MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama football enters the final stretch of spring practice with a scrimmage set for Saturday, followed by the spring game next Wednesday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
The Jaguars practiced Monday, Wednesday and Thursday this week after a physical scrimmage last Saturday. Head coach Joey Jones said the team responded with a strong effort at the start of the week.
Offensive Line, Red Zone Work
Monday’s session featured improved play from the offensive line, an area Jones has said he wants to see perform consistently.
Wednesday’s practice included full-team, 11-on-11 situational periods pitting the offense against the defense. In a red zone drill, Kelly Vail scored on a 21-yard reverse and later made a 19-yard catch on third-and-10 to set up another touchdown. A second team period focused on third-down situations at varying distances.
Thursday’s workout was light in preparation for Saturday.
“It was a real good day today,” Jones said after Wednesday’s practice. “The offense came out and got better, and the defense played real hard. The defense has been knocking the offense around a little bit, but offensively we came out and competed, which is good.”
“We’re creating competition out here every day, and have really gotten better not only from last fall to now but from the beginning of the spring to this point. We haven’t wasted a day,” he said.
Offense Responds After Scrimmage
In last Saturday’s scrimmage, the offense moved the ball through the air but had difficulty running against the defense. Jones said the unit responded during the week.
“They got knocked around a little bit, but when your back is up against the wall you tend to react one way or another,” Jones said. “Thank God they reacted in a positive way. They came out and worked and took it to heart. It’s not that the offense has come out and dominated, but they have gotten better. That’s what you’re looking for.”
Jones also cited the defense’s work against the run and better balance in the offense.
Progress Since First Season
South Alabama played its inaugural season in 2009 with a roster that included many freshmen. Jones said the team has improved since then.
“If you look where we were at the end of last season and where we are now, we’re a much better football team,” Jones said. “We have a long way to go, but the bottom line is that we have improved, and a lot of that is an offseason in the weight room, maturity and experience. When you have a bunch of freshmen, the learning curve is going to be steep.”
Saturday Scrimmage
Saturday’s scrimmage, set to begin at 11 a.m., is expected to include about 120 plays covering a range of game situations. It will be the 12th of the team’s 15 spring practices.
“We’re interested in reps,” Jones said. “We want to get them out there and put them in situations that we know we need to cover.”
“This is going to be what I call the last day of spring,” he said. “We’re going to get everyone on the field so that we will be able to go back and look at the film to evaluate how they did ‘under the lights,’ so to speak. It’s going to be an important day for some of these guys. Some players know their positions are on the line and that they will need to come through on Saturday.”
Spring Game Wednesday
Two more practices follow the scrimmage before the spring game on Wednesday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m., and parking lots open at 3 p.m. for tailgating.
