Montana State scrimmage.

[Old Montana State Grad]

I for one won't get too excited about the offense able to run up the numbers against our defense because we all understand the defense is ahead of the offense at this point in time; however, our defense doesn't know the plays right now. I like the old adage that you perform the way you train, and this staff has our kids well prepared and focused.

http://www.msubobcats.com/news.php?sid=h&nid=2155

I only wish I knew more about our special teams, but given the credentials of our new staff, we should perform very well there also.

[GOKATS]

http://www.anygivensaturday.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27894

[Old Montana State Grad]

Also, from the Bozo somewhat daily comical:

MSU football: Bobcats reassured after impressive scrimmage

By MIKE KIEFER Chronicle Sports Writer

Isaiah Taito spent the second half of Saturday's Montana State football scrimmage lounging in the sunshine, a pack of ice on his right knee, reflecting on the changing times.


Sean Sperry/Chronicle MSU wide receiver Josh Lewis is face-masked by a defender during Saturday's scrimmage at Bobcat Stadium. “Coach Ash is an establish-the-run-first kind of coach,” he said. “Works for me.”

The junior short-yardage specialist had just jack-hammered his way to a touchdown in an impressive piece of goal-line running before tapping in sophomore Aaron Mason.

The two have become staples of Ash's ever-improving offensive tempo, which accounted for 700 yards Saturday. Mason enjoyed big holes through the defense for 144 yards, including five runs of more than 10 yards.

The improvement was the product of nine practices in the six days preceding the Bobcats' only preseason scrimmage. It's the last full-contact day of practice before their opening date at Texas A&M, two weeks from Saturday.

On the first day of practice, fifth-year seniors complained of feeling like freshman. By Saturday, they were true believers.

“We've got most of our offense in by the second week,” Taito said. “We'll be ready for Texas (A&M).”

His defense a known commodity, Ash was pleased at the connective tissue he'd cultivated in an offense that was a collection of parts only a week ago.

“There's a minimum of players asking ‘Where do I go?' ‘What do I do?'” he said about the difference 12 days make. “Astronomical: It's night and day.”

There were the imperfections remaining to be touched up. But none of the broad strokes are missing, in spite Ash's steep learning curve and the punishing timetable between the new coach's June hiring and his first game in College State, Texas.

“We've advanced to the level where we can focus on technique, fundamentals and finesse,” he said.

Several hundred fans showed up to see the new coach's vision, and were not treated to a Mike Kramer scrimmage, which were usually dominated by the former coach's booming voice.

Anticipating the crowd noise in Texas, the Bobcat coaches directed the offense entirely from hand signals.

There were even some surprises. A supposedly decimated receiver corps turned one acrobatic, big-gain catch after another as rotating quarterbacks Cory Carpenter and Jack Rolovich combined for 381 yards passing. Receivers Tyler Lulay and Josh Lewis each caught touchdown passes and Lewis finished the day with 96 yards on three receptions.

“People told me when I got here that was a thin position,” Ash said. “But I thought that they were very impressive.”

Rolovich faced the No. 2 defense and said that the beauty of Ash's design for the offense is that it is all predicated on the defense. It was just a question of scale between a scout team and the Aggies' front seven.

“I do feel comfortable,” he said. “Defenses are defenses. We got everything we wanted out of this practice. Everyone looked pretty good.”

The Bobcats defense showed a bit of its exhaustion from a long week of training camp, and Ash was concerned with his shallow secondary. But they also had two fumble recoveries and an interception off Carpenter.

Rolovich and Carpenter remained in dead heat for starting position, where both played last season.

“Cory had the tougher assignment today,” Ash said. “But they both have the vision and the arm strength to turn in some big plays.”

And that was what thrilled the crowd.

A veteran spectator of several practices already, nine year old Scott Smith narrated a touchdown pass between Rolovich and Lulay from his front-row seats.

“The offensive line made a path and he ran right through it and threw the ball,” he said. “We're excited about the team this year.”