Trent Miles arrived at Georgia State promising a tough, physical football team that would feature a power running game, just like he used at Indiana State.
Six losses into the season and facing Texas State (3-3, 0-2 Sun Belt) on Saturday, the Panthers (0-6, 0-1) are tougher, but the “power” in the power running game has been turned off.
Twice the Panthers have set new program lows for rushing yards in a game. They didn’t set a new low in last week’s loss to Troy, but their 52 yards marked the third time this season the team has failed to rush for at least 75 in a game.
The attack has been blunted by defections and injuries on the offensive line, inconsistent blocking on the perimeter and a late decision to switch the primary back.
“We’re not running the ball very well,” Miles said Monday on his radio show.
The Panthers need to run well because Miles reasons that doing so keeps the clock running, which will shorten games and improve his team’s chances at earning a win.
The inability to run well last week resulted in the Trojans running 102 plays on offense. By the end of the game, Georgia State’s defense tired, and the Trojans pulled out a 35-28 win.
“We are kind of in a situation where I think the scheme is good,” Miles said. “I know they are trying really hard. We need to finish blocks better and find a way to pull together to create some space and some lanes.”
The Panthers have averaged 2.8 yards per carry this season. The offensive line was shuffled after two starters left after the second game. Injuries are also beginning to mount with Cade Yates, the second-string center who was forced to start after a player left, expected to miss this game. Guard Tim Wynn will try to play, but he also is injured, as is tackle Ulrick John. Both were said to be questionable to play earlier this week.
“We are banged up up front,” Miles said. “Those kids are battling, though.”
Behind them, the team has tried different backs, but the results have been mostly the same, bottoming out first with 30 yards in the 42-14 loss to Chattanooga followed by 15 yards in the 45-3 loss to No. 1 Alabama.
Travis Evans, the team’s leading rusher with 237 yards, has averaged 47.4 yards per game. Evans rushed for a 65-yard touchdown against West Virginia, but it’s his only rushing touchdown this season.
Evans started the season as the No. 2 back behind Gerald Howse, who went through August as the featured back. However, he has rarely played after rushing for 29 yards on 14 carries in the season-opening loss to Samford. Miles initially said that Howse had an ankle injury and then the coaches switched him to fullback, where the team is thin. He hasn’t carried the ball since the first game.
The coaches have tried various tactics to get the running game going, including using wide receiver Kelton Hill as quarterback for some read-option plays, as well as using wide receiver Albert Wilson as a running back.
Nothing has worked with consistency.
The team turned to what offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski calls “long handoffs” with different types of screens against Troy. Those plays worked when they were executed well. Twice the Panthers had chances to score touchdowns on screens, only to have the receiver tackled by the last man a few yards from the end zone.
Those short passes likely will be used the rest of the season, as well as an “up-tempo” package designed to give the offense an advantage in personnel. It was also used against Troy with some success. Miles said the power can’t be turned on until the players get stronger and the roster can be strengthened with another signing class.
“We’d love nothing more than to run power down your throat, but that’s not where we’re at,” Miles said. “I learned a long time ago that you better try to utilize the talents that you have rather than make them fit something they can’t do.”
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