Midseason + 1 Musings: QBs and RBs

Still another 8 days until the Golden Panthers next game, so what better time to look back at the first half of the season (6 games) + 1 game.

Seven games into the season, the Golden Panthers are 3-4 and in contention for the Sun Belt title with a 2-1 record (not likely you seriously envisioned that back in August).

Just for kicks, we'll judge each position's performance thus far by the number of Panther Paws handed out -- sort of like the GPP's helmet stickers -- 5 Paws to 1 Paw with 5 being the most Paws a position can get.

**(FIU coaches and FIU marketing gurus: feel free to use the Panther Paw/helmet sticker idea as you like. No royalties required for the GPP).

We'll start out with the quarterbacks and running backs and then go through the rest of the team in the next three blogs.

QUARTERBACKS  

After a slow start to the starting quarterback situation, it looks like FIU has settled whatever questions or worries it had at QB to start the season. Paul McCall (left) has done a nice job taking over the offense and guiding the Golden Panthers in what is no longer a new spread offense since these guys have been with this type of O since spring ball.

Like QBs are required in the spread, we've seen that PM can move when he has to and is not afraid to take on tacklers. However, he may want to be a bit more wary, the other day in practice he took on 300-pound DT Andre Pound (appropriate last name for a DT) and it looked like AP got the best of that matchup.

Since the INT against South Florida, PM has been on a roll throwing 8 TDs vs. 2 INTs and has shown the arm to throw the deep ball, which with the receivers FIU has can be a very easy way of getting 6 quickly.

Wayne Younger has seen limited play thus far, but provides FIU a dependable backup, who can make plays with his feet. Seeing WY throw in practice, it seems his arm has gotten stronger since breaking his collarbone last year.

It's looking like a redshirt season for Colt Anderson and that may not be a bad idea. CA has all the athletic ability to be the future No. 1 QB on this team. Maybe a year learning La Pierna's spread will benefit him and FIU down the road. Darold Hughes might have the strongest arm of all the FIU QBs as he's shown running the scout team O.

RUNNING BACKS

FIU has yet to unearth that workhorse running back that can take 20-25 carries a game and get the Golden Panthers 125-150 yards on the ground. Eventually that will come.

Until then, Julian Reams (below, right), A'mod Ned and Daunte Owens have done a decent job when they've had the room to run.

JR showed he might be that back with his performance vs. Toledo. AN had some breakaway runs last season, but we've yet to see them this season. DO had a good debut against Troy last week, but like MC said this week in practice, let's see it consistently. We might see more of DO the rest of this season.

Darriet Perry is looking like a redshirt despite working with the 2nd team in practice most of this season. DP owns a bunch of high school rushing records so it will be interesting to see what he can do after an FIU off-season conditioning program.

It hurt the Golden Panthers to lose Trenard Turner to a knee injury for the season. TT seemed to coming on last season.

We'll take a look at the receivers, tight ends and the O-line on the next post.

Comments

[Pete Pelegrin]

fiufan751: Thanks for the baseball blog - when do you anticipate talking to TT and getting his thoughts on this year's team?
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Probably at some point after the football season.

[Pete Pelegrin]

Quijote: Pete, I'm trying to leave a comment but the "anti spam filter" isn't allowing me to do so.
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The GPP was getting some features "categories" added today. So maybe that had to do with it.

Try leaving a comment now.

[Pete Pelegrin]

FIUJM: Pete, thanks for baseball blog yesterday. Is there any walk-ons that played yesterday?
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The guys that played yesterday were all TT recruits or DP recruits...But I'm sure we'll see some walk-ons on TT's team.

[CJ]

no FIUJM not a teacher although there was a semester i thought i would try it... didnt work out.. lil kids are horrible now and days

[CJ]

hey pete.. i have to disagree w/ you on the RB paws.. i know im goin to sound like a downer.. but maybe it should have been 1 1/2 paws.. besides a few "flashes" it really hasnt been anything special.. while running a spread your suppose to be able to have a thinner D to run on.. and they are averaging what.. 2.3yd/carry (not sure on the #) and 50-60 yds a game.. thats tough..

[hay]

Do we even have helmet stickers? That paw logo isn't a bad choice for a sticker if we don't. Kind of distinct from the normal paw print one.

[hay]

Do we even have helmet stickers? That paw logo isn't a bad choice for a sticker if we don't. Kind of distinct from the normal paw print one.

[FIUdiehardfan]

Hey Pete great idea with the panther paws, I have to say I agree with both the QB and RB ratings although i might have given the QB maybe 3 1/2. You should do this every two games or something, its a really good way of seeing how the team is improving.

[SouthPaw]

I like Panther eyes for helmet stickers better than the claw.

It looks like the coaches are going pretty hard after a few RB's in this year's recruiting class. I think after OL, RB is the area we need to hit the hardest. We'll need some rangy LB's as well since Buzzsaw will be a senior next year.

Pete, what's the story with Troy Dannehower? There were rumors that he left the team.

[SouthPaw]

I like Panther eyes for helmet stickers better than the claw.

It looks like the coaches are going pretty hard after a few RB's in this year's recruiting class. I think after OL, RB is the area we need to hit the hardest. We'll need some rangy LB's as well since Buzzsaw will be a senior next year.

Pete, what's the story with Troy Dannehower? There were rumors that he left the team.

[SouthPaw]

I like Panther eyes better than the claw for helmet stickers.

Looks like the coaches are going after RB's pretty hard in this year's recruiting class. I think after OL, RB is the area we need to hit the hardest in recruiting (although I think Perry will be special). And we also need a few more rangy, hard hitting LB's since Buzzsaw will be a senior next year.

Pete, what's the status of Troy Dannehower? There were rumors he left the team.

[Pete Pelegrin]

SouthPaw: Pete, what's the status of Troy Dannehower?
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Asked MC, the other day and he said TD is having academic issues.

[Shelley]

This is a test.