After typically conducting a scripted scrimmage through his 10 seasons as a head coach, Petrino put the Cardinals through a game on Saturday morning in Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.
Petrino conducted a typical four-quarter game that featured match-ups against the first and second units. The first and second team played the first three quarters against one another, while the young guys played the entire fourth quarter.
"I know we got a lot accomplished today," Petrino said. "The offense made some plays. The defense made some plays. It was a pretty even scrimmage. We made some mistakes, and the mistakes are the things we have to correct."
"It was a real good scrimmage because we got to go out there without the coaches being on the field," junior linebacker Keith Kelsey said. "It makes us more active because it shows our leadership to get our guys lined up and get the call from the sideline so things go as planned."
The Cardinals took the coaches off the field for the first time this fall to give the players, especially the younger players, an opportunity to learn under game-like conditions.
"It was important for me to do that today," Petrino said about taking the coaches off the field. "It's important for the offensive line because we have so many young guys. We run a play in practice and they are always looking around for coach Klenakis or myself to tell them something. It was good for them to have to fight through it."
Petrino was pleased to see a number of wide receivers step up to make big plays - better than they have on any other day of camp, and he singled out junior James Quick. Petrino also said Ja'Quay Savage, Jamari Staples and freshmen Devante Peete, Jaylen Smith and Emonee Spence made a number of big plays down the field.
Quick was the team's leading receiver in the scrimmage, including a terrific 43-yard touchdown reception, while Staples had the longest reception with a 67-yard reception.
"I think we are finding out different ways to use Quick, "Petrino said. "He is having a great camp and he's in great condition. He is having a lot of fun out there and it has translated into his play."
"I feel like I've become a better leader," Quick said. "I look at the younger guys and tell them to pick up the slack when they aren't going hard. I think I've developed my leadership skills this camp."
The Cardinals will be off Sunday and Monday for the start of classes, and return to the practice field on Tuesday afternoon with just 11 days before facing Auburn on Sept. 5.
