Monday's VRBO Fiesta Bowl will pit a fast-paced Liberty offense that leads FBS in rushing against an Oregon defense that allows less than 98 rushing yards per game. Leading that Liberty offense will be quarterback and CUSA Most Valuable Player Kaidon Salter.
Earning the starting QB job in Fall Camp, the sophomore Tennessee transfer has rushed for 1,064 in 2023 running head coach Jamey Chadwell's version of the run-pass-option offense.
"It's a very, very difficult offense for teams to prepare for," Liberty Co-OC Newland Isaac said in media availability this week. "It's a lot of triple options and make people slow down and think a little bit, versus...triple options where they run around and slow down a little bit. We have talented players. The more we slow people down, it benefits us."
Salter noted that in preparation for a talented and physically imposing Oregon defense, their overall practices haven't changed much from what the undefeated Flames were already doing.
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"We have been doing robust practicing all season. They kept the same routine that we have been doing. It shows they are not showing no fear and we are not showing no fear. I feel like our players see the coaches not showing fear, the players won't show fear. And we are sticking together. We will come out and we will execute and we will play how we play."
As Chadwell has noted in the weeks leading up to Monday, the Oregon front seven will be the most challenging they Flames have gone up against. Salter is very aware of the small adjustments he'll likely have to make to maintain his status quo.
"Of course, they are a better defense than we have played all year," Salter said of the Ducks. "They are faster and physical and there are a lot of things that we have to do quicker, such as me getting the ball out and things we have to do to make quicker decisions."
Salter and the Flames take on the Ducks on New Year's Day at Noon ET on ESPN.
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