MISSOULA, MONTANA (3/25/10-dg) First-year University of Montana Grizzly head football coach Robin Pflugrad and his mostly new staff have just a handful of practices under their belts so far in 2010 spring football drills, and as there are definitely some positives, there is still plenty of room for improvement as well, according to the first-year mentor.

Pflugrad and company will get a better chance to evaluate their team and plays this Friday, March 26th, as the Grizzlies hold their first scrimmage of spring drills in Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

The situational scrimmage will be held in conjunction with the normal practice schedule, which begins at 3:10 p.m.

"We are going to go with live special teams situations," Pflugrad said. "Around 3:45 p.m. is when we will start hitting heads," Pflugrad said. "After that we will start our scrimmage (which will start around 4:15 or so), and within that scrimmage we will have some short yardage and long yardage situations. Along with that we will have field goals, punt, and punt returns. But the majority of it will be offense and defense.

"We have a long way to go and are very thin in some areas, and lack of experience and of depth is a huge concern at this time," Pflugrad. "We need to get a lot better, but that's what spring drills are for - to evaluate your talent level and try to establish not only starters, but depth as well. We just have a long, long way to go.

"That being said, we had an outstanding effort level at practice on Tuesday," Pflugrad said. "We looked crisp and sharp; now our challenge is to keep up that level on intensity."

Montana returns just five starters, five on offense and five on defense, along with its kicker and punter from its 14-1 team of a year ago.

Starters back on offense are senior center Alex Verlanic, junior guard Jon Opperud, senior quarterback Andrew Selle, senior running back Chase Reynolds, while junior Jabin Sambrano and sophomore Sam Gratton split starting time at one of the wide receiver spots. Opperud has been moved to tackle, while Sambrano has been hampered with an injury.

The starters who return on defense are senior end Severin Campbell, junior cornerback Trumaine Johnson, senior tackle Tyler Hobbs, junior linebacker Alex Shaw, and senior strong safety Erik Stoll. Campbell is not practicing right now due to an injury, while Stoll has been slowed down with an injury.

Kicker Brody McKnight and punter Sean Wren are both juniors.

With the Grizzlies holding their seventh practice today (Thursday, March 25) of spring drills, Pflugrad was asked some of the positives and negatives he has seen so far, and the following are some of his comments.

ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE:
"Since January 1st I think we've talked about the offensive line and not having the three tremendous players (tackles Chris Dyk and Levi Horn, and guard Terran Hillesland) who started for three years. I love them, but they are gone. We are trying to replace them with two JC players (junior guards Jake Hendrickson and Steve Sabin) and one high school player (Danny Kistler Jr.), but unfortunately the high school player broke his foot.

"So we are very, very thin, and not extremely talented at that position right now, and that is a concern. We're very thin there, we're thin at the receiver position, and we're very thin in the secondary. I am concerned about all three of those spots because we lost tremendous players at all three of those positions.

"I think Steven Sabin, a junior college player down from Scottsdale in Arizona, has done a tremendous job for us. He is the one bright spot that we have so far on the O-line this spring. We've had to move Jon Opperud around (from guard to tackle), so he is playing a brand new position. So we have Alex Verlanic manning the fort at center, and that's really our only starter back when you consider Opperud is learning a new position."

DEFENSIVE STANDOUTS:
"Trumaine Johnson has had a tremendous spring so far. He's dominated every single drill. He needs to stay focused on every single thing that we do. Once in awhile he will try to gamble and he's been beat a few times, so we've got to work on that. I think Erik Stoll, even though he is wearing a jersey and not having contact, has been as a bright spot as anybody - he's really playing well. I like Tyler Hobbs on the defensive line. He is showing some leadership. He's shown up on the D-line, but he is really the only one so far that has."

LINEBACKER:
"Linebackers I would say have been solid, but nothing flashy, or no one really goes 'wow," so that needs to show up."

