Liberty Flames: Keys To The Season, Top Game, Top Transfer, Fun Stats
Liberty Flames: Key To The 2022 Offense
Stop the turnover trend.
So where did things go wrong over the second half of last year? How could a team as good as Liberty lose to ULM and fail to score more than two touchdowns in any of the last three games?
Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers.
Liberty failed to give away more than one in any of the first five games of last year, and it was able to overcome a slew of giveaways throughout its great 2020.
The second half of last season was a problem with 18 in the last seven regular season games. There were three against ULM, six in the blowout loss to Louisiana, and the team was -11 in turnover margin in the three game losing stretch to closeout the regular season.
And on the flip side …
Liberty Flames: Key To The 2022 Defense
Take the ball away.
Overall the defense was terrific, but considering how good the pass rush was, there weren’t enough big plays to take advantage of the pressure.
The Flames came up with just 11 takeaways with only two fumble recoveries and the picks spread out. When the offense was giving it up in the last three losses of the regular season, the defense wasn’t doing its part – there weren’t any takeaways in those three games.
Going back to the problems on the offensive side, too, Liberty was +3 in turnover margin in the eight wins and -14 in the five losses.
Liberty Flames: Key Player To The 2022 Season
QB Charlie Brewer, Sr.
Or redshirt freshman Kaiden Salter. Last year’s backup Johnathan Bennett can be thrown in that mix, too.
Malik Willis wasn’t always perfect. He threw too many picks, took too many sacks, and … he was a special talent. Salter is the star of the near future, but Brewer can step right in and get the O going. It’s still going to be a fight for the gig in fall camp, and no matter what, the Flames need to replace the star.
Liberty Flames: Key Transfer
C Cam Reddy, Sr.
There might be flashier talents coming in from the transfer portal, and it’s possible Kentucky’s Nassir Watkins turns into the team’s best blocker. However, the 6-2, 305-pound Reddy is exactly what the offense needs.
How do you get over the loss of a leader and star like Malik Willis? It helps if you have a veteran center up front who keep everything consistent. The former Boston College Eagle and Colorado State Ram will be a steadying force.
Liberty Key Game To The 2022 Season
at Wake Forest, Sept. 17
Don’t overlook the opener at Southern Miss or the home date against UAB, but if Liberty is about to have a big season it needs to come up with something splashy early on. That would be a win at Wake Forest.
The 2020 team made its season on beating Syracuse and Virginia Tech, and with a close call loss to NC State. Beat the Demon Deacons, and the Flames should go on a good run and a big first half of the season.
Liberty Flames: 2021 Fun Stats
– Sacks: Opponents 52 for 355 yards – 37 for 221 yards
– Penalties: Liberty 92 for 865 yards – Opponents 78 for 720 yards
– 4th Down Conversions: Liberty 15-of-29 (52%) – Opponents 13-of-30 (43%)
O, D Breakdown | Season Prediction, What Will Happen
Liberty Top 10 Players | Liberty Schedule