MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama football coach Joey Jones said Monday that discipline and assignment football will be the keys against Navy’s triple option, as the bowl-eligible Jaguars prepare to host the Midshipmen in Friday’s regular-season finale and Senior Day at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
Jones was joined by defensive back Terrell Brigham and offensive lineman Melvin Meggs, two seniors, at the weekly press conference after South Alabama’s 37-12 loss at South Carolina.
Proud Despite Turnovers at South Carolina
Jones said he told the team Sunday that he was proud of its effort in Columbia, though turnovers were costly.
“They played hard with intensity and passion and without fear,” Jones said. “Minus a few turnovers, and I think the game is different.” He noted that South Carolina also committed five turnovers.
Defending the Option
Jones said the defense will be asked to play sound technique and its assignments rather than be overwhelmed by Navy’s scheme.
“Fundamentally, we’re telling our guys to play your assignment and we should be good,” he said.
He compared Navy with Georgia Southern, the other triple-option team South Alabama faced this season. He said Navy runs most of its offense from under center while Georgia Southern operated from the shotgun, and that Navy throws less and uses more cut blocks.
Jones called quarterback Keenan Reynolds the Midshipmen’s best offensive athlete.
“He makes the right reads, he’s smart, he can run it, and if you put too many people in the box he can throw it past you,” Jones said. “We’re not going to be able to guess right all the time, but we have to be smart about what we do and not give up any big plays.”
A Marquee Opponent in Mobile
Jones credited former South Alabama athletic director Joe Gottfried with arranging the game and noted that Navy played Notre Dame close and beat Georgia Southern last week.
“If you can somehow get in there and beat them, it becomes something you put on the wall forever in a place like ours,” Jones said. “So it’s a great opportunity for us.”
Honoring the Seniors
South Alabama is in its second season as a full Division I Football Bowl Subdivision member, and several seniors arrived in 2010, the program’s second year. The team voted on permanent captains Sunday, with the results to be announced Friday.
Jones said the Jaguars became bowl eligible with their win over Texas State, which he called gratifying for the senior class.
“That’s the thing that I prayed about in the offseason, was that these guys could get honored in that way,” Jones said. “That senior class that came in here and took a chance and said, ‘Hey, we’re going to get in a bowl one day.’”
Jones said the defense has grown into what he called a great defense at the Sun Belt level, while the offense has had turnover problems recently. He pointed to an earlier stretch that included 40 points by the third quarter against Appalachian State.
Meggs said Senior Day feels surreal after five years in the program. He credited earlier senior classes, including Justin Dunn and Charlie Higgenbotham, with setting the standard.
“You hit us in the mouth; we’re going to come back,” Meggs said. “The coaches have done a great job of bringing guys here that have what we call the ‘Heart of a Jaguar.’”
Brigham said the secondary must be disciplined with its eyes against the option. “This week you have to be disciplined with your eyes, knowing who you’ve got and what you have to do on any given play,” he said.
Game Information
Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. Friday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Because of Black Friday shopping, the game-day shuttle will run from Lipscomb Field, 3610 Michael Blvd., instead of Bel Air Mall. Service begins four hours before kickoff and ends 90 minutes after the game. The fare remains $2.50 round trip per person.
