Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Saturday, September 18
San Antonio, TX
5:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
at
UTSA
Preview: Q&A with UTSA Beat Writer Javi Cardenas
9/17/2021 12:30:00 PM | Football
Staff Writer Sam Doughton chatted with the publisher of UTSA Rivals about the Roadrunners’ Strong Start
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Conference USA play fires up in San Antonio this weekend, as Middle Tennessee hits the road for the second straight week to take on UTSA. The Roadrunners have gotten off to a blistering start in 2021, upsetting Illinois on the road in their season opener before shutting out Lamar last weekend to cap off an 2-0 start.
"You want to win every game, but losing to Virginia Tech (last Saturday) didn't affect conference play," head coach Rick Stockstill said at this week's press conference. "When conference play starts, it just magnifies the importance of every game. To get where we want to be at the end of the year, there's nothing more important than conference play."
Predicted to finish second in the C-USA West in the media's preseason poll, UTSA is powered by their rushing attack on offense, led by running backs Sincere McCormick and Brenden Brady. The pair have each found the endzone twice through two games and are averaging 4.65 yards a carry as a duo, with McCormick hauling most of the rushing load (38 attempts to Brady's 14).
"They can put their foot in the grass and cut back against the grain and make people miss," Shafer said. "And when they get off the edge, they can turn the corner, they're good football players."
Defensively, both Stockstill and offensive coordinator Brent Dearmon highlighted the speed of the Roadrunner defense, while Dearmon and running back Amir Rasul complemented the size of the defensive line.
"They run to the ball, they've got some big guys up front that can cause some issues," Dearmon said. "I thought their defensive backs, their linebackers, all run well sideline to sideline."
In addition to the start of conference play, Saturday will be a game of redemption for the Blue Raiders, after MT fell to UTSA 37-35 in the Alamodome a season ago. Reed Blankenship said the team still has a chip on their shoulder from that game last year, while Shafer highlighted the positive effects head coach Jeff Traylor has had on the UTSA program since he was hired after the 2019 season.
"They're a well coached football team," defensive coordinator Scott Shafer said. "For their head coach to be there two seasons and to see the dramatic change in how they've played, I've got to give them a lot of credit."
Ahead of Saturday's kickoff at 5 p.m. CDT on ESPN+, GoBlueRaiders.com staff writer Sam Doughton exchanged emails with UTSA Rivals' publisher Javi Cardenas to get more background on MT's weekly opponent.
The Q&A has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
1) UTSA came into 2021 with perhaps the highest expectations in the program's young history after getting picked second in the C-USA West in the media preseason poll. And after two games, some may say the Roadrunners are surpassing them after an upset over Illinois and a blowout over Lamar. What is the mood within and around the program entering C-USA play this week?
There is definitely a sense of confidence after the aforementioned wins. It is hard not to be a little confident if you are a fan or are associated with the program. The Jeff Traylor era has gotten off to a hot start and this 2-0 has definitely added fuel to that fire. Easy to forget this Roadrunner team was a win away from the Conference USA Championship Game. If they can continue to build off this start, they should be one of the favorites to reach the championship game this season. A possible trip to a championship game will have to start this week versus a tough Middle Tennessee squad.
2) UTSA is one of two FBS schools to play their home games exclusively in a dome. After the Blue Raiders' visit to Virginia Tech last week, the team seems ready to deal with the extra noise that might come from an indoor environment. For those making the trip (or who were wishing they were), what is the game day environment like in Alamodome, and how has the home field advantage changed over the program's history?
The game last weekend versus Lamar gave everyone a sense of normalcy again. The tailgating lots were full, the grills were going and the music was blasting. If you are a MTSU fan, I would definitely recommend walking the parking lots that are immediately adjacent to the Alamodome. I guarantee you will walk out of there with some sort of food item and drink in hand.
As for the atmosphere inside, it is loud. The crowds are still not what they used to be, but even with just 15K in the building it gets loud in there. I can recall multiple games over the years with teams that have struggled with the crowd noise. The Alamodome tends to amplify crowd noise and it definitely takes a toll on teams. There might be an adjustment period for the Blue Raider offense as they get used to the Alamodome with a crowd.
3) UTSA has done a good job establishing the run so far in 2021, with safety Reed Blankenship highlighting the dual-threat capability of quarterback Frank Harris in this week's press conference as something the Blue Raiders will be on the lookout for. Who are some of the players who have really made the Roadrunner rushing attack work early in the season?
