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JSU taking the air out
Bell's offense more grounded than pass-happy attack of past
By Mark Alexander
malexander@clarionledger.com
Jackson State quarterback Robert Kent has adjusted to the Tigers' new-look offense.
Greg Jenson / The Clarion-Ledger
Torey Ross (left) and Tim Manning combined for 117 catches last season as JSU averaged 319.9 passing yards per game.
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Tigers' receivers
X-receiver
Name Ht. Wt. Cl.
Tim Manning 6-0 180 Sr.
Torey Ross 6-4 190 So.
Air'en Cabell 6-1 187 Fr.
Z-receiver
Name Ht. Wt. Cl.
Chris Jones 6-3 203 Jr.
Michael Johnson 5-11 180 Sr.
Tavaris Jones 6-3 195 Jr.
Tight end
Name Ht. Wt. Cl.
Courtney Rogers 6-3 240 Jr.
Kenneth Davis 6-4 210 Fr.
Johnny Neal 6-6 220 Jr.
THUMBS UP
One would be hard-pressed to find three returning receivers more productive than Manning, Jones and Ross were last season. All three could play for a lot of Division I-A teams.
THUMBS DOWN
This unit isn't nearly as deep as in recent years, except at tight end, especially now that Cletis Gordon has moved to defense. There's not a lot of proven experience behind the top three guys.
The same can't be said for the Tigers' receivers, who find themselves feeling a lot like Keyshawn Johnson did a few years ago when he was with the New York Jets.
To paraphrase Johnson: They want the dang ball.
Tim Manning, Chris Jones, Torey Ross and Co. have gone from catching the ball early and often in one of the nation's top passing offenses to rarely catching it at all as first-year head coach James Bell has placed a lot more emphasis on the run since arriving at JSU last December.
"It's really a blessing when (the ball) comes your way now," Ross said. "It makes me feel like I'm back at Provine."
JSU receiver Tim Manning, also a Provine alum, concurs.
"You know Coach (Willie) Collins," Manning said, smiling. "He liked to run the ball, too. I think we only had three pass plays. We had 88 pass, 77-O and fake counter trey left pass right. That was about it."
With one of the top returning quarterbacks and one of top receiving corps in Division I-AA returning ? coupled with the fact that JSU lost its top two backs as well as three key offensive linemen ? most figured the Tigers would go to the air often again this season.
That still may turn out to be the case, as Bell has promised to open up the offense in time. However, with JSU's season opener at Northwestern (La.) State a week away, there's been little proof of that. Even when the Tigers have passed the ball in practice, most of the passes have been of the shorter variety.
"We're waiting on it patiently," Ross said. "It seems like we're slowly but surely putting more things in. We'll know more after the first game. Right now, I'm just trying to keep the right attitude; you don't want to go crazy."
When asked to compare this year's offense to last year's offense, Ross, last year's SWAC Freshman of the Year, replied:
"It's like going from a (Mercedes) Benz to a Hooptie ? with no rims."
JSU wide receivers coach Robert Kelly has been preaching patience, patience, patience.
"I keep telling them it's coming," Kelly said. "We're going to run the ball, but we're not going to run it all the time. Coach Bell believes in a balanced offense. They've still got to continue to do the things they need to do to prepare themselves.
"It's one of those situations where if they didn't want the ball, I would question them also."
Less passing and catching drills in practice has meant more blocking. "I'm back to chasing defensive backs instead of them chasing us," said Manning, a second-team All-SWAC pick last season.
It has also upped the frustration level of the receivers, who have begun staying after practice to get in more reps with Kent and backup quarterback Brian Green.
"It's been a big difference," Manning said. "In the past, we worked on it constantly. The more you work on something the better you get at it. It's like a swimmer. If he doesn't swim for a long time, he's going to be rusty. He's not going to have his breath like he used to."
JSU ranked first in the nation (I-AA) in total offense (485.5 ypg.), second in passing offense (319.9 ypg.) and averaged 30 points per game last season.
Manning, Jones, Ross and Cletis Gordon, who recently moved to defense, combined for 201 catches, 3,068 yards and 28 touchdowns last season. Jones caught three touchdown passes in one quarter alone against North Carolina A&T.
Manning had 66 catches, Jones 57 and Ross 51.
"I don't see that happening this year," Ross said. "I see more like 10."
JSU quarterback Robert Kent senses his receivers' frustrations.
"Everything's going to be OK," Kent said. "I think our offensive coordinator (Leon Perry) would probably like to see us throw it more, but Coach Bell likes to run it. I think we're all trying to come up with a happy medium."
That would suit Manning fine.
"I'm not really worried about it too much," Manning said. "The plays will come, we've just to be ready when they do. If other teams put more people in the box to stop the run, that's going to open up the pass. So it's a two-way street."
