Three questions for Memphis’ offense after the week 1 win over UNLV
· Yahoo Sports
Memphis started the season with a massive win over UNLV on Saturday. The Tigers garnered a lot of national attention and were put squarely in the Group of Six conversation after the game went final, but there are still questions on both sides of the ball.
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After hiring Charles Huff, an entirely new staff and bringing in more than 70 new players, Memphis was full of unknowns ahead of its first game. The trip to Las Vegas answered some of the questions going into the year, but here are three questions for the offense after the 27-21 win over the Rebels.
How good can Marcus Stokes be in Kevin Deckers’ offense?
Marcus Stokes won the starting job on Saturday and played well in his first road game with the Tigers. He finished with 223 yards and two touchdowns through the air, and he added 45 yards on seven carries.
Stokes looked like he was playing with some nerves early and missed a handful of throws, but overall, he looked comfortable in his first game in Kevin Deckers’ offense. He connected with eight different pass-catchers, and he found Mississippi State transfer Stonka Burnside on a long 48-yard touchdown pass.
The quarterback showed that he can made decisions and reads in Deckers’ offense, and he has shown a dual-threat ability that could thrive in the new system.
Is the running back rotation set?
Memphis added three running backs from the transfer portal, and most of the offseason was spent talking about all three in a rotation. On Saturday, all three saw the field, but only two received a bulk of the carries.
Jaylin Carter ran for 97 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, while Manny Covey added 46 yards on 11 attempts. Dallan Hayden ran the ball only once, and it’s unclear what his role will be moving forward.
Both Carter and Covey looked good in the first game, but Hayden could be an option in short-yardage situations. Memphis didn’t see a ton of those in the first game, but he could be a great option at the goal line.
What does the group look like going forward? Will it be Carter, Covey and Hayden in that order, or will it change throughout the season based on matchups?
Who will be the go-to receiver?
Eight receivers caught a pass on Saturday, and Jemyri Davis, Hunter Tipton and Jarmane Hayes all finished the game with three receptions. Davis led the team with 62 yards on three catches. While Stokes spread it around in the first game of the season, the biggest question because who separates themselves.
Who becomes Stokes’ go-to receiver?
It feels like it could be interchangeable because of all the speed on the team, but it feels like it could be tight end Hunter Tipton because of his size and speed. Tipton is 6-foot-4 and 241 pounds, but on most plays, he lines up like a receiver in the slot or outside.
The tight end had some nice moments in the first game, and he tied Hayes for the most targets in the first game of the year.
Because of his size, Tipton could become Stokes’ safety blanket and check-down option throughout most of the year.