MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama head coach Joey Jones said he liked what he saw at Wednesday’s practice, but he said the Jaguars still have work to do before Saturday’s homecoming game against Florida Atlantic at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
Both teams enter the game at 1-5 overall and 0-3 in the Sun Belt Conference. South Alabama is seeking its first win over a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent and its first victory over a Sun Belt team.
A Physical Opponent
“I feel like the players have a good look in their eyes and understand the opportunity we’ve got coming this weekend,” Jones said. “This is a very physical football team that we’re going to face this weekend and we’ve got to match that and come out there ready to go.”
Jones singled out Florida Atlantic’s front seven.
“They do a good job of alignment and they’re always very sound in their alignment and they’re very physical,” he said. “You see some teams doing a lot more blitzing and exotic things defensively, but this is a team that lines up and plays football. They’re well-coached and physical too.”
Cleaning Up Mistakes
Jones said the priority is eliminating penalties and turnovers.
“I want our guys to go out and eliminate the things that get us beat,” Jones said. “Like I told them last week, I think if we had done what we were supposed to do, we had a chance to win that football game. Once we learn how to play and not make those type errors in the game we’re going to win some football games.”
South Alabama lost 36-29 last Saturday at defending Sun Belt champion Arkansas State in Jonesboro, Ark. The Jaguars were flagged 13 times for 81 yards, while Arkansas State was penalized twice for 20 yards. South Alabama committed one turnover, an interception, and forced three Arkansas State fumbles.
Williams Undergoes MRI
Starting offensive lineman Ucambre Williams had an MRI on his left knee, which he injured early in the Arkansas State game, according to the Press-Register. The staff is concerned the injury may be a torn ACL.
Update: Statistical Picture Ahead of Florida Atlantic
South Alabama’s four-game losing streak, which came against four consecutive FBS opponents, is the longest in the program’s history. Florida Atlantic has lost five straight, most recently a 35-14 defeat against Louisiana-Monroe.
“We are making progress and moving forward, this is not a team that is getting down because we’ve lost a few games,” Jones said. “The players understand where we are and have taken that challenge every week, and I think that is why we are getting better.”
South Alabama ranks second in the Sun Belt Conference in total defense, allowing 344.5 yards per game, behind only Western Kentucky at 304.7. The Jaguars rank fourth in rushing defense (135.8 yards per game) and third in pass defense (208.7). They held Arkansas State to 316 total yards, 155 below the Red Wolves’ season average entering the game. Florida Atlantic ranks eighth in total defense at 429 yards allowed per game, last in rushing defense at 211.7, and fifth in pass defense at 217.3.
On offense, South Alabama ranks ninth in the league at 312.2 yards per game, ahead of Florida Atlantic’s 288.2. The Jaguars average 122.5 rushing yards and 189.7 passing yards per game; the Owls average 114.3 and 173.8.
South Alabama has been flagged 28 times for 223 yards over its last two games. Jake Johnson leads the defense with 60 tackles and ranks second in the Sun Belt at 1.33 tackles for loss per game, while Enrique Williams has 53 tackles; both rank among the league’s top 10 tacklers. The Jaguars are second in the conference with 14 sacks, one short of their total for all of last season.
In the first game after South Alabama moved away from a two-quarterback system, the Jaguars posted season highs with 373 yards and 24 first downs and held the ball for 35:39. Their 29 points were second only to the 30 they scored against Texas-San Antonio in the season opener. Redshirt freshman Terrance Timmons ran for 43 yards on 13 carries, and Kendall Houston added 36 yards on 18 carries in his first start of the season.
“Let’s face it, offensively we have been struggling and we played better that day so that certainly encourages our team,” Jones said.
Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, with tickets starting at $10. Stadium parking lots open at 8 a.m. for tailgating, and the Jaguar Prowl is scheduled shortly after noon. A $2.50 round-trip shuttle will run from Bel Air Mall beginning at 10:30 a.m. until 90 minutes after the game.
