The Jaguar Offense...Coordinator, Quarterback

Over time we have become used to seeing teams coached in a bowl game by a different head coach than the one who coached them in the regular season.  In fact, we got used to it right here last year.  This year, South Alabama is putting a different spin on that idea.

First, it is the offensive coordinator and not the head coach.
Second, the OC didn't leave but was fired.

So, at the end of the year, the point-challenged Jaguar team fired OC Robert Matthews.  I don't think they had any way of knowing that Bryant Vincent, a former three-year Jag assistant, was about to lose his job as OC at the University of Alabama-Birmingham.  That brought two things together in a nice, convenient package.  Re-enter Vincent at USA.

Vincent will be OC for the bowl game.  He has been at the practices and tells the media he has put some new "wrinkles" in.  He does note that you can't change too much, but even if 98 of it is the same thing, one play might make all the difference.  Meanwhile, I would absolutely expect him to put some new energy in the troops.

The other thing to watch for is QB Brandon Bridge.  At 6'5" and 235, he is an eye-popping physical specimen and has the eye of NFL scouts.  NFLdraftscout.com has him ranked as the #8 QB and a 4th or 5th round pick.  He's a native of Mississauga, ON, Canada, and was at what time considering UB but there was a coaching change and he went to Alcorn State, where the boys named him Air Canada.   Then he transferred to USA after a coaching change there.

He has a strong arm and can make plays with his legs.   His coach says he has improved his mechanics and has gotten better as a player.

Interestingly, he was not even named all-Sun Belt honorable mention.  The NFL is certainly capable of seeing an under-developed player of that kind of size and taking a shot on him as a project.  Our interest is how good he will be Saturday.