The South Bama game is a kind of litmus test for the Arkansas State Red Wolves – not just for this year, but for every year. In the years A-State defeats the Jaguars, the Red Wolves enjoy a good season. In seasons when Arkansas State loses, it’s indicative of a poor season. The numbers add up. From 2012 to 2016, the Red Wolves won all five games. Conversely, the Jaguars have won the last five meetings. One might deduce that the outcome of Saturday’s game will provide a reflection of the season to come.
The Legend of Adam Kennedy, Running QB
Last season, the Jaguars inched passed the Red Wolves 21-14, the result of Jag superstar running back La’Damian Webb racking up 163 yards and a touchdown. But last year’s game is not the game I’m recalling right now. Instead, I find myself looking back at Arkansas State’s 17-16 victory in 2013. That season, journeyman quarterback Adam Kennedy was taking the snaps. New head coach Bryan Harsin brought Kennedy in from Utah State as a kind of stop-gap between the great Ryan Aplin and the soon-to-be great Fredi Knighten. Greatness was not expected from Kennedy, though it would be happily accepted should it appear.
The first quarter of the game was fairly miserable, witch featured two field goals, all from South Alabama in the second quarter. Down 6-0, the Red Wolves jogged into the tunnel clearly flummoxed. The A-State first year offensive coordinator, Eliah Drinkwitz (currently the head coach for Missouri) had no answers for the South Alabama defense. The mood was pure gloom. It would soon get gloomier. When the second half opened, the Jaguars received the ball and mercilessly marched down the field, only to be thwarted in the end zone by a Sterling Young pick.
This was the moment Adam Kennedy cemented himself into legend (at least for me). Kennedy wasn’t a dual-threat guy. He was more a 6’5″ pocket passer, except maybe not in his own mind, where he was more like Steve Young. Kennedy led the team down the field with methodical grit before closing out with a personal twelve yard run into the end zone.
Watching Kennedy run was like witnessing an illusion from a master magician. Upon accepting the snap, he’d take one step and suddenly he was around the left tackle. A second step had him in the secondary. His strides were equal to those of Paul Bunyan. Where he lacked in twitch mechanics, he made up for with incredulity. Nobody could fathom what they were seeing. A cheerleader fainted believing she was witnessing a miracle. Eventually, a linebacker or safety would break through Kennedy’s hypnosis and plant him into the earth with a punishing tackle. Afterwards, Kennedy jogged back to the huddle and said, “What are we gonna run next? QB keeper? I like it.”
That night, Kennedy was the team’s leading passer (136 yards) and runner (65 yards), sacrificing his gangly body for important yards. On the strength of that one point win, the Red Wolves would go on to win the Sun Belt.
The Threads
We should pay handsome tribute to The Man in Black and bring back Ring of Fire.
The Big Boys are (Maybe) Back
“We’ve been down three offensive linemen. We’re missing some defensive linemen,” said coach Butch Jones, who also discussed the strength of competition that last few weeks. “Usually, you know your identity by week one or week 2. I don’t think our identity has been forged yet.”
That’s reasonable. The Red Wolves have been missing some key players to start the year, including center Jacob Bayer (who returned in Week 3), offensive lineman Makilan Thomas, offensive lineman Elijah Zollicoffer and defensive lineman Ethan Hassler. Chances are good we’ll see Thomas and Zollicoffer back on the line against South Alabama. Hassler is less likely – his name isn’t even listed on the most recent depth chart. The Red Wolves are also hoping to see 6’4″ tight end Tyler Little, Massachusetts transfer cornerback Jordan Mahoney, and defensive lineman Micaiah Overton, who was dinged early in the year.
“We usually have a very physical practice today,” said Coach Jones at the Tuesday press conference. “We’ll be able to better evaluate afterwards.”
Fair enough. It would be useful to have the Red Wolves very best line against South Alabama’s trench defense, which is lead by hard hitting linebackers Blayne Myrick and Courtney McBride, who terrorized the Appalachian State offense a couple weeks ago. The South Alabama defense, which Butch Jones said was one of the best in the conference, ultimately limited the Mountaineers to just 14 points with only 119 yards on the ground. The Red Wolves have been waiting to unleash an effective ground game all season, and the return of Thomas and Zollicoffer would go a long way to establishing the run.
So the Jags Can Score
“He reminds me of Tua,” said Coach Jones of Gio Lopez, likening the South Alabama quarterback to Miami Dolphins signal caller Tua Tagovailoa. “I think the game has really slowed down for him.”
