The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
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UAB Football Travels to Georgia Southern for Week 2 Contest
9/4/2023 1:28:00 PM | Football
BIRMINGHAM – The UAB football team hits the road for a Week 2 non-conference contest at Georgia Southern on Saturday night, Sept. 9, at Allen E. Paulson Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
THREE THINGS TO KNOW:
Opening Statement:
"Yeah, excited to go 1-0. We flushed that one. Made a lot of corrections and looking at a really challenging opponent in Georgia Southern, with some challenges naturally going on the road for the first time as a group, but excited about the challenge."
On defensive performance against NC A&T:
"First of all, I thought they played really hard. What showed up more than anything else was effort, running to the football - you know - core values of our defense, which was encouraging. Missed tackles were little things, head in the wrong place, bad eye work, not executing things we do in practice on a daily basis. Got better towards the end of the game. Everything got better towards the end of the game. I thought the corrections made by Sione Ta'ufo'ou and his staff were really good, and the players obviously embraced those changes. Those mid-game adjustments I call them. And then I think winning the line of scrimmage battle after the first two series. The first two series I'd say they got knocked back a little bit, and then ended up knocking back the offensive front after that."
On preparing for a more explosive Georgia Southern team:
"Actually, I think Georgia Southern, (Bryan) Ellis, has evolved over his time as offensive coordinator. Clay (Helton) has always liked balance. I think they're striving for more balance. They looked more physical in the run game offensively then they did last year. Tight end is playing at a high-level, offensive line is playing at a high-level, and the runner is a really good runner. So, I actually think we're going to face the balanced attack from them. Yes, their roots, both Ellis' and Clay's, are in throwing the football, but I do - you can sense it - a different mentality just by their formations. What their trying to do schematically tells me they want to have better balance. Defensively, it was an interesting plan because they're playing a hybrid option team, so I think you can take some things from the defensive film, but not everything. I think that's one of the challenges. When you don't know your opponent well, when you haven't seen a lot of evidence of what they do, there's some guess work there. So, that's one of our challenges as a staff. That's what we're doing right now, trying to better understand who they are."
On first away game as UAB Head Coach:
"It's routine. I think everybody has their own way of doing it. This is a hybrid between Cole (Peterson) and I. Cole has done it different ways between his two stops, and I've done it my way in the NFL and high school. Just kind of a hybrid. I like the kids having a pretty routine 48 hours before the game. You don't want a lot of adjustments or changes, so what we did last week at home we'll replicate the best we can on the road with meetings, walk throughs and all the things that go on. I've always taken the approach on the road that there's no reason to complain about it. It's part of football, it's part of sports, right? You go play teams at their places and you try to have a set routine, so you don't add more chaos than what's already there."
THREE THINGS TO KNOW:
- The matchup this weekend is the return trip in a home-and-home series after UAB defeated Georgia Southern 35-21 last year in Birmingham. The Blazers are traveling into hostile territory as Georgia Southern is 210-48 at Paulson Stadium, which is the fourth highest home winning percentage in the FBS (.814). UAB has struggled in Week 2 since returning to action in 2017 with a 1-5 overall record during that time, with its only win coming in 2019 at Akron.
- Jacob Zeno was named to the American Athletic Conference Honor Roll for his performance last Thursday. Zeno set a school record with 38 completions and finished with the fifth highest completion percentage in American Athletic Conference history (38-of-41, 92.7%). He found 13 different receivers in the contest and his three touchdown passes were also a career high.
- Georgia Southern (14 yards) and UAB (16 yards) gave up the fewest amount of passing yards in the nation during Week 1 action. Both teams held their opponents to 2-of-8 passing, while UAB compiled six sacks and nine TFL as well. Both offenses like to throw the ball so the pass defenses will be challenged this Saturday.
Opening Statement:
"Yeah, excited to go 1-0. We flushed that one. Made a lot of corrections and looking at a really challenging opponent in Georgia Southern, with some challenges naturally going on the road for the first time as a group, but excited about the challenge."
On defensive performance against NC A&T:
"First of all, I thought they played really hard. What showed up more than anything else was effort, running to the football - you know - core values of our defense, which was encouraging. Missed tackles were little things, head in the wrong place, bad eye work, not executing things we do in practice on a daily basis. Got better towards the end of the game. Everything got better towards the end of the game. I thought the corrections made by Sione Ta'ufo'ou and his staff were really good, and the players obviously embraced those changes. Those mid-game adjustments I call them. And then I think winning the line of scrimmage battle after the first two series. The first two series I'd say they got knocked back a little bit, and then ended up knocking back the offensive front after that."
On preparing for a more explosive Georgia Southern team:
"Actually, I think Georgia Southern, (Bryan) Ellis, has evolved over his time as offensive coordinator. Clay (Helton) has always liked balance. I think they're striving for more balance. They looked more physical in the run game offensively then they did last year. Tight end is playing at a high-level, offensive line is playing at a high-level, and the runner is a really good runner. So, I actually think we're going to face the balanced attack from them. Yes, their roots, both Ellis' and Clay's, are in throwing the football, but I do - you can sense it - a different mentality just by their formations. What their trying to do schematically tells me they want to have better balance. Defensively, it was an interesting plan because they're playing a hybrid option team, so I think you can take some things from the defensive film, but not everything. I think that's one of the challenges. When you don't know your opponent well, when you haven't seen a lot of evidence of what they do, there's some guess work there. So, that's one of our challenges as a staff. That's what we're doing right now, trying to better understand who they are."
On first away game as UAB Head Coach:
"It's routine. I think everybody has their own way of doing it. This is a hybrid between Cole (Peterson) and I. Cole has done it different ways between his two stops, and I've done it my way in the NFL and high school. Just kind of a hybrid. I like the kids having a pretty routine 48 hours before the game. You don't want a lot of adjustments or changes, so what we did last week at home we'll replicate the best we can on the road with meetings, walk throughs and all the things that go on. I've always taken the approach on the road that there's no reason to complain about it. It's part of football, it's part of sports, right? You go play teams at their places and you try to have a set routine, so you don't add more chaos than what's already there."
Players Mentioned
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