The No. 1 Blazer football team heads into their bye week 2-0 with one dominating win and a close scare under its belt. The week off couldn’t come at a better time for Valdosta State, whose close call with No. 20 Newberry last weekend brings up needs that will be addressed, as they prepare for Southern Arkansas on Sept. 13th.
Without All American Cedric Jones, Michigan State transfer TJ Williams, Citrus College transfer DeMarcus Flanagan and cornerback Chris Grant who is likely out for the year, the Blazers pulled off a squeaker in South Carolina.
The defense was dominant. Newberry’s receivers were all taller than 6′2”, but were shut down by the under 6 feet tall VSU defensive backs. The linebackers were great in blitz packages and in coverage, and the defensive line controlled the line of scrimmage.
Offensively the Blazers had some struggles. Newberry’s defense filled with an All-American corner in Temarcus Thompson and a couple all conference players, played VSU tight.
Realistically, they should have. Newberry has been preparing for the defending national champions since camp opened; the Blazers had a week. If Newberry didn’t play VSU tight, there would be a problem.
The passing game last week was much more successful with Chris Hart taking the snaps. I don’t think it’s time to completely write of Tucker Pruitt yet. I believe the two will continue to share drives, but I expect Pruitt to be used mainly in the red zone.
With past successful Blazer teams, offensive line has been the strong point. It seemed this past week the offensive line didn’t give the quarterbacks enough time to throw against the Newberry blitz, and when they did receivers couldn’t get open.
This week, the Blazers should figure things out and get their timing down. That offensive line doesn’t have a lot of known depth. Outside of the starters we don’t know what we are getting. There is a ton of ability there, and the backups could prove to be huge assets, but their learning curves are going to need to be short.
Special teams has always been a strong point for VSU. This year there have been a lot of late substitutions, players out of position and lackadaisical movement on returns. In their defense, VSU did lose Maurice Leggett, Shawn Harris and Travis Taylor, big parts of the unit for multiple seasons, to graduation. First year defensive backs and special teams coach Maurice Linquist should get things figured out in this off week. Just ask North Alabama how much special teams can impact a game. Without special teams, the Lions may have been playing at home last Dec. 15, not the Blazers. The bye week comes just before Gulf South Conference play begins, which is perfect timing. Young freshman and transfers getting acclimated to David Dean’s system now have two games under their belt.
In the preseason, skills being taught don’t always stick with the new surroundings and distractions of the beginning of the season. Now with experience and knowing what is needed of them, making the right adjustments can give the Blazers the momentum needed to end near the top at the end of Gulf South Conference play.
Blazers head into bye week 2-0
