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Kennedy a passing thought to A&M
Alabama State's star QB will be taking aim at a suspect secondary
10/24/01
By REGGIE BENSON
Times Sports Staff reggieb@htimes.com
Against the best quarterbacks in the Southwestern Athletic Conference,
Alabama A&M's secondary has failed miserably this season.
Grambling's Randy Hymes threw for 205 yards and two touchdowns in the
Tigers' 30-7 victory. Jackson State's Robert Kent threw for 438 yards and
four touchdown passes in a 26-14 win. Southern's Terrence Levy threw for
228 yards and two touchdowns as the Jaguars hung on for a 23-20 victory.
Even the Miles College quarterback tandem of Nick Smith and Marcus
Tyree almost took out the Bulldogs, combining to throw for 295 yards and
a touchdown in a loss over the weekend.
Alabama State's Darnell Kennedy is the latest SWAC quarterback to take
aim at A&M's porous secondary. Kennedy, among the nation's best in
Division I-AA, has been on a tear over the last four games, throwing for
1,100 yards and 12 touchdowns.
''Kennedy is a difference-maker on their team,'' A&M free safety Rashad
Watson said. ''When they don't have him, the team looks like a different
team. He's not the biggest quarterback, but he just produces.''
If A&M is to beat ASU in the 60th annual Magic City Classic Saturday
afternoon at Birmingham's Legion Field, the Bulldogs' secondary will have
to keep Kennedy from putting up big numbers.
''We've got to keep him contained and force him to throw some bad
passes,'' cornerback Reggie Johnson said.
Statistically, it appears to be a mismatch. ASU is second in the SWAC in
passing offense, averaging more than 235 yards per game. A&M is last in
the SWAC in pass defense, giving up more than 265 yards per game.
A&M free safety Henry Freeman says the numbers don't mean a thing
when the teams go on the field.
''The numbers say we're last but we've stepped up at times,'' said
Freeman, who had the game-clinching interception to help A&M preserve
the win over Miles. ''We're going to hold our own Saturday. We can't be
intimidated because he's one of the best passers in the SWAC.''
Even the best passers can be had.
Southern harassed Kennedy into a 10-for-27 performance and picked him
off four times more than a month ago.
''We blitzed him 95 percent of the time last year, but we can't blitz him
that much this time around,'' A&M coach Ron Cooper said. ''We want to
force him to throw out of the well. We can't let him scramble because it
makes the defensive backs go a little crazy and they're well-coached with
finding the open receiver. We're going to put a spy on him so we can know
where he is at all times.''
Knowing how to defend Kennedy and pulling it off are two different things.
Cooper knows all about it, having blown a 22-0 third quarter lead four
years ago as Kennedy led the Hornets all the way back.
''He's a heck of a football player,'' Cooper said. ''I don't remember him
being as fast as he looks on film. He's looks fast.''
Kennedy a passing thought to A&M
Alabama State's star QB will be taking aim at a suspect secondary
10/24/01
By REGGIE BENSON
Times Sports Staff reggieb@htimes.com
Against the best quarterbacks in the Southwestern Athletic Conference,
Alabama A&M's secondary has failed miserably this season.
Grambling's Randy Hymes threw for 205 yards and two touchdowns in the
Tigers' 30-7 victory. Jackson State's Robert Kent threw for 438 yards and
four touchdown passes in a 26-14 win. Southern's Terrence Levy threw for
228 yards and two touchdowns as the Jaguars hung on for a 23-20 victory.
Even the Miles College quarterback tandem of Nick Smith and Marcus
Tyree almost took out the Bulldogs, combining to throw for 295 yards and
a touchdown in a loss over the weekend.
Alabama State's Darnell Kennedy is the latest SWAC quarterback to take
aim at A&M's porous secondary. Kennedy, among the nation's best in
Division I-AA, has been on a tear over the last four games, throwing for
1,100 yards and 12 touchdowns.
''Kennedy is a difference-maker on their team,'' A&M free safety Rashad
Watson said. ''When they don't have him, the team looks like a different
team. He's not the biggest quarterback, but he just produces.''
If A&M is to beat ASU in the 60th annual Magic City Classic Saturday
afternoon at Birmingham's Legion Field, the Bulldogs' secondary will have
to keep Kennedy from putting up big numbers.
''We've got to keep him contained and force him to throw some bad
passes,'' cornerback Reggie Johnson said.
Statistically, it appears to be a mismatch. ASU is second in the SWAC in
passing offense, averaging more than 235 yards per game. A&M is last in
the SWAC in pass defense, giving up more than 265 yards per game.
A&M free safety Henry Freeman says the numbers don't mean a thing
when the teams go on the field.
''The numbers say we're last but we've stepped up at times,'' said
Freeman, who had the game-clinching interception to help A&M preserve
the win over Miles. ''We're going to hold our own Saturday. We can't be
intimidated because he's one of the best passers in the SWAC.''
Even the best passers can be had.
Southern harassed Kennedy into a 10-for-27 performance and picked him
off four times more than a month ago.
''We blitzed him 95 percent of the time last year, but we can't blitz him
that much this time around,'' A&M coach Ron Cooper said. ''We want to
force him to throw out of the well. We can't let him scramble because it
makes the defensive backs go a little crazy and they're well-coached with
finding the open receiver. We're going to put a spy on him so we can know
where he is at all times.''
Knowing how to defend Kennedy and pulling it off are two different things.
Cooper knows all about it, having blown a 22-0 third quarter lead four
years ago as Kennedy led the Hornets all the way back.
''He's a heck of a football player,'' Cooper said. ''I don't remember him
being as fast as he looks on film. He's looks fast.''
