1. How can our special teams improve?
Special teams have been an issue under Coach Gill each of his 4 seasons. He’s tried multiple special teams’ coordinators, including himself, to no avail.
2. Who will be our quarterback?
Josh Woodrum has been Liberty’s starting quarterback for the past 4 seasons. Now, the Flames enter 2016 with a huge hole at the most important position. We will dive into this particular question in more detail throughout the offseason.
3. Why is our offensive production declining?
Each of the last 3 seasons, Liberty’s offensive production has declined. Total offense was over 420 yards per game in 2013, it was at 379 in 2015. Scoring offense peaked at 37.2 points per game in 2013, it was 25.9 in 2015, the lowest it has been since 2006. The team’s rushing statistics have declined each of the past 3 seasons as well. Liberty ran for 184 yards per game in 2013, but that number dropped to 119 in 2015. Yards per rush was at 4.8 in 2013, dropped to 4.4 in 2014, and was 3.6 in 2015. Meanwhile, the Flames’ are throwing the ball more times each game as passing yardage increases as well.
In summary, we’re passing the ball more and running less, while total offense and scoring drops.
4. Do we have any depth at running back?
D.J. Abnar and Des Rice are gone. Todd Macon will obviously be the starter, but behind him is a bunch of question marks. Carrington Mosley and Frankie Hickson are the only running backs on the roster. Mosley has 5 carries for 31 yards in his first 3 seasons while Hickson redshirted in 2015. Additionally, the class of 2016 is currently void of any running backs.
5. Who will replace Lunsford?
Sure, he was inconsistent with the mid-range kicks, but we knew what we had with Lunsford. Avery Echols was decent in his brief time as a freshman in 2014, but he still hasn’t attempted a field goal longer than 22 yards. He also failed to have a kickoff reach the end zone for a touchback. Verbal commit Alex Probert shows promise, but we will have to wait and see how his game translates to college.
6. What is our identity?
Are we a smashmouth football team who will run it down your throat? Are we a ball control team who controls time of possession and doesn’t turn it over? Are we a spread team? Do we know what kind of identity we’re trying to establish?
