Cardinals, Mustangs clash at first live scrimmage
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
by Jose Torrs, Gonzales Inquirer Sports
Gonzales Inquirer Article | St. Paul Cardinal Football | St. Paul Cardinal Sports
NIXON Its rare to have mistake-free football in a game. Its even more rare when its in August. But thats what scrimmages are for and the Nixon-Smiley Mustangs were set to gauge where their team is against the Shiner St. Paul Cardinals.
After their first dress rehearsal of the season, it was the Cardinals that looked like a team oozing with confidence over a Mustangs team that is still trying to get a handle of their new offense. *
Nixon-Smiley began with the ball but didnt get a first down until their 19th play of the scrimmage.
The Cardinals defense didnt allow much as sophomore Colby Newman and senior Sam Moore took to the backfield, with Newman taking the majority of the quarterback snaps.
"Still got a lot of work to do," Nixon-Smiley head football coach Carlton McKinney said. "I thought it was good for us to kind of get a gauge, primarily for the kids to see what theyre up against. I thought we came out pretty passive and not very aggressive and I thought that hurt us."
Although their passiveness was without question something that needs to be fixed before the season begins, it was interesting that while the Mustangs were not in their slot-T formation, Moore was in the backfield.
"We can put him in multiple positions," McKinney explained. "The other offense we have him in the backfield, but its very isolated."
While the Mustangs were showing off their multiple or spread look, Moore was able to shift wherever the coaches needed him instead of being isolated in one spot.
Cardinals head coach Jake Wachsmuth noticed a few things with his team such as their confidence level growing although it is August and there are still things that need to be done.
"Obviously we threw the ball well at times," he said, "we ran the ball, we played good defense but also made a lot of mistakes, we werent real consistent. I think our kids have the confidence [that] they know we can eliminate those mistakes."
"I mean, were not anywhere near where we need to be but as long as they know that and they keep working well be OK."
As soon as Nixon-Smiley switched to their base slot-t offense the ball started moving for them.
"Of course, the kids are a little more comfortable with that," he explained, "we had a little bit more success out of that. I think for us moving forward were going to have to be multiple, were no going to be able to stay pat in what weve done in the past few years because I dont think were strong enough or experience enough up front to be successful in the long haul."
Despite the struggles, McKinney sees all the mistakes as easily correctable.
"Its just a matter of getting those kids to understand that."
As for St. Paul, the group has had their bumps and bruises and are hoping to finally seek their rewards this season.
"Weve come from maybe not being real confident to feeling like they can do some things," Wachsmuth said. "I think thats one thing you cant replace."
Both teams have work to do if they want to make some noise in the playoffs in their respective leagues.
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