MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama football coach Joey Jones and offensive coordinator Greg Gregory said this week that the Jaguars want to remain a run-first team with a deeper group of receivers as they prepare for their Thursday night season opener against West Alabama.
Jones and Gregory discussed the opener on the Joey Jones Show with host Lee Shirvanian.
Scouting West Alabama
Jones called West Alabama a talented team, noting that 14 of its 22 starters are junior college transfers. The Tigers went 7-4 last season, and none of their losses was by more than four points. Because West Alabama has a new head coach, Jones said South Alabama must be ready for anything, including onside kicks and trick plays.
Gregory said West Alabama will likely play mostly a four-man front with some three-man looks. He said the Tigers have an interior lineman of about 325 pounds, a fast 6-foot-5 defensive end and a new free safety they expect to make plays. Gregory said such players may not have qualified academically at the Division I-A level but are very good players.
Jones said a Thursday opener is his favorite way to start a season, and he would do it every year if it were up to him. He said players are ready after a month of work, play when few other teams do, gain two extra days to prepare for the next opponent and get a day or two off after the game.
Running Game and Balance
Gregory said a 60-40 run-to-pass ratio is balanced for a team that runs the ball well, since certain downs and distances call for running. He said a team throwing 50 percent of the time or more is probably not a strong running team. Gregory said the Jaguars want to wear opponents down with the run, use play-action and still be able to drop back and throw.
Jones said Demetre Baker and Kendall Houston could share the backfield at times this season. Gregory described Houston as a violent runner who is hard to tackle, and Baker as a powerful back with close to 4.5 speed in the 40-yard dash. Jones said Ellis Hill, a 5-foot-9 inside runner, earned playing time with a strong camp, and that Santuan McGee will also play. Gregory said freshman J.J. Keels may have the best feet among the running backs and could see plenty of action, though ball security is still developing.
Receivers
Jones said he feels better about the receivers than he did last season despite the loss of big-play threat Courtney Smith and the ineligibility of T.J. Glover. He said the two-deep at receiver can rotate effectively, though no current player can line up at both running back and receiver as Glover did. Freshman Anthony Ingram, who might have filled that role, will miss the season with an injury.
Gregory said he and assistant coach Antoine were discussing the night before how much the group has improved. Corey Besteda stands about 6-foot-2 1/2, while most of the others range from 5-foot-9 to 6 feet. Jereme Jones, whom Gregory called perhaps the most powerful of the group, is about 5-foot-7 or 5-foot-8.
Bennett at Quarterback
Gregory said C.J. Bennett won the starting job, though Myles Gibbon is talented, has started many games and knows the system, and both could play in certain situations. Asked whether Bennett could become a five-year starter, Gregory said he did not know of a precedent but said it was possible. He said the extra year of eligibility from starting early was part of how South Alabama landed Bennett.
Gregory said Bennett had verbally committed to Wyoming before South Florida brought him in for an official visit the week before signing day without offering a scholarship, which helped South Alabama sign him. Gregory said Bennett is unique in his ability to explain exactly what happened on a play when he comes off the field. Jones cited Bennett’s quick release and decision-making, noting that his height kept Southeastern Conference schools away.
Freshman Trey Fetner attended a South Alabama camp last year, but the program could not offer him a scholarship at the time because Kolt Peavy had committed early. Gregory said the staff recruited Fetner like a scholarship player, and he was put on scholarship when one became available during preseason camp. The staff would like to redshirt him, depending on how the season unfolds. Gregory said Fetner has a strong arm, good speed and physical and mental toughness.
Defense and Special Teams
Gregory said the secondary is significantly improved, with legitimate Division I players at every position, and that facing the group has made the receivers better. Jones said Alabama transfer B.J. Scott, who played cornerback for the Crimson Tide before an ankle injury, projects as a safety because of his physical style, a key position in South Alabama’s scheme. Jones called Western Michigan transfer Damon Smith a great player.
Jones named Jake Johnson the defensive standout of the week for his leadership. Johnson started the first eight games of his freshman season at Virginia Tech, including a game against Alabama. Jones said freshman linebacker Desmond LaVelle will play rather than redshirt, and freshman Maleki Harris is listed at both outside linebacker and safety. Jones said the linebackers are strong again despite the graduation of two-year starters Charlie Higgenbotham and Justin Dunn.
Cori Barnett, who walked on and earned a scholarship, will start at strongside linebacker. Jones said one to three players earn scholarships that way each year. Gregory named the offensive line as the offense’s standout unit of the week.
Jones said the kickers are more consistent than last season, when they struggled with kickoffs out of bounds. Jordan Means won the placekicking job because he was more confident and made more kicks, though Lawson McGlon remains close. Jereme Jones will return punts and kickoffs, and Scott will also return kickoffs and some punts.
Injury Update
Greg Hollinger will not play this week. Santuan McGee and Enrique Williams are ready. Tremain Smith had surgery on a pinkie and will play in a cast; Jones called Smith, a junior, the team’s most improved player in the classroom.
