Looking forward to the game down your way this week. Haven't played Miami in a very long time, and we're relishing the opportunity to get a chance to prove ourselves against an ACC opponent. Its pretty rare that we play ACC Teams, played Va Tech in 2011, but that's about it overall.
Here are the basics about our program that you'll probably here ad nauseam from your coaching staff over the next week.
We are the three time defending Sun Belt Conference Champions and have won 29 games since the start of the 2011 season. During that time we also have won back to back Go Daddy Bowls over Kent State and Ball State of the MAC. The Kent State game represented our first every win as a program over a top 25 team, which was a big step, even if it was Kent State, its not our fault they were ranked.
Nationally we're most known for our constant coaching upheaval. Blake Anderson represents our 5th coach in the last 5 seasons (Not counting interims during bowl games) During that time, Steve Roberts (Fired), Hugh Freeze (Ole Miss), Gus Malzahn (Auburn), and Bryan Harsin (Boise State) have come here...barely had time to unpack, and left after conference championship seasons. To be truthful, most of us would have a hard time explaining what its like to face coaching speculation every single season, other than to tell you we have a lot of experience with coaching searches. As a product of the upheavel, we have actually made more money in coach buyouts than we have spent in salary during that time, as every coach ends us writing a check close to 2 million dollars for the right to win a conference title.
Team wise: We return very little offensively, but still have a decent bit of talent. We returned not a single starter on the offensive line from last season, have brought in a new QB, and are replacing all but one WR and RB. Our QB is Fredi Knighten, who was a Malzahn recruit meant to be in the mold of Nick Marshall. He's very athletic, and is more likely to beat you with his legs than his arm. We don't trust him to throw down field yet, but he's got enough talent to to beat teams on intermediate passing routes if they attempt to crowd the run. He's a game manager on the pass, and while his passing numbers will never be as crazy as his rushing, he wont turn the ball over very often. JD McKissic is our top receiver talent. He's a former Freshman All America who owns basically ever receiving record in our book, despite still being only a junior. He's helped out by All Conference RB Michael Gordon (Who may be out for our game next week) and All Conference TE Darion Griswald. Those 4 players make the offense go. Our system is very Malzahn based. Coaches want to use tempo to beat teams, talking openly this year at challenging Oregon as the fastest offense in the country. Results have been mixed so far, Tennessee crowd gave us issues.
Defensively: We return every single starter at LB, CB, and Safety. Its a very senior laden group in which often we have all conference players backing up all conference players. The defense is extremely fast, and will hunt for the ball. They are not big, and are not tall. The biggest weakness is against a tall receiving unit. Tennessee had a stud 6-5 receiver who ate our lunch this week. Qushawn Lee, Xavier Woodson, Rocky Hayes, Frankie Jackson, and Artez Brown lead our back 7. Our Weakness is up front: We had a string of injuries and graduations and a player who was murdered during a home invasion this offseason. Its left us starting only one Senior on the Line, and a bunch of Freshman and Sophomores. Again, its a smallish line, but don't let that fool you, we've shut down the running game of both of our previous opponents. Tennesee's Stud RB had 23 carries for only 80 yards this week. We're going to run a lot of blitz packages and will try and often isolate our DB's on your receivers and force your QB to make a perfect throw. If he does, you win, if not...look out. We've had no trouble getting to the QB against either opponent so far, but you guys are a different animal
Special Teams: This unit has killed us so far this year. We've muffed two punts to this point that have led to critical opposing TD's. Our Star punt returner was actually benched after his 2nd muff against Tennessee and replaced with a True Freshman. We also missed an extra point in Knoxville. That being said, our Kicker/Punter has a big leg, and if his accuracy is up to snuff, can dump a 50 yard punt one possession and kick a 50 yard field goal the next series. Our backup QB also does some punting, which leads to a series of fakes we have in the playbook.
Intangibles. Blake Anderson and Walt Bell are the men in charge of this team. They have brought in what is our top recruiting class in years to this point, and have really won over the players. That being said, we have only one win in history over a power conference opponent. We've played a lot of teams close, but have struggled to get over the jump. Some of that is dumb luck, we played Auburn and Missouri last year and everyone knows how they did. But we also get nervous in these type games, and can put ourselves in a hole with penalties and other mental mistakes.
Just an FYI: This is not a guarantee game. You guys are due to return a trip to Jonesboro in 2017.
