Five days until the next Golden Panthers game at ULL. We're halfway through our midseason look at FIU. Let's shift on over to defense, which for most of this season has been the Golden Panthers strength.
Been told by MH IT the posting comments system on the GPP has been fixed so go ahead and let the comments rip. On to the D.
DEFENSIVE LINE
The FIU D front seven has done a pretty good job thus far, but there is one major component missing from the D-line as well as the LBs: a consistent pass rush.
Yes, we have mentioned this before on the GPP this season, but too many times QBs are sitting back 
there making themselves a sandwich while waiting for a receiver to get open. Spoke to MC about this and he thinks the FIU pass rushers are getting closer each game, but also some of the pass rushers need another off-season in the weight room.
It's not a good sign when you have a defensive back along with a defensive lineman leading the team in sacks. DB Robert Mitchell and DE Quentin Newman (left) each have 2 sacks to lead the Golden Panthers.
Newman has been among the more pleasant surprises this season on the D-Line leading FIU with 7.5 tackles for loss. Jarvis Penerton, Daniel Chacreton and Armond Willis have also made some plays. Once veterans like Jonas Murrell and Reggie Jones, who hurt his foot last week in practice, get going we might see more of a push toward the QB.
We've seen that freshmen Jonathan Jackson (right) and Kambriel Willis have the moves, but have yet
to gain the size to allow them to terrorize the QB. Fellow frosh James Jones has probably had the better season of the trio thus far. Jones seems to have more size right now. In limited duty, frosh walk-on Jonathan Nieves has had an impact. FIU has missed Cody Pellicer this season. A redshirt and a 3rd season in Rod Moore's offseason program will pay dividends for CP and FIU.
LINEBACKERS
Talk of FIU LBs starts again with El Oso. Once again, EO is leading the Golden Panthers in tackles with 59. Along with safety Jeremiah Weatherspoon, EO may be the most punishing FIU tackler.
Michael Dominguez is having another solid season with 38 tackles and a team-leading 2 fumble 
recoveries. Tyler Clawson (left) has also had a good season not only at LB, but on special teams as well.
Little Canada has made plays for the second consecutive season, but thought we'd see more of him after his dominating performance at Arkansas State last season.
Two LBs I think are going to have solid careers at FIU before they are done are sophomore Jarvis Wilson (below, right) and freshman Franklin Brown, who also sees double duty in the secondary at times. JW is a machine on special teams and with a little more size can be a pass rushing force on D. FB is just a football player, if you know what I mean when I say that. He has a nose for the football and the ballcarrier.
Here's one name to keep in mind for spring ball: Winston Fraser. The D is missing him this season with a hand injury just like Pellicer. WF 1 of the Booker T. 4 at FIU will make a huge splash next season when he's healthy.
On the road to Lakeland on Tuesday morning for a state golf tournament I have to cover, but will wrap up our midseason look at your Golden Panthers in Lakeland with the secondary and special teams. Be back in Miami on Thursday for FIU's practice and to catch a flight to Lafayette on Friday morning.
From here on out, all 5 remaining games will be huge for FIU if it plans on making its 1st bowl game. Four of those five are home games (might as well consider Dolphin Stadium against Florida Atlantic a home game) What are your thoughts on the Golden Panthers last road game of the season on Saturday:
Pete, who are the Booker T 4?
Posted by: FIUFloridaPower&Light | October 27, 2008 at 09:27 PM
Jonathan Jackson, Kambriel Willis, Franklin Brown, and Winston Frase played for Booker T. Washington HS in Miami last season when they became State Champs. The four players are defensive players as well.
Posted by: FIU Fanatic | October 28, 2008 at 12:45 AM
With all due respect, Reggie Jones and Jonas Murrell should have stepped up long ago. I know Jones was injured earlier in the year, but these guys only have a few games left in their careers to make a big time impact. Let's hope they can go out in style.
Posted by: SouthPaw | October 28, 2008 at 08:31 AM
Pete,
ULL 32 FIU 24
Heres to being worng...
Posted by: Gold | October 28, 2008 at 05:27 PM
FIU 21
ULL 20
Posted by: FIUfantastic | October 28, 2008 at 07:44 PM
ULL 34 FIU 31
Hope it's FIU the one winning though. BTW, I'm planning to go to Cajun Field this weekend....I'm very excited!!
Go FIU!!!
Posted by: FIU Fanatic | October 28, 2008 at 11:12 PM
ULL 42
FIU 17
Posted by: MIA/NY Josh | October 29, 2008 at 08:41 AM
FIU 27 ULL 24
Good Luck Panthers !!!
Posted by: FIUBlueandGold | October 29, 2008 at 09:17 AM
ULL 44
FIU 13
Posted by: CrazyCane | October 29, 2008 at 09:45 AM
as much as i want to go w/ FIU this round.. im still feeling the burn agaisnt goin against my gut at troy.. ULL has one of the top rushing games in college ball.. FIU has had already at least 2 backs go over 120 (IOWA and USF... although im not sure the acutal #s) so i cant go w/ FIU in this one.. i say FIU keeps it close but in the end loses 31-24.. but like gold said... here's to being wrong
Posted by: CJ | October 29, 2008 at 11:30 AM
I think it will be close actually, but FIU will come up short....
ULL 35
FIU 24
Posted by: TheU24/7 | October 29, 2008 at 02:32 PM
FIU 37
ULL 10
A very convincing win that will put us back in the hunt for the 'Belt. We need Troy to lose though damn they're good.
Posted by: Quijote | October 29, 2008 at 04:25 PM
Haven't yet decided on a score for this game. But I think FIU's going to lose this one. I'm going to have to see this team actually shut a mobile QB down before I predict they will do so. I know Fenroy's the big gun to worry about, but historically it's the mobile QB's who kill us. That's one thing Rickey Bustle's always had at ULL, first with Babb and now with Desormeaux. It's also a big reason why we usually lose to them. And, by the way, they've played well this season. This will be just as tough as Troy. It's winnable, though. I just don't see it happening.
On a hoops note... Pete, is Nsangou still on the team? I was looking at the roster for this season and I didn't see him on there, and I hadn't heard of him leaving. Can you inform on this one? Also, any new word on all the injuries, especially to Galindo?
Posted by: Clawing Cancer | October 29, 2008 at 08:08 PM