GEORGIA STATE KEYS TO THE SEASON
Getting off to a good start. The Panthers have won one game in the past two seasons and 10 in their first four.
How much of that lack of success can be traced to a group of seniors that rarely experienced what it felt like to win during their four seasons, and to learn the process it takes to make it happen, can’t be quantified.
The team put itself in position several times last season to earn a win, only to throw away those opportunities with missed tackles, dropped passes, turnovers and other mental mistakes.
But those seniors are now gone, and this year’s schedule sets up nicely — with luck and some application of past lessons — to start 3-0.
One win would be a huge confidence boost for a program.
Three could be a massive shift in fortunes for a program that will feature very few seniors in the two-deep depth chart.
Playing with belief will affect everything from the speed of the players to the play-calling to the attendance.
The gelling of the offense. What to do when the likely starter at quarterback isn't proven, the offensive line may feature as few as three and as many as four new starters, the running backs are mostly inexperienced and the best pass-catchers are sophomores?
That is the question that coach Trent Miles and offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski must solve. The answer may be as simple as not worrying about it and going full-steam ahead.
Nick Arbuckle, the likely starter at quarterback, was prolific in junior college before signing with the Panthers as part of the Class of 2014. The line added beef and experience with three more junior-college players: Michael Ivory, Steve Wolgamott and Taylor Evans. That trio, along with freshman Alex Stoehr, may also bring an added level of toughness that will help the running backs, which should be a by-committee group that includes Jonathan Jean-Bart (71 carries, 269 yards), Kyler Neal (24 carries, 96 touchdowns) and Gerald Howse (14 carries, 29 yards), each of whom carried the ball some last season, even if none were particularly effective.
The wide receivers and tight ends arguably are the most talented of the position groups on offense. Robert Davis (44 catches, 711 yards), Keith Rucker (14 catches, 232 yards) and Joel Ruiz have the potential to be all-conference performers … if the entire offense develops chemistry and efficiency.
The defense gets tough up the middle. Opponents had few problems running or passing against Georgia State's defense last season. The team ranked last in the Sun Belt in scoring defense (36.7 points per game), rushing defense (221.2 yards per game), and sacks (11) and ranked among the bottom of the conference's eight teams in several other categories.
The good news is the team played lots of freshmen who gained experience, and then got bigger, faster and stronger during the offseason.
The first thing the defense must work on is becoming more effective against runs, particularly up the middle in what was usually a cavernous spot last season. Opponents rushed for 4.9 yards per carry, a mark that must be reduced if the Panthers hope to force teams into low-percentage third-and-long situations.
Jalen Lawrence, one of the freshmen who played a lot last season, will be one of those manning the middle and flanked by Shawayne Lawrence and Carnell Hopson, among others. Jalen Lawrence will be supported at linebacker by Joe Peterson and converted fullback Sean Jeppesen in what could be two deep groups up front.
The play of the safeties last season was, like the rest of the defense, not particularly effective. Two new starters, with one likely being Tarris Batiste, should help that group improve its plays, which will help the run defense.
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