Coach Joey Jones Show Recap 2011-10-25
Teams huddle as they go to overtime in the Georgia Dome
Coach Joey Jones and Lee Shirvanian were joined by tight ends coach Bryant Vincent at Baumhower’s Restaurant on Airport Boulevard in Mobile Alabama.
They began by recapping some of the Georgia State game. Lee mentioned B.J. Scott’s big return to open the game. But the Jags were stopped inside the five yard line and couldn’t put it in the end zone. Answering Lee’s question concerning the impact that caused when they couldn’t score, Coach Jones said that it did have a affect on the game. Blocking was problematic on that series and the Jaguars have been pretty good in the red zone this season, but that stand gave the Panthers confidence that they could stop the Jags.
Lee asked if there is an advantage in scoring first in a game. Coach Jones answered by saying that he does not believe that it’s that much of an advantage. As a team you have to be able to withstand that. It’s nice to score first, but he thinks opening the second half with a score is bigger than opening a game with a score, especially if it’s a close game.
In the Fuego’s ‘Who’s Hot’ segment, Coach Jones called out Paul Bennett and Kevin Helms for their outstanding work both blocking and catching. Defensively he name Romelle Jones as one that is playing well.
For the Orthopedic Group’s injury report, Coach Jones mentioned B.J. Scott injured his knee by hitting it on the turf late in the game last Saturday. They are doing MRI’s and watching it. Right now it doesn’t look promising for him to play against Henderson State. Scott added some charge to the kickoff game with about 180 return yards for the game. Lee mentioned that the asked if they might get him involved in the offense.
Lee then turned to Coach Vincent and mentioned that the Jags routinely use multiple tight ends and that if you are a tight end, South Alabama is a place for you. As for throwing more to the tight ends, Coach Vincent says that they are taking what the defense gives them. Bennett and Helms both can block really well but they can also catch really well too.
Lee mentioned that you rarely say that there is a good penalty, but at the end of the fourth quarter, that was a good penalty. Bennett rushed and threw and interception, but due to a dead ball foul because they were missing a guy on the field. Lee mentioned that the thought the game was over because the flag was on the Jags. But since it was a dead ball foul and the clock had been stopped on the previous lay, they got another shot and made it count.
Coach Jones, when asked about his thoughts on overtime, said that they played an overtime game in San Antonio and felt good about it. Neither team scored in the first overtime, but going into the second, Coach Jones felt good about it. They felt good but couldn’t get the ball in the end zone.
Coach Vincent was asked about how he and Coach Jones got to know one another before he was hired for the staff. Coach Vincent said that they coached against each other in Birmingham when he was at Spain Park and Jones was at Mountain Brook. Hopefully their success in the college ranks will open the door for all of the good high school coaches to move up into college. Vincent is asked how he got to coach tight ends when he didn’t even have any tight ends at Spanish Fort last year. Coach Vincent said that when Coach Rodrique left, that was the position that was open.
Lee asked an email question about the final play of the game when Bennett’s pass was intercepted to end the game in the second overtime. He asked if that was a designed play and why not just run it on 2nd down from the two. Coach Jones said he expected that question and indicated that it was a called play to throw out of play-action if someone was open or throw it away. But protection was an issue and two guys came in unblocked, they hit his arm and the ball fluttered and was intercepted unfortunately. They had open players, one guy was covering two receivers.
Another email asked if we will see Myles in the game due to C.J.’s interceptions. Coach Jones said that, looking at Bennett’s stats, he doesn’t look good. But he only threw one interception actually, the others were tipped passes or his arm being hit. But he did say that Myles has been working hard in practice and will see some playing time this week but not because Bennett is playing bad.
Lee mentioned that most of the time Myles has been in the game it was for a run and asked if they had a wildcat play with one of their fast receivers like Jereme Jones or someone else. Coach Jones said that they probably should have one of those plays, but that they don’t have anything in their package yet. It’s something they would like to try though. He said that either Jones or Ameriol Finley would be ones that could do that.
Continuing talking about Finley, Lee asked about his transition from quarterback to defensive back and how it was going. Coach Vincent said that he hasn’t played on defense in two years, but he is doing well transitioning. He has plenty to learn but is progressing well. He is making contributions right now in special teams.
Coach Vincent continued talking about tight ends and throwing to them more lately. He said that Paul Bennett and Kevin Helms are primarily blockers, but that Coach Gregory is doing a good job of using what they do and getting those guys out in the flat to throw to. Helms is doing very well catching the ball and gaining yards.
Lee then asked about what the coaches do during halftime, how they meet with the players. Coach Jones answered that they split the offense to one side and defense to the other side in the locker room. Coaches meet and decide what they are going to do, then they meet with the whole offense and defense as a unit before breaking down into individual groups.
Coach Jones later said that he is worried that the team may be tending to play to the level of their opponents. They are playing their hearts out, but that they may be playing emotionally to the level of the team they are playing. That’s something they have to be aware of. As a coach, they have to know when to get the players up for a game and when they need calming down too.
A caller asked for Coach Jones to talk about recruiting, particularly in the Mobile and Baldwin County area. Coach Jones said that they have good relationships with coaches in the area. They start in Mobile and work their way out looking for players. It’s great for South Alabama to have so many good players right here in the Mobile area.
Lee asked about the two big touchdown passes from Hill to Wilson for Georgia State. Coach Jones said that those two big plays were huge. If either of those two plays or two tipped passes for interceptions go our way, he feels that USA would have won the game. They just have to stay away from the turnovers and stop the big plays.
One caller asked Coach Jones if he would have gone for a two point conversion or would have just kicked the extra point if they had scored a touchdown in the second overtime. Coach Jones answered by saying he would go for the extra point. He said he was confident that they would win the game. Usually teams that don’t think they can outright win may go for two to end it early if they have the chance.
Coach Jones acknowledged that the offense has been sputtering this season. He said that losing T.J. Glover and Courtney Smith will do that, they lost some big play makers. T.J. could catch a short pass and then outrun players for a big gain and Courtney made many big catches. Going five yards at a time is tough to do consistently, but if you can make some big plays it really helps and that is what they are lacking right now.
Greg Hollinger is getting more involved in the offense, he is behind due to preseason injuries. He is getting more involved each game.
Back to recruiting, Coach Vincent said that it helps recruiting by previously being a high school coach. Coach Jones agreed and added that being a head coach in the high school ranks, you know how you want to be treated, so as a recruiter they have built relationships with coach and not just strolled in and asked who their best players were.
Finally they look ahead to Henderson State. Lee indicated that their quarterback is out or will be questionable for the game. Coach Jones said they have to prepare for both, but they are very similar so unlike GSU they will not have to prepare for quarterbacks with totally different styles.