August 23, 2002
LINEBACKER, CORNERBACK RANK HIGH
ON SATURDAY SCRIMMAGE FOCUS
GREENVILLE -- Walking off the practice field late Friday afternoon, Furman head
football coach Bobby Lamb said Saturday's scheduled two-hour scrimmage in Paladins
Stadium would provide the Paladin coaching staff a solid evaluation of the team’s
overall status but that he would looking for some specific answers at two key
defensive positions.
"There are a lot of positions already taken, but there are a couple of slots
where we are looking for someone to step up, mainly at middle linebacker and cornerback,"
said Lamb. "Mike Killian and Andrew Knight are competing at linebacker, and
T.J. Wilson and Maurice Duncan are battling at cornerback. We feel good about
each one of them, and we expect their battles to continue, but tomorrow might
be a day when one player steps up."
The status of a pair of players at defensive end could also be clarified, according
to Lamb.
"Eddie Overdyke (back strain) has been banged up, so we'll be looking for
a couple guys there, Glenn Smith and John Shields. Travis Jones and Brandon Poole
play the other side, so if Eddie can't go Travis would start, but we will need
Glenn or John to contribute.
"We'll also be looking for a surprise or two. You never know, sometimes somebody
will step up and surprise you in a scrimmage. I also think it will give us a good
idea on who we are going to redshirt and who we are going to dress for Vanderbilt."
While two other offensive positions, tight end and tailback, are still somewhat
unsettled, Lamb said who actually starts in those spots were really "a matter
of what play we run first."
"We play at lot of two-tight end sets at times, so Willis Sudderth and John
Rust are both going to play a lot. Willis really came into camp in good shape
and has performed well, as has John, so we’re not concerned there. At tailback,
we have three guys who when one player takes a step back, another one steps up.
It’s funny, it's like that every day, so we know we have three guys (Hindley
Brigham, Toreico O'Neal, and Lamar Rembert) who can play, and a fourth, Brandon
Mays, who will try to get some time in there."
The Paladins practiced twice on Friday but did shied away from full contact work
in preparation for Saturday's scrimmage. Quarterback Billy Napier sat out both
workouts, resting a sore left shoulder, but Lamb said his senior signal caller
would be full-go on Saturday, as would flanker Bear Rinehart, who has been sidelined
all week with a mild hamstring strain. Split end James Thomas (sprained ankle)
and offensive guard Josh McWhorter (lower back strain) will be on the sideline.
"It was awfully hot today, and we went twice yesterday, so they were a little
weary trying to get over the hump. Once we get the scrimmage out of the way, they’ll
have Sunday off to recover."
Saturday's scrimmage will highlight Fan Day at Furman, which gets underway at
1:00 p.m. with a one hour autograph/photograph session for fans in Timmons Arena.
Team posters and t-shirts will be given away, and Furman’s mascot "Sir
Paladin" will also be on hand. The scrimmage is set to begin at approximately
2:30 p.m.