Does anyone from down in Baton Rouge or anywhere know anything about Southern's team this year? Good, Bad, anything :shrug:
Thanks.
Thanks.
Any info on Southern U.
- Thread starter Spalding
- Start date
articles i came across....
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Southern shuffling secondary after early struggles
By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN
jschiefelbein@theadvocate.com
Advocate sportswriter
Southern University will have a new-look secondary when the Jaguars take the field Saturday.
Junior strong safety Darwon Hammond, who started the first three games, is now a backup.
Senior Gabe Wallace, who transferred from Mississippi State in August, moves from free safety to strong safety, the most crucial spot because that's the one that makes all the calls for the secondary.
Also, senior Victor Phillips moves from right cornerback to free safety, where he played during the spring. And senior Ahmad Treaudo moves up to take Phillips' starting spot at right corner.
Senior Kevin Moffett, the most experienced member of the unit, remains where he was, starting at left corner.
"To me, we're back at square one," Southern defensive backs coach Henry Miller said as SU (2-1) prepares to host South Dakota State (2-1) at 7 p.m. Saturday. "I'm hoping to find a way to get my best guys out there."
Southern is last in the 10-team Southwestern Athletic Conference in passing defense. The Jaguars have allowed 218.3 yards per game.
What's worse, Prairie View receivers kept running free behind the defense, for catches of 46 and 35 yards, Saturday in the Jaguars' 42-12 win. The Panthers also had a couple of jaw-dropping drops in the open and still finished with 209 yards passing.
"We gave up too many big plays. That's my concern," coach Pete Richardson said. "In order for us to move on, we have to improve in the secondary in order to be effective."
Richardson said the glaring miscues against PV were caused by "communication problems. ... Part of them were playing one call, another something else."
The stumbles in the learning curve were expected because SU is replacing its top four defensive backs, including two, free safety Jarmaul George and cornerback Lenny Williams who were Freshman of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, respectively, in the SWAC.
"What you're seeing back there is still trying to find that continuity with different guys," defensive coordinator Cliff Lewis said.
That being said, with Southern getting into the heart of its SWAC schedule starting with an Oct. 2 trip to Alabama State, Saturday may be the last chance SU gets a chance to tinker.
"I've got to make sure I raise the urgency of that to them, let them know that's not how we play," Miller said.
SDSU averages 258.7 ypg, with seven touchdowns, through the air.
"It's a good measuring stick for us to get better," Miller said. "We have to get better. It's a good challenge for us, and we have to answer."
Miller anticipated possibly moving Wallace, who is second on the team with 20 tackles, to strong safety as soon as Wallace learned enough of the defense.
"Gabe knows it pretty well, and I'm still giving him a couple crash courses when he has the time between classes," Miller said. "Hopefully, this will be the move that makes us a better defense.
"Maybe if I get enough people out there who know football, then maybe we won't make the same mistakes we've been making the last few weeks from a mental standpoint. It's just a couple plays here and there hurting us. We've got to stop that."
VERNON GETTING HEALTHIER: Though wide receiver James Vernon aggravated his hip pointer injury in practice Sept. 14, he still had an impact.
His 5-yard catch, to the Prairie View 24-yard line, on a fourth-and-4 led to the Jaguars' first touchdown. And his block helped Ricks burst to a 23-yard gain to the PV 12, setting up a Ricks throw for Southern's final touchdown.
"He's getting closer and closer," offensive coordinator David Oliver said. "But the guy makes plays. A Vernon at less than 100 percent is still valuable to us."
Vernon, with 261 yards, leads the SWAC in receptions per game (7.0) and is second in receiving yards per game (98.3).
"I look for him to be 100 percent or real close to it (for the South Dakota State game)," wide receivers coach Eric Dooley said.
LAGNIAPPE: True freshman tight end Evan Alexander (knee) dressed for the first time but did not play against Prairie View on Saturday. ... A scout from the San Diego Chargers visited Monday and Tuesday. ... Richardson said defensive tackle Perry Davis blocked PV's 30-yard field-goal try in the final minute of the first half, and linebacker Donald Expose recovered the fumble on the opening kickoff of the second half.
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Southern shuffling secondary after early struggles
By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN
jschiefelbein@theadvocate.com
Advocate sportswriter
Southern University will have a new-look secondary when the Jaguars take the field Saturday.
Junior strong safety Darwon Hammond, who started the first three games, is now a backup.
Senior Gabe Wallace, who transferred from Mississippi State in August, moves from free safety to strong safety, the most crucial spot because that's the one that makes all the calls for the secondary.
