CAA Forecast - Delaware
Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 3:52 pm
The Pluses:
1. PSU xfer QB Pat Devlin. All of UD is hoping he will help transform UD back to their winning ways.
2. Play calling is expected to be better by the OC.
3. I think they're getting new uni's too.
The Negatives:
1. Only 4 starters on Off & 6 on Def returns.
2. Make shift O-Line, LT Allard, So, 6'5 270, LG Nicholson Sr. 6'3 285, C McDowell So., 6'3 270, RG Nagle So, 6'4, 270, RT Uhll Jr 6'4 265. Two of the backups are actually listed @ 285, but the rest are smaller. The entire O-Line are a little light if you ask me.
3. Some recent personnel losses may also have an impact on the upcoming season.
The Schedule:
9/4 Fri vs West Chester. The Hens should come out flying enroute to a season opening 42 - 14 win to put smiles on the faces of the UD faithful.
9/12 Sat vs Richmond. The Gods of scheduling must have a bone to pick with UD as this game should be on 11/14 when they play Navy, and the Navy game should be this weekend. UR will come in focused and ready to do work. Navy lost a lot of starters and will be still feeling their way through. It would a perfect game for UD to steal from a still learning Navy squad. Unfortunately for UD they're playing the Def NC in the 2nd week of the season while UR is very fresh. UD falls at home 10 - 27 to a much bigger, stronger, faster, more aggresive UR team.
9/19 vs Delaware St. UD rebounds with a vengence and takes care of cross state rival DSU 35 - 13, running and passing at will.
9/26 @ William & Mary. The last time UD visited Zable stadium they scored 7 or 8 rushing TD's and set all kinds of records. Well, the hometown Tribe hasn't forgotten. With a bolstered run game of their own, the Tribe will look to return the favor. UD falls on the road 17 - 28 as the Tribe pressures the UD backfield by continually beating the UD O-Line with their AA DE's.
10/3 @ Maine. On the road again, UD runs into a relentless Black Bear defense that forces numerouls TO's. UD loses 17 - 27.
10/10 vs Massachusetts. I gave the analysis on the UMass thread, but this game will be close. With UD having the home field, coaching edge, @ QB edge, I gave UD the win, 21 - 20.
10/17 @ Towson. Catching a weakened Towson, UD again wins big 27 - 13.
10/24 Bye.
10/31 vs James Madison. UD had a week off to prepare, it's homecoming, and they're fighting for their playoff lives. JMU comes in and knows they're in a must win situation. These two slug it out up and down the field for 4 qtrs. With time left for one final drive, down by one, UD gets the ball on the JMU side of the field, but turns it over, and JMU runs out the clock to win 28 - 27.
11/7 VS Hofstra. Visiting HU, the surprise of the CAA this year, and everyone's Cinderella, comes in with high hopes. However, a proud Blue Hen team refuses to lose in their home finale, as UD holds on to win 24 - 20.
11/14 @ Navy. Again, this should be the UR game. Navy has now had time to get it's act together, and have padded their schedule with teams they should beat in order to get a bowl game. This game is more meaningful for Navy than UD. For a half UD fights valiantly, but KC pulls it in at ht, and UD falls 21 - 43.
11/21 @ Villanova. Looking to play spoiler, UD fights hard on this cold November afternoon. But Nova jumps out to a 21 - 7 ht lead which is the signal for UD to call it a season. Nova wins 35 - 7.
Overall 5 - 6, CAA 3 - 5, Better than 08
1. PSU xfer QB Pat Devlin. All of UD is hoping he will help transform UD back to their winning ways.
2. Play calling is expected to be better by the OC.
3. I think they're getting new uni's too.
The Negatives:
1. Only 4 starters on Off & 6 on Def returns.
2. Make shift O-Line, LT Allard, So, 6'5 270, LG Nicholson Sr. 6'3 285, C McDowell So., 6'3 270, RG Nagle So, 6'4, 270, RT Uhll Jr 6'4 265. Two of the backups are actually listed @ 285, but the rest are smaller. The entire O-Line are a little light if you ask me.
3. Some recent personnel losses may also have an impact on the upcoming season.
The Schedule:
9/4 Fri vs West Chester. The Hens should come out flying enroute to a season opening 42 - 14 win to put smiles on the faces of the UD faithful.
9/12 Sat vs Richmond. The Gods of scheduling must have a bone to pick with UD as this game should be on 11/14 when they play Navy, and the Navy game should be this weekend. UR will come in focused and ready to do work. Navy lost a lot of starters and will be still feeling their way through. It would a perfect game for UD to steal from a still learning Navy squad. Unfortunately for UD they're playing the Def NC in the 2nd week of the season while UR is very fresh. UD falls at home 10 - 27 to a much bigger, stronger, faster, more aggresive UR team.
9/19 vs Delaware St. UD rebounds with a vengence and takes care of cross state rival DSU 35 - 13, running and passing at will.
9/26 @ William & Mary. The last time UD visited Zable stadium they scored 7 or 8 rushing TD's and set all kinds of records. Well, the hometown Tribe hasn't forgotten. With a bolstered run game of their own, the Tribe will look to return the favor. UD falls on the road 17 - 28 as the Tribe pressures the UD backfield by continually beating the UD O-Line with their AA DE's.
10/3 @ Maine. On the road again, UD runs into a relentless Black Bear defense that forces numerouls TO's. UD loses 17 - 27.
10/10 vs Massachusetts. I gave the analysis on the UMass thread, but this game will be close. With UD having the home field, coaching edge, @ QB edge, I gave UD the win, 21 - 20.
10/17 @ Towson. Catching a weakened Towson, UD again wins big 27 - 13.
10/24 Bye.
10/31 vs James Madison. UD had a week off to prepare, it's homecoming, and they're fighting for their playoff lives. JMU comes in and knows they're in a must win situation. These two slug it out up and down the field for 4 qtrs. With time left for one final drive, down by one, UD gets the ball on the JMU side of the field, but turns it over, and JMU runs out the clock to win 28 - 27.
11/7 VS Hofstra. Visiting HU, the surprise of the CAA this year, and everyone's Cinderella, comes in with high hopes. However, a proud Blue Hen team refuses to lose in their home finale, as UD holds on to win 24 - 20.
11/14 @ Navy. Again, this should be the UR game. Navy has now had time to get it's act together, and have padded their schedule with teams they should beat in order to get a bowl game. This game is more meaningful for Navy than UD. For a half UD fights valiantly, but KC pulls it in at ht, and UD falls 21 - 43.
11/21 @ Villanova. Looking to play spoiler, UD fights hard on this cold November afternoon. But Nova jumps out to a 21 - 7 ht lead which is the signal for UD to call it a season. Nova wins 35 - 7.
Overall 5 - 6, CAA 3 - 5, Better than 08