Frank Harris' running ability is something to watch, but I do think it is more of a compliment to the overall rushing attack. The heart of the Roadrunner rushing attack is defending Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year Sincere McCormick and backup Brenden Brady. McCormick gets a ton of the shine, but reserve running back Brenden Brady is a very dynamic back that allows McCormick to take some drives off to recover without much drop off.
The Roadrunners have the second best running attack in C-USA through two games with McCormick, Brady and Harris leading the way.
4) Rick Stockstill described UTSA's defensive unit as a "typical Conference-USA defense" due to their speed and motor, with running back Amir Rasul emphasizing the team's overall speed through all three levels standing out on tape. The shutout last weekend, the program's first ever, was certainly impressive as well. What are some of the defense's strengths and weaknesses through two games, and who should MT fans keep an eye on come Saturday?
I think Coach Stockstill's description is very accurate. This UTSA defense has speed unlike it has ever had before. The return of the "super-seniors" combined with some impact transfers appears to have taken this UTSA defense from maybe an average to above average defense in 2020 to one of the better defenses in the conference in 2021.
The strength definitely lies in the defensive line. Jeff Traylor mentioned their ability to go three deep during fall camp and they have backed that up. Co-Defensive Coordinator Rod Wright has shuffled in and out three lines of defensive ends and defensive tackles without much drop off. Of course when you take a guy like Jaylon Haynes out of the game, there will be some drop off, but for the most part that unit is as stout as any.
One thing to be concerned about is their secondary. They have yet to face a team that will punish them through the air and MTSU might just be that team. They had a few missed assignments versus Illinois in week one so we will see if Bailey Hockman is able to exploit that this week.
5) Non-conference play is great, but you never really know how you measure up as a team until you play your conference peers. After a close 37-35 win for UTSA last season that the Blue Raiders are raring to avenge, what will be key for the Roadrunners to keep their momentum going in C-USA play and earn the win on Saturday?
If UTSA wants to be known as a contender for the Conference USA crown this season they have to take care of business versus teams like Middle Tennessee. This will not be an easy game like some have predicted. Jeff Traylor mentioned this week in his media availability that MTSU should have won the game in San Antonio last year and that they were mostly out-coached. That cannot happen again because I do not think UTSA will be as lucky to escape with a victory the second time around.
The Roadrunners need to continue playing their brand of football on both sides of the ball. If they can do that I think they have the talent to keep the Blue Raiders at distance all game long. If Bailey Hockman is allowed to sit comfortably in the pocket and pick the secondary apart this game will be tight heading into the fourth quarter.
"You want to win every game, but losing to Virginia Tech (last Saturday) didn't affect conference play," head coach Rick Stockstill said at this week's press conference. "When conference play starts, it just magnifies the importance of every game. To get where we want to be at the end of the year, there's nothing more important than conference play."
Predicted to finish second in the C-USA West in the media's preseason poll, UTSA is powered by their rushing attack on offense, led by running backs Sincere McCormick and Brenden Brady. The pair have each found the endzone twice through two games and are averaging 4.65 yards a carry as a duo, with McCormick hauling most of the rushing load (38 attempts to Brady's 14).
"They can put their foot in the grass and cut back against the grain and make people miss," Shafer said. "And when they get off the edge, they can turn the corner, they're good football players."
Defensively, both Stockstill and offensive coordinator Brent Dearmon highlighted the speed of the Roadrunner defense, while Dearmon and running back Amir Rasul complemented the size of the defensive line.
"They run to the ball, they've got some big guys up front that can cause some issues," Dearmon said. "I thought their defensive backs, their linebackers, all run well sideline to sideline."
In addition to the start of conference play, Saturday will be a game of redemption for the Blue Raiders, after MT fell to UTSA 37-35 in the Alamodome a season ago. Reed Blankenship said the team still has a chip on their shoulder from that game last year, while Shafer highlighted the positive effects head coach Jeff Traylor has had on the UTSA program since he was hired after the 2019 season.
"They're a well coached football team," defensive coordinator Scott Shafer said. "For their head coach to be there two seasons and to see the dramatic change in how they've played, I've got to give them a lot of credit."
Ahead of Saturday's kickoff at 5 p.m. CDT on ESPN+, GoBlueRaiders.com staff writer Sam Doughton exchanged emails with UTSA Rivals' publisher Javi Cardenas to get more background on MT's weekly opponent.
