Pre-Game Thoughts

[danefan]

TSN Preview of the CAA

 

Rankings are for predicted order of finish in the North Division.

 

2. Massachusetts (7-5, 4-4, third)

 

The Minutemen had been a fixture in The Sports Network top-25 for several years, but season-long troubles on defense and late struggles offensively led to a surprising fall last season. Kevin Morris, who had been the offensive coordinator for five years, moves into the head coaching job to replace Don Brown, who moved to Maryland as the defensive coordinator.

 

"We are not going to change very much of what we have been doing on offense, or defense," said Morris. "We are going to run the ball on offense and we are going to put a lot of pressure on teams with our defense."

 

The offense has a Payton Award candidate in hard-nosed running back Tony Nelson (1,325 yards, 5.5 average, 12 TDs) and one of the best receiving duos in the country with Victor Cruz (71 catches, 15.0 average, six TDs) and Jeremy Horne (50 catches, 17.9 average, eight TDs), but it must replace four-year starter Liam Coen (11,031 career passing yards, 90 TDs).

 

Fifth-year senior Scott Woodward and JC transfer Kyle Havens are the candidates to move into Coen's role. All-American tackle Vladimir Ducasse is one of the top-rated pro prospects in FCS and anchors a top-notch offensive line.

 

The defense, usually the calling card for UMass, was embarrassed to give up almost 29 points per game and rank 72nd nationally last season, despite the presence of some top-flight talent. But the Minutemen have gone back to work in the off-season and will be helped by returning Buchanan Award candidate Jeromy Miles (104 tackles) at strong safety and Josh Jennings at linebacker (90 tackles) [as reported by UMass fans earlier, it does not appear that Jennings will see any on-field action this year as he has a serious back injury. They did however pick up a transfer LB from Syracuse (Mele) who had 72 tackles and started 12 games for Cuse last year..

 

Armando Cuko was a solid 45-of-46 on PATs and 6-of-8 on field goals, but his one extra-point miss at Maine led to a 21-20 loss at Maine and dropped the Minutemen out of playoff contention. UMass has featured some of the top punters in FCS in recent years, but must replace Brett Arnold (45.2 average, 34.1 net).

 

3. Maine (8-5, 5-3, second)

 

The Black Bears were floundering midway through the season when Michael Brusko replaced an injured Adam Farkas as the starting quarterback. From there, Maine won six of its last eight games and reached the FCS playoffs.

 

"The experience we had last year is going to be tremendously helpful to this team," Maine coach Jack Cosgrove said. "You just see the confidence developing."

 

Brusko (1,353 yards of total offense, 12 TDs) is joined by All-American fullback Jared Turcotte (910 all-purpose yards, eight TDs as a redshirt freshman), Pushaun Brown and Derek Session (538 all-purpose yards) in a versatile backfield.

 

The offensive line could be a key, as it must replace three starters, including center Ryan Canary.

 

On defense, Maine must replace Buchanan Award runner-up and two-time CAA defensive player of the year Jovan Belcher (98 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks) at end, as well as six other starters. But Jordan Stevens (53 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss) will inherit Belcher's mantle for a unit that seems to reload every year.

 

Linebacker Mark Masterson (68 tackles, seven pass breakups) and strong safety Brandon McLaughlin (51 tackles) will also provide leadership. The kicking game needs improvement. The Black Bears must replace their punter, and kicker Brian Harvey was just 5-of-13 on field goals last season.

 

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform...aspx?id=4248889

[Clickclack]

When did the CAA get a North Division?

[danefan]

When did the CAA get a North Division?

 

Been that way since the CAA Football conference was formed for the 2007 season.

 

North

UMass

UNH

Maine

URI

Hofstra

Northeastern

 

South

James Madison

William & Mary

Villanova

Delaware

Towson

Richmond

[Clickclack]

When did the CAA get a North Division?

 

Been that way since the CAA Football conference was formed for the 2007 season.

 

North

UMass

UNH

Maine

URI

Hofstra

Northeastern

 

South

James Madison

William & Mary

Villanova

Delaware

Towson

Richmond

 

Is that an official designation? I didn't think they had divisions...I thought it was being discussed for scheduling purposes if the league were to add more teams.

[danefan]

When did the CAA get a North Division?

