FAMU coordinators like half of what they see

Photo: Dannel Shepard,5-9/180 LB, Senior, Cincinnati, OH-Moeller HS

By Heath A. Smith, DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

So which Florida A&M football team will step out on Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.. in less than two weeks to kick off the 2007 season?

FAMU defensive coordinator Charles Huff would love to see the same blitzing, physical, swarming defense that kept the offense out the end zone in the first half of Saturday's scrimmage show up in Birmingham.

"The defense was very aggressive and a lot more physical than the offense on the line of scrimmage, especially up front," said head coach Rubin Carter. "Our defense understands the goals we need to achieve and the areas we need to improve."

That main area of improvement would be in a rushing defense that gave up more than 250 yards rushing to opponents in 2006.

"We certainly have to get better against the run based on our lack of production last year," Carter said. "I thought we did a good job in that area today. They came in on third downs and were able to terminate the play and get off the field."

FAMU offensive coordinator Bob Cole would certainly love to see the high-octane offense that shredded the defense for seven touchdowns in the second half of Saturday's scrimmage show up in Birmingham as well.

"In the second half, we opened up and found our niche as an offense," said senior quarterback Leon Camel. "We saw what could work and what can't work and we will just build on that and move forward.

"It was our first scrimmage as full unit going into a game without the coach telling you what to do all the time. Finding the right personnel is what helped us go in the second half."

What Carter probably doesn't want to see in Birmingham is his starting quarterback go down in pain like Albert Chester II did Saturday or the 13 combined penalties the offense and defense committed.

"It was very glaring," Carter said about the penalties. "That is one of the areas we are really going to have to pay close attention to as we evaluate the players and the tape. The one thing we don't want to do is beat ourselves on offense.

"I think the offense came out in the second half with a higher intensity level. There was a higher level of motivation to move the football and they did that consistently in the second part of the scrimmage."

Better than before?

Before a late-season injury forced linebacker Dannel Shepard to miss two games in 2006, he was leading the MEAC in tackles for loss.

The 5-9, 180-pound little giant out of Cincinnati, Ohio still finished last season with 14.5 tackles for loss (third best in the MEAC) and two sacks to go with 49 tackles.

Sheppard looked like a human missile again in Saturday's scrimmage coming up with two sacks.

"I want to say I'm back to the old, but I want to be better than the old," Sheppard said. "I look at where I was as a stepping stone to get better. I was blessed to make plays and my teammates helped me."

This week's schedule

The Rattlers will hold a morning practice at 8:45 a.m. today followed by an afternoon practice starting at 3:45 p.m.

The Rattlers will also hold two-a-day practices with the same start times on Wednesday and Friday. The team will hold afternoon practices only starting at 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Saturday the team will hold at a mock game at Bragg Memorial Stadium at 2:30 p.m. Following the scrimmage will be a Booster Kickoff Dinner at the Moon starting at 5:30 p.m