The Unofficial Furman Football Page

FUBeAR wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 15, 2018 9:23 am

Samford was riding high after their massacre of, essentially, a HS Team (Shorter) & what they mentally & emotionally ‘recorded’ as a win over Florida State. They were overconfident & unprepared when Mercer went into ‘their house’ and thumped them, with Mercer’s R-FR QB outperforming Hodges. Mentally, with FSU’s horrid performances against Syracuse & VaTech wrapped around their game with Samford, Samford re-thought their ‘win’ at FSU and realized that 1/4 of the way into the season, they were (really) a winless Team. The emotional see-saw this caused for their Players & Coaching staff put them into a major funk, as as evident by their performances against Chattanooga & KSU. I’ve always seen Samford as an emotionally fragile Team because deep down inside they, themselves, know their ‘house of success’ is built upon shifting sands - lots of flash, stats, and swagger, but no running game and a hot & cold Defense. Running the Football effectively & playing consistent Defense are still the hallmarks of Championship Football Teams (See NDSU & Alabama) even in this era of spread offenses slingin’ it all over the field.

Playing their last 2 games against WCU (particularly with Adams hurt) & VMI have been just the salve their egos / emotions needed and, thus, they are in a much better ‘place’ now than when they sulked around in their Chatt & KSU’s games.

IMO, the keys to this game for a Furman win are...

1) Start FAST! Even if Samford gets the ball first and scores, Furman will make great strides by responding with a score of their own on their 1st series. Those “here we go again” doubts will creep into the heads of Samford & they will ‘press’ the next time they get the ball, quite probably leading to a turnover & a 2nd quick score by Furman. That will lead to more ‘pressing’ and more spiraling troubles for our ‘guests.’ Take away their very fragile belief in their ability to win this game.

2) COVER AND PLAY THE BALL - While stopping Samford’s weak, but possibly recently slightly improved run game is a ‘given,’ Furman’s DB’s and underneath coverage guys MUST quickly demonstrate that they are up to the challenge that Samford presents. Yes, Mercer (and maybe others) showed the ‘script’ on how to slow down Samford’s O, but the plan still must be executed. DB’s can’t blow coverages & they can’t just use their solid athletic ability to be in position to cover Samford’s outstanding Retrievers. They have to make plays on balls thrown their way. They must turn and play the football because Samford’s Retrievers are just as athletic and will find ways to catch the Football if they don’t.

3) Furman’s O has to continue CLICKING. I think we’ll be fine with winning this ‘key to victory,’ but if we’re not, for some reason, Samford’s O will find a way to make us pay for lapsing in this area...and that spiral I mentioned in #1 above could quickly twist the other way.

Bottom line - I think SUBSTANCE trumps style and the Paladins continue their winning ways.

gofurman wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 15, 2018 10:13 am

FUBeAR wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 15, 2018 9:23 am

Samford was riding high after their massacre of, essentially, a HS Team (Shorter) & what they mentally & emotionally ‘recorded’ as a win over Florida State. They were overconfident & unprepared when Mercer went into ‘their house’ and thumped them, with Mercer’s R-FR QB outperforming Hodges. Mentally, with FSU’s horrid performances against Syracuse & VaTech wrapped around their game with Samford, Samford re-thought their ‘win’ at FSU and realized that 1/4 of the way into the season, they were (really) a winless Team. The emotional see-saw this caused for their Players & Coaching staff put them into a major funk, as as evident by their performances against Chattanooga & KSU. I’ve always seen Samford as an emotionally fragile Team because deep down inside they, themselves, know their ‘house of success’ is built upon shifting sands - lots of flash, stats, and swagger, but no running game and a hot & cold Defense. Running the Football effectively & playing consistent Defense are still the hallmarks of Championship Football Teams (See NDSU & Alabama) even in this era of spread offenses slingin’ it all over the field.

Playing their last 2 games against WCU (particularly with Adams hurt) & VMI have been just the salve their egos / emotions needed and, thus, they are in a much better ‘place’ now than when they sulked around in their Chatt & KSU’s games.

IMO, the keys to this game for a Furman win are...

1) Start FAST! Even if Samford gets the ball first and scores, Furman will make great strides by responding with a score of their own on their 1st series. Those “here we go again” doubts will creep into the heads of Samford & they will ‘press’ the next time they get the ball, quite probably leading to a turnover & a 2nd quick score by Furman. That will lead to more ‘pressing’ and more spiraling troubles for our ‘guests.’ Take away their very fragile belief in their ability to win this game.

