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.