My score prediction difference of three was correct, but my team was not as the Hawks fell 27-24 to Rhode Island today. I will have my complete analysis of the game up on Tuesday, but I'd like to hear from those fans who were in attendance as to how it was in person.
Have a great Jersey Shore Labor Day weekend everyone and I will catch up with you on Tuesday.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
Rhode Island Scouting Report/Analysis/Prediction
Rhode Island went 3-8 in 2007 and let go head coach Tim Stowers last season. Enter Darren Rizzi, former Rutgers assistant, who takes over in his first season as the head coach of the Rams. This is Rizzi’s, a 1992 graduate of Rhode Island, second career head coaching job after leading New Haven from 1999-2001. He was the youngest head coach in the NCAA (28) at the time of his hire at New Haven and he is now the youngest head coach (38) in the Colonial Athletic Association.
Offensive Scouting Report: The Rams finished last season ranked ninth in scoring offense in the CAA, averaging 20.7 ppg. They placed eighth in the 12-team league in total offense (347.9 ypg), finishing last in passing (118.) ypg), but did finish third in rushing (229.9 ypg) in the league. URI also finished 11th in third down conversion percentage (35.3 %) and finished last in red zone offense, scoring 72.2 % of the time (26-36, 20 TD’s). Senior running back Joe Casey led the Rams in rushing with 782 yards in eight games last season (97.8 ypg), but missed the final three games of the year. Rhode Island does return five of their six leading rushers from a season ago. Quarterback Derek Cassidy returns after finishing fourth on the team in rushing (252 yards, five TD’s). He completed 49.7 % of his passes (76-153) for 1,025 yards with five touchdowns and six interceptions. Rhode Island returns their top eight pass catchers from a year ago, led by wide receiver Shawn Leonard (34 catches for 440 yards). Former Monmouth offensive coordinator Mark Fabish is also now quarterbacks coach for URI.
Defensive Scouting Report: The Rhode Island defense finished 11th in their conference in scoring defense (32.7 ppg), allowing 48 touchdowns in 11 games, and total defense, giving up 408.5 yards per game. They placed 10th in pass defense (234.8 ypg) and seventh in rush defense (173.6 ypg), while forcing 23 turnovers last year. The Rams did stiffen when the opposition entered their 20-yard line last season, ranking fifth in red zone defense, allowing scores on 76.5 % of drives (39-51), but they did surrender 33 touchdowns in those chances. Gone is leading tackler LT Brantley and his 76 stops and team-high two forced fumbles, but the Rams return second-leading tackler Matt Hansen and his team-leading 44 solo tackles. URI’s defense did log 28 pass break-ups and 11 interceptions last year, but only sacked opposing quarterbacks 13 times, which placed them 11th in the CAA.
Special Teams Scouting Report: URI’s special teams unit ranked near the bottom of the CAA in most statistical categories in 2007. The Rams ranked ninth in yards per kick return (19.6 avg.) and placed 10th in punting, averaging 29.5 net yards per attempt. Rhode Island ranked last in the league in punt returns (3.8 yards per return) and they converted 9-of-14 field goal opportunities. They did recover 2-of-4 on-side kicks last season to lead the conference. The Rams graduated all-conference punter Bryan Giannecchini, and two unproven underclassmen, Pedro Belinchon and Louis Feinstein, will compete for time at both the kicker and punter positions.
My take on Rhode Island and my prediction:
While Monmouth plays a level up against the Colonial Athletic Association’s Rams, the Hawks are no strangers to defeating teams from quality conferences in the Football Championship Subdivision. MU defeated Fordham 23-9, Colgate 17-12 and Morgan State 26-9 back in 2006 and also defeated Georgetown in both 2003 and 2004. Last season, the Hawks only lost to Maine by a touchdown and also played against Delaware, who played for the FCS Championship last year. This season, the Hawks return 19 of 22 starters this season, including multiple all-conference selections from last year.
