By Pete Pelegrin
Twitter: @Petepelegrin

FIU (4-2) has reached the midway point of the 2017 season with a two-win improvement from last season through six games. The victory total thus far is just one of several areas where the Panthers have progressed since 2016.

In all three phases of the game (offense, defense and special teams) the Panthers have seen a trend upward in their statistics and the results are evident in FIU matching the best start in the program's 16-year history. The 2011 FIU team started 4-2 and finished with a program-record eight wins and a berth in the St. Petersburg Bowl.

Tuesday morning I had a chance to catch up with FIU coach Butch Davis to talk about his team midway through the season. Here is the first part of that conversation talking about the Panthers offense. Check back here later this week to read about the defense and special teams.

"This entire season is kind of about the initial process," Davis said. "Every week has a different theme, a different challenge whether it's injuries or going on the road, the hurricane and stuff like that. The expectations that the coaching staff sets every week for preparation and getting the players to meet those expectations and actually to set their own higher expectations.

"As I told the team after last week's game (23-10 win over Tulane), it was the first week of the entire season going all the way back to August that we had good practices every day and the result was that we played fairly good. I still don't think that we have played as well as we possibly could play. I think that we absolutely can get better in some areas and that's kind of what the open date is about."

FIU is off this Saturday with its bye. The Panthers resume play in Huntington, West Va. at Marshall, the following Saturday, Oct. 28.

"The other thing that is kind of an underlying story is the number of freshmen and inexperienced redshirt freshmen and younger guys that are actually making some contributions," Davis said. "Whether it's on special teams or backups, nickel, dime roles and those kinds of things. I looked at the kickoff team the other day and there was five true freshmen on kickoff cover. If you had told me that in August I would have probably had a heart attack. Those kids have worked hard. They are paying attention and so far, so good."

Offensively, FIU has improved from last season and that's with operating a completely new offense under new offensive coordinator Rich Skrosky, who ran some of the nation's top offenses while at Ball State.

Quarterback Alex McGough has seen his completion rate jump from 56 percent through the first six games in 2016 to 60 percent through six games this season while throwing for nearly 350 more yards (see numbers at the end of this story). And that's without tight end Jonnu Smith, who is now working on Sundays for the Tennessee Titans.

Top receiver Thomas Owens has doubled the number of receptions and receiving yards from a year ago through six games. Last year at this point, Owens had 16 catches for 257 yards and 3 TDs. Currently, Owens has 33 catches, 614 yards and 3 TDs.

"I still don't think the skill guys have played as good as they are capable of playing," Davis said. "For the most part I think the skill guys have played solid. I wouldn't say by any stretch of the imagination that they have played the best. I think as the season has gone along we've got to be able to try to get the tight ends a little bit more involved in the passing game. Pharoah McKever had several catches two weeks ago and a couple this past weekend."

Although FIU has rushed for 103 less yards than a year ago (1,010 yards to 907 yards) at this point, the Panthers run game has a lot more depth and different style rushers than a year ago. FIU can deploy shifty all-time leading rusher Alex Gardner, the speed and size of Napoleon Maxwell, the bulk of Shawndarrius Phillips or the lightning-quick freshman D'Vonte Price. Not to mention that McGough, with four rushing touchdowns, is also a threat to score.
 
"It's kind of running back by committee just because we've had some injuries," Davis said. "Nothing major but we've tried to keep at least three backs involved in almost every single one of the game plans. Hopefully, we'll try to continue to do that the rest of the season.

"D'Vonte Price has some speed. He's got some ability to make some people miss. He plays on special teams. He's on kickoff coverage. He's on kickoff return. He played on the punt team. I'm happy with the way the running backs are playing. How well they play with the ball is a part of it. How well they play without the ball is a bigger part. Whether it's running around, pass protection, blitz pickup. That part of it I have been very pleased with."

FIU offense 2017 vs. 2016 (through the first 6 games of each season):

Scoring: 117 points (19.5 per game); 122 (20.3)

Rushing: 907 yards (4.1 yds per carry); 1010 (4.5)

Passing: 1383 yards (230.5 yds per game); 1165 (194.1)

Alex McGough 2017: 107 of 178 (60% comp.), 1336 yards, 5 TD, 6 INT
                         2016: 89 of 160 (56%), 988 yards, 5 TD, 7 INT

Total offense: 2290 yards (381.7 yards per game); 2175 (362.5)

1^st downs: 121 in 2017; 110 in 2016

3^rd down conversions: 38 of 84 (45%); 34 of 92 (37%)

Red zone offense: 15 of 15 (100%); 17 of 19 (89%)
                                 (10 TD, 5 FG); (11 TD, 6 FG)

Sacks allowed: 12 in 2017; 13 in 2016