WOW.....the punter is playing WR
With a depleted receiver corps that has a banged up Terrell Walden (foot) and Khalil Jones (ankle) -- not to mention Ryan Moore's suspension -- offensive coordinator Rich Olson told CaneSport today that punter Brian Monroe is certain to see action on offense at receiver against Florida State.
As of a couple of weeks ago, receivers coach Marques Mosely incidated Monroe would not see WR action unless an emergency arose.
"That was a week or two ago," Olson said. "He did well the other night when we scrimmaged, he's getting better in his route-running, understanding releases. And he's catching the ball finally instead of dropping things. He's in the mix. We don't have anybody. They all have to be in the mix."
Olson added that freshman WR George Robinson is unlikely to play because of an injury that held him back. Fellow true freshmen Ryan Hill and Sam Shields are both standing out.
"They have speed," Olson said. "Sam's way ahead of where Ryan is ... Sam's playing a number of positions; Ryan's playing just one (because Hill moved to receiver late in the fall)."
Of how much stock he puts in the last two scrimmages, in which UM hasn't scored a touchdown, Olson said, "It's a hard defense to run and pass against. We haven't put the ball in the end zone, but we moved the ball. We were more consistent in the last scrimmage than at any time earlier on. So I'm fine with where we are."
* QUOTE OF THE DAY: Asked to name his four receivers if he was to go to a four-receiver set right now, Olson responded, "Let's see ... I might be one of them."
* Bruce Johnson has solidified his spot as the kickoff returner along with Darnell Jenkins. And he's the No. 2 punt returner behind Jenkins.
As a senior in high school Johnson returned four kickoffs for scores.
He's trying to follow top returners Roscoe Parrish and Devin Hester. How does his return style compare to theirs?
"My style's just like them -- fast and quick," Johnson said. "I don't know ... you just have to see it to believe it.
"I don't look at it to compare to them -- I just go out, do my thing and bring something new to the table, something nobody's ever seen before."
* Backup C/G A.J. Trump is back in a walking boot.
He re-aggravated a previous ankle sprain when he twisted his ankle during yesterday's practice.
"It's a little tender," Trump said. "I thought it would be a lot worse than it actually is. It's feeling really good today."
Trump hopes to be out of the boot by the end of the week.
"It's one of those things where you don't know how it's going to react," he said.
With Trump out today, Alex Pou worked as the second team center. Pou is also a second-teamer at guard.
* Defensive backs coach Tim Walton is in a sling -- he has a torn tendon in his right shoulder.
* It appears CB Carlos Armour may not be physically ready for the FSU game.
He was with the scout team today and Walton said he is still bothered by a nagging hamstring injury.
* Glenn Sharpe was pronounced close to 100 percent healthy by Walton.
Sharpe agrees.
"I'm ready to go," Sharpe said.
* TE Dedrick Epps worked with the scout team today after working with the regular offense yesterday.
* RB Javarris James missed today's practice due to a personal issue.
It's still undecided if James or Derron Thomas will be the team's second running back in the FSU game.
"They're pretty much neck and neck," Olson said.
Thomas said there is no set third down back role for anyone -- "you do everything" in the new system, he said.
With a depleted receiver corps that has a banged up Terrell Walden (foot) and Khalil Jones (ankle) -- not to mention Ryan Moore's suspension -- offensive coordinator Rich Olson told CaneSport today that punter Brian Monroe is certain to see action on offense at receiver against Florida State.
As of a couple of weeks ago, receivers coach Marques Mosely incidated Monroe would not see WR action unless an emergency arose.
"That was a week or two ago," Olson said. "He did well the other night when we scrimmaged, he's getting better in his route-running, understanding releases. And he's catching the ball finally instead of dropping things. He's in the mix. We don't have anybody. They all have to be in the mix."
Olson added that freshman WR George Robinson is unlikely to play because of an injury that held him back. Fellow true freshmen Ryan Hill and Sam Shields are both standing out.
"They have speed," Olson said. "Sam's way ahead of where Ryan is ... Sam's playing a number of positions; Ryan's playing just one (because Hill moved to receiver late in the fall)."
Of how much stock he puts in the last two scrimmages, in which UM hasn't scored a touchdown, Olson said, "It's a hard defense to run and pass against. We haven't put the ball in the end zone, but we moved the ball. We were more consistent in the last scrimmage than at any time earlier on. So I'm fine with where we are."
* QUOTE OF THE DAY: Asked to name his four receivers if he was to go to a four-receiver set right now, Olson responded, "Let's see ... I might be one of them."
* Bruce Johnson has solidified his spot as the kickoff returner along with Darnell Jenkins. And he's the No. 2 punt returner behind Jenkins.
As a senior in high school Johnson returned four kickoffs for scores.
He's trying to follow top returners Roscoe Parrish and Devin Hester. How does his return style compare to theirs?
"My style's just like them -- fast and quick," Johnson said. "I don't know ... you just have to see it to believe it.
"I don't look at it to compare to them -- I just go out, do my thing and bring something new to the table, something nobody's ever seen before."
* Backup C/G A.J. Trump is back in a walking boot.
He re-aggravated a previous ankle sprain when he twisted his ankle during yesterday's practice.
"It's a little tender," Trump said. "I thought it would be a lot worse than it actually is. It's feeling really good today."
Trump hopes to be out of the boot by the end of the week.
"It's one of those things where you don't know how it's going to react," he said.
With Trump out today, Alex Pou worked as the second team center. Pou is also a second-teamer at guard.
* Defensive backs coach Tim Walton is in a sling -- he has a torn tendon in his right shoulder.
* It appears CB Carlos Armour may not be physically ready for the FSU game.
He was with the scout team today and Walton said he is still bothered by a nagging hamstring injury.
* Glenn Sharpe was pronounced close to 100 percent healthy by Walton.
Sharpe agrees.
"I'm ready to go," Sharpe said.
* TE Dedrick Epps worked with the scout team today after working with the regular offense yesterday.
* RB Javarris James missed today's practice due to a personal issue.
It's still undecided if James or Derron Thomas will be the team's second running back in the FSU game.
"They're pretty much neck and neck," Olson said.
Thomas said there is no set third down back role for anyone -- "you do everything" in the new system, he said.
