Jonathan Battle, Jr. is ready to help lead the defensive line.
Spring Football Practice: D-Line Ready to Bring the Heat Again
4/3/2015 8:58:00 PM | Football
Saturday's practice is set for 9:30 a.m. in Paulson Stadium.
VIDEO: Practice Report | Photo Gallery | Spring Roster | 2015 Schedule | Buy Tickets
STATESBORO, Ga. – Most in Eagle Nation would concede that their biggest concerns about Georgia Southern's chances in its first season in FBS were on the defensive side of the football.
Are they big enough up front to handle the run? Are they fast enough? Is there enough depth? Can they hold up against all these passing teams in the Sun Belt?
Check. Check. Check. And check.
The Eagles held their opponents a Sun Belt best 23.4 points a game and gave up 388.1 yards a contest, good for third in the conference. Georgia Southern logged 24 sacks, double its 2013 total, 20 takeaways and 66 tackles for loss. With eight starters returning on defense, the unit looks to be a strength in 2015.
"We often get overshadowed because we have a great offense, but we have a lot of veterans coming back," said senior defensive lineman Jonathan Battle, Jr. "Everybody is on the same page, and we all want another conference championship."
Battle posted 16 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. He says part of the reason for doubling the sack total was some tweaks in the scheme, something he and the Eagles are still working on.
"It allows us to be a lot more aggressive on the d-line, and I'm coping with it pretty well and had some experience with it last year," he said. "It's real fun. It allows the defense to be able to make plays overall."
Eighteen of last season's 24 sacks came from the defensive line, a good sign for the Eagles. If the line can pressure the quarterback without help, it means Georgia Southern can use more players in pass coverage. Getting off the ball has been a point of emphasis this spring.
"They pass a lot more in the Sun Belt, and you have to have an effective pass rush if you want to win games," said Battle. "The d-line in particular is working on the pass rush a whole lot. We're trying to be more aggressive."
The Eagles finished their sixth practice of the spring Friday on a warm day on the banks of Beautiful Eagle Creek. Georgia Southern will suit up in full pads for a 9:30 a.m. practice at Paulson Stadium Saturday. The final 75 minutes or so will be a scrimmage.
Remaining Spring Practice Schedule
Saturday, April 4 - 9:30 a.m. - Paulson Stadium
Monday, April 6
Wednesday, April 8
Friday, April 10
Saturday, April 11
Monday, April 13
Wednesday, April 15
Friday, April 17
Saturday, April 18 – Spring Game
Second Annual Tailgate Cook-Off Set for Football Spring Game
Register for Tailgate Cook-Off
Do you put on the best tailgate? Do you grill up the best BBQ? Maybe you make a mean peach cobbler? Show Georgia Southern and Eagle Nation your skills at the Second Annual Spring Football Tailgate Cook-Off April 18 at Paulson Stadium. Tasting begins at 11 a.m.
The top-place tailgate and grill masters will claim the title of 2015 Spring Football Tailgate Cook-Off Champion, a one-of-a-kind trophy, a one-night stay at a hotel plus 2 tickets to the Georgia Southern vs. Georgia game in Athens Nov. 21, 2015, and of course, bragging rights. "True Blue Barbecue," Adam Pace and Jared Brown, won the inaugural Tailgate Cook-Off last year.
To enter the contest, a team or individual must register online by April 14 and pay a $20 cash fee per entry on site April 18. All teams or individuals are responsible for providing their own food and equipment for grilling/cooking and will be allowed only one vehicle inside the cook-off zone. Participants are encouraged to grill, cook, steam, etc. their best food for fans to enjoy.
Eagle fans are invited to serve as tasting judges for $3 to enter the tailgate zone, sample the food and complete a ballot to determine the top four. Scores from the tasting judges will be calculated and winners will be announced during the Blue-White Spring Football game. Tasting will begin at 11 a.m. and conclude at 12:30 p.m.
The second-place winner will receive four tickets and two sideline passes to the home football game against Texas State Oct. 29, 2015, on ESPNU. Third place will claim two tickets and two meal vouchers to the home football game against South Alabama Nov. 28, 2015. Fourth place will walk away with an autographed football and Georgia Southern prize pack.
EFAA Raffle
The Eagle Football Alumni Association (EFAA) will be holding its Eighth Annual $10,000 Reverse Raffle & Auction Sat., April 18, at 5 p.m. in the Gene Bishop Field House at Paulson Stadium following the Blue & White Spring Game.
There will be a silent and live auction, which will feature an array of items such as autographed memorabilia, vacation opportunities, once-in-a-lifetime Georgia Southern game experiences, vintage Georgia Southern Football memorabilia, autographed memorabilia from local professional teams and much more. In addition, the Third Edition Erk Russell Commemorative Shotgun will be auctioned off in the live auction. This year's theme for the shotgun is "Yellow School Buses." The final 10 tickets in the reverse raffle will be drawn after the live auction, and the final ticket will win $10,000.
2015 Schedule
Georgia Southern will face two Power Five conference teams, four teams that played in bowl games a year ago and will host six home games in Paulson Stadium in 2015. The Eagles have also been selected to play two games on nationally-televised ESPNU Thursday night broadcasts.
All home games and all Sun Belt Conference games will once again air on the ESPN platform.
