2023 Pre-season

[FUBeAR]

Thinking some about the offense and TE use.

I think you have to go back 10+ seasons to find a real vertical threat at TE…Miller was an excellent player for us, but would do most of his damage with quick route running…

Ryan Miller’s 4.46 might disagree with this assessment…

Name: Ryan Miller
College: Furman Number: 82
Height: 6-1 Weight: 210
Position: WR Pos2: FB/H-back
Class/Draft Year: rSr/2023
40 Low: 4.46

Would have been top 1/2 of WR’s - 18th best of 43 times recorded at 2023 NFL Combine.

Would have been #1 among TE’s with next closest being 4.54

[FUwolfpacker]

Thinking some about the offense and TE use.

I think you have to go back 10+ seasons to find a real vertical threat at TE…Miller was an excellent player for us, but would do most of his damage with quick route running…

Ryan Miller’s 4.46 might disagree with this assessment…

Name: Ryan Miller
College: Furman Number: 82
Height: 6-1 Weight: 210
Position: WR Pos2: FB/H-back
Class/Draft Year: rSr/2023
40 Low: 4.46

Did we throw a lot of vertical to Miller? I honestly can't remember. I feel like he would take a short/medium pass and just out run everyone.

[FUBeAR]

Thinking some about the offense and TE use.

I think you have to go back 10+ seasons to find a real vertical threat at TE…Miller was an excellent player for us, but would do most of his damage with quick route running…

Ryan Miller’s 4.46 might disagree with this assessment…

Name: Ryan Miller
College: Furman Number: 82
Height: 6-1 Weight: 210
Position: WR Pos2: FB/H-back
Class/Draft Year: rSr/2023
40 Low: 4.46

Did we throw a lot of vertical to Miller? I honestly can't remember. I feel like he would take a short/medium pass and just out run everyone. Maybe that's what Jackal meant.

I feel like it's been at least since Schumpert since we'd see a TE "go deep." What was that 2017-18? Felt like maybe we saw a little more of it with Anderson and Schumpert. I don't remember Miller doing that often (although he certainly could have).

Sure we did some…not gonna search.

Find what you want in here. Some successful verts after 2 min mark. FUBeAR sees a lot of really deep Safeties that get run by anyway … after the catch.

But the key word is THREAT.

When your TE / Flex WR can easily outrun any LB, almost all, if not all, Safeties, and plenty of CB’s, the Defense has to respect that THREAT. Perhaps their respect of his speed led to so much being open underneath. And, there is the issue that you have to have 2 other things for vertical passes - time to throw and the right trigger-puller. Finally had the latter in 2022.

[The Jackal]

I'm basing this mostly on memory (but I do watch a lot of Furman football), so take that for what it's worth.

Most of Miller's damage came on in-breaking routes. He'd freeze the defender with a moment's indecision, and just beat them to the ball. Then he'd use his speed to outrun them. Roper, in particular, was really good at finding ways to force Miller into open space, where he became one of the nation's most dangerous receivers.

I'm inclined to think that regardless of the combinations we use at TE, neither Gissinger or Pline is likely going to be the shifty sort of route runner that Miller was. I could be completely wrong, of course, but I think we'll see less head/shoulder feints and more getting up field in a hurry.

I do not recall many times Furman would send Miller deep downfield and try to drop one over his shoulder. I'm sure it happened. Most of the time - and I think it was a wise decision - was to get him the ball quickly and let him run in space.

Now, if Pline is 4.46 at 6'7 260, then forget everything I just said.

[The Jackal]

I've made this comparison before, but I've thought Furman has replicated a lot of aspects of what UGA does offensively. I'm not saying Furman is UGA, just run a similar scheme.

Of note, UGA had a 6'7 260+ TE last season, Darnell Washington (who is a physical freak)

You can watch some of his highlights and see how UGA utilized someone of (a listed) similar size in the same position.

Those sell the run/late release plays are tough for a defense to deal with.

[AllTimeFU]

Saturday twitter scan.

Saw a photo of one of the S&C coaches wearing the black uniforms. He looks like he's wearing a standard white lid, but with a black sword striping, black facemask, and "FURMAN" front bumper.

Maybe nothing. Maybe a fusion between the standard white helmets and the purple matte lids used with the black uniform (which I liked)

Hearing a new helmet will be unveiled!

[The Jackal]

A nice tip of the cap by HERO to Cally Chizik. https://herosports.com/fcs-football-202 ... down-bzbz/

Chizik plays a CB/NB hybrid for Furman’s defense and is taking on the SPUR position in 2023.

The 5-foot-9, 183-pounder had an under-the-radar season last year, totaling 29 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, and nine passes defended. His 84.8 overall PFF defensive grade ranked No. 7 among FCS cornerbacks, and his 88.8 coverage grade was No. 5.

As the article notes, Chizik grades out as not only one of the best DBs in the conference, but in the FCS.

In breaking, but not breaking news, it looks like Chizik will be officially listed as a SPUR this season. That would explain, or at least inform, Achina's move to ILB as well. I think we'll see Chizik, Achina, and Miller rotating a good bit as that 4th LB/5th DB role depending on game situation.

I do not believe that will be anything truly different for Chizik. He has essentially been in the nickel role since he's been at Furman.

What I did see last year, though, was Chizik continue develop into more of a Swiss Army knife defensive player. He's a major weapon because of how versatile he his, how well he can play both pass and run, and how instinctive he can be in his reads.

[HKB60]

Thinking some about the offense and TE use.

