Jake Bolden 
Middle Tennessee State University is 1-3 so far this season.
Middle Tennessee faced another tough test this past weekend, falling to Duke in a game
marked by self-inflicted wounds and missed opportunities. With the Blue Raiders now standing
at 1-3, the optimism has started to dwindle with the second straight week of early setbacks
putting winnable games out of reach.
Self-Inflicted Wounds
The Blue Raiders’ inability to sustain drives and execute in key moments has been detrimental
to their competitiveness. Last week against Western Kentucky, the main storyline was going
scoreless in multiple trips to the red zone. This week’s headline is the three turnovers in your
own red zone setting up short fields, quick scores for Duke.
Highlights and Positives
Despite the setbacks, there were positive takeaways from the Duke game. MTSU managed to
rush for 168 yards, showing signs of a productive run game against a solid Duke defense.
Including an opening drive touchdown by Jaiden Credle that gave the Raider faithful a jolt after
the slow start against WKU.
Defensively, MTSU held Duke to 340 yards of offense, showcasing improved performance
compared to previous games. The nation’s worst third down defense answered the call holding
the Blue Devils to just 3 of 10 conversions.
Different, New Areas of Concern
However, issues persist. MTSU’s passing offense recorded only 127 yards, the lowest of the
season, and the offensive line continues to shuffle due to injuries. The lack of pass protection
has limited the ability to throw downfield allowing six sacks on Saturday effectively eliminating
any opportunity to throw vertically. This may continue to be a thorn in the side of MT’s offense
with the sight of 7th-year, Left Tackle Marcus Miller sidelined with crutches Saturday afternoon.
Moreover, the Blue Raiders have struggled to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
Over the past three weeks, they’ve managed just four quarterback hits, a statistic that could
prove detrimental as they face more mobile quarterbacks in the upcoming weeks – more so this
Saturday against a very talented Seth Henigan.
Looking Ahead
As MTSU prepares to face Memphis, the focus will be on delivering a complete performance.
Coach Mason and his players understand the significance of their final non-conference game.
The Tigers earned their first loss of the season in Annapolis against Navy’s triple option. I’m
sure 5th-year Head Coach Ryan Silverfield is chomping at the bit to return home with a convincing victory against an in-state opponent. Middle Tennessee should aim to play a complete game for four quarters and have some level of confidence returning to Conference USA Play in Week 7 with a midweek matchup against Louisiana Tech.
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