ON TRYING TO DEVELOP DEPTH:
"We are trying to find out if we are talented, or not talented - who can play and who can't play, and develop depth, and right now that has been extremely challenging. "

PLAYERS STANDING OUT SO FAR:
"Andrew Selle has had a great six practices and played well. Gratton has been very consistent, and he's made some big plays at wide receiver. Jabin got hurt a little bit and missed about three practices, but he shows flashes at times and needs to work on his consistency. (Sophomore wide receiver) Bryce Carver has done a couple of good things the last couple of practices that have caught our attention."

TIGHT END POSITION (four-year starters Dan Beaudin and Steve Pfahler graduated):
"The tight end position right now is really up in the air with (senior Rob) Overton and (sophomore Greg) Hardy. They both do some good things, and they both need a lot of work. We are trying to develop some depth there."

RUNNING BACK:
"Chase Reynolds has been tremendous as our running back. We are trying to develop depth there as well. (Sophomore) Peter Nguyen has done a great job. I think Peter is going to help us on special teams."

SPECIAL TEAMS:
"I know that coach (Dick) Arbuckle has brought some players into the fold that were not involved in special teams too much last year. We saw Marc Mariani do a lot of great things for us in the return game, and now that is going to have to be by committee. Trumaine Johnson was really not involved with special teams, and we're going to have to get him involved to make a mark in that area.

"The kickers have been somewhat inconsistent. Brody McKnight has been kicking fairly well, and he is also punting well. I like the ability to have a guy who can do both. We are also looking at Bryce Carver as a possible back-up punter, because he did it in high school, and he's done a nice job."

FINAL SCRIMMAGES
Montana remaining two scrimmages are Saturday afternnon, April 10th in Missoula, and Saturday, April 17th in Butte at 1:30 p.m.

SPRING DRILLS NOTES:
Also moved from guard to tackle on offense was junior Charles Burton ...Erik Stoll's brother, Kirk, who wears number 41, originally played safety and was moved to running back last year, has been moved back to safety...

Safety Mike Cummings from Scottsdale, Ariz., who had 13 tackles in 14 games last season, did not return to school this spring for personal reasons...

The Griz have around 19-20 players who recruited redshirted last season, but several of those redshirts are walk-ons...two redshirts who missed last season due to injury and more-than-likely would have played in 2009, but are not participating in spring drills because they are still recovering from those injuries, are wide receiver Aaron Roberts from Spokane, and free safety Clay Pierson from Twin Bridges...

Montana has 13 seniors on its spring roster, and six of them are returning starters.

