Cowboys experience first contact
Hits help Ross build confidence
{{tncms-inline account=”TylerAmPress” html=”<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">First live play of fall camp <a href="https://t.co/otFKPMQr13">pic.twitter.com/otFKPMQr13</a></p>&mdash; Tyler Nunez (@TylerAmPress) <a href="https://twitter.com/TylerAmPress/status/1026853415861805056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2018</a></blockquote>” id=”1026853415861805056″ type=”twitter”}}
The McNeese State football team had its first taste of live, full-speed action Tuesday afternoon when the Cowboys hit A.I. Ratcliff Practice Fields in full pads for the first time in fall camp.
One player in particular had waited for this day much longer than others. That would be senior running back Ryan Ross.
He got tackled for the first time since suffering an injury in the 2017 spring game almost a year and half ago that kept him on the sidelines last season.
“It just felt good to get back out here and get tackled with the guys,” Ross said. “It’s just a blessing to be back out here with my teammates.”
Ross led the Cowboys in rushing in 2016 with 601 yards and five rushing touchdowns on 135 carries in his junior season.
After redshirting in 2017, Ross said he’s looking forward to proving he still has what it takes to lead McNeese’s now-stacked rushing unit in his final season.
Head coach Lance Guidry said the coaching staff is protecting Ross a bit, but that they like where he’s at right now.
“I blew the whistle quick on him at sometimes, but he’s made some good runs throughout camp,” Guidry said. “We’re going to continue to tackle him so he can build his confidence breaking tackles.
{{tncms-inline account=”TylerAmPress” html=”<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">That&#39;s Cyron Sutton with a touchdown <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/McNeese?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#McNeese</a> <a href="https://t.co/huHXadtIoH">pic.twitter.com/huHXadtIoH</a></p>&mdash; Tyler Nunez (@TylerAmPress) <a href="https://twitter.com/TylerAmPress/status/1026860545314639874?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2018</a></blockquote>” id=”1026860545314639874″ type=”twitter”}}
“I’m excited for him. I think he’s going to have a good year. I don’t know when he’s going to be at his best … but at some point during the year I expect him to make a big play in a game and maybe take over the roll that he had as our starter. You never know.”
The defense dominated practice early during a 2-minute drill in which quarterbacks James Tabary and Cody Orgeron were limited to a first down apiece.
But the offense seemed to get stronger as practice progressed.
They began finding success during the first live snaps of practice and dominated skill position pass drills with catching in front of, behind and over defensive backs.
Guidry said the defense succumbed to the heat but picked it up by the end of practice.
“The offense made some good plays on third down,” Guidry said. “That was good to see. They had some third-down-and-long completions. I thought it was a balanced day.”
Guidry kept the live snaps limited as to ease the Cowboys into full contact.
He said the Cowboys can expect to hit more today as they inch closer to the first scrimmage of fall camp on Sunday.
The Oakdale High School football team was in attendance as the coaches used the Cowboys’ performance throughout practice as a model of how their players should preparing.