Secondary education
If Memphis is going to pull out of Birmingham with a win, the Tigers secondary has to learn from and reverse their previous mistakes.
Last week at Arkansas State, Memphis allowed four touchdown passes of 18 yards or more. Without improvement, UAB could put up big passing numbers.
UAB quarterback Darrell Hackney averages an electric 8.84 yards per pass attempt and an even more absurd 18.7 yards per completion. In their two games, the Blazers have shown the ability to get deep. Three Blazers receivers have a 20-plus yard per catch average. Memphis has the ability to stop the run, which could leave UAB in a lot of passing situations. It's up to the defense to limit big plays and get the offense back on the field.
Red zone or dead zone?
Everyone knows the Tigers have an ability to eat up big chunks of yardage. The problem is scoring touchdowns in the "red zone": the area inside the opponent's twenty-yard line. Memphis moves the ball by spreading out, but as the field shrinks, a wide-open offense becomes very difficult to run. Memphis' offensive line is not powerful: witness their ability to score from Ole Miss' one-yard line in the season opener. But the Tigers must find some way to punch the ball in. How well they are able to transform short field goals into touchdowns will be important.
Hot pocket
In a tight, emotional game, big defensive plays make a huge impact on momentum. The easiest way to make a big defensive play? Quarterback pressures. Memphis must hit Hackney early and often. Against Florida State, he was constantly under pressure in the pocket. He was hit as he released the ball. He was chased out of the pocket and had to make throws on the run. Hackney finished the game just 10-22 with a touchdown and an interception.
Last season against Memphis, Hackney was sacked just once. The result: 200+ yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Extensive pressure could force Hackney into bad decisions and turnovers. If he has time, UAB can sit back and pick apart the Memphis coverage.
