Bryant is 2-1 after losing to NEC member CCSU 42-35 and beating Division II opponents Southern Connecticut and Merrimack. Marty Fine is in his fifth season at the helm of Bryant, sporting a 29-15 record in his time in Smithfield. Fine, who has led the Bulldogs to at least seven wins in each of the last three seasons, has two Northeast-10 Conference championships and two NCAA playoff appearances to his credit in his four seasons as head coach. The Western New Mexico graduate is leading Bryant into Division I, and eventually the Northeast Conference in 2012, during this transitional period.
Offense: Bryant’s offense is predicated on a power running game; in an age where the spread offense and multiple receiver sets rule, the Bulldogs prefer lining up with a fullback or two-tight end set. They run the ball 64% of the time, and their head coach and playcaller, Marty Fine, is a former offensive lineman who would love to control the line of scrimmage. Bryant averages 31.3 points per game and averages 11 more minutes in time of possession than the opposition. Their primary ball carrier is Jerell Smith, a Howard transfer, who has 444 yards on 75 carries (5.9 ypc) this season to go along with three touchdowns. Smith is averaging 148 yards per game on the ground for a team that averages 192 rushing yards per contest. Jay Graber is the Bulldogs’ quarterback, and he has completed 55.4% of his passes for 497 yards (165.7 ypg) with five touchdowns and four interceptions. Ross Giffune has proven to be Graber’s favorite target with eight catches for 77 yards, but Vinton Smith is their big-play threat with seven grabs for 121 yards (17.3 ypc).
Defense: The Bulldogs give up an average of 28.3 points and 401 yards of total offense per game to their opponents so far this season. While they give up 143.7 yards rushing per game, BU gives up 257.3 yards passing per game so far this year, but does hold opponents to under 50% completions. Bryant’s defense has proven opportunistic this season, forcing 16 turnovers for a +10 margin. Bryce Martins leads the team with 24 tackles while Paul Polomski has 22 tackles to go along with two picks. Defensive back Samad Wagstaff leads the squad with five interceptions and also has two pass break-ups. Don Smith is a versatile defender, stuffing the stat sheet with a team-high 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks, as well as five quarterback hurries, one pass break-up, one fumble forced and recovered and one blocked kick. The Bulldogs defense only allows opponents to convert 38% of their third down chances as well.
Special Teams: Leading rusher Jerell Smith is also the team’s kickoff return leader with 12 returns for 214 yards (17.8 ypr). Ryan Buckley has also returned a pair of kickoffs for 58 yards for the Bulldogs. Bryant has struggled in the punt return game, as two Bulldogs have combined on five returns for 20 yards. Chris Bird is 4-for-7 kicking, but just 1-of-3 from beyond 40 yards. Brian Donnelly is BU’s punter, and has averaged 35.5 ypp, but has gotten two kicks blocked already this season.
My take on Bryant and my prediction:
The Bulldogs believe in old school, power football and will try to establish the line of scrimmage against MU. Monmouth has been effective against the run this season and their 135.7 rushing yards per game allowed, which is third in the NEC, is slightly misleading. I believe that the Hawks should be able to contain the Bryant running game for the most part, and will force the Bulldogs into some third-and-longs, which they are not built to convert.
The game will be close, but I believe Dave Sinisi, Brett Burke and the Monmouth offense will get things going early and score some points. I think Monmouth plays from ahead in this game, forcing Bryant to abandon their power running game and making them more one-dimensional than they want to be. I think that Sinisi has a big day, around 150 yards rushing and at least one touchdown, and Burke is his normal efficient self. I also like what I’ve seen out of the Monmouth special teams recently, and a few big kick returns set Monmouth up with a short field. The Hawks convert their red-zone chances with TD’s and MU will come away with a 27-16 win.
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