MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama football coach Joey Jones said Tuesday that Missouri S&T has given his staff more trouble in preparation than any opponent so far this season, citing the Miners’ unusual looks on both sides of the ball.
The Jaguars, 4-0 after a 52-3 win over Kentucky Wesleyan and 11-0 in program history, face Missouri S&T on Saturday. Jones and assistant coach Tommy Perry discussed the matchup on the Joey Jones Show with host Lee Shirvanian.
Preparing for the Flex
Jones said South Alabama typically sees 3-4 and 4-3 defenses along with eight-man fronts, but Missouri S&T runs a flex defense that few teams use, forcing the staff to do extra homework this week.
Against Kentucky Wesleyan, the coaches said, the defense stacked the box and the Jaguars took advantage by throwing the ball, producing big plays from the receivers.
The Jaguars will wear white jerseys with red pants Saturday, another new uniform combination. Fans and students are encouraged to wear red, and the program is planning a white out for its upcoming game against Georgia State.
A Deep Backfield
Asked how the staff divides carries among its running backs, Jones said coaches are looking for players who prove they can win games. He said South Alabama has two power backs in Brandon Ross, who weighs 234 pounds, and Kendall Houston; Ellis Hill falls between the power and speed backs; and T.J. Glover and Santuan McGee are the speed backs. Jones said he has never had a group of running backs like it, explaining that Ross or Houston can gain about 8 yards on play after play, while McGee or Glover can get outside for 20 or 25 yards quickly. He said the staff rotates the backs to keep them fresh and healthy.
When Shirvanian began a question about close games, Jones interjected, “We will, we will,” acknowledging the Jaguars will face tight contests. Perry said the rotation in those games will depend on who has the hot hand, noting that Ross’s experience and his pass protection, which Perry said ranks among the best in the nation, can make him the better choice.
Jones agreed that Ross would likely top 100 yards every game with more carries and said there will be games soon when Ross must carry a heavier load. He said lopsided games so far have allowed the staff to play as many players as possible without overusing starters.
Substitution Responsibilities
Asked about the substitution mix-up at the end of the recent LSU-Tennessee game, Jones explained that coordinators call the personnel grouping, position coaches send the correct players in, and players are responsible for getting on and off the field. Perry said he is responsible for making sure the right number of offensive players are on the field, and that the process has gone more smoothly this season than last. He said keeping substitutions even, with two players coming off when two go on, makes it easier to track numbers.
Injury Update
Jones said several players are day to day or have a 50-50 chance to play Saturday. Levi Slaydan has returned. Chris Brunson has a wrist injury, Brian Krauskoff has a heavily wrapped hand after a weight room accident, and Shaun Artz has a cast on his wrist. Corey Pittman has returned with fresh legs. Jones said that if recovery continues, the team should be back to full strength within a couple of weeks.
Jones praised center Trey Clark, who makes the offensive line’s pass protection calls and identifies the middle linebacker. He said Clark may be considered undersized but that teams win with players like him.
Statistics and Television
Jones said time of possession is a good statistic about 90 percent of the time, since it generally reflects sustained drives and scoring chances, but noted that the Jaguars have played games this season in which the losing team held the ball longer. He said a comparison by Tommy Hicks ranked South Alabama first among Division I-AA teams in several offensive and defensive categories, but cautioned that the numbers are skewed because the Jaguars are not playing a full Division I-AA schedule.
Asked whether he would like to play a Tuesday night game like Troy and Middle Tennessee, Jones said South Alabama would play on Monday morning if it meant a television appearance, noting that midweek games on ESPN and ESPN2 are common for mid-major programs.
Perry also encouraged listeners to take part in the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Cancer walk at 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, at Bienville Square in downtown Mobile. There is no fee to participate, and donations will be accepted.