Also, senior Victor Phillips moves from right cornerback to free safety, where he played during the spring. And senior Ahmad Treaudo moves up to take Phillips' starting spot at right corner.
Senior Kevin Moffett, the most experienced member of the unit, remains where he was, starting at left corner.
"To me, we're back at square one," Southern defensive backs coach Henry Miller said as SU (2-1) prepares to host South Dakota State (2-1) at 7 p.m. Saturday. "I'm hoping to find a way to get my best guys out there."
Southern is last in the 10-team Southwestern Athletic Conference in passing defense. The Jaguars have allowed 218.3 yards per game.
What's worse, Prairie View receivers kept running free behind the defense, for catches of 46 and 35 yards, Saturday in the Jaguars' 42-12 win. The Panthers also had a couple of jaw-dropping drops in the open and still finished with 209 yards passing.
"We gave up too many big plays. That's my concern," coach Pete Richardson said. "In order for us to move on, we have to improve in the secondary in order to be effective."
Richardson said the glaring miscues against PV were caused by "communication problems. ... Part of them were playing one call, another something else."
The stumbles in the learning curve were expected because SU is replacing its top four defensive backs, including two, free safety Jarmaul George and cornerback Lenny Williams who were Freshman of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, respectively, in the SWAC.
"What you're seeing back there is still trying to find that continuity with different guys," defensive coordinator Cliff Lewis said.
That being said, with Southern getting into the heart of its SWAC schedule starting with an Oct. 2 trip to Alabama State, Saturday may be the last chance SU gets a chance to tinker.
"I've got to make sure I raise the urgency of that to them, let them know that's not how we play," Miller said.
SDSU averages 258.7 ypg, with seven touchdowns, through the air.
"It's a good measuring stick for us to get better," Miller said. "We have to get better. It's a good challenge for us, and we have to answer."
Miller anticipated possibly moving Wallace, who is second on the team with 20 tackles, to strong safety as soon as Wallace learned enough of the defense.
"Gabe knows it pretty well, and I'm still giving him a couple crash courses when he has the time between classes," Miller said. "Hopefully, this will be the move that makes us a better defense.
"Maybe if I get enough people out there who know football, then maybe we won't make the same mistakes we've been making the last few weeks from a mental standpoint. It's just a couple plays here and there hurting us. We've got to stop that."
VERNON GETTING HEALTHIER: Though wide receiver James Vernon aggravated his hip pointer injury in practice Sept. 14, he still had an impact.
His 5-yard catch, to the Prairie View 24-yard line, on a fourth-and-4 led to the Jaguars' first touchdown. And his block helped Ricks burst to a 23-yard gain to the PV 12, setting up a Ricks throw for Southern's final touchdown.
"He's getting closer and closer," offensive coordinator David Oliver said. "But the guy makes plays. A Vernon at less than 100 percent is still valuable to us."
Vernon, with 261 yards, leads the SWAC in receptions per game (7.0) and is second in receiving yards per game (98.3).
"I look for him to be 100 percent or real close to it (for the South Dakota State game)," wide receivers coach Eric Dooley said.
LAGNIAPPE: True freshman tight end Evan Alexander (knee) dressed for the first time but did not play against Prairie View on Saturday. ... A scout from the San Diego Chargers visited Monday and Tuesday. ... Richardson said defensive tackle Perry Davis blocked PV's 30-yard field-goal try in the final minute of the first half, and linebacker Donald Expose recovered the fumble on the opening kickoff of the second half.
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thanks IE!
I am trying to get a feel for how they are this year and how they will be compared to South Dakota State. 5Dimes has 1-AA games this year and I have had some good success with them but do not know a thing about Southern U.
I am trying to get a feel for how they are this year and how they will be compared to South Dakota State. 5Dimes has 1-AA games this year and I have had some good success with them but do not know a thing about Southern U.
Line just came out and it is SDSU by 8.5. I was expecting Southern by at least 10. Something us up cause I know everything I need to know about the Jacks but this Southern team is supposed to be good aren't they? And they are getting 8.5 at home? I know the Jacks aren't that good and considering they have to fly 2,000 or whatever miles to Baton Rouge and play down there, I am mystified as to how they can be favorites.
I know I asked before and I read all I can read on articles but if any of you LSU fans or Southern fans or Baton Rougies can chime in and fill me in about the team or the feeling down there, I would really appreciate it!
Thanks
I know I asked before and I read all I can read on articles but if any of you LSU fans or Southern fans or Baton Rougies can chime in and fill me in about the team or the feeling down there, I would really appreciate it!
Thanks
