Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Football preps for second scrimmage
08/18/2010 | 12:00:00 | Football
Aug. 18, 2010
By Jason Clay
SIUSalukis.com
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CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois football team held its last two-a-day session of fall camp on Wednesday.
The Salukis will have their second scrimmage of the fall on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. in Saluki Stadium. SIU is looking to get in 70-80 plays in its new facility. Head coach Dale Lennon met with the media on Wednesday to talk about camp and his expectations for the scrimmage.
Have you liked what you've seen in the second week of camp?
"The second week is where you usually see the most improvement and my message to the team on the week is just getting game ready. Getting some sense and purpose in everything you do. Sometimes in pre-fall you're just so wrapped up in installing the offense and defense you're not really focusing on playing the game and that's where the second week has a little more game emphasis."
Are you done installing your packages?
"We're still tweaking a few things here and there, making adjustments in the finer points, but the base packages are in."
Any difference in the scrimmage on Thursday from last week?
"It'll be a little more in depth. We'll probably run a few more plays, few more situations. We're going to experiment with a couple of different things and just try to evaluate the personal. Do some special teams drills and just take it from there."
Are you still open to the running back by committee or has anyone emerged in your eyes yet?
"A decision hasn't been made yet. We feel good about the backs that we have and tomorrow will be a big evaluation day for them."
How would you differentiate between Lucien Walker and Shariff Harris?
"I would say Lucien and Shariff have similar styles in that they are both very physical, but they are both a little different, too. Lucien has a little more shake and Shariff is more of a straight ahead power runner, but both are very effective."
Then do Steve Strother and LaSteven McKinney give you a little more speed at running back?
"Yeah, you got the combination with Strother and McKinney fitting into the mix, so we're fortunate that we got some backs that can run."
Talk a little bit about John Goode, you may use him in some different ways this year?
"We've expanded his role so now he is involved with the tight end package. The thing there that you'd like to do is be able to utilize him as a fullback any time that you want, but also go into a tight end set or a two tight end stretch within the game so that it puts a little more stretch on the defense as far as knowing what personnel that we're going to be using on the play."
