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http://www.theadvocate.com/sports/story.asp?StoryID=19107
Jaguars getting tougher
By JOE SCHIEFELBEIN
Advocate sportswriter
Call them Oliver's twists?
David Oliver is into his fourth month as the offensive coordinator for the Southern football team, and while his changes to the no-huddle spread offense are subtle in nature, they're still making a large impact.
"Smash-mouth" is now an adjective in the offense's vocabulary. The tight end and the fullback are catching passes. And there's an emphasis on balance, getting away from relying on the quarterback to make play after play.
"We're a lot further ahead on offense than I thought we'd be at this time," head coach Pete Richardson said. "Coach Oliver and the staff did a fine job of installing what we're trying to do."
On Thursday, Southern concluded its 15 spring practices, shrewdly spread over five weeks to help the new offense soak in and keep injuries to a minimum.
"I feel good about what happened this spring," Oliver said.
OFFENSE
QUARTERBACKS: Junior Quincy Richard is ahead of senior Anthony Fisher, with Richard looking smoother and more confident. Richard directed the offense to four touchdowns in the Blue and Gold Game, with Fisher throwing two interceptions, including one returned for a TD.
Junior Kurvis Sharp, though not a steady passer, has shown playmaking ability with his feet. The plan is to get him on the field with the "Sharp Package."
RUNNING BACKS: Leon Miller and Gerald Holmes, a scatback, improved. But Rodney Tucker, a freshman from Plano (Texas) East High, made the biggest splash, running with an attitude between the tackles. Tucker did not practice in the fall as the NCAA cleared his eligibility too late, Richardson said.
"He's a tough runner," Richardson said. "He doesn't mind the physical part. That's what we've been lacking. An arm tackle is not going to knock him down."
The competition for No. 1 back comes in August, with Texas transfer Victor Ike entering the fold and the two best backs from last season, sophomores Carl Singleton (knee) and Bo Jackson (shoulder), returning from injury.
WIDE RECEIVERS: The best news came when Michael Hayes (knee) received a sixth season of eligibility from the NCAA (after being denied initially).
Al'Trevion Joubert, a clutch inside receiver, regained the confidence missing last season after a knee injury. And a score of wideouts -- Alfred Ard and Lionel Joseph in particular -- showed vast improvement.
Kentrell Plain, the leading returning receiver, missed the second half of spring ball with an ankle injury.
TIGHT ENDS: Roderick Jones, who sprained his left knee in the Blue and Gold Game, and Adam Nelson, moving from wide receiver, have the pass-catching ability to make the new focus on tight ends work.
LINE: New centers Jermaine Jackson and Brandon Jones had problems with the shotgun snap, but they have great potential and that's a correctable detail. An emphasis on being lighter and quicker has helped Nicholas Price and Thomas Saulsby and get the line back to a two-platoon system.
"We're going to run the football. There are no ifs or buts about it," Richarsdon said.
DEFENSE
LINE: Southern breaks in new ends, but Alex Coleman, Aandre Payton, Jonathan St. Cyr and Glynn Mangum all shined with performance, speed and energy.
"There's been steady improvement since the first practice," defensive co-coordinator/defensive line coach Cliff Lewis said. "Some chemistry has started to develop. They're all coming together like you'd want."
LINEBACKERS: Though losing Shannon Smith and Robert Chapman and having Chris Cooper (shoulder) miss all of spring practice, this unit still has tremendous depth and potential.
Jabari Greene (knee) returned and shined. Eddie Green and Kendrick Paul had great springs, with outside backers Sheldon Pearl and Lendrick Francois and drop linebacker Trey Calhoun making steady improvement.
SECONDARY: The emergence of two sophomores, ex-Ole Miss player Kevin Moffett and LSU transfer Erin Damond, along with junior-college transfer D'Angelo Lewis, provides a glut of cornerbacks. So much so that Lenny Williams may play some safety next season. ... Starter Terrence Arnold (knee) missed most of spring practice.
While Herman Hartman remains a mainstay at strong safety, senior Randy Williams (6-3) came on at free safety, displaying the confidence of his second year in the system, allowing him to take advantage his size and speed.
"He really showed a lot of leadership," said defensive co-coordinator Terrence Graves, calling Randy Williams the most improved defensive player of the spring. "He showed the type of skills we expected."
KICKERS: The return of Justin Mattingly, who did not play last season for family reasons, is a huge boost. Mattingly boomed punts from start to finish, providing a crucial presence lacking last season. What's more, the Jaguars will have depth come August as Colby Miller, a nonqualifier, becomes eligible and a freshman signee joins the team. SU had just one kicker for all the chores last season.
