Pok’s Football Week in Review: Building On the Foundation

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Another week of football coverage is in the books!

Now, I did not exactly stick the best landing to the week. I have been out of commission for a few days due to a little battle with the flu. (That sickness is not joke! Wash your hands, drink your fluids, and get your sleep, folks!)

However, I am back with the second edition of Pok’s Football Week in Review! And just like last week, this week contained some great football, great quotes from interviews, and great context into what lies ahead.

So strap in, drink those fluids,  grab a snack, and even turn on a sporting event if you want! It is time to dive into the second edition of my weekly column!

The FIU Offense Starts to Emerge

In last week’s column, I mentioned that I was interested in seeing how the FIU Panthers offense would progress this week. Whether it is college football or professional football, defenses always get off to a fast start. While still being complex and containing plenty of nuances, defenses can play with more physicality right off the bat. On the other hand, offenses, especially when it is a new scheme, have to master nuances and plays that can take weeks to implement.

In an ideal scenario, a team should have balanced battles between their offense and defense. Players should start to emerge on both sides of the ball, and the competitiveness should create entertaining, back-and-forth practices.

When it comes to the Golden Panthers, that ideal balance started to show itself this week.

The defense still had plenty of good moments during the week against the offense. They had great coverage in the secondary, some great pass rushes, and players kept swarming to the ball consistently. Most importantly, the unit did not slow down this week from an energy level in the slightest.

On the offensive side of the ball, however, I was impressed with how some things started to come together.

Throughout the week, the offensive scheme showed its versatility and multiplicity. It all starts before the snap for FIU no matter what type of play they are running, the Panthers have a shift or a motion in place. There can be jet motion, or it can be a slight shift from an H-back or wideout. It can even be a combination of both.

But no matter what type of motion is used, it all serves the same purpose: to make the picture clearer for the offense. The jet motion can help create space for an explosive run, as a defender is a step slow for their assignment. A shift from a wide receiver can help create a free release, which then can lead to an easy completion.

This is what FIU’s motion and overall offensive scheme accomplished this week. Whether it was normal spread concepts or fun offensive designs, the unit strung together multiple great drives throughout the week. There was a flow and rhythm to how the Panthers operated; every play had a purpose and was executed in the proper way. The quarterbacks hit their targets consistently, while the receivers were able to create more separation than the prior week. The running backs and offensive line worked in tandem even better than before.

It was not a perfect showing from the offensive unit, but that is to be expected. The Panthers have some nice talent on their defense that made some great plays and forced some bad ones from the offense.

However, the spring sessions are about development and seeing consistent progress. After this week’s practices, I believe that the FIU offense is in a great spot and will only continue to improve as they approach their April 5th spring game.

Standout Players

With FIU being the only team on the docket this week, the standouts are once again heavily focused on them.

On offense, the discussion should start with quarterback Keyone Jenkins. As the conductor of the offense, Jenkins showed the dual-threat ability that made him one of the best quarterbacks in C-USA last season. In the passing game, Jenkins was quick in his reads and looked very in sync with the overall scheme. He got the ball out on time, was very accurate with his throws, and kept the offense moving consistently.

As a runner, Jenkins was just as good. When he was not extending the play with his legs, Jenkins utilized them to attack downhill and gain immediate yards for the offense. On one drive during the week, the quarterback capped off a touchdown drive by darting into the endzone on a scramble.

Jenkins was not the only player to stand out at the quarterback position, though. Clayton Dees showed off some great speed and throwing ability during the week as well. He has not been perfect throughout the spring, as he has missed on a handful of throws. However, the quarterback has shown plenty of skill and upside, which could put him on a fast track to be the backup for the Panthers this season.

Outside of the quarterbacks, there were some other impressive players on the offense. Running back Devonte Lyons continued to display impressive movement ability as a runner and receiver. It seems that regardless of the play type, he is going to do damage with the ball in his hands. Fellow running back Ajay Allen looked very smooth in between the tackles, easily getting yards downhill.

At wideout, Semaj Demps made an impressive play during the open practice on Saturday and consistently made plays throughout the week. I also have been impressed by how C’Quan Jnopierre has run his routes and gotten open over the course of the week.

On defense, Percy Courtney and Dante Anderson continued to get after the quarterback and make plays all over the football field. Those two have been my main standouts from this unit; while the entire group has been making an impact, Courtney and Anderson have been racking up the most production.

Additionally, defensive backs Deuce Blades and G7 (Jai-Ayviauynn Celestine) stood out during the week. Blades had great coverage on a consistent basis, while G7 showed an impressive ability to fly downhill and make tackles in the run game as a defensive back.

Quotes of the Week

DB Duece Blades on how he is attacking the spring sessions: “One of my goals is working on my feet and keeping them smooth. Another goal, especially going into the season, is going after the ball. I had some interceptions, but there are a lot of plays I could have made if I went after the ball a little better. So I want to be more aggressive on the ball.”

RB Ajay Allen on how he is fitting in with is new team: “With the new guys, you have to guide them in and show them the way how college football works. It’s just like your little brother; when you show him something, you have to show him the right way. You have to show the new guys the right way. With me coming in, I am an older guy and already know how this thing works. So, I am coming in and showing everybody how to do the little things right. I feel like that’s a big deal.”

DB Antonio Patterson on how he is implementing the defense’s new mentality into his game: “I am going to continue to work on it. I’m going to study film, ask questions to coaches, and learn from the people in front of and behind me. I’m trying to get better each and every day.”

Week in Advance: What to Watch

For the first time in the history of this newsletter(three weeks), there will be more than just FIU Football in next week’s edition! Here is what I am watching:

  • FIU Spring Practice: On offense, what is the next step in the development of the unit? Will there be more wrinkles in the run game, a deeper bag of RPOs, or a combination of both? On defense, what wrinkles will they bring out? Will there be disguised coverage looks to sim pressures? Additionally, will there be new standouts to emerge on both sides of the ball?
  • USF Pro Day: There will be plenty to discuss regarding the draft-eligible players from the Bulls. However, I am very intrigued to see how players from the NFL’s International Pathway Program fare when compared to the USF players in attendance. Whether it is EDGE Mapalo “Maz” Mwansa or TE Nathaniel Salmon, there are some interesting players who could break out onto the scene. Wednesday’s event is shaping up to be one of the more exciting Pro Days in this draft cycle.

Graduated Summa Cum Laude from Fairleigh Dickinson University in May 2023 with a Communications Degree, a concentration in Multimedia Journalism, and a minor in Broadcasting. Received an M.A. in Communication from Fairleigh Dickinson University in May 2024. Wrote for Jets Insider for two years, previously hosted a Knicks podcast for Let's Talk Knicks, and contributed to Inside the Iggles. Currently a writer for Jets X-Factor. Avid movie watcher, gym goer, music listener, and MMA fan.

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