Grading Charlotte 49ers football: Lack of defense proves costly against Indiana

In a turn of events under the Biff Poggi regime, Charlotte’s defense — or lack thereof — thwarted any chance of a road upset in Bloomington on Saturday. Seven straight scoring drives to open the game propelled Indiana to a 52-14 victory, and despite early flashes from Charlotte’s offense, the 49ers are headed to American Athletic Conference play with just one win and plenty of question marks.

With third-string quarterback Trexler Ivey getting his first start of the season for Charlotte, the first half was promising for the 49ers as Ivey engineered consecutive touchdown drives and kept Poggi’s unit afloat despite Indiana’s offensive onslaught.

The Ivey magic would fade in the final 30 minutes of action, as Charlotte’s offense was stonewalled and held scoreless in the second half for the second time in four games.

A frustrated Poggi said after the game that Charlotte’s defense was the problem and that the better team won.

“Quite frankly, they’re just better than us,” Poggi said. “Every time we got any momentum, our defense could not withstand the Indiana offensive barrage. They could do whatever they wanted to do on offense, and it was apparent.”

As Charlotte’s (1-3) disastrous non-conference slate concludes, joining North Carolina and NC State as fellow in-state FBS programs to surrender 50-plus points Saturday, here’s how the 49ers graded out against Indiana (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten).

49ers’ rushing offense

If there’s one thing to take away from Saturday’s blowout loss, it’s that Charlotte’s running game showed some life. Averaging 64 yards on the ground per game through three games, including two games under 50 yards, establishing the run against a Big Ten opponent allowing just 53 yards per game didn’t seem likely heading into Bloomington.

Poggi’s team did just that, and Iowa State transfer Carteveious Norton looked like the lead back Charlotte needed for much of the afternoon. Norton led the way with 11 carries for 58 yards, followed by Rutledge with 33 yards on a reverse, and Michigan transfer CJ Stokes with five carries for 25 yards and a score. After scoring his first touchdown as a 49er from 13 yards out on third and goal, Stokes left the game with a broken shoulder, Poggi said, adding to the injuries in the tailback room alongside starter Terron Kellman.

The offensive line, led by Jordan Spasojevic-Moko and Jonny King, paved the way for 137 yards on the ground at 4.2 yards per carry, with 86 coming in the first half.

“It opens up the entire playbook,” Ivey said of the rushing attack. “I hand the ball off sometimes and I turn around, and five guys can run straight through. It’s crazy.”

Charlotte must build on its flashes of offensive success moving to league play, and leaning on the tailbacks is Poggi’s ideal offense. Expect more of the same moving forward, as Charlotte looks to control the time of possession battle and continue extending drives.

Grade: B

49ers’ passing offense

For the second consecutive week, Charlotte’s first play from scrimmage was a failed deep shot and the opening drive script didn’t feature a single rushing play. Following three straight touchdown drives against Gardner-Webb with Ivey at the helm, Charlotte’s first-half production marked its most of the season, putting all 14 points on the board in the second quarter.

Ivey showed poise for much of the afternoon, climbing the pocket when necessary and keeping his eyes downfield while extending plays. His most impressive throw pulled Charlotte within three in the second quarter, finding wideout Zay Myers on a 25-yard touchdown strike for Myers’ second score of the season.

Despite the second-half struggles, Ivey completed 14 of 23 passes for 119 yards and a touchdown. While the numbers weren’t necessarily flashy, Ivey played turnover-free football and didn’t take a single sack — two areas of concern a season ago for the redshirt junior.

With quarterback health being a hot topic for Charlotte, starting quarterback Max Brown made the trip to Bloomington and worked out on the sideline before the game, working through running drills and mimicking throwing as he recovers from a thumb injury on his throwing hand. True freshman DeShawn Purdie, who left the Gardner-Webb game late in the third quarter a week ago with a leg injury, went through warmups with a brace on his leg but was held out of the action.

Poggi provided an update on the most important position on the field after the game.

“Max has got a serious injury. He’s got rods and plates in his hand — his throwing thumb,” said Poggi. “Purdie has had a knee sprain after Gardner-Webb, and he has re-sprained an ankle that he sprained earlier this year.”

