I've mentioned a couple times how we could see some changes once the staff has a chance to reflect on the first four games and use this bye week as an opportunity to re-evaluate guys in their current roles.
So I went through to look at how some guys are performing. I'll get to them in a bit, because I also noticed some interesting participation trends.
- Barry Amos started at safety in the opener, but he hasn't played at all the past two games. Dejuan Dandridge has started every game in his place. If he's not hurt or disciplined, I wonder if he'll be given another shot.
- Similarly, Matt Fennell started the first two games on the offensive line but didn't play at all against Bryant. Rene Rodriguez started at right tackle against the Bulldogs and while the line performed well for most of the game, Rodriguez got beat badly on the sack that led to Jimmy Walker fumbling on the final drive.
- Dylan Young started the first three games at right guard and didn't play at all against Bryant. John Sheldon got his first start of the season there. Injury or performance decision? Have to say Sheldon played fairly well.
- Running back Kendall Rodgers hasn't played a game since the opener. Alijah Jackson has replaced him as the No. 2 back and maybe even bumped Terence Stephens out as the No. 1 back.
Good stuff to build on through four weeks:
- Regardless of who is No. 1 and who is No. 2, Jackson and Stephens have shown flashes at running back. Jackson was awesome against Bryant and Stephens had a long kick return. Definitely can keep working with them moving forward. The run game needs to be more consistent and more productive, but there's a foundation there.
- Matt Gonzalez is the teams leading receiver through four games and Tim Vecchio is second. That's a pretty solid foundation.
- Eric McCallister, Trevor Hicks and Connor Mundy have started every game on the line. Seems like they've settled in as starters and I don't see a reason to change.
- Jimmy Walker has been very solid. He's completed 53.4% of his passes and has over 200 yards in every game except the JMU blowout. I see no reason to move away from him as the starter. Just keep getting George Martin experience as his back-up when possible.
- Adam Wollet has been as expected at linebacker and Jon Muehlbauer has been a nice late surprise at safety.
Areas of improvement:
- Consistency at receiver beyond Gonzalez and Vecchio. Delano Madison has been underwhelming. Warren Robinson has been hurt. I'd like to see three guys who popped up against Bryant become regular targets - Steve Petrick as the No. 2 tight end, Anthony Dellefemine and Brandon Magee as receivers with Vecchio and Robinson. Also, what's up with Tavin Allison? He's been very quiet through four games after showing flashes last year.
- The team has three sacks in four games. Unacceptable. Where's Chris Stanford? He's played in just two games. Is he hurt? If he's healthy, he needs to play. Fenwick is the only guy playing reasonably well on the defensive line.
- Linebackers haven't given them much help, either. Lamica and Neal aren't getting in the backfield for tackles for losses. The team has 10 fewer tackles for a loss than their opponents through four games. The team is really thin at linebacker, but the front seven is not getting it done.
- The corners have been okay, even with Heavon Price banged up. I like EJ Jimenez, though he's made some freshman mistakes. I'm less sure about Dejuan Dandridge about safety. Maybe Myles Canton and Jon Muehlbauer should play together instead of battling for the starting job at one spot.
- The defense has done a decent job with deflections and break-ups, in line with the opposition. But they need to find a way to create more turnovers. Just three interceptions and one forced fumble. Getting to the QB more or blowing up running plays would help that.
