Claws Out: South Alabama Travels To Georgia State For Final Road Game Of Season
The South Alabama Jaguar football team (1-9, 0-6 SBC) plays in their final road game of the 2019 season on Saturday when they take on the Georgia State Panthers (6-4, 3-3 SBC) in Atlanta.
Of the two remaining games of the season, this game may be the more likely of the two for the Jags to not only get their first FBS win of the season, but also break a 14-game road losing streak dating back to the 2017 season.
Over the last two games the Jaguar offense has shown signs of life behind the direction of redshirt freshman Desmond Trotter. The team missed a go-ahead field goal against Texas State in the final two minutes of the game. Then against Louisiana-Lafayette, who had the top scoring defense in the conference, the Jags rolled up 351 yards rushing and 27 points.
Tra Minter has been a workhorse all season long but with the emergence of Carlos Davis, the Jags rushing attack has found someone to compliment Tra and to build around going forward.
With Georgia State’s defense allowing over 200 yards rushing per game, offensive coordinator Kenny Edenfield will look for a repeat performance in rushing production from the ULL game.
But the Jaguar offense cannot be one-dimentional.
Trotter will eventually need to throw the ball effectively. Though he’s only made two starts in his career in college, he has yet to pass for 200 yards or more. Last weekend against ULL, he only attempted 15 passes and only had 2 passing yards at halftime.
While the offense has started finding it’s way, the defense has regressed. They allowed 373 yards passing to Texas State two weeks ago and then 255 yards rushing to ULL last weekend. But all season the defense has struggled getting off the field on 3rd down but have allowed a number of 3rd and longs to be converted lately.
The Jaguar defense will face a quarterback who was committed to head coach Steve Campbell’s staff at Central Arkansas, he didn’t follow him along to Mobile when Campbell was hired. Instead he chose to go with the Panthers.
Dan Ellington has completed 64% of his passes for 1,901 yards, 19 touchdowns and six interceptions on the year.
But that’s not the most remarkable note about Ellington. Despite suffering a torn ACL, he started against Appalachian State and is listed as probable against the Jaguars. Though the Panthers lost 56-27, they held a 21-7 lead early in the game.
Part of Ellington’s danger is his ability to run, which has been neutralized by his injury. How much mobility he has will be see on Saturday.
Expect the Jaguar defense to turn up the pressure if he mobility is limited. Last week against App. State, Ellington threw two interceptions and eventually gave way to redshirt freshman Cornelious Brown in the second half when App State started taking control of the game.
The Jags will be without defensive lineman Tyree Turner and tight end Khameron Taylor. Offensive lineman Joshua McCulloch is questionable to play. Defensive lineman Jordon Beaton is listed as probable.
If the Jags are going to get an FBS win this season, this may be their best opportunity of the two remaining games. Between an injured starting quarterback and an inexperienced backup, coupled with a defense that allows over 200 yards per game rushing, the numbers game sure looks good for USA.
The Panthers are favored by 10 points. Not only do I think the Jags will cover, but I think they will win outright.
The Jags and the Panthers are scheduled to kickoff at 1pm in Atlanta at Georgia State Stadium. The game can be streamed on ESPN+ and radio coverage will begin at 11am on 99.5 FM The Jag and 96.1 FM in Mobile and worldwide on the iHeartMedia app.
Go Jags!
South Alabama Opens Conference Play Against Louisiana-Monroe
In the past two games South Alabama has been outscored 77-9 and have fallen to 1-3 on the season. But the coaching staff is quick to tell you that the real season starts now. They have eight games remaining in the season and they are all conference games.
The coaches are correct.
If the Jags can make a huge turnaround in time, they can still get bowl eligible with five wins. Plus they still hold their own destiny in making the inaugural Sun Belt Conference Championship too.
But as much optimism the first game of the season against Nebraska gave the fans. The last two game have soured them as much or maybe more.
The offense has protected the ball better after turning the ball over several times in the first couple of games. However, the offense has been ineffective moving the ball the last two weeks. They seemed to have been starting to find their way late in the first quarter of the UAB game as Cephus Johnson was running the option pretty well. Cephus racked up 41 yards on six carries, unfortunately he had to leave the game with a concussion late in that first quarter.
After losing some offensive firepower last season both to graduation and to the transfer portal, the number of offensive play makers has dwindled. Tra Minter still leads the team rushing and in all-purpose yards while Kawaan Baker is a great possession receiver who is able to make big plays and has been effective at times running the jet sweep and snagging a touchdown here and there. It has made it hard to get the ball into those play makers hands.
USA’s defense could not get stops against Memphis or UAB. The Blazers controlled the ball for 39:58, wasn’t forced to punt until the 3rd quarter, and allowed them to convert all four 3rd down conversion on the opening drive of the second half, a drive that lasted almost nine full minutes.
As the Jags head into their first conference game of the season against Louisiana-Monroe, they enter ranked 117th of 130 FBS teams in total offense (322.5 yards per game), 119th in passing (146.5 yards per game, and 124th in scoring (16.75 points per game).
In head coach Steve Campbell’s press conference to begin the week, he said that the problem wasn’t the offensive strategy, but rather execution.
“We can draw up new plays, but it is still going to be about a little thing here and a little thing there,” Campbell said Monday. “It’s not what we’re doing, but how we are doing it. Obviously, we need to get the ball to Tra Minter and make sure that KB [Kawaan Baker] gets opportunities.”