 

Been that way since the CAA Football conference was formed for the 2007 season.

 

North

UMass

UNH

Maine

URI

Hofstra

Northeastern

 

South

James Madison

William & Mary

Villanova

Delaware

Towson

Richmond

 

Is that an official designation? I didn't think they had divisions...I thought it was being discussed for scheduling purposes if the league were to add more teams.

 

It is an official designation. They are adding two teams in 2012 (Georgia State and Old Dominion). They are discussing now where to put those teams, as they are both geographically in the South. Adding them to the south, however, would make the league lopsided. They were discussing breaking off into 3 divisions or possibly putting Georgia State in the North.

[Clickclack]

When did the CAA get a North Division?

 

Been that way since the CAA Football conference was formed for the 2007 season.

 

North

UMass

UNH

Maine

URI

Hofstra

Northeastern

 

South

James Madison

William & Mary

Villanova

Delaware

Towson

Richmond

 

Is that an official designation? I didn't think they had divisions...I thought it was being discussed for scheduling purposes if the league were to add more teams.

 

It is an official designation. They are adding two teams in 2012 (Georgia State and Old Dominion). They are discussing now where to put those teams, as they are both geographically in the South. Adding them to the south, however, would make the league lopsided. They were discussing breaking off into 3 divisions or possibly putting Georgia State in the North.

 

OH...OK, that's what I got confused the discussion of creating a third division. Thank you for the explanation

[danefan]

http://www.troyrecord.com/articles/2009/08...ac846208205.txt

 

 

GREAT ARTICLE in the Troy Record. We have been downright spoiled to have McCarty as a Dane for these 5 years.

[danefan]

Good article and overview on Maine

http://www.keepmecurrent.com/sports/articl...1cc4c002e0.html

[danefan]

UMass still doesn't have a starting QB.

 

http://www.gazettenet.com/2009/08/22/posit...battles-heating

[Dane Pound]

A heads-up that the Record blog is going to be doing more player profiles on the area's only DI football program. Andrew Santillo is the writer and he's already started with an entry on Jason Poore. There' a link at the top of the page or Santillo blog.

[danefan]

A heads-up that the Record blog is going to be doing more player profiles on the area's only DI football program. Andrew Santillo is the writer and he's already started with an entry on Jason Poore. There' a link at the top of the page or Santillo blog.

 

 

Thanks Dane Pound. I'm looking forward to reading it.

[danefan]

UMass still hasn't named a QB. Apparently they are waiting until right before the snap at Kansas State to decide.

 

http://www.gazettenet.com/2009/08/27/umass-coach-still-has-not-named-starting-quarterback

 

AMHERST - Camp is over but the starting quarterback race is not.

 

The University of Massachusetts football team is done with preseason and will begin focusing on preparing for its Sept. 5 opener at Kansas State. But who will be the passing the ball for the Minutemen in that game is still up in the air.

 

"We're going to keep evaluating," UMass coach Kevin Morris said Wednesday. "It's still an open door right now. We're just trying to get the best leadership for the team and get this party started."

 

When asked when he expected to pick a quarterback, Morris said, "At about 6 p.m. K-State time" Sept. 5.

 

He was laughing, but at least was partially serious. "If I can make a decision before that I certainly will," he added.

 

Morris acknowledged that there are just two candidates to be the starter now as Kyle Havens and Scott Woodward are ahead of Octavious Hawkins and Spencer Whipple. But Morris said neither of the two finalists have seized control of the race yet.

 

[Dane Pound]

Game notes are up for the GSU game. I'm sure they're built more for speed but their linebackers look on the small side (on paper.)

[Michigan_Dane]

These top FCS schools routinely play FBS schools. Georgia Southern played Georgia last year. These are real tests for us when we discuss Cincy. If we can play GSU, Maine or UMass tough... maybe even beat them, then we can play Cincy. If GSU can play Georgia and be competitive then we should take on the challenge of Cincy. Saturday is another good measure of where we stand.

[Ruler 79]

The difference with GSU playing Georgia is a glaring one: GSU gives out 63 full scholarships. The University of Georgia gives out 85. A difference of 22. In 2011 we may have 36-40 and Cincy will have 85.

 

BTW Georgia usually kicks the hell out of a fully funded GSU.