Throughout preseason football camp, GSEagles.com will take you on a behind-the-scenes look at different aspects of the football program that go beyond the practice field. In today's installment, we check in with outside linebackers coach, Jeremy Rowell.

Q: What are you most looking forward to working with the outside linebackers this season?
JR:  Hopefully production. We are very young. We added in Deshon Cooper, giving us a little experience at the dog. We are fairly young at the dog position, but at the anchor position we have a couple of guys with Jay Bowdry and Lane Ecton that give us a little bit of playing experience. I think we have positions that fit their skills and we are looking for good production out of them this year.
 
Q: How are the players adapting to the 3-4 defense?
JR:   What we ask out of them fits each of the guys' skill sets. It allows the guys to be football players, which is what a lot of them has done in the past. I think it will be a good advantage for us being in the 3-4.
 
Q: How are the players reacting to the change of scheme?
JR:  We have guys that have come from both schemes (4-3 and 3-4) and some of them have played other positions, especially the anchor guys. Jay, Lane, Benz and even Zyon Mcgee, the freshman, have all played safety and space positions. The anchor really allows them to play in a place that they kind of know, since they have all played aspects of that. A lot of the dog guys have played standing up, whether they are a standup Sam backer, I know Randy Wade played Sam backer and defensive end.
 
Q: What goals have you set out for the outside backers this season?
JR:  Nothing really specific position wise. The biggest thing is trying to learn within the defense and play within the scheme. We want the guys to do what is asked of them and be competitive. We want the guys to play fast and do all the things we talk about defensively. We want to relax, play and have fun by doing the right things and playing fast.
 
Q:  What do you preach to your linebackers each day that you want them to carry out onto the field?
JR:  Consistency. We want them to bring the same attitude and energy to everything they do whether it's the way they practice or the way they act. As a team we preach being a Georgia Southern man, meaning that they do the right things on and off the field in everything they do. The way you practice is the way you are going to end up playing, so we are just trying to practice consistency.

Georgia Southern Preseason Football Schedule
Date (Time, Location)
Fri., Aug. 24 (6-8 PM, Fan Fest to follow, GS Armstrong Campus - Savannah)
Sat., Aug. 25 (TBD, TBD)