Oct. 16, 2011
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By Marc Daniels
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Swagger. Attitude. Focus. Mean streak. Whatever you want to call it, UCF's football team is now in search of it. Halfway through a season with such high expectations, the Knights seek to find an identity.
There are plenty of schematic items George O'Leary want to see improvement in, but he also wants to see him team get their game face on full time.
"We need get angry on defense and start making plays," he said. "We have to start forcing more turnovers and get to the quarterback."
UCF did not register a sack against SMU and O'Leary also pointed out his secondary did not play one of its better games.
"It's not that we don't have the players, we do." said O'Leary. "But you still have to go out and do it and make plays."
Make plays is something UCF's coach wants to see from his offense. Despite throwing for the most yards in a game since 2003, the Knights had only one play above 30 yards against SMU and that came late when the game was in control by the Mustangs.
"We can't just get four yards and five-yard plays," said O'Leary. "We need more big plays and the offense has to step it up."
Part x's and o's and part attitude is third and short. Once again, UCF struggled to convert the critical third downs when one or two yards were needed. That is something that must change according to the head coach.
"That's unacceptable for us to not convert those plays," said O'Leary. "We cannot kill drives by not being able to get the short yardage plays we need but we need to get the ball down the field more."
On a team with few seniors, finding the right voices to step forward and say what needs to be said is interesting with this group. But UCF has to find its confidence and find its attitude.
SMU was pumped to play UCF. The Mustangs were the aggressor. They played with swagger and confidence. UCF did that late season last year and earlier this season. Now, this team must find that potion and take a heavy dose.
Despite the 3-3 overall mark, there is a much to play for. UCF is one of four teams in the east division of C-USA with one conference loss. There are numerous big games left on the schedule and where UCF is right now makes the contest at UAB Thursday the biggest.
The short week gives the Knights little time to dwell on the past. Instead, it's time to start focusing on being the team UCF expects to be. UCF cannot control the record of its next two opponents in winless UAB and one win Memphis, the Knights can only concentrate on themselves and along the way find the "mojo" to get back on track and stay on course to repeat as conference champions.
Knights notes and more: Round of applause to the UCF fans who made the trip to Dallas. A solid group of black and gold supporters were on hand for the game...In 2010, UCF allowed 80 total punt return yards the entire season. SMU had a 92-yard punt return for a score...It has been 22 months since Jeff Godfrey threw a touchdown pass to Josh Reese. That came in the state high school playoffs in 2009. The two will likely have many more to come at UCF...Great turnout for the UKNIGHT Madness event to kick start the basketball season. Joi Williams welcome new faces in her team's quest to make another NCAA Tournament. Meanwhile, Donnie Jones team is the most athletic UCF squad ever. It may be seeking a knockdown 3-point shooter, but this year's team is as versatile as ever with so many players who can play multiple positions, and the roster features nine players over 6-foot-5...Nothing in this week's notes on conference realignment. Why? By the time you read things have likely changed and changed again. Ok, maybe one note. Remember this that when UCF President John Hitt walks into a meeting with any conference official, he is representing the second (and soon to be first) largest university in the country. That carries weight...Final thought: Out at dinner in Dallas on Friday with the radio crew, a mime dressed as a clown was riding a unicycle as we sat outside enjoying our meal. A mime dressed as a clown riding a unicycle. There's nothing else to say.
Marc Daniels' From the Press Box runs several times per month on UCFAthletics.com. Listen to Marc during UCF football, men's basketball and baseball radio broadcasts on the UCF Sports Network. Each weekday, Marc hosts The Beat of Sports on ESPN Radio 1080 in Orlando.