Season tickets are on sale and can be purchased by visiting GSEagles.com/tickets or calling 1-800-GSU-WINS.
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics, iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA. Eagle fans can follow Coach Willie Fritz's twitter account @CoachWEFritz.
STATESBORO, Ga. – Most in Eagle Nation would concede that their biggest concerns about Georgia Southern's chances in its first season in FBS were on the defensive side of the football.
Are they big enough up front to handle the run? Are they fast enough? Is there enough depth? Can they hold up against all these passing teams in the Sun Belt?
Check. Check. Check. And check.
The Eagles held their opponents a Sun Belt best 23.4 points a game and gave up 388.1 yards a contest, good for third in the conference. Georgia Southern logged 24 sacks, double its 2013 total, 20 takeaways and 66 tackles for loss. With eight starters returning on defense, the unit looks to be a strength in 2015.
"We often get overshadowed because we have a great offense, but we have a lot of veterans coming back," said senior defensive lineman Jonathan Battle, Jr. "Everybody is on the same page, and we all want another conference championship."
Battle posted 16 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. He says part of the reason for doubling the sack total was some tweaks in the scheme, something he and the Eagles are still working on.
"It allows us to be a lot more aggressive on the d-line, and I'm coping with it pretty well and had some experience with it last year," he said. "It's real fun. It allows the defense to be able to make plays overall."
Eighteen of last season's 24 sacks came from the defensive line, a good sign for the Eagles. If the line can pressure the quarterback without help, it means Georgia Southern can use more players in pass coverage. Getting off the ball has been a point of emphasis this spring.
"They pass a lot more in the Sun Belt, and you have to have an effective pass rush if you want to win games," said Battle. "The d-line in particular is working on the pass rush a whole lot. We're trying to be more aggressive."
The Eagles finished their sixth practice of the spring Friday on a warm day on the banks of Beautiful Eagle Creek. Georgia Southern will suit up in full pads for a 9:30 a.m. practice at Paulson Stadium Saturday. The final 75 minutes or so will be a scrimmage.
Remaining Spring Practice Schedule
Saturday, April 4 - 9:30 a.m. - Paulson Stadium
Monday, April 6
Wednesday, April 8
Friday, April 10
Saturday, April 11
Monday, April 13
Wednesday, April 15
Friday, April 17
Saturday, April 18 – Spring Game
Second Annual Tailgate Cook-Off Set for Football Spring Game
Register for Tailgate Cook-Off
Do you put on the best tailgate? Do you grill up the best BBQ? Maybe you make a mean peach cobbler? Show Georgia Southern and Eagle Nation your skills at the Second Annual Spring Football Tailgate Cook-Off April 18 at Paulson Stadium. Tasting begins at 11 a.m.
The top-place tailgate and grill masters will claim the title of 2015 Spring Football Tailgate Cook-Off Champion, a one-of-a-kind trophy, a one-night stay at a hotel plus 2 tickets to the Georgia Southern vs. Georgia game in Athens Nov. 21, 2015, and of course, bragging rights. "True Blue Barbecue," Adam Pace and Jared Brown, won the inaugural Tailgate Cook-Off last year.
To enter the contest, a team or individual must register online by April 14 and pay a $20 cash fee per entry on site April 18. All teams or individuals are responsible for providing their own food and equipment for grilling/cooking and will be allowed only one vehicle inside the cook-off zone. Participants are encouraged to grill, cook, steam, etc. their best food for fans to enjoy.
Eagle fans are invited to serve as tasting judges for $3 to enter the tailgate zone, sample the food and complete a ballot to determine the top four. Scores from the tasting judges will be calculated and winners will be announced during the Blue-White Spring Football game. Tasting will begin at 11 a.m. and conclude at 12:30 p.m.
The second-place winner will receive four tickets and two sideline passes to the home football game against Texas State Oct. 29, 2015, on ESPNU. Third place will claim two tickets and two meal vouchers to the home football game against South Alabama Nov. 28, 2015. Fourth place will walk away with an autographed football and Georgia Southern prize pack.
EFAA Raffle
The Eagle Football Alumni Association (EFAA) will be holding its Eighth Annual $10,000 Reverse Raffle & Auction Sat., April 18, at 5 p.m. in the Gene Bishop Field House at Paulson Stadium following the Blue & White Spring Game.
There will be a silent and live auction, which will feature an array of items such as autographed memorabilia, vacation opportunities, once-in-a-lifetime Georgia Southern game experiences, vintage Georgia Southern Football memorabilia, autographed memorabilia from local professional teams and much more. In addition, the Third Edition Erk Russell Commemorative Shotgun will be auctioned off in the live auction. This year's theme for the shotgun is "Yellow School Buses." The final 10 tickets in the reverse raffle will be drawn after the live auction, and the final ticket will win $10,000.
2015 Schedule
Georgia Southern will face two Power Five conference teams, four teams that played in bowl games a year ago and will host six home games in Paulson Stadium in 2015. The Eagles have also been selected to play two games on nationally-televised ESPNU Thursday night broadcasts.
All home games and all Sun Belt Conference games will once again air on the ESPN platform.
Season tickets are on sale and can be purchased by visiting GSEagles.com/tickets or calling 1-800-GSU-WINS.
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics, iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA. Eagle fans can follow Coach Willie Fritz's twitter account @CoachWEFritz.
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