Kent State Golden Flashes College Football Preview 2021: Keys To The Season
Kent State Golden Flashes Biggest Key: Offense
Keep everything moving. The offense wasn’t bad at controlling the clock considering its style. It’s fearless – and really good – on third and fourth downs, and it’s outstanding at keeping defenses on their heels. However, the prime goal of the O has to be to not only score, but keep the D off the field.
Last year’s team was able to hold on to the ball for 30 minutes a game. The 2019 version was among the worst in the nation in time of possession, and it showed. The whole thing worked for four games in all MAC play, but it’s going to be a grind to own the clock like last year for a full season.
Kent State Golden Flashes Biggest Key: Defense
The run defense has the experience, and now it has to do something to be a whole lot better. Ie held down Eastern Michigan in the opener, and then the wheels came totally off the defensive front.
It was one thing to get ripped up by the great Buffalo offense for 515 yards and ten touchdowns on the ground – but it was another to get hammered by Akron and Bowling Green for 427 rushing yards and eight scores.
By the way, Texas A&M, Iowa and Maryland are all in September.
Kent State Golden Flashes Key Player To A Successful Season
PK Casey Magyar, Fr.
Of course the key player is somewhere on the defense – it would be nice if the tackles could hold up better against the run – but the kicking situation will be among the biggest issues in fall camp.
Matthew Trickett left for Minnesota, hitting 94 of 95 extra points and 83% of his field goals over the last three seasons. There aren’t a whole lot of other options.
If it’s not new recruit Magyar taking over the kicking job, there’s going to be a big, big problem.
Kent State Golden Flashes Key Game To The 2021 Season
Buffalo, Oct. 9
When we last saw Kent State, it was getting run over and over and over again by Buffalo in a 70-41 loss. It’s a new UB team with a new coaching staff and a whole slew of missing parts from last year’s team, but it’s still a key game if the Golden Flashes want to win the East.
Four of the next five games are on the road, and the regular season ends against Miami University. The Golden Flashes have to beat the Bulls for the second time in five years.
– Kent State Golden Flashes Schedule
2020 Kent State Golden Flashes Fun Stats
– 4th Down Conversions: Kent State 7-of-8 (88%) – Opponents 3-of-7 (43%)
– Sacks: Kent State 12 for 78 yards – Opponents 5 for 33 yards
– Average Yards Per Carry: Opponents 6.2 – Kent State 5.7