It is no secret, the objective in the game of football is to score more than your opponents.
First, an offense must establish a running game, and then when the defense fills up the box to stop the run, an offense must go to the air with a sound passing game, making the opponents pay.
Easier said than done.
A lack of execution on offense has FAMU reeling from a three game losing streak, their first since 2004 when FAMU started the season with a three game losing streak and finished the season dropping three in a row.
The Rattlers have never lost three in a row under Head Coach Rubin Carter until now, his third season in the position.
Offensive woes continued for the Rattlers, against Norfolk State, as they converted 2 of 13 third downs and committed four turnovers, all interceptions, courtesy of senior quarterback Leon Camel.
Camel finished only 6 of 23 passing. It didn’t help that two Rattler receivers dropped touchdown passes.
“I told him he did a great job, fought hard, made some good plays and made some bad decisions,” Carter said. “He is energetic, enthusiastic, he has the heart of a lion and plays with passion.”
Even though Camel is taking the blame for the struggles, rightfully so being that he is under the microscope being the starting quarterback, the offense is struggling as a whole. “I know that I’m not the only one on the field but I am the leader of this team and to have that responsibility I have to take the good with the bad and roll with the punches,” Camel said. Teams are starting to key in on running back Philip Sylvester, forcing FAMU to win through the air.
Sylvester is averaging about 70 yards rushing during the losing streak after averaging over 100 in the first four games.
After missing several games due to injury senior Willie Hayward bounced back scoring his first touchdown of the season.
“It felt good to go out their make plays and to help my teammates,” Hayward said.
The offense will need not only Hayward’s big play ability but help from the tight end position as well to take pressure off the running game.
Inabilities to convert in the passing game have the Rattlers scratching their heads as they hope to turn things around against Morgan State this weekend.
Punching the ball in the end zone will be a tough task for the Rattlers as Morgan State’s defense ranks 2nd in the MEAC in points giving up just over 20 points a game.
The Golden Bears have a knack for football as they lead the MEAC with 14 interceptions.
Red shirt freshman quarterback Eddie Battle is being brought along slowly as the future behind center, but if the offense doesn’t improve the future may be now for Battle.