Putting the brakes on Lopez will be a Red Wolves priority. He only threw for 154 yards against the Mountaineers, but those yards were efficient, resulting in two touchdowns passes. Where he presents even more danger is on the ground, where he torched Appalachian State for 105 yards and a score. Historically, the Red Wolves have had their difficulties with running quarterbacks. Look for hybrid linebacker Justin Parks to have a busy evening.
The South Alabama offense is more than Lopez. Fluff Bothwell, the 5’10 220-pound freshman running back, has been a pleasant surprise in Mobile. He’s currently ranked second in the conference for yards (376) and touchdowns (6).
Somebody has to be catching Lopez’s TD tosses, and that guy is 5’8″ senior receiver Jamaal Pritchett (396 yards, 4 touchdowns). Starting Red Wolves corners Dontay Joyner and Justin Hodges will have their hands full keeping tabs on the diminutive wideout.
Jag to Tag: DJ Thomas-Jones, Senior, Tight End
Michigan and Iowa State revealed what we secretly understood for some time now: the Red Wolves have trouble covering big, pass-catching tight ends. At 6’2″, 256-pounds, Thomas-Jones isn’t the biggest tight end A-State has seen this year, but he’s big enough. He already has three TDs on the year, so look for him in red zone situations.
Butch Speak
“We have to be more demanding peer to peer. We need to be eleven for eleven, it’s not okay to be nine for eleven, eight for eleven.”
Feet & Eyes
Red Wolves starting quarterback Jaylen Raynor didn’t have a relaxing bye week following the 52-7 loss to Iowa State. “He spent a lot of time with me,” said Butch Jones. “He’ll do whatever it takes to be successful.”
Apparently, doing whatever it takes means seeking celebrity counsel. While on Kara Richey’s radio show, Coach Jones said that he and Raynor reached out to famed QB guru Jon Gruden. Coach Jones would like his sophomore quarterback to take a breath and survey the territory the team recently crossed. “I think it’s about taking the emotion out of it,” he explained. “We’ve played some elite defenses now. It’s keeping things in perspective.” Coach Jones also pointed out that a stable pocket would be helpful to Raynor, too.
Raynor looked sharp in the first half against Michigan, finding his receivers in tight places. By the end of the Iowa State game, Raynor seemed to lose his timing and instinct, and he was ultimately benched for seasoned backup Timmy McClain.
According to Raynor, what he required was a top-to-bottom adjustment. “It all boils down to feet and eyes,” said Raynor during the Tuesday press conference. “How are my feet set? What am I looking at? We worked on my fundamentals. I don’t want to think the game, I want to react.”
Coach Jones admitted the bye week wasn’t especially relaxing. “It was a work week,” he said.
Red Wolf Watch: Ja’Quez Cross, Junior, Running Back
In the preseason, it seemed that the Red Wolves had an emerging superstar in Ja’Quez Cross, a running back with speed and some power. However, as of now the leading rusher for A-State is the team’s quarterback Jaylen Raynor. Cross ranks fourth on the team with just 61 rushing yards, behind even freshman Devin Spencer. The uncomfortable truth is Arkansas State ranks next-to-last in the Sun Belt for rushing, which is disappointing given the expectations of the team’s offensive line and running back squad.
If the run game is to be a factor for Arkansas State, something needs to light Cross’ furnace. You can run on South Alabama, who ranks 71th nationally against the run. The Ohio Bobcats put 200 ground yards on the Jags, and LSU added 237. Off the Red Wolves can create seams, perhaps Cross can get back on track.
The Final Analysis
“They challenge your scheme. They challenge your rules,” said Coach Jones, who isn’t taking Arkansas State’s homecoming opponent lightly – which might have been tempting when the season started with the Jags going 0-2 against North Texas and Ohio. Dropping 87 on poor FCS Northwester State released something inside the Jaguars. Perhaps the loss to LSU closed it?
Meanwhile, the Red Wolves are focussing on the Red Wolves. “We have to be less result oriented and more process oriented,” said Coach Jones, adopting the famous Nick Saban mantra. As mantras go, it’s not bad. As Raynor might tell you, work on your eyes and feet, and the results will follow.
All that said, this is an important homecoming for Arkansas State. The Sun Belt West is clearly as competitive as any conference in the nation. You can’t even count on ULM to flounder.
PHOTOS AND IMAGES: Mostly mine unless noted
Howlraiser 