MOBILE, Ala. – While much has been made about the University of South Alabama football program’s conversion to a spread offensive attack, lost in the discussion is the effect the transition is having on the Jaguar defense.
According to defensive coordinator Bill Clark, it’s a move that should benefit the Jags on the other side of the ball as well.
“We constantly talk about playing fast,” he said after Tuesday’s two-hour practice at the fields on campus. “We prepare ourselves for a high-tempo offense. To see it every second of the day now, it really stresses you. But that’s what we want, to be stressed in practice — we want to make practice harder than the games.
“That’s why we don’t want to just sit in one front and one coverage. We want to be multiple, with no excuses for not getting a call or a check. You see these things when you play against a high-tempo team in the spring, so if a weakness is apparent you have a chance to fix it.”
With a multiple 3-4 system already in place, USA’s focus defensively this spring is on developing depth. “For us right now, it’s identifying players. We’ve got a lot of guys back, but we’re looking to be two-deep,” Clark explained. “We’re looking for two guys at every position who could be considered starters; if you can get further than that, great.
“We’re also looking for a sense of urgency, a sense of competition. Obviously, spring is for fundamentals and all the coach speak that you hear about getting better at all the little things — that’s what we’re doing.”
The area that Clark and head coach Joey Jones have addressed most frequently since the end of the 2011 campaign has been the defensive backfield, where two of the four starters from opening day were unavailable by the end of the year. In addition to the arrival of junior-college transfers Darrius Morrow and Charles Watson, Terrell Brigham and Jonathan Cameron are also back with the Jags. Clark also cited Qudarius Ford and Eddy Cabrera at cornerback, as well as Gabe Loper, Charles Harris and Alonzo Long at safety.
“We’re really excited about our secondary, the group has a lot of ability,” observed Clark. “We’re asking them to do a lot of things; we probably were a little more basic last year because we had so many changes, losing guys from the spring to the summer for different reasons, so we scaled it back just a hair. We’re throwing the kitchen sink at them right now. Along with the tempo our offense brings, it’s tough on them, but they’ve responded really well.”
As the midway point of spring drills approaches, Clark noted that his unit has not suffered any significant injuries. The Jaguars have been playing this month without Bryson James, B.J. Scott and Enrique Williams — a trio that contributed 125 total tackles, eight passes broken up and a pair of forced fumbles in the fall — however, their absence has created opportunities for other individuals to make in impact.
Not only that, but with more experience in the spring, those current back-ups are expected to create increased competition for playing time next season.
“We’ve been healthy — knock on wood — expect for an ankle injury here or a tweak there,” stated Clark. “But most guys are in good shape, so hopefully we are developing depth at those positions and the guys will be challenged when they come back and have to compete for those jobs.
“That’s what we want, competition every day; we tell them every day that the depth chart changes.”
The highlight of Thursday’s practice was a nearly half-hour period in which the offense faced the defense in third-down situations. It was the Jaguars’ final workout in full pads prior to the first scrimmage of the spring, which is set for Saturday at 2:45 p.m. at the fields on campus. USA will practice in shells for two hours Thursday morning as well this week.
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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