Monday, April 24 Practice

By Bruce Wood
www.biggreenalert.com

Hanover -- Monday's Dartmouth spring football practice was uppers only, but that didn't mean there wasn't occasional hitting. One of the best hits was from a surprise source wearing No. 6.

Casey Frost, who shared quarterbacking duties with the Big Green junior varsity last fall, laid the lumber on a running back while wearing a different number and playing a different position.

"We are a little thin at the safety position and Frosty is an athletic guy so we asked him to take a look at the other side of the ball," Dartmouth coach Buddy Teevens said. "He was very receptive. He played there in high school and we've been very, very pleased by what he's shown us.

"You saw how he lit up (tailback) Milan Williams today, so he's not afraid to hit you. He scrimmaged (at safety) Saturday and we like what we've seen from him."

Frost and outside linebacker-turned-tail back Julian Collins are just two of several players who changed positions this spring.

Tackle Mike Shannon is getting work at center and linebacker Ryan Mahoney is working at fullback.

"We've had a few guys switch positions, all to the benefit of our football team," Teevens said. "We moved Mike Shannon, with Taylor Layman being out, and I wouldn't say Mike has surprised us, but that it's been wonderful to see how he's adjusted. We certainly know what he can do outside, but this gives us a chance to solidify the front by giving Ben Goeke, Preson Copley, Alex Rapp and Lucius Alexander -- guys who need it -- more reps.

"Mahoney has adjusted very, very well at fullback. He's a smart guy and a physical guy. He even caught a touchdown pass on Saturday."

Saturday Notes
By Teevens' count, the Big Green went live for about 18 plays during its first true scrimmaging of the spring.

"It was competitive," the coach said. "The offensive line has progressed. We still need to be consistent. Defensively it was our first time tackling and we need to improve in that area but I was impressed with the way the guys flew around on both sides."

Teevens also liked what he saw from placekicker Erik Estabrook and punter Brian Scullin Saturday.

"We had a PAT/field goal opportunity," Teevens said. "Estabrook was consistent on the PAT's. He had one long-range 37-yarder that he missed but he is progressing. And I really do like what Scullin is doing. It's nice to have two guys who will be together for four years making some progress."

Quarterback Shuffle
Sophomore Tom Bennewitz got a look with the first team Monday with incumbent starter Josh Cohen working mostly with the second unit.

Bennewitz showed his accuracy and arm strength once again on down-field throws, the prettiest being a deep out that fell softly into the arms of speedy Brian Evans down the right sideline.

"Bennewitz is probably our best deep-ball thrower right now," Teevens said. "He's been working at it. I'm juggling the QB's a bit right now and have him working with the one's and Cohen with the two's. (Mike) Fritz is with the three's, based on the performance Saturday.

"We need the QB's to do the right thing all the time. Consistency is the key. Saturday we had a couple picks. Poor throws and poor decisions. We're opening it up enough that guys are going to have the opportunity to show what they are capable of doing."

Monday's Notables
Among those players who stood out at Monday's practice were safety John Pircon, tailback Hudson Smythe and receiver Phil Galligan.

Pircon had two nifty pass breakups in the middle of the field and another he nearly picked off. "Talking with (defensive backs coach) Sam McCorkle, Pircon has really progressed," said Teevens. "His comfort level on the back end is much greater. He's seeing things and has good vision of the field. I've been real pleased by the way he's performed."

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Smythe picked up where he left off in the scrimmage, impressing Teevens with his running."He made some plays on Saturday that caught everyone's eye. He's been consistent. He's picking things up. He missed a good part of the year with ankle injury but it was fun to watch him work.

Galligan made the catch of the day, going up in the air in the middle of the field to reach back and pull in an off-target throw before tumbling to the field.

"He can do some things," Teevens said. "He can catch the football. He runs well. He's run some screens effectively for us. It's just about consistency with the offense. He didn't play a bunch last year but he's a guy who is pushing everybody right now."

All in all, Teevens was pleased once again.

"The guys look to be having fun," he said. "The pace of practice is really different this spring. They know what to do and they are doing a good job."

Notables II
Teevens: "Eddie Tabasky on the offensive line is really coming on. Dustin Adkins, for not having competed a year ago, is really making progress on the line and so is Alex Rapp, another guy that was out with an ankle injury. Tight end Brett Lowe has been very consistent. He had about six catches on Saturday. Mark Brogna has been performing well there also.

"At linebacker, Justin Cottrell is doing a good job. Joe Battaglia having been out for a year is coming along. Joe Gibalski, who had been injured, got a couple of snaps Saturday. John Manning has done a nice job at corner and so has Chris Blanco."

Coming Up
There will be some hitting Wednesday, a lighter practice on Friday and more extensive hitting on Saturday's final practice of the week. ... Saturday is freshman parents weekend and upwards of a dozen players will have family in town.


How's it Feeling, Coach?
Teevens, who suffered a nasty collarbone break in a bicycle accident last fall, lightly tossed a few short passes Monday.

"This is the first time I've thrown but they were all short ones," he said. "No long ones. The only thing that gives me a problem is throwing. I've got to get another X-ray. If it's 'knitted together,' I'm done. Otherwise it's surgery."