Spring Scrimmage: What I'm Looking At Tonight

Great work today by our guy Ken Suguira.

A couple of things to note:
-Starting Center Ben Jacoby, who had been recovering from some ankle issues and a concussion, and Starting Left Guard Joe Gilbert will not be at the Dome on Thursday night.  Both are in Grad School and have night classes that will prevent them from being there.
-Back up Tackle Grant King and starting LB Jake Muasua will be out as well for precautionary reasons.

AJC Link

My thoughts:
-This is Spring Practice #15.  That's it.  While it is great for the fans to get a taste of football in the Dome for the first time since November, the coaches are not always thrilled about a change in their schedule (the team had been practicing in the morning).
-The increased likelihood of injury to key guys will likely move many starters off the field very early.  
-This is an opportunity for younger players to get snaps with the lights on.

-DISCLAIMER: DO NOT READ INTO STATS FROM THIS GAME
      - WRs like Brett Beidel and Zach Jones dropping passes are not indicative of our offense.  
        They are walk ons and will not be contributing in the Fall.

What to Watch For:
-Look for certain depth at positions.  Take a look a how back up Center Tim Wynn does tonight (#50). 
-Look at Nate Anthony at CB, Sam Burkhalter at ILB, Akeen Felder at LB, Cole Moon at H Back.
-Look at how QB Kelton Hill and QB Bo Schlechter look throwing the ball.  Not necessarily is deep reserve guys are catching them but where they are hitting them.
-Look at the overall speed at our skill positions.  This was something that I was encouraged by seeing key contributors who were faster and not carrying as much weight vs. muscle.

Looking forward to seeing you out in the Orange Lot and stop by and say hello!

“It’s kind of crazy, but that’s Georgia State,” said running back Parris Lee, smiling. “We make it crazy.”

The Voice Catches Up With QB Bo Schlechter

Thanks to DC for shooting this over.

The Voice Interview Link

Football Players Receive Disciplinary Actions

With spring practice less than 2 weeks away, Coach Bill Curry shows his tough hand by announcing disciplinary action for several Panther football players due to violations of team rules. Players and punishment as follows:

QB Drew Little - Suspended for spring practice and the first four games of the 2011 season.
Safety Fred Barnes - Suspended for spring practice and the first two games of the 2011 season.
WR Danny Williams - Suspended for the first week of spring practice.
LB Evan Bostic - Suspended for the first week of spring practice.
LB Olufemi Opanubi - Dismissed from the team.

It is important to note that none of the disciplinary actions were a result of criminal activity but specifics on why the actions are taking place cannot be disclosed due to student privacy laws.

It has also been announced that Bo Schlechter will be returning to the QB position for the 2011 season. Star Jackson was not mentioned.

Thoughts on these actions will be posted soon.

Link to Georgia State Sports official release.

AJC: ESPN Gameday Crew to cover 'Bama game

Great work by Ken to grab this. 

Other tidbits:
-ILB Olefemi Opanubi was ruled out for the year but has been running and cutting. 
-P Bo Schlechter is pretty much a go for the game.
-Practice until Saturday will be harder for back ups and younger guys.  Great experience for the players and great opportunity for the back ups to get 1st team reps.

AJC Link

Georgia State vs. Lamar - Preview & Prediction

Georgia State vs. Lamar

Kickoff: 1:00pm Georgia Dome

Radio: WCFO 1160 AM, WRAS 88.5

Quick Slant: The Panthers play their final home game on Senior Day after fighting back for a second week in a row before falling 39-34 to South Alabama. Lamar is coming off a 31-6 loss at North Dakota.  This will be the first time that two first year programs will take the field this year on the floor of the Dome.  Lamar is restarting football after closing the program down in 1989. The Panthers are aiming to clinch a winning season before next week's BYE week.

About Lamar: Lamar is 3-5 (1-5 vs. FCS opponents) on the season and has had struggles moving the ball on offense. They've beaten two NAIA schools and only average 13.8 point per game. The Cardinals will start JUCO Transfer from Navarro JC Andre Bevil and he's their best player having thrown for for 240 yards per game and can dodge pressure with his feet. Bevil does a very good spreading the ball around to his Top 3 WR targets: 6'3, 205lbs WR JJ Hayes, 6'1 195lbs WR Marcus Jackson and 5'9 170lbs WR Josh Powdrill.  All 3 were JUCO teammates of Bevil at Navarro and they've combined for 95 catches and 1371 and 12 TDs.  Jackson is the deep threat with Hayes as primary possesion, move the chains guy. 5'6 170lbs RB RB Octavios Logan has struggled on the ground but is a threat on kick returns averaging 24 yards per return and is their leading all purposed threat. 6'0, 210lbs LB Asim Hicks is their leading tackler and has 3 sacks which lead the team.

What to Watch:

1) Can the Panthers win the turnover battle? Lamar has been awful this year taking care of the football.  They are a cumulative -10 with 14 INTs and 10 fumbles lost (22 fumbles total).  The team that wins the turnover battle should win this game.

2) Can the Panthers jump on early and hit the gas? In both the ODU and South Alabama games, the Panthers were outscored 47-0 in the 2nd quarter. Lamar has been outscored 76-15. Get in your seat and expect some action early tomorrow.

3) Can the Panthers continue to play great vs. the pass? ODU threw 38 times for 152 yards. South Alabama threw 21 times for 181 yards.  That's tremendous pass coverage and not giving up the big play. With the injuries to ILB Olefemi Opanubi we will continue to keep the ball in front and roll our safeties back.

Georgia State Wins If...
They can keep the offense rolling and value the football.  Drew has thrown for 648 yards and 5 total TDs in his last 2 games.  He's ended his pass without an INT streak but it's time to start a new one (currently at 16 passes but you didn't need to know that, did you?).

Lamar Wins If...
They are opportunistic and hope for a low scoring, sluggish affair.  This could also be the best game of the year running the football as the Panther run defense has sprung major leaks in the last few weeks.  Don't see it happening for the Cardinals, though.

Georgia State Checklist:
1) Pound the football - The Panthers could not move the football vs. ODU or South Alabama on the ground but I expect to see a concerted effort to get our running game off.  Lamar runs a 4-3 and will be facing a front 7 that weighs a combined 1677lbs.  That ranks them lighter than ODU but heavier than Savannah State as our opponents go.

2) Make the Cardinals uncomfortable early - We were able to essentially stymie South Alabama in the 2nd half and only allowed 3 field goals.  I expect Lamar to face a very agressive defense and constantly changing looks.

3) Take shots down the field - Danny Williams has been sensational but I believe that we can absolutely take advantage of a defensive backfield that is giving up 230 yards per game through the air and have only forced opponents into 4 INTs.

The Roar
Georgia State will conclude its 7 game home schedule and will honor 5 seniors.  Those Seniors are: Walk-On WR Charles Borowsky, Back up Safety Hubert Davis, Back up ILB Trey Ennis, Punter / Holder Brandon Lupo and Kicker Iain Vance.  The Panthers will be without Punter Bo Schletcher for this game and have announced that ILB Olefemi Opanubi will be out for the rest of the year with a partially torn meniscus.

Prediction: Georgia State 31, Lamar 13

Video: The Travis & Bo Show

Photo Courtesy of GSU Sports Communications

Pretty funny stuff. Nicely done by Travis Evans and Bo Schlechter.

GSU Sports Link