Jags Practice In Shells For Second Straight Day Wednesday
Head coach Joey Jones is preparing his team for what he says will be a physically challenging team on Saturday. Jones said that North Texas likes to come right at the teams they face, especially on offense, to see how they handle it.
Coach Jones said that the team will have to be both physically and mentally prepared for the Mean Green’s attack. “Defensively, we better realize it’s going to be a very physical game and we better step up to the challenge,” Jones said following Wednesday’s practice. “They’re going to run the football right at you and find out if you can stand up to them.”
“Offensively, they’re the same way,” he continued. “They’re physical inside and they’re going to try to take the run away and we have to be physical to match up with their physicality. We better be ready for that type of game.”
The Jags practiced in shells for the second consecutive day. On Tuesday coach Jones said that practice sessions are not being altered as to how they prepare, but that they are just not dressing out in full pads.
However coach Jones was not impressed by the teams two hour practice Wednesday morning. He described the practice as being “Average.” He continued by saying, “I didn’t think we had a great day. I thought we had an average day. We were up and down a little bit and not as consistent as I would like to be.”
The WNSP morning show talked to Mean Green head coach Dan McCarney on Wednesday. He was very complimentary of South Alabama and coach Joey Jones. It was mentioned that the North Texas offensive line ranks first in the conference in sacks again by only allowing six sacks through nine games. While the Jaguar defense is ranked second in the conference with 20 sacks in nine games.
McCarney also mentioned how good the defensive line and linebackers are for the Jags. But he thinks the UNT offensive line will be ready since they were able to hold up against the likes of LSU, Kansas State and Houston along with the rest of the Sun Belt schedule while only allowing six sacks.
It could come down to who gets the early advantage in the game. Both teams are slow out of the gate but finish games strong. South Alabama has been outscored 175-75 in the first half while North Texas has been outscored 143-80 in the first half. But both have outscored their opponents in the fourth quarter.