of how well the ball is thrown or how poor the coverage is.

But you have to wonder about the pass coverage, as Brian Schultz suggested. The timing between multiple receivers and multiple qb's can't be THAT good yet! So while you have to give credit to the "O", it seems like the "D" needs to get after it a little more on coverage and maybe rushing the passer.