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J-State zeros in on defense
New coordinator has 15 sessionsto install system
By Mark Alexander
Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer
Jackson State will open spring practice today with six returning defensive starters.
Those spots are anything but secure, though, says new JSU defensive coordinator Greg Johnson.
"I told them when I got here every spot was wide open," Johnson said. "It's put up or shut up. Everybody will have an opportunity to show me what they can do."
Johnson, a former head coach at Prairie View, was hired in February to shore up a defense that ranked seventh in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in total defense (347.5 yards per game) and ninth in scoring defense (31.1 points per game).
That task begins in earnest this spring when Johnson hopes to install "75-80 percent" of his defensive system. No question, Johnson and the defensive side of the ball will be a main focus during the 15 practice sessions leading up to the April 26 spring game.
"It's very important to get my system in this spring and carry that over into the fall," he said. "I'm going to try to keep things as close to the same as last year as far as terminology. I want the transition to be a smooth one."
So does JSU coach Robert Hughes.
"I know what Coach Johnson's plans and ideas are and I'm behind him 100 percent," Hughes said. "We were weak on defense, stat-wise, last season so I'm hoping we can improve in that area. And I feel like we will."
Johnson has spent the last several weeks watching JSU game film from this past season in an effort to get to know the existing personnel. he'll get his first up-and-close look today at 3 p.m.
"We'll still run the 46 scheme, kinda like last year," Johnson said. "I'll change some things. We want to force people into things they don't want to do. We'll play the odds; if we need to blitz we will, if we don't we won't.
"The main thing I want to do is change the attitude, that's the biggest change. I want to up the tempo and have my players getting around the football."
The entire defensive front returns as does linebacker Elgin Andrews, who led the SWAC in tackles. Only one starter, cornerback Derrick Watson, returns in the secondary.
"We're young," Johnson said.
Johnson has made two changes before taking the field for his first practice at JSU, moving Andrews from outside to inside linebacker and Bobby Bell from linebacker to defensive end. Also, Reginald Green will switch from offensive to defensive line.
"We plan on moving a lot of people around and looking at them at different positions," Johnson said.
Bell, who played sparingly at linebacker this past season, is excited about the position change and the possibilities under Johnson.
"I just want to play," Bell said. "I'm looking forward to the change, and a lot of the other guys seem pretty fired up, too. It seems like he's (Johnson) got some pretty good schemes. It looks like he's going to be very versatile, and not necessarily show all the same looks. We've just got to adjust to his way of doing things.
New coordinator has 15 sessionsto install system
By Mark Alexander
Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer
Jackson State will open spring practice today with six returning defensive starters.
Those spots are anything but secure, though, says new JSU defensive coordinator Greg Johnson.
"I told them when I got here every spot was wide open," Johnson said. "It's put up or shut up. Everybody will have an opportunity to show me what they can do."
Johnson, a former head coach at Prairie View, was hired in February to shore up a defense that ranked seventh in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in total defense (347.5 yards per game) and ninth in scoring defense (31.1 points per game).
That task begins in earnest this spring when Johnson hopes to install "75-80 percent" of his defensive system. No question, Johnson and the defensive side of the ball will be a main focus during the 15 practice sessions leading up to the April 26 spring game.
"It's very important to get my system in this spring and carry that over into the fall," he said. "I'm going to try to keep things as close to the same as last year as far as terminology. I want the transition to be a smooth one."
So does JSU coach Robert Hughes.
"I know what Coach Johnson's plans and ideas are and I'm behind him 100 percent," Hughes said. "We were weak on defense, stat-wise, last season so I'm hoping we can improve in that area. And I feel like we will."
Johnson has spent the last several weeks watching JSU game film from this past season in an effort to get to know the existing personnel. he'll get his first up-and-close look today at 3 p.m.
"We'll still run the 46 scheme, kinda like last year," Johnson said. "I'll change some things. We want to force people into things they don't want to do. We'll play the odds; if we need to blitz we will, if we don't we won't.
"The main thing I want to do is change the attitude, that's the biggest change. I want to up the tempo and have my players getting around the football."
The entire defensive front returns as does linebacker Elgin Andrews, who led the SWAC in tackles. Only one starter, cornerback Derrick Watson, returns in the secondary.
"We're young," Johnson said.
Johnson has made two changes before taking the field for his first practice at JSU, moving Andrews from outside to inside linebacker and Bobby Bell from linebacker to defensive end. Also, Reginald Green will switch from offensive to defensive line.
"We plan on moving a lot of people around and looking at them at different positions," Johnson said.
Bell, who played sparingly at linebacker this past season, is excited about the position change and the possibilities under Johnson.
"I just want to play," Bell said. "I'm looking forward to the change, and a lot of the other guys seem pretty fired up, too. It seems like he's (Johnson) got some pretty good schemes. It looks like he's going to be very versatile, and not necessarily show all the same looks. We've just got to adjust to his way of doing things.
