MOBILE, Ala. – Monday marked the first day of classes on the University of South Alabama campus, but that’s not the only reason why the Jaguar football team’s Monday morning practice had a different feel to it.
“The big thing is that we started putting the game plan in today,” stated Jag head coach Joey Jones. “We will continue to work on that as the week goes on, and obviously we’ll do a lot during game week.
“The focus [of practice] changes because you’re really working on your next opponent. You still concentrate on fundamentals and practicing hard, but we want to focus on what the opposition is doing and gear our practices toward that. The first two weeks when we went offense against defense we didn’t care what the other did, we were just going against each other.
“Now, we’re drawing up cards and the scout teams are running what Pikeville is offensively and defensively so we can see what they’re doing. There will be more preparation for the game this week than there has been the last two.”
The Jags practiced for approximately two hours at the fields on campus to open the week, working out in just shells. There were two 10-minute teams periods, while in between those USA went through 15 minutes of seven-on-seven skeleton drills before working against scout teams for 25 minutes.
In the second team period, the first- and second-team offensive units each had one two-minute drill drive. The first-team defense got a stop without allowing a first-down, however Brennan Sim connected with Corey Besteda twice — the second time from 50 yards out down the left sideline — as the second-team reached the end zone.
Specials teams work at Monday’s practice included punt coverage early and ended with punt returns, while most of the first hour on the field was dedicated to drills by position.
“We were a little bit off early, offensively we sputtered around a little bit and didn’t complete some balls,” Jones said. “I think maybe after the long weekend we were a little bit sluggish. We did better during the team periods.”
Jones also noted that knowing the team returns to class today affected the Jaguars as well.
“We have to have a great week. We’ve talked about the rest of the schedule with the players,” he explained. “With school starting, there always seems to be a day or two to make the mental adjustment where their minds aren’t totally focused on practice. I challenged them to focus on where they are, whether it is in the classroom or on the field.
“Next week is game week, so they have to get their minds on what they are doing.”
Tuesday’s practice will begin on campus at 8 a.m.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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