Protecting the quarterback is Job No. 1 for FIU as it prepares to host Jacksonville State
The sacks and general pounding absorbed by FIU freshman quarterback Keyone Jenkins over the past three weeks has not escaped his family’s notice.
“They said some things,” Jenkins remarked recently with a laugh. “I can’t say (in public) what they said.
“But I can take a hit. I’m a tough cookie.”
FIU (4-4 overall, 1-4 Conference USA) is set to host the Jacksonville State Gamecocks (6-2, 4-1) on Wednesday night in a game televised by CBS Sports Network.
It is the final game of four straight Wednesday night matchups for FIU, which is 1-2 in these contests so far.
But, looking forward, there may not be a bigger Panthers offseason priority than protecting Jenkins by bolstering their offensive line through recruiting and, especially, the transfer portal.
Jenkins said he has gotten hit more this season than he had in a couple of years in high school.
FIU’s opponents have a 31-14 advantage in sacks this season. UTEP sacked FIU eight times two weeks ago. It was the most sacks for the Miners in 22 years. Jenkins took four more sacks in last week’s 33-27 double-overtime win at Sam Houston State.
Jenkins, who has taken 27 of those 31 sacks, said he has at times held the ball too long in the pocket.
“That has played a role most of the time,” Jenkins said. “I can’t put everything on my offensive line.”
Jenkins said he held the ball too long because he has had to let his receivers’ routes develop. That underscores the thinking that while the offensive line takes most of the blame, receivers need to get open, running backs have to pick up blitzes and the quarterback has to get rid of the ball on time and with accuracy.
In other words, teamwork is crucial.
FIU center John Bock II, meanwhile, admitted that there have been technical breakdowns on his unit.
“We’re working to set deeper and be firmer,” Bock said. “When you allow your quarterback to get hit a couple of times, he is not going to want to stay in the pocket. That’s just human nature.
“So, we need to be firmer. If our quarterback is setting up nine yards deep, we need to sink back. We have to trust what the game plan is and not do our own thing. We have to be on the same page.”
Bock boiled it down to this: “Don’t get the QB hit. That’s our No. 1 job.”
THIS AND THAT
▪ Jacksonville State’s coach is Rich Rodriguez, who won four Big East titles in a five-year span at West Virginia in the 2000s. He was also the head coach at Michigan and Arizona. He is 15-4 in two years with the Gamecocks.
▪ Quarterback Zion Webb, who is in his seventh year of college football, runs the Gamecocks’ fast-paced offense. A third-year starter, Webb is coming off an outstanding game in a 20-17 win over Western Kentucky. He completed 22-of-39 passes for 218 yards with one interception. He also ran 28 times for 146 yards and one touchdown.
▪ FIU defensive back Adrian Cole, who had offseason surgery on both shoulders, has earned praise from coach Mike MacIntyre for his ability to play cornerback and safety. Cole said at safety he has more responsibility to make sure everyone is lined up correctly.
▪ Bock, who had surgery on his right thumb earlier this season, is snapping with his left hand, a switch he made in the spring, prior to his injury. He missed just one game due to the thumb injury.