Could South Alabama Game be a Blowout?

As you know if you've read this space for any amount of time, I'm a huge proponent of your defensive front 7 combined weight as a guage to stop opponents offenses.  It's not an original idea but it has relevance this weekend.  We will face the 3rd lightest front 7 in South Alabama Saturday.  What were the other 2 that were lighter you ask?  That would be Shorter and Morehead State.  Both were blowouts with the Panthers winning by more than 4 TDs.

A look at our opponents and their front 7 combined weights listed lightest to heaviest:
1) Shorter - 3-4 - 1585lbs.
2) Morehead State - 4-3 - 1591lbs.
3) South Alabama - 3-4 - 1630lbs.
4) Savannah State - 4-3 - 1637lbs.
5) Old Dominion - 4-3 - 1725lbs.
6) Lambuth - 4-3 - 1745lbs.
7) NC Central - 3-4 - 1762lbs.
8) Campbell - 4-3 - 1770lbs.
9) Jacksonville State - 4-3 - 1792lbs.

What do you think? Is this a predictor of things to come this Saturday?

Preview & Prediction: GSU vs. Lambuth - 1:00PM

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.

Thursday Quick Hitters - 9.9.10

2 Days Until Our First Saturday Home Game...Like Coach Curry says: "Be there...and bring your friends!"

Let's hit the Links:

M

Helmet Stickers: From our guy Ken S at the AJC and told to me by our Equipment Manager D Mac, we will have helmet stickers.  One interesting note though: They will be in the shape of an M and will be red. The M stands for CBC's favorite Latin word Magnanimatas meaning "Greatness of Spirit."

Spectacular pictures from GSU-Shorter: A big thank you to my man DSB for taking these. 
GSU Picture Link

Lambuth players are ATL-iens:  Several players from Georgia on the Lambuth roster and our players know them and they know us.  It will be pretty cool to see a step up in competition (no disrespect intended for our folks at Shorter).  Jackson Sun Article

Creative Loafing Starting to Come Around: It seems as if they did an internal U-turn on Georgia State football and the impact on the students.  One quote of interest:

"The world of academic and athletic funding is almost as confusing as trying to read NFL defenses, but in the end, it's important to understand two things: Tuition pays academic affairs, activity fees pay for extracurricular ones. The football program is no more taking from the education of Georgia State students than it is robbing the Falcons of needed Georgia Dome access on Saturdays."  CL Link

Thoughts with Jordan Giles today: He's having surgery this morning and will be a costly loss.  Let's hope for a speedy recovery for the JGiles and that finger he broke.

Thursday Quick Hitters - 9.2.10 (Updated)

Logo On the Wall at the W Hotel

It's Game Day!  A great time to be a Panther!

The AJC has given us a blog folks! Visit early and often.  Add it to your favorites and thank Ken Sugiura for his coverage.  AJC Georgia State Blog Link

Brandon Jones is Ready: Macon Telegraph Link

Shorter Thinks They are ready for PrimeTime: Rome Tribune News Link

Sports Illustrated covers Coach Bill Curry: SI.com Link

See you at the Georgia Dome tonight!  7:30PM.  History is Made!

Preview & Prediction: GSU vs. Shorter - 7:30PM

This is a great day to be a Panther.  Tickets are being gobbled up, Georgia State shirts, hats are causing a gush at the bookstores.  Panther Fans everywhere and a great friend said to me yesterday, "Phenomenal business happening in ticket office.  People care. I love it."

Let's Dive In Shall We...

Previewing Shorter's Offense: 

They run a Triple Option (similiar to Georgia Tech but no where near as profient based on Offensive Line ability and speed of RBs).  In Saturday's game, they only managed 4 first downs.  That's not a typo.  4 First Downs.  Another factor to the Triple Option is the yard per carry, they averaged 1.9 for the evening.  Abysmal.  As most triple option offenses they do not pass very much (and well for that matter).  There two QBs were a combined 0-7.  Expect our DBs to cheat up as the game wears on.  They turned the ball over once on a fumble so assignment football is absolutely key.  According to the AJC, Shorter's QB (and a former Lassiter grad) is ready for us.  We'll see as he sure wasn't ready for what West Alabama was bringing.


Previewing Shorter's Defense:

As Coach Bill Curry mentioned in his Coach's Show on Monday, Shorter's defense aligns in a 3-4.  This is a very good thing considering our offense has been practicing against this since Fall practice began.  An interesting nugget as well that CBC dropped, they run a 3-4 base with 2 Deep and 3 deep coverage.  For more information and a great explanation on this coverage, check out my friends at Tomahawk Nation.

Saturday night vs. West Alabama (who is currently ranked #10 in the latest Division II poll) the Hawk defense gave up 37 points and 594 yards of offense.  They forced 4 turnovers but did not convert a single one into points on the offensive end.  This tells me that this game wasn't even as close as the 37-7 score indicated. 

I'm also a big proponent in yards per play.  The Hawks D didn't have a good night here either. They gave up 6.9 yards per play and again this factors in the 4 turnovers (2 INTs and 2 fumbles count for 0 yards each).  Take those away and the yards per play actually climbs to 7.2. 

