Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Saturday, November 13
2:30 PM
Middle Tennessee
vs
Florida International University
Preview: Q&A with FIU Beat Writer Eric Henry
11/12/2021 12:30:00 PM | Football
Co-Managing Editor for SBNation’s Underdog Dynasty breaks down the Panthers’ season
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — This has not been the year Florida International University football needed in 2021.
To say nothing of the Panthers' 1-8 record entering their game against Middle Tennessee on Saturday, including eight straight losses this season, and FIU's ten straight C-USA losses dating back to 2019, the stats just don't back up FIU being a team in sync at the moment. The Panthers rank dead last in C-USA in both scoring defense (37.8 points per game) and total defense (493.7 yards per game). The offense doesn't fare much better, racking up the yards (401.8 per game, good enough for 6th in the conference), but failing to convert the yardage into points (23.3 per game, 12th in C-USA).
And just this week, FIU parted ways with Director of Sports and Entertainment Pete Garcia, who stepped down from his position that oversaw the FIU athletic department.
But don't let the record, or the production, or the staff turnover tell you differently. Rick Stockstill says the Panthers are still dangerous, in large part due the talent that's clearly present on the roster, particularly offensively.
"Their quarterback is a good player," Stockstill said. "He can make all the throws. They've got excellent wide receivers. They've got good speed. They're really good after the catch. We've got to do a good job of eliminating the explosion plays. We've got to tackle well in space."
The veteran head coach is correct, of course. Maryland transfer Max Bortenschlager has put together some nice numbers at quarterback, throwing for 2469 yards and 17 touchdowns through nine games. His top two wideouts, Tyrese Chambers and Bryce Singleton, and third and fourth in C-USA for receiving yards. And the Panthers' top two running backs, D'vonte Price and Shaun Peterson Jr., each tallied over 100 yards on the ground when these two teams met in Miami in 2020.
DQ Thomas, who just recently broke the record for most tackles for loss in program history, says the key to keeping that talented group in check is to keep doing what's worked well this season: generate pressure to help the rest of the defense.
"(The key is) playing fast, playing physical, winning on first and second down, putting them in tough third down situations," Thomas said. "And having fun after that."
On the other side of the ball, the Blue Raiders will be looking to find their footing after a trip to Western Kentucky that saw the offense turn the ball over seven times, five times off of interceptions from true freshman Nick Vattiato, who's expected to start this week. FIU is 13th in the conference in sacks, and dead last in the conference in interceptions, only managing two picks this season.
"For him to be young, he came in with good poise," wide receiver Yusuf Ali said of Vattiato. "He threw some picks, but he didn't get down on himself and kept going forward. That's what I liked about him."
To give us a closer look at how FIU's season has gone so far, GBR.com reached out to Eric Henry of SBNation's Underdog Dynasty, who is this week's guest for the beat writer Q&A.
1) Safe to say it's been a tough year for FIU, who dropped eight straight games after opening the season with a win over Long Island. What's the current atmosphere around the program at the moment, now that the Panthers' toughest stretch of the season is over?
There's undeniably a major level of frustration within the program. The team isn't just 1-8 this season, they're 1-15 since the upset win over Miami in November of 2019 and 7-20 since a program-record nine wins in 2018. Many of the veterans in the starting lineup have endured most of those losses. Following games, Butch Davis has repeatedly said that "the players are disappointed with the loss, but looking to get back to practice to correct the errors.
That may be true, but last week's postgame saw Davis reveal that "15-18 freshmen or walk-on players are seeing significant time" and that is contributing to the struggles on gamedays.
2) Max Bortenschlager earned a lot of praise from Rick Stockstill in this week's MT press conference, with the Blue Raider head coach highlighting his ability to make all of the throws needed for FIU to be successful. The stats for the redshirt senior certainly bear that out. What does the Fishers, Ind. native do well that keeps the Panthers' offense going? Who are some of his favorite targets Middle Tennessee fans should know before the game?
The stats don't quite tell the entire story for Max this season. When given time in the pocket, Stockstill's assessment of Bortenschlager does have some validity. Bortenschlager has the arm to make all of the throws and a solid deep ball that FIU wideouts have been able to haul in. However, consistency has been an issue throughout the season. Bortenschlager is completing just 51.7 percent of his passes and five times this year, he's completed 50 percent or less of his balls.
His best trait may be his toughness. He's been sacked 27 times this year and hurried throughout the season. When he has time, expect him to look for wideouts Tyrese Chambers and Bryce Singleton. Both are among the top-10 in the nation in yards per catch.
