Saturday’s Biggest Positive and Negative

via @gsathletics_fb/Instagram

As many Eagle fans already know, Saturday’s season opener against the Boise State Broncos did not go to plan for Georgia Southern. While there may be more negatives than positives, the season outlook remains bright for Clay Helton’s team.

Perhaps the biggest negative from Saturday’s crushing defeat came in the defensive trenches for the Eagles. After an entire offseason spent talking up the program’s defensive line, Brandon Bailey’s defense allowed the Broncos to rush for 371 yards and seven touchdowns. Ashton Jeanty himself accounted for over 260 yards and six scores.

The Eagles’ defense fell far from the top-25 unit promised by coaches this offseason, with Helton citing 14 missed assignments by his defense on Saturday. With a schedule full of talented backs, Georgia Southern needs to figure out their defensive identity and do it fast.

On the bright side of things, JC French looked the part of a high-level quarterback on Saturday. The first-time starter threw for 322 yards and accounted for three total touchdowns, while his 39 yards on the ground led the team’s rushing attack — or lack thereof.

A turnover-free performance may have been the most noteworthy thing in the eyes of Eagle fans following a year of Davis Brin at the helm. And while the defense may have looked subpar, the offense nearly made up for it and then some.

All in all, despite the loss, all of the Eagles’ goals remain in front of them. Dillan and I will discuss this and more in this week’s episode of Wings Up Weekly, which can be found on both Apple and Spotify.