Notebook: Snyder happy with running backs' progress

HUNTINGTON, Aug 16, 2009 (The Charleston Gazette - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- MSHL | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- The rushing yards were a bit tougher than the passing yards in Marshall's scrimmage Saturday, but Terrell Edwards, Martin Ward and Jordan Taylor were able to show their ability.

The Herd offense gained just 93 yards on 42 carries, but that included swing passes that happened to travel laterally and those "tag" sacks, six of them (and most, it shall be noted, against the second-team offensive line). Darius Marshall, Edwards, Ward and Taylor combine to rush for 101 yards on 25 carries.

Not spectacular, especially when you consider Taylor had a single long run of 31 yards, but most attempts went forward.

And Edwards is going forward as the top running back in the Thundering Herd's season opener Sept. 5 against Southern Illinois. Marshall, the 1,095-yard rusher of last year, will sit out with a suspension.

"I was pleased with those guys," said coach Mark Snyder. "Jordan is the guy who needed to step up, and I thought he did today. I've been high on Martin Ward, the only question with him is holding onto the ball, and we'll probably start the game with Terrell Edwards."

Edwards' advantage is slight, but he is not worried about it anyway.

"The running back room has adopted a selfless attitude, to where if one person needs to be on the field because a team isn't used to that style of running then that's what it is," Edwards said. "There's no competition or anything, because we're all brothers."

Fans did get to see a glimpse of the future at the position, in freshman Andre Booker. He showed his speed and cutting ability on three carries, gaining 15 yards.

There's more of that coming, Edwards warns.

"Oh, my, you ought to see him on film," Edwards said. "He's the only guy in the history of Marshall, Coach said, to ever run out of the camera in practice. They film, and he ran out of the line of the camera. Four-three-four going sideways is unbelievable."

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Courtney Edmonson, the senior who bolted from near-depth-chart death to a spotlight role, continued his breakout with touchdown catches of 8 and 35 yards and another reception of 33. Snyder has declared him as the camp MVP so far, measuring development from spring to now.

"As far as making deep plays for us, beating people and going up and making big catches ... he's improved a ton," said quarterback Brian Anderson.

Snyder and Anderson both raved about not just Edmonson, but a receiving corps that loomed as one of the Herd's largest question marks.

Keep this in mind: There's not a lot of film on these guys. Most of them spent last year in high school, junior college or, in Edmonson's case, obscurity.

"We've got a lot of talent out there," Anderson said. "Not just [Edmonson, Wayne Bonner and Troy Evans], but Chuck Walker as well. They're really quick and if you get the ball in their hands, they can make somebody miss. As far as Wayne, he's got a great release, gets off the line and beats people fast and he's a big target to throw to, also. I'm really happy with our receiving corps, so far."

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Anderson may have faked an injury, but second-string center Landis Provancha did not.

The junior from Salem, Ore., went down during a third-down pass from Press Taylor to Jamie Hatten, which went for 17 yards and a first down. Provancha was helped onto the Gator cart and taken to the locker room.

Cole Bowers, the redshirt freshman walk-on from Cabell Midland, took the second-team snaps the rest of the way and Snyder thought he fared pretty well. But the center position is becoming a worry -- especially with John Bruhin's long-term back injury apparently becoming longer-term.

"We're a little shy on the center spot anyway with Bruhin out for the season," Anderson said. "I haven't really figured out what's wrong with [Provancha] or anything, but I'm hoping for the best. Only having one [center] might be a problem."

Ryan Tillman, the first-team left guard, is another potential fill-in behind starter Chad Schofield.

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The most electrifying play of the day might have been one that went forward all of 3 yards. And it showed why fans were holding their breath over Evans' late-summer arrival.

The junior-college import from Oakland, Calif., took a short pass from Anderson and headed right before deciding better of it and reversing field. He cleared the corner and could have made a big gain if not for linebacker Brandon Burns, who tracked him down from behind.

There's more of that from a man who is reminding Herd followers of another Troy -- Troy Brown, the 1992 team hero who enjoyed a long career with the New England Patriots.

"He's got some wheels," Snyder said. "You saw his escapability, which we hope will translate into punt returns and kickoff returns, too."

Evans, who did not arrive in Huntington until later summer, still shows that he has much to learn in a short amount of time. One instance came where he looked like he had Ashton Hall beat, but was overthrown -- wrong route, in this instance.

"I mixed up with the signals," Evans said. "I thought it was one route, and it was another route, so I just tried to play the middle of the field and he threw it backside. That was the only mix-up I had, so I'll go watch film and fix it up, and we'll be all right."

Anderson gave Evans a pass.

"For coming in, like, three weeks before fall camp, he's learning fast -- probably one of the fastest I've ever been around," Anderson said.

Briefly

Off the field, the Herd's Oct. 10 game at Tulane has been picked up by Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast. The game time remains at 3:30 p.m. EDT. ... Receiver Michael Rhynes, who hasn't practiced in several days, remained sidelined. ... At least 130 full-season tickets were sold in the "Choose A Seat" promotion, pushing MU past the 10,000 mark. Last year's season sale totaled 13,045.

Reach Doug Smock at 304-348-5130 or dougsmock@wvgazette.com.

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