The most notable stat, but clearly concerning in the big picture, is that Charlotte converted five of its 13 third down attempts, the most successful conversion rate in the 16 games under Poggi at 38 percent.

For reference, Charlotte’s non-conference opponents converted a combined 39.1 percent against the 49ers’ defense — which felt like they could barely get off the field.

Grade: C

49ers’ rushing defense

Through four games, Charlotte’s defense is surrendering 36.5 points and 451 yards per game, including 57 chunk plays for 1,315 yards.

“This has been a thorn in our side, really, for a year and a half. Big plays in the run game and big plays in the pass game,” Poggi said.

After keeping Charlotte afloat much of last season, the bend-but-don’t-break mentality has been tested frequently, and opposing offenses are getting anything they want through a third of the season. And Saturday was the worst it has been, surrendering 50-plus points for the first time since South Carolina put 56 on the board in Will Healy’s final season.

Indiana had its way with Charlotte’s defense for all four quarters. Hoosiers quarterback Kurtis Rourke led scoring drives on all seven of his possessions, capped off by six rushing touchdowns by five different backs, led by Ty Son Lawton with two.

Charlotte had brutal showings in the run defense department against both Power Four opponents, surrendering 222 yards to Indiana and 269 to North Carolina, at an average of 5.7 yards per carry.

Replacing star linebackers Nikhai Hill-Green (Colorado) and Demetrius Knight (South Carolina), as well as edge Eyabi Okie-Anoma, has been a huge struggle for Charlotte and will continue. With hopes that the unit can course correct in conference play, the 49ers need an edge rusher — or two — to step up.

“It starts with me. I’m the head coach. Then it goes right to the coordinator, to all the position coaches, and lastly the players,” said Poggi. “I’m not disappointed with the players.”

Grade: F

49ers’ passing defense

After ranking top 50 in the nation a season ago, Charlotte’s passing defense has hampered the 49ers throughout the non-conference schedule, marking the worst in the nation in yards per completion allowed at 15.71.

And it’s not long, methodical drives that are sinking Charlotte. It is back-breaking conversions on third down, deep shots to receivers running free, and coverage breakdowns, all of which stem from a lack of pressure on the quarterback.

Charlotte has just two players with multiple sacks, Appalachian State transfer Donovan Spellman (2) and Auburn transfer Stephen Sings V (2). Neither has played more than 40 total snaps on the season.

The blitz isn’t getting home, and the secondary isn’t holding up. Charlotte blitzed Rourke on 21.7% of his dropbacks, and Rourke completed all five of his passes for 115 yards on those plays. He was kept clean in the pocket on 87 percent of his dropbacks.

Rourke finished his day completing 16 of his 20 passes for 258 yards and a touchdown, and while the stat line is still solid, it was much more impressive in the game. Indiana moved the ball for 510 total yards, which is spot on for its average through four games (513).

Grade: F

49ers’ special teams

With Indiana punting just once, on the first play of the fourth quarter, there weren’t many notables in the return department for Charlotte. Henry Rutledge did break a 38-yard kick return early in the action, and averaged 22 yards per return, leading Charlotte with 139 all-purpose yards on the game.

After winning AAC special teams player of the week last week following his 73-yard punt against Gardner-Webb, Michael O’Shaughnessy booted five punts at an average of 39 yards, with a long of 47.

It was another week where there were no swing plays for either side on special teams. This group is holding up and will need to be a constant in league play.

Grade: B-

Overall grade

Entering as 28.5-point underdogs, led by a third-string quarterback, this outcome was expected for Charlotte. A 1-3 start to the season was also expected, especially with James Madison’s emphatic non-conference dominance.

Playing three quarterbacks through four games, Charlotte’s offensive ceiling is still to be determined. The floor has been demonstrated in spurts, but likely led by Ivey and potentially Purdie for the foreseeable future, finding success on the ground must be top priority.

The defense must stop the bleeding in league play and revert to standing tall in the red zone, taking the ball away in big spots, and stonewalling the run. This was the only game this season where Charlotte’s defense didn’t record a takeaway.

With a road trip to Houston to take on a struggling Rice (1-3, 1-0 AAC), Charlotte is entering must-win territory in the first game of league play.

Grade: D+