The UCF Knights have endured a tough start to the 2014 season, but George O’Leary’s squad will begin conference play October 2 against Houston (2-2) with some much-needed momentum following a 41-7 victory against Bethune-Cookman Saturday.
Historically, an 0-2 start to the season isn’t such a bad omen for the Knights (1-2). The last time UCF started a season winless in its first two games, the Knights won eight of their next nine games en route to a Conference USA title game at the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. The Knights wound up with winning records three of the last four seasons in which they started 0-2.
“We needed it,” said UCF senior linebacker Terrance Plummer. “We needed to get in that win column. We needed the confidence going into conference with our first game coming up versus Houston.”
Despite a big win against an out-classed opponent, the Knights have plenty to tighten up in their bye week before their initial conference test.
Against Bethune-Cookman, the Knights once again started slowly and actually trailed 7-3 late in the first quarter before erasing the early deficit and routing the overmatched Wildcats. Quarterback Justin Holman has yet to reproduce the late-game heroics that nearly propelled UCF to a dramatic come-from-behind win over Penn State to open the season.
Holman, Blake Bortles’ backup during the 2013 season, struggled against Missouri two weeks ago and had accuracy issues Saturday night. He bounced back to finish 6-of-11 for 145 yards before exiting after three quarters. Inconsistent performances are likely what led to Pete DiNovo being named the starter to begin the season.
The offensive line will also have to improve its pass protection. The unit gave up eight sacks in the first two games, alone. The challenge for offensive line coach Brent Key has been replacing veteran guards Justin and Jordan McCray and right tackle Chris Martin.
“Whether it’s five guys that are consistent in playing for the entire season or six guys like last year or seven, eight or nine guys…As a position coach, I don’t care how many guys it is out there,” Key said last week. “I want five guys that are gonna go on that field and consistently perform through practice and give us the confidence as coaches to put them on the field Saturday.”
The Knights possess a surplus of talent and experience on both sides of the ball. UCF’s wide receiver corps is the deepest unit on offense. As expected, J.J. Worton (nine receptions for 150 yards and a touchdown) and Breshard Perriman (eight receptions for 206 yards) lead the way.
The inconsistent performance from the defense, which has appeared unsettled at times, is one of the biggest surprises early in the Knights’ season. Deep up front with strong linebackers and three returning starters in the secondary, UCF has struggled to keep opponents out of the end zone.
The defense succeeded in pressuring the quarterback Saturday night, recording six sacks and limiting Bethune-Cookman to 3-of-13 in third down conversions and just 173 yards of total offense. A unit brimming with experience shouldn’t require a confidence builder ahead of conference play, but a pair of losses to open the season likely provided a wake-up call of sorts to a defense that is expected to be among the best in the conference.
“These last few games I think we’ve been giving up touchdowns on the first drive and letting people drive the ball down. We wanted to make a statement. Go out there and set the tone early,” Plummer said following Satuday’s victory. “When the offense gets the ball, they drive it down. When the defense goes out there, we stop them, three and out, and give it back to our offense. We’re spending too much time on the field. Today, we tried to get off and get the offense the ball.”
With the first win of the season in the books, O’Leary is ready for the Knights to defend their AAC title.
“It’s a good win, but now we get into the conference season,” O’Leary said. “The one goal we have on the team is to win the conference championship each and every year.”
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