Chance to correct mistakes, grow, McNeese to play second of three spring scrimmages

Published 7:00 am Saturday, March 25, 2023

Heading into the final week of spring practice McNeese State head coach Gary Goff said he is looking for improvement today.

The Cowboys will play their second scrimmage of the spring at 10:30 a.m. today. Goff said it will have much the same look as last week’s scrimmage, hoping to see improvement across the board.

“Clean up some of the mistakes is the big thing,” the second-year Cowboys coach said. “We don’t want to see the same mistakes. You don’t want to take a step backward.”

He said each group will get roughly 45-50 plays depending on the pace with consistency and keeping drives going as the main goals.

Once again, all eyes will be on the quarterbacks, where transfers Nate Glantz and Tre Simmons are locked in a battle for the starting job. Goff said each has shown good and bad moments in the spring but overall have been a huge improvement from a season ago.

“They both have big arms and are ferocious competitors,” he said. “Both are making each other better.”

Goff said they are “neck and neck” and will get the exact same number of plays with the first team.

“We want to see how they handle situations and who can sustain drives,” he said.

Both had moments last week and each threw an interception. Neither was helped by their receivers who dropped five passes.

“That is one position where we still have a lot of work to do,” Goff said of his receivers. “We have to find somebody who can consistently make catches and plays.”

Goff pointed out Jalen Johnson as a guy who has stepped up. Johnson, a sophomore, had a touchdown catch in last week’s scrimmage.

Koby Duru has also made progress this year, Goff said.

One good sign this week was D’Angelo Durham’s return to full contact. Durham was hurt last season and missed the last part of the year with a serious leg injury.

Goff said Durham will play today but is expected to be limited.

“I will give him a hit count,” Goff said of Durham. “We know what he can do but he has made a great recovery.”

The Cowboys made another big move this week, flipping Trey Winters to the defense. The sophomore transfer from Iowa moves from offensive line to nose guard in the middle of the defense.

Winters is listed at 6-foot-7, 344 pounds and has taken to his new spot.

“He takes up a lot of space and has had a good first week,” Goff said. “We could still use another big body there so we will keep looking.”

Better play in the red zone on both sides of the ball is what Goff said he would most like to see. Twice last week the offense threw interceptions in the end zone.

“It’s always tough in scrimmages because you want to see one side take the ball away and the other side not give it up,” Goff said.