3) Both Shaun Peterson, Jr. and D'Vonte Price ran for over 100 yards in Miami last year against MT, but both have been less productive this season. Has the lower production of the run game mostly been a factor of playing from behind so often, or is there a bigger issue at play with the FIU run game?
It's been a combination of factors that have contributed to the lack of rushing success. A staple of Butch Davis' teams is the run game – throughout the duration of games. However, FIU has struggled on first down this season. Ending up in second and third-and long situations have affected their ability to run as much as the team would like. Couple that with the struggles of the offensive line and the aforementioned playing from behind in games most certainly play a role in the lack of success. Especially with a back like Price, who was recently rated by ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. as his third-best draft eligible running back.
4) While the offense has kept FIU in games at times this season, the defense has clearly been the Panthers' Achilles' heel down the stretch, giving up 44.4 points a game in C-USA play. What unit has been the biggest weakness for FIU's defense this season, and, perhaps more importantly, which unit is usually playing well if the defense is getting the opposing offense off the field?
The defensive struggles start with the front four for FIU. The Panthers rank 13th in C-USA in sacks with 13 and only seven of those have come from the defensive line. They've suffered from several losses at defensive end. Hal Vinson transferred from Texas State and was expected to be their major pass-rush threat, but he left the program after one game. Tevin Jones took Vinson's spot, but he's injured.
Additionally, FIU's run defense has struggled. In the team's last 27 games (start of the '19 season), they've allowed over 200 yards rushing 13 times – including a program-record 471 yards during a memorable monsoon last time these teams played at Floyd Stadium. If the defense is getting off the field, it's usually because of a veteran secondary and the front four is able to provide support.
5) MT is the final C-USA East opponent of the season for FIU, and they close out the season with North Texas and Southern Miss, two of the lower teams in the C-USA West standings. Given where FIU is at, what set of results would make for a successful end to the season for the Panthers to get some momentum heading into 2022? Is Saturday's game in Murfreesboro a must win for Butch Davis?
Right now, FIU just needs a win against an FBS opponent, which they haven't had in over 700 days. Between transfers and two sets of recruiting classes, there are 61 players on this roster that haven't experienced a win over an FBS opponent as Panthers. Beating Middle would go a long way for a group who suffered through a heartbreaking loss last year and the complete trouncing in '19. Not to say all hope is lost, but it may be just as important for the litany of underclassmen on this roster to get significant playing time down the stretch.
As to Saturday, Butch Davis has unquestionably led FIU to its most successful three-year stretch in program history. However, it's hard to argue that the outcome of Saturday's game makes a difference in what will be a third straight losing season.
To say nothing of the Panthers' 1-8 record entering their game against Middle Tennessee on Saturday, including eight straight losses this season, and FIU's ten straight C-USA losses dating back to 2019, the stats just don't back up FIU being a team in sync at the moment. The Panthers rank dead last in C-USA in both scoring defense (37.8 points per game) and total defense (493.7 yards per game). The offense doesn't fare much better, racking up the yards (401.8 per game, good enough for 6th in the conference), but failing to convert the yardage into points (23.3 per game, 12th in C-USA).
And just this week, FIU parted ways with Director of Sports and Entertainment Pete Garcia, who stepped down from his position that oversaw the FIU athletic department.
But don't let the record, or the production, or the staff turnover tell you differently. Rick Stockstill says the Panthers are still dangerous, in large part due the talent that's clearly present on the roster, particularly offensively.
"Their quarterback is a good player," Stockstill said. "He can make all the throws. They've got excellent wide receivers. They've got good speed. They're really good after the catch. We've got to do a good job of eliminating the explosion plays. We've got to tackle well in space."
The veteran head coach is correct, of course. Maryland transfer Max Bortenschlager has put together some nice numbers at quarterback, throwing for 2469 yards and 17 touchdowns through nine games. His top two wideouts, Tyrese Chambers and Bryce Singleton, and third and fourth in C-USA for receiving yards. And the Panthers' top two running backs, D'vonte Price and Shaun Peterson Jr., each tallied over 100 yards on the ground when these two teams met in Miami in 2020.
DQ Thomas, who just recently broke the record for most tackles for loss in program history, says the key to keeping that talented group in check is to keep doing what's worked well this season: generate pressure to help the rest of the defense.
"(The key is) playing fast, playing physical, winning on first and second down, putting them in tough third down situations," Thomas said. "And having fun after that."
On the other side of the ball, the Blue Raiders will be looking to find their footing after a trip to Western Kentucky that saw the offense turn the ball over seven times, five times off of interceptions from true freshman Nick Vattiato, who's expected to start this week. FIU is 13th in the conference in sacks, and dead last in the conference in interceptions, only managing two picks this season.
