Jaguars’ defense missing a few links from its chain

Just three weeks ago Southern was riding high on momentum after stockpiling four straight wins and sitting atop the Southwestern Athletic Conference Western Division.
But with consecutive losses to Florida A&M and Prairie View, and another near loss to Arkansas Pine-Bluff, SU seems, at least on the surface, a team limping to the finish line.
After SU’s latest triumph, a scrappy 31-24 double overtime win over woeful UAPB, defensive players took turns exchanging a huge metal chain and lock.
The chain is supposed to represent the fact that SU has no weaknesses on defense.
But, is that true?
“You’re only as good as your weakest link,” senior safety Glenn Bell said. “This chain and lock symbolize our defense has no weak links.”
Oh, really?
The same defense that gave up 17 points to an awful UAPB offense ranked last in nearly every statistical category in SWAC play.
The same defense that gave up 166 yards and a touchdown to Martell Mallett behind a youthful, freshman heavy offensive line.
The same defense that gave up another 76 yards and a touchdown to Mickey Dean despite an atrocious two quarterback pass attack that combined to go three-of-21 with four interceptions.
Really?
That’s hard to believe, well, because after all this is the same defense that surrendered two second half leads to Prairie View the week before and faltered down the stretch at home against FAMU.
Well, if the defense is without a weak link, then what’s the problem?
Is it the offense?
Wrong.
In its most recent action, SU saw its starting quarterback in Bryant Lee and third all-time leading passer in school history benched after halftime.
But still, backups C.J. Byrd and Warren Matthews found ways to get the job done.
SU’s defense should try doing the same.
“We understand the magnitude of each game and that we’re playing a three game season,” senior defensive tackle Joseph Selders said.
Wrong.
SU is playing a two game season in which it must win out in order to have a chance at advancing to the SWAC Championship game.
If SU drops either contest to Alabama State or Grambling, its hopes of hoisting a SWAC title this year are over.
Of all the seniors on defense, cornerback Michael Williams said it best.
“We know the deal,” Williams said. “With all of us seniors, we know how important this is. We have two, maybe three games left. So what we have to do is finish up strong and take care of business.”
Once more, a team is only as good as its weakest link.
In this case hopefully there are no weak links on defense.