Photo credit: Charlotte Athletics
After watching Charlotte go into Houston and sneak out a win, my first comment is to our fans. Thank you for your support of the teams, Rice looked to have hundreds of folks at the game. Give this programs inability to gain traction so far, having an actual 16,000 or so butts in the seats is a healthy sign for our fanbase in the long run.
Pretty — pronounced pur-dee, with a deep southern accent — deep ball
Trexler Ivey got the start for Charlotte after Poggi's "no comment" about who would start during his mid-week presser. Ivey proceeded to go 8-21 for 54 yards and an interception in the first half, enter Purdie. The improvement was immediately, with Purdie leading two consecutive touchdown drives, both featuring touchdown strikes to Omega Blake of 32 and 45 yards. The second drive was a sustained one for Charlotte, lasting over 5 minutes.
Rice would adjust, forcing consecutive punts from Charlotte. After the second punt, Charlotte trailed 20-14 with 2:24 remaining in the 4th quarter, and doubt was creeping in. Ryan Osborn's defense stood tall, stopping Rice and Dean Connors on a 3rd and 3 run, forcing a punt. With just 1:45 remaining on the clock, and a freshman QB at the helm, Charlotte answered immediately. Purdie found Omega Blake again, for Charlotte's longest play from scrimmage thus far, a 66-yard bomb. Blake bobbled this one a bit, but ultimately hauled it in and was pulled down at the Rice 11-yard line with 1:30 left. After a 6-yard completion to Colin Weber, CLT had 2 incompletions and faced a game-deciding 4th down, in which Rice was called for pass interference. Rice then stuffed 2 CLT rush attempts, before giving way to a Hahsauhn Wilson TD from 1-yard out. I'm not sure about you all but sitting at 21-20 I wasn't ready to count this as a way. This Niner heart has been broken one too many times to fall for that.
Rice had 47 seconds left on the clock, and it proved to be more than enough time to get into field goal range, even with Rice committing a block in the back. EJ Warner connected on passes of 10, 22 and 25 yards, before Rice attempted a last-second FG from 40 yards out. Don't let the fireworks over the fieldhouse fool you, Enock Gota pulled it, and Charlotte escaped Houston with a win. WHEW.
Run game, where art thou?
Taking out DeShawn Purdie stats in the run game (2 carries, -20 yards), Charlotte toted it 27 times for a total of 87 yards. Cartevious Norton was by far the most effective on the ground, 10 carries for 56 yards. Charlotte has to find a way to get the ground game going if they want to sustain success. On the season Charlotte is just 3.3 yards per carry versus FBS competition, 107th overall in the nation.
Air it out
Given the run struggles, the emergence of Omega Blake and Sean Brown, along with flashes from Isaiah Myers, and the deep tight end room, it may be time for a philosophical shift this season to Throw the Damn Ball. PFF grades Charlotte's OL out much better in pass protection than it does in the run game, which I think we can all see pretty clearly this far into the season.
Need more defensive havoc
Charlotte recorded 0 sacks as Rice attempted 40 passes and forced zero turnovers down in Houston. On the season Charlotte is -0.5 (95th) in turnover margin per game (again, FBS games only factoring in). Charlotte's only recorded 5 sacks, 2 interceptions and 1 forced fumble against FBS competition in 4 games.
The Charlotte team we saw in the second half has a chance to be competitive week in-and-out in the American, we'll find out soon enough if they can build on that performance.
