Marshall Football: Practice Report 8/7/13

Hard to imagine I would be saying this after last season but, reports out of yesterday’s practice indicate that Marshall’s defense got the better of the offense. Wearing shoulder pads for the first time, Doug Smock of the Charleston Gazette noticed Thundering Herd defenders harassing quarterbacks Rakeem Cato and Blake Frohnapfel during the afternoon session.  

Linebacker Kent Turene and defensive end Gary Thompson could only watch Marshall’s defense give up an average of 43 points per game last year. Now eligible after sitting out 2012 as academic non-qualifiers, both have high expectations heading into the season.

With the graduation of Aaron Dobson and Antavious Wilson, new wide receivers coach Mike Furrey is looking for a couple of playmakers to flank the Herds offense. Derek Redd of the Charleston Daily Mail and Dave Wilson of the WV Metro News spoke with Furrey about potential replacements and the receiving corps depth.

Last season Marshall special team units blocked seven kicks, tied for third most in the FBS. Always a point of emphasis under head coach Doc Holliday, Jack Bogaczyk of HerdZone.com breaks down how the Herd identifies players with a knack for putting pressure on opposing kickers.

Grant Traylor of the Huntington Herald Dispatch caught Cato wearing a new accessory at yesterday’s practice. The quarterback was sporting a bright green rubber bracelet emblazoned with the saying ‘Why Not Us?’, the teams unofficial motto entering the season.