MOBILE, Ala. - The University of South Alabama football team might have 17 wide receivers on its roster, but the way offensive coordinator Greg Gregory has set up the offense it's the performance of the running backs that may be most important if the unit is going to be effective in 2009.
"When the ball is in our hands, our job is to get between four and five yards each play," said redshirt freshman Santuan McGee. "If we can do that and get those safeties to bite it'll open up the passing game, which is what coach Gregory's plan is. Once we have the defense reacting to us, he'll open up the playbook and we can run whatever we want to."
"We need to move the ball," sophomore transfer Brandon Ross added. "We've got guys with power and with speed, so if everyone takes care of their assignments we can be good.
"We know that we will be featured in this offense."
Jag assistant coach Tommy Perry, who coaches the group as well as coordinates special teams, is more concerned with how his running backs go about their job. "I want to see us execute," he said. "We've been doing a lot of the same stuff for a long time. They look sharp and they look crisp now, so I'd like to see them show up on game day with the same attitude.
"I'm excited. These are a talented group of guys, they seem very mature. I'd like to think I'm envied by some of the other coaches because of the maturity that these guys have."
USA rushed for 280 yards in two scrimmages last month after preseason camp opened, as the offense scored six of its nine touchdowns on the ground. The Jaguars' depth at the position is highlighted by the fact that five players ran the ball at least 10 times, with each reaching the end zone - only Eli Smith scored multiple touchdowns.
McGee led the team with 81 yards on 12 carries, which included scoring on a 30-yard run in the first scrimmage. Anthony Mostella supplied 75 yards on 14 attempts, while Smith ran 13 times for another 49.
Despite arriving on campus this summer after playing at Memphis in 2008, Ross gained 47 yards on 10 carries as well.
"It took me about a week to get a grasp of the offense, everything has been going great," stated Ross. "I expect to play at a high level.
"Coming in as a transfer from a Division I school, I think I can help our younger guys who haven't played a game in college yet. If something goes wrong, I think they will look to me and see how I react since I've been in that situation before. I want to be a leader and help everyone else stay focused on our job moving the ball."
Ellis Hill contributed 34 yards on 10 attempts as well, as the quintet averaged almost five yards per run in the preseason.
Physically, the group provides a wide variety of body types for Perry to use. McGee is the lightest of the five, weighing in at 175 pounds, with Hill, Mostella and Smith just under 200 pounds. Ross is one of the biggest individuals in the group at 230 pounds. But since each can handle multiple responsibilities, whether it's running, receiving or blocking, the Jags should be able to keep opposing defenses off balance as they won't be able to pinpoint the play call based on who is in the backfield.
"We don't have to show our hand before the play," observed Perry. "You don't want one guy in there for a basic running play and a little guy in there for a speed play. They all have their strengths, but they know what they are supposed to do so that makes me happy. They all have the tools."
"We have guys who can do a lot of different things, so the defense can never single out one person," McGee stated. "We have big, backs, little backs, backs with speed and backs with power. That's to our advantage because coach Perry and coach Gregory will put us in as needed."
The Jags' have shown significant improvement at the position since spring practiced started in March, which has been noticed by both Perry and McGee.
"We have spent a lot of time in meeting rooms, and coach Perry has been on us about the little things," McGee commented. "We understand what he is saying, we are looking much better."
"The guys who were here in the summer have improved dramatically," added Perry. "Take a guy like Anthony - he's an unbelievably mature and intelligent guy, but now he has all the physical tools too. [Strength and conditioning] Coach [Justin] Schwind did an amazing job this summer. All of our guys are healthy and able to sustain what they do, and thanks to his work we haven't had any major injuries. They've gotten a lot better because of what he's been able to do with the strength program."
With just one day remaining before the Jaguars play Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy, USA will go through a walk through Friday afternoon at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Kick off Saturday is scheduled for 4 p.m.
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).
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