The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Brown Likes Work of Individuals in First Spring Scrimmage
3/21/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 21, 2002
UAB head football coach Watson Brown characterized the first full scrimmage of spring practice as a good day for the individuals, which was what he wanted.
?Tonight was not set up to be a day for the offense or defense. It was set up as a day to get a look at the individuals on the team and see how they performed,? said Brown. ?I will go back and look at the tape and get a better look.
?Of course the skill people stood out, because you see them. I thought the quarterbacks did a good job. Thomas Cox is a fifth year player and threw the ball well. I thought Darrell Hackney had a real good scrimmage for his first that has really meant something. He missed some people, but the key was he threw to the right people.?
Cox was 12-of-21 for 107 yards. He rushed six times for 68 yards. Hackney threw the ball 30 times, completing 15 for 133 yards. He ran the ball 11 times for 75 yards. Carlos Hendrick picked off a Hackney pass and returned it for a touchdown.
?I thought the defense made some big plays. It is not the defense of last year, but then they were fifth in the nation. We don't have to be that good to still win games,? said Brown. ?The defense made some critical plays and I saw some good hits out there. I thought the defense showed improvement throughout the scrimmage.
The experience on defense is in the secondary and that is one spot Brown said stood out. ?We really attacked the corners, tried to challenge them to make sure they can do the job. It thought both Dio Hill and Carlos Hendrick played well. Jason Southall also did some good things.? Southall was moved to cornerback from wide receiver prior to spring practice.
Wide receiver Roddy White caught seven passes for 74 yards and Willie Quinnie had five receptions for 74 yards. ?The receivers did a good job catching the ball overall. We had some drops, but I thought the first guys did well,? Brown said.
Kendal Gibson rushed for 40 yards on six carries and one touchdown. Theron Dudley also had six rushes, gaining 25 yards and scoring twice. Mario Stanley scored a touchdown and rushed for 29 yards on 13 carries.
The Blazers have finished the first two weeks of practice. They will take next week off for spring break and return to the practice field April 1. The final spring scrimmage is April 13 at 1:30 p.m. as part of Blazer Day.
