Final two-a-day practice of fall camp
The Jags hit the practice field Thursday morning for their first practice of their final two-a-day practices of fall camp. On Wednesday, the Jags skipped the practice field to visit Camp Grace for team building exercises off the field.
Thursdays practice was a bit different than previous practices. Not only did they hit the field in shells only, but they also did not have team segments like in previous practices. Instead of situational drills, the offense and defense faced scout teams.
Coach Jones was not very pleased with the Jags final practice leading into the last day of camp and the Jags final scrimmage. “I thought it was average, and not the way we want to practice in order to be a great football team. You practice average, you play average. It was hot, and we can make every excuse in the world, but that’s the way it was. It wasn’t a terrible practice, but the bottom line is they can pick it up more than that. I think they might have thought it was an off day because we have a scrimmage tomorrow. I probably didn’t do a very good job of getting them ready.”
For the final scrimmage, Coach Jones has a a few things he wants to see. “What I want to see is great sideline organization, I want to make sure it’s like a game on the sidelines, and out on the field I want to see us executing,” Coach Jones said. “They have to know their assignments and their alignments, they have to have great technique. Football is all about execution, most teams beat themselves. If we can concentrate on our deal individually, then we will be great as a football team.”
With the first game a mere 13 days away, the coaches will be looking to set the depth chart and start letting the first-team players get the majority of snaps. As for the scrimmage, it will focus on specific situations as well as every aspect of special teams play. The defense would be allowed to hit, but tackling will not be allowed in the scrimmage.
“We’ll evaluate players over the weekend and decide who we will go into the first game with,” Coach Jones explained. “I think it’s good to get the kids away from us more so than physically rested. They’ve been around us pretty much 10 hours a day for the last 11, 12 days, so I think they need to get away from us and clear their heads a little bit.”
In other news, preferred walk-on Trey Fetner was rewarded for his hard work and ability which was showcased in preseason camp with a scholarship. Fetner, a 6′ 1” 204-pound quarterback from Woodland High School in Woodland, AL, threw for 1,611 yards and 13 touchdowns in his Junior season in addition he rushed for 612 yards and eight touchdowns. Additionally, he had 11 starts at safety where he averaged 8.4 tackles per game.
Fetner received an offer from West Alabama, but FBS schools did not take a chance on him. South Alabama invited Fetner to join the team as a preferred walk-on. When Coach Jones had a scholarship come available, the coaching staff decided to give him one. The Jags hope to reshirt Fetner this season and keep him around for five years.
The scrimmage Friday morning will be the final day of preseason camp and will be the final practice until Monday morning, which is also the first day of classes for the fall semester. It will also begin full scale preparation for the season opening game against West Alabama on Thursday, September 1. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30pm.