FREEZE WANTS IMPROVED QB PLAY
Throughout the offseason there were questions around who would be Liberty’s starting quarterback going into the 2022 season as the Flames sought a replacement for Malik Willis who is now Ryan Tannehill’s backup in Nashville for the Tennessee Titans.
Charlie Brewer got the first shot, being named the starter but only lasting two series before going down to a broken hand that will keep him sidelined for at least six weeks. Then, backup Johnathan Bennett attempted to earn the job, but the offense sputtered behind the veteran signal caller in the season opener at Southern Miss.
Enter Kaidon Salter who provided a spark to the offense and helped spur the team from behind in the fourth quarter and to victory in a four overtime thriller. Freeze was quiet on his plans entering last week’s game against UAB before Salter eventually got the start and played the majority of the game, with the exception of two goal line plays when Nate Hampton entered the contest.
Salter had to adjust to a defense that had some game film to watch of him and it showed as he didn’t have the same efficient numbers he had in the season opener. Through the first two games Salter is 21 of 38 passing for 350 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception. He also leads the team in rushing with 144 yards and a touchdown on 23 rushing attempts.
“After watching his film, he better improve or we’re going to have to do something else,” Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze said on Monday in a hope to inspire the young redshirt-freshman quarterback. “It made me sick watching the film on seeing his progressions. Not hard ones either. From 2 to 1 back down and a check down standing down there that is totally by himself that is going to run for 15 yards. We duck our head down and run out of the pocket. That’s got to change fast.”
Freeze has worked on simplifying the playbook to let Salter ease himself into live reps as he attempts to learn on the fly, but the Flames will need Salter and the offense to be operating at its best this week at No. 18 Wake Forest.
“It’s disappointing that we haven’t coached him well enough to take the gimme throws. We have got to get those so that we stay on schedule and stay out of these third-and-longs and stuff,” Freeze said following Thursday’s practice. “Has he improved? I don’t think you really ever know that until you get some real live looks at it. We’ll find out come Saturday. The thing I love about him is he’s no excuse maker. Zero. It’s yes or I know I should have seen that and I want to do it better. He’s going to work to do that. Hopefully you’ll see that he’s improved some on that come Saturday.”
TAKEAWAYS HELPING LEAD THE TEAM TO 2-0 START
Liberty’s defense forced four turnovers (all fumble recoveries) in a 21-14 win over UAB in the Flames’ home opener. Add in five takeaways in the season opener at Southern Miss and Liberty ranks No. 3 nationally with nine takeaways this season. That’s quite the turnaround from last year when the Flames were one of the worst at the FBS level in taking the ball away.
“I don’t think you can ever predict how the takeaways are going to turn out,” Freeze said. “One thing I do know, I felt like we have recruited. I made no secret when I came here I wanted to recruit defensive players. I’ve been in this game long enough. I know at this level, I’ve coached at this level before. I’ve coached in a league where you’re probably not going to have as equal of talent as some others, and if you can recruit defensively to where they can keep you in games and you have a good system offensively, you can find a way to win football games sometimes.”
INJURY REPORT
Liberty could be getting running back TJ Green and wide receiver CJ Daniels back this week. Coach Freeze has mentioned that week 3 would be the earliest either could return to action. Both were going through individual drills at Tuesday morning’s open practice. Freeze has said they are day to day this week. They have practiced this week and could play Saturday, but Freeze said he may elect to hold them out one more week.
“It would probably be in their best interests if we gave them one more week,” he said following Thursday’s practice.
Green, who was named Offensive MVP of the LendingTree Browl, suffered a lower body injury during camp. He played in all 13 games last year after transferring from Utah. Green led all running backs with 477 rushing yards on 75 carries.
Daniels suffered a torn ACL on the first day of spring practice in early March. He led the team with 7 touchdowns last season and was second with 37 receptions for 629 yards.
Wide receiver Brody Brumm did not play in last week’s game against UAB. He was seen on the sidelines with his left leg in a boot. He was not putting any weight on it and was utilizing a scooter to get around at the stadium. Freeze says that Brumm is probably out 4-5 weeks. Brumm played in all 13 games a season ago, finishing the year with 8 receptions for 135 yards and 1 touchdown.
Liberty safety Javon Scruggs was not at Liberty’s open practice on Tuesday and his status for Saturday’s game at Wake Forest is in jeopardy. Scruggs, is one of the team leaders. The veteran safety is tied for the team lead through two games with 13 tackles and leads the team with 2 fumble recoveries.
“Javon is up in the air,” Freeze said Thursday. “I think he’s fine. This world we live in, there’s a lot of things floating around.”
