By Pete Pelegrin
Twitter: @PetePelegrin

If someone had told you by the third game of the 2015 season that FIU tight end Jonnu Smith would have just 85 receiving yards and one touchdown, you would probably think the Panthers offense is struggling mightily and FIU might be winless.

Not exactly.

Thanks to a confident, deeper – and that term applies to the passing game as well – and more experienced offense, FIU is thriving when it has the football and that's one reason the Panthers (2-1) are above .500 after three games for just the second time in the program's 13+ year history.

"We have more chemistry," running back Alex Gardner said. "Everybody is more mature. We know our plays. We are more fundamentally sound so it makes the offense flow more."

The way the offense is flowing can be seen when comparing the numbers after three games in 2014 and 2015. In the first three games of 2014, FIU played two FCS teams (Bethune-Cookman and Wagner) and an ACC team (Pittsburgh). In the first three games of 2015, FIU played an AAC team (Central Florida), Big 10 team (Indiana) and an FCS team (North Carolina Central).

Looking at the start of the two schedules one would assume FIU to have better numbers to begin 2014 with two FCS teams among the opponents. One would be wrong with that assumption.

After three games in 2015 as compared to 2014, FIU has improved in just about every offensive category:

Points scored – 2015 (76 points, 25.3 per game), 2014 (71 points, 23.6 per game); rushing yards – 2015 (502), 2014 (248); passing yards – 2015 (785), 2014 (608); third down conversions 2015 (28 of 53, 53%), 2014 (10 of 45, 22%), sacks allowed 2015 (2), 2014 (12).

FIU is currently number eight in the nation in third down conversions.

"We're going to win every third down," receiver Dennis Turner said. "But that mentality starts with winning first and second down and that's how we approach it. That we are going to win every down."

The Panthers are tied for 16^th best in the nation in least sacks allowed. The Panthers are also 47^th in passing offense and 58^th in total offense. A year ago at this time FIU was ranked in the 100s in many offensive categories.

FIU coach Ron Turner has several explanations when asked where his offense has gotten better.  

"Everything," said Ron Turner, who is in his third year at the helm of the Panthers. "Running, protecting, throwing, catching, decision-making, playing with speed. Every way humanly possible."

Ron Turner adds that confidence and experience have also been crucial factors.

It all started last offseason when the players took it upon themselves to get better. Take quarterback Alex McGough, who when he wasn't throwing to his receivers, made garbage cans and pads his best friends.

McGough lined up garbage cans in different parts of the field and threw at them and in them. McGough also set up a pad at different points of the field and tried to hit them as many times in a row as he could.

The solo practices paid off as far as McGough's accuracy. This season after three games McGough has completed 71 of 111 passes (64% completion percentage) for 751 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions. Last season after three games, McGough was 37 of 75 (49%) for 401 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions.

"We are better in every aspect," McGough said. "Our run game has gotten a lot better. The passing game has definitely improved. Now that they have been in the system for a year, the receivers have more experience. Everything together builds a lot more confidence and when you have confidence everything else seems to run smooth."

With the improvement and confidence, Ron Turner has opened up the playbook in his third season.

"We are running a lot of what we want to run," Ron Turner said. "We still got some things that we can continue to do, but there are still times that I'm going to call something that I don't call but that was the case 99 percent of the time the first year [2013], 85 percent of the time last year and probably 15 percent of the time this year."

There are still plenty of plays being called to get the ball to Smith, FIU's leading receiver the last two years. It's just that opponents have been putting two defenders on Smith and making it tougher to get him the ball.

"The first couple of games teams were aware where Jonnu was," Ron Turner said. "We need Dennis Turner and [Thomas Owens] and [Ya'Keem] Griner and Gardner and all those guys to continue making plays which is what happened last game and [the opponent] got back to playing their defense."

Meanwhile, FIU will continue playing its new brand of offense and by incorporating more of Smith anyone can tell you the future is probably bright for the Panthers.