University of Massachusets Athletics
Coach Don Brown Previews Spring Football Game
May 04, 2005 | Football
May 4, 2005
On Saturday, May 7, Coach Don Brown and the Minutemen will play their annual Spring Football game at McGuirk Stadium at 12:00 p.m. Read what Coach Brown has to say about the Minutemen and what to expect in the game.
"Its been kind of an interesting winter and spring between the two so far, we have had 23 workouts, obviously we are allowed 15 practices in the spring.thursday night will be our 13th workouts. along the way we have had some interesting scenarios occur."
"Tim Day, our quarterback, going into the spring, had a tremendous winter and really worked hard in the offseason with Coach Kevin Morris, studying tape and just really felt great about his practice, rolled up with mononucleosis after practice number 2, obviously we have got him cleared the last three to four practices, but in terms of being put in a live scenarios, we haven't been able to get him into those opportunities and wont be able to through the remainder of the spring. What we're re going to do for him on Saturday, is give him 15 snaps in what we call a skeleton, where it will be 7-on-7 drill where he is throwing against the linebackers and the secondary so we keep him active."
"One person's pain is another person's celebration. Liam Coen is certainly improved at the quarterback position, having taken most of the snaps because Taylor Humphrey banged his shoulder in a live pass rush drill, he got pushed and fell on his shoulder in a freak scenario. We really feel good about the three quarterbacks. Liam's development has been exceptional, we felt Timmy was number 1 going into the spring, but we really feel Liam has closed the gap, but the competition continues and we really feel good about that."
"At running back, Steve Baylark is Steve Baylark. He is enjoying his first spring practice because of whether it be academic or personal, this is his first spring practice. To have the leading rusher in the Atlantic 10 for the whole year, and to have him with a clear mind because he is doing a good job academically in his classes. We are certainly enjoying that this spring as he has continued to develop."
"Bryan Smith is backing him up along with Raunny Rosario, and we will welcome Tony Nelson, who bypassed Virginia the weekend prior to the signing date, so we feel very solid about the running back position. Frank McDonald who transferred from Northeastern has solidified himself as our fullback, he is 6-feet 240-pounds and he is a physical game. He hasn't really done much for us in the passing game so that is an area we have to work on in his development. Kyle Harrington who we had move to tight end is back at fullback, and his is in competition with Brandon White who is a true freshman."
"At tight end, Ian Jorgensen from Quincy Mass has really taken the edge and he is our our number one tight end along with another freshman Chris Hopkins and Mike Douglas, they are all in there and will all play because we will play multiple tight end schemes, and you may even see one of them playing fullback for us."
"Our offensive line has solidified from a year ago with the exception of Brent Caldwell who is a transfer from Syracuse who I would say is our best guard right now. He has one year of eligibility and is playing exceptional right now along with Matt Austin and David Thompson, so I feel really solid with the guard situation. Alex Miller may be the best center in the Atlantic 10, that's the type of feeling we have for him. O.J. McBride and Colin Stoetzel right now are our two leaders at tackle Mike Pearson would be the third. So we really feel like we have solidified there. Jon Carnes, a transfer from Rutgers is our backup center, has been slow with a high ankle sprain. Going through the rigors of spring, but we really feel good about his potential and getting into the mix to help us out."
"At receiver, we have moved R.J. Cobbs to wide receiver and has been exclusively there throughout the spring with the special teams piece. he has certainly provided leadership and a spark for our offensive guys. You will see him do a number of things for us, including even taking the ball out of the tailback spot as we go along next year."
"Brandon London, J.J. Moore, Dominique Stewart, and Nathanael Hasselbeck, we really feel blessed there. That gives us an overview of our offensive football team and I really feel good about our spring there. I would like us to throw the ball a little bit better, but on the other side of that coin, I think we have run the ball really successfully and we are defending the run better."
"One of the discussions has been our defensive line. John Hatchell who is a transfer from Lehigh who sat out a year ago with us, benched pressed 500 pounds, squatted 600 pounds and he is certainly given us stability on the inside of our defensive line. Jason Leonard has come back from a shoulder injury and he is playing really well."
"Wilner Alexis is also playing well on the inside along with true freshman Matt Stolte who came in at 242 pounds and is now at 268 and Lateef Taylor who transferred from Cincinnati has continued to make progress. We feel good about our interior defensive line."
"David Burris and Justin Schweighardt who played inside last year will play defensive end this year along with Keron Williams on the other side who maybe one of the best defensive players in the Atlantic 10. That gives you an idea of our overview up front. Brandon Collier, Theluxon Pierre we will welcome their presence in August."
"At the linebacker position Serge Tikum, L.A. Love, Brad Anderson, Charles Walker, those guys are the core of the linebacker spot. They are going to welcome Michael Hanson, George Byrd, and Josh Jennings, three excellent talents, so we really feel solid about our linebackers corp."
"In the secondary, I feel we are playing exceptionally well. Steve Costello is Steve Costello, he has four interceptions in the last few practices, Brandon Freeman is playing exceptionally well. He isn't afraid to play close to people, so that gives him a chance to be successful in our secondary. He is only a true freshman but plays like an upperclassman."
"Tracey Belton is a sophomore is playing exceptional as well and is a returning All Atlantic 10 player, and we have a young man. Domenique Milton ran a 4.33 for us, and we have because of injury, moved him to corner and he has become a fourth corner for us and a very good one. Just continues to improve technically, he has a feel for the game, and not afraid to put his face on you. We are excited about his development nd we welcome Sean Smalls to that group."
"Brandon Smith, who started for Shannon James the last two games has picked up where he left off, and obviously when you have the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year back at free safety, life is pretty good. Michael Meggett, the transfer from West Virginia is backing up Shannon James at safety, and Greg Scott is our fifth DB, integrated to safety. It gives an overview of our personel piece."
"I really feel good about our chemistry, really like our football team, i think this football team has a chance to be great, i really do. if hard work, dedication, effort, energy, chemistry, and all those things count for something, then we are going to be in great shape cause I am coaching the best young men in America right now. I feel really good about their development, their work ethic., we had a great winter, a really solid spring."
"Matt Vautour asked me what the most important thing about the spring game is, and I said get out stay healthy, take 55 quick snaps, get out of there and go home and I'll meet you at the cook out. That is kind a the way we approach things. Tomorrow night is going to be our real last good go. We are going to take on the red zone, first down, third and long, third and short, all those kind of scenarios."
"On Saturday, we just let the guys go out, play and have some fun. Probably give the 1's 20-25 snaps, the 2's 20-25 snaps, and the 3's about 15. We will do the skeleton with Timmy against the 1's and 2's on defense just to give him some good pass work."
"Then we will shut it down, get our guys through finals, and get them ready for the summer with Coach Bob Otrando."
