Griz practice Quick Kicks: Tuesday 4/7
Monday’s regularly scheduled Monday practice moved to Tuesday this week because of nasty weather as the Grizzlies stayed indoors to study film before putting on the pads for full-contact action Tuesday.
“I didn’t think it was true,” junior QB Brady Gustafson said of hearing the news Monday that the team wouldn’t suit up for practice because of hail. “We made the adjustment, picked a pretty good day to be out here today instead.”
The Grizzlies’ first practice played out under sunny skies with temperatures flirting with the 60s. The team continued preparation for the home stretch of spring practices and UM will retain the rest of its regularly scheduled practice slate for the week, working Wednesday and Friday afternoons before the annual spring game Saturday at Helena at 1 p.m.
Offensive play of the day
Junior QB Brady Gustafson utilized a perfect pump fake to fool lingering sophomore FS Mick Delaney, who was eager to jump a pair of closer crossing routes. The QB then dropped a pass over the defender’s head to freshman WR Reese Carlson during 3-on-3 receiver-defender drills that would have gone for a long gain.
Defensive play of the day
In his first day back as a full practice participant, senior CB Nate Harris intercepted a pass from freshman QB Eric Prater in the end zone. Harris wasn’t fooled by Prater’s pump fake during 3-on-3 receiver-defender drills as sophomore WR Josh Janssen cut to the sideline and headed for the right corner only to have the DB snag the ball first.
He’s flipping out!
During a break in the action at practice Tuesday, sophomore CB Chris Parker showed off his athleticism by busting out the gymnastic moves. Parker did three straight standing backflips in full pads and cleats before sophomore CB Shane Moody tried to replicate, coming up a bit short on his rotation and ending up on the turf.
Potent Quotables
“Weren’t you just on defense last week?”
— Running back Treshawn Favors during Tuesday’s practice warm-ups to Jake Mann, a safety when spring ball opened last month who has been converted to wide receiver, proving even the players can’t keep track of the many position switches the team has undergone. See Thursday’s Missoulian for more on this story.
Tuesday’s 2-deep on offense
QB: Brady Gustafson, jr., Chad Chalich, jr., Eric Prater, fr., Makena Simis, so.
RB: John Nguyen, jr., Lorenzo Logwood, so., Carl Johnson, fr.
LT: John Schmaing, sr., Jared Clark, jr.
LG: Max Kelly, jr., Clint LaRowe, jr.
C: Ben Weyer, jr., Robert Luke, so.
RG: Devon Dietrich, jr., McCauley, Todd, jr.
RT: Jackson Thiebes, jr., David Reese, so.
WR1: Jamaal Jones, sr., Josh Janssen, so., Sean Foley, fr., Mitchell McLaughlin, so.
WR2: Chase Naccarato, jr., Caleb Lyons, fr., Connor McGuire, so., Zach Hollenback, fr.
WR3: Ellis Henderson, jr., Nico Graham, so., Tristen Clark, fr.
Slot: Ryan Burke, jr., Reese Carlson, fr., Josh Horner, so.
Tuesday’s 2-deep on defense
DE: Tyrone Holmes, sr., Austin Chadderdon, fr.
DT: Nate Bradley, so., Zach Peevey, jr.
DT: Caleb Kidder, jr., Kyle Davis, so.
DE: Derek Crittenden, sr., Ryan Johnson, jr.
LB: Herbert Gamboa, sr., Connor Lebsock, sr.
MLB: Jeremiah Kose, sr., Connor Strahm, so.
LB: Kendrick Van Ackeren, sr., Addison Owen, sr.
CB: Ryan McKinley, so., Chris Parker, so.*
SS: Jake Dallaserra, sr., Evan Epperly, fr.
FS: Manu Rasmussen, fr., Mick Delaney, so.
CB: JR Nelson, jr., Markell Sanders, fr.
*Nate Harris, sr., returned to practice after a high ankle sprain but was held out of 11-on-11 drills
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