Their Last Dance: Arkansas State

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For college football teams last impressions are the ones that matter most. These are notes, observations and food for thought on our opponents' last game.

Arkansas State found the perfect beat against Memphis last Saturday. The Red Wolves put an old-fashioned on the Tigers, a 47-3 rout that saw Mephis outgained by 442 yards, a margin that could have been even greater had Arkansas State played their starters the entire game. But, BREAKING, Mephis is a terrible team.

--For the third week in a row Tech will play against a variation of the spread. Arkansas State's offense was explosive. They are currently T-21st nationally with 33 plays gaining 10+ yards, and T-7th with 7 plays gaining 30+ yards.

--It's a fast-paced offense with a lot of no huddle and calling plays from the line of scrimmage.

--There were pistol sets too!

--Redshirt freshman running back (Rivals 3-star) Frankie Jackson was very good. He's got take-it-to-the-house speed, but he'll also lower the shoulder and take on a defender. He trucked at least two Tigers. ASU made it a priority to get him the ball in space: zone reads, pitches and lot's of swing passes.

--Arkansas State's kick coverage wasn't very good. There were a lot of arm tackles, and players getting out of their lanes.

--Josh Jarboe's line: 7 receptions for 162 yards and 2 touchdowns. He's a flat out burner who broke Mephis' double coverage countless times. I'd expect to see Jayron on him all game.

--They lined up in the Swinging Gate formation on extra point tries.

NEWBS. (Seriously, I hated having an extra practice session in high school for teams who did this.) They attempted and failed a two-point conversion.

--The defense was underwhelming. The offense carried the team, the defense was a great compliment. Memphis made a lot of mistakes. They like to blitz, stunt and twist a bunch up front.

-- Quarterback Ryan Aplin was scary efficient and accurate (19/21, 274 yards, 3 TDs). He had one bad throw the entire game, an overthrown ball into the endzone that got picked.

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i think they'll

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eric

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