MOBILE, Ala. - Jerron Mitchell and Chris Brunson joined University of South Alabama football head coach Joey Jones to answer questions from various members of the media during Monday afternoon's media day at the USA football fieldhouse.
After two consecutive weeks without a game, the Jags will spend the coming week preparing for Saturday's showdown with Army Prep.
Highlights from Monday's press conference follow below:
Head coach Joey Jones
Opening statement:
"This almost seems like our first game again because we've had two off weeks and there's that kind of anticipation. We practiced four or five weeks for the first game, and now we're practicing three weeks for the second ballgame. The anticipation is there, and I know our kids have really worked hard the last two weeks. I told them the biggest thing is the emotional level will come back in game week, and that's fine because you can't stay on high emotion all the time. The kids have done a good job of coming to work every day and I really appreciate them for that."
On Army Prep:
"Army Prep is a very disciplined program. They run the triple option on offense, which is an offense that is very hard to defend from a mental standpoint. You've got to be in the right places at the right times, and we've been working on that for the last week or so. Defensively, they run a flex front, and it's a little bit of a different front. Most people run a 4-3 or a 3-4, but they run a different front that we're having to work on a little bit. They've got some good players, and we recruited some of the players on their team. I look for it to be a great ballgame this Saturday."
On what he plans to do differently:
"We'll do some different things. With three weeks to prepare for a game, we're going to have some adjustments. You look at film and try to have some plays offensively that get you in good position, and the defense is working against the triple option, so we're going to do some different things defensively because of that. We're still doing the same things front a base front on defense, but we've got a few wrinkles here or there."
On what stands out about Army Prep on film:
"The discipline with which they do things. You can tell they're fundamentally sound. They're probably not as athletic as Hargrave, but they're a little more fundamentally sound, and they do a great job coaching. That's what you look at, and it's one of those deals where - especially on defense - if we make a mistake, they'll make us pay for it. Their fullback is a very good player who has good speed, and he made a couple big runs in the film we saw. We've got to stop the fullback first in that offense."
On if there have been any changes to the depth chart:
"We'll wait until Wednesday night to make the final decisions for the game, but we feel like our kids need to come out and compete every day, and that will always continue. We're going to have kids getting better at all positions, so that's why we constantly juggle things."
On what he expects to see after three weeks between games:
"I anticipate us playing like we played in the first game, and by that I mean coming out and playing with great passion and discipline. Our players will do that, and I hope the atmosphere will be very similar. Obviously there was a lot of anticipation for that first game, but I think we can build off of what happened in that game just from a fan standpoint. They know more what we're going to be like, and if the folks who were there will be as loud as they were last time, our team might get a little bit better and the fans will get even louder, and that would be great for us."
On what he's concerned about after two weeks off:
"Probably making sure we're ready to play emotionally. I have no doubts about that, but it's a concern as a coach. You worry about being off for two weeks and the kids not being as emotional toward the game as they were for that first ballgame, but I don't doubt that. It just concerns you as a coach to make sure we play at a high emotional level."
On how much improvement he's seen since the first game:
"They say you always grow as a team from the first to second ballgame, and I think that has to do with an experience factor. In practice our kids have always worked hard and done a good job, but once you experience a game and you're applying what you learned in that game, you can go back and evaluate yourself in that game from all the work you've been doing, and it's almost like the light turns on for players. What I've seen the last couple weeks is that the light has turned on for a lot of our players, and they really understand more about what we're doing in practice. Sometimes when you put them in game situations (in practice), it's not real to them, but they see it in a game and all of the sudden it becomes what you've been working on."
On if he's still concerned about depth at certain positions:
"We've got to develop more depth on the offensive line, we know that, and I think we've started to do that. We've had a chance to scrimmage our guys three times the first week off, and we're starting to develop some depth there, but it's still a concern. Nothing has really changed much, but we're going to have some of those kids filling in naturally. I told them 'as soon as you prove you can win for us on the practice field, you'll get on the game field,' and it's really up to them."
Defensive back Jerron Mitchell
Opening statement:
"I think that the anticipation level has increased since the last game. Guys got a feel for that game-time intensity and a lot of guys are ready to get back on the field. The coaches did a great job of mentally preparing us and they eased up physically to get us ready for this game. Everybody's excited to get back on the field and play in front of the fans."
On what he took from the first game:
"The thing I took most away from the first game is the game-like feel. With practice, it's easy to get away from the speed and there's a lot more mental reps than physical reps. The coaches can stop practice and coach you up, but the game is so fast and the intensity level is so high - something you don't see every day. So from the first game to the second game, I've taken the speed of the game, practicing at a higher level of intensity and preparing for the next game."
On if the team can match the intensity of the first game:
"I definitely think we can match the intensity. It's not common that you go three weeks without playing a game so like Coach Jones said the anticipation level has built up again within the team and I feel like in the community as well. I feel that people are yearning for some more South Alabama football."
On facing Army Prep's triple option offense:
"It's all about being disciplined. Army's coaching staff has done a great job with preparing their kids, making everything fundamentally sound. As a defensive back it's hard to play an option team because sometimes you're out there on an island and not involved with a lot of the action so you have to stay on your toes. Coach Clark and his coaching staff have done a great job with laying out the option figuring out ways to stop it."
On the team's chances of going undefeated:
" We like to take things one game at a time. We feel like each and every one of our opponents deserves that respect. There are some talented guys with great coaching staffs. To look ahead to the seventh game wouldn't be a good idea. Right now we're focused on Army - I couldn't tell you who we're playing after Army, to be honest with you."
Offensive lineman Chris Brunson
On having three weeks between games:
"It was just like camp all over again. The build-up is there and we're ready to play again. It was pretty tough but I think they've prepared us enough for when the game gets here. It has helped get even more prepared for our opponent."
On what he took from the first game:
"I'd go with the speed (of the game) but it's more of the game situations because in practice you have time to rest in between plays. It wears you down during the game, going every play as hard as you can."
On facing Army Prep's defense:
"Army runs a different look. Their players are smaller, but quicker while Hargrave was bigger but more physical. But we can still duplicate what we did against Hargrave."
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
-USA-
