Archive for October, 2011

The game that was

Georgia State reverted to its mistake-prone self in a 17-14 overtime loss to Texas-San Antonio. As a result, the Panthers have six losses, guaranteeing their first losing season.

What we learned

1. Georgia State’s special teams imploded. The Panthers missed four field goals, including one on the opening possession of overtime, and allowed 90 yards on three kickoff returns. One of the missed field goals, a 47-yarder in the third quarter, was blocked, the second time in two weeks that has happened. Each of the misses were from 45 yards or longer.

2. Georgia State’s defense is better. The Panthers allowed season-lows in numerous categories, including rushing yards (108 yards) . In each of the past three games the defense has given the offense a chance to win the game, something that didn’t occur during four consecutive losses early in the season. However, it did commit two roughing-the-passer penalties, including one a third-and-13 situation, which allowed the …

Continue reading Recapping Georgia State’s loss to San Antonio »

Three storylines

Can the running game continue to improve? The Panthers have rushed for 464 yards in the past two games, surpassing their total from the first four (455). The improved attack has coincided with an offensive line that has been mostly intact for the first time since the season’s second game.

Can Kelton Hill keep it going? In his first start, Hill completed 12 of his 15 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns. He had a good connection with Albert Wilson, who set a school record with 175 receiving yards. Hill also rushed for 45 yards. He did lose three fumbles, perhaps the only the thing he did wrong.

Will the special teams get better? Coach Bill Curry was at a loss to explain why the special teams coverage units played so poorly in the win against South Alabama. It has been a season-long issue, no matter who has played.

A Georgia State win would …

Be its first win on the road this season.

Be its second consecutive and third this season.

Be its first win in …

Continue reading Scouting Texas-San Antonio »

Georgia State coach Bill Curry held his weekly press conference on Tuesday. I apologize that I didn’t have anything up on the blog yesterday. Extenuating circumstances prevented that from happening.

Anyway, here’s some of the highlights:

Drew Little will be available to play. Kelton Hill will start. Hill played the entire game last week, the second time that’s happened for a GSU quarterback this year (other than wildcat stuff). Curry liked what Hill did, other than the fumbles. Curry said it’s hard to replicate game conditions in practice, noting that Hill hadn’t been hit since the Alabama game last year.

Christo Bilukidi said one of the reasons the defense is playing better is because they are studying film better than they’ve done in the past. He doesn’t know why he and his teammates weren’t studying like they should have been earlier in the year, but the results are showing. The goal-line stand in the first quarter against South Alabama was partly a result of film study. …

Continue reading Curry on Hill, film and UTSA »

The game that was

Georgia State played its best game of the year in defeating South Alabama 27-20 in overtime. The defense was inspired and the offense was patiently effective. Now, can the Panthers build on this as it begins the downhill portion of its schedule?

What we learned

1. Georgia State has found an identity on offense. Led by Donald Russell and an inspired offensive line, the Panthers are grinding teams up with a power running game. The team has totaled 464 rushing yards in the past two games, done mostly between the tackles with some option mixed in on the edge.

2. Georgia State has found an identity on defense. The Panthers are using a lot more 4-3 as its base formation, instead of the 3-4 it used during the opening weeks. Though it is still using multiple fronts, the team is playing with more confidence and effectiveness, for example the two goal-line stands on Saturday.

3. Georgia State is still lost on special teams. As well as the defense is playing, it can’t …

Continue reading Recapping Georgia State’s win »

Kelton Hill has been through some well-documented issues during his time at Georgia State.

However, things are starting to get better.

Hill, who grew up in Douglasville and played at Lithia Springs, led the Panthers to a 27-20 victory over South Alabama on Saturday in his first start. He completed 12 of his 15 passes, helping Albert Wilson set a school record for receiving yards (175) in the process.

But it’s going to cost him.

Hill promised his offensive line that if the team had more than 400 yards he’d treat them to a dinner at a local restaurant on Sunday. The team had 429. This, after he bought them five pizzas on Friday as a buttering-up gift.

Hill, who also rushed for 45 yards, isn’t the only Panther who benefited from the first-string line playing together for just the third time this season.

Running back Donald Russell rushed for a school-record 136 yards. It was the first time in Georgia State’s short history that a running back hit triple digits.