Again looking forward to playing you guys, here is to an injury free encounter. I'll try to answer as many questions that I can if you have any.
Here are the basics about our program that you'll probably here ad nauseam from your coaching staff over the next week.
We are the three time defending Sun Belt Conference Champions and have won 29 games since the start of the 2011 season. During that time we also have won back to back Go Daddy Bowls over Kent State and Ball State of the MAC. The Kent State game represented our first every win as a program over a top 25 team, which was a big step, even if it was Kent State, its not our fault they were ranked.
Nationally we're most known for our constant coaching upheaval. Blake Anderson represents our 5th coach in the last 5 seasons (Not counting interims during bowl games) During that time, Steve Roberts (Fired), Hugh Freeze (Ole Miss), Gus Malzahn (Auburn), and Bryan Harsin (Boise State) have come here...barely had time to unpack, and left after conference championship seasons. To be truthful, most of us would have a hard time explaining what its like to face coaching speculation every single season, other than to tell you we have a lot of experience with coaching searches. As a product of the upheavel, we have actually made more money in coach buyouts than we have spent in salary during that time, as every coach ends us writing a check close to 2 million dollars for the right to win a conference title.
Team wise: We return very little offensively, but still have a decent bit of talent. We returned not a single starter on the offensive line from last season, have brought in a new QB, and are replacing all but one WR and RB. Our QB is Fredi Knighten, who was a Malzahn recruit meant to be in the mold of Nick Marshall. He's very athletic, and is more likely to beat you with his legs than his arm. We don't trust him to throw down field yet, but he's got enough talent to to beat teams on intermediate passing routes if they attempt to crowd the run. He's a game manager on the pass, and while his passing numbers will never be as crazy as his rushing, he wont turn the ball over very often. JD McKissic is our top receiver talent. He's a former Freshman All America who owns basically ever receiving record in our book, despite still being only a junior. He's helped out by All Conference RB Michael Gordon (Who may be out for our game next week) and All Conference TE Darion Griswald. Those 4 players make the offense go. Our system is very Malzahn based. Coaches want to use tempo to beat teams, talking openly this year at challenging Oregon as the fastest offense in the country. Results have been mixed so far, Tennessee crowd gave us issues.
Defensively: We return every single starter at LB, CB, and Safety. Its a very senior laden group in which often we have all conference players backing up all conference players. The defense is extremely fast, and will hunt for the ball. They are not big, and are not tall. The biggest weakness is against a tall receiving unit. Tennessee had a stud 6-5 receiver who ate our lunch this week. Qushawn Lee, Xavier Woodson, Rocky Hayes, Frankie Jackson, and Artez Brown lead our back 7. Our Weakness is up front: We had a string of injuries and graduations and a player who was murdered during a home invasion this offseason. Its left us starting only one Senior on the Line, and a bunch of Freshman and Sophomores. Again, its a smallish line, but don't let that fool you, we've shut down the running game of both of our previous opponents. Tennesee's Stud RB had 23 carries for only 80 yards this week. We're going to run a lot of blitz packages and will try and often isolate our DB's on your receivers and force your QB to make a perfect throw. If he does, you win, if not...look out. We've had no trouble getting to the QB against either opponent so far, but you guys are a different animal
Special Teams: This unit has killed us so far this year. We've muffed two punts to this point that have led to critical opposing TD's. Our Star punt returner was actually benched after his 2nd muff against Tennessee and replaced with a True Freshman. We also missed an extra point in Knoxville. That being said, our Kicker/Punter has a big leg, and if his accuracy is up to snuff, can dump a 50 yard punt one possession and kick a 50 yard field goal the next series. Our backup QB also does some punting, which leads to a series of fakes we have in the playbook.
Intangibles. Blake Anderson and Walt Bell are the men in charge of this team. They have brought in what is our top recruiting class in years to this point, and have really won over the players. That being said, we have only one win in history over a power conference opponent. We've played a lot of teams close, but have struggled to get over the jump. Some of that is dumb luck, we played Auburn and Missouri last year and everyone knows how they did. But we also get nervous in these type games, and can put ourselves in a hole with penalties and other mental mistakes.
Just an FYI: This is not a guarantee game. You guys are due to return a trip to Jonesboro in 2017.
Again looking forward to playing you guys, here is to an injury free encounter. I'll try to answer as many questions that I can if you have any.
