Blazers moving on
Published 12:09 am Wednesday, October 26, 2011
- Valdosta State safety Harrison Dreiling (15) intercepts a pass during a game against the West Georgia Wolves in 2010.
When asked what the mood of the team was like at practice on Tuesday afternoon, Valdosta State sophomore wide receiver Griffin Roelle said the Blazers were still mad about this past Saturday’s 36-33 loss to No. 1 ranked Delta State.
The thought of his team being mad about the loss is something head coach David Dean is glad to hear.
“I sure hope they are,” Dean said. “When we met on Monday for the first time since we got back, they were really quiet. It really concerned me when I walked into the team meeting room and saw that not a whole lot was being said and a some of them had their heads down. I knew then, that as coaches, we had to do a great job as getting their physique back.”
Dean said he was extremely proud of how the Blazers played last Saturday night; saying there was about seven or eight plays that could have been taken away and VSU could have won.
The Blazers were back on the practice field on Tuesday afternoon in preparation for Saturday’s game against West Georgia, and Dean said he was glad to see his teams response.
“They were very enthusiastic in the weight room, they had a good practice today, they were jumping around, so we’ll see,” Dean said. “The big thing I am worried about this week is our physique. I know West Georgia is a good football team, but if we don’t go out mentally ready to play we are not going to have a chance against them.”
Jackson, Braswell to carry load
Running back David Bailey suffered a torn ACL in this past Saturday’s loss. Bailey was seen on crutches at Tuesday’s practice. and Dean confirmed he will miss the remainder of the season.
With the injury of Bailey, the Blazers will rely on junior Theseus Jackson and true freshman Troy Braswell in the backfield.
“I have been very confident in them the whole year,” Dean said. “One of the reasons Troy Braswell is playing as a true freshman is that we know he can make plays. (Troy) works hard and he understands how to play the game. He is football savvy, and I think he is going to have a good football game.
“(Troy) is going to have a lot more opportunities to get more carries (against West Georgia) and I think you are going to see a guy that is basically going to be able to come out of his shell,” Dean continued.
Fullback Cameo Holloway will also see more carries, as Dean said Holloway will lineup as the power back in certain situations.
“We moved (Cameo) back there and he is going to run some of our, what we call our F back,” Dean said. “It basically comes down to Theseus, Troy Braswell and now Cameo. Those three guys are going to carry the load back there, but Eugene Glenn suffered a concussion in the Delta State game, so he is out this week.”
As for how Braswell and Jackson will respond, just look at last Saturday night. Jackson led the Blazers with 177 yards rushing, marking the 11th best total in school history. Braswell finished the game with 26 yards rushing and a one-yard touchdown run.
Braswell said the pressure is up, but Bailey has been a major factor in his development and understanding of the offense.
“There is some pressure, but David just told me to play ball,” Braswell said. “David has been helping me all season. On plays that I don’t know, I go to him. If I don’t know what I am doing, I look to him. He is like my coach, to be honest.”
Dean calls out top receivers
The Blazers may be young at the wide receiver position, as three sophomores lead the team in receptions, but that doesn’t mean Dean doesn’t expect a lot out of them.
Dean, who coaches the wide receivers, called out the receiving corps following this past weekend’s performance against Delta State, which saw receivers Quin Roberson and Seantavious Jones combine for just two catches.
“I talked to (Quin and Seantavious) and told them they were playmakers and they aren’t making plays right now,” Dean said. “They are having opportunities to make plays and they are not doing it. I told them during the game, ‘the problem I have right now is I don’t know who I can go to. I don’t know who I can trust on third downs.’ Hopefully that hit home a little bit.”
Dean said both receivers had ‘outstanding’ practices on Tuesday, saying he thought both receivers were more focused.
“I think they were a little embarrassed knowing that if we catch that post route right before half, that is a different football game,” Dean said.
Dean doesn’t regret accepting penalty
During Delta State’s game-winning drive this past Saturday night, running back Brandon Botill broke loose for a 31-yard gain; giving Delta State possession of the ball at the VSU four-yard line.
A holding penalty brought back the holding the play, making it second down and 15 at the VSU 45-yard line.
The Statesmen eventually burned 2 1/2 more minutes off the clock before Botill scored the game-winning touchdown with 40 seconds to play.
On Tuesday, Dean said he doesn’t regret accepting the holding penalty, which allowed Delta State to run more time off the clock.
“I really thought we were going to stop them,” Dean said. “I thought our defense would step up and make a play. That never crossed my mind. Looking back on it now, I’d still do the same thing.”
If Dean would have accepted then penalty, Delta State would have needed just four more yards for the go-ahead touchdown. The Blazer offense would have been given nearly three minutes, and three timeouts, to answer the Delta State score.
Instead, VSU was given 40 seconds and just one timeout for a response, which resulted in a turnover on downs.