The Red Wolves and the Jaguars are still looking for them elusive winning ways
Both Arkansas State and South Alabama entered the season represented by multiple first-and-second team all conference players and reasonably high-ish expectations. Both teams have too much talent to flounder. Yet, entering the seventh week of the season, the two programs have combined for three wins – two of which collected at the expense of the FCS. Both have lost to in-state opponents (Arkansas State was demolished by Arkansas; South Alabama lost in overtime to Troy). Both programs feature quarterbacks who can beat you with their arm and also with their legs – Bishop Davenport (187 yards, 3 touchdowns) and Jaylen Raynor (198 yards, 4 touchdowns). Both programs need a win on Tuesday night to keep their chances reasonable for winning the Sun Belt West.
Red Wolves Could Build on a Big Victory
Texas State entered Jonesboro the preseason favorite to win the SBC West and left a 1-point loser to an Arkansas State team that suddenly discovered a violent burst of offense – 21 points to outlast a 20-point assault from the Bobcats. Can the Red Wolves extrapolate momentum from the victory?
“I thought it was a well earned victory. I thought their was growth associated with it,” said head coach Butch Jones in Tuesday’s presser. “When you look at it, I thought we really developed a relationship in the midst of adversity and competition especially in the fourth quarter, and you could finally feel the collective group.”
The collective group is a bit dinged. The linebacker squad is missing key dudes (Week 1 starter Terry Kirksey Jr. is still battling injury and Javante Mackey is, uh, gone), tight end Tyler Little (listed as “out”) is just getting back on the practice field, and the Red Wolves played its third-string center last Saturday, with starter Mason Myers still hurt (but listed as probable) and back-up Walker Davis (also listed as probable) knocked out of the game in the second quarter. “Our biggest challenge moving forward is getting back health,” admitted Coach Jones. “The extra three days (afforded by the bye) helps.”
Banged up or not, the Red Wolves defense did hold a prolific Texas State offense to 10 points through three quarters, enabling the offense time enough to crack the Bobcats defensive scheme. Will that inspire the team to excellence heading to Mobile? The last time Arkansas State beat Texas State at home, the Red Wolves followed it with a road loss, so history isn’t exactly on the side of the canines.
South Alabama Is Still Reaching for the Progressive Insurance Dollar
“So close! You almost had it!” The Jaguars have just one win (Week One over Morgan State) and a sad pile of near-misses to keep them awake at night. In Week Two, a fourth quarter comeback fell two points short against Tulane. A week later, a twenty-one point second quarter from the Tigers put the game out of reach against Auburn. Last week’s overtime loss to Troy cost South Alabama “The Belt.”
Defense is a concern. Like the Red Wolves, South Alabama surrenders 31.7 points per game and is especially vulnerable to the run (also like Arkansas State). Offensively, the team can vanish, like it did the second half in its los to Coastal Carolina and the first half of its loss to North Texas. It’s not as if Bishop Davenport is without offensive firepower: Running back Kentrel Bullock has nearly 500 yards rushing on the year and longtime (ancient) wide receiver Devin Voisin ranks second in the Sun Belt with 501 receiving yards.
KEY BATTLE: Devin Voisin vs Corey Rucker
The only wide receiver in the Sun Belt who has logged more time at wide receiver than Corey Rucker (est 2020) is Devin Voisin (est 2019). a career Jaguar whose first career reception was filmed in black and white. Voisin currently ranks second in the Sun Belt for receiving yards, has found the end zone four times, and is clearly Davenports Big Play Guy.
Rucker, who originally committed to South Alabama as a recruit, is finally shaking off the malaise, recording his second straight 100 game last weekend. While fun-sized speedster Chauncy Cobb has become Raynor’s safety outlet, Rucker remains the man for when critical yards are needed most. Both secondaries will be Saran Wrapped to these wide receivers on Tuesday, but nothing will stop either from pulling down essential receptions.
Jag to Stagnate: Ty Goodwill, Sophomore, Safety
Ty Goodwill is a 6’2″, 200-lb safety who is an enormous reason why South Alabama is ranked just beneath Old Dominion and James Madison for defending the pass. The unit gives up less than 170 yards a contest, and Goodwill ranks third in the Sun Belt for passes defended. If Raynor is continue his consecutive completed-pass streak (currently at 20), his wideouts will have to put Goodwill in check.
How Does Arkansas State Win This Game?
“We have a lot of things that need to get corrected that, if we don’t get corrected, is going to cost us games,” said Coach Butch Jones at his Tuesday presser. Jones could be referencing a number of issues, but defense remains a work in progress. While the Red Wolves defense performed admirably for three quarters against Texas State, the Bobcats opening drive and fourth quarter outburst exposed A-State’s relative inexperience. Tackling technique is an issue – Bobcats quarterback Brad Jackson shook off more Red Wolves arm tackles than acceptable.
Linebacker depth is also a concern. Opening day starter Terry Kirksey is still out with an injury, and uber-useful tackler Javante Mackey is “no longer with the team.” That leaves a lot of young guys to man the position, like freshman Nigel Nelson and redshirt sophomore Jordan Sample. One guy who’s seized his opportunity is Kyle Taylor, primarily a special teamer last year, led the team with 12 total tackles in the win over the Bobcats.
I mention all of this because Red Wolves success will rely heavily on stopping running back Kentrel Bullock and quarterback Bishop Davenport from running roughshod over Red Wolves defenders. Yes, it would be useful if Raynor and the offense put more pressure on the Jaguars earlier rather than later, but until the Red Wolves offense becomes consistently dangerous, responsibility for the game’s success lies heavily on the defense’s shoulders.
The Threads
The Final Analysis
The Red Wolves and the Jaguars are remarkably similar teams experiencing remarkably similar agonies. South Alabama is missing what Coach Jones often calls “winning mentality.” They’re having difficulty closing out games, taking advantage of defensive stands, and allowing big quarters from their opponents. After six games and five losses, the Jaguars must find themselves in a state of frustration given the talent they have at quarterback, wide receiver and running back.
Much of this can be said about the Red Wolves. The team has talent, but it’s missing synergy. When the defense is effective, the offense is sputtering. When the offense finds a groove, the defense falls apart. After six games, one hopes that everyone is finally playing on the same page. And it would be a perfect time for that to happen while on the road in Mobile.
IMAGE: AI monstrosity
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