Colorado State University Athletics
CSU football camp blog: Practice 8
8/12/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 12, 2010
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By Nick Frank
Athletic Media Relations
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – After taking a day off to smile and say cheese for the cameras, the Rams were back on the field Thursday morning for what turned out to be a spirited practice.
In a practice that was mostly dominated by the defense, the offense got a spark from running back turned wide receiver Lou Greenwood. Greenwood, who made the position change this spring, made the offensive play of the day when he took a screen pass 85 yards for a touchdown.
Head Coach Steve Fairchild said that Greenwood is talented enough to play as the slot receiver or on the outside.
“He looks good at receiver, he gives us a deep-ball threat, he adjusts to the ball, and he gives you run after the catch,” Fairchild said. “He is still learning how to be a receiver. He has been a running back his whole life. He has a real chance.”
The defense also had playmakers all over the field Thursday. Safety Ezra Thompson and linebacker Michael Kawulok both made head-turning plays during team sessions. Seemingly from nowhere, Thompson made an acrobatic interception as he returned it for a touchdown. Kawulok also made his presence felt in defending the pass. Shortly after breaking up a pass earlier in practice, Kawulok got an interception of his own.
The team sessions of practice got a little heated on Thursday as multiple scuffles broke out between the offense and the defense. Fairchild said he does not particularly like the fights at practice but does acknowledge the emotion behind them.
“It is part of the deal,” he said. “I like to see an emotional practice; I like people out here that care about the drill, trying to get better, trying to compete.”
During the eight-play live period, the defense won 8-6. The team practiced in a backed-up situation that had the offense against its own goal line.
Scrimmage stats: RUSHING – Good 1-1, Waters 1-0, Mosure 1-(-1), Carter 1-(-3). PASSING -- Kubiak 1-for-1, 85 yards, TD; Ranieri 2-for-2, 21 yards; P.Thomas 0-for-1. RECEIVING – Greenwood 1-85, TD; Marquise Law 1-11; Joe McKay 1-10. DEFENSE – Safety: Burl, Whittier combined; TFL: Capi. Hurry: Burl.
Fresh fruit: After practice the whole team was greeted with watermelon slices. An annual event put on by Athletes in Action, a faith-based group that gives student-athletes an opportunity to practice their faith, seemed to hit the spot for the team.
Senior leadership: After a string of sub-par plays by the third-string defense, senior linebacker Ricky Brewer could not just sit back and watch anymore. He ran out from the sidelines, got in front of the defense and made sure teammates got the message that the way they had been playing was not sufficient for a Rams practice.
Back on the field: DeAngelo Wilkinson, projected to be a starting cornerback, was on the field for the first time this fall. Previously hampered by a foot injury, Wilkinson has healed enough for him to partake in selected drills.
James watches: While rehabbing his injured knee, C.J. James had not been seen out at practice throughout fall, until Thursday. Wearing a red jersey that indicates an injury, James watched drills with teammates and encouraged the younger defensive linemen.
CSU in the Big Apple: Although well over a thousand miles separate Fort Collins, Colo., and Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y., there is still a connection between the two. Sitting in the office of Yankees manager Joe Girardi is a Colorado State Rams helmet. Girardi wanted the helmet because he has family in the Fort Collins area.
He’s an actor after all: Make no mistake, every players has tremendous respect for the CSU head coach. That doesn’t mean a little humor can’t go a long way toward breaking the monotony of two-a-days. Traditionally during team meetings, players arrive up to 10 minutes early to ensure they are not late and the meeting kicks off with Head Coach Steve Fairchild standing up and saying, “Someone close that door,” as he gestures toward the door. A respectful silence normally ensues. On Tuesday night, running back Amadeus Waters tricked the whole team into believing he was Fairchild. A theatre major, Waters worked on an eerily-similar impression of Fairchild. As the team was seated, Waters came through where Fairchild normally does and said, “Someone close that door.” There was about three seconds of silence until everyone caught on that it was Waters playing a trick, and laughter busted out amongst the team.
Coffman and Carter injured: Freshman wide receiver Thomas Coffman went down during a thud session of practice in an accidental collision. Coffman walked off the field on his own power after CSU trainers diligently attended to him. He did not return to practice with what a sprained knee. Scott Carter also went down with a knee sprain during a live period.
Big plays: Byron Steele continued to make a case for himself as a starting wide receiver as he managed to make multiple athletic catches throughout practice. One on play, although in double coverage, he managed to highpoint the football and come down with the reception… Crockett Gillmore had a big hit on John Mosure that jarred the ball loose, Gillmore then secured the recovery for the defense… Running back Derek Good ran through Shaq Bell, knocking the freshman cornerback to the ground…Mychal Sisson showed why he was a preseason all-conference selection as he made a veteran move to knock the ball out of a receiver’s grasp, just before the receiver could haul it in for a reception… Pete Thomas hooked up with Tyson Liggett for a 40-yard touchdown early in practice.
Other quotes from Fairchild after practice…
On Coffman’s injury:
“He probably would have played some this year. We will see what it is, and I don’t know how serious it is. That one was avoidable; we should never get anyone hurt in a thud tempo period. “
On Scott Carter’s injury:
“Someone rolled up on him. He has his knee braces on, and that was a live period. Some of that stuff is going to happen during a live period.”
On Ezra Thompson:
“He was right at the point of playing last year as a true freshman. We have got to have some depth in the secondary. We have to develop it. He is key; he will be on the field before we know it.”
