Frogs Go Through Spring Scrimmage
3/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 27, 2004
The TCU football squad went through an 87-play scrimmage under mostly sunny skies and gusty winds at Amon G. Carter Stadium on Saturday morning. Several hundred fans were on hand to watch the proceedings.
The TCU defense held the offense in check for much of the day but the offense was able to put 20 points on the board during the morning workout. The biggest offensive play of the day was a 62-yard scoring pass from junior quarterback Tye Gunn to sophomore wide receiver Michael DePriest. DePriest caught the short pass from Gunn, then made a quick move to the outside and scampered down the sidelines for the score. DePriest finished the day with four catches for 95 yards. Sophomore Robert Merrill added a four-yard touchdown run around right end. The Frogs also had a 48-yard field goal from Mike Wynn and a short field goal from walk-on placekicker Jonathan Jaskot.
Other highlights included a 47-yard pass completion from redshirt freshman James Battle to redshirt freshman Ervin Dickerson. Junior college transfer Drew Coleman picked off a pass from Kyle Kummer for the game's only turnover.
"Our defense has a chance to be a lot better this year," said TCU head coach Gary Patterson following the workout. "We have always been decent when we are good at the corner position. We've got to continue to bring the "twos" and "threes" along. Offensively, we were without (receivers) Reggie Harrell and Quentily Harmon. I believe our quarterbacks will do a great job of managing the offense (this fall)."
Gunn finished the day by completing 6-of-11 passes for 137 yards. Battle was 3-for-6 for 81 yards, while Chad Huffman was 5-for-8 for 36 yards. Merrill was the top rusher with 14 carries for 35 yards. Kenny Boyd, returning to the tailback position, carried 13 times for 11 yards. In addition to Harrell and Harmon, junior tailback Lonta Hobbs was held out of the scrimmage due to a sore toe and senior quarterback Brandon Hassell did not play as he continues to nurse an injured foot.
"I feel 100 percent finally, for the first time in a year and a half," said junior quarterback Tye Gunn. "I've still only had nine or 10 practices, so I'm getting the rust off. I feel quicker and stronger, and am getting the extra reps I need. My goal this spring is to try to get healthy so we can have good competition for the position in the fall."
TCU returns to the practice field on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday next week before finishing up the spring drills with the annual Spring Game on Saturday, April 3. Game time is set for 11 a.m. at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
RUSHING (Att.-Yds.):
Merrill 14-35; Boyd 13-11; Overshown 2-7; Draper 1-3; Kummer 2-2; Huffman 1-1; Rodgers 2-(-8); Ballard 5-(-18); Battle 4-(-20). TEAM: 44-13.
PASSING (Att-Comp.-Int.-Yds.):
Gunn 11-6-0-137; Huffman 8-5-0-36; Kummer 7-1-1-5; Battle 6-3-0-81; Ballard 3-1-0-7. TEAM: 35-16-1-266.
RECEIVING (Rec.-Yds.):
DePriest 4-95; Pearson 2-37; Waters 2-12; Boyd 2-8; Dickerson 1-47; McCarty 1-28; Rodgers 1-18; Grimmett 1-16; Andrus 1-5; Merrill 1-0. TEAM: 16-266.
