Of all the players the Bobcats lost from last season, long snapper Ryan Senser might be the toughest to replace.
Ohio seems to have players ready to step up and contribute at every position so far except long snapper. The two players that have gotten the most reps there this spring are Mark Truesdell and A.J. Oxley, but they have struggled all spring.
With the end of spring quickly approaching, coach Frank Solich admits that he's a little uneasy about the way the position has played out.
It's a little bit of a worry
Solich said. What we considered our two No. 1 snappers one has a cast on his right hand and the other one has his thumb all taped up on the thumb sprain so that's affecting us right now.
During punt return drills on Monday, Truesdell and Oxley sent punters Matt Schulte and Justin Wolf scrambling for the ball on a consistent basis. A lot of the snaps were either skipped to the punters or sent flying over their heads.
To try to improve, Oxley and Truesdell have been putting in extra time on the sideline during practice or staying after practice.
Backup quarterback Miles Schlichter might get a look at some point as he has also been practicing on the sidelines.
We're better than what we're showing at this time
Solich said. But we need a lot of work on it
and it's not a position that's anybody's job at this point.
They're heating up
Although the temperature dipped into the 40s Monday, tempers were at an all-time high.
Quarterback Theo Scott scrambled outside the pocket during a drill in practice and defensive tackle Jacob Williamson grasped his facemask as he struggled to stay on his feet. Scott spiked the ball on top of Williamson and a pushing match ensued.
Solich immediately told both players to take laps.
Later in practice, wide receiver LaVon Brazill, who is one of the more vocal trash talkers on the team, got tangled up with cornerback Mark Parson, which led to more pushing.
On the very next play, Brazill and what looked to be the entire group of defensive backs started yelling at one another. Solich was forced to stop practice to cool his team down.
It's a matter of getting yourself under control all the time and having the ability to focus after every play
Solich said afterward. They're working hard at trying to be that No. 1 guy
and so sometimes that brings out the best in them
and sometimes that brings out the worst in them.
Practice?
Solich said that the team had not decided when or if it will reschedule the practice it missed earlier in the season.
The Bobcats missed their first practice of the spring when Solich interviewed the finalists for the athletics director position, which later went to former Wichita State athletics director Jim Schaus.
If were going to do it
it's got to come soon
Solich said. I'd still like to get the full 15 practices in.
