Metheny Leads Conference In Total Offense Per Game, McClain To Fill Romelle’s Shoes
The Jaguars rally at mid field after they enter the field to just prior to kickoff against Western Kentucky on Saturday, September 14, 2013.
Head coach Joey Jones said that Romelle Jones would be a game-time decision on if he would be able to play. But someone has to fill his shoes in case he cannot go on Saturday against Arkansas State.
In steps Jerome McClain. It’s highly likely that he will be called upon to start in place of Romelle, who suffered a knee injury against Texas State on a chop-block.
McClain has seen playing time in all seven of the Jags games and has 16 tackles to show for it. McClain is a 6’3″ 275-pound Pensacola native and is a JuCo transfer from Northwest Mississippi Community College.
Arkansas State will bring an experienced and strong offensive line to Ladd-Peebles Stadium. The Red Wolves know Ladd well as they have played in the GoDaddy.com bowl over the past two seasons.
In preseason camp the Jags lost Will Thompson for the season and lost Randon Carnathan in the Jags second game against Tulane with an Achille’s heel injury. In order to absorb the injury to Romell until he can return to the field, Coach Turner told AL.com that they will move Ceasare Johnson back to the inside.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the ball, quarterback Ross Metheny leads the conference in total offense with an average of 267.3 yards per game, which puts him ahead of Troy’s Corey Robinson who is averaging 265.5 yards per game of total offense.
Metheny is in third place in the conference in scoring touchdowns with an average of 7.1 points per game with eight rushing touchdowns and a two-point conversion pass reception for a total of 50 points. He also ranks fifth in the conference in overall scoring with his 7.1 points per game average. He also ranks fourth in the conference in average passing yards per game with 227 and pass efficiency with 143.5.
Wednesday’s practice was solid accoring to coach Jones. He said he thought the team started off slow and possibly a little tired, but picked up the pace towards the end. He also said that its about the Jags approach to the game will be key in the game. He said they could not go out there and expect good things to happen, but rather they have to go out and make good things happen.
USA and Arkansas State kick off at 6:30pm on Saturday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in a Sun Belt Conference game.