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Practice Report - Day 11
8/17/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 17, 2010
Tulsa, Oklahoma - The skies opened up and heavy rains and lightning forced the University of Tulsa football team to postpone its practice from a regularly-scheduled morning session to an afternoon outing Tuesday at H.A. Chapman Stadium.
The final scrimmage of the preseason lasted 120 plays and featured temperatures that stayed below 90 degrees.
The offense came out and put together a methodical drive and had all the momentum in the early going. The defense picked up its play after a crucial turnover, and the two sides went back and forth the rest of the way.
"I was pleased with how our offense came out and executed," said Chad Morris, associate head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. "We established the run early on, and that's been a plus for us this preseason. Our quarterbacks were making good decisions, and overall I'm excited coming out of our second scrimmage."
Co-Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach Keith Patterson said he was unhappy with the overall effort from the defense during the scrimmage, but that he was excited with how the team has continued its steady progression from the first day of camp.
"You have to play defense with a passion, and all of our guys just need to step up and keep playing with intensity," Patterson said. "We have to keep getting better every single day if we are going to be as good as I know we can be."
Head Coach Todd Graham came out of the final scrimmage with a positive outlook, and he likes where the team is at this point.
"We went back and forth today. We came out of it healthy and we're better fundamentally, so overall it was a good scrimmage," Graham said. "Everybody else (in the country) gets their kids to play at a certain level, and we're just trying to get that much more out of our guys so we can be successful. Everybody is buying in, and we're just going to have to get better every week."
Graham also mentioned a few guys who he has been pleasantly surprised with after 11 days of practice. Redshirt freshmen Trey Watts and true Ja'Terian Douglas should both bolster an already impressive running back corps, and grayshirt freshman Stetson Burnett is competing for a starting spot at right tackle.
Three junior college transfers - Tyrunn Walker, Darrell Zellars and Durrell Finch - have all impressed and are all expected to vastly improve the defensive line, Graham said. He also mentioned that senior defensive end Odrick Ray has had arguably his best camp since coming to Tulsa.
Sophomore Justin Skillens has moved from offense to starting cornerback and has really impressed Graham. Junior wide receiver Genesis Cole also earned acknowledgement from his head coach.
Statistics were not kept for the scrimmage.
Tulsa opens the 2010 season at defending Conference USA Champion East Carolina on Sunday, September 5th on ESPN 2. Tulsa will open the home season against Bowling Green on Sept. 11th. Season tickets are available at www.TulsaHurricane.com or by calling 918.631.GoTU (4688).
WEATHER REPORT (Tuesday, August 17)
Starting: Temperature - 73˚, Humidity - 85%
Ending: Temperature - 89.9˚, Humidity - 51.2%
