April 6, 2004

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State second-year head football coach John L. Smith sent his team through a 2 1/2-hour workout in full pads on Tuesday, April 6, including a 76-play "controlled" scrimmage. With damp field conditions outside, Coach Smith conducted the first spring scrimmage indoors in the Duffy Daugherty Football Building.

"The running game was a positive today," Smith said. "It's important to get the running game going, so we can take some pressure off of our inexperienced quarterbacks. I also like the fact that there's some competition for playing time at running back. Competition certainly brought out the best in those backs today."

"Offensively, we must execute more consistently and operate with a greater sense of urgency. We produced some big plays in both the running and passing games today, but we need to develop the ability to sustain drives.

"The defense created four turnovers and that's another positive sign, but our tackling was hideous in the open field."

Running backs DeAndra Cobb (5-10, 191, Sr.) and Jehuu Caulcrick (6-0, 250, R-Fr.) combined to rush for 181 yards on 25 carries. Cobb paced the ground attack with 101 yards on 18 rushes, including a 35-yard run. Caulcrick gained 80 yards on seven attempts, including a 66-yard touchdown run around left end.

"Jehuu Caulcrick ran hard early and really set the tone," Smith said. "Jehuu ran over a couple of guys on his way to the end zone. DeAndra Cobb came on strong late in the scrimmage and ran with some toughness. Cobb has the ability to make guys miss tackles plus when he runs with toughness, he can break tackles."

"It felt good to find a rhythm late in the scrimmage," Cobb said. "I got off to a slow start because my legs felt heavy. I saw Jehuu (Caulcrick) and Jason (Teague) break some runs, so I wanted to get back on the field and take my game up a level or two.

"It's important that I stay low and run with my pads down. When I run that way, I can break tackles and I'm also more confident in my cuts. Early in the scrimmage, I simply ran with my pads too high.

"We need to have a productive running game to help loosen up the passing game. Last year, teams paid little to no attention to our running game. This season, we want to make our opponents respect our running game. When we can mix the run with the pass, it really opens up the playbook."

Red-shirt freshman Stephen Reaves completed 10-of-21 throws for 105 yards, including a 16-yard TD toss to Matt Trannon.

Stephen Reaves (6-1, 200, R-Fr.) took all of the snaps with the first-team offense and completed 10-of-21 throws for 105 yards, including a 16-yard TD strike to wide receiver Matt Trannon (6-6, 228, Jr.) on the final play of the scrimmage. Four of his 10 completions went for 20 or more yards. Reaves threw three interceptions.

"None of the quarterbacks really found the rhythm," Smith said. "Stephen Reaves has the ability to ad-lib a play and get out of trouble when the pocket breaks down. Like all lefties, he has the ability to make big plays out of nothing.

"He's a rookie, so he needs to learn how to take care of the ball. We have to be patient and understand the fact that Stephen hasn't taken a snap from center in a college game yet. Stephen will learn where to go with the football and how to limit his mistakes."

Damon Dowdell (6-1, 220, Sr.) and Sean Clayton (6-4, 222, R-Fr.) shared snaps with the second-team offense. Dowdell hit three-of-five passes for 18 yards and an interception, while Clayton connected on two-of-four attempts for 20 yards.

"Damon Dowdell did some good things when he was on the field," Smith said, "so we may have to get him more snaps in the next scrimmage."

Trannon and tight end Ryan Woods (6-4, 251, Jr.) had three receptions each for 39 and 31 yards, respectively. Eight different receivers caught at least one pass.

Ronald Stanley's interception inside the 20-yard line ended an early scoring threat.

Michigan State's defense came up with four interceptions, with linebacker Ronald Stanley (6-0, 232, Sr.), cornerback Roderick Maples (5-10, 189, Jr.), linebacker David Herron Jr. (6-1, 250, So.) and cornerback Ashton Watson (5-11, 179, Sr.) each picking off a pass.

BANDIT Tyrell Dortch (5-10, 206, Sr.), a converted running back, recorded six tackles. Maples had five tackles and a pass break-up to go along with his interception, while defensive end Clifton Ryan (6-2, 289, So.) produced two sacks (10 yards).

Placekicker Dave Rayner (6-2, 207, Sr.) converted seven-of-eight field-goal attempts, hitting from 27, 32, 37, 42, 52, 57 and 62 yards. His 47-yard attempt had plenty of distance, but it sailed wide left.

The Spartans have another closed scrimmage scheduled for Saturday, April 10.

Michigan State concludes its 15 spring practices with the Green-White intrasquad scrimmage Saturday, April 24 at 1 p.m. in Spartan Stadium.