Photo gallery

Date:  8/10

Time:  3-5 p.m.

Place:  Campus practice fields

Practice attire (full pads, shells, etc.):  Full pads

Offensive Player of the Day
Jay Jones, Sr., RB, Horn Lake, Miss.
-Offensive coordinator Robert Matthews on Jones:  "Jay has provided a lot of leadership just through the way he practices and carries himself. He is extremely intelligent. He does not bust protections or assignments, and he has done some good things for us. He had some really good runs today in some third-down situations. He is really continuing to progress in preparation for week one."

Defensive Player of the Day
Terrell Brigham, Sr., DB, Waynesboro, Ga.
-Defensive coordinator Travis Pearson on Brigham:  "He has been consistent from last year to the spring to today. He's consistent with his communication; his play is always consistently good. He lines everyone up and makes all the calls. That guy is invaluable to me."

Play of the Day
Xavier Johnson scored on a 34-yard touchdown run during the final team period in which the Jag offense worked on third-down conversions.

Team period highlight
The offense and defense met for 25 plays inside the red zone before moving the ball out to work on two-minute drill. Third-down situations capped team period drills for the day.

Head coach Joey Jones
On the first day in full pads:  "The defense really picked it up today. The offense ran the ball on them pretty good yesterday and they didn't like that. They came out and responded today; it was great. We have great chemistry on this team. The kids love and care about each other. They know how to practice. We had a great tempo today. It was physical, but it wasn't overly-physical. I like what we're doing, but we obviously have to work and sharpen up some things. I want us to get great fundamentally over the next two weeks. If we don't block or tackle then it isn't going to matter. You have to keep pressing to be great fundamentally."

On what the team is doing well right now:  "We are getting a great pass rush. There were some guys who had some great blitzes and were getting off blocks to get to the quarterback. There were several times that it would have been a sack. The secondary is playing much better breaking on the football. They really flew around back there and didn't give up the longball like we did last practice. The defense really picked it up today."

On areas of improvement:  "We need to trust the call and what the coaches are asking us to do, and if we do that and play fundamental football then we'll be good in whatever we do. But if you get tired and don't do your assignment then that causes problems."

Offensive lineman Chris May
On today's practice:  "We really pushed through today, both as an offensive line and offense. We came out a little sluggish to start; it's hot. But we pushed through it and I feel like we had a really good practice at the end of the day."

On the first day in full pads:  "It may be a little different for the skill-position guys, but it's the same practice for us. It's the same amount of contact."

On the offense's progression:  "I feel really good about it. We are really starting to mesh together and build a lot of team chemistry, which for me was something that I thought we really needed to do entering camp. There's always more improvement to make and we are early in camp, but I feel like we have a chance to be really good this year."

Defensive lineman Jesse Kelley
On the first day in full pads:  "It's nothing different for those of us in the trenches. We've been hitting since day one, so there isn't much of a difference for us."

On the defense:  "We are making good strides, we just have to continue to improve each and every day. There are some fundamental things we can be better at as a defensive line, but we are much better than we were in the spring. We just have to continue to work and get ready for Kent State in September."


Miscellaneous Notes
-Jay Jones scored on a 50-yard touchdown run to cap the third-down conversion team period.
-Defensive back Margo Reed intercepted a pass inside the 5-yard line during 7-on-7 drills.
-Hunter Vaughn connected with Cameron Broadnax for a touchdown pass during team period inside the red zone.

Up next:  The Jaguars will practice twice Monday at the campus practice fields.

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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