With the Canes on a three game’ losing streak and the offense losing their way, OC/RB coach Thomas Brown says the team needs to go back to the drawing board and find something that works.
“We have to do a better job of preparing our guys, have to execute better,” Brown said. “Getting tired of saying it every week, but we have to go back to the drawing board and re-think some things. The biggest thing is taking care of the football, can’t turn the ball over. We had two turnovers each of the last three weeks, which is the fastest way to lose a game, penalties on top of that.”
What are the issues on offense?
“A little bit of everything,” Brown said. “Mistakes here or there, playing a bunch of young guys at different spots, which is not an excuse, but we have to grow those guys up as much as possible. But the biggest thing is not turn the ball over. Take care of the football we can put together some drives, have some explosive plays and put points on the board.”
Freshman QB N’Kosi Perry was taking first team reps in the early portion of practice this morning and Brown said, between Perry and Malik Rosier, the player who has the best week of practice will against GT on Saturday.
“You have to earn the right to play,” Brown said. “It’s not just about that position, every position everyone has open competition.”
Navaughn Donaldson and Jahair Jones were both demoted to the second team O-Line this week and taking over with the ones the last two days has been Hayden Mahoney and Venzell Boulware.
“It’s no different than quarterback, running back or receiver,” Brown said. “The best guys that compete the best in practice and end up playing the best in the game will play for us in the future.”
With Travis Homer sitting out of practice with a calf injury and Lorenzo Lingard sidelined for the season with a knee injury, it was Cam Davis, not Robert Burns, that was taking second team reps at RB today. Brown said Davis has earned the right to play against GT this week.
“We had a little package of plays for him in the last game, the weather kind of slowed some of that stuff down,” Brown said. “But he’s definitely worked himself into a spot. He’ll play this week. I’m excited with his progress.”
If Homer cannot go, DeeJay Dallas will get the starting nod at RB this week. Dallas was a mixed bag against Duke last week, rushing for a career high 124 yards, but also put the ball on the ground with two costly fumbles.
“Very uncharacteristic, even in practice I can’t remember a fumble,” Brown said of Dallas. “So for him to have one fumble let alone two fumbles is something that we have to get fixed and he’ll get fixed…I believe in trusting those players and letting those guys know when you make a mistake you don’t come out of the game and be done forever. But we’ll learn from it, get better from it, and hopefully it won’t happen again.”
On freshman WR Mark Pope: “He’s doing well,” Brown said. “Being able to move the depth chart some on special teams helped out as well - Cam played a bunch for us the last few weeks on special teams, in that aspect, and Pope is doing well. He’s picking up the system better, is learning how to practice better. He’ll be in a spot to help us.”
“We have to do a better job of preparing our guys, have to execute better,” Brown said. “Getting tired of saying it every week, but we have to go back to the drawing board and re-think some things. The biggest thing is taking care of the football, can’t turn the ball over. We had two turnovers each of the last three weeks, which is the fastest way to lose a game, penalties on top of that.”
What are the issues on offense?
“A little bit of everything,” Brown said. “Mistakes here or there, playing a bunch of young guys at different spots, which is not an excuse, but we have to grow those guys up as much as possible. But the biggest thing is not turn the ball over. Take care of the football we can put together some drives, have some explosive plays and put points on the board.”
Freshman QB N’Kosi Perry was taking first team reps in the early portion of practice this morning and Brown said, between Perry and Malik Rosier, the player who has the best week of practice will against GT on Saturday.
“You have to earn the right to play,” Brown said. “It’s not just about that position, every position everyone has open competition.”
Navaughn Donaldson and Jahair Jones were both demoted to the second team O-Line this week and taking over with the ones the last two days has been Hayden Mahoney and Venzell Boulware.
“It’s no different than quarterback, running back or receiver,” Brown said. “The best guys that compete the best in practice and end up playing the best in the game will play for us in the future.”
With Travis Homer sitting out of practice with a calf injury and Lorenzo Lingard sidelined for the season with a knee injury, it was Cam Davis, not Robert Burns, that was taking second team reps at RB today. Brown said Davis has earned the right to play against GT this week.
“We had a little package of plays for him in the last game, the weather kind of slowed some of that stuff down,” Brown said. “But he’s definitely worked himself into a spot. He’ll play this week. I’m excited with his progress.”
If Homer cannot go, DeeJay Dallas will get the starting nod at RB this week. Dallas was a mixed bag against Duke last week, rushing for a career high 124 yards, but also put the ball on the ground with two costly fumbles.
“Very uncharacteristic, even in practice I can’t remember a fumble,” Brown said of Dallas. “So for him to have one fumble let alone two fumbles is something that we have to get fixed and he’ll get fixed…I believe in trusting those players and letting those guys know when you make a mistake you don’t come out of the game and be done forever. But we’ll learn from it, get better from it, and hopefully it won’t happen again.”
On freshman WR Mark Pope: “He’s doing well,” Brown said. “Being able to move the depth chart some on special teams helped out as well - Cam played a bunch for us the last few weeks on special teams, in that aspect, and Pope is doing well. He’s picking up the system better, is learning how to practice better. He’ll be in a spot to help us.”
