By David Brandt, Clarion LedgerTHE JSU GAME
What: Jackson State (1-2, 1-0 SWAC) at Mississippi Valley (1-2, 1-2)
When: Saturday, 4 p.m.
Radio: JSU Network (WOAD-1300 AM)
Jackson State defensive tackle Corey Clark, No. 97, is hopeful that having capable backups on the defensive side this fall will help the Tigers stay fresh and aggressive late in the season.
Despite being a huge human being, Jackson State defensive tackle Corey Clark is an athlete who's in pretty decent physical shape.
But when he's flinging his 6-foot-3, 320-pound body all around the field, crashing into running backs and quarterbacks, he gets tired once in a while. During those times, it would be nice to have a break.
That was a problem last season.
Because when Clark - or any of the other defensive starters - turned to the sideline and asked for a play or two to catch his breath, the answer from the sideline was almost always this: Sorry, guys. There's nobody that can take your place. Suck it up.
JSU started 5-1 last season before losing four of its last five games and finishing with a 6-5 record. Defensive coordinator Darrin Hayes said that's not a coincidence.
"We had guys that were tired and dinged up that couldn't sit because we didn't have the talent behind them," Hayes said. "By the last few games, fresh legs were pretty hard to find. That's when you started seeing all those blown assignments and mental mistakes."
That's why it was so refreshing for Clark and most of the other starters to get the opportunity to watch from the sideline for part of last Thursday's 28-7 victory over Texas Southern.
Instead of Clark in the fourth quarter, it was Neal Pogue or Antonio Atkins plugging holes on the defensive line.
Instead of regular cornerbacks Keith Camp and Domonique Johnson, it was Jeremy Pierce and Oliver McNeil batting away passes.
And you know what? Clark admits it was hard to tell much of a difference between those guys and the first team.
"We were all talking about how good the backups looked," Clark said. "It's so much different than last season. We're really comfortable no matter who's on the field. Hopefully, it will make us a better team in the long run."
So far, Jackson State's defense has been the strength of a team with a disappointing 1-2 record (1-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference).
The Tigers rank second in the conference in passing defense (122.7 yards per game), fourth in rushing defense (99.3) and second in total defense (222).
In Thursday's game, Jackson State held Texas Southern to just 30 total yards and minus-39 on the ground. Poor field conditions because of constant rainfall certainly helped keep the Texas Southern offense under wraps, but Hayes acknowledged that added depth and intensity is turning the defense into an impressive group.
"It's always been our goal to have a defense that's two-tiered," Hayes said. "Now we've got backups who are nearly as good as the starters and that's helping everybody keep fresh."
Arguably the deepest spot is the defensive line, where coaches felt comfortable enough to move Jamile Owens, a starting defensive tackle last season, to fullback without worrying about the consequences.
"No way that happens last year. Absolutely not," Hayes said. "We just wouldn't have been able to afford it. Now we barely thought twice because it makes us a better team."
Up next for the JSU defense is a Mississippi Valley State offense that's averaged just 12 points and less than 200 total yards through three games. Add in the fact that the Tigers have beaten MVSU 12 times in a row, dating back to 1995, and it appears to be a mismatch.
JSU coach Rick Comegy couldn't disagree more. But he likes his chances with the defense that's been assembled.
"I know (MVSU has) struggled, but they've got all the ingredients of a great offense," Comegy said. "One of these weeks very soon they'll put it together. I'm just glad we've got a strong, athletic defense because I think we're going to need all of it to stop Valley on Saturday."
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