Jags football back at work

 
With the speculation of Southern head football coach Stump Mitchell going to St. Louis being laid to rest, football fans  – and the team itself – can finally place their focus back on the progress of the 2012 Jaguar football team.
The Jaguars opened spring practice a week ago looking to improve upon last year’s disappointing season.
When asked if there will be any possible position battles during the spring Mitchell responded, “definitely.”
Last year the Jaguars were ranked last in the 10-team Southwestern Athletic Conference in total defense and allowed running backs to have a field day against them, giving up an average of 186 yards per game.
But not all is bad with the defense, the Jaguar pass defense ranked third in the SWAC only allowing quarterbacks to only 190 yards per game.
The Jaguars lost five seniors on the defensive side of the ball, including All-SWAC first-team linebacker Jamie Payton.
Mitchell will be looking for someone to help fill that void at linebacker, and players like Larry Johnson who played big in the Jackson State game and showed promise when on the field and Javon Allen who has been impressive to Mitchell.
“Javon, I think he’s going to give linebackers a battle to see how much he can play,” said Mitchell. “Javon has been at Southern for three years but this will be his first year playing football.”
The Jaguars will only lose one player from the secondary in Demetric Rogers, but will have talent to replace with players like Mychal Ball and Kevin King.
“The secondary is going to be opened up I expect to see Kevin King come along and compete with a corner or two,” said Mitchell.
Mitchell felt the need to address his team defensively, and did just that. Nine of the 15 recruits that signed letters of intent are on the defensive side of the ball. Of those nine defensive signees, six are on the defensive line.
“All of the freshman we signed we are looking for them to assist us in some matter,” said Mitchell addressing the possibility of any new recruits or possible walk-ons.
In the spring everyone has the chance to familiarize themselves with the playbook and also prove that that they belong and Mitchell understands the value of have walk-ons.
“We take the walk-on process as a serious process, we evaluate the guys and give them an opportunity to play and eventually we end up putting those guys on scholarship so it’s a great opportunity to have walk-ons that are capable to playing,” said the third year head coach.
​Offensively the Jaguars will be looking to address the offensive line and improve in the running blocking game.
The Jaguars placed dead last in the SWAC in rushing yards per game, only being able to muster up 63 yards per game.
“Offensive linemen, I’m really pleased with Eric Juneau, I really didn’t think he play offensive line, of course he has to get stronger but he has great feet he’s got soft hands in case we have to move him back to tight end,” said Mitchell.
When Mitchell was asked if there was anything he wanted the public to know about his team was “This is the year, I think we have the parts we need in order to be successful and get Southern back on the winning track. I’m excited and looking forward to the season.”​