Morning practices wrap up as fall camp rolls on
8/24/2016 1:47:00 PM | Football
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The Montana football team ran through its final morning practice of the 2016 fall camp on Wednesday, dialing in the details of the offensive attack, which produced plenty of highlights during the roughly two-hour session.
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The Griz are also scheduled to hold their only two-a-day practice of fall camp on Wednesday afternoon, using the bonus time to put the polish on special teams ahead of Thursday's closed scrimmage.
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The structure of Wednesday morning's session focused heavily on providing more reps, as head coach Bob Stitt continues to evolve the playbook after installing the offense during the first week.
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The session started with individual work after a short period of PAT and field goal attempts. It was one of two individual sessions that punctuated by two sessions of one-on-one, a pair of seven-on-seven sessions, and a pair of full team runs.
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Emphasis was placed on goal line attack and sustaining drives from the offense's own 25-yard line during team runs. As a unit, the "O" looked good as the quarterbacks hit their targets, receivers found separation from the DBs, and the offensive line opened up gaps for the running backs.
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Defensive coordinator Jason Semore's schemes proved to be effective as well, with various stunts and blitzes keeping the quarterbacks on their toes.
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Wednesday afternoon's practice starts at 3 p.m. inside the stadium as usual.
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Great Griz Encounter: The 21st annual Great Griz Encounter is set for Thursday, Aug. 24, at Caras Park in downtown Missoula, giving fans the chance to meet the Grizzlies, and collect autographs from their favorite players. The Great Griz Encounter is held in conjunction with the Missoula Downtown Association's weekly "Downtown Tonight" festival. The fun is set to begin at 5:30 p.m. with the Griz taking the stage at 6:30 p.m.
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Play of the day: Wednesday morning's play of the day came early on in practice, during a one-on-one passing drill between the receivers and the defensive backs.
Â
Quarterback Chad Chalich heaved a deep ball for Justin Calhoun streaking down the right sideline in a corner route. Cornerback Ryan McKinley was on him, sticking his coverage like glue to the receiver. Chalich's pass was on the money, as both Calhoun and McKinley made a leaping play at the ball.
Â
Calhoun came out of the jump-ball situation smiling, making an underhand, one-hand grab against McKinley's back in the air, before controlling his body and the ball, and getting both feet down in the end zone for the score. An eye-popping catch by a redshirt-freshman in the face of some outstanding coverage. For that, it gets our nod as the play of the day.
Â
Up next: The Griz will practice once again on Wednesday afternoon before Thursday's closed scrimmage, which is immediately followed by the Great Griz Encounter.
Â
Practices resume the Tuesday after the first day of classes at UM, with the Griz hitting the field in game-week mode at 3 p.m. on Aug. 30.
Â
Montana faces Saint Francis on Sept. 3 under the lights at Washington-Grizzly Stadium to open the season at 7 p.m. The theme for the home opener is "Get your Griz on", where fans are encouraged to wear their maroon and silver to the game.Â
Notes:
Â
The 2016 Griz football hype video premiered yesterday, and has already been seen by hundreds of thousands of Griz fans. Do yourself a favor and give it a watch. Enjoy.Â
Â
The Montana football team ran through its final morning practice of the 2016 fall camp on Wednesday, dialing in the details of the offensive attack, which produced plenty of highlights during the roughly two-hour session.
Â
The Griz are also scheduled to hold their only two-a-day practice of fall camp on Wednesday afternoon, using the bonus time to put the polish on special teams ahead of Thursday's closed scrimmage.
Â
Â@CoachBobStitt & the @VoiceoftheGriz recap the final morning practice from #GrizFallCamp. #GoGriz! pic.twitter.com/gBI6pRTE94
— UM Griz Football (@UMGRIZZLIES_FB) August 24, 2016
The structure of Wednesday morning's session focused heavily on providing more reps, as head coach Bob Stitt continues to evolve the playbook after installing the offense during the first week.
Â
The session started with individual work after a short period of PAT and field goal attempts. It was one of two individual sessions that punctuated by two sessions of one-on-one, a pair of seven-on-seven sessions, and a pair of full team runs.
Â
ÂStarting QB Brady Gustafson & the @VoiceoftheGriz talk #GrizFallCamp as the countdown to kickoff hits 10 days! pic.twitter.com/zJmVjppJVG
— UM Griz Football (@UMGRIZZLIES_FB) August 24, 2016
Emphasis was placed on goal line attack and sustaining drives from the offense's own 25-yard line during team runs. As a unit, the "O" looked good as the quarterbacks hit their targets, receivers found separation from the DBs, and the offensive line opened up gaps for the running backs.
Â
Defensive coordinator Jason Semore's schemes proved to be effective as well, with various stunts and blitzes keeping the quarterbacks on their toes.
Â
Wednesday afternoon's practice starts at 3 p.m. inside the stadium as usual.
Â
ÂQB Coach @CoachSelle talks about the progression of the QBs at #GrizFallCamp with the @VoiceoftheGriz.#GoGriz! pic.twitter.com/vMowptjosb
— UM Griz Football (@UMGRIZZLIES_FB) August 24, 2016
Great Griz Encounter: The 21st annual Great Griz Encounter is set for Thursday, Aug. 24, at Caras Park in downtown Missoula, giving fans the chance to meet the Grizzlies, and collect autographs from their favorite players. The Great Griz Encounter is held in conjunction with the Missoula Downtown Association's weekly "Downtown Tonight" festival. The fun is set to begin at 5:30 p.m. with the Griz taking the stage at 6:30 p.m.
Â
Play of the day: Wednesday morning's play of the day came early on in practice, during a one-on-one passing drill between the receivers and the defensive backs.
Â
Quarterback Chad Chalich heaved a deep ball for Justin Calhoun streaking down the right sideline in a corner route. Cornerback Ryan McKinley was on him, sticking his coverage like glue to the receiver. Chalich's pass was on the money, as both Calhoun and McKinley made a leaping play at the ball.
Â
Calhoun came out of the jump-ball situation smiling, making an underhand, one-hand grab against McKinley's back in the air, before controlling his body and the ball, and getting both feet down in the end zone for the score. An eye-popping catch by a redshirt-freshman in the face of some outstanding coverage. For that, it gets our nod as the play of the day.
Â
Up next: The Griz will practice once again on Wednesday afternoon before Thursday's closed scrimmage, which is immediately followed by the Great Griz Encounter.
Â
Practices resume the Tuesday after the first day of classes at UM, with the Griz hitting the field in game-week mode at 3 p.m. on Aug. 30.
Â
Montana faces Saint Francis on Sept. 3 under the lights at Washington-Grizzly Stadium to open the season at 7 p.m. The theme for the home opener is "Get your Griz on", where fans are encouraged to wear their maroon and silver to the game.Â
Notes:
Â
The 2016 Griz football hype video premiered yesterday, and has already been seen by hundreds of thousands of Griz fans. Do yourself a favor and give it a watch. Enjoy.Â
Â
Players Mentioned
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