MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama football coach Joey Jones said Monday that Arkansas State is a veteran, confident team playing at a high level, as the Jaguars return from an open week to visit the defending Sun Belt Conference champions on Saturday.
Jones also explained how practice will change now that Ross Metheny has been named the starting quarterback, ending the Jaguars’ two-quarterback rotation.
Scouting the Red Wolves
Jones said he watched Arkansas State win on the road at FIU last Thursday and noted that the Red Wolves’ losses have come against Oregon and Nebraska.
“They’re very good on offense, and have a lot of juniors and seniors starting in their offensive and defensive lineups,” Jones said. “They are a veteran team, and we expect them to be a great football team when we walk into the stadium.”
He said Arkansas State is averaging about 500 yards of offense per game while also playing strong defense.
“Any time you win a championship the year before, you can just tell they’re playing with a lot of confidence,” he said.
Arkansas State is coached by Gus Malzahn, who spent three seasons as Auburn’s offensive coordinator, including the 2010 national championship season, when he coached Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton. Jones said the open week gave his staff valuable extra time to prepare for Malzahn’s offense.
“I would hate to have known that we would have to have gotten ready in one week for what they’re doing,” Jones said. “Gus does a great job of changing things up and scouting himself. They give you fits all over the field, both horizontally and vertically. They really make you play the whole field on defense.”
Open Week Came at the Right Time
Jones said the break arrived when his team needed it, about nine and a half weeks into the season counting fall camp and after consecutive games against N.C. State, Mississippi State and Troy.
“It couldn’t have come at a better time. We were beat up,” Jones said. “It came at a great time for our players and coaches after an emotional three games.”
Metheny Takes Most of the Reps
With the rotation over, Jones said Metheny will receive about 70 percent of the practice repetitions and C.J. Bennett about 30 percent. Previously the two had split practice work evenly because they also split playing time.
“It should make him sharper in the games, so we’ll see,” Jones said. “We just felt like it was a move we needed to make for the offense. We’re trying to find that identity.”
Jones said the staff gave the rotation five games before making the change.
Offense Must Improve
Jones said the offense has yet to play a complete game and has had too many three-and-outs, which he said is not the fault of any one player. He noted that the Jaguars began the season with two freshmen and five sophomores in the offensive lineup.
“We’re a better team than we were last year, but we’re playing much better competition right now and it just isn’t showing,” Jones said. “We have to be able to stick the ball into the end zone. Defense and special teams are playing good enough to win, so if we can get that part going on offense then we’re going to get this thing rolling.”
South Alabama plays at Arkansas State on Saturday in Jonesboro, Ark.
