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Defense praised in scrimmage
RedHawks coach likes the unit's athleticism; still unsure of whether he'll play or redshirt freshmen RBs.
Monday, August 11, 2008
OXFORD — The most difficult part of the preseason for the Miami RedHawks' tailbacks is not their lack of depth or experience, but rather their daily nemesis: the Miami defense.
Runners and tacklers went at it again during a scrimmage Sunday, Aug. 10, at Yager Stadium, and with one dazzling exception, the tacklers ruled the day.
"Defensively, we're able to do so many things because we're experienced and so athletic," Miami coach Shane Montgomery said. "We confuse people on offense — including our own — which is good. We stopped the run for the most part, which is our No. 1 goal."
Miami's first-string offense managed only six points against the first-string defense.
"We settled for two field goals (Nathan Parseghian, 24 and 30 yards) once we got down to the red zone," Montgomery noted. "It's something we struggled with last season."
Redshirt freshman Clay Belton threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Donovon Potter in a matchup between the No. 2 offense and No. 2 defense.
The most spectacular play of the afternoon came with the third-string players facing off when true freshman tailback J.R. Taylor of Reynoldsburg found an opening on the sidelines and raced 70 yards for a touchdown.
"It was jammed in there, so I bounced it outside," Taylor said. "I just took off.
"Once I get in the open, that (burst of speed) is my strength," he added.
Montgomery said he doesn't know whether he'll play or redshirt either of his true freshman running backs, Taylor or Dan Green.
"J.R. gives us a big burst," Montgomery said, "and I think that's something we can have with Thomas (Merriweather) and Andre (Bratton). That's something we didn't have last year."
Belton and Daniel Raudabaugh alternated as quarterback of the No. 1 offense. Raudabaugh completed 12-of-18 passes for 110 yards. Belton was 8-of-16 for 127 yards.
"Daniel's had a good camp," Montgomery said. "Right now, he's got a good grasp of what we're trying to do on offense, which is half the battle.
"Clay played well today," he said. "He's still learning some things on offense ... He's young, he's a first-year player. He's going to get better and better with reps."
Parseghian is almost certain to be Miami's placekicker for field goals this season. He hit 13-of-20 attempts last year and was 2-for-2 Sunday; Trevor Cook was wide with his only attempt, from 31 yards.
"He's worked hard to get more consistent," Montgomery said of Parseghian, "and he's getting the ball up higher, which gives him a chance to make some longer field goals."
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.
Season opener
Who: Vanderbilt Commodores at Miami RedHawks
When: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 28
Radio: WONE-AM (980)
TV: ESPNU
