FIU Football: Offensive Inconsistencies Present In Key Losses

The FIU offense is ranked amongst the worst in Conference USA, but what has been the cause of this?

© David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Through the first seven games of the 2023 season, the Panthers have a 3-4 record, but began 3-1. After losing their third-straight game to the UTEP Miners on Wednesday, FIU head coach Mike MacIntyre took the blame and offered a solution.

"We need to score more points than what we are scoring," said MacIntyre following the Panthers loss on Wednesday. "We're just not getting it done. We've got to just keep working at it. We just got to keep coaching it better, and keep working at things, and keep finding a way to try to to score more points. I think in today's football if you don't score into the thirties, you're gonna have a hard time winning."

The Panthers' offense only scored once in the second half of the loss against UTEP.

Quarterback Keyone Jenkins has been sacked a total of 11 times between the loss against New Mexico State and UTEP. 

"We got guys that we're working with him on it," said MacIntyre in regards to the pass protection. "We do a lot of seven man protection. Notice what we're doing and we're trying to do that. That's helping us quite a bit but you can't do that all the time."

This last game, right guard Jacob Peace and center Jon Bock II were both back from injury. Bock II had suffered a thumb injury while Peace suffered a knee injury. Both missed the Liberty game and Peace also missed the New Mexico State game. 

Against UTEP, the FIU offense was two-for-seven on third down conversions and one-for-three on fourth down conversions. That isn't an issue in just that one game, it has been an issue all season long for the Panthers. Jenkins admits his own role in those sacks and those failed conversion, including holding on to the ball for too long at times and interceptions as the result of miscommunications with receivers.

The Panthers are set to take on the Sam Houston State Bearkats on Wednesday at 7:00 PM ET on CBS Sports Network. Sam Houston currently allows 24.7 points per game, fourth fewest in CUSA.

In theory, achieving MacIntyre's goal of 30 points will take one of the better offensive performances that the Bearkats have gone against this year.