By Darren Sands
INJURY REPORTThe elbow injury that forced Head Coach Joe Gardi to replace quarterback Bobby Seck with backup Anton Clarkson in Montana two weeks ago, is no longer an issue. Seck, who wore a bandage after the game, threw in practice all last week and has shown no ill effects of the bruise he suffered in the loss. Also, center Patrick O’Brien (knee) and safety Michael Momo (undisclosed) both returned to practice this week. Safety Thomas Green (ankle), who hadn’t practiced all year, returned this week and looked good in defensive drills.
DECEIVING LOOKSThe overwhelming sentiment is the Pride’s 41-23 loss to Montana was not indicative of how close the contest really was. The Pride could have gone ahead by a touchdown late in the third quarter were it not for an untimely fumble in the red zone by redshirt freshman receiver Charles Sullivan. The momentum shifted when Montana’s Jefferson Heidelberger returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown with about 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter.
“I think the difference in the game was a couple of big plays that they made which we didn’t make. I thought our guys had a chance to win and that’s all you can ask for,” Gardi said.
COPY CATSThe coaching staff simulated Rhode Island’s option style offense in this week’s practices with quarterback Jay Graber, and Maine transfer, running back Onyi Momah. Momah must sit out one year because of NCAA transfer rules.
“Momah is giving us a good picture [of the option]. The only problem is that you can’t simulate their speed,” Gardi said. “You can’t simulate the cut-blocking, and the chop-and-roll blocking that their receivers do.”
WELCOME BACKSaturday’s game will be somewhat of a homecoming for Rhode Island running back Jason Ham. The Port Washington native, who reached the 1,000-yard rushing mark against the Pride last year on Nov. 15, will have a chance to reach the 2,000-yard plateau at Shuart Stadium on Saturday. He will likely host friends and family in a game where he only needs 32 yards to reach the 2,000-yard mark. Gardi and his staff chose not to recruit the running back, opting for former Pride running back Trevor Dimmie. Ham was not available for comment at press time.
“We knew all about Jason Ham, we evaluated him, we just liked Trevor Dimmie better,” Gardi said. “He fits into their offense perfectly, and I don’t know if he would in ours. The point is we were never interested, which is not to say that he is not a good football player.”
MUCH BETTERVastly improved is the recent play of the offensive line. Last year the unit surrendered 38 sacks, and have only given up three thus far. Most notably, the group helped running back Terry Crenshaw to a 104-yard performance two weeks ago against Montana. Coach Gardi was pleased, saying that they are “100 percent improved.”