Spring Camp Report 5: A Third Of The Way Through

NORMAL, Ill. – A cool and breezy Saturday morning workout at Hancock Stadium was the fifth for the Illinois State football team, signifying a third of spring practice already behind the Redbirds. It also signaled to head coach Brock Spack that it was time for his team to get some live action in during an abbreviated scrimmage to end the workout.

The first hour and a half of practice looked the first four the Redbirds have gone through over the last week and a half, but when the whistle blew for the team period, Spack called his team up on the logo at midfield to inform them it was time for a live scrimmage.  The news was well received by the Redbird quarterbacks, who battled wind gusts of over 30 miles per hour during drills and 7-on-7 that made it extremely difficult to connect with their intended targets.

The first series of the scrimmage began with the first-team offense taking over at their own 20 and the defense forced a quick three-and-out, after a pass breakup by Josh Sromovsky and two incompletions by Jake Kolbe that were intended for Christian Gibbs.  The second unit came out and had a bit more success, as a 38-yard completion from Koty Thelen to Chase Pankey moved the ball inside the defense's 40 yard line. Three-straight runs by DeMarco Corbin set up a fourth-and-two situation at the 26 yard line and a combined TFL by Cole Bumpus and Decxavier Kelly-Martin stalled the drive.

The third-team unit was able to pick up a first down after three strong runs by Jeruel Taylor, but a TFL by Matt Swaine and James Graham on first down forced a third-and-10 situation that failed on four-yard run by quarterback Hasan Muhammad-Rogers. The focus then switched from driving the field to situational scenarios, the first of which was the coming out drill.

The offense had its back on its own goal line at the two yard line and the first-team unit got some breathing room on its first series, thanks to a seven-yard run by George Moreira on first down. However, two attempts at quick throws by Kolbe were thwarted by the wind and the drive ended abruptly.  The second unit was able to pick up a first down, thanks to a nine-yard completion from Thelen to Anthony Fowler along the far sideline.  A TFL by Kelly-Martin and Bryce Holm on first down put the offense in a hole and a false start penalty backed up Thelen and company to the three-yard line.  On third down, Blake Hooper broke through the line and brought down Corbin in the end zone for a safety to end the drill.

The two sides then flipped, with the defense backed up deep and the offense working on its goal line package.  The first-team unit started at the four yard line and two runs by Corbin put the ball inside the one yard line.  A third-down run by fullback Brady Tibbits was stuffed at the line by the defensive front to force fourth down, but Corbin pounded it in for the touchdown.  The second-team unit was not as fortunate, as a TFL by Donavin O'Day on first down resulted in a three-yard loss and three runs by Nick Kielbasa were not enough to put points on the scoreboard.  

Each unit then got a chance to run a no-huddle series, with neither resulting in significant gains mostly due to the inability to throw down the field due to the strong winds.  Kickers Sean Slattery and Zach Breen then had some fun and kicked field goals and extra points into the cross winds at the south end of the stadium to end the practice.

The Redbirds will have the rest of the weekend off, before returning to the field Tuesday at 3:30 p.m., for the sixth practice of the spring at Hancock Stadium.  For live practice updates, photos and video follow the official Redbird Football Twitter account @RedbirdFB and log onto GoRedbirds.com for full coverage throughout the spring.

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