Dolphins have Classic approach this week

Dolphins will face Edward Waters College in the Jacksonville Classic

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Looking to build on its best start ever, Jacksonville Head Coach Kerwin Bell wants his team to follow a simple plan- get better each week.

"We're trying to make sure we get better each week and follow the process of how to become a great football team and that is the desire every week to go out Tuesday through Thursday and be the best program in the country in preparation," said Bell. "If you do that you'll get better each week. We're making sure this week that we have that attitude. I really believe that we will be a much better team this Saturday than we were the last five."

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Bell has seen that progression each week and is planning on seeing the Dolphins (5-0, 3-0) take their next step Saturday.

"The new guys on the offensive line and young receivers are starting to mature and they aren't making silly mistakes. Week two to week three we were having all these pre-snap penalties," said Bell. "We're not getting that anymore and now we are starting to execute within the play at a much higher level and that's showing in our running and passing game."

There's truth to Bell's statements. Jacksonville has rushed for an average of 181.7 yards over its last three games compared to 130.4 in its first two. The passing average has risen from 308.6 to 326 yards per game.

This week's opponent, Edward Waters College, brings a 2-5 record and a five-game losing streak to D.B. Milne Field for a 1 p.m. kickoff.

"They're a very athletic group. They have some guys can really run and play well, especially on the defensive side of the ball. They're very physical and on offense they show a lot of different looks going from the triple option to the spread. We've got to line up properly on the defensive side of the ball," said Bell on the Tigers.

Bell and the rest of the Dolphins are hoping for another great turnout following last week's record crowd of 6,324 fans.

"Jacksonville is a great football city and in a great football state of Florida. You have two schools in the city and the opportunity to showcase our student-athletes on the gridiron," said Bell. "Hopefully we will get a lot of the Jacksonville football fans that are interested in the two programs."