I think the game is going to come down to two things:
(1) Can Furman get the "secondary" stuff working? We know the Paladins are going to face a stacked box - every team with the personnel to do it is going to try to throw more bodies at our offensive line than we have to block. Furman is going to need to be able to get the passing game going and has to threaten UTC with Huff running the ball. We did not do a great job of forcing ETSU to respect the quick passing plays to the receivers and TEs or the QB run last Saturday like we did against Western. If we don't, the Mocs are going to sit dead red on Roberto and, as we've seen, that makes life hard for our offense.
(2) Can we get pressure on defense? UTC's QB can play, but we've faced QBs that can play. Furman has been really good the last few weeks of getting after the QB, forcing them to move their feet, throw with hands in their face, and rush their progressions. UTC is down their best running back, and we know they are not likely to sit there and try to pound away at our defensive front - we're better suited for that type of game than they are at this point. I suspect we'll see Artropeous throwing maybe 30-40 times.
Furman has answered the bell every time in these big games. I suspect we'll be ready for it.
(1) Can Furman get the "secondary" stuff working? We know the Paladins are going to face a stacked box - every team with the personnel to do it is going to try to throw more bodies at our offensive line than we have to block. Furman is going to need to be able to get the passing game going and has to threaten UTC with Huff running the ball. We did not do a great job of forcing ETSU to respect the quick passing plays to the receivers and TEs or the QB run last Saturday like we did against Western. If we don't, the Mocs are going to sit dead red on Roberto and, as we've seen, that makes life hard for our offense.
(2) Can we get pressure on defense? UTC's QB can play, but we've faced QBs that can play. Furman has been really good the last few weeks of getting after the QB, forcing them to move their feet, throw with hands in their face, and rush their progressions. UTC is down their best running back, and we know they are not likely to sit there and try to pound away at our defensive front - we're better suited for that type of game than they are at this point. I suspect we'll see Artropeous throwing maybe 30-40 times.
Furman has answered the bell every time in these big games. I suspect we'll be ready for it.
