MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama head coach Joey Jones said Monday that for the first time he could remember, he felt his team was not emotionally ready to play when he walked into the locker room before Saturday’s 28-20 loss to Florida International.
Jones, offensive lineman Chris May and defensive back Charles Watson met with reporters at the Jaguars’ weekly press conference to review the FIU game and preview Saturday’s trip to Denton, Texas, to face North Texas.
A Tale of Two Halves Against FIU
Jones said his players were prepared on X’s and O’s but lacked passion early. “When you play the game of football you have to bring some passion to it and I don’t think we did that early,” he said.
FIU gained 303 yards in the first half and built a 28-7 halftime lead. In the second half, the Golden Panthers managed only two first downs as South Alabama’s defense held them scoreless.
Offensively, Jones said the Jaguars sputtered to one first-half touchdown before playing much better after halftime. He said the team’s total offense, about 460 yards, was its most in a Sun Belt Conference game. Jones praised quarterback Ross Metheny’s play, including his scrambles and runs.
The red zone was the main problem. Jones said that on one possession, South Alabama reached the 1-foot line, was flagged for a false start and then had to use a timeout when a play call did not get in.
“When you get behind 28-7, you better do everything perfect to have a chance to win and we didn’t,” Jones said.
Still Searching for Four Quarters
Jones said he asked the players Monday morning to explain the difference between the first and second halves, and neither they nor he had an answer beyond a lack of readiness. He said the Jaguars have played good stretches, including three and a half strong quarters against Louisiana-Monroe and Arkansas State, but have not yet played a complete four-quarter game.
“For us where we are in our program, we have to play four quarters to have a chance to win,” he said. “If that’s not getting across to them, that’s my fault.”
Jones said the team’s improvement has earned respect from opposing coaches, and called it the biggest in-season improvement of any of his first four teams. He said the Jaguars are far better, especially on offense, than in early-season games against Nicholls State, UTSA and N.C. State. “But this game is all about winning,” he said.
A Power Running Opponent
Jones described North Texas as a physical team that plays power football on offense and runs a limited but well-executed defensive scheme, with interior linemen weighing about 300 and 330 pounds. He noted the Mean Green beat Louisiana-Lafayette three weeks ago.
He said most Sun Belt teams run spread offenses, making North Texas one of the first true power running teams South Alabama will face. Jones compared the Mean Green’s power, zone and play-action approach to South Alabama’s own offense of a year ago, and warned that the secondary must stay disciplined against deep play-action throws.
“We’re going to see how we match up this week for sure because they are going to pound you every play,” he said.
May Steps Into Starting Role
May said he and Ucambre Williams rotated early in the season until Williams was injured against Arkansas State, forcing May into a starting role. He said preparing as a starter requires a different mental approach than rotating in.
May said that except for the Troy game, South Alabama has been competitive to the end of every conference game, and that the offensive line has improved significantly since the opener against UTSA despite injuries. He said the Jaguars match up well athletically with North Texas’ front.
Watson on the Halftime Challenge
Watson said defensive coordinator Bill Clark challenged the defense at halftime against FIU. “Coach Clark told us that we could either get embarrassed or we could come back, play our ball and do what we normally do,” Watson said. He said the defense went back to basics and aimed for a second-half shutout.
South Alabama and North Texas kick off at 4 p.m. Saturday in Denton.
