SU coaches take close look at WRs

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

Southern University has a pretty good grasp of what senior wide receivers Gerard Landry and A.J. Turner and junior Del Roberts can do, because all three started last season.

So the last week or so afforded coaches a chance to see a good bit of the other guys, those pushing for starting time, those in the second group and those trying to get up into the second group.

In Saturday’s scrimmage, with front-line guys in junior Mark Henderson and sophomore Juamorris Stewart getting pulled early to stand aside the injured players, the results showed there was still work to be done.

But at least, the backups got in some work both Saturday and lately.

“They let me know where they are and what they are capable of doing right now,” wide receivers coach Eric Dooley said. “It gave me an opportunity to look at them.”

Turner (pulled leg muscle), who had been out much of the last week, and Roberts (hip), who was injured Saturday, returned to practice Tuesday.

Senior RaShon Jacobs (ankle), out last season after transferring from Louisiana-Monroe, also returned Tuesday after missing substantial time.

“He surprised me with some of the catches he made, but I can still see where he’s hampered with that foot,” Dooley said of Jacobs. “He’s not full speed. But I still see where, if needed, he could fill in a couple plays.”

Meanwhile, senior Gerard Landry had oral surgery Tuesday morning, Richardson said, and could be out a few more days.

Landry, Roberts, Stewart, Turner and Henderson form a solid core group, with Jacobs a reserve who should make an impact but is still an unknown because he’s missed so much time.

So how is the depth coming, in no particular order, according to Dooley?

Redshirt freshman Isaiah Nelson: “He’s had a good camp. He’s pushing himself.”
Sophomore Clevan White: “I’m really pleased with Clevan White. He’s stepping up.”
Senior Nick Benjamin: “He’s doing a fine job of really making separation.”
And junior wide receiver Edward Robinson, who missed all of last season after being suspended in October 2005 for violating unspecified team rules, saw a lot of action Saturday. He was out Tuesday with an illness, Dooley said.

“They’re beginning to grasp the system,” Southern coach Pete Richardson said. “Now it’s a matter of getting the confidence they need and go full speed.

“A lot of them are still trying to think instead of reacting and play more naturally.”

Landry, George captainsThe players chose Landry and senior free safety Jarmaul George, the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s preseason defensive player of the year, as the team’s captains.

“I thought it was a wise choice,” Richardson said. “Those individuals have been around. They deserve it. They’ve been working hard.”

Last season, quarterback J.C. Lewis, now a fifth-year senior, and cornerback Michael Williams, now a junior, were the team’s captains.

Harry still on offense

Junior Frank Harry, a South Florida transfer who has been working at defensive tackle since the spring, worked as a guard on the offensive line, getting one-on-one coaching sessions with line coach Damon Nivens crammed here and there into practice, for the second straight day.

Harry could alternate between offensive and defensive lines.

“He’s going to get over there the next two or three days,” Richardson said. “He understands the base of what we’re doing on defense, if we have to use him. We just want to give him a little more experience (on offense) and hopefully he can grasp that the next couple days, at least to help out just in case something happens.”

Sophomore center Ramon Chinyoung was back Tuesday after missing Monday’s workout, but there is a possibility he won’t play this season.

Sophomore Daniel Stephens, a first-year player, took many first-team snaps Tuesday, but left practice with an injury.

Meanwhile, sophomore tackle Allen Buckner (heat) has yet to return even to watch practice, redshirt freshman guard Joshua Keelen remains out and could be academically ineligible and true freshman guard Brian Bridges continues to practice but has not been accepted by the NCAA Clearinghouse yet.

Notes

Southern’s Fan Day is Saturday, after a morning scrimmage. … SU worked in full gear Tuesday. … Also out Tuesday was sophomore K/P Willie Joseph (hamstring) and true freshman DT Calvin Cunningham (shoulder). … SU has been practicing since Aug. 2 and won’t have its season opener until Sept. 1 in Birmingham, Ala., against Florida A&M — “It keeps dragging on and on and on. It’s time to play,” Richardson said.