SU line, backs getting job done early this season

Photo: Darren Coates - 25 carries, 199 yards, 2 TDs rushing

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

PVAMU at Southern
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
Where: A.W. Mumford Stadium
TV: tape-delay (4 p.m. Sun., CST)
RADIO: KQXL-FM, 106.5

The biggest decisions impacting the Southern running game this season were made in the offseason.

Tops of those was a decision to go to a zone-blocking scheme. The simplicity of that has risen in importance as the offensive line lost five, and perhaps, six members to grades, since the spring.

The other two biggies were adding two first-year coaches in offensive line coach Damon Nivens and running backs coach Elvis Joseph, two former Jaguars who had played professionally. The two have brought a jolt of enthusiasm and professionalism that has been crucial to the two youngest offensive units.

The results have come together impressively so far for Southern (2-0, 1-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference), which hosts Prairie View (2-0, 1-0) in a Western Division showdown at 6 p.m. Saturday in A.W. Mumford Stadium.

A year ago, through two games, SU ran for 58 yards. To date, the Jaguars have 531.

A year ago, Darren Coates and Brian Threat combined for 188 yards and one touchdown all season and Kendrick Smith, sitting out as a transfer, wasn’t even on the team. To date, the trio has put up 380 yards and three TDs on the ground, with Smith catching two passes for TDs as well.

“I know we’re on the right track,” SU offensive coordinator Mark Orlando said. “I think the kids have bought into it, and they’re having fun with it.”

Such a strong running game seemed perhaps out of reach after an offseason of attrition. SU lost its most veteran running back, Larry Nichols, to academics as well as the offensive linemen.

“It’s really surprised me we’d be this far along at this time,” Southern head coach Pete Richardson said.

But before the attrition ever happened, SU made decisions that are starting to pay off.

“Coming out of last year, we knew we had to run,” Orlando said. “No. 1, we made a decision to run. No. 2, we made a decision to keep our blocking scheme as simple as we possibly could.”

That simplicity — “If you come in an area, I block you. That’s it,” Orlando said — is key.

Though Southern is playing with a tight end at left tackle, a left tackle at left guard, a right guard at center and a tackle at right guard, the scheme works.

























Photo: Kendrick Smith - 9 carries, 61 yards, 2 TDs receiving

“We made it simple where they can play faster,” Orlando said. “They understand their assignments and they can come off the ball more aggressively.”

Richardson said the offensive line, which road-graded Mississippi Valley State for 293 yards, was the MVP of a 23-6 win Saturday in Chicago. The week before, Valley had corralled the SWAC’s two marquee rushers, Martell Mallett and Mickey Dean of Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

That was SU’s best one-game total since 345 rushing yards on Prairie View on Sept. 6, 2003.

“The players are starting to believe in it,” Richardson said. “It’s not to blow anybody out; it’s to get out and keep contact and let the back do the work.”

Taking advantage is an upgrade in talent at running back to go along with the threat of a veteran receiving group.

“The skill we have is as good, if not better, as any skill we’ve had since I’ve been at Southern,” Orlando said. “And the kids up front have done a very good job.”

And Joseph has brought out the best in Coates, Threat and Smith.

“Coates runs hard. He can run inside or outside,” Richardson said. “Threat is a big, powerful type guy. He can run in between the numbers. Then you change the speed of the game when you put Kendrick in there.”

Coates broke a 90-yard TD run on the offense’s first play this season. Threat snapped off a 62-yarder Saturday. Smith is home-run hitter waiting.

“We have the ability to keep fresh legs in the game,” Richardson said. “We’ve got three running backs we feel comfortable with. The fourth option is the quarterback.”

Photo: Brian Threat - 15 carries, 128 yards, 1 TD rushing

Sophomore quarterback Bryant Lee, the top returning rusher with 302 yards and five TDs last season, has run for 88 yards and one TD this season.

“The quarterback has to make yards with his legs in the run game,” Orlando said. “When you see us with two backs and a quarterback, that’s a three running back set.

“When your quarterback has to run the ball, the defense has an extra guy they have to account for. A lot of times, we get an extra blocker at the point of attack.”

The fifth option is the end around or the reverse, and cat-quick junior Del Roberts (four carries for 37 yards) also keeps defenses honest.

Meanwhile, Nivens and Joseph, along with assistant Mark Frederick, have added a right touch of oomph and knowledge to invigorate their units.

“The kids really relate to them because they played here and they bring that enthusiasm out there,” Orlando said. “They’ve done a super job.”