Last year, Rhode Island ran the ball exceptionally well, but had a difficult time throwing the football. Monmouth’s defensive strength appears to lie in a very talented defensive backfield and deep linebacker and defensive line corps. The Rams will have the chance to move the football against the Hawks, but look for MU to bend but not break against URI and force field goal chances. The game could be decided by how efficient the MU offense is, because if Rhode Island can run the ball and control the clock, it falls into their favor. If Dave Sinisi has a big day running the football and the MU offensive line controls the line of scrimmage, the Hawks will be able to control the game’s tempo.
I believe Monmouth will be able to control the line and the defense will fly around the football and be fired up to make plays. I see Sinisi having a typical Sinisi day, around 100 yards, and Brett Burke will be his typical efficient self. The game will come down to a few big plays that will swing momentum, and I like the Hawks to be the beneficiaries of those big plays, and pull the upset against the Rams. MU will score a defensive/special teams touchdown and at least one offensive touchdown, in addition to a few Fred Weingart field goals, and win the game 20-17.
Offensive Scouting Report: The Rams finished last season ranked ninth in scoring offense in the CAA, averaging 20.7 ppg. They placed eighth in the 12-team league in total offense (347.9 ypg), finishing last in passing (118.) ypg), but did finish third in rushing (229.9 ypg) in the league. URI also finished 11th in third down conversion percentage (35.3 %) and finished last in red zone offense, scoring 72.2 % of the time (26-36, 20 TD’s). Senior running back Joe Casey led the Rams in rushing with 782 yards in eight games last season (97.8 ypg), but missed the final three games of the year. Rhode Island does return five of their six leading rushers from a season ago. Quarterback Derek Cassidy returns after finishing fourth on the team in rushing (252 yards, five TD’s). He completed 49.7 % of his passes (76-153) for 1,025 yards with five touchdowns and six interceptions. Rhode Island returns their top eight pass catchers from a year ago, led by wide receiver Shawn Leonard (34 catches for 440 yards). Former Monmouth offensive coordinator Mark Fabish is also now quarterbacks coach for URI.
Defensive Scouting Report: The Rhode Island defense finished 11th in their conference in scoring defense (32.7 ppg), allowing 48 touchdowns in 11 games, and total defense, giving up 408.5 yards per game. They placed 10th in pass defense (234.8 ypg) and seventh in rush defense (173.6 ypg), while forcing 23 turnovers last year. The Rams did stiffen when the opposition entered their 20-yard line last season, ranking fifth in red zone defense, allowing scores on 76.5 % of drives (39-51), but they did surrender 33 touchdowns in those chances. Gone is leading tackler LT Brantley and his 76 stops and team-high two forced fumbles, but the Rams return second-leading tackler Matt Hansen and his team-leading 44 solo tackles. URI’s defense did log 28 pass break-ups and 11 interceptions last year, but only sacked opposing quarterbacks 13 times, which placed them 11th in the CAA.
Special Teams Scouting Report: URI’s special teams unit ranked near the bottom of the CAA in most statistical categories in 2007. The Rams ranked ninth in yards per kick return (19.6 avg.) and placed 10th in punting, averaging 29.5 net yards per attempt. Rhode Island ranked last in the league in punt returns (3.8 yards per return) and they converted 9-of-14 field goal opportunities. They did recover 2-of-4 on-side kicks last season to lead the conference. The Rams graduated all-conference punter Bryan Giannecchini, and two unproven underclassmen, Pedro Belinchon and Louis Feinstein, will compete for time at both the kicker and punter positions.
My take on Rhode Island and my prediction:
While Monmouth plays a level up against the Colonial Athletic Association’s Rams, the Hawks are no strangers to defeating teams from quality conferences in the Football Championship Subdivision. MU defeated Fordham 23-9, Colgate 17-12 and Morgan State 26-9 back in 2006 and also defeated Georgetown in both 2003 and 2004. Last season, the Hawks only lost to Maine by a touchdown and also played against Delaware, who played for the FCS Championship last year. This season, the Hawks return 19 of 22 starters this season, including multiple all-conference selections from last year.
