Offense … Offense … Some say it’s the offense that sells tickets and it’s the defense that wins games.
Not at ETSU. The Bucs have lost two of their first three games thanks to poor offensive showings.
Coach Paul Hamilton used all the quarterbacks in his arsenal in a losing effort last Saturday against Gardner-Webb. The running backs didn’t do much, rushing for 79 yards on 38 carries, the receiving corps only managed to get 150 yards.
“I think right now when you say problems on offense, there’s no question we haven’t moved the football like we need to,” Hamilton said on Tuesday at the weekly news luncheon. When asked about the 33 tackles for a loss in three games, Hamilton said, “Golly is that right? I’m gonna sleep less tonight, now. We gotta get that corrected. I mean we had a bunch; I didn’t know it was that many.”
The Buc defense has played as well as can be expected without support from the offense. Last week the Buc defense started off slow but came on strong to shut down Gardner-Webb offensively.
Currently, the Bucs have five defensive players on the injured list, including defensive lineman Jeff Pierce, linebacker’s Mario Bryant, Scott Brumett, Mike Cornegay, and defensive back Tony Tiller. The Bucs have been outscored 44-0 in the first and third quarters this season.
Hamilton has decided on a regular QB for the team. Jatavis Sanders, if healthy, will be taking over the helm this Saturday against Virginia Military Institute. Sanders went 10-for-12 for 114 yards against Gardner-Webb. “I really felt like … Jatavis Sanders played a good game Saturday night … with no interceptions,” Hamilton said. “I think the thing that stands out the most about Jatavis, which is obvious right now, is that he’s been around college football and been on the field and played more. Particularly going with the youth of our offense right now, I think we need the maturity that he brings. He’s handling it with an even keel.”
Sanders also got hurt against Gardner-Webb and has not thrown this week.
“That loss Saturday night was certainly the most difficult one that I’ve personally had to deal with at East Tennessee,” Hamilton said. “It’s a major disappointment to me, and I know to our coaches and our football team.”
This week in the Mini-Dome the Bucs will be looking to beat a much improved VMI team. The Bucs have beaten VMI five times in a row. VMI finished 1-7 in the SoCon last season, but Hamilton is taking them seriously.
He says they may be the best VMI team he has seen since he became the coach at ETSU. He also says they have one of the best players in the SoCon (QB Joey Gibson). VMI is a run-and-shoot team with Gibson running the offense. On defense “they run a lot of different type looks and come after you with pressure.”
This week’s game will be the Bucs first SoCon game. After playing N.C. State and two other non-conference games the Bucs’ experience level should be improving.
Now with something to prove and just one QB they hope to be able to pull out a victory and pick up their first league win of the season.
“The key for us … is to win this week, then we have something to build on,” Hamilton said.
Two or three of the injured may not play this week, but the Buc defense hopes to be able to perform at a level consistent enough to win.
Wide receiver Cecil Moore says that the QB changes haven’t affected his game, and although he says he doesn’t prefer any certain QB, it would be better for the team if they just had one QB to be the leader.

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