Quotable Bowden: Tigers Prepare for Scrimmage |
Why you opened Saturday’s scrimmage?
“Had the high school coaches here so what the heck. It was David Blackwell’s idea he said you are going to have all these guys here so you might as well open things up. I feel sorry for the guy at the gate. ‘Are you a high school coach? Ok, where is your tag?’ So you don’t want to make those guys mad. So this way anyone can come in.” What do you want to see from Saturday’s scrimmage? “You like to see some of the personality of the team to take shape. Practices are segmented so it’s kind of hard to get it so when you go over there that’s when I think you need to start developing it. Defensively, we can run and hit and go out there and see if we can dominate. We need to start showing signs of domination out here. Then offensively, we’re going to move the chains and guys are going to start making plays and scoring in the red zone. We need to start showing signs of that on a more consistent basis. We need to start seeing signs of some sort of personality.” What did you see today that you liked? “Gaines Adams jumped out there today. Everybody we put out there, he beat every one of them in front of him today. If he is like that (today) and if we are going to get anything done we might have to put him to the side for a minute so someone else can rush the passer.” With Aaron Kelly out for the spring, who will you like to see take advantage of the situation and make a move on the depth chart? “You like to see all of those guys step up, not because he got hurt, but unfortunately, you feel sorry for Aaron, but you don’t want to punish the other guys. There is an opportunity for the other guys to step up whether it is La’Donte, Rendrick Taylor or somebody else. Well, they might say ‘hey Aaron started all year’, where here is your chance to take his job. So you would like to see someone accept that challenge (today) whether it is La’Donte, Rendrick, Tyler Grisham or someone else.” Good sign today, Etta Etta-Tawo, who hurt his ankle Wednesday, probably could have sat out, but practice all day (Friday) which shows some toughness that you like. A lot of times when those big guys get tweaked they’re out for a while, but he showed some toughness for a young guy which is a good sign. Someone who jumped off the charts this spring? “Kavell Conner has kind of jumped out and Jacoby Ford would be one. Antonio Clay has looked really good and is really battling Tremaine Billie for his first team job. I like to keep him where he is, but he could bump back in because he is a very good linebacker, but I would like to keep him where he is to keep the heat on Tremaine and keep is attention. Note: Terry Bowden spoke with the high school coaches Friday night that Bowden had up for spring practice. Most will stay the night and will be at Saturday’s scrimmage. Barry Humphries will be out of the scrimmage, but Bowden is hopeful he will go Monday.
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