By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter
The Southern football team’s depth chart has started to get firmer the last week, but today’s lengthy scrimmage will offer a chance for the youngsters to make a mark.
Southern will have a closed scrimmage for about 55 or 60 plays this morning, with game officials on hand.
“The main things are tempo, assignments and effort and, of course, to see where we can add as far as the young individuals,” Southern head coach Pete Richardson said. “They’re going to have a chance to play a great deal.”
Richardson said, where possible, he’d hold out or limit veterans. That will give a chance for newcomers and younger players alike — and the Jaguars have plenty of those — to make something happen more in a game speed and have that on film for coaches to see.
The Jaguars are two weeks away from their season opener, Sept. 1 at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., against longtime rival Florida A&M.
Stewart works at RT
Redshirt freshman Rodrell Stewart, who has been at right guard, worked at right tackle — with junior Myles Williams as the No. 1 right tackle — Friday.
“Right tackle, right guard, he’s going to have to learn them all because of the situation (with a lack of depth) we’re in up front,” Richardson said.
Sophomore Allen Buckner (heat) remains out, and true freshman Leslie Davis, who pulled a leg muscle Thursday, was being held back Friday.
Meanwhile, junior tackle Ruben Oliver, who had missed the first two weeks of preseason camp while finishing a summer internship, practiced for the first time Thursday, at his usual spot as left tackle, backing Trent Thomas.
Richardson said Stewart’s interchangeability is helped by the line going to more zone blocking concepts this season.
“They’re doing a good job of teaching all that,” Richardson said. “Once he gets the concept up there, all of it is about the same.”
The zone blocking and the improvement in running backs have made the running game look fluid in camp.
“It’s starting to come around,” Richardson said. “It took a while for them to get the gist of it. More than anything else, the backs are learning how to run it. A lot of times, all you have to do is get (the defense) going one way, and then the back comes back underneath. We have those types of backs.”
Return men
Richardson said sophomore Ronald Wade and senior Chad Harris will handle most of the returns.
Richardson said he’d prefer senior A.J. Turner, also one of the team’s top wide receivers, not return kicks. Turner, also a top 400-meter sprinter on the track team, had 25 returns for 527 yards (21.1 yards per return) last season.
“I’m not going to let A.J. do that,” Richardson said. “He got nicked up last year on those kickoff returns.”
Last season, Harris had 13 punt returns for 93 yards (7.2 yards per return) and five kickoff returns for 82 yards (16.4 yards per return).
Marcus Wilkerson also returned kicks last season, but the cornerback is academically ineligible for this season.
Wade did not play last season.
About the linebackers
Allan Baugh (three tackles in three games) has edged ahead of Brian Lewis (four tackles in three games) in a competition of sophomores vying to be the No. 1 eagle linebacker.
Sophomore Gary Chapman, who did not play last season, is solidifying his spot as the top drop linebacker.
“He had a little hip pointer, but he has good range and speed,” Richardson said of Chapman.
Notes
Senior WR Gerard Landry (tooth) remains out and said he’d have oral surgery Tuesday. Junior DT Frank Harry (heat) was also out. Phellip Turner (pulled leg musle) was out for the second straight day in what Richardson said was a precaution. Richardson said true freshman OG Brian Bridges, yet to be approved by the NCAA Clearinghouse, will work today but will be held out starting Monday if the school does not have any word by then. Redshirt freshman OG Joshua Keelen, who could be academically ineligible, is still out. SU worked in full gear Friday.
The Southern football team’s depth chart has started to get firmer the last week, but today’s lengthy scrimmage will offer a chance for the youngsters to make a mark.
Southern will have a closed scrimmage for about 55 or 60 plays this morning, with game officials on hand.
“The main things are tempo, assignments and effort and, of course, to see where we can add as far as the young individuals,” Southern head coach Pete Richardson said. “They’re going to have a chance to play a great deal.”
Richardson said, where possible, he’d hold out or limit veterans. That will give a chance for newcomers and younger players alike — and the Jaguars have plenty of those — to make something happen more in a game speed and have that on film for coaches to see.
The Jaguars are two weeks away from their season opener, Sept. 1 at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., against longtime rival Florida A&M.
Stewart works at RT
Redshirt freshman Rodrell Stewart, who has been at right guard, worked at right tackle — with junior Myles Williams as the No. 1 right tackle — Friday.
“Right tackle, right guard, he’s going to have to learn them all because of the situation (with a lack of depth) we’re in up front,” Richardson said.
Sophomore Allen Buckner (heat) remains out, and true freshman Leslie Davis, who pulled a leg muscle Thursday, was being held back Friday.
Meanwhile, junior tackle Ruben Oliver, who had missed the first two weeks of preseason camp while finishing a summer internship, practiced for the first time Thursday, at his usual spot as left tackle, backing Trent Thomas.
Richardson said Stewart’s interchangeability is helped by the line going to more zone blocking concepts this season.
“They’re doing a good job of teaching all that,” Richardson said. “Once he gets the concept up there, all of it is about the same.”
The zone blocking and the improvement in running backs have made the running game look fluid in camp.
“It’s starting to come around,” Richardson said. “It took a while for them to get the gist of it. More than anything else, the backs are learning how to run it. A lot of times, all you have to do is get (the defense) going one way, and then the back comes back underneath. We have those types of backs.”
Return men
Richardson said sophomore Ronald Wade and senior Chad Harris will handle most of the returns.
Richardson said he’d prefer senior A.J. Turner, also one of the team’s top wide receivers, not return kicks. Turner, also a top 400-meter sprinter on the track team, had 25 returns for 527 yards (21.1 yards per return) last season.
“I’m not going to let A.J. do that,” Richardson said. “He got nicked up last year on those kickoff returns.”
Last season, Harris had 13 punt returns for 93 yards (7.2 yards per return) and five kickoff returns for 82 yards (16.4 yards per return).
Marcus Wilkerson also returned kicks last season, but the cornerback is academically ineligible for this season.
Wade did not play last season.
About the linebackers
Allan Baugh (three tackles in three games) has edged ahead of Brian Lewis (four tackles in three games) in a competition of sophomores vying to be the No. 1 eagle linebacker.
Sophomore Gary Chapman, who did not play last season, is solidifying his spot as the top drop linebacker.
“He had a little hip pointer, but he has good range and speed,” Richardson said of Chapman.
Notes
Senior WR Gerard Landry (tooth) remains out and said he’d have oral surgery Tuesday. Junior DT Frank Harry (heat) was also out. Phellip Turner (pulled leg musle) was out for the second straight day in what Richardson said was a precaution. Richardson said true freshman OG Brian Bridges, yet to be approved by the NCAA Clearinghouse, will work today but will be held out starting Monday if the school does not have any word by then. Redshirt freshman OG Joshua Keelen, who could be academically ineligible, is still out. SU worked in full gear Friday.
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