2) COVER AND PLAY THE BALL - While stopping Samford’s weak, but possibly recently slightly improved run game is a ‘given,’ Furman’s DB’s and underneath coverage guys MUST quickly demonstrate that they are up to the challenge that Samford presents. Yes, Mercer (and maybe others) showed the ‘script’ on how to slow down Samford’s O, but the plan still must be executed. DB’s can’t blow coverages & they can’t just use their solid athletic ability to be in position to cover Samford’s outstanding Retrievers. They have to make plays on balls thrown their way. They must turn and play the football because Samford’s Retrievers are just as athletic and will find ways to catch the Football if they don’t.

3) Furman’s O has to continue CLICKING. I think we’ll be fine with winning this ‘key to victory,’ but if we’re not, for some reason, Samford’s O will find a way to make us pay for lapsing in this area...and that spiral I mentioned in #1 above could quickly twist the other way.

Bottom line - I think SUBSTANCE trumps style and the Paladins continue their winning ways.

Either WR were running free (blown assignment DB) or we didn't turn our head to see the ball. I have seen us play soft zone coverage etc. but never seen us look so bad in man coverage. We honestly looked far betta' vs CLemson. Seriously. At tigertown I felt we were in place and they just had athletes make great catches. That's fine. I understood that. But vs WCU concern crept in as I watched receivers running wide a open ... i mean wide. open.. And then when we were running with the receiver we didnt play the ball so it was either a catch by WCU or pass interference. CANNOT play like that vs Samford or we will lose.

The Jackal wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 15, 2018 10:40 am

I do not think Furman is as bad in pass defense as many seem to think we are.

Just my uninformed opinion, but I think a lot of our issues defending the pass have been the result of confusion, not inability. Those sorts of things are fixable and, having watched our defense stonewall Wofford Saturday, I'm encouraged that they are getting fixed.

FUBeAR wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 15, 2018 10:44 am

The Jackal wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 15, 2018 10:40 am

I do not think Furman is as bad in pass defense as many seem to think we are.

Just my uninformed opinion, but I think a lot of our issues defending the pass have been the result of confusion, not inability. Those sorts of things are fixable and, having watched our defense stonewall Wofford Saturday, I'm encouraged that they are getting fixed.

Certainly NOT “inability” / lack of talent. FU’s DB’s are abundantly talented.

Confusion, on occasion, & technique, way more frequently; have been the issues.

Wofford, in no way, presented the kind of passing game challenge that Samford does.

The Jackal wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 15, 2018 11:17 am

FUBeAR wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 15, 2018 10:44 am

The Jackal wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 15, 2018 10:40 am

I do not think Furman is as bad in pass defense as many seem to think we are.

Just my uninformed opinion, but I think a lot of our issues defending the pass have been the result of confusion, not inability. Those sorts of things are fixable and, having watched our defense stonewall Wofford Saturday, I'm encouraged that they are getting fixed.

Certainly NOT “inability” / lack of talent. FU’s DB’s are abundantly talented.

Confusion, on occasion, & technique, way more frequently; have been the issues.

Wofford, in no way, presented the kind of passing game challenge that Samford does.

No question. My point was more that we were not particularly dominant against the run either up until Saturday, but have steadily improved each week.

I'm encouraged by the defensive line play in particular. Hodges is the best QB they've seen, but the Paladin front has been pretty good at getting back there and disrupting the passer.

Hodges will get his yards, but I expect he'll get hit a bunch and Furman will try to move him off where he feels most comfortable throwing.

FUBeAR wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 15, 2018 10:44 am

The Jackal wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 15, 2018 10:40 am

I do not think Furman is as bad in pass defense as many seem to think we are.

Just my uninformed opinion, but I think a lot of our issues defending the pass have been the result of confusion, not inability. Those sorts of things are fixable and, having watched our defense stonewall Wofford Saturday, I'm encouraged that they are getting fixed.

Certainly NOT “inability” / lack of talent. FU’s DB’s are abundantly talented.

Confusion, on occasion, & technique, way more frequently; have been the issues.

Wofford, in no way, presented the kind of passing game challenge that Samford does.

FUBeAR wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 15, 2018 11:41 am

The Jackal wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 15, 2018 11:17 am

FUBeAR wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 15, 2018 10:44 am

The Jackal wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 15, 2018 10:40 am

I do not think Furman is as bad in pass defense as many seem to think we are.

