CAA Forecast - Richmond
Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 7:25 am
The Pluses;
1. 18 starters return (7 Off, 9 Def, 2 ST)
2. OL is 4/5's back and has good size.
3. Ward back for 3rd year as starting QB, and can run the ball as good as some of the best QB's in the league.
4. London has a full CAA season under his belt and a NC to build on. London proved he's a very good coach at making adjustments whether it be from week to week, or during the game.
5. Not being too different from last year's team, and with the infusion of new blood, this team has the potential to be better in 09.
The Negatives (not many);
1. UR must break in a RB & TE.
2. Both DE's are gone, but they played some last year without one or both of them. This won't be that new to UR.
3. And this is simply just a shot in the dark, UR could be over confident coming into the season (which may cost them a few early season games), and may lack the hunger of last year's team. It's doubtful that London would let such an attitude manifest itself.
The schedule;
9/5 @ Duke. UR keeps it close for a half, but pulls in the reigns in the 2nd half to protect their players. Duke leads 9 - 2 in this series, and continues it's dominance in a 24 - 10 win.
9/12 @ Delaware. UR flexes it's muscles and shows to the rest of FCS why they are the Defending champs and dispatches a game UD 27 - 10 as Ward wins this one with his arm and his legs.
9/19 vs Hofstra. UR playing in front of the home crowd runs out to an early 21 - 0 halftime lead as UR tries to feature it's RB'S more. UR wins 28 - 7.
9/26 vs VMI. UR again focusing on it's running game runs over VMI 35 - 7.
10/3 Bye
10/10 @ JMU. This series the away team has been winning of late. Advantage UR. UR comes back just as strong if not stronger while JMU is not the JMU of old. Again advantage UR. JMU's defense will still be questionable, while UR's offense should be gellin. UR wins a close one 24 - 21. However, I will hedge, and say either this game or the next has "Upset Potential" written all over it.
10/17 @ Maine. UR goes on the road for another tough matchup. UR's Def stands strong in denying Maine a victory in front of the home crowd. UR wins 27 - 20.
10/24 vs UMass. UR returns home to take on a weakend UMass team. Mixing in run & pass, UR wins convincingly 28 - 14.
10/31 @ Towson. UR dispatches TU with ease 42 - 7.
11/7 vs Villanova. The Battle Royale for all of the CAA marbles. This is basically the same UR team that came into the Mainline last year. Nova too is similarly staffed. UR fails to score on it's final drive as time runs out and loses to it's first FCS opponent 31 - 35.
11/14 @ Georgetown. Erasing the taste of defeat from their mouths, UR runs over GT 35 - 0.
11/21 vs William & Mary. In another good CAA matchup of Va teams, UR outlasts the Tribe again 27 - 23.
CAA 7 - 1, Overall 9 - 2
1. 18 starters return (7 Off, 9 Def, 2 ST)
2. OL is 4/5's back and has good size.
3. Ward back for 3rd year as starting QB, and can run the ball as good as some of the best QB's in the league.
4. London has a full CAA season under his belt and a NC to build on. London proved he's a very good coach at making adjustments whether it be from week to week, or during the game.
5. Not being too different from last year's team, and with the infusion of new blood, this team has the potential to be better in 09.
The Negatives (not many);
1. UR must break in a RB & TE.
2. Both DE's are gone, but they played some last year without one or both of them. This won't be that new to UR.
3. And this is simply just a shot in the dark, UR could be over confident coming into the season (which may cost them a few early season games), and may lack the hunger of last year's team. It's doubtful that London would let such an attitude manifest itself.
The schedule;
9/5 @ Duke. UR keeps it close for a half, but pulls in the reigns in the 2nd half to protect their players. Duke leads 9 - 2 in this series, and continues it's dominance in a 24 - 10 win.
9/12 @ Delaware. UR flexes it's muscles and shows to the rest of FCS why they are the Defending champs and dispatches a game UD 27 - 10 as Ward wins this one with his arm and his legs.
9/19 vs Hofstra. UR playing in front of the home crowd runs out to an early 21 - 0 halftime lead as UR tries to feature it's RB'S more. UR wins 28 - 7.
9/26 vs VMI. UR again focusing on it's running game runs over VMI 35 - 7.
10/3 Bye
10/10 @ JMU. This series the away team has been winning of late. Advantage UR. UR comes back just as strong if not stronger while JMU is not the JMU of old. Again advantage UR. JMU's defense will still be questionable, while UR's offense should be gellin. UR wins a close one 24 - 21. However, I will hedge, and say either this game or the next has "Upset Potential" written all over it.
10/17 @ Maine. UR goes on the road for another tough matchup. UR's Def stands strong in denying Maine a victory in front of the home crowd. UR wins 27 - 20.
10/24 vs UMass. UR returns home to take on a weakend UMass team. Mixing in run & pass, UR wins convincingly 28 - 14.
10/31 @ Towson. UR dispatches TU with ease 42 - 7.
11/7 vs Villanova. The Battle Royale for all of the CAA marbles. This is basically the same UR team that came into the Mainline last year. Nova too is similarly staffed. UR fails to score on it's final drive as time runs out and loses to it's first FCS opponent 31 - 35.
11/14 @ Georgetown. Erasing the taste of defeat from their mouths, UR runs over GT 35 - 0.
11/21 vs William & Mary. In another good CAA matchup of Va teams, UR outlasts the Tribe again 27 - 23.
CAA 7 - 1, Overall 9 - 2