It
was another hot day for the University of South Alabama football team it was a muggy
morning practice at the fields on campus Wednesday, but head coach Joey Jones
believes that more important than the results of any plays on the field during
the two-hour workout is how the Jaguars handled the conditions.
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| South Alabama Preseason Practice |
“Practice
was good,” he explained. “I challenged them today; I thought there were
times we were up and times we were a little bit down, the heat really got to us
a little bit. But, I kept seeing them fighting back and getting better —
when they dipped down, I thought they might be done, but they fought back which
I was real proud of. We have to concentrate in those times when it’s hot,
the mistakes you make when you’re tired are what loses ball games.
“We
have to be able to concentrate and do what we are supposed to do.”
South
Alabama players and coaches has a great day overall on the practice fields, as
they prepare for their first preseason scrimmage and the opening of the regular
season.
The
final segment of team drills featured the first- and second-team units running
three goal-line plays from the defense’s three-yard line in. Ben Giles
made two stops on Kendall Houston in the first three snaps, however Ross
Metheny then connected with Wes Saxton for a score before Demetre Baker crossed
the goal line twice.
“It
was good,” Jones said of the red zone drills. “The defense came out first
series and stopped the offense, but the offense got better on the next set of
downs. It was like two heavyweights punching each other, I liked it.”
South
Alabama defense is ranked 12th in the nation in FBS by SI.com.
The
Jags began team drills with snaps from the offense’s 35-yard line. C.J.
Bennett began with a 10-yard completion to Bryant Lavender, while Baker twice picked
up at least five yards on carries. Metheny and Saxton also hooked up for
a 20-yard completion, while Terrance Timmons had two rushes for more than five
yards as well.
Jones
has been pleased with what he has seen from the offense the first week of practice
as it changes schemes, and he also knows what the unit needs to focus on as
preseason camp continues. “The consistency has to be there,” he
stated. “You want them to be successful every play — that’s not going to
happen — but the offense hit some plays today. I see some good things.
Coach
Jones believes if his team can shore up the line of scrimmage where they can
really block and protect, then the Jaguars would be able to do some good
things this season.
USA
will experience another first in camp this preseason on Thursday, when it
practices twice. The Jaguars will work out in the morning at 7:15 a.m.
once again, returning for a second practice session at 4:30 p.m. that is slated
to last an hour and a half.
Saturday scrimmage will be closed to the public.
