Mid-Spring Update: The Defense
4/12/2021 1:45:00 PM | Football
Scot Sloan looks at his side of the ball as spring ball begins to wrap up
STATESBORO - With spring practice rounding the corner and heading into the final stretch, Georgia Southern defensive coordinator Scot Sloan spoke to GSEagles.com to give an update to Eagle Nation on his side of the ball after nine practices.
Q: What have you liked most about what you've seen from your side of the ball so far?
SS: We've made a little bit of progress. We felt like with the number of new guys we had coming in, we had to have some growth and some progress, especially from some young guys who may not have had a contributing role on defense in the past. A lot of these guys have to figure out their role and it's starting to take a little bit of shape, but we have a long, long ways to go. But we have some empty spots on defense and we have to have some of these guys step up and fill these gaps.
Q: What do you still want to accomplish in the final two weeks?
SS: We have to keep progressing. We're not satisfied with things right now. We gave up four touchdowns in the first scrimmage, three against the second team and one against the first team. That's what I'm talking about with figuring out our depth. Our first group has been playing well but we have to have some guys from the second group step up so we can trust them if they get into a game.
Q: Who are some veterans who have stood out?
SS: Justin Ellis has had a really, really good spring. He's really stood out and made that jump. We've counted on him in the past, but he's turning it up a notch this spring. I don't know if he's had an off day yet. Todd Bradley-Glenn would be another one. That inside linebacker group lost three guys from last year and Todd's stepped up to the front. And Randy Wade Jr. has stepped up. Randy's not a real vocal guy and is a man of few words but he's started taking on a little more ownership in this defense.
Q: What young players have impressed you?
SS: Marques Watson-Trent has shown up and done some nice things at the inside backer spot. Isaac Walker, the outside backer, has jumped out. His skillset jumps out on film. He's a rookie who is still supposed to be in high school right now, so he has some learning to do, but you can see on film that he has a little bit extra that God blessed him with. And then AJ Watkins has been really good at defensive end. He's got that thump like Raymond Johnson III and I expect him to really take it to the next level.
Q: What position battles are exciting to watch right now?
SS: The D-Line is exciting to watch. We have some guys who are pushing up there. At safety, we needed Javon Jackson to step up at safety and he's done that. We have some young corners who are battling for playing time between Robertson, Fieldings and Bride. They all came in together and now they're battling for two-deep spots and potential roles in passing packages. These battles have been fun to watch.
Q: What group has made the most improvement this spring from last December to now?
SS: We're still a work in progress, but I'd lean toward the safeties. In the back end Anthony Wilson and Justin Birdsong and playing really well together. Now that Javon is giving us solid reps, I feel good about that group. I'd still like to find a fourth safety, but we're getting there. They're playing well, communicating and gelling back there.
Q: Any update on players who got injured last year who are working their way back?
SS: We were pretty healthy there last year and didn't have any major off-season injuries, so that's not an issue for us.
Running With The Ones:
DE: Justin Ellis, Dillon Springer
NT: Gavin Adcock
ILB: Todd Bradley-Glenn, Tre Allen
OLB: Randy Wade Jr., Benz Josue
CB: Derrick Canteen, Darrell Baker Jr.
S: Anthony Wilson, Justin Birdsong
Georgia Southern has six practices left and will wrap up the session with the Blue-White Spring Game, presented by Southern Exchange, on Saturday, April 24 at 1 p.m. at Allen E. Paulson Stadium.
Q: What have you liked most about what you've seen from your side of the ball so far?
SS: We've made a little bit of progress. We felt like with the number of new guys we had coming in, we had to have some growth and some progress, especially from some young guys who may not have had a contributing role on defense in the past. A lot of these guys have to figure out their role and it's starting to take a little bit of shape, but we have a long, long ways to go. But we have some empty spots on defense and we have to have some of these guys step up and fill these gaps.
Q: What do you still want to accomplish in the final two weeks?
SS: We have to keep progressing. We're not satisfied with things right now. We gave up four touchdowns in the first scrimmage, three against the second team and one against the first team. That's what I'm talking about with figuring out our depth. Our first group has been playing well but we have to have some guys from the second group step up so we can trust them if they get into a game.
Q: Who are some veterans who have stood out?
SS: Justin Ellis has had a really, really good spring. He's really stood out and made that jump. We've counted on him in the past, but he's turning it up a notch this spring. I don't know if he's had an off day yet. Todd Bradley-Glenn would be another one. That inside linebacker group lost three guys from last year and Todd's stepped up to the front. And Randy Wade Jr. has stepped up. Randy's not a real vocal guy and is a man of few words but he's started taking on a little more ownership in this defense.
Q: What young players have impressed you?
SS: Marques Watson-Trent has shown up and done some nice things at the inside backer spot. Isaac Walker, the outside backer, has jumped out. His skillset jumps out on film. He's a rookie who is still supposed to be in high school right now, so he has some learning to do, but you can see on film that he has a little bit extra that God blessed him with. And then AJ Watkins has been really good at defensive end. He's got that thump like Raymond Johnson III and I expect him to really take it to the next level.
Q: What position battles are exciting to watch right now?
SS: The D-Line is exciting to watch. We have some guys who are pushing up there. At safety, we needed Javon Jackson to step up at safety and he's done that. We have some young corners who are battling for playing time between Robertson, Fieldings and Bride. They all came in together and now they're battling for two-deep spots and potential roles in passing packages. These battles have been fun to watch.
Q: What group has made the most improvement this spring from last December to now?
SS: We're still a work in progress, but I'd lean toward the safeties. In the back end Anthony Wilson and Justin Birdsong and playing really well together. Now that Javon is giving us solid reps, I feel good about that group. I'd still like to find a fourth safety, but we're getting there. They're playing well, communicating and gelling back there.
Q: Any update on players who got injured last year who are working their way back?
SS: We were pretty healthy there last year and didn't have any major off-season injuries, so that's not an issue for us.
Running With The Ones:
DE: Justin Ellis, Dillon Springer
NT: Gavin Adcock
ILB: Todd Bradley-Glenn, Tre Allen
OLB: Randy Wade Jr., Benz Josue
CB: Derrick Canteen, Darrell Baker Jr.
S: Anthony Wilson, Justin Birdsong
Georgia Southern has six practices left and will wrap up the session with the Blue-White Spring Game, presented by Southern Exchange, on Saturday, April 24 at 1 p.m. at Allen E. Paulson Stadium.
Players Mentioned
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