As Montana State enters the stretch run of fall camp, the battle for the starting Will linebacker rages on.
Sophomore Blake Braun switched to Will in the spring after coming off an injury redshirt. The former strong side linebacker has performed well in camp. He’s used savvy play recognition and a good grasp of Montana State’s new defense to stay atop the depth chart.
Cincinnati transfer Marcus Tappan continues to make the competition interesting. The incumbent is getting pushed by the day and it’s honing the skills of both players.
Blake Braun
“Competition really gets those guys’ noses in their playbook because they know they can’t make a mistake and survive the competition,” MSU ninth-year head coach Rob Ash said last week.
“I’d say it’s still touch and go with those two, very even,” Ash added on Tuesday. “We won’t know a starter there for awhile.”
Montana State wraps up its fall camp on Saturday. The Bobcats open their 2015 campaign on Thursday Sept. 3 against Fort Lewis.
Braun, a 6-foot-2, 228-pounder from Riverside, California, entered fall camp as the No. 1 on the depth chart. Tappan has pushed him and earned himself a few first-team reps but Braun has consistently shown an understanding of the defense to hold Tappan off, thus far at least.
“Blake is really starting to get a good knack on things,” MSU linebackers coach Jody Owens said. “I think him being around in the spring helped him out a lot in terms of the terminology. He has all that down.”
Tappan has worked alongside redshirt freshman Grant Collins and junior Fletcher Collins, MSU’s potential starting middle linebackers. The quick, athletic Pasadena, California native is still mastering the MSU defense after only spending nine days in blue and gold. But his quickness, lateral movements and his instincts are impossible to not notice.
Tappan
“Marcus, his athletic ability, he doesn’t look like he belongs in the Big Sky,” Owens said. “He looks like a big-time dude. You can tell he comes from a different place. I think each one of them, Marcus is very good with his hands. He’s starting to pick up the defense. It’s been a good battle so far, so I want to keep these guys hungry and get after it.”
MSU’s defense has changed significantly under new defensive coordinator Kane Ioane. But the responsibilities of the Will — an inside linebacker who plays in the box and is expected to be a premier playmaker against the pass and the run — have remained largely the same.
Ioane, a Bobcat Hall of Famer as a player, has coached linebackers in some fashion for more than 10 years. He is still working with the linebackers while directing the defense, mentoring Coach Owens like he did when Owens was a player and the 2012 Big Sky Conference Defensive MVP. Having Owens as a second coach in the room and a player who so recently dominated at the position has been a big boost for Braun.
“You have to soak in everything he tells you because he was such an amazing player,” Braun said. “If he tells you do to something, he knows his stuff. People respect him and they take everything to heart that he tells them.”
Ioane has embraced the theory of prevalent rotation. And he wants to cultivate chemistry between everyone who might see the field even if they don’t start.
Braun
“They are pushing each other. One guy makes a play, the other guy knows he has to too,” Ioane said. “That’s what you want at every position. Ultimately, they are the ones putting themselves into a position to play. Both of them will play and get plenty of reps and opportunities. That’s what you want in today’s day in age of offenses. You need multiple players at every position you can trust.”
Tappan is learning to play with both middle linebackers as he continues to battle for a starting spot. He knows it will pay off down the road.
“I’ve been building chemistry with Fletcher and Grant,” Tappan said. “They both bring something different to the table. I think it’s good because you can interchange because you never know, whether it’s an injury or you just have to rotate within the game plan that week, to have that chemistry with both guys is very important.”
Ash said Saturday’s final fall camp scrimmage will serve as a “sort of mid-term exam” leading up to the season. School starts at Montana State on Monday, but the Bobcats will still have more than a week to prepare for Fort Lewis. Ash said the final depth chart likely won’t be solidified until game week, particularly at spots like Will and cornerback.
Tappan
“It’s definitely very competition but I’ve made some strides,” Tappan said. “Reading my keys and understanding the defense, I’m doing well I feel like. I feel like I had a decent scrimmage on Saturday and I want to build on that and try to solidify the starting spot.”
Ioane went even further, saying some defensive position battles may rage on all season. The usually talkative Braun didn’t needed a little provocation when talking about his current battle. But there’s no doubt he wants to win it.
“I’m just out here playing trying to get better everyday,” Braun said. “I want to win it. I’m out there to get the starting spot. We will see. The guy who wins it will have to execute everyday, make plays, get to the ball, get off blocks, better than the other guy.”
Photos by Brooks Nuanez. All Rights Reserved.
