Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Raiders excited for first game week of 2018
8/27/2018 4:00:00 PM | Football
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – After an offseason full of hitting their own teammates on every snap, Middle Tennessee's head coach and players showed at Monday's weekly press conference they're excited for the opportunity to hit someone else finally.
MT at Vanderbilt
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"We battled each other throughout camp, and that gets tiring after a while," senior linebacker Darius Harris said. "This week, we have some new faces … we're very excited."
The Blue Raiders will travel for the second year in a row to Vanderbilt for the season opener on Saturday, scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff.
On the short drive up Interstate 24 from Murfreesboro to Nashville, the Raiders will have some time to think how they can get a different outcome than last season's 28-6 loss to the Commodores. It was the third loss in a row for MT over its in-state foe.
Most notably, head coach Rick Stockstill wants his team to find a way to come out of the gates better. Vandy jumped to a 21-0 lead a few minutes into the second quarter in last year's contest, and all but took the Middle Tennessee home crowd out of the game.
Stockstill thinks a lot could come down to the trenches, where his team gave up five sacks while getting just one of its own in last year's season opener. MT also managed just 49 yards rushing.
"I think the big difference in the game last year was their front seven dominated our guys up front," Stockstill said. "That's an area we have to improve on this year.
"We'll have three of the five starters from that game on the offensive line back, and I think all of those guys are better than what they were last year. I have a lot of confidence in our offensive line … I feel a lot better at this point today than where we were a year ago."
Stockstill not only feels better about where his offensive line situation is, but he also is more comfortable with where his defense is at this point than he was a year ago.
Scott Shafer is starting his second season as defensive coordinator. That means this offseason was more about the players honing in on the scheme rather than learning it from scratch.
"Last year, we knew it, but we didn't really understand the defense as much as we do now," Harris said. "I feel like we have a much better understanding now, so we can play faster."
Being able to play fast defensively will be key against senior Vanderbilt quarterback Kyle Shurmur, who's looking to break multiple career school records this season. He picked MT apart for 296 passing yards and three touchdowns last year.
"I have a lot of respect for him," Stockstill said. "He's just a smart, tough player that I respect immensely. I'm sure he's confident heading into his senior year."
With camp finally over, now it's officially game week in the Boro.
The Blue Raider head man couldn't be more excited for the opportunity his team has.
"I'm really proud of our team and the effort that they put forth in this camp from a mental standpoint as well as a physical standpoint," Stockstill said.
"It's been a great camp … and we're ready to roll."
Josh Vardaman is the staff writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Vardaman and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.
MT at Vanderbilt
SEC Network Alternate
608-609: AT&T U-Verse
235: Charter Spectrum
633: Telephone and Data Systems
596-597: Dish
611-1: DirecTV
723-724: Comcast/XFinity
"We battled each other throughout camp, and that gets tiring after a while," senior linebacker Darius Harris said. "This week, we have some new faces … we're very excited."
The Blue Raiders will travel for the second year in a row to Vanderbilt for the season opener on Saturday, scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff.
On the short drive up Interstate 24 from Murfreesboro to Nashville, the Raiders will have some time to think how they can get a different outcome than last season's 28-6 loss to the Commodores. It was the third loss in a row for MT over its in-state foe.
Most notably, head coach Rick Stockstill wants his team to find a way to come out of the gates better. Vandy jumped to a 21-0 lead a few minutes into the second quarter in last year's contest, and all but took the Middle Tennessee home crowd out of the game.
Stockstill thinks a lot could come down to the trenches, where his team gave up five sacks while getting just one of its own in last year's season opener. MT also managed just 49 yards rushing.
"I think the big difference in the game last year was their front seven dominated our guys up front," Stockstill said. "That's an area we have to improve on this year.
"We'll have three of the five starters from that game on the offensive line back, and I think all of those guys are better than what they were last year. I have a lot of confidence in our offensive line … I feel a lot better at this point today than where we were a year ago."
Stockstill not only feels better about where his offensive line situation is, but he also is more comfortable with where his defense is at this point than he was a year ago.
Scott Shafer is starting his second season as defensive coordinator. That means this offseason was more about the players honing in on the scheme rather than learning it from scratch.
"Last year, we knew it, but we didn't really understand the defense as much as we do now," Harris said. "I feel like we have a much better understanding now, so we can play faster."
Being able to play fast defensively will be key against senior Vanderbilt quarterback Kyle Shurmur, who's looking to break multiple career school records this season. He picked MT apart for 296 passing yards and three touchdowns last year.
"I have a lot of respect for him," Stockstill said. "He's just a smart, tough player that I respect immensely. I'm sure he's confident heading into his senior year."
With camp finally over, now it's officially game week in the Boro.
The Blue Raider head man couldn't be more excited for the opportunity his team has.
"I'm really proud of our team and the effort that they put forth in this camp from a mental standpoint as well as a physical standpoint," Stockstill said.
"It's been a great camp … and we're ready to roll."
Josh Vardaman is the staff writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Vardaman and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.
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