The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
NOTEBOOK: Clark Says Blazers Playing "Playoff" Game
9/23/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
By Steve Irvine
uabsports.com
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- UAB head coach Bill Clark is approaching the beginning of Conference USA play in much the same way he did the end of the regular season in the past.
"It's a playoff game, that's kind of how we're approaching it," said Clark. "We're not looking ahead. It's a one-game playoff, which is the way it's going to be the rest of the year. That's the only way we know to do it."
If so, then the playoff for the Blazers begins on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. when FIU comes to Legion Field for both teams' conference opener. UAB is 2-1, with the lone loss coming to nationally-ranked Mississippi State, while the Panthers are 1-3 with back-to-back losses to Pitt and Louisville.
It's the first of eight `playoff' games for the Blazers with an Oct. 25 visit to SEC member Arkansas wedged in the middle. Clark said his team's concentration is solely on FIU but he's seen enough of C-USA to be impressed.
"I said this before but really how good it is," Clark said when asked about his impression of C-USA as he prepares to make his first run through the conference as a head coach. "I'm looking for weaknesses, I'm looking for bad teams and they're all good. It's just scary. I think we can compete but every week we have to be on top of our game to have a chance."
Clark is a defensive coach by nature but he knows that scoring a bunch of points is generally needed to be successful in this conference. UAB, which averages 41 points per game, is one of eight conference teams averaging at least 33 points. Seven teams average better than 400 yards in total offense per game and three more check in at more than 300 yards per game.
"I would say scoring," said UAB sophomore defensive back Jordan Petty when asked what jumped out to him during his first season in the conference. "All the teams have great (scoring offenses).They all have the personnel to score running and passing. Defensively, it's hard but that's why you play the game."
** UAB running back Jordan Howard is healthy after missing the final three quarters of the 41-14 win over Alabama A&M on Sept. 13. Howard sat out after being scratched above the eye.
Clark said Howard and D.J. Vinson will continue to share the load in the backfield. Howard had 48 carries for 279 yards with three touchdowns during the first three games while Vinson gained 235 yards on 58 carries with six touchdowns.
"It's based on how tired they are, who's doing what," Clark said. "I think with today's number of snaps, that's a lot of snaps for one guy with us being a one-back offense. We keep it balanced, really for rest purposes."
** UAB has been solid on kickoff coverage through three weeks. The Blazers are third in the conference allowing 23.5 yards per return. On punt coverage, the Blazers are allowing 7.9 yards per return, which is the most in Conference USA.
This weekend, the Blazers will face their stiffest test thus far. FIU leads the conference in kickoff returns (33.2 yards per return) and is third in punt returns (15.7 ypr). A big reason is senior return man Richard Leonard.
Leonard has all six of the team's kickoff returns, with a long gain of 54 yards, and has six punt returns for a 21.4 yard average, including a 71-yard return. "When you got a guy who will take it 7 or 8 yards deep in the end zone, normally that's not a good thing," Clark said. "He's getting out to the 40 and 50-yard line. We're definitely aware of who he is. They do a great job of it."
