Quarterback

Josh Woodrum – 20/34, 177yds. 1 rushing TD

3-13 on third down. The Flames wouldn’t get a first down until well into the second quarter. The Buccaneer’s defense held Woodrum to 177 yards and no passing touchdowns. Josh was able to scramble in for a score, but that’s where his contributions ended. The conference’s top defense looked the part today and shut down the senior quarterback.

Grade: D+

Running backs

Todd Macon – 8/25yds                  Des Rice – 4/17yds

Liberty’s running backs combined for a season-low 42 yds. Macon saw the majority of the carries this afternoon, with Rice not getting a single carry in the first half. Just like the passing offense, the running game was helpless against one of the top defenses in FCS.

Grade: D+

Wide Receivers

Darrin Peterson – 6/78yds 1TD                   Zac Parker – 5/51yds

The receivers weren’t going to catch a touchdown pass from Woodrum today, so they went ahead and threw one to themselves. Damian King hit Darrin Peterson on a 44 yard trick play for the only passing score of the afternoon.

Otherwise, Peterson and company just couldn’t find a way to beat the staunch CSU pass defense. The wide receiver corps was also responsible for Liberty’s lone turnover of the game, a Damian King fumble in the first half.

Grade: C-

Offensive Line

2 sacks, 7 runs for loss

The Flames offense couldn’t get going in large part due to being decimated in the trenches. Josh was dealing with defenders in the backfield all afternoon and the running game was finished before it really ever begun.

We knew going into this year that the line might be a bit of a weakness and it looked every bit of that day. This unit should be a point of emphasis going into the offseason.

Grade: D-

Defensive Line

Charleston Southern ran the ball an incredible 50 times tonight, beating away at the Flames defense. For the most part, the Flames were able to contain the run, especially the option that the Bucs were so fond of. Overall, solid outing for the d-line.

Grade: B

Linebackers

Maybe the most impressive aspect of the game this afternoon was Liberty’s ability to stop the option. Nick Newman and Jimmy O’Grady in particular did an excellent job shutting down the run, despite the defense being on the field for over 80 snaps.

Grade: B

Defensive backs

Jeremy Peters – 1 INT, 1 sack

Peters’ pick six leveled the game for the Flames at the end of the first. But from then on out, the young secondary looked confused at times, miscommunication resulting in wide open receivers and big, explosive plays from the Charleston Southern offense. CSU quarterback Austin Brown finished the game with 301yds, 4 TDs and an INT.

Grade: C-

Special teams

A blocked punt and a kickoff out of bounds highlighted another poor showing on special teams for the Flames. On the bright side, Damian King continues to look good as a kick returner.

Grade: D+