Say what you will about Arkansas State football (and many will say plenty): that 7 minute, 21 second possession to close out the Golden Eagles last week – which included three fourth-down conversion junk punches – was an impressive display of disciplined football. Additionally, the goal line press from Will Saxon & His Boys to push TJ Carter into the end zone was something not even the scriptwriters of “Waterboy” could have imagined. “We’re back to playing Arkansas State football,” declared head coach Butch Jones in is Tuesday presser.
Yeah, maybe. But even Jones had to admit that punting five times against Southern Miss is too many punts. Also, the awkward three-and-out have killed A-State momentum all year: we saw it happen twice in Hattiesburg – after an interception and following a field goal miss. Instead of pressing the gas, A-State too often says, “Life is too unfair, here, try again.”
Negativity aside, a road win is a road win despite the quality of the opponent or the circumstances with which victory is acquired. After losing the ball thrice against South Alabama, quarterback Trey Owens played a clean game, accepting sacks for the sake of security. After surrendering 49 points to the Jaguars, the defense allowed only 13 points to the Golden Eagles. Fortunes are reversed, and it will be up to the Red Wolves to determine for how long.
The Panthers Were Built to Beat the Red Wolves
“They’re big up front,” observed Coach Jones. “They’re very active. They win on the line of scrimmage.” Georgia State leads the conference in both sacks and sacks allowed. The sack-monster tandem of linebacker Xavier Esqillion (6’1″ 250) and defensive end Jabriel Rhodes Nelson (6’4″ 270) should be outlawed in fifty states. The offensive line is generating a rush attack that generates 206.0 yards per game, averaging 5.2 yards per carry.
“It should be very physical game,” said Coach Jones, but can Arkansas State match the muscle? Against South Alabama’s sizable fronts, the Red Wolves were without answer. Defensively, A-State has accumulated all of three sacks all year. While the offensive line has been instrumental in the improvement of the Red Wolves’ run game, Trey Owens is still absorbing too many hits.
Georgia State is a nightmare Legion of Doom for Arkansas State – a team that can run at will while forcing more three and outs than any team in the Sun Belt, which gives the Panthers an edge for time of possession. The tools with which Arkansas State used to dominate Southern Miss in the fourth quarter must be brought to bear this Saturday.
James Madison Offers Some Lessons
The Dukes limited the Panthers to about half of its usual offensive output in a 49-22 route in Harrisonburg. JMU solved the Panther’s Riddle of Third Down Conversion, allowing Georgia State to convert only 4 of 13 times. The Panthers still got their run yards (188 yards, 5ypc), but the James Madison secondary limited the normally reliable Cameran Brown to just 134 passing yards and a pick. JMU made Georgia State’s offense one dimensional.
James Madison tempered Brown partly through pressure – the Dukes recorded three sacks and five TFLs. Defensive coordinator Griff McCauley simply doesn’t have those kind of workhorses in the stable. So the A-State defense will need to find more ways to press Brown into making mistakes.
The Red Wolves Run Game Continues to Grow in Strength
At the beginning of the season, it was revealed that Devin Spencer – the lightning to Keyon Clay’s thunder – would miss the season due to injury. And there was much gnashing of teeth. However, the Red Wolves running back room is uncannily deep this season, with OC Garret Altman getting contributions from Timothy Carter, Ezell Jolly and James Lee – and a huge lift from fast true freshman Soloman Baggett, who leads the Big Committee in rushing. Baggett has also displayed some pass catching ability that compliments Clay’s, providing more weapons for Trey Owens.
Clune Van Andel is Getting Too Much Exercise
Van Andel added three more field goals to his collection on Saturday, which Coach Jones as noted is too many chances. Much like last season, the Red Wolves are finding plenty of yards between the 20s, but once the offense pushes into the Red Zone, the team finds itself settling for a Van Andel Special.
After pounding 49 points on South Alabama, it appeared that the Red Wolves offense might have finally turned or corner. However, it appears that Red Wolves fans are still waiting for an offense capable of putting opposing teams on their heels.
Panther to Punk: Junior Wide Receiver Rodshaun Dorsey
If touchdowns were power pellets, Dorsey would be Pac-Man. The 6’5″ junior has found the end zone seven times in Georgia State’s last four games, becoming Cameran Brown’s definitive scoring threat. The transfer 3-star out of Erskine is averaging 16 yards per catch on 333 receiving yards.
The Final Analysis
After years of bumbling around the conference, the Georgia State Panthers have suddenly become a very dangerous opponent in the Sun Belt. Coach Dell McGee, whose first two seasons in Atlanta was a misadventure that rivals The Odyssey, suddenly has every aspect of the game clicking into place.
Coach Butch Jones will need to leverage every asset to defeat the Panthers – home field advantage and Homecoming come into play. But execution remains the vital factor. Field goals must become touchdowns. The defense must bend and not break (too often) against the Georgia State rush. Trey Owens must continue to protect the ball. Most of all, the Red Wolves must maintain momentum when momentum is given.
MAIN VISUAL: Something I Cobbled
MID WEEK NOTE: A-State leading receiver Hunter Summers was arrested on a domestic battery charge. No official word if Summers will be benched or even released.