After last Thursday's win, Friday was a relatively easy day for me. Bragging about my program's first night was awesome. Now that the first one has been played and won it's time to focus. Coach Curry and staff have done a great job of letting the team know that Game 1 was "an illusion." We are not as good as we think we are and it's time to get back to work. We have a larger task (literally and figuratively, we'll get to that later) this Saturday as Lambuth is better than Shorter.
Let's Dive In Shall We...
Previewing Lambuth's Offense:
This is quite a different task than Shorter's Triple Option. The Lions run a spread style offense and have decent balance. I don't take much away from their glorified scrimmage vs. Shephard Film Academy (and it has since been stricken from the record books as just that). They ran 47 plays vs. Arkansas Tech with 23 of those being passes. Their primary target is 6'8, 250lbs. WR Rod Jefferson and he's a weapon anywhere on the field. He had 5 catches, 87 yards and 2 TDs on Thursday night. RB Marquis Williams is a threat both catching the football and running with it. At 5'7, 170, he has to be accounted for as he has gamebreaking seed as witness by his 83 yard TD catch and run in their opener. Key matchups will be the inside LBs and the safety help over the top. Coach Thompson is certain to release the hounds against this balanced attack.
Previewing Lambuth's Defense:
As Coach Bill Curry mentioned in his Coach's Show on Monday, Lambuth is very physical on the defensive line with 4 DT heavier than 285lbs. CBC said he was impressed with the film on the front 4. Analyzing their roster though, after this heavy line, their LB corp is very light. That tells me that if our guards move their DL back our RBs could have a very big game. They also have short CBs which does not bode well with 6'2 Sidney Haynes and 6'3 Danny Williams on the outside. Drew may have been given the license to take a few shots down field this game because the pass coverage will give him a lane to throw.
Thursday vs. Arkansas Tech (who is currently ranked outside the latest Division II poll) the Lion defense gave up 27 points (final TD was a fumble recovery) and 321 yards of offense. They forced 5 turnovers (3 fumbles and 2 INTs). This tells me that we need to raise our level of execution because we have to protect the ball again.
If you'd follow this blog you know I'm also a big proponent in yards per play. The Lion D had a very good night as they gave up 4.4 yards per play and again this factors in the 5 turnovers. Take those away and the yards per play is still only 4.65. We will have to execute much better in the first half to jump on them offensively.
My Take: I believe that this may be our toughest task to date. The first game is over. Our first victory is long gone and Lambuth is well aware of who we are. The crowd may not be as loud or as sizeable but I think CBC and his staff have refocused the troops. Lambuth is more talented than Shorter but our overall skill position players are much better. Watch for the kicking game to again produce a big play or two.
My prediction: Georgia State 34, Lambuth 17.
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