| MTSU faces Florida Atlantic today |
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By: By JOSH EZZELL
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Posted: Tuesday, September 23, 2008 3:12 pm
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So far this season nobody can say that MTSU has a dominant rushing game.
The Blue Raiders (1-3, 0-2 in the Sun Belt Conference) average only 69.2 yards per game rushing — seventh out of eight teams in the SBC — and nobody on the squad has rushed for 100 yards in a game this season.
“It is no secret. We have struggled in all four games in the running game, and it has to get better,” MTSU head coach Rick Stockstill said of the Blue Raiders’ running game. “There are a lot of contributing circumstances, and hopefully some of that will turn, and it will help us down the road.”
Florida Atlantic could be what the doctor ordered. The Owls (1-3, 0-0) surrender 213.2 yards per game rushing — seventh out of eight teams in the SBC — and three times FAU has allowed the opposition to rush for at least 200 yards. Michigan State’s Javon Ringer ran for 282 yards.
Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. today. MTSU fans are encouraged to wear black shirts for the game that will be televised on ESPN2 in honor or Blackout Night. MTSU will wear black jerseys for the first time in school history.
“It is not scheme-wise or talent-wise,” Stockstill said. “We are doing the right things, but we have to do them better.”
Phillip Tanner leads the MTSU rushing attack with 153 yards — 38.2 yards per game — but gets only 2.6 yards a carry. Desmond Gee has run for 93 yards and averages 23.2 yards per game.
“It’s tough not being able to run the ball, but as a quarterback you like being able to throw the ball,” said MTSU quarterback Joe Craddock, who leads the SBC in passing yards per game at 269 a contest and is second in passing efficiency at 135.3.
“We’ll get better,” Craddock said. “We’ve got the right schemes. We’ll be fine.”
MTSU has only three rushing touchdowns — Tanner has all three — but has done damage through the air. The Blue Raiders have the SBC’s top passing offense at 276.8 yards per game, and wide receiver Malcolm Beyah leads the conference in receiving yards a game at 80.8 per contest.
Florida Atlantic’s passing game isn’t shabby. Quarterback Rusty Smith was the SBC Player of the Year in 2007, leading the Owls to a victory over Memphis in the New Orleans Bowl.
“Rusty Smith is an excellent quarterback,” Stockstill said. “He does a great job of getting the ball out of his hands, and he does not take a lot of sacks. He is very accurate with the ball.”
He’s fifth in the SBC in passing yards a game with 218.5. He’s completed only 45.9 percent of his passes, but MTSU isn’t taking him lightly.
“He is a good quarterback,” MTSU linebacker Danny Carmichael said. “He had an outstanding year last year with one of the top efficiency ratings in the country.”
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