South Alabama still ranks among the top offensive teams in the Sun Belt Conference, but hasn’t been quite as explosive in recent weeks.
The Jaguars are second in the Sun Belt in scoring (34.9 points per game), total yards (445 per game) and rushing yards per game (196.4), but much of the heavy lifting was done in the first four weeks of the season. In its last three games — losses to LSU and Arkansas State and a win over Troy — South Alabama (3-4, 2-1 Sun Belt) is averaging just 17 points, 144.3 rushing yards and 368 total yards.
This week’s opponent, Louisiana-Monroe, features one of the top defenses in the Sun Belt. The Warhawks (5-1, 3-0) are allowing just 20 points and 341 yards per game heading into Saturday’s key Sun Belt West matchup at Hancock Whitney Stadium.
“They do a great job on both sides of the ball,” South Alabama coach Major Applewhite said. “In all three phases, they execute well. Defensively, there are very few busts. They tackle well, they pursue to the ball. … The theme of their defense is just multiplicity.
“They’re gonna move around and play some three-man, four-man fronts, play some man-to-man, some quarters, play some three deep, some cover two, get some different packages. They’re gonna have some variety in what they do.”
Penalties have been among the biggest culprits in limiting South Alabama’s offensive output of late. The Jaguars have been flagged 25 times for 235 yards in those three games.
Flags were especially an issue in the loss to Arkansas State, killing two drives short of the red zone. And even in a 25-6 victory over Troy, South Alabama saw a number of possessions short-circuited that could have resulted in a larger margin of victory.
“I want to see us get out of our own way,” Applewhite said. “Just earlier in drives to where we’re not sitting in situations where we’ve got to throw the ball on long down and distances. … I think it’s an obvious big question but being more efficient on first and second, giving our quarterback and our play-caller more options on third-and-short and third-and-medium.
“… We’ve implemented some things in practice to bring those points home (regarding penalties) and that’s the best we can do. (Officials are) not always right, and you just have to swallow that one and move on. But when they are right, you have to fix that.”
Outside of a Week 2 loss at Ohio in which starting quarterback Gio Lopez did not play, South Alabama’s offense was clicking along in the early season. The Jaguars scored 38 points vs. North Texas in the season-opener, then a school-record 87 against Northwestern State and 48 in a win over Appalachian State.
Though Lopez continues to produce despite managing a nagging turf toe injury, running backs Kentrel Bullock and Fluff Bothwell have had less room to run. The two have combined for just 262 yards on the ground the last three weeks, with no touchdowns between them (Lopez has the Jaguars’ lone rushing touchdown in that span, a 49-yarder vs. Troy last week).
“I think there’s been some things that have gotten us that we’re kind of looking at,” offensive coordinator Rob Ezell said. “I think we, as coaches can help them out — me in particular. … We’ve had to chop and change a little on the offensive line, rolling in some guys. And there’s an element, too, with the variety of (defensive) looks that we’ve gotten.
“I think we can help them out, and then ultimately just develop the confidence. You look at a couple of runs, and there’s a guy here, there’s a guy there, which is offensive football. Everybody’s got to do their job. We’re working to get back to that.”
As Ezell noted and Applewhite also pointed out, starting right guard Reed Buys — the team’s most-experienced lineman — has been in and out of the lineup the last three weeks due to a hamstring injury. Freshman Asher Hale got his first career start at left guard vs. Troy, with Kenton Jerido flipping to the right side.
Buys is expected back at full health this week, though Applewhite noted the Jaguars essentially have “three starting guards” now between Buys, Hale and Jerido. Left tackle Jordan Davis said the men up front for South Alabama continue to chase consistency.
“I think we’ve played pretty good,” Davis said. “We’ve had some times where we were connecting, other times as an offensive line we have made some mistakes and penalties. Going forward, I feel like just us playing our ball and limiting penalties will be good. … It just takes practice. You’ve just got to be in-tune to what’s happening — focus on the quarterback’s cadence, try not to hold, and be you playing football.”
The passing game has steadier, with Lopez throwing for 291 yards and two touchdowns against Arkansas State and 158 yards and a score on 15-for-21 passing vs. Troy. For the season, the redshirt freshman has thrown for 13 touchdowns with just one interception.
Lopez’s favorite receiver continues to be senior Jamaal Pritchett, whose 39 receptions, 574 yards and six touchdowns are nearly or more than double the next-closest pass-catcher on the team. Pritchett also leads the Sun Belt and ranks second nationally in punt return average (21.7).
“Before the season started, we were close,” Pritchett said of his relationship with Lopez. “We’d hang out on the field, just talk about ball a lot and learning what each other was thinking. It’s good to be that guy that he goes to. The other receivers, we all rely on each other. It’s definitely a good connection.”
Kickoff for South Alabama-ULM is set for 4 p.m. Saturday. The game will stream live via ESPN+.