Jaguars getting tougher
By JOE SCHIEFELBEIN
Advocate sportswriter
Call them Oliver's twists?
David Oliver is into his fourth month as the offensive coordinator for the Southern football team, and while his changes to the no-huddle spread offense are subtle in nature, they're still making a large impact.
"Smash-mouth" is now an adjective in the offense's vocabulary. The tight end and the fullback are catching passes. And there's an emphasis on balance, getting away from relying on the quarterback to make play after play.
"We're a lot further ahead on offense than I thought we'd be at this time," head coach Pete Richardson said. "Coach Oliver and the staff did a fine job of installing what we're trying to do."
On Thursday, Southern concluded its 15 spring practices, shrewdly spread over five weeks to help the new offense soak in and keep injuries to a minimum.
"I feel good about what happened this spring," Oliver said.
OFFENSE
QUARTERBACKS: Junior Quincy Richard is ahead of senior Anthony Fisher, with Richard looking smoother and more confident. Richard directed the offense to four touchdowns in the Blue and Gold Game, with Fisher throwing two interceptions, including one returned for a TD.
Junior Kurvis Sharp, though not a steady passer, has shown playmaking ability with his feet. The plan is to get him on the field with the "Sharp Package."
RUNNING BACKS: Leon Miller and Gerald Holmes, a scatback, improved. But Rodney Tucker, a freshman from Plano (Texas) East High, made the biggest splash, running with an attitude between the tackles. Tucker did not practice in the fall as the NCAA cleared his eligibility too late, Richardson said.
"He's a tough runner," Richardson said. "He doesn't mind the physical part. That's what we've been lacking. An arm tackle is not going to knock him down."
The competition for No. 1 back comes in August, with Texas transfer Victor Ike entering the fold and the two best backs from last season, sophomores Carl Singleton (knee) and Bo Jackson (shoulder), returning from injury.
WIDE RECEIVERS: The best news came when Michael Hayes (knee) received a sixth season of eligibility from the NCAA (after being denied initially).
Al'Trevion Joubert, a clutch inside receiver, regained the confidence missing last season after a knee injury. And a score of wideouts -- Alfred Ard and Lionel Joseph in particular -- showed vast improvement.
Kentrell Plain, the leading returning receiver, missed the second half of spring ball with an ankle injury.
TIGHT ENDS: Roderick Jones, who sprained his left knee in the Blue and Gold Game, and Adam Nelson, moving from wide receiver, have the pass-catching ability to make the new focus on tight ends work.
LINE: New centers Jermaine Jackson and Brandon Jones had problems with the shotgun snap, but they have great potential and that's a correctable detail. An emphasis on being lighter and quicker has helped Nicholas Price and Thomas Saulsby and get the line back to a two-platoon system.
"We're going to run the football. There are no ifs or buts about it," Richarsdon said.
DEFENSE
LINE: Southern breaks in new ends, but Alex Coleman, Aandre Payton, Jonathan St. Cyr and Glynn Mangum all shined with performance, speed and energy.
"There's been steady improvement since the first practice," defensive co-coordinator/defensive line coach Cliff Lewis said. "Some chemistry has started to develop. They're all coming together like you'd want."
LINEBACKERS: Though losing Shannon Smith and Robert Chapman and having Chris Cooper (shoulder) miss all of spring practice, this unit still has tremendous depth and potential.
Jabari Greene (knee) returned and shined. Eddie Green and Kendrick Paul had great springs, with outside backers Sheldon Pearl and Lendrick Francois and drop linebacker Trey Calhoun making steady improvement.
SECONDARY: The emergence of two sophomores, ex-Ole Miss player Kevin Moffett and LSU transfer Erin Damond, along with junior-college transfer D'Angelo Lewis, provides a glut of cornerbacks. So much so that Lenny Williams may play some safety next season. ... Starter Terrence Arnold (knee) missed most of spring practice.
While Herman Hartman remains a mainstay at strong safety, senior Randy Williams (6-3) came on at free safety, displaying the confidence of his second year in the system, allowing him to take advantage his size and speed.
"He really showed a lot of leadership," said defensive co-coordinator Terrence Graves, calling Randy Williams the most improved defensive player of the spring. "He showed the type of skills we expected."
KICKERS: The return of Justin Mattingly, who did not play last season for family reasons, is a huge boost. Mattingly boomed punts from start to finish, providing a crucial presence lacking last season. What's more, the Jaguars will have depth come August as Colby Miller, a nonqualifier, becomes eligible and a freshman signee joins the team. SU had just one kicker for all the chores last season.