2010 MONTANA GRIZZLY SPRING NUMERICAL ROSTER

NO. NAME POS. HT. WT. YR. EXP. HOMETOWN (PREVIOUS SCHOOL)
2 - Trumaine Johnson CB/WR 6-3 197 Jr. 2V Stockton, CA (Edison HS)
4 - Erik Stoll Safety 6-2 203 Sr. 2V Sandpoint, ID (Idaho State)
5 - Donny Lisowski CB 5-11 195 Jr. 2V Seattle, WA (O' Dea HS)
%6 - Aaron Roberts WR 5-11 170 Fr. RS Spokane, WA (Ferris HS)
7 - Jeff Larson WR/Hol. 6-4 210 Sr. 3V Cut Bank, MT (Cut Bank HS)
8 - Sam Gratton WR/Hol. 6-0 197 So. 1V Billings, MT (Senior HS)
9 - Mike McCord Safety 6-0 195 Jr. 2V Phoenix, AZ (Maryvale HS)
10 - Cam Warren WR 5-6 170 Fr. RS Bellevue, WA (Bellevue HS)
11 - Brandon DodsonCB/Ret. 5-8 170 Sr. 1V Tulare, CA (College of Sequoias)
12 - Andrew Selle QB 6-2 219 Sr. 3V Billings, MT (Billings West HS)
13 - Josh Pelczar CB 5-9 180 Fr. RS Billings, MT (Billings West HS)
14 - D.J. Zapata QB 6-3 175 Fr. RS San Marcos, CA (Mission Hills HS)
16 - Jabin SambranoWR/Ret. 5-11 170 Jr. 2V Temecula, CA (Great Oaks HS)
17 - Gerald Kemp QB/Ret.6-2 215 So. 1V San Diego, CA (Rancho Bernardo HS)
18 - Justin Roper QB 6-6 215 Sr. 1V Buford, GA (U of Oregon)
19 - Sean Murray CB 6-1 190 Fr. RS Corona, CA (Santiago HS)
20 - Nick Haynes CB 5-10 180 Jr. 2V Butte, MT (Butte HS)
23 - K.C. Dorrell WR 6-1 190 Fr. RS Glendale, AZ (Independence HS)
24 - Steven Rominger Safety 5-10 185 Fr. RS Missoula, MT (Sentinel HS)
25 - Craig Baldus RB 5-10 185 So. SQ Bozeman, MT (Bozeman HS)
27 - Tel Reynolds RB 6-0 190 So. SQ Drummond, MT (Drummond HS)
28 - Peter Nguyen RB/Ret. 5-8 175 So. 1V Seattle, WA (Bellevue HS)
26 - Russell Schey K 6-2 185 So. RS/1V Billings, MT (Billings West HS)
29 - Bryce Carver WR 6-1 170 So. 1V Dillon, MT (Beaverhead County HS)
31 - Eric Nelson LB 5-10 220 Fr. RS Bellevue, WA (Bellevue Senior HS)
32 - Alex Shaw WLB 6-1 232 Jr. 2V Spokane, WA (Lewis & Clark HS)
33 - Cole Lockwood SLB 6-1 215 Jr. 1V Missoula, MT (Sentinel HS)
34 - Chase Reynolds RB 6-0 195 Sr. 3V Drummond, MT (Drummond HS)
35 - Dan Moore RB/KOR 5-11 225 Jr. 1V Tucson, AZ (Mountain View HS)
36 - Houston Stockton FS 5-10 165 Sr. 2V Spokane, WA (Gonzaga Prep)
%37 - Carson Bender DT 6-4 280 Sr. 3V Deer Lodge, MT (Deer Lodge HS)
38 - Travis Andrus WR 5-10 175 Fr. HS Kalispell, MT (Flathead HS)
39 - Blake Jeffries LB 6-0 195 Fr. RS San Antonio, TX (Alamo Heights HS)
40 - Caleb McSurdy MLB 6-1 245 Jr. 2V Boise, ID (Borah HS)
41 - Kirk Stoll SS 5-11 180 Jr. SQ Sandpoint, ID (Carroll College)
42 - Ty Timmer LB 6-2 205 Fr. HS Great Falls, MT (Great Falls HS)
43 - Brooks Nuanez SS 6-2 205 Fr. RS Missoula, MT (Big Sky HS)
44 - Jordan Tripp LB 6-2 210 So. 1V Missoula, MT (Big Sky HS)
45 - Beau Donaldson RB 6-1 233 Jr. 2V Missoula, MT (Big Sky HS)
%46 - Clay Pierson Safety 6-3 212 Fr. RS Twin Bridges, MT (Twin Bridges HS)
%47 - Severin Campbell DE 6-4 210 Sr. 3V Denver, CO (Golden HS)
48 - Drew Williams TE 6-4 215 Fr. HS Hagerstown, MD (Williamsport HS)
49 - Lance Carl RB 5-11 190 Fr. RS Missoula, MT (Big Sky HS)
50 - Bryan Waldhauser DT 6-4 242 Jr. 1V Worden, MT (Huntley Project HS)
