Post by Aggie One on Aug 30, 2018 15:57:37 GMT -5
ECU-A&T: Q&A analysis
The Daily Reflector
Thursday, August 30, 2018
In conjunction with Jeff Mills, who covers North Carolina A&T football for the Greensboro News & Record, here is a series of questions and answers between The Daily Reflector’s Ronnie Woodward and Mills this week.
This interaction also will appear in the Greensboro News & Record.
1. Woodward: What were some key factors for A&T in wins the last few years against FBS teams?
- Mills: The key factor in both victories at Kent State and at Charlotte was team speed. Simply put, the Aggies could run with those teams, particularly on defense at linebacker and in the secondary. In both games, A&T’s defense also did a good job on third down, holding the Kent and Charlotte offenses to a combined 11-for-34 on third-down conversions.
2. Woodward: Likely being undersized, How do you think the Aggies can hold up in the trenches against ECU?
- Mills: This is a great question. When now-retired coach Rod Broadway arrived eight years ago, he was bigger than every one of A&T’s defensive linemen. The Aggies have since recruited hard on the offensive and defensive lines, but the focus has been more on footspeed and athleticism than size. Sam Washington will rotate his defensive linemen in and out to keep fresh legs up front. The uncertainty is the O-line, which has four new starters and looked overmatched at times in the opener against Jacksonville State.
3. Woodward: Who are a few A&T skill players who could make game-changing or explosive plays to change the outcome of the game?
- Mills: Keep an eye on senior QB Lamar Raynard, a pure passer and effective leader. The Aggies are 27-0 in games he has started since his freshman year. When healthy, WR Elijah Bell is a big-time player with size and speed. RB Marquell Cartwright is a power runner more than a big-play guy. Senior WR Malik Wilson can really run (and already has a kickoff return TD), and WR Zach Leslie seems poised for a breakthrough year.
Mills’ prediction: It wouldn’t surprise me if A&T won this game. But I don’t think the Aggies will. The key stat here is 22. East Carolina has 85 full scholarships to give, while as an FCS school A&T is limited to 63. Those 22 more scholarships create an uneven playing field, and that’s why the deeper FBS team is supposed to win these guarantee games. The Aggies have a fighting chance, but ECU should still be favored. East Carolina 34, A&T 21.
For the rest of the story:
www.reflector.com/ECU/2018/08/30/ECU-A-T.html
The Daily Reflector
Thursday, August 30, 2018
In conjunction with Jeff Mills, who covers North Carolina A&T football for the Greensboro News & Record, here is a series of questions and answers between The Daily Reflector’s Ronnie Woodward and Mills this week.
This interaction also will appear in the Greensboro News & Record.
1. Woodward: What were some key factors for A&T in wins the last few years against FBS teams?
- Mills: The key factor in both victories at Kent State and at Charlotte was team speed. Simply put, the Aggies could run with those teams, particularly on defense at linebacker and in the secondary. In both games, A&T’s defense also did a good job on third down, holding the Kent and Charlotte offenses to a combined 11-for-34 on third-down conversions.
2. Woodward: Likely being undersized, How do you think the Aggies can hold up in the trenches against ECU?
- Mills: This is a great question. When now-retired coach Rod Broadway arrived eight years ago, he was bigger than every one of A&T’s defensive linemen. The Aggies have since recruited hard on the offensive and defensive lines, but the focus has been more on footspeed and athleticism than size. Sam Washington will rotate his defensive linemen in and out to keep fresh legs up front. The uncertainty is the O-line, which has four new starters and looked overmatched at times in the opener against Jacksonville State.
3. Woodward: Who are a few A&T skill players who could make game-changing or explosive plays to change the outcome of the game?
- Mills: Keep an eye on senior QB Lamar Raynard, a pure passer and effective leader. The Aggies are 27-0 in games he has started since his freshman year. When healthy, WR Elijah Bell is a big-time player with size and speed. RB Marquell Cartwright is a power runner more than a big-play guy. Senior WR Malik Wilson can really run (and already has a kickoff return TD), and WR Zach Leslie seems poised for a breakthrough year.
Mills’ prediction: It wouldn’t surprise me if A&T won this game. But I don’t think the Aggies will. The key stat here is 22. East Carolina has 85 full scholarships to give, while as an FCS school A&T is limited to 63. Those 22 more scholarships create an uneven playing field, and that’s why the deeper FBS team is supposed to win these guarantee games. The Aggies have a fighting chance, but ECU should still be favored. East Carolina 34, A&T 21.
For the rest of the story:
www.reflector.com/ECU/2018/08/30/ECU-A-T.html
