Know Your Opponent: A Well Rested, But Desperate Georgia Southern Team Brings the Triple Option to Bloomington
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Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)
Head Coach: Tyson Summers 2nd Year at Georgia Southern
Overall: 5-9 (.357) 2nd Year
At GSU 5-9 (4-4)
Bowl Appearances at GSU: 0
2017 Record: 0-2 Last Game: Lost 22-12 to New Hampshire
Bowl Appearances Since 2000: 1 (1-0)
Mascot: GUS the Eagle
Colors: Blue and White
Outfitter: adidas
National Titles: 6 at the FCS level
Conference Titles: 11
Heisman Winners: 0
Talking Points
1.Lost Identity
Georgia Southern Football has a great tradition. They have won six national titles at the FCS level, are known for a potent triple-option and are the last team from the state of Georgia to know off the Florida Gators. However, the Eagles have lost their way under second-year head man Tyson Summers.
Summers took over the Eagles in 2016 after Willie Fritz left for Tulane. Fritz ran the option to perfection leading the Eagles to back-to-back nine win seasons after joining the FBS level including a Sun Belt title in ’14 and a bowl win over Bowling Green in ’15. Things were supposed to be good at the FBS level for Georgia Southern and the transition looked seamless, but Summers changed the offense in 2016 from a traditional triple option attack to a “gun-option” where they would pass more. It didn’t work so well as the Eagles stumbled to a 5-7 season and lost to rival Georgia State.
Summers changed something that was near and dear to the hearts of GSU fans and fell flat on his face. Now his team is 0-2 and really struggling with a freshman quarterback and he is on the hot seat as they continue to search for an offensive identity beyond just saying it’s a “gun-option”.
2. Well Rested and Desperate
Wounded animals are dangerous and teams coming off an open week usually have some tricks up their sleeve. Combine the two and IU is going to face a team that is desperate for a win and could run a lot of trick plays. Preparing for the option is difficult enough, especially when there is just two games on film, but Georgia Southern is going to throw a few wrinkles in to spark an offense that has been in a coma in 2017.
3. One Offensive Touchdown in First Two Games
Georgia Southern is ranked 128th out of 130 FBS teams in scoring averaging just 9.5 points per game. The Eagles have managed just one offensive touchdown in the first two games, a fourth quarter score against New Hampshire when the Eagles were trailing 22-5. As expected with option teams, the Eagles are at the bottom of the FBS pile in pass yards per game (50.5). However, their rushing attack is a very pedestrian 84th nationally (151.5 YPG). Other option teams, Georgia Tech, Army, Air Force and Navy are all in the top 10 in rushing yards per game nationally. This is an offense in flux and IU should be able to tee off on it on defense.
4. An Aggressive Defense Will Try and Rattle Lagow and Ramsey
While Georgia Southern’s offense has been inept at best, the defense has been pretty decent, especially in creating havoc behind the line of scrimmage. They rank 33rd nationally with 7.5 tackles for loss per game and 48th in sacks per game with 2.5. They also have 13 quarterback hurries.\
The defense is led by linemen Logan Hunt (4 TFLs) and Ty Phillips (3 TFLs) and a pair of linebackers Todd Bradley (2.5 TFLs) and Chris DeLaRosa (2 TFL)s. They will try and put pressure of IU’s quarterbacks. The Hoosiers have given up nine sacks this season, Ramsey has been sacked three times and Lagow has been dropped six, so the offensive line will have to bring their ‘A’ game and prove they can keep the quarterbacks clean.