COMMENTARY: Late collapse exposes many weaknesses on offense, defense

By: Brandon Wise / Staff Writer

Long gone are those talks of going undefeated. So is the “Hilton 4 Heisman” campaign. Now you can kiss the Sun Belt Conference goodbye as well.

After picking up a less than stellar win over cream puff Akron, the Golden Panthers had a chance on national television to show why they were the favorites to repeat as Sun Belt champs.

They blew it. The wheels came off in the fourth quarter, and the offense could not do anything. Again, as was the case last week, the offense got close to the end zone to put up points, then stall and settle for a field goal.

Settling for field goals is the sign of a team on the ropes, because it is showing the struggles the offense has in converting on third down.

FIU is among the worst in the conference at converting on third down, going 35 for 95 thus far this season. The team cannot continue to play like this and expect to win.

Other than a beautiful route by T.Y. Hilton that made the Arkansas State cornerback look silly, the offense scored nine points.

Wesley Carroll did look for more receivers than Hilton this week, but the problem was that the other players could not get in open field to score.

For the first time since week two against Louisville, the running game was completely contained. Kedrick Rhodes could not get anything going all night.

The Red Wolves defense executed their game plan perfectly. They came in knowing that if they could contain Hilton as much as possible, then the rest of the FIU offense would not be able to move the ball.

With a sputtering offense not doing much, the defense had to step up in a big way.

Through one half of football, they did just that, allowing only six points and containing one of the top quarterbacks in the Sun Belt, Ryan Aplin.

But there is a reason that they play two halves. Aplin came out in the second half and ran it right down FIU’s throat.

All season long, the defense has prided itself on being able to stop the run. But in a virtual playoff game, they had no answer for Aplin and the option attack.

When the defense cannot stop the run all night, they are forced to load the box with eight men. This forces the corners to have to play single coverage and we already know the issues that this secondary has had, even when they can double on the receivers.

Late in the game, corners Sam Miller and Terrence Taylor were getting picked on. Near the goal line, Aplin dropped back and threw a fade to Allen Muse.

Muse was in position and Miller was all over him, doing anything he could to keep the ball out of Muse’s grasp.

However, Muse still made the catch and Miller was called for pass interference.

The team is slowly spiraling out of control. After the great start to the year, the Golden Panthers have dropped three of their last four. In those four games, the defense has allowed 30 points per game.

 

MOVING ON

 

There is no way that this team was going to be able to keep up with those undefeated talks, but the Golden Panthers are beginning to fold.

If they have any aspirations of finishing this season with a winning record, something needs to change and quickly.

The next game on Oct. 25 at home against Troy will go a long way in telling what this team is made of. If that same team comes out and plays that way, this season is done.