Furman opens up the strange year hosting the Catamounts.
WCU played three times this fall, and got absolutely trucked. Granted, they played one good ACC squad (UNC), a good G5 squad (Liberty), and a decent FCS team (Eastern Kentucky). They were not competitive in any of those games, however.
The Cats looked awful defensively, surrendering 52 ppg on defense. Liberty put up 630+ yards (379 passing). Even EKU put up 590 yards (EKU went 3-6 this fall, so are by no means a juggernaut).
Poor defense is a hallmark of WCU under Mark Speir. The Cats have finished last or almost last in scoring defense each year since 2016. Just watching their highlights from the UNC game, something that jumps out is poor defensive discipline and tackling.
Offensively, it looks like they are unsettled at QB. Will jones started two games. Mark Wright started one. Neither were particularly effective. They brought in a Penn transfer this fall who may get the nod. https://www.thedp.com/article/2021/02/p ... y-transfer
Most of their passes were targeted to the TE and RB, so they have not yet demonstrated much of a downfield passing game. I do think highly of Owen Cosenke, though, who is one of the SoCon's better TEs. Furman had a bit of trouble with Cosenke a few years ago in Greenville.
Just speculation here, but to me this looks like one of your typical Western Carolina teams - they will have some athletes, but are going to be weak defensively. Unlike a few of their prior iterations, they don't have a guy like Tyrie Adams under center, so they appear to lack some of that big play ability on offense.
One semi-concern is just how much dust Furman will need to knock off. These boys haven't played a football game in over a year. There is always rust in a week 1 game, but just how much rust will there be in this odd year?
WCU played three times this fall, and got absolutely trucked. Granted, they played one good ACC squad (UNC), a good G5 squad (Liberty), and a decent FCS team (Eastern Kentucky). They were not competitive in any of those games, however.
The Cats looked awful defensively, surrendering 52 ppg on defense. Liberty put up 630+ yards (379 passing). Even EKU put up 590 yards (EKU went 3-6 this fall, so are by no means a juggernaut).
Poor defense is a hallmark of WCU under Mark Speir. The Cats have finished last or almost last in scoring defense each year since 2016. Just watching their highlights from the UNC game, something that jumps out is poor defensive discipline and tackling.
Offensively, it looks like they are unsettled at QB. Will jones started two games. Mark Wright started one. Neither were particularly effective. They brought in a Penn transfer this fall who may get the nod. https://www.thedp.com/article/2021/02/p ... y-transfer
Most of their passes were targeted to the TE and RB, so they have not yet demonstrated much of a downfield passing game. I do think highly of Owen Cosenke, though, who is one of the SoCon's better TEs. Furman had a bit of trouble with Cosenke a few years ago in Greenville.
Just speculation here, but to me this looks like one of your typical Western Carolina teams - they will have some athletes, but are going to be weak defensively. Unlike a few of their prior iterations, they don't have a guy like Tyrie Adams under center, so they appear to lack some of that big play ability on offense.
One semi-concern is just how much dust Furman will need to knock off. These boys haven't played a football game in over a year. There is always rust in a week 1 game, but just how much rust will there be in this odd year?
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