Notes from the David Dean Coach's Show

Sep 22, 2009 (The Valdosta Daily Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- GSTH | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- The David Dean Coach's Show airs every Monday from 7-8 p.m. on Rock 108 (107.9 FM) from Austin's Cattle Company.

-- Dean said the Blazers have to understand that they're going to get every team's best shot because of VSU's history of success. Ouachita Baptist, usually a cellar dweller in the Gulf South Conference, beat VSU for the first time in 10 tries on Saturday.

-- Dean said Ouachita Baptist is not a pushover. Last year Ouachita finished with five straight victories and has opened up this season with three straight wins.

-- Dean said for the second time this season an opposing quarterback has played out of his mind against the Blazers. Eli Cranor passed for 373 yards for Ouachita Baptist. In the first game of the season, Brandon Gantt passed for 333 yards for Newberry.

-- Dean said the Blazers are a young team and the players have barely known each other for a month. The coaches are trying to improve the trust factor and trying to make the players understand that they don't have to do the job of another player. Dean said that's what is hurting the team right now.

-- Dean said against Ouachita Baptist the Blazers needed 17 yards to get a first down on 18 percent of the offensive plays. The Blazers had 12 penalties during the game, several of which were on the offense for false starts, holding or illegal blocks.

-- Defensively the Blazers have only forced one turnover all year. "That's almost incredible to say," Dean said.

-- Ouachita Baptist racked up 502 yards of total offense against VSU, but Dean said he's never really cared about total yards as much as he's cared about giving up explosive plays. Ouachita Baptist's three touchdowns against the Blazers came on plays of 45, 56 and 60 yards. "Take those plays away and it's a totally different ballgame," Dean said.

-- Dean said coaches have to be more creative in game planning with a team that's less talented, but he doesn't believe talent is an issue for the Blazers. Dean added the players have the skills, but they haven't been put in the right situations.

-- Dean said the captains, who are all juniors, called a players only meeting with the seniors on Monday. Dean said he doesn't know what was said and won't ask.

-- There are three undefeated teams in the Gulf South Conference: Delta State, North Alabama and Ouachita Baptist. Dean said the Blazers can take care of Delta State and UNA head on, but they need another to help them out by beating Ouachita Baptist.

-- Dean said he told the players the Blazers are a good team. The players agreed that they're better than their 1-2 record, and said they're just not playing well or together.

-- Dean said he was part of a West Georgia team that started 0-4 one year and went on to run the table. That included beating a ranked Valdosta State team.

-- Dean said he will coach the team the same way, regardless of record. He said the coaches have recruited the right players, and the right players are in the program.

--- Dean admitted the travel process for the Blazers is difficult, but he said the trip to Ouachita Baptist couldn't have gone smoother. The Blazer flew from Valdosta to Little Rock, Ark., bused from Little Rock to Ouachita Baptist and played the game all in the same day.

-- The Blazers arrived back in Valdosta from Ouachita Baptist at 4:30 a.m. Sunday and practiced later that afternoon.

-- Freshman place kicker Daniel Anderson was named Student-Athlete of the Week. Anderson only made two extra points against Ouachita Baptist, but he won the award because of his kickoffs. Dean said Anderson was asked to kick the ball to a certain spot and did it every time. Adding to the difficulty was the fact that rain through out the week made the field very choppy. Dean said Anderson didn't care.

-- Defensive tackle Demario Jones underwent an MRI on his right knee Monday. The Blazers are hoping to get the results on Tuesday. Jones injured the knee on Ouachita Baptist's last extra point attempt in the fourth quarter. He was in a walking boot after the game.

-- Dean said he believes that West Alabama, VSU's opponent on Saturday, overlooked Southern Arkansas last Thursday in anticipation for its game against VSU. West Alabama lost to Southern Arkansas in five overtimes and fell to 3-1.

-- West Alabama starting quarterback Deon Williams played running back as a freshman for VSU in 2006. Dean said Williams ran into trouble and his mom told him to come home to Birmingham, Ala. He transferred to a junior college before heading to West Alabama in 2008.

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