FIU
FIU offense showing vast improvement
After scoring only 10 points in its first three games, FIU's offense has lit up the scoreboard with 77 points in its past two.
BY PETE PELEGRIN
ppelegrin@MiamiHerald.com
DENTON, Texas -- So this is how potent new FIU offensive coordinator Bill Legg's spread offense can be.
In the first three games of the season the offense was discombobulated, scoring just one touchdown and putting up a total of 10 points.
In the past two games, including Saturday's 42-10 win over North Texas, the Golden Panthers have scored 10 touchdowns, totaled 77 points and won both games.
Since Legg's arrival from Purdue last January, the offense has been eager to prove that the system that produced the Big Ten's top offense the past two seasons for the Boilermakers can also work for the Golden Panthers.
''We've been in this offense now going on eight or nine months,'' said quarterback Paul McCall, who threw four touchdown passes against North Texas to tie the program's single-game record. ``I would like to say it was just a matter of time, but we've put so much work into this offense.''
FIU's offense set or came close to several school records Saturday in Denton.
The Golden Panthers (2-3, 1-0 Sun Belt) posted 347 yards to set the mark for most yards by FIU since moving up to Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I) in 2005.
The 42 points scored by FIU were the most since the Golden Panthers hung 52 on Florida Atlantic in 2005.
FIU freshman receiver T.Y. Hilton, who caught two touchdown passes, set the team record for most receiving yards (138) in a half.
Yet, with all the offensive accomplishments, coach Mario Cristobal saw plenty of room for improvement, especially with Sun Belt stalwart Middle Tennessee visiting FIU on Saturday.
''A great team effort,'' Cristobal said. ``But there's lots of stuff to correct though. It's evident we left a lot of points out there especially on that first drive getting stopped on fourth-and-short. That's the first fourth down that we don't make. Overall I was pleased with the effort, but there's lots of stuff to fix.''
One aspect of FIU's offense that did get straightened out was the deep passing game. The Golden Panthers had three touchdown passes of 25 or more yards. The ability to throw deep helped FIU smoothly operate the rest of its offense.
''The best part about [McCall] was he kept throwing the ball deep and that opened up our run,'' Cristobal said. ``He was very consistent, very solid and most of his decision-making was on point. He did a good job managing the game. I'm very proud of his performance.''
The offense was helped by the FIU defense which got four turnovers for the second consecutive game.
Special teams also has improved. This season the unit has returned a punt for a touchdown, blocked two field-goal attempts and forced and recovered two fumbles on kickoffs. On Saturday, the punt return team blocked a punt and returned it for a TD.
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