The offensive line was manhandled by the Blazers on Saturday. They allowed four sacks and eight tackles for loss.
The Warhawks forced Florida State into overtime in a 45-44 loss to the ‘Noles. They scored 20 points against a good Iowa State team. But on the other side, they allowed 72 points to Iowa State.
South Alabama needs to get off to a fast start on both sides of the ball. They can’t afford to fall behind early and struggle moving the ball and scoring points. After the first drive of the second half against UAB, the Jags defense was able to get stops on the Blazers. Similarly, the Jags defense got stops in the second half of the Memphis game as well.
The defense needs to clamp down early. They could really use Tyree Turner, who is doubtful with an ankle injury suffered against Nebraska.
Offensively, the Jags have got to extend drives by converting 3rd downs and ultimately put points on the board. If it’s by running more option and play action passing then do it, because the RPO has not been working.
It’s running the same play over and over again and the opponents have gotten wise to it. I’m looking at you Kenny Edenfield, as the offensive coordinator you need some better scheming.
The coaching staff has reiterated their support of Cephus as the starting quarterback. But heading into the game he (concussion) and wide receiver Jalen Wayne (foot) are both listed as probable.
The current spread is ULM by 16 points. I’ve picked the Jags the last two weeks to cover and it hasn’t worked out for me. But also based on what I’ve seen the last two weeks, I don’t know if they can turn around everything that is wrong in just one week.
I think the Warhawks cover the 16 point spread, but a late surge by the Jags makes it close. The Warhawks allow 244 yards per game and nearly 6 yards per carry rushing.
South Alabama and Louisiana-Monroe kick off at 6pm in Monroe, LA. The game will be available to streamed on ESPN+ with a subscription. Play-by-play coverage will be aired on 99.5FM The Jag locally in Mobile and worldwide via iHeartMedia app on the web and smartphones.
A Cat Fight: Jags vs Tigers
South Alabama (1-1) exploded for a school record 413 yards rushing last week against Jackson State. Though it was against a FCS school, that amount of rushing yards is still quite a feat.
The Jags welcomes a more formidable opponent to Ladd-Peebles Stadium in the Memphis Tigers (2-0).
This one should be a cat fight from the beginning.
A year ago in Memphis, the Jags were only down by four points 31-27 late in the third quarter before the Tigers pulled away for a 52-35 victory. However UM got a big shot in the arm to start the 2019 season by knocking off Ole Miss 15-10 at home. They followed that up with a 55-24 win over FCS Southern University.
The Tigers quarterback Brady White may be one of the best quarterbacks the Jags will see this season. Against Southern, he went 17-of-21 for 337 yards and two touchdowns in only three quarters of work. Against Ole Miss he went 23-of-31 for 172 yards. That’s a 77% completion clip through the first two games.
While the Tigers will with without their starting running back Patrick Taylor, they have a freshmen in Kenneth Gainwell who started his first game last week and rushed for 85 yards. Also gone is Darrell Henderson, who went for 188 yards and two touchdowns in last years game as he left school early for the NFL draft (LA Rams).
The Jags will look to keep a Memphis streak alive, for each of the last three seasons the Tigers have dropped their first road game of the season. In 2016 it was Ole Miss, in 2017 it was UCF and last year it was Navy.
Can USA make it four in a row?
The Jags defense is currently ranked 24th nationally in passing yards allowed. Additionally their rushing defense has been playing pretty well so far and are looking to atone for their performance a year ago.
Tra Minter will be a focus for the Memphis defense. He averages 216.5 all-purpose yards per game, which is third in the nation. He was the majority of the Jags offense last week against JSU. The Tigers have yet to allow a 100 yard rusher this year, but Minter will be their biggest test yet.
Now with a clear #2 back behind Minter in Jared Wilson, the Jags have what looks like a nice 1-2 punch with a change of pace.
Concerning things from last week was the continued turnover problem with Cephus Johnson. Granted it was only his third start but with six total turnovers in two games, four interceptions and two fumbles, including two that resulted in defensive touchdowns and two other that occurred in the opponents red zone, protecting the ball will have to be a premium.
Johnson has been exploited because he had locked into a receiver early allowing the defenders to read his eyes. But the two fumbles came from backside pressure that he never felt.
The other concerning thing from last week was discipline. When they traveled to Nebraska, the Jags were very disciplined and commit few penalties. But at home against JSU, the Jags were flagged 11 times for 101 yards and had three players ejected for targeting, including two on back-to-back plays. Fortunately it was an FCS opponent and didn’t really hurt them against an over-matched opponent. But against another FBS school, it could very well cost them the game, especially if it were to be Riley Cole again.
Injuries:
Jags will be without WR Jalen Wayne, LB Kade Koler and LB Patrick Rosette. RB Jalin Buie is out for the season with a knee injury. Defensive lineman Tyree Turner is questionable for the game.
Memphis will be without RB Patrick Taylor and DB Chis Claybrooks. DL O’Bryan Goodson is questionable.
Line:
Memphis is favored by 19 points. I think the Jags have be good opportunity to keep this game close into the fourth quarter and sneak out a win. I’ll take the under in this game.
The game is scheduled to kick off at 2:30pm at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. The game will be aired on ESPNU and can the radio broadcast can be heard on 99.5FM The Jag locally in Mobile and through the iHeartRadio app online.