Texas State Bobcats 2016 season review
For the Texas State Bobcats, 2016 was a year of major disappointments. But perhaps, there are some positives to look forward to next season.
With a new head coach coming on board for the Texas State Bobcats, expectations were more about change than success for 2016. But by the time the season wrapped, issues emerged and fans felt a little let-down. So for what it’s worth, here’s a look at the season that was, starting with the bad things first.
The negatives
Turnovers
In terms of total yardage, Texas State finished 126th of 128 teams with 3,628 yards. Of course, it’s difficult to gain yardage when you turn the ball over. The Bobcats handed opponents the ball a whopping 25 times last season. While that number didn’t put them anywhere near the worst turnover-happy teams in the league, they did themselves no favors by only forcing 11 in return.
Quarterback Tyler Jones was largely responsible for the turnovers, tossing 14 interceptions. He graduates though, and so it will be interesting to see who grabs the starting spot in 2017.
Third down play
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It’s also tough to maintain possession when your offense can’t sustain drives. Texas State converted just 31% of their third downs, which ranked them 122nd for the year. Defensively, they allowed opponents a 42.3% success rate. Since that ranked them 91st compared to the rest of the league, this is marginally better than the offense. Yet there is still a lot of room for improvement.
Much of this can be attributed to coaching, but it’s largely understandable. First year head coach Everett Withers had his hands full when he entered the program. As he learns his players and his players learn his system, the odds are good that this trend can be reversed in 2017.
The running game
The Bobcats finished last in all of FBS football in rushing yards with 989 and an average of just 2.32 yards per carry. This has to improve in 2017.
The state of Texas has historically produced some great running backs. Adrian Peterson, Cedric Benson and LaDainian Tomlinson come to mind as some of the greats. While they played for some of the more high-profile teams in their day, other lower-profile greats like Patrick Cobbs, Dimitri Nance and Kenneth Farrow had great college careers. But with a full season of recruiting and a lot more time to hit the trails, Coach Withers has the tools to get the talent.
With 2016 now in the past though, it’s time to move forward. Despite a final record of 2-9, Texas State can get better quickly and here’s why.
The Positives
Coaching
Moving from James Madison to Texas State couldn’t have been the easiest move for Coach Withers. He moved up a level to a quicker game and a higher grade of talent. Heck, he even won his Bobcat debut in a thrilling 56-54 triple overtime victory over Ohio. Sure, it was a rough season, but there was a lot to learn from for Withers and his staff. Between recruiting and revised play calling, there will certainly be some changes next season.
Receiving
With a new quarterback taking the reins in 2017, there will be a need for experience. This mystery man will have a nice group of receivers around him with experience as receivers Elijah King, Thurman Morbley, Tyler Watts, running back Stedman Mayberry and tight end Gabe Schrade all return next season. Those five players combined for 172 receptions, 1,824 yards and seven touchdown receptions. While they hope to reach the end zone more often in 2017, they provide excellent experience for Texas State through the air.
Scheduling
Make no mistake, the Bobcats will still have their hands full next season. While six wins and a bowl appearance is a lofty expectation, they can take solace in the fact that they won’t open against two top 25 teams on the road.
This gives them a legitimate opportunity to start the season 2-2 with potential wins over Houston Baptist and UTSA. While 3-1 isn’t impossible, that would require a lot more work and some luck to take down Mountain West Mountain Division Champion Wyoming. They also play their FCS game to start the season, which could be valuable when they take on Colorado the next week with a potential win under their belt.
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In all, the key to success in 2017 will be all about learning. They have their work cut out for them, but 2017 could be a season of marked improvement for Texas State. The learning won’t come as much from learning the game, but more about learning from the mistakes of 2016. If they can do that, then next season will be a success.