51 - Chris Bradford DT 6-2 255 Fr. RS San Bernardino, CA (Arroyo HS)
53 - Josh Stuberg SLB 6-2 216 So. 1V Helena, MT (Helena HS)
54 - Terrance Nau LB 6-2 212 Fr. RS Missoula, MT (Frenchtown HS)
%56- Brock Coyle LB 6-2 215 Jr. 2V Bozeman, MT (Bozeman HS)
57 - Charles Burton OT 6-5 310 So. 1V Long Beach, CA (Milikan HS)
58 - Andrew Glueckert DE 6-3 225 Fr. RS Helena, MT (Capital HS)
59 - Ethan Pateman DE 6-3 225 Fr. HS Stevensville, MT (Stevensville HS)
%60 - Blake Lebeau OT 6-5 285 So. 1V Union City, CA (James Logan HS)
61 - Jake Raynock DE 6-2 255 So. SQ Billings, MT (Skyview HS)
63 - Brett Brauer OG 6-2 260 Fr. RS Missoula, MT (Big Sky HS)
65 - Ty Rogers OG 6-2 240 So. SQ Missoula, MT (Sentinel HS)
66 - Russell Piette OG 6-4 310 Sr. 1V Vancouver, WA (W. Washington)
68 - Stephen Sabin OG 6-4 305 Jr. JC Chandler, AZ (Scottsdale CC)
70 - David Arndt OT 6-5 ½ 280 Jr. 2V Highlands Ranch, CO (Arapahoe HS)
71 - Alex Verlanic OC/Sn. 6-2 282 Sr. 3V Drummond, MT (Drummond HS)
74 - Jon Opperud OT 6-7 305 Jr. 2V Portland, OR (Milwaukie HS)
%76 - Danny Kistler Jr. OT 6-8 335 Fr. HS Seattle, WA (O'Dea HS)
77 - Jake Hendrickson OG 6-3 ½ 285 Jr. JC Gilbert, AZ (Scottsdale CC)
78 - Kyle Kmet OG 6-5 271 So. SQ Bonita, CA (Bonita Vista HS)
79 - Kyle Hofmann OT 6-4 280 Fr. RS Orcas Island, WA (Orcas Island HS)
81 - Brandon Maguire WR 6-1 190 Fr. RS Olympia, WA (Olympia HS)
82 - Jacob Haas TE 6-5 225 So. SQ Portland, OR (Central Catholic HS)
83- Brody McKnight K 6-0 194 Jr. 2V Vancouver, B.C. (Purdue)
84 - Bobby Hirsch TE 6-4 210 Fr. RS Belgrade, MT (Belgrade HS)
85 - Connor Smith WR 6-3 198 So. SQ Missoula, MT (Hellgate HS)
86 - Greg Hardy TE 6-5 245 So. 1V Fairview, MT (Fairview HS)
88 - Levi Buckles WR 6-2 215 So. SQ Post Falls, ID (Post Falls HS)
89 - Robert Overton TE 6-6 240 Sr. 3V San Leandro, CA (Moreau Catholic HS)
90 - Ryan Fetherston DE 6-4 218 Jr. 2V Helena, MT (Helena HS)
91 - Bobby Alt DE 6-3 260 Jr. 1V Ontario, CA (Mt. Sac JC)
93 - Braydon Schilling DT 6-2 270 Jr. 2V Gillette, WY (Campbell HS)
94 - Sean Wren P 6-6 210 Jr. 1V Yorba Linda, CA (Fullerton JC)
95 - Ray DeBruycker DE 6-4 210 So. SQ Choteau, MT (Choteau HS)
96 - Josh Harris DE 6-5 231 So. 1V Kalispell, MT (Flathead HS)
97 - Mike Sylvestre DT 6-2 275 So. 1V Phoenix, AZ (Hamilton HS)
98 - Brett Hutter DT 6-3 260 Jr. 1V Ontario, CA (Mt. Sac JC)
99 - Tyler Hobbs DT/Sn. 6-4 265 Sr. 3V Spokane, WA (West Valley HS)

2010 COACHING STAFF:
Robin Pflugrad (Portland State, 1979), head coach Mick Delaney (UM-Western, 1964), assistant head coach/running backs Mike Breske (South Dakota State, 1981), defensive coordinator/safeties Jonathan Smith (Oregon State, 2001), offensive coordinator/quarterbacks Dick Arbuckle (Oregon, 1961), special teams Shalon Baker (Montana 1995), wide receivers Bob Beers (Montana, 1970), centers/guards Inoke Breckterfield (Oregon State, 2007), defensive line Scott Gragg (Montana 1995), offensive tackles/tight ends Mike Hudson (Texas-San Antonio, 1994), linebackers Aric Williams (Arizona State, 2005 ), cornerbacks.

%=currently injured

last roster update: 3/25/10-dg