Usually in this space I take a few minutes and talk to the beat writer for the upcoming opponent, but with Brevard not having a beat writer, I thought I would take the space this week and talk to Chris Lang, the Liberty Flames beat writer for the Lynchburg News and Advance. Chris came to Lynchburg after a stint in Arizona covering Northern Arizona and is probably the best beat writer at the FCS level. He actually helped me out in a small way with getting my gig as a freelance writer for the paper.
Fan the Flames: Ive read (both on your blog and on the FlameFans message board) that
the Norfolk State game last week was one of, if not the most important
of the non-conference games on the schedule (UNC and App State
notwithstanding). What does getting a win do for the confidence of the
team, especially given the lack of success that the Flames have had in
non-conference road games, particularly against in-state schools?
Chris Lang: Well, the in-state thing is a bit overblown, and beating Norfolk State
does nothing to prove the Flames can beat the better in-state FCS
competition, schools like James Madison, William & Mary and
Richmond (Note: this year's homecoming opponent). You've got to remember there were major extenuating
circumstances in the two Norfolk State losses. One came two days after
Ken Karcher was fired, and the other came at home the same week that
Turner Gill was gone for a week mourning the death of his mother. The
road win was a much bigger deal for the confidence of the team, because
the Flames haven't been able to make plays down the stretch in close
road games under Gill. They had chances to beat Kent State, Wake Forest
and Old Dominion and shrunk in the fourth quarter in each loss.
Saturday,
they made a big special teams play (the punt pinning NSU at its 1), got
a huge defensive stop and scored a game-clinching touchdown in the
fourth quarter. The Norfolk State game wasn't necessarily the most
important non-conference game, but it was more important than North
Carolina. Liberty needs to sweep its non-conference FCS games to have
any shot of an at-large playoff bid, so each of those weeks are like
one-week playoff elimination games.
Saturday was a good start.
FTF: Earlier today (as I'm writing this email it is
Monday),
the entire defensive line for Liberty was honored as the defensive
player of the week by the Big South. Just how good is this group and can
they carry the team going forward?
CL: Vantz Singletary, the defensive line coach, was very candid in his
praise for just about every player in that group in the preseason, and
he's been proven right so far. Chima Uzowihe has a very good chance at
leaving LU as the school's all-time leader in sacks. Niko (Dominique) Davis has been
a find in the middle, and JaRon Greene is using the experience he
earned as a true freshman to make him a game wrecker at the nose
position. There was a lot of talk about losing Francis Bah and Jibrille
Fewell, but Fewell was inconsistent at best and Bah was never healthy
enough to be a factor last year. The unit is deep and physical and
showed its worth by holding its own against UNC in the opener.
Definitely a strength of the defense.
FTF: The Flames go into this week's game heavily favored over the D2
Tornadoes. While I won't ask what is the key to victory, I am wondering
what sort of things will the coaches want to see from the players in
this matchup that will help them going forward, with this being the only
non-D1 matchup on the schedule this year?
CL: I'm pretty sure the coaching staff wants to see a fast start with
it being the home opener. I know they want to see the run game improve,
though it's really tough to judge D.J. Abnar and Todd Macon on the
first two games seeing as one was a guarantee game and the other was
against one of the top defenses in the FCS. Ideally, they'd love to be
able to get an extended look at both Javan Shashaty and Stephon Masha at
quarterback, provided the game is in hand by halftime.
FTF: Speaking of schedules, while I know we are only on game 3 of 2014
this week, what is the status of the 2015 schedule? By my count, 10 of
the 11 opponents are known (6 BSC games plus Georgia State, West
Virginia, Montana and, unless things have changed, JMU). Is there any
indication as to who the 11th oppoent is, or at least what conference
they are from?
CL: The 11th opponent is likely to be a home game against a
lower-level FCS team, probably someone from the MEAC or the Northeast
Conference. JMU is still on, as is Montana. With two money games and two
games against top-level FCS programs on the schedule, Liberty will be
looking for a home breather for the final piece of the schedule.
FTF: Dante Shells had a couple big catches in the win over Norfolk State,
including one to set up the first touchdown. With his having to start
the season as essentially the 4th WR, what does this do for his
confidence after his issues with drops?
CL: It's big. He actually worked his way back to the No. 3 option
soon after he was dropped down the depth chart. Josh Woodrum says
Dante's biggest issue is that he tends to look upfield for a run lane
before he secures the ball. Shells showed increased focus when the ball
was thrown his way last week. You've got to remember that he's still a
young guy, even though he's been on campus for a few years now.
Confidence comes from game experience.
FTF: What is the story with the running backs? Todd Macon goes from Big
South Freshman of the Week to getting only three carries, one of which
was on the final drive of the game?
CL: I just think Macon might have been physically overmatched against
NSU's aggressive defensive front. Plus, (DJ) Abnar is much more of a threat
in the short passing game. Macon will be back in a big way this week.
FTF: Last question...with Coastal barely edging out NC A&T a week
after a dominating win over The Citadel, is there a chance that the
Chanticleers may be a little overrated relative to their ranking in most
polls, and is the kind of performance that they had in Greensboro cause
for concern down on the Grand Strand?
CL: Not at all. North Carolina A&T is an improving program with a
proven coach in Rod Broadway, and Coastal knew that was going to be a
tough road trip. The cause for concern comes from having five turnovers
in that game. But I think people are underrating just how tough it is to
win on the road in college football. A&T beat Appalachian State in
Boone last season and was a contender in the MEAC. Had Coastal struggled
against Savannah State, I might feel differently.
Thanks to Chris for taking a few minutes, you can follow him on Twitter @ChrisLangLNA and you can read his work in the Lynchburg News and Advance www.newsadvance.com
Friday I will be posting my video preview of Brevard on Youtube so make sure to check it out
Fan the Flames
