Report from UAB


Blazers Back On Practice Field For Tuesday Morning Workout
UAB looks toward Saturday's Conference USA contest with SMU
*UAB QB Joe Webb Named C-USA Offensive Player-of-the-Week
Sept. 8, 2009
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Following its traditional off-day on Monday, the UAB football team returned to the practice field Tuesday morning to begin preparations for this weekend's matchup with SMU.
Saturday's kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT at Legion Field as the Blazers host a Conference USA foe for the second consecutive week. UAB is one of only two teams in the country to open with back-to-back league games, joining Miami (Fla.).
For Tuesday's practice session, the Blazers worked out for approximately two hours in full pads.
"I don't know why, but we were sloppy today," UAB head coach Neil Callaway said. "We worked through it, and hopefully we got some good out of it. The good thing is we still have Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. We have to make sure we stay focused on the task at hand."
The UAB defense is preparing for a June Jones-coached offense that is known for throwing the ball but has also enhanced its running game with the addition of Shawnbrey McNeal. The Miami (Fla.) transfer ran for 158 yards on 19 carries in SMU's season-opening win over Stephen F. Austin.
On the offensive side of the ball, UAB is game-planning for an SMU defense that forced six turnovers in its season-opener, including five interceptions.
"They're changing things up more, defensively," Callaway said. "It's not always an all-out blitz, but they're going to bring different people from different areas. They force you to execute offensively. We have to make sure we play smart, recognize what's going on and not let them create problems for us."
The UAB offense is coming off a 516-total yard performance in a win over Rice to start the season. Quarterback Joe Webb accounted for 221 yards through the air and a career-best 194 on the ground, marking the highest single-game rushing total by a quarterback in Conference USA history. Frantrell Forrest was on the receiving end of two Webb touchdown tosses in the win.
Saturday's UAB/SMU game will be carried on the Blazers ISP Sports Network and can be heard in the Birmingham area on flagship station WUHT-FM 107.7. The pregame show will begin at 1:30 p.m.
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