Defense dominates second spring football scrimmage

NORMAL -- On a sunny brisk Friday afternoon, the final day of classes before spring break on “The Hill,” head coach Anthony Jones and his staff held their second scrimmage of the 2013 spring football season.

This day was meant for the defense as defensive coordinator Brawnski Towns unit came up with four interceptions, four sacks and two touchdowns.

“I thought we did a good job today. Out 67 plays we allowed two touchdowns,” Towns mentioned.
“We did a good job as a unit but we didn’t do our best against the inside run.”

“I’m very pleased with the way our defense played today they were aggressive, I thought they made a lot of big plays, they were very stringy in allowing the offense to get where they needed to be,” head coach Anthony Jones stated.

The offense never found their groove as all three QB’s gave the ball away allowing the defense to set the tone all evening.

“I was disappointed in the way our offense performed,” Jones continued. “I thought the focus was very minimal and their minds were somewhere else. You can’t be successful when you give up four interceptions.”

Neither quarterback stepped up and claimed the starting role according to Jones.

“As a group all three QB’s played horrible. The picks were preventable and a lot of mistakes were made,” Jones declared. “No one separated themselves as the main guy.”

The offense struck first when Montaurius Smith broke loose from converted strong safety Austin Jones to catch a 24-yard touchdown.

Sixteen plays later Chris Ervin picked off a pass and raced to his first pick six of the new year.

Five plays later Derrick Harris caught his first pick of the scrimmage to give the Bulldog defense their second turnover.

Linebacker Ryan Jackson came away with his interception on a second and eight play allowing the defense to continue the dominance.

The offense did not lay down completely as redshirt freshman tight end Jonathan Dorsey caught a pass down the middle of the field on the third string defense freeing him for his first touchdown reception this week.

On the very next play Brandon Wells stared down his receiver and paid for it when Corey Johnson jumped out of nowhere and picked off the ball then took it in the end zone scoring his first pick six of 2013.

“Corey did a great job reading the quarterbacks eyes and was rewarded with the interception and touchdown,” Towns said.

“Someone has to claim the starting quarterback role and if no one steps up we will start preseason camp with that position open,” Jones elaborated. “The starting QB position has to be earned.”

“It’s going to take a while for the team to jell as a unit,” said Jones. “Today we took a step backwards achieving that goal.”

Alabama A&M will have five more opportunities to correct those issues when the students return from spring break. The next practice scheduled for A&M football is Friday, March 22^nd at 3:30 p.m.

The annual Maroon versus White spring football game is set for March 30^th at 1:00 p.m. in Louis Crews stadium.

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