The Tigers will hold their second scrimmage of training camp on Saturday morning, and coach Gary Pinkel said the second team might get more work than the starters as they try to get up to speed.

Pinkel didn’t say he was concerned about the wealth of youth in reserve roles, but he made it clear that he expected to be a little further along two weeks into camp.

“The backup players on both sides are very young, and we’re squeezing those guys,” he said. “We’re not making the progress we need to make with those guys. We’re going to stay on them. That’s one area I wish was a little bit better. Not that the twos aren’t very talented but the ones have played so much that they play at a higher level.”

Pinkel added that any second-teamer who is good enough will see action, so he’s looking for some improvement.

The starters still will get considerable work. Pinkel said the real reduction in snaps for the first string will come in the third scrimmage when starters will get 10 to 12 plays.

Pinkel wasn’t sure on Friday if freshman quarterback Blaine Gabbert would participate in the scrimmage after suffering soreness in his right shoulder this week. However, he said Gabbert “did some good things today” and wants to play Saturday.

The Friday afternoon practice was reduced to a 45-minute workout for the kicking game. The players are scheduled to go swimming the remainder of the afternoon.

The morning practice ended with a brief competition between the No. 1 offense and defense with a sequence of three plays run from the 9-yard line then the 7 and then the 4. When the offense won on a toss from Chase Daniel to Jared Perry, the entire offense swarmed Perry in the end zone.

“About six years ago probably no one would have cared who won those things,” Pinkel said. “Now it’s venom attack mode. With that in mind, you have a chance to have a good football team.”

Pinkel announced that defensive tackle Andy Maples would undergo surgery after suffering a broken foot. He will miss four to six weeks. Also absent was offensive tackle Bryan Webb, who left the team for personal reasons.