Georgia State has had two “surprisingly” good weeks of practice following its three-game losing streak, according to coach Bill Curry.
“What we’ve done to ourselves over these three weeks is not easy to recover from, and we’ve recovered well,” he said. “Of course, it doesn’t count for anything unless it happens on the field.”
The Panthers will host Murray State at the Georgia Dome on Saturday with a chance to win their second game this season and start what the players hope will be a seven-game win streak.
The Panthers have been outscored 133-38 during the losing streak. Predictably, the team has worked on discipline and improving its run defense and running game in an effort to stop the skid. Neither has been stellar this season.
The run defense has allowed 209.8 yards per game. The rushing game has averaged 113.8. The two are intertwined. Because the run defense can’t consistently create three-and-out situations, the team falls behind and passes more. And because the offense goes three-and-out too frequently, it puts the defense in tough situations.
The Panthers have worked on things as simple as how to slow an opponent when running by beside him so that the player is not penalized for blocking in the back. The Panthers have been penalized 29 times for 256 yards this season, with numerous penalties resulting from a lack of discipline and not because of too much aggression.
The defense, in particular, has taken the losing streak to heart and has re-committed itself to trying to save the season.
“We had a lot of opportunities to really think about what this season has meant to us and what we want to get,” linebacker Mike Hall said. “This isn’t something we are going to lie down and take.”
Players return
The Panthers will be bolstered by the return of several players who have missed all or parts of some of the past few games.
Center Ben Jacoby (knee), injured during the loss to Old Dominion, will return. Safety Brandon Jones (undisclosed), who has missed the past two games, is healthy. Wide receiver Jordan Giles and tackle Clyde Yandell should be back, as should running back Donald Russell (knee), who missed the Houston game after suffering a minor injury in practice. Wide receiver Albert Wilson (hamstring), the team’s fastest player, is doubtful.
Bo Schlechter may punt for the first time since the season-opening win against Clark Atlanta. He has played quarterback, but hasn’t been able to punt because of a foot injury.
QB shuffle
Drew Little and Kelton Hill will split time at quarterback, but Curry said no decision has been made regarding how much either will play. He said that will depend upon situations.
They split most of the snaps in GSU’s loss to Houston. That was the most playing time either had received this season. Schlechter started and played most of the first three games. He has received some snaps in practice this week, according to Curry.
After an outstanding 2010 season in which he passed for more than 2,100 yards with 18 touchdowns, Little is off to a slower start in 2011. He has passed for 240 yards and has more interceptions (4) than touchdowns (0).
Making his season debut, Hill passed for 16 yards and rushed for 33 in limited duty. He missed most of last week’s practices because of flu-like symptoms, but returned this week. Curry said Hill has done well in practice.
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