JACKSON, Mississippi -- Jackson State defensive coordinator John Hendrick knows what it looks like when the Tigers execute his 3-3-5 scheme almost to perfection. He saw it at the end of last season.The Tigers had some success early, particularly against No. 23 Tennessee State, which JSU held to 17 points in the Southern Heritage Classic. They hit a rough patch in the middle of the season, giving up 33 or more points in five straight games, but by the last quarter of the season – the four-game stretch where JSU showed signs of life by finishing 3-1 – they really had the defense humming.
The Tigers gave up just two touchdowns in those last four games and performed well even in the lone loss, a 13-7 heart-breaker against Alabama State. Against arch-rival Alcorn, the SWAC East Champs, the Tigers only needed one offensive touchdown to get a 7-3 win.
“As far as the scheme goes, we had it figured out by the end (of last season),” senior linebacker Eric Bowie said. “We’ve got some stuff to figure out before this season starts, but as far as the system goes, we’re just rolling over what we learned last year.”
So, will the Tigers’ momentum keep rolling with it? Hendricks thinks so.
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