SPARTAN NATION LOSES ROSS WEAVER WITH A BROKEN ANKLE
Preseason Scrimmage Notes - Aug. 22, 2006
Scrimmage Highlights: 115-play scrimmage conducted in Spartan Stadium . . . Javon Ringer returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. Ringer rushed eight times for 51 yards, including a 3-yard TD run. His 3-yard TD run capped a six-play, 80-yard opening drive . . . Ringer also blocked a punt that Devin Thomas returned 28 yards for a touchdown . . . Drew Stanton completed 5-of-8 throws for 224 yards, including TD strikes of 47 yards to Jerramy Scott and 39 yards to Matt Trannon . . . Trannon had three catches for 65 yards . . . . Brian Hoyer connected on 14-of-22 passes for 162 yards, including TD tosses of 54 yards to Deon Curry, 20 yards to A.J. Jimmerson and 17 yards to Devin Thomas. Hoyer played two series with the first-team offense . . . Brett Swenson again was perfect on five field-goal attempts, hitting from 35, 52, 36, 35 and 40 yards . . . INJURY UPDATE: Back-up cornerback Ross Weaver suffered a broken ankle on the third series while tackling tight end Dwayne Holmes after an 8-yard reception. Weaver, who will undergo surgery tomorrow to insert a pin into his anke, will be sidelined for three-to-five months.
Comments from John L. Smith:
(Scrimmage recap) "We're still lacking consistency on both sides of the football. Offensively, we're making some big plays, but we can't live on big plays alone. We must have consistency and move the ball down the field. We had far too many penalties and dropped balls that killed drives.
"It was encouraging to see Drew (Stanton) keep plays alive with his feet and see the receivers work their way back to him for completions. Matt Trannon is finally healthy, and he became a playmaker today. Â
"Defensively, we gave up too many big plays. For six plays, we're great on the defensive side of the ball and then we give up a big play. As a team, we took a step back today.
"The biggest positive today was Brett Swenson."
(On Ross Weaver's season-ending ankle injury) "Losing Ross Weaver for the year is a crucial blow for us, but that's football. We didn't have a lot of depth there at cornerback to begin with, so those young guys are going to have to step up."
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