Last year, Rhode Island ran the ball exceptionally well, but had a difficult time throwing the football. Monmouth’s defensive strength appears to lie in a very talented defensive backfield and deep linebacker and defensive line corps. The Rams will have the chance to move the football against the Hawks, but look for MU to bend but not break against URI and force field goal chances. The game could be decided by how efficient the MU offense is, because if Rhode Island can run the ball and control the clock, it falls into their favor. If Dave Sinisi has a big day running the football and the MU offensive line controls the line of scrimmage, the Hawks will be able to control the game’s tempo.
I believe Monmouth will be able to control the line and the defense will fly around the football and be fired up to make plays. I see Sinisi having a typical Sinisi day, around 100 yards, and Brett Burke will be his typical efficient self. The game will come down to a few big plays that will swing momentum, and I like the Hawks to be the beneficiaries of those big plays, and pull the upset against the Rams. MU will score a defensive/special teams touchdown and at least one offensive touchdown, in addition to a few Fred Weingart field goals, and win the game 20-17.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Week 1: Rhode Island
Good morning Monmouth fans, the greatest time of the year is officially upon us, football season is less than a week away!! The Hawks open up the 2008 season against the Colonial Athletic Association's Rhode Island Rams on Saturday, August 30 at 1:00 p.m. in Kingston, R.I. I will have a full game preview up on Friday detailing all aspects of the contest and a complete Rhode Island scouting report as well, so stay tuned.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
NEC Preseason Coaches Poll/Monmouth Selected Second
The Northeast Conference Preseason Coaches Poll was released this morning, and Monmouth was selected second while defending conference champion Albany was picked as the preseason favorite. Both squads each landed six players on the All-NEC Preseason Team as well. The Great Danes do bring back a lot of experience including running back David McCarty, who ran for 1,500+ yards last season and two of the men who paved the way for him on the offensive linemen, Raphael Nguti and Kevin Richards.
The Hawks feature six players on the preseason team, with all of them also making all-league teams a season ago. Running back Dave Sinisi, tight end John Nalbone and offensive linemen Nick LoCastro and Shawn Wright made the squad from the offense, while defensive lineman Kevin Walsh and defensive back Ayo Falae made the team from the D.
Monmouth took two of the available eight first place votes and the Great Danes had five. Preseason third place Central Connecticut State had the lone remaining vote. The rest of the league’s predicted order, according to the head coaches, is Wagner, Duquesne, Robert Morris, Sacred Heart and Saint Francis.
Albany, MU and CCSU appear to be the three strongest teams, but Wagner and Robert Morris should also not be counted out in the mix for the NEC crown. Newcomer Duquesne, who participated in the now-defunct Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference for football a season ago, will have to replace wide receiver Bruce Hocker, but the man throwing him the ball last season, Kevin Rombach, returns as the All-NEC preseason signal caller.
MU returns 19 starters this season and begins the year at Rhode Island on August 30 at 1:00 p.m.
Monmouth University preseason release (from www.GoMUHawks.com)
http://www.gomuhawks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=14300&ATCLID=1553271
Northeast Conference website release:
http://www.northeastconference.org/News/fball/2008/8/12/FB-Preseasonallconf-08.asp?path=fball
The Hawks feature six players on the preseason team, with all of them also making all-league teams a season ago. Running back Dave Sinisi, tight end John Nalbone and offensive linemen Nick LoCastro and Shawn Wright made the squad from the offense, while defensive lineman Kevin Walsh and defensive back Ayo Falae made the team from the D.
Monmouth took two of the available eight first place votes and the Great Danes had five. Preseason third place Central Connecticut State had the lone remaining vote. The rest of the league’s predicted order, according to the head coaches, is Wagner, Duquesne, Robert Morris, Sacred Heart and Saint Francis.
Albany, MU and CCSU appear to be the three strongest teams, but Wagner and Robert Morris should also not be counted out in the mix for the NEC crown. Newcomer Duquesne, who participated in the now-defunct Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference for football a season ago, will have to replace wide receiver Bruce Hocker, but the man throwing him the ball last season, Kevin Rombach, returns as the All-NEC preseason signal caller.
MU returns 19 starters this season and begins the year at Rhode Island on August 30 at 1:00 p.m.
