There were a tremendous number of questions surrounding the Demons first game of the season and I would say that most were answered quite emphatically.
The most pressing of the concerns was how would this year?€™s incarnation of the Purple Swarm Defense perform with eight new starters.
The answer: quite well, thank you.
The Purple Swarm looked as fast and athletic as it had in years past. This defensive unit appears to be fast at every position.
Watching Jamall Johnson, a linebacker, block a punt ?€¦or Paul Mefford, undersized for a middle linebacker, chase down a screen in the backfield, shows what tremendous speed there is across the field on defense.
Jackson State had less than 100 yards of total offense before their final drive netted them 66 yards and a touchdown with 10 seconds remaining in the game. The secondary was effective and the front six had no problem getting pressure on the quarterback again and again. And the minus plays were strong with nine tackles for loss, though only one sack.
Most of the time, Jackson State?€™s quarterbacks let go of the ball just before being hit, so there was pressure there even if the sack stats don?€™t reflect it.
On offense, the running game was in mid-season form, with Derrick Johnese grabbing 115 yards on 13 carries. His 54-yard touchdown run on third and two was a thing of beauty, as he used both speed and elusiveness to get down the sidelines for the score. That effectively ended the game.
The quarterbacking play was solid but not spectacular. Davon Vinson was effective in his first start, throwing for only 73 yards but not turning the ball over and picking up key first downs with his running ability. He was the victim of several drops, however, so his numbers could have been better. As it was, he effectively managed the offense and kept the mistakes to a minimum.
The one area that this team can improve is penalties. There were too many personal foul penalties. Three personal foul or unsportsmanlike conduct flags speaks to the youth on the squad. It is understandable that in the first game of the season, players are fired up and want to hit someone in a different jersey, but as a player you have to be able to stop with the whistle and not retaliate if you are provoked. Most coaches don?€™t mind 15-yard penalties if the player is being aggressive and playing hard until the "echo of the whistle" but you still must play smart.
The true test for the new defense comes on Saturday in New Orleans. A very impressive offense will be on display in Tulane?€™s Green Wave attack. Led by J.P. Losman, who many consider the top quarterback prospect in the nation, the Wave offense is speedy and athletic, capable of scoring at almost any time. They feature a pre-season All-American in running back Mewelde Moore and a strong offensive line. The Purple Swarm will be severely tested at Tad Gormley Stadium.
Overall, my impression of Week 1 of Scott Stoker?€™s second season was a good one. The defense was strong, the offense effective and the special teams clutch. I think this is a team that has tremendous promise this season, and every week should be better than the last.
