MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama head coach Joey Jones again praised his defense after Wednesday’s practice, the Jaguars’ last workout before their third and final preseason scrimmage of 2014 camp.
The team practiced for just over an hour and a half in shells on the practice fields as preseason camp winds down and the Jaguars move toward game-week preparation for their season opener against Kent State.
Jones: Defense Playing With Confidence
Jones said the defense is coming together and playing with confidence. “They are bringing a lot of emotion to practice every day,” Jones said. “Offensively I think we executed some things pretty well, Brandon threw the ball really well today and our receivers were catching the ball. It was a good day.”
Asked about the team’s progress over the month, Jones said a coach never feels fully prepared. “As a coach you never feel like you’re completely ready, it’s a natural thing for a coach to go through because you want perfection and perfection is not possible,” he said.
Jones added that he trusts his staff’s preparation. “My philosophy is coaches get them ready for the game but when you get to the game players have to take over, so we’ll see how they perform next Saturday,” he said.
Late Start Gives Staff A Day Off
South Alabama opens its season a week later than most college football teams, and Jones said he plans to give players and coaches a break this Saturday.
“I’ll probably watch a lot of football laying on the couch,” Jones said. “I’m going to try and give everybody a day off on Saturday, even the coaches, because we’ve gone through a long, hard camp and we’ve already got our game plan in for Kent State.”
The team will return Sunday and begin its normal game-week schedule.
Players Of The Day
Tight end DeMarrion Buford-Hughes was named offensive player of the day. Offensive coordinator Robert Matthews said Buford-Hughes has been pushing for playing time. “He’s worked extremely hard this offseason and is starting to grasp the offense — the more he practices, the better he gets,” Matthews said. “He had some catches in drills today, and is a guy who is going to make that position deeper.”
Senior cornerback Qudarius Ford earned defensive player of the day honors. “It’s the same old story with ‘Q,’ he consistently does everything he is supposed to do every day,” defensive coordinator Travis Pearson said. “He shows up consistently the same way he did in all 12 games he played last season. He’s a quiet leader, he does it on and off the field.”
Jerome McClain was credited with the play of the day after he broke through to sack quarterback Brandon Bridge on a third down in the red zone at the end of the team session. McClain also contributed to a sack near midfield earlier in the period.
Team Session Highlights
Wednesday’s practice featured a single team session, which concentrated on standard down-and-distance work from around midfield and third-down situations in the red zone.
Ford broke up a pass on the first snap of the team period, diving in front of the intended receiver. Bridge later completed three third-down passes in the red zone, hitting Tony Ray Parnell and Braedon Bowman for first downs before connecting with Cameron Broadnax on a 14-yard touchdown.
Gailey Visits Offensive Staff
Chan Gailey, whose coaching career includes college stops at Troy, Samford and Georgia Tech and NFL head coaching jobs with the Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills, spoke to the South Alabama offense after practice. Gailey worked with USA assistant coach Robby Brown at Georgia Tech, and he also spent Tuesday afternoon and evening with the Jaguars’ offensive staff.
Final Scrimmage Thursday
South Alabama holds its third and final preseason scrimmage Thursday, a situational session on campus. The Jaguars will then take two days off before resuming with game-week preparations on Sunday.
