MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama football coach Joey Jones said the Jaguars will spend this week in pads working on fundamentals as they begin preparing for their Nov. 19 season finale against Cal Poly, a triple-option team he called one of the toughest offenses to defend.
Jones was joined at the weekly Monday press conference by center Trey Clark. The two reviewed the Jaguars’ win over Mississippi Valley State and looked ahead to the final game of the season, which follows an open week.
Rest, Then Physical Practices
Jones said the weekend off benefited both players and coaches.
“I think it was a good break for our players and our staff to just get away from football for a couple of days,” Jones said. “The players came back refreshed, and that was good.”
Of the Mississippi Valley State game, Jones said South Alabama had “a really good first half” and was able to give many reserves playing time after halftime.
He outlined a plan of three practices in pads devoted largely to fundamentals, with the game plan to be installed alongside that work.
“The big focus the next three days is getting better fundamentally,” Jones said. “One thing our players have talked about is that we have had a good year, and we want to finish strong. The way you finish strong is by practicing hard and doing your part in practice, and then the games take care of themselves.”
Asked what he wanted to see after back-to-back wins, Jones again pointed to the finish and to the seniors who arrived when the program was being built.
“We have some seniors who came and started this program three years ago, and I want to send them off on a good note as well,” he said. “They have done a lot for this program.”
Preparing for the Triple Option
Jones said Cal Poly runs the triple option, the offense he associated with Alabama coach Paul “Bear” Bryant’s teams of the 1970s and 1980s, and he described it as the most difficult scheme to stop.
“On paper it is the very best one because you don’t have to block two people on the side of attack,” Jones said. “If you read one and are pitching off of another, you’re basically double-teaming everywhere else.”
He said his players rarely see the offense and that the open date gives the staff three additional practice days to prepare for it.
“I think it is hard to prepare for a game like that in one week, so us having two weeks to prepare helps,” Jones said.
On defense, Jones described the Mustangs as sound and fundamental, with strong players up front. “They don’t do a lot of things on the defensive side of the ball; they are just sound in what they do and are very well-coached,” he said.
Home Record on the Line
South Alabama has not lost at home, and Jones acknowledged that the streak is on the team’s mind, though he said the focus remains on practice.
“That’s always in the back of your mind, but we can’t get caught up in all of that,” he said. “We know that what happens on the practice field creates success on Saturdays.”
Jones noted that UC Davis defeated Cal Poly last week. “It is a very good football team,” he said of the Mustangs.
Clark Anchors the Line
Jones praised Clark as the leader of the offensive line, saying the center makes the unit’s checks and calls.
“When you start on offense, you start with your center. Trey has been the core of our offensive line,” Jones said. “He is a little undersized, but he plays big in the game and we can win with guys like Trey Clark – there’s no doubt in my mind.”
Clark said the team would use the extra week to sharpen fundamentals and had already begun studying film of Cal Poly.
“They are very well-coached and a physical bunch,” Clark said. “They have pretty good size up front, so I think this week will be great for us in terms of preparation.”
Clark said the finale would be emotional because it will be the last game for the senior class he has played alongside for three seasons.
“It’s definitely bittersweet,” Clark said. “Some of them are getting ready to go off and start the next chapter of their lives, and I’m going to miss so much being next to those guys. It’s one of those things where we just want to send them off on a good note and win it for the seniors.”
South Alabama hosts Cal Poly on Nov. 19 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
