What is happening with South Alabama, or is the Jaguars
showing their confidence and dedication?
Some fans think not and so do I.
This is not the offense that many envisioned of the new
spread fast tempo offense brought in by offensive coordinator Robert Matthews. The
question today by many is what happened or what’s happening?
After getting many inquiries on a team that I love and
support, I often give them a lot of coverage here on the Insider and I wanted
to respond just a little bit to some that may be wondering just as I am. We are
now into week 4 of the 2012 testimonial season for the Jaguars, and there are
several serious testimonial games on schedule that’s to come and has gone. Now, have we seen the strength in the team or
just some key players? I have to say
that it’s not with the team, but it’s most definitely with some key players.
After a close game with UTSA and a game that should
have been won by the Jaguars, went down by two points from what the team showed
on the field to be good adaption to the new spread offense by Robert Matthews.
Yes, the team made some mistakes but it was a great game, but the team put up
31 points and moved the chains. However in week two against their FCS opponent
Nicholls State, they struggle and didn’t manage to get a touchdown but three
field goals to win the game. And then goes week three they lost by more points
they did last season to NC State.
What we see here is that the mentality and attitude is
not there, little team efforts and too much sympathy and praises to other
teams. As a transitional and FBS divisional 1 team, you have to go out there
and prove who you really are and give it all that you have. It’s no time to
give praise or have sympathy; this is big boy ball and the next step to the
grand league. So what comes with this is determination and confidence from the
coaches, his staff and the players. This is no time to duplicate no other team,
this is the time to be who you are and play what you know.
What I do believe as many other fans is that Offensive
Coordinator Robert Matthews and Coach Jones needs to make a change at QB and
put Ross Metheny in the game, he played well against NC State, has experience
in Division 1 and made a touchdown with 189 total passing yards. Something QB
Bennett failed to do against Nicholls State an FCS team. Not only that it’s the mistakes Bennett makes
and his decisions in passing the ball are not helping the Jags offense. Those
fumbles and turnovers is not acceptable. Other team members on the offense have
to also learn to connect with signal calling and most of all protect the ball,
to reduce fumbles and turnovers. There
are some great players on offense and defense and I love the plays and stats of
Baker, Houston, Saxton, Bestada, Waldon, Page, Johnson, Jones, and others.
In these games communication is the key, and I am not
here to talk down of our team, but build it up. I want to help keep our fan
base happy and wanting to come to the games, but there is no question that the coaching
and the team must get better. In week
four South Alabama has a chance to go to Starkville and play No.23 Mississippi
State like new champs with a dominate attitude and mentality. It can be done,
correct those mistakes and pass the ball, run the ball, protect the ball, and
connection with key players the game would be a lot closer and better than
previous games. This is the real true testimonial in non-conference games for
South Alabama, to show their improvement and if they are prepared and ready for
FBS division 1.
The Jags player may be small in size compared to
Mississippi State, but their minds are large and strong. The Jags need more
team leaders, guys that would be that strong motivator and voice on the field
and encourage the players…..we can do this.
Week in and week out the Jaguars coach says he like the
improvements the team is making in practices, but where is that translating and
showing in the game?
I hate it when I see Coach Joey Jones get in front of
Mobile Press Register, or local TV media outlets and other media sources and
give these praises of other teams as if they are too good to be beat by our
Jaguars. Coach Jones…, this is division
1 in case you forgot, and the repeats of “we are going to play a really good
team that has a good defense and offense is a challenge for us,” needs to stop
and start showing confidence in our team. However yes indeed, but our Jaguars
are just as good as any other team we are facing. Make them play and not wine
about the games.
The conference games begin with Troy on September 29 on
ESPN 3, a true rivalry game with two in-state conference teams, which is
expected to be a large crowd of fans and tailgating for the Sun Belt Conference
and both teams. However, South Alabama needs to prove that they can compete in
the Sun Belt Conference and win games.
Let us stop the giving all high praise and get serious, because we too
are division 1 now and we can win games as well.
Coaches Willie Taggart of WKU and Todd Berry of ULM say
and believe of their opponents, they are good teams and play well, but we are
to. It’s the mentality and attitude you take into these games regardless of who
you are playing. You may not win all and you may win a couple of upsets, but
when you come out, the score, performance and game plan was much better than
expected. And just that mentality and attitude with good game plans produce excitement
for their teams and brought down then No. 8 Arkansas and Kentucky both of the
powerhouse SEC.
Troy Trojans nearly beat Mississippi State this past weekend
as well as ULM with Auburn. But can South Alabama go to Starkville and forget
about the crowd and play good football and do the same and as its conference
teams has done and prove that they too are in the game of winning football
games regardless of who they are playing?
I hope that Coach Jones, OC Matthews and DC Clark will
bring out the toughness in this week practice leading up to Saturday night
game. Get those players minds ready, teach them to be focus and believe that
they can win.