My Take: I believe that this may be one of the most emotional scenes in recent memory (for this humble writer) and many others.  Grown men will be reduced to a glazed over look.  I trust Coach Curry and his staff and our guys will be ready.  Shorter is not as talented as we are and we overcome early nerves and put them away in the 2nd half.

My prediction: Georgia State 30, Shorter 10.

Question #1: Can Star Jackson Live Up to the Hype?

Photo Courtesy of GSU Sports Communications

I have zero doubt that Star will take the first snap at QB tomorrow night when we take the ball on offense (I hope we defer the toss if we win because Shorter's offense is in awful shape right now, more on that in my game preview).  I believe that he is the most talented QB and the one who can best lead us to victory. 

Those are my thoughts, what are yours?

Shorter Identifies with Being First

Pretty interesting take as 5 of their Grad Assistants will be a part of both inaugural games.

One GA's opinion: "Our players are ready for the excitement," said Carmean. "I think they are prepared for the hype."



Link

Question #4 How will our defense look?

We will be running a hybrid 3-4 (as chronicled by the roster and DJ's astute analysis weeks ago watching practice).  We will face a Shorter squad who runs the triple option and throws less than 10 times per game, then a Lambuth team that resembles Texas Tech and then Jacksonville State who runs a spread/pro style combination style.  My question today is how will our defense look?  Who are you most interested in seeing?

Opponent #1 will come to the Dome 0-1

Shorter took a loss on Saturday at Division II West Alabama 37-7.  To be fair, UWA is a preseason Top 25 team (currently ranked #12) and handed highly regarded North Alabama one of their only losses last season. 

Shorter only got on the board with 1:39 left in the game when Brandon Morten returned a punt return for a 66 yard TD.  As CBC says, special teams are important.

Shorter's triple option offense only managed 4 first down and a total 66 yards rushing.  Shorter's QB tandem of Ben Williams and David Byrd did not complete a pass and were a combined 0-7 on the evening. 

It looks like we can absolutely let the Free Safety and Rover loose and play assignment football. 

I'll preview the Shorter game completely later this week for full offensive and defensive breakdowns and matchups to watch. 

Game Recap and Box Score courtesy of West Alabama University

Question #6: How will the team respond to success/failure?

May be the hardest question to answer but that's why I open it up to you. CBC has mentioned that he's already prepared to speak to the team after the Alabama game.  What about if Shorter takes it out on us Game 1?  How then do we respond?

I have complete confidence in CBC and staff to have us ready to keeping us going. 

What do you think?

Gameday Page: Shorter

Great job by the folks in the GSU Sports Communication Office.  Includes Promotions, Rosters, Ticket Links, Things to know when you are attending the game. 

Game Day Link

Tuesday Practice Report: Preparation for Shorter

The players are back at it after getting yesterday off for the start of the Fall semester.  Time to focus on Shorter's Triple option offense and refining the discipline that it takes to play your gaps.

Some highlights from the GSU Sports Communications report:
-CBC:“The young secondary players have such speed,” he said. “There are four of them: Jamal Ransby from Newnan High School, Damarius Matthews from out of McEachern and then Justin Hughes and Isaiah Howard from South Florida. These guys are going to add a tremendous dimension to our defense that we’ve just haven’t had in the past.


“Then, Albert Wilson from down in South Florida is going to be a kick returner and a receiver, and he has a kind of speed that we just have not had before. So those guys are faster and better than we thought.”

Video and Article

Shorter Alumni Group Calls Us The Bulldogs

From the release on the Coosa Valley News:

Shorter University Baseball will host the Shorter Hawks Baseball Alumni Football & Golf Outing on Thursday and Friday, Sept. 2 and 3, in conjunction with the Shorter football game against Georgia State University at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.


Baseball alumni will be treated to a tailgate prior to the 7:30 pm. kickoff with the Bulldogs on Sept. 2. The tailgate is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. and will be held in the Yellow Lot adjacent to the Georgia Dome.

My take: Seriously?! We need to drop kick these country folk and send them back to Rome.  Nothing gets me going like people who call you by someone else's nickname.

Shorter Bringing The Noise on Sept. 2nd

The Shorter University football team appears to have called upon a secret weapon for its season opener with University of West Alabama on Aug. 28, as well as its much-anticipated clash with Georgia State University on Sept. 2 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

The weapon you ask? The 23 flavors of Dr. Pepper.

Those who have roamed the athletic offices at the Winthrop-King Centre over the past several weeks may have noticed the arrival of a colossal quantity of mini Dr. Pepper bottles – some full, most empty.

Eventually, every bottle – approximately 1,000 in the end – are being used in creating noisemakers that will be distributed among Hawk football fans as they travel to Shorter home and away games this season, one that begins on Saturday, Aug. 28 when the Hawks travel to NCAA Div. II foe University of West Alabama.

“Initially, we will try the shakers out on the road at West Alabama, and then I expect them to be in full force at the Georgia Dome against Georgia State,” said Shorter Director of Athletics Bill Peterson, who has witnessed first hand the invasion of Dr. Pepper amidst WKC halls. “It’s a fun idea and should be really helpful to our team.””

Rome News Wire Link