Just my uninformed opinion, but I think a lot of our issues defending the pass have been the result of confusion, not inability. Those sorts of things are fixable and, having watched our defense stonewall Wofford Saturday, I'm encouraged that they are getting fixed.

Certainly NOT “inability” / lack of talent. FU’s DB’s are abundantly talented.

Confusion, on occasion, & technique, way more frequently; have been the issues.

Wofford, in no way, presented the kind of passing game challenge that Samford does.

No question. My point was more that we were not particularly dominant against the run either up until Saturday, but have steadily improved each week.

I'm encouraged by the defensive line play in particular. Hodges is the best QB they've seen, but the Paladin front has been pretty good at getting back there and disrupting the passer.

Hodges will get his yards, but I expect he'll get hit a bunch and Furman will try to move him off where he feels most comfortable throwing.

I’ve changed my thinking on containing Hodges over the years. I think he is MOST comfortable when he’s extending plays with his excellent pocket presence and/or when full-on scrambling. He is almost as comfortable when he is able to get the ball out QUICK, like REALLY QUICK. I think he is least comfortable and least effective when he stands in the pocket for a while and then throws the ball on a ‘more traditional’ route. So, I think you, FIRST, don’t let him beat you with his legs (scrambling or running QB draw)...so a highly controlled pass rush with lane discipline is the way to go. Then, you have to limit their ‘Quick Game.’ The only way to do that is rush fewer people (hardly ever more than 4 & usually 3), walk OLB’s out more, play relatively tight (not necessarily “press” though) with your CB’s, bring your Safeties just a wee bit closer (depending on down/distance) to the LOS, get off /fight thru blocks, and TACKLE. DL has to think RUN 1st instead of PASS RUSH. This seems counterintuitive when playing Sanford, but somebody has to stop their ‘token’ (but swift) run game and with the OLB’s walked out a little more that has to get done primarily with your DL, supported by your ILB’s, who are also needing to drop and get underneath those pesky mesh routes.

Takes huge discipline and a willingness to accept giving up some yards and 1st downs to execute this plan, but it’s about winning the ‘war’in this case...might have to accept losing quite a few battles to do that...but as the saying goes...”Pick your battles.” In this case, though, you are picking the ones you are willing to lose.

Paul C wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 15, 2018 5:28 pm

One defensive player I'm going to be watching on every snap is Adrian Hope. This is a chance for him to be a game changer.

Also interested to see how much we blitz. I'd hate to see us overdo the blitzing and give up big plays...rather see us rush 4, keep him in the pocket and make him check down. Even if it does mean we give up alot of yards, these offenses can bog down in the red zone when they back line of the end zone becomes an extra defender.

One wild card, the forecast for Sat is 90% chance of rain.....FUBear had some interesting correlation of Samford winning percentage when the weather was poor.....

gofurman wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 15, 2018 5:40 pm

Paul C wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 15, 2018 5:28 pm

One defensive player I'm going to be watching on every snap is Adrian Hope. This is a chance for him to be a game changer.

Also interested to see how much we blitz. I'd hate to see us overdo the blitzing and give up big plays...rather see us rush 4, keep him in the pocket and make him check down. Even if it does mean we give up alot of yards, these offenses can bog down in the red zone when they back line of the end zone becomes an extra defender.

One wild card, the forecast for Sat is 90% chance of rain.....FUBear had some interesting correlation of Samford winning percentage when the weather was poor.....

Hope you are right. pun not intended... seroiusly - I want to win this game bad.. though FUBeAR keeps up about as much as anyone and is appears he is saying it's not a great thing to blitz this heavy passing team. Which, on the surface, appears counter intuitive. But appears FUBeAR is saying if you blitz them it can turn against you more than most teams. IE, BeAR said you want to only rush 3 most of the time (maybe 4). Rushing 3 would eliminate Hope.

From FUBeAR - "DL has to think RUN 1st instead of PASS RUSH. This seems counterintuitive when playing Sanford, but somebody has to stop their ‘token’ (but swift) run game and with the OLB’s walked out a little more that has to get done primarily with your DL, supported by your ILB’s, who are also needing to drop and get underneath those pesky mesh routes." I realize that Hope is a LB. I certainly hope we win and he has 3 sacks. FF but this game worries me. Well, they all do.