Okay, maybe we jumped the shark believing Tulsa‘s game against Florida Atlantic was a must win. Besides, when is the third game ever a must win?
Now let’s be serious and admit Tulsa’s home game against Texas State this Saturday is the real must win. If the Golden Hurricane loses their third straight game on Saturday, their subsequent 1-3 start, plus their difficult remaining schedule, equals no bowl game.
Tulsa had an extra week to mourn its meltdown in Boca Raton, FL (Tulsans no longer see Florida as a destination vacation), and configure a plan for keeping 50-21 blowouts off the scoreboard.
A bye week can be used as a reset button for a season gone awry. Rest assured Tulsa used the extra practice and film study during its bye to start part II of the 2014 season off with a bang.
Here’s what to expect from the Golden Hurricane after using a “reset button.”
Expect more urgency from players and coaches
Head coach Bill Blankenship and his players won’t verbally admit that Saturday’s game against Texas State is a must-win — they’re all “must-wins” to the head coach — but they know how imperative a win on Saturday is for the remaining outlook of the season.
Blankenship and few players gathered to watch East Carolina demolish North Carolina last Saturday. They witnessed the current power program in the AAC, the team they end the 2014 season against at home.
The Golden Hurricane know the road to the final week gets much longer if they falls to 1-3 (four losses away from a bowl-less season). Tulsa will race into Chapman Stadium Saturday night ignited with a new focus and urgency to take the season back to .500.
Expect the defense to tackle better
According to Tulsa World:
“Blankenship said some of Tulsa’s defensive deficiencies were addressed during the open week. Tackling was emphasized. So was gang-tackling — playing defense with passion, arriving at the football every play hostile and edgy.”
Hopefully defensive players soaked in what coaches tried to instill during the bye. The defense has allowed 14 plays of 30 or more yards this season. The secondary has looked lackadaisical at times, and missed tackles have been a common occurrence.
Texas State is averaging 538 yards per game, and is coming to Tulsa after a close loss to Big Ten foe Illinois, where it lead 21-13 at the half. The Bobcats will certainly have urgency in their cleats and will strive to take advantage of Tulsa’s hapless secondary.
Expect more from a disappointing running game
No Tulsa running back has rushed for more than 84 yards this season. The rushing attack, more like rushing walk, is averaging a putrid 3.53 yards per attempt and hasn’t gained more than 100 yards since Week 1.
If Tavarreon Dickerson and Zack Langer can remain healthy — each have missed a game this year — they should add a nice change of pace to compliment starting RB James Flanders.
Defensive problems aren’t magically fixed during Bye weeks. Offensive issues are equally as difficult to bandage, but the offense is more controllable than the defense. If the Tulsa O exhibits a more dynamic rushing attack against Texas State, then it might have just enough to outscore the Bobcats and compensate for a defense reputable for allowing big plays.
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