Jackson State Tigers 2010 Review

2010 Record: 8-3 (6-3), 2nd SWAC East
2010 Post Season: None
2010 Schedule/Results
Delta State, W 32-17
@ Tennessee State, W 33-26
@ Grambling, L 28-21
Mississippi Valley State, W 43-7
Alabama A&M, W 30-14
Southern, W 49-45
@ Texas Southern, L 21-18
Prairie View, W 30-13
@ Alabama State, L 32-30
@ Arkansas-Pine Bluff, W 52-30
@ Alcorn State, W 27-14

OFFENSE
412.6 yards per game

The Tigers had the best QB by far in the SWAC in Casey Therriault, who passed for 3436 yards and 31 TDs on the year. Therriault averaged 312.4 yards per game on the season, which accounted for 75% of the offense per game. The good news is that Therriault will return for another run next season, making JSU my early favorite to win the SWAC in 2011.
If JSU can get just a little bit more from BJ Lee, who as a sophomore ran for a mediocre 400 yards and 2 scores, the Tigers could be even more explosive on offense.
6 players had 23 or more catches in 2010, and the good news will be that 5 of them return for more in 2011. The only player leaving will be a hard one to replace in Anthony Mayes, who caught 42 passes for 727 yards and 6 TDs. Marcellos Wilder may be the beneficiary of this loss, as he caught 57 passes for 726 yards and 8 scores on the season. Therriault will have plenty of options to get the ball downfield next season.

DEFENSE
355.2 yards allowed per game

The defense did a credible job for most of the season in not allowing more than 200 yards passing or rushing on the season, and they held 5 teams to 14 points or less on the year. Kerry Hoskins, Milton Patterson, Tim Dandridge and Ryan Rich all finished in the SWAC top 20 in tackles, but they were all lumped together, without any one shining more than another. Patterons was very active in the backfield on the season with 17 TFLs, but not nearly as productive as Donovan Robinson, who was making plays in the backfield at a rate of 1.68 per game (20 overall). Jonathon Billups and Sam Washington both ended up in double digits in TFLs as well on the season. The Tigers will lose Neal Pogue and Washington up front, but there is experience coming up behind them to give JSU a solid core up front coming into 2011. Robinson finished tied for 3rd in the SWAC with 8 sacks.
The Tigers will have some issues in the secondary in 2011, as two of their biggest producers will now be gone. Jalil Johnson led the SWAC with 14 passes defended on the season, and he has moved on, as has Kerry Hoskins who had 10. Hoskins and Dandridge each finished with 3 picks on the year.

SPECIAL TEAMS

David Gallagher only hit 5 of 9 FGs on the season, so the PK spot is nothing to get excited about. Gallagher was a junior, so any kind of promise for a bigger season in 2011 may be a reach.
Even worse news is that Gallagher also handled the punting duties, and he was nothing short of horrible there as well, averaging a shade over 35 yards per punt. Maybe it's time to find a replacement to push Gallagher at one or both spots next season.
The return game barely registered on the grid, and nobody averaged more than 17 yards per return on kickoffs. Special teams should be an area of concern next season.

FINAL NOTES

You have to be rather excited about JSU next seaosn with the return of Therriault at QB. There are many weapons returning on offense, but there were major special teams concerns, which all need to be shored up for next season. Replacements have to be found for lost bodies in the secondary, and two spots on the line need to be filled. There is talent coming back next season, but will it be enough to pass up the powers that be?