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Bell's offense more grounded than pass-happy attack of past
By Mark Alexander
malexander@clarionledger.com
Jackson State quarterback Robert Kent has adjusted to the Tigers' new-look offense.
Greg Jenson / The Clarion-Ledger
Torey Ross (left) and Tim Manning combined for 117 catches last season as JSU averaged 319.9 passing yards per game.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tigers' receivers
X-receiver
Name Ht. Wt. Cl.
Tim Manning 6-0 180 Sr.
Torey Ross 6-4 190 So.
Air'en Cabell 6-1 187 Fr.
Z-receiver
Name Ht. Wt. Cl.
Chris Jones 6-3 203 Jr.
Michael Johnson 5-11 180 Sr.
Tavaris Jones 6-3 195 Jr.
Tight end
Name Ht. Wt. Cl.
Courtney Rogers 6-3 240 Jr.
Kenneth Davis 6-4 210 Fr.
Johnny Neal 6-6 220 Jr.
THUMBS UP
One would be hard-pressed to find three returning receivers more productive than Manning, Jones and Ross were last season. All three could play for a lot of Division I-A teams.
THUMBS DOWN
This unit isn't nearly as deep as in recent years, except at tight end, especially now that Cletis Gordon has moved to defense. There's not a lot of proven experience behind the top three guys.
The same can't be said for the Tigers' receivers, who find themselves feeling a lot like Keyshawn Johnson did a few years ago when he was with the New York Jets.
To paraphrase Johnson: They want the dang ball.
Tim Manning, Chris Jones, Torey Ross and Co. have gone from catching the ball early and often in one of the nation's top passing offenses to rarely catching it at all as first-year head coach James Bell has placed a lot more emphasis on the run since arriving at JSU last December.
"It's really a blessing when (the ball) comes your way now," Ross said. "It makes me feel like I'm back at Provine."
JSU receiver Tim Manning, also a Provine alum, concurs.
"You know Coach (Willie) Collins," Manning said, smiling. "He liked to run the ball, too. I think we only had three pass plays. We had 88 pass, 77-O and fake counter trey left pass right. That was about it."
With one of the top returning quarterbacks and one of top receiving corps in Division I-AA returning ? coupled with the fact that JSU lost its top two backs as well as three key offensive linemen ? most figured the Tigers would go to the air often again this season.
That still may turn out to be the case, as Bell has promised to open up the offense in time. However, with JSU's season opener at Northwestern (La.) State a week away, there's been little proof of that. Even when the Tigers have passed the ball in practice, most of the passes have been of the shorter variety.
"We're waiting on it patiently," Ross said. "It seems like we're slowly but surely putting more things in. We'll know more after the first game. Right now, I'm just trying to keep the right attitude; you don't want to go crazy."
When asked to compare this year's offense to last year's offense, Ross, last year's SWAC Freshman of the Year, replied:
"It's like going from a (Mercedes) Benz to a Hooptie ? with no rims."
JSU wide receivers coach Robert Kelly has been preaching patience, patience, patience.
"I keep telling them it's coming," Kelly said. "We're going to run the ball, but we're not going to run it all the time. Coach Bell believes in a balanced offense. They've still got to continue to do the things they need to do to prepare themselves.
"It's one of those situations where if they didn't want the ball, I would question them also."
Less passing and catching drills in practice has meant more blocking. "I'm back to chasing defensive backs instead of them chasing us," said Manning, a second-team All-SWAC pick last season.
It has also upped the frustration level of the receivers, who have begun staying after practice to get in more reps with Kent and backup quarterback Brian Green.
"It's been a big difference," Manning said. "In the past, we worked on it constantly. The more you work on something the better you get at it. It's like a swimmer. If he doesn't swim for a long time, he's going to be rusty. He's not going to have his breath like he used to."
JSU ranked first in the nation (I-AA) in total offense (485.5 ypg.), second in passing offense (319.9 ypg.) and averaged 30 points per game last season.
Manning, Jones, Ross and Cletis Gordon, who recently moved to defense, combined for 201 catches, 3,068 yards and 28 touchdowns last season. Jones caught three touchdown passes in one quarter alone against North Carolina A&T.
Manning had 66 catches, Jones 57 and Ross 51.
"I don't see that happening this year," Ross said. "I see more like 10."
JSU quarterback Robert Kent senses his receivers' frustrations.
"Everything's going to be OK," Kent said. "I think our offensive coordinator (Leon Perry) would probably like to see us throw it more, but Coach Bell likes to run it. I think we're all trying to come up with a happy medium."
That would suit Manning fine.
"I'm not really worried about it too much," Manning said. "The plays will come, we've just to be ready when they do. If other teams put more people in the box to stop the run, that's going to open up the pass. So it's a two-way street."
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