Jaguars wrap up practices today
http://www.theadvocate.com/sports/story.asp?StoryID=19052
Jaguars wrap up practices today
By JOE SCHIEFELBEIN
Advocate sportswriter
The Southern University football team's spring practice ends today, wrapping up a rapid week that's in stark contrast to what had been a lengthy process.
Southern stretched 15 practice days across six weeks, including a week off for spring break.
But this is the only one of five weeks in which the Jaguars had four practices. Coach Pete Richardson contracted the schedule, practicing consecutive days instead of taking days off in between to meet and look at film, ending two days ahead of the original schedule.
"We might as well go on and get it finished," said Richardson, who said the change benefits the track and field team's Pelican Relays set for Friday and Saturday.
Monday's four-inch deluge forced Southern inside the Seymour Gymnasium for a 90-minute workout on formations and alignments. Tuesday's soaked practice fields sent the Jaguars inside A.W. Mumford Stadium.
Southern will work in full pads today, with an emphasis on goal-line and short-yardage work.
JONES OUT: Junior tight end Roderick Jones won't practice after straining his left knee during Saturday night's Blue and Gold Game, Richardson said.
"Hopefully, I don't think they'll have to operate," Richardson said.
Jones, who had the only catch by a tight end last season but saw his receiving load increase the last month, suffered the game's only significant injury.
"For as many plays as we went, we were fortunate to come out without many injuries," Richardson said.
SNAPPING: Southern has struggled with the shotgun snap throughout practice with two new centers, sophomore Jermaine Jackson and redshirt freshman Brandon Jones.
"It's a learning experience, especially trying to snap and then block a guy right on your head," Richardson said. "A lot of them don't have real long arms to get them back off them. As soon as they snap, the defender is right on them. It's just a process we have to develop."
With SU running mostly from the shotgun formation, the snap is crucial to the offense.
Offensive line coach Gary Smith said, "I think a lot of it is they're trying to overcompensate with the snap. Sometimes, you have to just relax and flip it back, just like shooting a rod and reel."
QUICKER: The lines on both sides of the ball seem quicker this spring. Most of that, coaches said, can be attributed to maturity. Unlike two springs ago or even last spring, the Jaguars enjoy depth and experience.
While the defensive line has also been quick, because of its attacking scheme, the offensive line is notably faster off the ball.
"That comes from knowing what to do," Richardson said. "They have that confidence. Anytime you have a little indecision about your area of responsibility or assignment, then you're not going to explode off the football, because you're really searching and hoping you're in the right place.
"Now, they can come off and be aggressive. That's the part we're trying to develop in our football team: the mental toughness."
Smith said his line's quickness of the ball was evident in breaking down film from Saturday.
"I've got a lot better athletes and a little more size," Smith said. "When you see it unfold on film, you see the technique working, and they get more confident."
NOTES: The numbers at practice have gone down as a result of coaches trimming walk-ons as spring practice progressed. ... Senior Kenneth Johnson continues to progress at drop linebacker. Injured his first two seasons as an inside linebacker, Johnson moved to safety last season but is now at outside linebacker. ... Wide receiver Michael Hayes continues to rehabilitate his left knee. The former preseason All-American has been running the length of the field. ... Wide receiver Chris Davis returned a fumble 17 yards for a touchdown in the spring game. Lionel Joseph was initially credited with the play.
