Continued improvement the focus in week two of spring ball

Continued improvement the focus in week two of spring ball

3/18/2019 6:12:00 PM | Football

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana Grizzlies opened week two of the spring season on Monday, settling back into a Monday, Wednesday, Friday routine after an opening week blitz of five practices in six days due to weather delays.

The Griz dove head first into spring ball with a pair of helmets-only practices on week one before going full speed in full pads on Wednesday and Friday, and opened week two in full pads as well.

Now in the heart of his second spring season since returning to lead the Griz, head coach Bobby Hauck enters the second phase feeling good about the first week, and where his team is at compared to a year ago at this time.

"With having to push the start date back we had a few more practices than we would normally like, but the work was good. We held up pretty well physically and thought the effort and attention to detail were great," said Hauck.

"We're significantly further along than we were last year at this time. I don't think as a team we got great work in the early practices last year just because everyone was trying to feel their way and learn scheme, structure, and how practice was expected to go.

"This year we haven't had any wasted time, effort, days or periods. It's been consistent progress, which is what we need."

With 22 starters returning and a robust 41 lettermen back in the fold, the Grizzlies' practices have been crisp.

The addition of offensive lineman Kordell Pillans has added extra size and depth on the offensive line, and the emergence of Cy Sirmon as a potential starter at center has helped make the O-line an area of strength for the Griz.

Returning starting tackles Conlan Beaver and Colton Keintz are benefiting from added weight gained in the offseason, and sophomore Skyler Martin continues his upward trajectory at guard as well.

With an improved O-line, incumbent starter Dalton Sneed and the rest of the quarterbacks have had time to run the offense.

As expected, receivers Samuel Akem, (who stretched out for leaping touchdown at Monday's practice) Jerry Louie-McGee, and Samori Toure continue to be targeted frequently, while Mitch Roberts and Malik Flowers are also catching plenty of passes.

Montana's run game is seeing improvement, with transfer Marcus Knight earning plenty of reps and Adam Eastwood looking like a veteran on Monday with a 25-yard touchdown run up the middle.

Defensively, young linebackers Marcus Welnel and Patrick O'Connell have mixed in with returners Dante Olson and Jace Lewis.

Speaking of Olson, Griz fans have known it, but the NCAA made it official on Monday when the record-breaking linebacker received a plaque in the mail for being them 2018 FCS Statistical Champion in tackles per game with 13.7.

Olson shattered the Montana school record for single season tackles in 2018 with a national best 151.

Robby Hauck, a finalist for the FCS Freshman of the year, has been marshalling the backfield with senior Josh Sandry, and cornerback Josh Egbo also continues to improve, picking off a pass in the end zone on Monday.

Despite plenty of positives, however, Hauck is not resting on his laurels and is demanding his young team continues to progress, which is the whole point of spring ball in the first place.

"The goal for this week is going to be the same, to improve. We need improvement, and we need to get better as a football team. You could ask that question every day in the next few weeks. But we have to improve this spring to be a good football team next fall," said Hauck.

The Grizzlies will practice again on Wednesday and cap the week with a brief scrimmage on Friday before heading into spring break. Practices and Friday's scrimmage are open to the public.

SPRING GAME COMING UP

Tickets to the annual GSA Griz Spring Game in Kalispell are now on sale. The Spring Game is set for 1 p.m. on April 13 at Legends Stadium in Kalispell, with a pregame tailgate party set to begin at 11 a.m.

Tickets to the game cost $10, with kids 10-and-under receiving free entry with an adult. Proceeds from the Spring Game go directly to the GSA in its mission to provide scholarships to student-athletes.

Tickets are available for purchase at the following locations:

All First Interstate Bank branches in the Flathead Valley
First Interstate Bank in Polson
Freedom Bank in Columbia Falls
Grizzly Scholarship Association office in Missoula

The GSA Spring Game will be broadcast statewide on SWX Montana.

Remaining Spring Schedule
Mon. 3/18 – Practice 6
Wed. 3/20 – Practice 7
Fri. 3/22 – Practice 8 – Scrimmage 1
3/25 – 3/29 – Spring Break
Mon. 4/1 – Practice 9
Wed. 4/3 – Practice 10
Fri. 4/5 – Practice 11 – Scrimmage 2
Mon. 4/8 – Practice 12
Wed. 4/10 – Practice 13
Thurs. 4/11 – Practice 14
Sat. 4/13 – Spring Game – Kalispell, Mont. – 1 PM
** Schedule subject to change

Montana 2019 Schedule
Date    Opponent
8.31     at South Dakota
9.7       NORTH ALABAMA
9.14     at Oregon
9.21     MONMOUTH
9.28     at UC Davis
10.5     IDAHO STATE
10.12   Bye Week
10.19   at Sacramento State
10.26   EASTERN WASHINGTON
11.2     at Portland State
11.9     IDAHO
11.16   WEBER STATE
11.23   at Montana State