Game Preview: Liberty – Rivals: Football & Basketball Recruiting

It’s hard to believe, but we’re two-thirds of the way through the college football season and there’s more to come as the Liberty Flames come to Floyd Stadium to take on the Blue Raiders.

SCOUTING REPORT

The Flames are an extremely good team led by Jamey Chadwell. They feature a 30 PPG scoring offense led by All-CUSA quarterback Kaidon Salter and running back Quinton Cooley. The two have been fantastic again this season, combining for 2,497 yards and 20 touchdowns. Although the receiving core isn’t what it was last year, they still have a solid WR1 in Treon Sibley who is a major threat with an average YPC of 18.9.

Defensively, they were nothing special, forcing five turnovers and 12 sacks, which is tied for last in CUSA. However, they represent a very solid defense and don’t allow much distance. If you had to find a single fault with this team it would be penalties, as they are an extremely punishing team, averaging almost nine penalties per game.

On paper, Liberty is superior in everything, but since it’s at home and MTSU has some momentum, it might be closer than some think.

FIVE KEYS FOR MTSU

· Get ​​a lead and don’t let Liberty get out of the tackles

This has been a problem for the Blue Raider defense all season, they don’t consistently set the lead and they get burned when an athletic ball carrier gets outside into the open. When facing fast runners like Cooley and Salter, they must do their best to stay in the pocket and limit explosive plays.

· Get ​​the ball to your playmakers

It’s not an exaggeration to say that MTSU has the best tight end and wide receiver in CUSA. Combine that with Nick Vattiato as your signal-caller and you can do some damage to a team that has had a flawed secondary at times this season.

Over the last month, the Blue Raiders have managed to get the ball to these receivers nearly 20 times per game. It would take a lot to beat the Flames, but if they both got 100 yards each, it might be possible.

· Let Liberty throw the football

No disrespect to Salter, but you want him to force him into temporary situations out of necessity. He wasn’t very accurate when throwing the ball, completing 59.2% of his passes with a QBR of 49.5. If he throws it about 20 times per game and the running game is working, then that’s a bad sign for this MTSU defense. But when it gets to the point where he has to throw it around excessively, then you have Liberty right where you want her.

He forces a lot of passes if you force him to throw them regularly, so that’s exactly what you want him to do.

· Go ahead and chew on the clock

Liberty has control of the ball for approximately 32 minutes per game, the longest time in CUSA. I think you have to take a page from them and do the same thing, which is keep their 30 PPG scoring offense off the court. MTSU might be able to surprise people on defense, but to help them, you’ll have to go for long offenses to give your D a break and keep Liberty’s best players on the sidelines.

· Force a turnover or two

Most of the time, Liberty doesn’t turn the ball over often, but in their two losses they turned it over at least once. If MTSU can force an interception or a fumble to get into Liberty’s head, they have a distinct advantage.

IMPACT PLAYERS

Attack: Holden Willis, Omari Kelly

Willis and Kelly are arguably the best in CUSA at their positions and have given opposing defenses nightmares when trying to stop them. Liberty’s secondary has given up some big plays in the air, but has yet to make an impact against any serious receivers they will face this Saturday.

If MTSU can get these two the ball consistently, they could make some noise on offense.

Defense: Parker Hughes, Shakai Woods

The Flames have a balanced offense, but they really hurt you on the ground, which is why the entire front line has to do their job, but especially Shakai Woods and Parker Hughes. It will be extremely important for the duo to continue what they have been doing all year and that is stopping the run.

Hughes is an excellent offensive tackler and Woods has consistently pushed into the backfield or filled gaps. With a downhill runner like Cooley, MTSU must control the inside line and set the edge to contain Salter.