Georgia Southern: On Paper (Part 3)

SPECIAL TEAMS

• The Eagles lead the conference in kickoff return average with 25.3.
• And they only average 7.1 yards per punt return. <antijinx>They have no special teams touchdowns.</antijinx>
• The kicker – as GSU fans have pointed out in the forum – is their kicker. While 45-for-48 isn’t a terrible number (94%), the 7-for-17 (41%) on field goals is just that. Even the “easy” ones haven’t been easy for Alex Hanks (Fr.) who is 4-for-8 inside 30 yards. Both Hanks and Ryan Nowicki (RFr.) have struggled in their first seasons.
• Missed field goals were the difference in their losses to The Citadel (0-for-2) and App State (0-for-3). GSU has had four field goals blocked.
• Luke Cherry has been the punter (37 per) and kickoff specialist (8 touchbacks).

OTHER

• Turnover Margin // GSU is -4. UCA is +6.
  • The Eagles have fumbled 16 times on the year. Considering they run it so often, that’s probably not a lot compared to the Bears 10 fumbles.
• Red Zone Offense // GSU has 30 TD in 46 trips. UCA is allowing 23 touchdowns in 39 trips.
• Red Zone Defense // GSU has allowed teams to score a SoCon worst 86.1% of the time. UCA has scored 87.5% of their opportunities and has 29 TD in 40 trips.
• Time of Possession // GSU is averaging about what you’d expect at 32:50. Which might sound like a lot (and it kinda is), but Sam Houston is actually averaging 33:53!
• 3rd-Down Conversions // GSU is converting on 44.4%. UCA is allowing just 31.6%.
• Opponents 3rd Down Conversions // GSU is holding teams to 38.3%. UCA is converting at 42.4%.
• 4th-Down Conversions // Surprisingly (to me at least), GSU has only attempted 16 fourth downs and has been successful on 62.5%. UCA is an amazing 15-of-17 (88.2%).
• Penalties // GSU has been penalized 64 times for 55.4 ypg. UCA is at 80 for 66.1.

Georgia Southern: On Paper (Part 2)

DEFENSE

• John Stevenson (Sr./5-11/202) seems to be their version of Seth Allison. An undersized outside linebacker that just makes tackles. (Seth’s numbers are down from 2011, but that might have as much to do with Justin Heard’s increased role as anything.) The difference is that Stevenson was sparsely used before this season where he leads the team with 94 tackles.
• Two more seniors are right behind Stevenson. Safeties JJ Wilcox (6-0/215) and Darius Eubanks (6-2/220) have 72 and 57 tackles and one interception each. Those are some pretty big FCS safeties.
• Their big man in the middle of the line is NFL-prospect Brent Russell (Sr./6-2/300). Russell has 35 tackles, 7.5 for loss, and 3.5 sacks. He’s also back from a suspension.
• From what seems to be the UCA defensive end recruiting book, two small (presumable) quick guys are leading the team in sacks. Javon Mention (6-2/243) has 6.5, and Dion DuBose (6-1/235) has 3.5.
• In a conference that has three teams averaging 300+ per game on the ground and only two with 210+ through the air, it makes sense that the Eagles only have seven interceptions on the season. But it’s those two teams that should give Bear fans some hope offensively.
  • Elon averaged 296/game. GSU kicked the game-winning field goal with 3:40 left in that one. They gave up 302 yards passing and a total of 359. Two of those seven interceptions came in this one. Elon finished just 1-7 in the SoCon this season.
  • Appalachian State visited Statesboro earlier this month and left with a 31-28 win. It was an offensive battle in the first half as the teams combined for 44 points. The defenses took over in the second half and both teams were held to a touchdown each. App threw for 383 yards and ran for another 70. I’m not trying to compare us to the Mountaineers exactly, but statistically we’re a bit similar. Both teams are about 52:48 pass:run. App has been a bit more effective at both in the averages.
  • Point is, we may be able to put up some yards through the air. The receiver position is one I would put up against most teams in the country. And this might be a defense that those guys can take advantage of. The Eagles ranked 7th (of 9) in the SoCon for pass defense.
• They have totaled 26 sacks on the season. For comparison purposes, we’re second in the SLC with 30.
• A number that I’m always thrown off by when comparing with the Bears is tackles for loss. GSU has 54. UCA has 84. I don’t have to explain how important any tackles for loss would be for our own defense against a team that’s trying to pound it down the field.