Monmouth University preseason release (from www.GoMUHawks.com)
http://www.gomuhawks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=14300&ATCLID=1553271
Northeast Conference website release:
http://www.northeastconference.org/News/fball/2008/8/12/FB-Preseasonallconf-08.asp?path=fball
Monday, August 11, 2008
Monday, Aug. 11 practice notes
I figured we could squeak in a few quick practice updates before tomorrow's NEC Preseason Coaches Poll post.
Some quick notes from Monday's AM practice session:
Fifth-year senior cornerback and co-captain Ayo Falae broke up a pair of passes this morning and picked off a pass. For my money, Falae is the best cornerback in the league. He is a tremendous shutdown corner who will also come up from his position and lay the wood to a ball carrier.
Fellow fifth-year senior wide receiver Steve Dowens, from Middletown South, had a diving catch off a pass from fellow fifth-year quarterback Brett Burke, from Wall, in the morning session. Dowens is a tough wide receiver who is not afraid to go over the middle and is also a valuable blocker on the outside. Burke continues to put the ball where it needs to be for his playmakers to make something happen throughout early camp.
Fifth-year senior tight end John Nalbone snared a one-handed touchdown catch in the AM during drills. Nalbone has great size (6-4, 260) and athleticism and should have a big season in 2008 following three All-NEC seasons, including a First Team nod last year.
Junior defensive back Kenny Amsel blocked two field goals in the morning. Amsel is in the mix in a very talented and deep MU defensive backfield after playing in nine games last season.
In the PM session, freshman wide receiver Darvin Henderson made the catch of the afternoon when he laid out and hauled in a deep ball from fellow newcomer Kyle Frazier. This was my first look at Henderson, who appears to have some talent and speed, while Frazier has looked good throughout camp.
That's all for now, I will be back on Tuesday with all the NEC Preseason Coaches Poll insight and analysis.
Some quick notes from Monday's AM practice session:
Fifth-year senior cornerback and co-captain Ayo Falae broke up a pair of passes this morning and picked off a pass. For my money, Falae is the best cornerback in the league. He is a tremendous shutdown corner who will also come up from his position and lay the wood to a ball carrier.
Fellow fifth-year senior wide receiver Steve Dowens, from Middletown South, had a diving catch off a pass from fellow fifth-year quarterback Brett Burke, from Wall, in the morning session. Dowens is a tough wide receiver who is not afraid to go over the middle and is also a valuable blocker on the outside. Burke continues to put the ball where it needs to be for his playmakers to make something happen throughout early camp.
Fifth-year senior tight end John Nalbone snared a one-handed touchdown catch in the AM during drills. Nalbone has great size (6-4, 260) and athleticism and should have a big season in 2008 following three All-NEC seasons, including a First Team nod last year.
Junior defensive back Kenny Amsel blocked two field goals in the morning. Amsel is in the mix in a very talented and deep MU defensive backfield after playing in nine games last season.
In the PM session, freshman wide receiver Darvin Henderson made the catch of the afternoon when he laid out and hauled in a deep ball from fellow newcomer Kyle Frazier. This was my first look at Henderson, who appears to have some talent and speed, while Frazier has looked good throughout camp.
That's all for now, I will be back on Tuesday with all the NEC Preseason Coaches Poll insight and analysis.
Hello Monmouth Fans
Dear Monmouth University Football Fans,
Welcome to your online home for everything that is the Blue and White for the 2008 season. Here all MU fans have a forum in which to discuss the Hawks, and I will be giving my insight before and after each game. We will kick things off tomorrow when the Northeast Conference Preseason Coaches Poll is unveiled and we find out where the league's head coaches think the Hawks will land in 2008. Thanks for checking out the Monmouth Football blog, Go Hawks!
Welcome to your online home for everything that is the Blue and White for the 2008 season. Here all MU fans have a forum in which to discuss the Hawks, and I will be giving my insight before and after each game. We will kick things off tomorrow when the Northeast Conference Preseason Coaches Poll is unveiled and we find out where the league's head coaches think the Hawks will land in 2008. Thanks for checking out the Monmouth Football blog, Go Hawks!
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