Aug. 13, 2007
NORMAL, Ill. -
The Illinois State football team returned to the Hancock Stadium turf on Monday night focused on the running game, as the Redbirds worked out in full pads for 20, five-minute periods under the lights.
In period 15 the Redbirds turned their focus to run with a 7-on-7 drill, omitting the defensive backs and receivers. About five plays into the drill, senior defensive end Jarek Thomas broke through the line and lowered a helmet-to-helmet hit on Rafael Rice, who had just received the handoff four yards behind the line of scrimmage. Rice held on to the ball, but left practice with a concussion.
"We needed to have a real intense drill there and we got it," Johnson said. "We were just running our bread and butter play, our inside zone play to the right and to the left. I thought it was a good drill. It needed that intensity and I thought the offensive line responded to it. I thought the defense really held up pretty well too."
Following the team run, the Redbirds participated in their typical 7-on-7 drill without the linemen. Luke Drone and Preston Earl handled all the snaps with Drone completing 4-of-5 passes and Earl finishing 7-for-7. Jason Horton, Kelvin Chandler and Eyad Salem were the top receivers with two catches apiece.
The Redbirds ended practice on the goal line. With the ball on the 2-yard line, Earl led the offense to a pair of touchdowns on three plays. Cortes Rice scored twice from two yards out, while Earl's play-action bootleg was unsuccessful. Drone's offense was also 2-for-3, as Parrish Fisher scored twice on the ground, but Drone's pass attempt to Garin Harcar was broken up by Tom Nelson in the end zone.
Earlier in practice, the Redbirds continue to stress special teams by working on kickoff coverage and kickoff return. During the first run of kickoff return, Horton and Nelson were back to receive the kick. The second unit consisted of Kelvyn Hemphill and Chris Garrett.
The team will return to the field on Tuesday for a single session. The practice is scheduled as a closed scrimmage.
NOTES
Running back Ansu Kpandeyenge was sidelined with an ankle injury.
Cornerback Jason Tate missed practice with a toe injury.
Tight end Dane Zumbahlen was out with a rib injury.
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