CAA Forecast - Massachusetts

[jstclmet]

CAA Forecast - UMass

The Pluses:
1. 15 Starters return (8 Off, 6 Def, 1 ST)
2. OL comes back @ 4/5's strength led by Preseason AA LT Ducasse, 6/5, 315. Other returnees are LG Samuda 6'3 305, C Ihne 6'5, 280 & RG Getek 6'6. 295. OL looks nice, just need to shore up the RT spot.
3. TB Nelson returns in what will most likely be a run dominant team this year.
4. On the D side of the ball, UMass has 3 returning DL (DT Collier 6'1 280, DE Harrison 6'2 260, & NT Harrington 6'3, 285. If memory serves me correctly, didn't UMass run with a 4 man DL??

The Negatives:
1. New HC
2. QB spot up for grabs
3. Weaknesses @ LB & DB

The Questions:
1. With new HC, will UMass continue to have discipline problems??
2. Will UMass feature the run more this year due QB issues??
3. UMass had 28 PPG last year vs giving up 26 as UMass feasted on their weaker sisters. Without Coen, will those numbers reverse???
4. UMass rushed for 142 RYPG, & gave up 194 RYPG. Any reason to see an improvement here??? IMHO, NO.

The Schedule;

9/5 @ Kansas St. K.St runs away to a 31 - 13 win.

9/12 vs Albany. UMass gets its first win of the season in convincing fashion by running over the much smaller Danes 28 - 10.

9/19 vs URI. Continuing their momentum from the previous week, UMass runs URI out of Amherst in a 35 - 7 win.

9/26 vs Stony Brook. UMass takes advantage of another team in a rebuilding mode, and wins it's 3rd in a row at home by virtue of it's ground game 24 - 13.

10/3 Bye

10/10 @ Delaware. This game really stumps me.

QB edge UD
OL edge UMass
DL edge UMass
LB push
DB edge UD
RB/WR's push
ST's edge UD
HC edge UD
Homefield - UD

The OL/DL matchup has me wavering, plus UMass is coming off of a bye. Gotta think KC & the home field advantage pulls this one out. UD 21 - UMass 20.

10/17 vs UNH. UMass falls late to UNH with a FG, 14 - 17.

10/24 @ UR. UR too strong in all components. UMass falls 14 - 28.

10/31 @ Maine. On the road in a fierce division rivalry game, UMaine outslugs UMass 23 - 16.

11/7 vs Northeastern. After having lost 4 straigth, UMass feasts on lowly NU 31 - 16.

11/14 vs JMU. UMass has a 17 - 13 lead late in the 4th, but sees JMU bring back a flash from 08 in a thrilling 4th qtr come from behind victory, as UMass falls 17 - 20 as time expires.

11/21 @ Hofstra. On the road against a much improved HU team, UMass loses another close game 21 - 28, but holds their heads up high as they believe in 2010, the close games will fall their way.

CAA 2 - 6, Overall 4 - 7

[Rob Iola]

But they do have a kick-ass band...

[dbackjon]

6-5 for the Minutemen

[SUUTbird]

i agree with the same record however i would say UMASS loses to UAlbany and beats Hofstra. It will be later in the season and i think that one of UMASS QB's will have stepped up by then and that UAlbany is better then most people think.

[danefan]

A much smaller Albany? Albany is very rarely smaller than anyone. Its the depth of specialty players that have lost Albany the big OOC games in the past.

The Albany-Umass game is a toss-up at best. Albany should have won the game last year.

[Col Hogan]

It all depends on the QB...if one of the three front running candidates step up and product, the OL and Tony Nelson will take care of the rest on offense...

Defense will be interesting...the returning players (except on DB) are strong...

I think special teams will be improved over last years hit-or-miss squad...

I went with "Just over .500"...

[Rob Iola]

It all depends on the QB...if one of the three front running candidates step up and product, the OL and Tony Nelson will take care of the rest on offense...

Defense will be interesting...the returning players (except on DB) are strong...

I think special teams will be improved over last years hit-or-miss squad...

I went with "Just over .500"...

Does that include your upcoming 3-TD loss to Delaware?

[houndawg]

They might do alright, they get to duck some tough CAA south teams. UNH will be the CAA north team in the playoffs.