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Gunn maintains edge to become A&M's starter
08/19/02
By REGGIE BENSON
Times Sports Staff reggieb@htimes.com
Chris Gunn's job is safe for now.
Gunn, locked in a battle with Tim Robinson and Johnny Keith to be Alabama A&M's starting quarterback against Jacksonville State on Aug. 31, will continue to work with the first offense when the Bulldogs return to practice today, coach Anthony Jones said Sunday.
After grading the film from Saturday's scrimmage, Jones didn't give Gunn or the other two quarterbacks ringing endorsements.
''They're still where they were,'' he said. ''We've got to get better there.''
Neither Gunn nor Robinson engineered a touchdown drive during the full-scale portion of the scrimmage. The only candidate who did was Keith, who led the offense to a pair of touchdowns in three possessions.
''Johnny can make plays,'' Jones said. ''He's just terribly light in experience.''
Robinson's problem is he hasn't made enough plays during two-a-days.
''Tim needs to make some plays,'' Jones said. ''He has gotten into some bad habits and we're going to try to get him out of it.''
None of the quarterbacks has a lot of time to turn things around. Jones is expected to name a starter on Thursday.
''We'll have a set of guys to go to battle with when we go to Jacksonville State,'' he said.
The other key questions also went unanswered.
There was no change at center, running back or at defensive end.
Grant LeCroix remains ahead of Demond Leslie at center, while Melvin Gideon is still the leading candidate to start at tailback, although he is being pushed by Rory Palmer and Jeremiah Bonds.
''Things are nip-and-tuck at center,'' Jones said. ''Neither one of those guys are playing very well.''
That is not the case at defensive end.
Desmond Hardy and Southern Mississippi transfer Brian Evans, seeking to replace All-SWAC end Ardante Dawson, have waged a good battle, Jones said.
''Both of those guys will play,'' he said. ''They're earned it.''
A&M suffered only one major injury in the scrimmage.
Free safety Levernonte Turner sustained a knee injury and will undergo a MRI today. If Turner is out, Henry Freeman will move to free safety with Southern Miss transfer Thad Cribbs or Derrick Franklin moving to starting cornerback.
08/19/02
By REGGIE BENSON
Times Sports Staff reggieb@htimes.com
Chris Gunn's job is safe for now.
Gunn, locked in a battle with Tim Robinson and Johnny Keith to be Alabama A&M's starting quarterback against Jacksonville State on Aug. 31, will continue to work with the first offense when the Bulldogs return to practice today, coach Anthony Jones said Sunday.
After grading the film from Saturday's scrimmage, Jones didn't give Gunn or the other two quarterbacks ringing endorsements.
''They're still where they were,'' he said. ''We've got to get better there.''
Neither Gunn nor Robinson engineered a touchdown drive during the full-scale portion of the scrimmage. The only candidate who did was Keith, who led the offense to a pair of touchdowns in three possessions.
''Johnny can make plays,'' Jones said. ''He's just terribly light in experience.''
Robinson's problem is he hasn't made enough plays during two-a-days.
''Tim needs to make some plays,'' Jones said. ''He has gotten into some bad habits and we're going to try to get him out of it.''
None of the quarterbacks has a lot of time to turn things around. Jones is expected to name a starter on Thursday.
''We'll have a set of guys to go to battle with when we go to Jacksonville State,'' he said.
The other key questions also went unanswered.
There was no change at center, running back or at defensive end.
Grant LeCroix remains ahead of Demond Leslie at center, while Melvin Gideon is still the leading candidate to start at tailback, although he is being pushed by Rory Palmer and Jeremiah Bonds.
''Things are nip-and-tuck at center,'' Jones said. ''Neither one of those guys are playing very well.''
That is not the case at defensive end.
Desmond Hardy and Southern Mississippi transfer Brian Evans, seeking to replace All-SWAC end Ardante Dawson, have waged a good battle, Jones said.
''Both of those guys will play,'' he said. ''They're earned it.''
A&M suffered only one major injury in the scrimmage.
Free safety Levernonte Turner sustained a knee injury and will undergo a MRI today. If Turner is out, Henry Freeman will move to free safety with Southern Miss transfer Thad Cribbs or Derrick Franklin moving to starting cornerback.