I think you have to go back 10+ seasons to find a real vertical threat at TE…Miller was an excellent player for us, but would do most of his damage with quick route running…

Ryan Miller’s 4.46 might disagree with this assessment…

Name: Ryan Miller
College: Furman Number: 82
Height: 6-1 Weight: 210
Position: WR Pos2: FB/H-back
Class/Draft Year: rSr/2023
40 Low: 4.46

Did we throw a lot of vertical to Miller? I honestly can't remember. I feel like he would take a short/medium pass and just out run everyone. Maybe that's what Jackal meant.

I feel like it's been at least since Schumpert since we'd see a TE "go deep." What was that 2017-18? Felt like maybe we saw a little more of it with Anderson and Schumpert. I don't remember Miller doing that often (although he certainly could have).

Sure we did some…not gonna search.

Find what you want in here. Some successful verts after 2 min mark. FUBeAR sees a lot of really deep Safeties that get run by anyway … after the catch.

But the key word is THREAT.

When your TE / Flex WR can easily outrun any LB, almost all, if not all, Safeties, and plenty of CB’s, the Defense has to respect that THREAT. Perhaps their respect of his speed led to so much being open underneath. And, there is the issue that you have to have 2 other things for vertical passes - time to throw and the right trigger-puller. Finally had the latter in 2022.

Ryan stayed wit the parents THE Jack Barton on his way down to Tampa Bay for training camp. He is going to be a slot receiver for the Bucs. No chance that he will line up as a TE!!

[The Jackal]

Saturday twitter scan.

Saw a photo of one of the S&C coaches wearing the black uniforms. He looks like he's wearing a standard white lid, but with a black sword striping, black facemask, and "FURMAN" front bumper.

Maybe nothing. Maybe a fusion between the standard white helmets and the purple matte lids used with the black uniform (which I liked)

Hearing a new helmet will be unveiled!

No inside knowledge, but I suppose we may see a white helmet with the logo/numbers like the purple helmet.

Hopefully they keep the purple helmet. I actually liked the black/purple look. The only thing I didn't like was the need to put "Paladins" on the back of the jersey instead of the front.

[AstroDin]

If there is a new helmet introduced this season - the timing makes me wonder with the passing of Coach Sheridan if we could see a throw-back silver helmet.

I think I'm right Furman wore silver helmets from 1973–1977.

[FUBeAR]

If there is a new helmet introduced this season - the timing makes me wonder with the passing of Coach Sheridan if we could see a throw-back silver helmet.

I think I'm right Furman wore silver helmets from 1973–1977.

Correct, but Coach Sheridan changed to white helmets for his 1st year in 1978 and Furman wore white helmets thru the end of his FU tenure in 1985.

This is the helmet NC State wore after he arrived there in 1986 thru his retirement and until Coach O’Cain’s final year there.

Their 1985 helmets were red

So…Furman could wear Purple, Silver, Camo, or Breast Cancer Pink helmets, but the only helmet-color that should be associated with Coach Sheridan is white…with a diamond.

[The Jackal]

If there is a new helmet introduced this season - the timing makes me wonder with the passing of Coach Sheridan if we could see a throw-back silver helmet.

I think I'm right Furman wore silver helmets from 1973–1977.

Correct according to the helmet project. http://www.nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/

I have mentioned this before, but seeing all the SoCon teams together, it's at least slightly annoying that all but two SoCon schools (WCU and Wofford) wear white helmets.

[The Jackal]

A preview of outside linebackers: https://furmanpaladins.com/news/2023/8/ ... spurs.aspx

Not sure we'll see much different here from last year.

Chizik and Miller will technically be labeled SPUR in the program, but I suspect a better title is "defender." Chizik will likely play that third/slot corner role. Miller will be in there (probably rotating with Achina) when we want to add a little more beef in the box. I imagine both players will get a few starts this year depending on the opponent.

At Bandit, it looks like the same three from last year - Clark, Maier, and Adebayo.

Clark has become a really solid player for us. At 6'3 250, Clark looks like a true standup outside linebacker that has good pass rush ability and is big enough to hold the edge out there.

[The Jackal]

I guess a "theme" in these preseason reports is depth.

For instance, it appears that Richards and Adebayo may be our third string guys at SPUR and Bandit. Both of those guys have logged over 20 games in their careers.

For comparison's sake, I went back and looked at the preseason report for 2019 - a year Furman went 8-4, finished second in the SoCon, and made the playoffs.

In 2019, our starting SPUR was Jordan Willis, an experienced player. Behind him was Dae'one Wilkins, then a redshirt freshman, who had played in four games as a true freshman. Behind him was Jalen Miller, a freshman, who had zero playing time.

At Bandit, Adrian Hope took over as starter. He had technically been a frequently used pass rush specialist as a backup the year prior, but was still listed at 6'1 218 (so, two inches shorter and 30 pounds lighter than Clark). Dillon Vann was his backup, who had played on offense the year before at TE. Behind him was Davonta Porter, who ended up playing in only two games that season.

So, panning out, on a playoff team four years ago, Furman had a fairly experienced pair of starters at those positions, but behind that was a bunch of question marks. Talented players, sure, but little to no experience. This season, Furman's third string guys have logged more snaps than a lot of our starters had a few seasons back.

['Din Djarin]

If there is a new helmet introduced this season - the timing makes me wonder with the passing of Coach Sheridan if we could see a throw-back silver helmet.

I think I'm right Furman wore silver helmets from 1973–1977.

I've wanted to see a silver Furman helmet for a while. Hoping this happens now.