Many Georgia Southern fans got their first look at the 2016 version of the Eagles as the football team held an open scrimmage Saturday at Paulson Stadium.
    On a day where players from all levels of the depth chart saw plenty of action, the defense looked to be a step or two ahead of the offense, allowing just one touchdown and a 24-yard field goal by Younghoe Koo in over an hour of play.
    “The defense did a good job,” Georgia Southern coach Tyson Summers said. “They dug in a few times in the red zone, but there were maybe some times where we thought our offense should have punched it in. With the defense, the biggest thing was that there weren’t many penalties that will put us in bad 3rd-and-short spots in a game.”
    One of Summers’ only complaints on the day was that his team didn’t come into the scrimmage with a bit more emotion. He cited the heat and two tough weeks of practice as possible reasons for the lull, but also credited the squad with what was accomplished in preseason camp.
    While all healthy Eagles were able to get some playing time, there were a few glaring omissions from Saturday’s lineup.
    Matt Breida, L.A. Ramsby and Wesley Fields combined for 3,203 yards and 37 touchdowns on the ground last season, but all were held out of the scrimmage due to various injuries.
    “We’re trying to be careful,” Summers said. “Matt is still coming off of shoulder surgery. L.A. got a little dinged up, but we expect him back next week. Wesley tweaked a hamstring, but we’re also expecting him back soon.”
    Statesboro native and Georgia Tech transfer Michael Summers was another Eagle held out of action. Tyson Summers said the receiver had injured his leg earlier in the week, but that he is also expected to return soon.
    Saturday also served as an unofficial unveiling of the Eagles’ new passing attack.
    Summers has spent the offseason preaching that Georgia Southern will remain a gun-option team, but that the team must also improve on its meager passing game — the Eagles threw for just 824 yards and four touchdowns last season — if the offense is to maintain its status as one of the most explosive units in the Sun Belt Conference.
    Plenty of passes took flight on Saturday, with a seemingly difference scheme than last year’s aerial attack. For many years, the thought on the Eagles’ passing was that — with such a potent option rushing attack — the offense would wait for the defense to load the box before throwing over the top for
    huge gains. The 2015 season saw plenty of receivers running wide open with that plan, but also saw plenty of off-target passes that cost Georgia Southern potential touchdowns.
    Throughout the spring — and on display again Saturday — Eagle quarterbacks routinely looked for short routes out by the hash marks and let receivers run free after the catch.
    Bigger plays in the passing game also came by way of short throws as both Myles Campbell and Mark Michaud caught seam routes up the middle and ran wild through the secondary. The only full-field drive for a touchdown against the first string defense also came on a pass up the middle as Favian Upshaw connected with B.J. Johnson for an 11-yard strike.
    “I think everyone is getting comfortable,” Upshaw said. “I’m just trying to get it into the hands of receivers and let them make plays. I’m confident that our passing game is going to play a part in winning games this season.”
    With Summers proclaiming the new offensive and defensive schemes totally installed during the two-week camp, the Eagles will now include textbooks to their study list that already includes the playbook.
    Classes begin on Monday and will become another part of the Eagles’ already busy routine as just three weeks remain until the Sept. 3 opener against Savannah State.

    Mike Anthony may be reached at (912) 489-9408.