Offense Shows Improvement in Second Scrimmage
April 06, 2002 | Football
April 6, 2002
A tenacious defense led by Michael Brown, Curry Burns and Dewayne White continued to set the tone in Saturday's scrimmage as it has done for much of spring practice, however, on Saturday the offense showed some fight as quarterback Dave Ragone and his mates were able to hold their own in the University of Louisville's second football scrimmage of the spring season.
Unlike Monday's scrimmage, where the young offense appeared to be way behind a cohesive defensive unit which returns 10 of 11 starters from a year ago, Saturday's scrimmage showed a closing of the talent gap between the two units. Quarterbacks Ragone, Stefan LeFors, Adam Ellis and Gerry Ahrens were each able to put together consistent drives on a cold and wind day on the practice fields at the Papa John's Football Complex.
"I liked what I saw out there today, especially from our No. 2 offensive unit," head coach John L. Smith said. "We are throwing a lot of stuff at these guys much earlier than we've done in the past and they seem to be responding well to it."
Facing the top defensive unit throughout the scrimmage, Ragone completed 11-of-20 passes for 84 yards. The Heisman candidate also ran three times for 20 yards and was intercepted by both Curry Burns and Anthony Floyd while also being sacked by four times by Brown, twice by White and once by Burns.
LeFors completed 5-of-10 passes for 32 yards, Aherns went 0-for-2 but did run for two first downs and Ellis completed 6-of-11 for 45 and also ran twice for 20 yards.
Wideout J.R. Russell proved to be a favorite target of the quarterbacks as he pulled down five catches for 60 yards. Tight ends Ronnie Ghent, Richard Owens and Tone' Slatter all played a key role in the passing game as did wideouts Damien Dorsey Tiger Jones, Greg Tinch, Victor Glenn and Antoine Harris.
Fans also got a taste of the future as Florida State transfer Eric Shelton, who will be eligible to play in 2003 after sitting out the 2002 season due to NCAA transfer rules, carried the ball five times for 30 yards, including a 20-yard scamper down the sideline. T.J. Patterson also looked solid out of the backfield, running nine times for 30 yards and the scrimmage's only touchdown.
Nate Smith connected on one of three field goals into wind, hitting on a 33-yarder and missing from 48 and 43 yards out.
