Swarming the Ball

Mountaineer Defense Prepares for Black Saturday

Story by Jason Gilmer

ASU defensive lineman Jabari Fletcher drags down a N.C. Central rusher during the Homecoming game. Fletcher and the defense are allowing 179.2 rushing yards per game, which is seventh out of nine Southern Conference teams. Photo by Keith Cline/ASU athletics

Play didn’t end during defensive drills on Monday afternoon until all 11 defenders were around the ball.

Ball-hawking. Swarming the football. Getting after the carrier.

Whatever you want to call it, the Mountaineers are trying to be more aggressive on defense as they prepare for the Black Saturday game against Georgia Southern.

ASU (4-2 overall, 3-0 SoCon) hosts the Eagles (4-3, 3-1) at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

The Mountaineer defense allowed 34 points last week to a Wofford team that averaged just 18.6 points in its first five games.

“We’ve got to be ready to play [this week],” defensive coordinator John Wiley said. “Because of that, we’ve changed the way we’re practicing, and if that sinks in, then it’s a positive.”

Defensive players seemed upbeat about the drills on Monday, as backups were used frequently and they tried to stop a scout offense from gaining yards.

When a running back was initially stopped, the entire defense came running after him.

“Before, when they told us we were going to do it, I didn’t have the most positive mindset,” said junior defensive back Mark LeGree, “but when we went out, it was productive. It will help us in the long run.”

LeGree was one of the Mountaineers who helped the defense play a better second half against Wofford, as he intercepted two passes and was named Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Week.

He said that the “swarming” drills would be a “positive change” when the Mountaineers use them in game situations.

Junior defensive Jabari Fletcher said similar things. While the defense ended the Wofford game on a positive note, he said that wouldn’t help against Georgia Southern.

Monday’s drills, though, would.

“Coaches haven’t been harping on [swarming the ball],” said Fletcher, who had a forced fumble and fumble recovery to go along with seven tackles against Wofford. “The coaches strayed away from that and were keying on us filling our gaps. We got away from swarming because we were playing hesitant instead of getting after the ball.”

Coach Jerry Moore said that sometimes the defense fell into a comfort zone, which he took the blame for. Still, being around the ball is something he wants to see from his defense each week.

Said Moore, “We tried to emphasize it every week, but sometimes we haven’t done it.”

The Eagles come into its game against ASU with a 4-3 overall record but have lost only once in Southern Conference play.

The Eagles aren’t the wishbone-heavy team that they once were, but they’ll still use the formation some. They are effective in the red zone, as they’ve made inside their opponent’s 20-yard line 17 times and scored 15 times, the top percentage in the Southern Conference. They’ve scored four rushing and five passing touchdowns in the red zone.

Their top rusher is Adam Urbano, who has 528 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Quarterback Lee Chapple has thrown for 1,188 yards and seven touchdowns.

“I think the same thing I thought about them when they came into the league,” ASU coach Jerry Moore said, “that they are a really good football team and program with a very, very rich tradition.”

BLACK SATURDAY: Fans have been asked to wear black clothes to the game on Saturday, October 24, in order to “Black Out the Rock” and show viewers watching the live broadcast on SportSouth a sea of black in the stands and along the hill.

Fans will also be given Thunderstix upon entry into Kidd Brewer Stadium in hopes that there will be a deafening atmosphere when the Georgia Southern Eagles have the football.

Reserved seats are sold out for the annual Black Saturday contest, but general admission seats on the grass still remain. Tickets can be purchased online at www.GoASU.com or by phone at 828-262-2079.

EDWARDS ATOP SOCON: ASU quarterback Armanti Edwards added another record to the long list that he currently holds. The senior from Greenwood, S.C., is now the all-time leading passer in Southern Conference history.

After a 415-yard performance in the Mountaineers’ 44-34 win against Wofford, Edwards has 8,509 career passing yards.

Edwards, though, must continue to put up good numbers if he hopes to hold onto the record after this season, as the player he passed is still throwing, too. Elon’s Scott Riddle is second in the Southern Conference and has a career total of 8,487 yards going into his game this week.

Edwards passed Riddle on Elon’s off week.

And even if Edwards has the record after this season, he might not hold it for long, as Riddle still has another year of eligibility.

AWARD WINNERS: Edward’s 415 passing yards with two touchdown passes and one rushing touchdown against Wofford was enough to earn him The Sports Network’s National Offensive Player of the Week and the Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Week.

Edwards’ 415 passing yards were the second-most in school history (behind only his 433 yards in last year’s first-round playoff win over South Carolina State) and his second 400-yard passing game.

He wasn’t alone in winning SoCon honors.

Defensive back Mark LeGree was the Defensive Player of the Week and kicker Jason Vitaris was the Special Teams Player of the Week.

LeGree, who had 10 interceptions last season, snagged his first two of the year in the win. He also finished with a team-high nine tackles.

Vitaris was 3-for-4 on field goal attempts against Wofford and hit a career long 49-yarder.

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