Keys For The Jags This Evening
South Alabama, the newcomers, visit Jonesboro to face the defending Sun Belt Champion Arkansas State. But this Jaguar team is not your normal run of the mill new football team.
In only the fourth season of football, the Jags defense is ranked second in the Sun Belt and 38th nationally. But they are among the nations worst in offense right now.
Arkansas State offensive line coach J.B. Grimes told the Arkansas State University newspaper, “They’re really, really far along as a defensive football team (and) as a football team overall. They’re much further along than I think what a lot of people in this league anticipated. I’ve been very impressed watching these guys on tape.”
Grimes also said that the Jaguar defensive line is “Very, very well coached” and “very sound”.
Arkansas State’s first-year head coach Gus Malzahn was also quoted talking about the Jaguars offense, “They have a new coordinator, and you can see they are getting better with what they are doing. Their quarterbacks stand out to me, they look very solid to me. Their offensive line is a very solid line, and they have a big athletic running back.”
Arkansas State’s rushing defense is ranked 113th nationally and have been working this week to adjust to the mulitple formations that the Jaguars run. Sophomore linebacker Qushaun Lee returned last week after being suspended for the Western Kentucky game. In his return against FIU, he tallied 12 tackles, an interception and a pass breakup while earning the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week honors.
The Jaguar defense will have to play smart and disciplined against the Malzahn offense. They are third in the conference in total offense/game with 470.8 yards per game and leads the conference in rushing offense per game with 232.2 yards per game. But the Arkansas passing offense is third in the conference with 238.7 yards per game.
But most of all, the Jaguar offense must get in gear without Demetre Baker. Baker will miss the game due to suspension.
Comments
One Response to “Keys For The Jags This Evening”
Penalties, penalties, penalties.I keep saying the Jags are for real. Look at the box score. Metheny is for real. Defense is for real. For goodness sakes guys, you are winners…But… penalties, penalties, penalties. Shows a lack of discipline. Discipline comes from coaching. Joey, time to take off the kindness cap and get ticked off! it’s ok to get angry…just ask Saban.