He offered to help …

Continue reading Some interesting leftovers from Georgia State’s win »

Georgia State coach Bill Curry, after the Panthers defeated South Alabama 27-20 in overtime on Saturday:

Another routine Georgia State University victory. One of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do is to try to explain how well our men were working over the last four weeks. Because if you weren’t out there, you would have just thought I was lying and I wouldn’t blame you. These guys have showed up for work every single day and busted it, and I’m talking gut check stuff. We can’t scrimmage a lot because we’ve got way too many injuries but we do what we call ‘thud’ which is hard. And you can slop through it if you want to or you can make it really demanding. We have urged them and promised them that it would pay off. When you are young, you begin to think, ‘Well it’s just never going to work. It’s impossible.’ Then to get into a game like this, you think, ‘Some way they are going to take this away from us.’ That is the inclination.

Football and life teach you that if you have …

Continue reading What they said after Georgia State’s win »

Georgia State coach Bill Curry began his weekly press conference by delving into the psyches of those involved or affected by the team’s five-game losing streak.

“Where we are in this challenge is very demanding. Basically, there are three  kinds of people involved (summarizing):”

1. Fellowship of the miserable, who point out all the negatives. I’m not talking about media, I’m talking about people in and around the team.

2. Those who go silent because they don’t know what to say. I don’t blame either group for that.

3. The encouragers. Encouraging the positive results you see without having an immature group of people think we’re doing ok. Well we are aren’t ok and won’t be OK until we play a complete game this year.

He continued:

“We’re working hard to stay positive with our team and encourage the good things that are happening but make it very clear that there are certain things that are unacceptable and that we aren’t anywhere close to where we need to be overall. We …

Continue reading Curry on three kinds of people »

Kelton Hill will make his first start at quarterback for Georgia State in this weekend’s game against South Alabama. The Panthers have lost their last five games and need to win this one to give themselves a chance at a second winning season.

Hill said the start is a long-time coming, and that more than anything he just wants to help the team get a victory.

“This program really needs a ‘W,’ ” he said.

Bo Schlechter, who started last week’s loss at South Carolina State, will back up Hill. Drew Little, who took over the starting job but didn’t play last week because of injuries, will also sit out this week’s game.

Hill, a native of Douglasville who played at Lithia Springs High School, has passed for 74 yards this season, completing three of his 12 attempts in limited duty. But he has rushed for 127, including 94 last week.

Hill found out Sunday in a phone call with offensive coordinator John Bond that he would be the starter. Hill said he’s looking forward to getting more …

Continue reading Hill hopes to lead Georgia State to victory »

Georgia State linebacker Mark Hogan said the defense must learn to finish games if it hopes to snap the five-game losing streak in this week’s homecoming game against South Alabama.

Hogan said the players are comfortable with the scheme, which has been simplified, and are being put in good positions, but they aren’t making the plays.

He said South Carolina State’s final drive, in which it went 80 yards, all by rushing, for the game-securing touchdown in the fourth quarter, is an example.

“One thing that coach Thompson stressed: It doesn’t matter if you play lights out if you can’t finish,” Hogan said.

Hogan said the Panthers played better because they put more men closer to the line of scrimmage, executed their slants and blitzes, and played their gaps better. The Bulldogs totaled 155 rushing yards, 40 less than what the Panthers were allowing coming into the game.

However, that touchdown continued a trend of the Panthers falling flat in the final frame. Georgia State has …

Continue reading Georgia State’s defense wants to finish the game »

Kelton Hill will start at quarterback for Georgia State in this weekend’s game against South Alabama.

Bo Schlechter will back up Hill. Drew Little, who didn’t play in last week’s loss at South Carolina State, will sit out this week’s game because of injuries.

Hill, a native of Douglasville who played at Lithia Springs High School, will be making the first start of his career. He has passed for 83  yards this season, but has rushed for 127, including 94 last week.

The Panthers, losers of their last five, could use a spark on offense. They’ve surpassed 350 yards on offense just once this season and haven’t scored more than 24 points against any Division I teams this season.

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In other news, Georgia State was picked to finish 11th in the 12-team CAA in men’s basketball today. Drexel was picked to win the league. The conference’s coaches, media relations directors, and media members were polled.

Forward Eric Buckner was an honorable mention selection on all-conference teams. Old …

Continue reading Hill will start at QB — updated »