The Paladin Walk Blog

Back In Business

Well I could blog about excuses for an entire post but that wouldn't serve any purpose. The good news is that I'm back home and I will start blogging again this evening. I will start my All-Access Experience with the Furman Football team this evening.

Check back later tonight as I give my first update.

Geno

The Option

Furman went back to the past to breakout of a second half offensive production slump that carried over from last season.

I think this was a good move by the Furman coaches., Furman has been searching for an offensive identity since the graduation of Ingle Martin. Furman is blessed to have two very good quarterbacks, two quarterbacks that bring very different skill sets into the game.

With both quarterbacks under perfoming in the first half Coach Lamb really had no choice but to simplfy on offense, and for Furman that means running the option.

Furman rolled up 17 points in the second half of the Coastal game the most since Furman put up 28 points in the second half against UNC. And that game was probably one of the best executions of the rio option offense I've ever seen.

I can only guess that we will see more option with Renaldo at the helm. History is on Furman's side running what some criticcs are calling an old school offense.

Wofford is doing quite well this season, and maybe in an odd twist of fate the Pups from Spartanburg have made the Paladins think about going back to its roots and playing some old fashioned smashmouth football. I've got a feeling #45 will like that thought.

Furman vs Coastal Week

Well despite traveling again this week for work related projects, my goal is to bring the Paladin mojo back and post everyday this week.

Coastal Carolina rolls into Greenville for their first visit to Paladin Stadium. Both teams come into the game 1-3 and in a bad mood. On paper Coastal is the perfect opponent Furman needs to get back to basics and re-focus for the remaining 7 games.

I’m learning not to take anything for granted this season but playing a team that doesn’t run a unique scheme (like Wofford) will give the Paladins a chance to get their feet settled before taking on the Dogs in Chucktown.

A quick look at Coastal
The Coastal Carolina Defense has been far from dominate this season, giving up over 32 points per game. Opponents are averaging 327 yards rushing but only 79 yards passing per game, total yards allowed per game 406.8.

On offense the loss of Tyler Thigpen has caused the Chants to struggle on offense despite the return of Jerome Simpson. Coastal is averaging 118 yards rushing per game, and 204 yards passing, total offense per game 323.

Against GSU the only game I’ve seen Coastal play this year, it was a game of basically no defense by either team. Jason Foster ran over and around Coastal often dragging their defensive players with him into the endzone.

This should be the game for Jerome Felton to see plenty of yardage production. The key is patience, Furman has to stick to establish the run like they did early against Wofford but not abandon it after success in the passing game.

First half blues
Furman hopefully will take advantage of Coastal’s first half blues. After 4 games this season Opponents have scored 63 points in the first half, compared to 29 points for Coastal. It hasn’t been a lot better in the second half Coastal opponents have put up 68 points in the second half but Coastal has improved their point production averaging 61 points.

Monday Morning Fog Brew

It's too bad you can't order a Starbuck's bold, extra caffeine coffee to lift the Monday hangover for a loss.

Coach Bobby Lamb said it best in the Monday Gville fishwrap. "We probably talk a little too much about playoffs and this and that," said Lamb. "We're at a point right now where we're just focusing on Coastal Carolina (2 p.m. Saturday at Furman). That's the only thing we're focusing on. We've got to get a win because we're 1-3 right now.

I can't add to much to those words. Now's the time to re-focus and put a patch on the season. Right now the holes are hard to explain and Furman can't afford the time to replace the tires. IMO this season is a gut check for the next several years. Many of the teams in the SoCon have looked at Furman as the model. Now Furman has to do the same. The players are in place and it was obvious to this arm-chair-coach that the difference makers on offense last Saturday were the young guns. Sorrells, Webb, Truss, Hedden, Mims, LaFrance, Brown will be around for the next two years.

I hope that Furman makes a run and game by game turns this season around, they can do it. Bu if that doesn't happen Furman has to look to the future. A future that will be lead by a kid that knows Furman football history and more importantly is one of the few that grew up "wanting to be a Paladin."