After Long Practice Thursday, MSU Catches A Break
We were better today than yesterday, Croom said afterward. It was really a pretty good first week.
That fact, coupled with the temperatures dipping into the upper 40s by the time Friday's practice came to a close, prompted the head coach to end the week's final session a little early. Croom dispensed with the customary practice-closing conditioning drill.
I wasn't going to chance getting anyone else hurt in the cold weather, Croom said.
Junior inside linebacker Jamar Chaney (Fort Pierce, Fla.) tweaked his hamstring during Thursday's conditioning drills and the head coach has already announced that he will not work Monday when the team dons full gear for the first time.
He won't be back out until I am absolutely sure he has overcome that injury, Croom said. I know he can play.
A few other players drew Croom's post-practice attention Friday, including transfer quarterback Josh Riddell (Salem, Ore.) and senior defensive end Titus Brown (Tuscaloosa, Ala.).
Riddell received the lion's share of first-unit snaps Friday in the absence of junior signal-caller Michael Henig, who spent the workout in the training room with back spasms. Croom indicated that Riddell was making progress at the position, but still needed a lot of work.
Croom also singled out the young players on the defensive line for their effort, and said that junior Derek Pegues (Batesville, Miss.) was in the right spot for him at safety. The head coach also noted that sophomore wide receiver Brandon McRae (Chester, Va.), a transfer from Morehead State, had stepped up among the wide receiver hopefuls.