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Doughton: Second scrimmage beats the rain ahead of the first day of class - GoBlueRaiders.com

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MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Just under two weeks out from the team's first game of the season, Rick Stockstill's Blue Raider football team wrapped up a very-nearly-wet scrimmage on Saturday, their second scrimmage of fall camp. 

A deluge of over an inch of rain drenched Murfreesboro on Saturday, but the timing of the scrimmage in the morning helped the team avoid the major downpour of the day, which occurred just as the team left the field for post-practice treatment.

"We timed it right, we got off the field before it came down," Stockstill said. "It's just something you've got to be mentally tough enough to block it out and not let it affect how you're going to play."

The MT football support and coaching staff have put on a Master Class in avoiding the worst of the elements this camp, constantly adjusting or tweaking in and out times to avoid the hottest parts of the day and the rain when its forecasted, resulting in remarkably little missed practice time due to the weather, only dealing with the occasional bit of drizzle during the majority of their time on the field.

On the gridiron, Saturday showed a much more balanced showing from the offensive and defensive sides of the football after a dominant performance from the defense the previous week. The offense scored twice from the air, once via Bailey Hockman, the other from Chase Cunningham, and only turned the ball over once after the defense forced four takeaways a week ago.

"I think we made some improvement from the first scrimmage a week ago to today," Stockstill said. "Last Saturday was the seventh or eighth practice. Now you're at fifteen. Usually, it takes the offense a little bit longer to adjust and get in sync with everything. I just thought each position improved over the week."
 

The Blue Raider defense is currently nursing several injuries, shuffling the units working together each practice and scrimmage. But big picture wise, Stockstill is still pleased with the team's tackling ability in space and motor throughout the unit.

As far as an early two-deep? A bit preliminary for that, Stockstill says, in large part because of the fluidity of everyone's availability on defense day-to-day. But there's still time before September 4 for players to continue the separation currently underway.

"We've got a lot of guys hurt, so we've got to see who's going to be able to get back and play," Stockstill said. "Guys are starting to separate from the pack a bit. We've got fifteen more days before we have to (set a depth chart)."

Stats from Saturday's 88-play scrimmage

Passing
Bailey Hockman: 5-8, 62 yards, 1 TD
Chase Cunningham: 9-12, 103 yards, 1 TD
Mike DiLiello: 4-5, 70 yards

Receiving
Frank Peasant: 4-55 yards
Izaiah Gathings: 3-35 yards
Jarrin Pierce: 2-21 yards, 1 TD

Rushing
Chaton Mobley: 12-79 yards
Brad Anderson: 11-47 yards
Frank Peasant: 5-46 yards

Defense
Sacks: Zaylin Wood, Raquon Hartley, JR Bivens
TFL: Marley Cook, DQ Thomas, Devyn Curtis, Jarek Campbell, Tyrece Edwards
Hurries: Jordan Ferguson
INT: Raheme Fuller

FGs
Zeke Rankin: 3-5
Alex Usry: 3-5

DePreist Ties Scoring Record

Senior forward Peyton DePreist continued to write her name in the national record books on Sunday, scoring her 47th career goal on a 19th minute penalty kick in the Blue Raiders' draw against Samford to pull into a tie for the C-USA's individual career goal record.

"Peyton is a special player, and it was a special moment for her to tie the C-USA record," head coach Aston Rhoden said.. "We are just really glad she's on our team and for all that she brings with her leadership, maturity, and the on-field value each and every day."

The record-tying goal capped off a strong opening weekend for the Blue Raiders, who opened their season with a 1-0 win over Belmont on Friday. DePreist will get a shot to claim sole ownership of the overall C-USA record on Thursday, when MT travels to Ole Miss for a non-conference matchup.
 

Running Back Room

Offensive coordinator Brent Dearmon's focus on the run through his RPO heavy offense has got an experienced quartet of Blue Raider running backs primed for big seasons out of the backfield.

Amir Rasul, Martell Pettaway, Brad Anderson and Chaton Mobley have a combined 16 years of experience on Division I rosters heading into this season, and all appear likely to take meaningful snaps in Dearmon's tempo system due to their natural talent, but also their leadership.

"It's interesting, because they ask who's the leader of the group," running backs coach Jeff Beckles said. "They really all are. Each of those four, there's been a time where one person had to step up and address the group to get them going. There's going to be times that somebody that's maybe down and out and doesn't have it in them to lead, we've got three others that can step it up at that time."

The increased tailback run emphasis is a point of pride for the offense this camp, both in the running back room and on the offensive line.

"I think a lot of big guys will tell you they like running the ball more, just because it's tiring going backwards and straining for the pass pro," offensive lineman Eric Magwood said. "But we've got a lot of good backs this year, so I like the idea of running the ball a lot. We're going to do a lot of good things."

Chaton Mobley loves seeing his guys block for him, and the sacrifice that comes with that production.

"I know it's a little tougher on them physically, to get in shape to be able to go-go-go, because Dearmon, his number one word is tempo," Mobley said. "But with Dearmon coming in and running the ball as much as he does, and the linemen getting to the next level, (tempo) is going to be a huge part of the run game."
 

Turnover…prop?

While the Blue Raiders finished tied for third in C-USA interceptions a season ago, the defense only recovered six opponent fumbles in 2020. The typical drill rotation during camp this year has seen an emphasis on strip drills in particular.

Linebackers coach Siriki Diabate is confident his team will be able to translate those drills onto the field, in part because the coaching staff is hard at work designing a system that keeps the energy high and rewards the players who force turnovers every game.

What is it exactly? Another fun sideline prop? Diabate can't say quite yet. But he's confident the team will be able to carry that momentum into the season.

"We've got something in the works," Diabate said. "We don't want to reveal it yet, but we've got something in the works to get guys juiced up. And make it a challenge for them, and have a reward system for them to strive for and aim for every single day. I feel like they're excited about that, and you can see the improvement daily with the turnovers."
 

Baseball Welcomes Jerry Meyers

Coach Jim Toman announced the hiring of the Blue Raiders new associate head coach and pitching coach, Jerry Meyers, earlier today. Meyers comes to Murfreesboro after spending the last three years as an Associate Athletic Director at South Carolina, which followed coaching stops at Old Dominion and South Carolina, where he developed multiple top arms during his career.

Read the press release on Meyers here.

Fall Schedules released

Last week saw the men's tennis, softball, and cross country teams finalize their schedules for the fall.

Men's Tennis will open the fall at home with the Wally Tidwell Pro-Am on September 10-11. Softball starts on the road with a game against Tennessee State in Nashville on September 19, with their first of seven home events coming against Cleveland State on October 2. Cross Country, meanwhile, will open its season at the Memphis Twilight XC Classic on September 4.

Full details for the schedules can be found in the links that follow: men's tennis, softball, cross country. 

Week Ahead in Blue Raider Athletics

Volleyball will hit the road to Jacksonville, Ala. for a tournament at Jacksonville State to open their season. The Blue Raiders hosted Austin Peay in an exhibition last Thursday ahead of the official start to competition this week.

Soccer, meanwhile, has a split week of games, traveling to Oxford, Miss. on Thursday to take on Ole Miss on the road, before returning home on Sunday with a match against Evansville Aces. Sunday's match will kickoff at 1 PM in Murfreesboro.

First Day of Class!

Today marks the first day of class for all Blue Raiders in Murfreesboro! Finding a parking spot in my usual lot outside of the Murphy Center proved to be much trickier coming in this morning than it has been all summer, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Good luck to everyone, especially our student athletes, as the fall semester gets underway!
 


 
 
 
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