Coordinators evaluate Knights’ performances after four games
Following four non-conference games, UCF features the No. 1 red zone defense statistically in the country.
When opposing teams enter inside the 20-yard line, the Knights (3-1, 0-0 AAC) haven’t given up any points 60% of the time, according to the NCAA.
On top of that, the Knights have yet to give up a touchdown in the fourth quarter through the first four games.
Defensive coordinator Travis Williams credits in-game adjustments for that.
“As the game goes on, the guys are locked in,” he said. “We do a lot of adjustments on the sideline. I guess it’s showing up in the fourth quarter.
“We’d like for that to be that way in the first, second and third quarter as well but it’s just the attention to detail from the guys,” he added.
Although UCF’s defense is off to a strong start, Williams pointed toward a handful of areas where things can improve moving forward.
“There’s a lot of football left,” he said. “We have to get better at getting off the field on third down. We’ve got to be better at stopping the run.
“Overall to be a really great defense, we have to stop the run,”
he added. “To be honest with you, from top to bottom we have to get better.”
While UCF’s defense aims to slow down the run, Gus Malzahn’s offense is focused on running the ball with success. The Knights have done that, too.
Averaging 275.8 yards on the ground, UCF’s rushing offense ranks fifth in the country, according to the NCAA.
Knights offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey believes the team is
headed in the right direction.
“We’ve got some talented running backs,” he said. “We’ve got a chance to be good up front. We’re still a little bit of a work in progress in some respects, but to win a championship I do think you have to be able to run the football.”
Quarterback John Rhys Plumlee has been a large factor in the
run game.
Plumlee has had at least 300 passing yards and 100 rushing yards in two games. He leads the AAC in rushing at 101.0 yards per game, which tops all NCAA FBS quarterbacks.
“That’s something we’re going to be able to do, but it’s going to get
harder and harder each and every week,” Lindsey said. “We’ve got to be abletomakeplaysoutontheperimeter to help with that, but I like where we are. We’re still in a great spot.”