Offense hopes to show progress at scrimmage

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By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer Updated 10:28 AM Saturday, August 21, 2010

OXFORD — The much-beleaguered offense of Miami University’s football team will get a chance to see if it has made any progress today, Aug. 22, at the annual Pigskin Scrimmage.

The defense dominated the offense in Miami’s first summer scrimmage last Saturday. The only touchdown, which came on a pass from quarterback Zac Dysert to tight end Steve Marck, came during a two-minute drill.

“We’ve got to be able to run the football a lot better and find some consistency in our offensive production,” Miami head coach Michael Haywood said.

“We also have to make sure our quarterback goes through a process instead of worrying about the outcome,” he added, “to make decisions at this point that are analytical instead of emotional.”

It has been a long struggle for Miami’s offense. Last year the RedHawks didn’t score a point until the third game of the season, and even after they did start to move the ball, it was a lopsided attack which finished the season with 3,281 yards passing and 841 yards rushing.

Miami offensive coordinator Morris Watts said his unit needs balance.

“That’s part of our philosophy now,” Watts said. “It was to a degree last year, but we had to give up on it pretty quick. We have talked that phase of it all winter, we worked on it hard in the spring, we worked on his hard this (summer).

“Our kids know that if you can run the football, it keeps you from being a one-dimensional team, because we can throw it,” he said. “We’ve got to be able to run it so defensively they’ve got to defend both elements of the game. They can’t just rush the passer and run all the blitzes. We’ve got our kids sold on it. Now only time will tell how good we are at it.”

Today’s scrimmage marks the end of preseason practice. The RedHawks will have two weeks to prepare for their Sept. 4 opener at Florida, which is ranked No. 3 in the USA Today coaches poll.

Miami Pigskin Scrimmage

When: Today, starting at 10 a.m., expected to last about 90 minutes

Where: Yager Stadium

Format: First string vs. first string, second string vs. second string, etc., will include situational plays

Other activities: Following the scrimmage, fans can mingle with players and coaches on the field for autographs and photos. The Pigskin Cookout begins at 12:30 p.m. under the east stands; the cost is $15 per person (free for kids 5 and under).

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