Central Michigan University Athletics
Scrimmage Highlights Saturday's Football Practice
8/13/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Watch: Coach Enos Interview
MOUNT PLEASANT - Central Michigan's football team capped the first full week of preseason camp with a 90-minute scrimmage at Kelly/Shorts Stadium Saturday morning.
The Chippewas dodged raindrops for most of the practice session, which included 30 minutes of positional and special teams work prior to the first extended scrimmage of the preseason. The scripted, situational scrimmage put the offense and defense in a variety of down-and-distance and field position situations, and CMU head coach Dan Enos was pleased with the effort and attitude of his squad.
"I thought we were very physical today," Enos said. "The offensive line, and our entire defense, was very physical. Offensively, we saw guys running the ball hard and being physical at the point of attack. I just thought it was a good, physical day."
The scrimmage began with the offense taking possession at its own 30-yard line and having the opportunity to drive the field. The offense moved inside the 20 before Ryan Radcliff scored on a 17-yard scamper after a pass play broke down.
Three possessions later, when the No. 1 offense returned to the field, Radcliff completed back-to-back throws to Tim Phillips and Paris Cotton to move the ball inside the defense's 30-yard line, and Zurlon Tipton capped the drive with a powerful 3-yard scoring run in which he ran through a defender at the 1-yard line.
The defense then forced a pair of punts before A.J. Westendorp connected with Cedric Fraser on a 55-yard touchdown pass. Westendorp was nearly sacked before he stepped up in the pocket and hit Fraser over the middle.
The offense added another touchdown on its next possession, when a 25-yard Tipton run set up a 9-yard touchdown pass from Radcliff to Connor Odykirk.
Radcliff later added a touchdown throw to David Blackburn during the red-zone period and a 35-yard touchdown pass to Fraser during a two-minute drill. Alex Niznak also threw a scoring pass during the red-zone period, with Jason Wilson making a leaping, juggling catch of the fade route from Niznak.
Steve Winston made the biggest play of the day for the defense, busting through the line and recording a safety during a period when the offense was facing first-and-10 from its own 3-yard line.
Just one week remains in preseason camp for the Chippewas, with fall semester classes set to begin Aug. 22 at CMU. The season opener against South Carolina State is just 19 days away.
"We just need to continue to get better at understanding what we're doing on both sides of the ball and on special teams," Enos said. "We still need a few guys to step up at certain positions and provide depth, and we have to continue to get mentally tougher."
Watch Media Day on Tuesday
CMU will hold its preseason media day Tuesday. Head coach Dan Enos will address the media in a press conference beginning at 1:30 p.m. The press conference will be streamed live on CMUChippewas.com.
Get Your Tickets Now
Single-game and season tickets for the 2011 season are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased at Ticket Central at the CMU Events Center, by calling 1-888-FIRE-UP2 or online at CMUChippewas.com.
MOUNT PLEASANT - Central Michigan's football team capped the first full week of preseason camp with a 90-minute scrimmage at Kelly/Shorts Stadium Saturday morning.
The Chippewas dodged raindrops for most of the practice session, which included 30 minutes of positional and special teams work prior to the first extended scrimmage of the preseason. The scripted, situational scrimmage put the offense and defense in a variety of down-and-distance and field position situations, and CMU head coach Dan Enos was pleased with the effort and attitude of his squad.
"I thought we were very physical today," Enos said. "The offensive line, and our entire defense, was very physical. Offensively, we saw guys running the ball hard and being physical at the point of attack. I just thought it was a good, physical day."
The scrimmage began with the offense taking possession at its own 30-yard line and having the opportunity to drive the field. The offense moved inside the 20 before Ryan Radcliff scored on a 17-yard scamper after a pass play broke down.
Three possessions later, when the No. 1 offense returned to the field, Radcliff completed back-to-back throws to Tim Phillips and Paris Cotton to move the ball inside the defense's 30-yard line, and Zurlon Tipton capped the drive with a powerful 3-yard scoring run in which he ran through a defender at the 1-yard line.
The defense then forced a pair of punts before A.J. Westendorp connected with Cedric Fraser on a 55-yard touchdown pass. Westendorp was nearly sacked before he stepped up in the pocket and hit Fraser over the middle.
The offense added another touchdown on its next possession, when a 25-yard Tipton run set up a 9-yard touchdown pass from Radcliff to Connor Odykirk.
Radcliff later added a touchdown throw to David Blackburn during the red-zone period and a 35-yard touchdown pass to Fraser during a two-minute drill. Alex Niznak also threw a scoring pass during the red-zone period, with Jason Wilson making a leaping, juggling catch of the fade route from Niznak.
Steve Winston made the biggest play of the day for the defense, busting through the line and recording a safety during a period when the offense was facing first-and-10 from its own 3-yard line.
Just one week remains in preseason camp for the Chippewas, with fall semester classes set to begin Aug. 22 at CMU. The season opener against South Carolina State is just 19 days away.
"We just need to continue to get better at understanding what we're doing on both sides of the ball and on special teams," Enos said. "We still need a few guys to step up at certain positions and provide depth, and we have to continue to get mentally tougher."
Watch Media Day on Tuesday
CMU will hold its preseason media day Tuesday. Head coach Dan Enos will address the media in a press conference beginning at 1:30 p.m. The press conference will be streamed live on CMUChippewas.com.
Get Your Tickets Now
Single-game and season tickets for the 2011 season are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased at Ticket Central at the CMU Events Center, by calling 1-888-FIRE-UP2 or online at CMUChippewas.com.
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