"For him to be young, he came in with good poise," wide receiver Yusuf Ali said of Vattiato. "He threw some picks, but he didn't get down on himself and kept going forward. That's what I liked about him."
To give us a closer look at how FIU's season has gone so far, GBR.com reached out to Eric Henry of SBNation's Underdog Dynasty, who is this week's guest for the beat writer Q&A.
1) Safe to say it's been a tough year for FIU, who dropped eight straight games after opening the season with a win over Long Island. What's the current atmosphere around the program at the moment, now that the Panthers' toughest stretch of the season is over?
There's undeniably a major level of frustration within the program. The team isn't just 1-8 this season, they're 1-15 since the upset win over Miami in November of 2019 and 7-20 since a program-record nine wins in 2018. Many of the veterans in the starting lineup have endured most of those losses. Following games, Butch Davis has repeatedly said that "the players are disappointed with the loss, but looking to get back to practice to correct the errors.
That may be true, but last week's postgame saw Davis reveal that "15-18 freshmen or walk-on players are seeing significant time" and that is contributing to the struggles on gamedays.
2) Max Bortenschlager earned a lot of praise from Rick Stockstill in this week's MT press conference, with the Blue Raider head coach highlighting his ability to make all of the throws needed for FIU to be successful. The stats for the redshirt senior certainly bear that out. What does the Fishers, Ind. native do well that keeps the Panthers' offense going? Who are some of his favorite targets Middle Tennessee fans should know before the game?
The stats don't quite tell the entire story for Max this season. When given time in the pocket, Stockstill's assessment of Bortenschlager does have some validity. Bortenschlager has the arm to make all of the throws and a solid deep ball that FIU wideouts have been able to haul in. However, consistency has been an issue throughout the season. Bortenschlager is completing just 51.7 percent of his passes and five times this year, he's completed 50 percent or less of his balls.
His best trait may be his toughness. He's been sacked 27 times this year and hurried throughout the season. When he has time, expect him to look for wideouts Tyrese Chambers and Bryce Singleton. Both are among the top-10 in the nation in yards per catch.
3) Both Shaun Peterson, Jr. and D'Vonte Price ran for over 100 yards in Miami last year against MT, but both have been less productive this season. Has the lower production of the run game mostly been a factor of playing from behind so often, or is there a bigger issue at play with the FIU run game?
It's been a combination of factors that have contributed to the lack of rushing success. A staple of Butch Davis' teams is the run game – throughout the duration of games. However, FIU has struggled on first down this season. Ending up in second and third-and long situations have affected their ability to run as much as the team would like. Couple that with the struggles of the offensive line and the aforementioned playing from behind in games most certainly play a role in the lack of success. Especially with a back like Price, who was recently rated by ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. as his third-best draft eligible running back.
4) While the offense has kept FIU in games at times this season, the defense has clearly been the Panthers' Achilles' heel down the stretch, giving up 44.4 points a game in C-USA play. What unit has been the biggest weakness for FIU's defense this season, and, perhaps more importantly, which unit is usually playing well if the defense is getting the opposing offense off the field?
The defensive struggles start with the front four for FIU. The Panthers rank 13th in C-USA in sacks with 13 and only seven of those have come from the defensive line. They've suffered from several losses at defensive end. Hal Vinson transferred from Texas State and was expected to be their major pass-rush threat, but he left the program after one game. Tevin Jones took Vinson's spot, but he's injured.
Additionally, FIU's run defense has struggled. In the team's last 27 games (start of the '19 season), they've allowed over 200 yards rushing 13 times – including a program-record 471 yards during a memorable monsoon last time these teams played at Floyd Stadium. If the defense is getting off the field, it's usually because of a veteran secondary and the front four is able to provide support.
5) MT is the final C-USA East opponent of the season for FIU, and they close out the season with North Texas and Southern Miss, two of the lower teams in the C-USA West standings. Given where FIU is at, what set of results would make for a successful end to the season for the Panthers to get some momentum heading into 2022? Is Saturday's game in Murfreesboro a must win for Butch Davis?
Right now, FIU just needs a win against an FBS opponent, which they haven't had in over 700 days. Between transfers and two sets of recruiting classes, there are 61 players on this roster that haven't experienced a win over an FBS opponent as Panthers. Beating Middle would go a long way for a group who suffered through a heartbreaking loss last year and the complete trouncing in '19. Not to say all hope is lost, but it may be just as important for the litany of underclassmen on this roster to get significant playing time down the stretch.
As to Saturday, Butch Davis has unquestionably led FIU to its most successful three-year stretch in program history. However, it's hard to argue that the outcome of Saturday's game makes a difference in what will be a third straight losing season.
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