Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Raiders aim to get back to winning ways
11/14/2016 4:00:00 PM | Football
Face much improved Charlotte Saturday
Following a 42-17 loss at the hands of Marshall, Middle Tennessee hits the road for the last time this regular season on Saturday.
The Blue Raiders (6-4, 3-3) travel to Charlotte (4-6, 3-3) to take on a 49ers team looking to tie its school record in wins in the brief four-year history of the football program.
"More so this week than ever, I think it's about us," MT head coach Rick Stockstill said. "It's about us improving and correcting the mistakes we made last week.
"Charlotte is a good football team. They're much improved from last year. They've got four wins with two games left and are fighting to get their sixth win."
In its second season in Conference USA, Charlotte got its first conference win on Oct. 9 against Florida Atlantic and is hoping for its first home conference win on Saturday.
The 49ers present a challenge to Middle Tennessee most notably in the rushing game. They currently lead Conference USA in rushing offense as a team behind running backs Kalif Phillips (828 rushing yards) and Robert Washington (444 rushing yards). Quarterback Hasaan Klugh has also shown a running ability with 390 yards on the ground.
In order to stop Charlotte's attack, the Blue Raiders will try to improve on their rush defense. They've given up more than 200 yards rushing to their last four opponents.
"We have to be more consistent," junior linebacker DJ Sanders said. "We have to play the read option. We just have to have our eyes in the right place, because they are going to give it to the running back and the quarterback is going to pull it some."
Stockstill said his defense in particular has to do a better job starting this week of making tackles.
"We have to tackle better, and usually tackling comes down to the fundamentals," he said. "You have to be fundamentally sound and in great position when you make a tackle. We have to get some swagger, we have to get some juice back … we're a little tentative, it looks like to me, right now."
Offensively, Middle Tennessee will be focusing on taking care of the football. Charlotte has three more interceptions (14) this season than the next-best CUSA team, and the 49ers have forced opponents into 20 total turnovers, which ranks second in the conference.
Before redshirt sophomore quarterback Brent Stockstill was lost for the regular season with a broken collarbone against UTSA, the Blue Raiders had turned the ball over just eight times in eight games. But in their last seven quarters, the Raiders have eight turnovers (five interceptions, three fumbles).
"I said it going in, you have to protect the football," Stockstill said. "Interceptions are part of the game, they happen, but we just can't force balls in there and think we're going to get something when nothing is there. The big thing is doing what you're coached to do and play within the system and don't force things."
Despite an offense that has struggled taking care of the ball and a new quarterback throwing it, redshirt sophomore wide receiver Richie James hasn't slowed down his school record-setting pace.
Thanks to a MT record six-straight games of more than 100 receiving yards, James is just 93 yards shy of breaking his own single-season school record of 1,346 set last year. He's also 23 catches shy of his MTSU record 108 single-season receptions.
"He didn't have any drops Saturday, which was the first time in a couple of games," Stockstill said. "He was very consistent and he makes plays – he's a good player. As limited as we are at certain positions now, we have to try to find ways to get the ball in his hands as much as we can."
With Charlotte playing for a potential shot at a school wins record and trying for its first-ever home conference win, the Blue Raiders know the game won't be like the 73-14 drumming MTSU put on last year.
The Raiders are preparing for a fight, and they are ready to get back to their winning ways after two-straight defeats.
"We don't want the taste of defeat," Sanders said. "We're tired of losing and we want to win again, so we're really focused right now. We want to have a celebrating locker room."
The Blue Raiders (6-4, 3-3) travel to Charlotte (4-6, 3-3) to take on a 49ers team looking to tie its school record in wins in the brief four-year history of the football program.
"More so this week than ever, I think it's about us," MT head coach Rick Stockstill said. "It's about us improving and correcting the mistakes we made last week.
"Charlotte is a good football team. They're much improved from last year. They've got four wins with two games left and are fighting to get their sixth win."
In its second season in Conference USA, Charlotte got its first conference win on Oct. 9 against Florida Atlantic and is hoping for its first home conference win on Saturday.
The 49ers present a challenge to Middle Tennessee most notably in the rushing game. They currently lead Conference USA in rushing offense as a team behind running backs Kalif Phillips (828 rushing yards) and Robert Washington (444 rushing yards). Quarterback Hasaan Klugh has also shown a running ability with 390 yards on the ground.
In order to stop Charlotte's attack, the Blue Raiders will try to improve on their rush defense. They've given up more than 200 yards rushing to their last four opponents.
"We have to be more consistent," junior linebacker DJ Sanders said. "We have to play the read option. We just have to have our eyes in the right place, because they are going to give it to the running back and the quarterback is going to pull it some."
Stockstill said his defense in particular has to do a better job starting this week of making tackles.
"We have to tackle better, and usually tackling comes down to the fundamentals," he said. "You have to be fundamentally sound and in great position when you make a tackle. We have to get some swagger, we have to get some juice back … we're a little tentative, it looks like to me, right now."
Offensively, Middle Tennessee will be focusing on taking care of the football. Charlotte has three more interceptions (14) this season than the next-best CUSA team, and the 49ers have forced opponents into 20 total turnovers, which ranks second in the conference.
Before redshirt sophomore quarterback Brent Stockstill was lost for the regular season with a broken collarbone against UTSA, the Blue Raiders had turned the ball over just eight times in eight games. But in their last seven quarters, the Raiders have eight turnovers (five interceptions, three fumbles).
"I said it going in, you have to protect the football," Stockstill said. "Interceptions are part of the game, they happen, but we just can't force balls in there and think we're going to get something when nothing is there. The big thing is doing what you're coached to do and play within the system and don't force things."
Despite an offense that has struggled taking care of the ball and a new quarterback throwing it, redshirt sophomore wide receiver Richie James hasn't slowed down his school record-setting pace.
Thanks to a MT record six-straight games of more than 100 receiving yards, James is just 93 yards shy of breaking his own single-season school record of 1,346 set last year. He's also 23 catches shy of his MTSU record 108 single-season receptions.
"He didn't have any drops Saturday, which was the first time in a couple of games," Stockstill said. "He was very consistent and he makes plays – he's a good player. As limited as we are at certain positions now, we have to try to find ways to get the ball in his hands as much as we can."
With Charlotte playing for a potential shot at a school wins record and trying for its first-ever home conference win, the Blue Raiders know the game won't be like the 73-14 drumming MTSU put on last year.
The Raiders are preparing for a fight, and they are ready to get back to their winning ways after two-straight defeats.
"We don't want the taste of defeat," Sanders said. "We're tired of losing and we want to win again, so we're really focused right now. We want to have a celebrating locker room."
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