Successful first scrimmage for Aggies
The Aggies ran approximately 100 plays in the first spring scrimmage of the year on Merlin Olsen Field at Romney Stadium on Monday afternoon.
Head coach Gary Andersen said it was a good scrimmage overall.
“We got in all the situations that we wanted,” Andersen said. “We’ve got plenty to work on. We’ll go back and evaluate the tape in depth and see exactly where it sits.”
Sophomore quarterback Chuckie Keeton completed 11 of 19 passes for 147 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown pass to sixth-year senior Matt Austin.
Senior quarterback Adam Kennedy went 9 of 16 for 80 yards.
Redshirt junior Joey DeMartino had seven rushes for 10 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore Joe Hill had 8 carries for 33 yards.
Andersen said the running game stood out to him.
“I thought we ran the ball pretty well for ones,” he said. “Kerwyn (Williams) ran well. We got exactly what we wanted out of him – physical presence. I thought he ran the ball physical. Ball security was very, very good by him, and (he) did a nice job in protection.”
Williams had 10 rushes for 64 yards and scored a touchdown.
Kennedy said Williams looked good in the scrimmage.
“He broke a lot of tackles,” Kennedy said. “(He got) a lot of yards after contact, especially on the come-out period – the big one. He was really impressive there. I wish we could have got a couple chances to see his speed in the open field, but we just never got a chance to see that today. But we definitely got to see his power.”
Keeton said the running game also impressed him, despite playing without a pair of former Aggie star running backs.
“Yeah, we lost Michael Smith and Robert Turbin, but we have some guys that can hopefully replace them this year,” Keeton said. “Kerwyn did amazing. Joey DiMartino is running the ball well, too.
“Joe Hill was running the ball hard. We know from being one of the fastest guys on the team, but he was really showing his durability right now, and that’s a big thing for him. It’s just showing we have a staple of running backs right now.
On the flip side, Andersen said he was not impressed with the way his first-team defense stopped the running game.
“Obviously we didn’t stop the run very well with the ones,” Andersen said.
Senior defensive back Terrance Alston agreed with Andersen.
“We’ve got to get a lot stronger at D-line,” Alston said. “Everybody has to get a lot stronger as a group – D-line especially. We’ve got to get in there and get more physical at the point of attack.”
Alston had a team-high six tackles in the game, including an interception and fumble recovery to lead the defense.
This spring scrimmage will be the last time key players will be in full action. Andersen said he will keep Williams in all spring practices except for scrimmages, including the annual Blue and White spring game.
“Everybody that was healthy and ready to go, today was the one time that we were going to let them go,” Andersen said. “Starting a week and a half from now, when we scrimmage again, then we’ll start pulling some people out at certain positions.”
Other than those key players, most starting jobs are open to competition.
Andersen said so far he has confirmed five starters on the offensive line.
“Some other kids are in there battling their way through it,” Andersen said. “Those kids are working hard, and they’re definitely coming around, and we’re definitely solidified on the first front five guys.”
According to Alston, the decision makers on Andersen’s staff are less certain about the defensive back positions.
“I think our position is one of the most depth positions on the field this year,” Alston said. “Everybody can play. It’s just a lot of competition, a lot of competing that we’ve got to do, and may the best man win.”
– tavin.stucki@aggiemail.usu.edu