SE UNVEILS NO HUDDLE IN SCRIMMAGE

Southeast Missouri State University football coach Tim Billings is not a big believer in a lot of all-out scrimmaging. His theory is to keep his players as fresh -- and injury free -- as possible for the `real' games of the regular season.

But Billings knows a team has to scrimmage some, and the Indians had their first such event of two-a-days Tuesday when they used a large portion of their late afternoon practice to take part in a session that lasted a little more than an hour.

And what was Billings' thoughts regarding his first true scrimmage as Southeast's coach?

"It was a good first scrimmage. I'm excited," said Billings following the action witnessed by a few dozen fans at Houck Stadium. "We're not where we want to eventually be, but I think we're where we need to be at this point."

The scrimmage was a chance for the Indians to work on their new no-huddle, one-back offense that sometimes features as many as five wide receivers on the field at the same time.

Billings likes the no-huddle look -- the Indians use it on both offense and defense, with signals being sent in from coaches on the sidelines -- because he believes it allows his team to dictate the tempo of the game.

"We want them (the opposition) to line up and play our tempo," he said. "If we want to go slow, we'll go slow. If we want to go fast, we'll go fast. We might take all 25 seconds (of the play clock) or we might snap the ball right away."

In the offense, a lot of responsibility will be placed on the quarterbacks and Billings feels he has three very good ones in starter Rashad West, backup Bobby Brune and highly-touted freshman Jeromy McDowell, who might be redshirted.

"We're doing some really great stuff at quarterback," Billings said. "I think we've got three really good ones."

Billings likes his quarterback situation so much that he has moved Jackson High School product Mike Gross -- who started a game at quarterback last year and entered this season No. 3 on the depth chart -- to wide receiver in order to provide more depth for a position that needs quite a few players.

"With our offense, we need from eight to 10 receivers," said Billings. "Mike is a good athlete and he'll help us there."

Brune, working with the second-team offensive unit during Tuesday's scrimmage, actually directed the only two touchdown drives. He hit freshman wide receiver Chris Nessmith with a long TD pass and later was on the field when Iven Brown scored on a five-yard run.

Nessmith is one of several first-year receivers -- Tarik Simpson (who is currently injured), Curtis Cooper, Mark McCluney, Jake Hill and Joe Overstreet are the others -- who join returning wide outs Leslie Weaver, Corey Chester, Andy Dunaway and Jerl Huling in making that spot one of the Indians' deepest positions.

And Brown, a speedster who saw only limited action last year, figures to get the opportunity to show his flash in the open field, along with other running backs like returnee Mark Blissett and newcomers Byron White and Marcus Patton, a talented freshmen. K.D. Koleosho, last year's leading rusher, is still out as he recovers from offseason knee surgery.

"We've got some great skill people and our offensive line, which is one of our question marks, is coming along," said Billings.

The only other touchdown of Tuesday's scrimmage was generated by the defense as linebacker Sturge Cumberford intercepted a short McDowell pass over the middle and raced 10 yards to the end zone.

While Southeast's defense will be young and inexperienced overall, Billings said, "It's coming around. We gave up some big plays we shouldn't have, but we're going in the right direction. We're really young defensively, but I think our defense is right on track."

Southeast moved some people around on defense in the spring to get as much speed on the field as possible and Billings thinks that has helped, particularly at linebacker. Cumberford was moved from fullback and Asim Thomas from safety while Corey Mathis, who recently reported to camp, was a junior-college All-American safety.

"Those guys can all really run, especially Mathis," Billings said.

Nick Reggio, who missed most of last season with a back injury, kicked a 45-yard field goal Tuesday to round out the scoring in the scrimmage. Jason Witczak, one of four Marshall transfers on the team, has been booming punts and kickoffs during practice, but he has a sore knee and missed the scrimmage.

"Our special teams did well," said Billings. "Reggio is healthy and looking great and Witczak can really boom the ball."

Of course, as positive as Billings sounded Tuesday, he tempered that with the realization that the Indians still have a long way to go, although not that long a time to get there. The season opener, set for Aug. 31 at Marshall, is barely two weeks away.

"We definitely have a long way to go," he said. "We just have to keep working and keep improving."

* The Indians will have another scrimmage Saturday at 7 p.m. under the lights at Houck Stadium.

"That's about the time (of night) we'll play Marshall and it will be good to get under the lights," said Billings.

* Southeast's second relatively major injury of two-a-days was suffered by starting defensive tackle James Jennette, who broke a bone in his right hand during a recent practice.

Billings said the hand will be evaluated in about a week but Jennette's status for the Marshall game is in question.

Also questionable for the opener is Simpson, a starting wide receiver who suffered a partially separated shoulder last week.