Date: 8/17
Time: 3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. (CDT)
Place: James A. and Frances H. Yance Football Practice Facility
Practice attire: Full pads
Offensive Player of the Day: Noah Fisher, So., OL, Decatur, Ga.
-Offensive coordinator Bryant Vincent on Fisher: "We expect a lot out of Noah because we know he's a really talented player. He's still just a redshirt sophomore. We just weren't seeing what we know he's capable of. Today, we saw the Noah Fisher we've been waiting to see. He's got a great attitude every day and works extremely hard. We expect him to be a big time player."
Defensive Player of the Day: Quinton Dent, Sr., CB, Haines City, Fla.
-Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack on Dent: "Quinton is a guy who, since I have been here, has consistently gotten better in his technique. He's improved to the point to where now he is executing at a really high level, that's why he's going with the ones right now. Every time he gets up with a guy for a deep ball, he goes and makes a play. I'm really proud of the way he is playing right now."
Play of the Day: After the offense had been held to three field goals on its first three red zone attempts, Evan Orth delivered an 11-yard touchdown pass to Gerald Everett in the back of the end zone in between two defenders. Also considered were a 20-plus yard pass out of the backfield into the flat from Dallas Davis to running back Xavier Johnson, as well as a 25-yard pass down the seam by Davis to sophomore receiver Sam Harris, both plays coming during the seven-on-seven team session.
Team period highlights: South Alabama conducted three team periods during the practice opening up with a seven-on-seven skeleton drill. Following the 13-minute seven-on-seven drill, USA worked on the red zone, running two series from the 20 yard line and two from the 10 yard line. The third and final team segment was the two-minute offense starting at the 25 yard line, down seven with the first and second units.
Miscellaneous Notes
-Dallas Davis was 8-for-9 passing in the seven-on-seven drill, hitting his first eight passes before having the final one broken up by DJ Allen.
-During the seven-on-seven session, USA's running backs were recorded seven of the 14 receptions made. Johnson, Tyreis Thomas and Deonta Moore each had two receptions apiece.
-The defense held the offense to three field goals on its first three possessions during the red zone period. Gavin Patterson connected from 31 and 22 yards, respectively, while Corliss Waitman drilled a 40 yarder.
-On each of the first three red zone possessions the defense came up with a pass break ups by Jeremy Reaves, Darian Mills and Dent on third down.
-Finessé Middleton and SirCalvin Wallace also registered a sack during the red zone session.
-South first-team unit was able to move the ball down the field and advance to the 34 yard line before a fumble that was recovered by Riley Cole ended the drive. The defense also ended practice and the second series of downs as Jay Woods intercepted Cole Garvin's pass on the second play of the drive.
Head coach Joey Jones
-On the offense responding today after the defense had the advantage yesterday: "I thought yesterday wasn't a very good day offensively for us. The defense kind of dominated the whole day. Today was much better [for the offense]. I thought the competition was about 50-50 on the team situations we went through. I was proud of how the offense battled back. We were certainly hoping they would and they did."
-On the defensive stops during the two-minute session: "That was huge for the defense and not so good for the offense. We have to put out offense in more two-minute situations. We've already done it a couple of times, but we're probably going to do it about three more times before next week."
-On the progression of his team from the first week of camp to now: "I think we are definitely better. We're better at running the football, which was a goal of mine from the beginning. I feel our defense has really improved. We have some really good players at the skill positions and along the front. We are getting guys more and more in shape and I think that we are going to be one heck of a defense."
Up next: The Jaguars will once again hold a two-hour practice on campus Thursday afternoon in shells beginning at 3:30 p.m.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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