It was confusing. Here's this offensive team with loads of experience up against an inexperienced defensive line in Utah State's first formal scrimmage Saturday in Romney Stadium, and the defense, led by the line, holds the offense to nothing but negatives.
"Offensively, I felt like we didn't play worth a flip all day," said coach Charlie Weatherbie. "No consistency in the running game, couldn't throw and catch. We're going to have to improve in a lot of areas," Weatherbie said."I wasn't mentally prepared for the scrimmage," said apologetic quarterback Anthony Calvillo. "I kinda went out like it was just another practice; that's where I went bad. I got frustrated when we didn't move the ball the first two drives, and it got to me. When the quarterback is like that, the team's going to follow," said Calvillo.
He said he'll treat every practice more like a game from now on.
Calvillo completed six of 17 passes for 71 yards. His understudies were no better. Todd Wilson was 3-9-16, Matt Wells 4-14-44 and Dean Grosfeld 0-1.
Receiver Mike Lee was the lone bright spot offensively with four catches worth 66 yards. Kendrick Huey led rushers with six carries for 22 yards, but James Dye (7-7) and Profail Grier (10-3) are above him on the depth chart.
Calvillo said the offense missed Abu Wilson, out for '93 with knee surgery Friday. "Dye and Profail have to step it up," said Calvillo, adding the defense is used to their moves and had some advantage. Tai Gordon, who started some last year, is resting a hamstring pull.
"Up front, the defense did a good job," Weatherbie said. "They stopped plays for short gains and pressured the quarterbacks, and the secondary played real well. The defense came to play."
Dan-ie'l Taplin, a senior defensive end with some experience, was a big factor in pressing the backfield. "We're just trying to keep it together and get techniques down. I think the whole defense came together and did the job," Taplin said.
As for his several mythical sacks (nobody touches the QBs), Taplin said, "Just listen to coach; he'll tell you what to do. Do it and it works. That and a lot of film time."
The Ags worked hard on the all-new kicking game. "We have a lot of ability, but we've got to be more consistent," Weatherbie said. Nathan Morreale, Brad Benson and Micah Knorr had seven placekicks each; Morreale hit four, Benson three, Knorr five. In punting, nothing went beyond 38 yards.
NOTES: Numerous players were held out with injuries, including starting defensive end Scott Moala (groin pull, back this week), safety Paul Gustafson (low hamstring strain) and safety Kelvin Poindexter (heat exhaustion on Thursday). Receiver Jim Ray played with a cast on his left wrist for a fractured navicular bone.