TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Florida A&M's debut on Saturday wasn't what they wanted it to be. The Rattlers lost 51-3 to the University of South Florida in a match-up where FAMU accumulated just 23 yards of offense in the first half.
The Rattlers have some work to do, and head coach Alex Wood acknowledged that on Tuesday during his weekly press conference. The loss to the Bulls is in the past, and Wood and the Rattlers are looking ahead towards Saturday's contest with Samford in Birmingham.
The game will match up FAMU with another FCS opponent, and Wood is looking forward to seeing if his team can improve from week one to week two, and as far as what they're focusing on this week? Fundamentals.
"From a schematic standpoint, it's not all the same but it's football," said Wood during the press conference. "Everyone is going to run what it is that they run from a scheme standpoint. We're still working on fundamentals, because I think if we're sound fundamentally and we don't get too expansive our guys will understand and have better clarity of what we want and play hard, play fast, and play well."
The lack of offense is definitely a talking point for the Rattlers, and something they hope to improve on. Also a talking point, but for a good reason, is the defense, which held the Bulls to just 16 points in the first half.
The team is wanting to get better before Saturday's trip to Samford, and wanting to improve for each other.
"It's never been offense against defense," said quarterback Carson Royal. "We've always worked together to encourage each other. When the offense is on the field, the defense is there to encourage and make sure the guys are ready to go. They have all the energy they need as well as when the defense is on the field, the offense is there to have their back."
"There's going to be days where we are on and they're off, and they'll be days where they're on and we're off," said linebacker Akil Blount. "As a defender and as a team, and us playing together, it's our job to try and get them the ball as many times as they need it. That's how we're going to get wins this season."
