CCU fumbles first scrimmage

CONWAY | Eight days into training camp, the Chanticleers are not where David Bennett wants them to be.

Coastal Carolina's first scrimmage Saturday was hardly a thing of fluidity and rhythm. Special teams were shaky. Passes were dropped. The Coastal Carolina offense fumbled seven times and lost five at Brooks Stadium.

After the seventh fumble, which safety Domi nique Davenport dove to keep in bounds _ the ball was subsequently recovered by the defense _ Bennett penalized the on-field offense unit by ordering a series of up-downs.

``The offense laid the ball on the ground [seven] times,'' Bennett said.``You can't even be mediocre laying the ball on the ground [seven] times.''

Only the defense received positive feedback in the post-scrimmage meeting. The CCU defense held the offense to 2.2 yards per carry, which is a positive step for a unit that was tormented by the run last season.

``The defense did a good job for most of that day,'' Bennett said. ``But the last drive the offense just moved the ball down the field on them.''

The CCU coach was expecting more enthusiasm in the first of four scrim mages that will be critical in determining the opening-day depth chart.

Bennett said there was not enough ``intensity'' and he wanted to see more talking, more patting on the back, more leadership.

Vocal leadership was understandably down last season after losing 36 seniors, but after Saturday's scrimmage it could also become a growing area of concern for this year's team.

CCU running back Racheed Gause said there are leaders, but that the majority are ``quiet'' leaders, who do so by example.

Gause and starting running back Eric O'Neal were two of the Chanticleers who did play with a high level of energy Saturday.

Gause appeared to be a bit like former CCU running back Mike Tolbert, who is now playing so well in Chargers training camp that the San Diego Union-Tribune has predicted in print that he will make the team.

Gause rushed for a team-best 56 yards on 14 carries. He is playing at 256 pounds, though the staff would like him to get down to 240 where he can stay on the field longer and be part of a speed- power combination at running back with O'Neal.

Said Gause of his role: ``They want me to slim down and be a power tail back.''

O'Neal again displayed his ability to make people miss on an early run, juking a defender in the backfield and finding a crease inside right tackle to burst for a 30-yard gain. O'Neal finished with 42 yards on eight carries.

Coastal returns to practice today and has its second scrimmage at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Brooks Stadium, one of three more chances to get ready for Penn State on Aug. 30.

``We are not where we are supposed to be yet,'' Davenport said. ``As a team we need to pick up our intensity.''