Connect with us

Football

Three Things to Know: South Alabama Jaguars

Published

7 years ago

on

Let’s take a look at a few things to know about the Cowboys’ week two opponent: the South Alabama Jaguars. It feels wrong but you’ll need to cheer against the USA (University of South Alabama) on Friday night. 

Potential Exposure

Everybody knows the teeth of this Cowboy offense is a probable first-rounder throwing to another probable first-rounder and a military-grade stable of weapons all over the field. Well, concerning the Jaguars, the blueprint for a massive game for a wide receiver has been laid out.

Ole Miss receiver A.J. Brown averaged 29.1 yards per reception against South Alabama. He caught eight passes. Imagine allowing a guy to get 30 yards a pop eight times. Maybe cover him. [CBS Sports]

…and AJ Brown looks about half as elusive as Tyron Johnson with maybe 80 percent of tThe President’s top end speed.

Allowing two 70+ yard scores to Ole Miss surely has the Cowboys salivating at the matchup.

To boot, starting fifth-year senior safety Neiko Robinson appears out.

Real talk: until the Cowboys play a team like those monsters who opened up the season at the new Georgia Dome last Saturday night, the passing game should flourish. But given the recency of an offense blowing up for 400+ passing yards — it’s worth mentioning.

Over the Stage Fright

In his first start at quarterback for South Alabama, then-sophomore Cole Garvin passed for 242 yards and put up 42 points on then-No. 19 San Diego State in Mobile last year.

Last year, South Alabama went on the road to stun Mississippi State and knocked off No. 19 San Diego State at home, 42-24, on its way to a bowl game. [ESPN]

Prior to upsetting the then-undefeated Aztecs, USA beat Mississippi State in Starkville on a late missed field goal. But this year started off a hair differently when the Jaguars opened with a different SEC team from Mississippi.

The moral of the story is the Jaguars won’t necessarily suffer from stage fright when the black and orange rolls into town. Playing in front of 60,000+ crowds at the Mississippi schools against ill-gotten players is helpful experience.

The friendly confines of Ladd Pebbles Stadium should be mildly beneficial but the point that this isn’t a star-stricken UCO squad playing the Pokes appears valid.

Run-First

In the big San Diego State upset, quarterback Cole Garvin — who went to the same high school as Calvin Johnson in the Atlanta area — ran for a couple scores and threw for one more. A dual-threat quarterback to go with their two-headed RB load are the strengths. That RB duo includes Xavier Johnson, their soon-to-be all-time leading rusher, and a junior college running back named Tra Minter who is 5’9″, 185 pounds.

Minter led the state of Georgia in rushing two years before J.D. King did, and if he’s half as athletic as the previous 5’9″ Garden City Community College running back, he could be a handful. After running for nearly seven yards a carry against Ole Miss, this could be where they start.

While the nearly 40,000 seat capacity isn’t likely to be as full as it is for the Senior Bowl or a Trump rally, the USA Jaguars could be a fun SunBelt/CUSA level opponent.

And while a loss would be truly devastating, is it possible that it could inspire another epic rant a little over a week later?

Related Topics:

Most Read

Copyright © 2011- 2023 White Maple Media