Tigers head coach Doug Williams said the game film from Saturday night’s 56-0 blowout loss to TCU would serve as a teaching tool for his Tiger football team.
“I think what the TCU game did for us was gave our young guys a ‘look-see’ for what it takes to be a good football team,” said Williams. “I think they (Grambling) saw a good taste in what it’s like to give a 110 percent on every play.”
Based off the game film, Coach Williams noticed the superior play of junior offensive lineman Clint Marsh.
“I looked at Clint Marsh, our right guard, and he basically dominated his guy all night,” said Williams. “I got through watching his tape this morning what I said was Clint Marsh could play for us (Grambling) and he could play for them (TCU).”
Williams was also impressed with the different options of running backs on his roster. On Saturday night, the Tigers ground game was spread out as four different backs carried the ball.
Starting running back Dawrence Roberts finished the game with seven carries for 10 yards, Cedric Skinner finished with eight carries for 25 yards, Jeremy Runner finished with nine carries for 28 yards, and Juwan Martin finished with four carries for seven yards.
Although the Tigers ground attack impressed Williams, he said the playing time of Roberts is in jeopardy.
“If you talk about an area who might diminish play time, it’s the running back area because I do feel like Skinner has thrown his self in the mix, I think Runner is definitely in the mix and Dawrence has to do a better job of what he is supposed to do; doing what he did last year.”
Williams continued, “I can honestly say this, Dawrence has not run the ball as hard as we would like for him to. The guy that has been showing enthusiasm running the football has certainly been Jeremy Runner.”
Runner made his Tigers debut in the Port City Classic where he finished with 13 carries for 166 yards and one touchdown.
Starting quarterback D.J. Williams struggled with his pass attack in the Tigers’ first two games of the season. In the season opener Williams went 10 for 19 with 66 yards and one interception and against TCU he went three for nine for 14 with one interception.
“I think D.J. has played as well as the offensive line has allowed him to play,” Williams said. “He hasn’t had any problems handing the ball off, his problem has come in the pass protection.”
Williams went on, “There are a whole lot of things you can’t do as a quarterback, you certainly can’t block for yourself.
Every time we had an opportunity to hit a big play it seems like to me other color jersey were covering him up.”
Against TCU backup quarterback Frank Rivers made his debut late in the third quarter and finished two for five with 12 yards, but coach Williams said D.J. is still the “clear cut starter.”
Tigers will next take the Robision Stadium against Alabama State on Saturday at 6 p.m.