MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama head coach Joey Jones called the Jaguars’ latest preseason workout one of their most focused of the year as the team prepares for its first scrimmage of camp Saturday morning.
The Jaguars practiced for about an hour and a half in full pads Thursday, with one more session scheduled for Friday before the South Alabama first scrimmage at 9 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul’s Episcopal School.
A ‘Championship-Type Practice’
Jones said the team was as mentally ready to practice as it has been all preseason, describing the session as a “championship-type practice.” He added that “champions do it every day and not just once every other day.”
Jones said several players have improved, including some the staff did not initially expect to compete for playing time. He singled out the defense for its progress and said the offense continues to make plays.
“We just have to put it all together and keep working,” Jones said. “It’s always a work in progress. Perfection is never there. You have to keep striving to be perfect and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Scrimmage Shapes Depth Chart
Jones said Saturday’s scrimmage will carry weight in setting the depth chart.
“The first scrimmage is always important from a depth-chart standpoint,” Jones said. “Guys are vying for playing time because we’ll probably go one more week, and we’ll have to start getting guys ready for the first ballgame. It’s important to have all these little things we are working on fundamentally in practice to start coming together so we can execute.”
The Jaguars expect to run about 130 plays in the scrimmage, with the first, second and third units all seeing action.
Practice Focus
Thursday’s work included red zone passing, open-field 7-on-7 skeleton drills and three separate full-team periods.
During the team period, Terrance Timmons and T.J. Glover each broke runs of more than 50 yards, though both plays were whistled dead before reaching the end zone.
Players of the Day
- Offense: Chris May. Offensive coordinator Robert Matthews said May helped the offense move the ball out from its own end zone and provided strong pass protection in play-action drills.
- Defense: Roman Buchanan. Defensive coordinator Travis Pearson said Buchanan has progressed well in camp.
- Play of the day: Defensive lineman Will Thompson recovered a fumble and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown during the play-action drill.
“I think he is understanding the football-side of it just by being around Terrell (Brigham),” Pearson said of Buchanan. “They are constantly communicating and studying together, and this kid has played through some bumps and bruises. He’s always showing up in crucial times.”
Thompson is back on the field after missing the entire 2013 season with an injury suffered during preseason camp last year.
