The SFA Defense
It looks like SFA runs a variation of the 4-2-5 defense that includes three safeties (free, strong and weak). The Bears’ offense was able to move the ball for 411 yards last season, but only scored a single touchdown.
The good news for UCA is that three Lumberjacks who had big games last season against us are gone. But, linebackers Devin Ducote (#40) and Ryan Epperson (#47) return. Epperson is the team leader in tackles (48, 1.5 tfl) this season while Ducote had the top spot in 2010.
At the back end of the 4-2-5 are the Aubrey twins, Josh (#37) is a cornerback who is listed an inch taller and 15 lbs heavier than his brother Jordan (#38) who plays the weak safety position. Josh has started every game of his SFA career and was a first-team All-SLC pick last season. Jordan was a starter in 2010 before a season-ending injury in the third week of the season.
On the line, they have three guys who have made a lot of tackles behind the line of scrimmage: Tackle Weekendfer Surit (#91) had four tackles for loss; End Jacob Fincher (#56) has 3.5 tfl and 3 sacks; and End Malcolm Mattox (#51) has five tfl with two sacks. That’s just part of the team’s 34 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. In comparison, UCA has just 22 tfl and 4 sacks.
The defense has a pretty solid rotation at tackle and 10 guys have started all four games. They have a few guys with starting experience in 2010, but everyone has it now. Our defense is searching for guys to fill the holes created by injuries, and we need some freshmen to step up.
The SFA Offense
OFFENSIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH
QB Brady Attaway #8 – 90-149-7, 1010 yards, 5 TD – Attaway, a sophomore attempting to fill the shoes of Jeremy Moses, has completed 60% of his passes on the season and averages 252 yards per game. The SFA passing offense is #7 in all of FCS. Attaway has not been a threat to run so far this season. He’s had a problem throwing interceptions this season. Moses threw just seven all of last season, and Attaway has already matched that mark through four games.
WR Cordell Roberson #80 – 22 rec, 301 yards, 0 TD – Roberson is picking up where left left off last season when he had 52 catches for 940 yards and 16 touchdowns. He hasn’t found the endzone yet this year, but he’s leading the team in yards and tied for the lead in receptions with …
WR Graly Crawford #17 – 22 rec, 240 yards, 4 TD – Crawford was the favorite target of Moses last season, and while his longest catch of the year has been just 21 yards (knock on wood if reading), he’s still a big part of this passing attack.
RB Jeremy Barnes #26 – 32 carries, 197 yards, 0 TD – While they don’t run the ball a lot, Barnes is the leading returner from 2010 and the leader this year. They also look to pass the ball to Barnes a few times a game.
RB Fred Ford #12 – 28 carries, 148 yards, 4 TD – Ford is just behind Barnes in attempts but is the team leader in rushing touchdowns, however he did most of that in the McMurry game.
OTHER NOTES
- Attaway and the Jacks will be facing UCA’s 64th-ranked FCS pass defense.
- Marquis Mosley is a freshman that caught six passes in the opener once the rout was on before not recording a stat in the next two games. He made up for it with nine catches for 99 yards last week.
- Mosley and Roberson are both 6-3 and count as the two tall receiving threats for SFA. There is no tight end in their offense.
- The offensive line – Well, they are HUGE. The smallest guy on the two-deep is 6-7/275. They have 6 guys 315+ led by 350lbs Greg Hall. Speaking of the OL…
- I’m not sure if it will be true for this week, but two starters for SFA’s oline were out last week: George Bias is a 3-year starter and 1st team All-SLC pick at left tackle. Hall, left guard, was also out last week and is now listed as a backup at right guard on their two deep. Point being that they may be a work in progress on the left side of their line this week.