MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama football coach Joey Jones said Tuesday that Saturday’s win over Edward Waters in Dothan gave the Jaguars a chance to build depth, as the unbeaten team turns its attention to Kentucky Wesleyan.
South Alabama, 3-0 this season and 10-0 in program history, hosts Kentucky Wesleyan (3-1) at 4 p.m. Saturday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Jones and defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator Brian Turner discussed the game on the Joey Jones Show with host Lee Shirvanian.
Edward Waters Trip and Depth
Jones said many people, including players, did not realize how much planning went into the trip to Dothan, which the staff tried to make as similar to a home game as possible. He estimated about 2,000 South Alabama fans and about 300 Edward Waters fans attended.
Jones said the most important result was the playing time for reserves, which builds depth the Jaguars will need late this season and in future years against stronger opponents. He noted that it is difficult to play backups against good teams, when a coach needs his best players on the field to win. Second-team players got between 36 and 44 plays each, Jones said, and scout team players also saw action.
Michael Nevels, who was about sixth or seventh on the depth chart, scored two touchdowns late in the game. Justin Dunn returned an interception for a touchdown in the first quarter.
Jones said the Jaguars planned to throw early. South Alabama scored its first touchdown on two plays, both passes, after which the staff began to scale back and mix in the run. Jones explained that once a team leads by about four touchdowns, continuing to throw can be seen as running up the score. He said he and the Edward Waters coach agreed to keep the clock running in the second half.
Injuries and Quarterbacks
Quarterback Myles Gibbon and Richard Ross missed the Edward Waters game with injuries, and quarterback C.J. Bennett sat out for disciplinary reasons. Gibbon practiced Tuesday, and although his knee bothered him somewhat, Jones expects him to play Saturday. Ross did not practice, and Jones called him a 50-50 chance to play.
Bryson James injured a shoulder against Edward Waters but is expected to be fine. Otherwise the team came out of the game healthy.
Jones reiterated that he will not take away a player’s starting job because of an injury, though players must continue to compete. A starter keeps the job until someone beats him out.
Scouting Kentucky Wesleyan
Turner said Kentucky Wesleyan has a very good offense, with an offensive line that protects well and a left-handed quarterback who throws accurately. He said the Panthers spread the ball around. Jones called Kentucky Wesleyan well coached and said it is capable of scoring on the Jaguars.
Jones said kickoffs are a real concern. He described the problem as mental, saying the kickers know their steps and routine and must work through it the way a baseball player works through a slump.
Red Out at Ladd-Peebles
Travis Toth encouraged fans to wear red for a “red out” Saturday. The Jaguars will wear red from head to toe rather than their usual home combination of red jerseys and white pants. The forecast called for no chance of rain and a high of about 82 degrees. Toth noted that fans can park at Bel Air Mall and ride the Wave transit service to Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Shirvanian noted that Auburn plays early Saturday and Alabama does not kick off until 7 p.m.
Jones said about 23,000 people have attended the Jaguars’ two home games this season, and a large crowd traveled to Dothan. He thanked the program’s core group of fans.
Recruiting Board
Turner said the staff meets weekly specifically about recruiting and spends much of its time reviewing video. He said South Alabama has 125 players on its board, some holding offers from Alabama or Auburn, and plans to sign 20 to 22 based on positional needs. If the staff does not reach that number, it will carry scholarships to the following year.
Jones said the priorities are depth in the secondary and on the offensive line, adding that a team needs 16 to 18 scholarship offensive linemen.
Turner said South Alabama receives interest and video from every state and that the caliber of player the program is landing has improved significantly. He said the Jaguars are competing head to head with Conference USA and Big East programs for recruits and winning those battles.
Asked about preparing for next season’s game against NC State, Jones said South Alabama must evaluate better than established programs, finding players who may be slightly undersized by top-program standards but who play at that level. He gave the example of a 6-foot-4, 210-pound defensive end the staff believes can grow to 250 pounds. Jones said depth will be the difference against NC State when the second-string players meet.
Turner said the staff uses recruiting services that assign star ratings, though he said some five-star ratings may overrate players. Jones said South Alabama pursues players who fit its needs and system, and that while some ranked players are overrated and others underrated, most are good players.
Freshmen and Scheduling
Jones offered updates on several freshmen: defensive back Terrell Brigham is a good athlete progressing well; tight end Ryan Onkka is talented but needs to add about 30 pounds; tight end Rush Hendricks is tough, physical and smart and is picking up the offense; defensive end Will Thompson enrolled in January and has played in every game; defensive back Davin Hawkins has contributed on special teams; and walk-on linebacker Desmond Jones has impressed linebackers coach Crain.
Jones said South Alabama will play a full Sun Belt Conference schedule of eight games in 2012, though opponents have not been set, and will become eligible for the conference championship in 2013. Once South Alabama is a full FBS member, it can play one FCS opponent a year. Jones said the goal for four nonconference games is three FBS opponents and perhaps one FCS team, with two of the games typically being so-called money games against programs such as Tennessee, LSU or Ohio State, both for revenue and for player experience.
South Alabama has Edward Waters scheduled again in 2011. Asked whether the program might buy out that game to schedule a stronger opponent, Jones confirmed there have been talks but declined to elaborate, citing the likely two-game contract.
Jones also agreed with a comment by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis that linebacker play depends more on angles than speed, saying the entire game revolves around angles and that players who understand them play faster.