The Q&A has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
1) UTSA came into 2021 with perhaps the highest expectations in the program's young history after getting picked second in the C-USA West in the media preseason poll. And after two games, some may say the Roadrunners are surpassing them after an upset over Illinois and a blowout over Lamar. What is the mood within and around the program entering C-USA play this week?
There is definitely a sense of confidence after the aforementioned wins. It is hard not to be a little confident if you are a fan or are associated with the program. The Jeff Traylor era has gotten off to a hot start and this 2-0 has definitely added fuel to that fire. Easy to forget this Roadrunner team was a win away from the Conference USA Championship Game. If they can continue to build off this start, they should be one of the favorites to reach the championship game this season. A possible trip to a championship game will have to start this week versus a tough Middle Tennessee squad.
2) UTSA is one of two FBS schools to play their home games exclusively in a dome. After the Blue Raiders' visit to Virginia Tech last week, the team seems ready to deal with the extra noise that might come from an indoor environment. For those making the trip (or who were wishing they were), what is the game day environment like in Alamodome, and how has the home field advantage changed over the program's history?
The game last weekend versus Lamar gave everyone a sense of normalcy again. The tailgating lots were full, the grills were going and the music was blasting. If you are a MTSU fan, I would definitely recommend walking the parking lots that are immediately adjacent to the Alamodome. I guarantee you will walk out of there with some sort of food item and drink in hand.
As for the atmosphere inside, it is loud. The crowds are still not what they used to be, but even with just 15K in the building it gets loud in there. I can recall multiple games over the years with teams that have struggled with the crowd noise. The Alamodome tends to amplify crowd noise and it definitely takes a toll on teams. There might be an adjustment period for the Blue Raider offense as they get used to the Alamodome with a crowd.
3) UTSA has done a good job establishing the run so far in 2021, with safety Reed Blankenship highlighting the dual-threat capability of quarterback Frank Harris in this week's press conference as something the Blue Raiders will be on the lookout for. Who are some of the players who have really made the Roadrunner rushing attack work early in the season?
Frank Harris' running ability is something to watch, but I do think it is more of a compliment to the overall rushing attack. The heart of the Roadrunner rushing attack is defending Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year Sincere McCormick and backup Brenden Brady. McCormick gets a ton of the shine, but reserve running back Brenden Brady is a very dynamic back that allows McCormick to take some drives off to recover without much drop off.
The Roadrunners have the second best running attack in C-USA through two games with McCormick, Brady and Harris leading the way.
4) Rick Stockstill described UTSA's defensive unit as a "typical Conference-USA defense" due to their speed and motor, with running back Amir Rasul emphasizing the team's overall speed through all three levels standing out on tape. The shutout last weekend, the program's first ever, was certainly impressive as well. What are some of the defense's strengths and weaknesses through two games, and who should MT fans keep an eye on come Saturday?
I think Coach Stockstill's description is very accurate. This UTSA defense has speed unlike it has ever had before. The return of the "super-seniors" combined with some impact transfers appears to have taken this UTSA defense from maybe an average to above average defense in 2020 to one of the better defenses in the conference in 2021.
The strength definitely lies in the defensive line. Jeff Traylor mentioned their ability to go three deep during fall camp and they have backed that up. Co-Defensive Coordinator Rod Wright has shuffled in and out three lines of defensive ends and defensive tackles without much drop off. Of course when you take a guy like Jaylon Haynes out of the game, there will be some drop off, but for the most part that unit is as stout as any.
One thing to be concerned about is their secondary. They have yet to face a team that will punish them through the air and MTSU might just be that team. They had a few missed assignments versus Illinois in week one so we will see if Bailey Hockman is able to exploit that this week.
5) Non-conference play is great, but you never really know how you measure up as a team until you play your conference peers. After a close 37-35 win for UTSA last season that the Blue Raiders are raring to avenge, what will be key for the Roadrunners to keep their momentum going in C-USA play and earn the win on Saturday?
If UTSA wants to be known as a contender for the Conference USA crown this season they have to take care of business versus teams like Middle Tennessee. This will not be an easy game like some have predicted. Jeff Traylor mentioned this week in his media availability that MTSU should have won the game in San Antonio last year and that they were mostly out-coached. That cannot happen again because I do not think UTSA will be as lucky to escape with a victory the second time around.
The Roadrunners need to continue playing their brand of football on both sides of the ball. If they can do that I think they have the talent to keep the Blue Raiders at distance all game long. If Bailey Hockman is allowed to sit comfortably in the pocket and pick the secondary apart this game will be tight heading into the fourth quarter.
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