Jaguar Football Returns to Practice Fields This Afternoon
Head Coach Joey Jones observes the Jags first scrimmage of preseason camp on Saturday, August 10, 2013.
The South Alabama football team is scheduled to hold their second of 15 spring practices this afternoon from 3-5pm on campus at the Jaguar practice facility. It’s the second of four practices scheduled this week without a scrimmage.
In the first practice on Monday, the team worked out in helmets and shorts. The team period consisted of six offensive possessions at their own 30 yard line. The first and second teams had two drives each consisting of five snaps and the third team had two possessions of four snaps, all over a 15 minute window.
Offensive coordinator Bryant Vincent singled out running back Dami Ayoola as the player of the day on offense. Vincent praised Ayoola for his footwork and vision as well as his ability to catch the ball.
Defensive coordinator Travis Pearson singled out Tre Alford for his efforts on defense. Pearson said that Alford is playing with lots of energy and enthusiasm. He understands what he is doing on the football field.
The play of the day went to Jeremy Reaves who made diving pass break-up that was intended for receiver Tyrone Williams that would have resulted in a first down during the team period.
Between the three offensive units during a pair of 12-minute 7-on-7 skeleton passing drills, they threw more than 60 passes. The two drills were split between the start and end of the workouts.
Coach Jones was pleased with the first day of practice. “I thought there was great effort and a real good tempo today, I was real proud of that,” he said afterwards. “But we can get better; we have a bunch of guys who understand it, a bunch who are close to understanding it and a bunch who don’t understand it. We have to get more guys to that top level, that’s what the spring is all about.”
Jones continued, “Spring is about positions. I know the coordinators want to get them together and have cohesiveness, but in my opinion the spring is more about trying to get the individual better because if they get better our team is going to be better. We have to concentrate on them fundamentally, we can’t lose sight of that. Sometimes you get caught up too much in scheme, but we’re not playing a game in the spring.”
Jones also mentioned that he is excited to have new additions to the coaching staff. “I’m real excited about them, there’s a chemistry. With each time we lose a coach, we have an opportunity for someone to come in here and show themselves. We’ve done a good job of bringing guys in who understand the game, and they’re good people as well.”