Wofford’s option offers challenges for Mercer
Not all option offenses are the same.
But Mercer is hoping that the experiences it had against The Citadel and Georgia Tech to open the season will help this week as it tries to stop an option attack for the third time this season.
Mercer faces the option again at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday as it travels to Spartanburg, South Carolina, to take on Wofford.
Both teams are 4-3 overall and 2-2 in Southern Conference play.
“It’s a lot different,” Mercer head coach Bobby Lamb said of the Terriers’ version of the option. “They’re going to be double slot part of the time, what percentage, I don’t know. Then they’re going to be in a traditional shotgun, split-back, double look with a lot of motion going on in the background. Schemes are very similar up front with the offensive line; they’ve just got a lot of bells and whistles going on in the back.
“It’s really different than what The Citadel does, especially when (Wofford) is going out of the shotgun.”
Mercer opened the season with a 24-23 loss to The Citadel, allowing 262 yards rushing. A week later, Georgia Tech rushed for 364 yards in a 35-10 game as Mercer opened the season with two straight losses.
“Typically our defense has a little trouble against the triple-option offense,” sophomore linebacker Travonte’ Easley said. “As Coach Lamb said, they are not really like The Citadel, but they are similar in some ways. They like to spread you out, so we’ve really got to have laser-sharp focus and be sound on defense. Execution will win this game — whoever executes the most will win this game.
“We have to key on certain areas and positions. Sometimes there is a lack of focus when you’re looking somewhere else when the ball is going (the other way). We’ve just got to stay laser-sharp and focus on our keys.”
The Bears’ defense likely will focus on Wofford fullback Lorenzo Long. The senior has 138 carries for 789 yards and nine touchdowns and is averaging 111.4 yards per game and 5.7 yards per carry.
“He’s a senior … gosh, he seems like he’s been playing five or six years,” Lamb said. “A really good player and a guy that if he pops the trap, he can go the distance.”
The Terriers have turned to Brandon Goodson at quarterback, but Goodson did start against the Bears last year in the Terriers’ win at Five Star Stadium.
“It’s about containing the system. It’s a wing bone — they call it the wing bone,” Lamb said. “They’re down to their third quarterback, Brandon Goodson, but Brandon started three games for them last year, including the one here. He’s got a lot of reps. They play three quarterbacks most of the time, so they really haven’t missed a beat with him being in there.
“It’s about the system. Lorenzo Long is a guy that gets it going, but Brandon is a guy who has to make all the decisions at quarterback. They’re going to try to get you in different formations by flanking on the edge, and then they’ll hit you up the middle. It’s a great system that they’ve had for years.”
The Bears have won four of their past five games as they make the push into the closing stretch of the season. After Saturday, Mercer hosts East Tennessee State, travels to Samford and closes the season at home against Furman.
“Our seniors are really harping on us to keep pushing,” Easley said. “Every week, we focus on 1-0. We’re fighting as hard as we can, and we’re right where we need to be to push through the rest of the season and see if we end up in the playoff race.”
This story was originally published October 28, 2016 at 9:17 AM with the headline "Wofford’s option offers challenges for Mercer."