UCF hosts its home opener Saturday night against undefeated Bethune-Cookman, who stands among the elite FCS schools this season. Here are three key elements that will be crucial in the Knights’ chase of their fist win.
Consistency along the o-line
The offensive line has started two different combinations through two games, but has yet to find an airtight combination.
“We’re searching to find the best combination of five guys,” Offensive Coordinator Charlie Taaffe said, continuing, “it still hasn’t totally resolved itself, and that’s still kind of a work in progress.”
If the Knights want to compete for the conference championship, the line will have to find its footing immediately. The run game has looked abysmal at times through the season in large part because of the blocking quality, only allowing 2.2 yards per carry as a team, and first year starter Justin Holman needs all the tools around him in his transition to starter.
Holman as a ‘gamer’
Head Coach O’Leary said after the Croke Park Classic that Justin Holman had underwhelmed all preseason, and that the right quarterback had won the job based on practice merit. In a live game situation though, Holman has looked light years ahead of DiNovo’s performance in the season opener.
“I hate the term ‘gamer’,” Taaffe said, continuing, “but some guys play better when the lights come on.”
Holman is getting his second start against a defense that should prove to be far less imposing than the Missouri or Penn State units. If he can continue his steady rate of progress, there is sound logic that this could be the quarterback’s breakout game.
Jacoby Glenn, INT machine
Glenn, who was voted to the All-American AAC First Team after his freshman campaign, already has two inceptions against college football’s top quarterback’s this year. PSU’s Christian Hackenberg is already being touted as a top prospect in the Ben Roethlisberger mold, and Mizzou’s Maty Mauk is tearing up the NCAA with twelve touchdowns.
He has also contributed fifteen tackles and two pass breakups this season, making his presence known all over the field. Expect for Glenn to make some big plays against the Bethune-Cookman.