Griz show defensive dominance in Ronan
<p>Running back Jordan Canada jukes a defender last Saturday in Ronan.</p>
<p>Tailback Marlon Miles breaks a tackle last Saturday in Ronan.</p>
<p>Quarterback Shay Smithwick-Hann throws deep in the Griz's Saturday scrimmage in Ronan.</p>
<p>Assistant coach Scott Gragg jokes with a ref during Saturday's scrimmage in Ronan.</p>
<p>Quarterback Brady Gustafson steps out from under center to call an audible during Saturday's scrimmage in Ronan.</p>
<p>Wideout Ryan Burke looks to haul in a pass during the Griz scrimmage in Ronan.</p>
<p>Quarterback Shay Smithwick-Hann throws a screen pass in Ronan last Saturday.</p>
<p>Punter Stephen Shaw attempting to sneak a punt by a would-be blocker.</p>
RONAN – The cold, windy conditions may have silenced the Grizzlies offense, but the weather certainly didn’t affect the players’ intensity, as vicious hits echoed throughout Laverne Parrish Memorial Field in Ronan when the Griz held their second spring scrimmage Saturday.
With heads in hats and hands in winter coat pockets, lively Lake County UM fans filled the bleachers of a Memorial Field. The scrimmage had some makings of a regular season game, including refs, a chain gang and a full-on commitment to play from the Griz. Despite the rustiness on the offensive end, UM coach Mike Delaney told gogriz.com after the scrimmage that he wasn’t disappointed in the offense as there were a lot of new things for the unit to learn.
The day’s offensive struggles may have derived from how deep and experienced the Griz defense is. UM is returning 10 defensive starters from last year’s team and have up to seven players on the bench that can step up and make huge contributions. Delaney’s defense will be the anchor this year for the Griz, but his offense will need to hold up their end of the bargain, in order to be successful.
The weather also played a factor in the slowing the offensive attack, as the swirling 25-mph winds disrupted all attempts to establish any kind of a passing game. The Griz quarterbacks combined to throw just 9-of-26.
Running back Jordan Canada did shine on the ground Saturday for the Griz. The red-shirt sophomore had 18 carries for 109 yards that included a 2-yard rush into the end zone.
Defensively, the Griz looked extremely quick to the ball and disrupted the quarterbacks all day. Seven sacks and four interceptions – including two that were returned for touchdowns – highlighted the afternoon.