By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter
The question, since slapping 49 points on the scoreboard against Tennessee State in the season opener, has been exactly who is Alabama A&M?
The score wasn’t a fluke. The Bulldogs put up 41 on Clark Atlanta, 45 on Mississippi Valley State and 48 on Texas Southern.
The Southwestern Athletic Conference isn’t used to conservative, defensive-oriented A&M regularly dropping 40-plus points per game.
“The makeup of our team is a little different than in the past,” A&M coach Anthony Jones said. “I try to do what the kids can do. &hellip We have some kids who are a little more explosive.”
A&M (4-1, 2-1) faces No. 25 Southern (5-0, 3-0) for homecoming at 5:30 p.m. Saturday night in A.W. Mumford Stadium.
A&M won its first SWAC title last season doing the things that got the Bulldogs to all of their title game appearances (2000, ’02, ’05 and ’06): solid defense and a run-based offense.
The program made its reputation on stalwarts like Robert Mathis (Indianapolis Colts) and Johnny Baldwin (Kansas City Chiefs). From 2000-05, the Bulldogs were in the top five every season in rushing defense. That included 39.7 rushing yards per game in 2000, a Division I-AA record.
Entering this season, the Bulldogs had to replace three fifth-year seniors on their offensive line, their top two running backs and three of four wide receivers after the title run.
However, in the retooling, there was an opportunity to change the team’s identity.
A&M wrapped speed at the skill positions around senior starter Kelcy Luke, a former Auburn transfer and the conference’s most experienced quarterback.
“It’s a combination of things, and a senior quarterback,” Jones said.
“I think, with them, is they’re doing a little more with their quarterback, going downfield to complement the running game,” Texas Southern coach Steve Wilson said.
Luke has thrown for 14 touchdowns and is 88-for-150 (58.7 percent) for 1,161 yards and four interceptions. He’s also run for 90 yards and another TD.
“We have to put some pressure on him,” SU coach Pete Richardson said. “If he gets his feet set, he can throw.”
Jet-quick sophomore Ulysses Banks, meanwhile, has 491 yards and four touchdowns on the ground and 156 yards and two TDs through the air.
Banks is one of seven players to have caught a TD pass. That group is led by Thomas Harris, with 431 yards and four TDs.
And all of this production has come despite a hiccup of just six points in a humbling 31-6 loss at Grambling last month.
“That taught us some things,” Jones said. “We went back to make sure we knew what was going on.”
So, what about that defense?
“People are saying we’re not the defense of old, but we’re making plays,” Jones said. “We’re more of a bending defense now.”
A&M, still coached on defense by Brawnski Towns, has made 12 takeaways. And the Bulldogs are ranked third nationally in sacks, with 20 total and 3.8 per game.
“They’re getting to the quarterback. That’s a typical A&M team,” Richardson said. “We’re very inexperienced on our offensive line. I’m sure they’re going to be after us.”
The defense, despite losing Baldwin (originally drafted by the Detroit Lions before being claimed on waivers by the Chiefs), returned eight starters.
Linebacker Carlton Rice, who got his degree at Mississippi State in December, is second best on the team with 28 tackles (plus one sack, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery).
“He’s making a big impact on what we do,” Jones said.
Senior linebacker Avery Moland, the second-leading tackler last season, leads A&M with 30 tackles.
Senior end Christopher Traylor, with three sacks this season, paves the way up front.
No Bulldog had made more sacks and tackles for loss than Traylor in the past three seasons. He had 9.5 sacks despite missing four games last season.
And junior free safety Al Donaldson leads with two interceptions and five pass breakups.
“We’re going to have to eliminate (Southern’s) big-play ability,” Jones said. “We’re going to have to make them earn everything they get.”
The question, since slapping 49 points on the scoreboard against Tennessee State in the season opener, has been exactly who is Alabama A&M?
The score wasn’t a fluke. The Bulldogs put up 41 on Clark Atlanta, 45 on Mississippi Valley State and 48 on Texas Southern.
The Southwestern Athletic Conference isn’t used to conservative, defensive-oriented A&M regularly dropping 40-plus points per game.
“The makeup of our team is a little different than in the past,” A&M coach Anthony Jones said. “I try to do what the kids can do. &hellip We have some kids who are a little more explosive.”
A&M (4-1, 2-1) faces No. 25 Southern (5-0, 3-0) for homecoming at 5:30 p.m. Saturday night in A.W. Mumford Stadium.
A&M won its first SWAC title last season doing the things that got the Bulldogs to all of their title game appearances (2000, ’02, ’05 and ’06): solid defense and a run-based offense.
The program made its reputation on stalwarts like Robert Mathis (Indianapolis Colts) and Johnny Baldwin (Kansas City Chiefs). From 2000-05, the Bulldogs were in the top five every season in rushing defense. That included 39.7 rushing yards per game in 2000, a Division I-AA record.
Entering this season, the Bulldogs had to replace three fifth-year seniors on their offensive line, their top two running backs and three of four wide receivers after the title run.
However, in the retooling, there was an opportunity to change the team’s identity.
A&M wrapped speed at the skill positions around senior starter Kelcy Luke, a former Auburn transfer and the conference’s most experienced quarterback.
“It’s a combination of things, and a senior quarterback,” Jones said.
“I think, with them, is they’re doing a little more with their quarterback, going downfield to complement the running game,” Texas Southern coach Steve Wilson said.
Luke has thrown for 14 touchdowns and is 88-for-150 (58.7 percent) for 1,161 yards and four interceptions. He’s also run for 90 yards and another TD.
“We have to put some pressure on him,” SU coach Pete Richardson said. “If he gets his feet set, he can throw.”
Jet-quick sophomore Ulysses Banks, meanwhile, has 491 yards and four touchdowns on the ground and 156 yards and two TDs through the air.
Banks is one of seven players to have caught a TD pass. That group is led by Thomas Harris, with 431 yards and four TDs.
And all of this production has come despite a hiccup of just six points in a humbling 31-6 loss at Grambling last month.
“That taught us some things,” Jones said. “We went back to make sure we knew what was going on.”
So, what about that defense?
“People are saying we’re not the defense of old, but we’re making plays,” Jones said. “We’re more of a bending defense now.”
A&M, still coached on defense by Brawnski Towns, has made 12 takeaways. And the Bulldogs are ranked third nationally in sacks, with 20 total and 3.8 per game.
“They’re getting to the quarterback. That’s a typical A&M team,” Richardson said. “We’re very inexperienced on our offensive line. I’m sure they’re going to be after us.”
The defense, despite losing Baldwin (originally drafted by the Detroit Lions before being claimed on waivers by the Chiefs), returned eight starters.
Linebacker Carlton Rice, who got his degree at Mississippi State in December, is second best on the team with 28 tackles (plus one sack, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery).
“He’s making a big impact on what we do,” Jones said.
Senior linebacker Avery Moland, the second-leading tackler last season, leads A&M with 30 tackles.
Senior end Christopher Traylor, with three sacks this season, paves the way up front.
No Bulldog had made more sacks and tackles for loss than Traylor in the past three seasons. He had 9.5 sacks despite missing four games last season.
And junior free safety Al Donaldson leads with two interceptions and five pass breakups.
“We’re going to have to eliminate (Southern’s) big-play ability,” Jones said. “We’re going to have to make them earn everything they get.”
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