jstclmet
July 14th, 2009, 10:18 AM
The Pluses:
1. 20 returning starters (9 Off, 9 Def, 2 ST).
2. Entire OL is coming back at full strength.
3. QB's & RB's are back to provide leadership and scoring.
3. The team is healthy and has made vast improvements over the winter.
4. MLB Bonus, preseason AA leads the defense that will be hungry for a winning season.
The Negatives:
1. This team is just too small;
1a. The weights of the OL reminds of O lineman from the 70's (T's More 6'3 260, Poole 6'2 274, G's Spanich 6'3 275, Frederick 6'4 264, C Harrell 6'2 275). Not very big in 09.
1b. The DL is even smaller; DE Mayo 5'11 200, DT Nelson 6'3 259, DE Smith 6'2 230. These guys will have to outquick you, as they will not be able to overpower you and stuff the middle.
1c. LB's; MLB Bonus 5'10 205, OLB Edmonds 6'0 205, and Gaida 5'10 211. This front 6 will have their work cut out for them. The backups will be seeing a lot of time.
The schedule:
9/5 vs Stony Brook. The Pride took it to the Seawolves last year in the "Battle of Long Island", beating them handily at their place. Nothing different this year as the Pride are a year stronger and faster. The Pride wins easily in their home opener, 42 - 10.
9/12 @ Bryant. The pride roams north into Rhode Island to take on the Bull Dogs of Bryant college. The dogs bark violently, but have little bite, as the Pride leaves Rhode Island with the sweet taste of victory in a convincing 45 - 7 win over their NEC foe.
9/19 @ Richmond. The Pride roams south into the web of the Defending National Champion Spiders. The Spiders waist little time in dispatching the much smaller Pride 28 - 7.
9/26 @ Western Michigan. Here's where the Pride truly learns that size matters. WMU OL begins @ 300 across the board. This game is not close as the Broncos gallup past the Pride 45 - 7.
10/3 vs James Madison. Sitting @ .500, but having lost their last two, the Pride back at home fights valiant in battling the visiting Dukes. However, the Pride's smallish Def cannot contain the Dukes in the 4th qtr, and the Dukes come from behind to win 21 - 17.
10/10 vs Maine. In a nip & tuck game against the Black Bears, this time it is the Pride that kicks the game winning FG as time expires to win 24 - 21.
10/17 @ Rhode Island. In the Pride's second trip to the state of Rhode Island in 09, the Rams are more than up to the challenge. This time it's the Prides turn to lose as the Rams kick the game winning FG to seal the deal. URI 24 HU 21.
10/24 vs New Hampshire. In a battle for CAA North Supremacy, the The Pride & Cats slug their way to a 17 - 17 tie. However, in another one decided by a last second FG, the Pride survives 20 - 17.
10/31 Bye
11/7 @ Delaware. The Pride roars into the Tub only to find the Blue Hens waiting and flexing for a fight. Leading 20 - 17 with under 2 minutes to go in the 4th, the Pride needs one last defensive stand. However, it was not to be as Pat Devlin leads the Hens 80 yds for the game winning TD as UD wins 24 - 20 in front of the home faithful.
11/14 @ Northeastern. The Pride travels north again to take on a weakend NU team, and comes away with the much needed win 42 - 21.
11/21 vs UMass. In a game that's been marked on the Pride calendar since the schedule was set, HU wears down the Minuteman 28 - 21 to finish the season above .500.
Overall 6 - 5, CAA 4 - 4
1. 20 returning starters (9 Off, 9 Def, 2 ST).
2. Entire OL is coming back at full strength.
3. QB's & RB's are back to provide leadership and scoring.
3. The team is healthy and has made vast improvements over the winter.
4. MLB Bonus, preseason AA leads the defense that will be hungry for a winning season.
The Negatives:
1. This team is just too small;
1a. The weights of the OL reminds of O lineman from the 70's (T's More 6'3 260, Poole 6'2 274, G's Spanich 6'3 275, Frederick 6'4 264, C Harrell 6'2 275). Not very big in 09.
1b. The DL is even smaller; DE Mayo 5'11 200, DT Nelson 6'3 259, DE Smith 6'2 230. These guys will have to outquick you, as they will not be able to overpower you and stuff the middle.
1c. LB's; MLB Bonus 5'10 205, OLB Edmonds 6'0 205, and Gaida 5'10 211. This front 6 will have their work cut out for them. The backups will be seeing a lot of time.
The schedule:
9/5 vs Stony Brook. The Pride took it to the Seawolves last year in the "Battle of Long Island", beating them handily at their place. Nothing different this year as the Pride are a year stronger and faster. The Pride wins easily in their home opener, 42 - 10.
9/12 @ Bryant. The pride roams north into Rhode Island to take on the Bull Dogs of Bryant college. The dogs bark violently, but have little bite, as the Pride leaves Rhode Island with the sweet taste of victory in a convincing 45 - 7 win over their NEC foe.
9/19 @ Richmond. The Pride roams south into the web of the Defending National Champion Spiders. The Spiders waist little time in dispatching the much smaller Pride 28 - 7.
9/26 @ Western Michigan. Here's where the Pride truly learns that size matters. WMU OL begins @ 300 across the board. This game is not close as the Broncos gallup past the Pride 45 - 7.
10/3 vs James Madison. Sitting @ .500, but having lost their last two, the Pride back at home fights valiant in battling the visiting Dukes. However, the Pride's smallish Def cannot contain the Dukes in the 4th qtr, and the Dukes come from behind to win 21 - 17.
10/10 vs Maine. In a nip & tuck game against the Black Bears, this time it is the Pride that kicks the game winning FG as time expires to win 24 - 21.
10/17 @ Rhode Island. In the Pride's second trip to the state of Rhode Island in 09, the Rams are more than up to the challenge. This time it's the Prides turn to lose as the Rams kick the game winning FG to seal the deal. URI 24 HU 21.
10/24 vs New Hampshire. In a battle for CAA North Supremacy, the The Pride & Cats slug their way to a 17 - 17 tie. However, in another one decided by a last second FG, the Pride survives 20 - 17.
10/31 Bye
11/7 @ Delaware. The Pride roars into the Tub only to find the Blue Hens waiting and flexing for a fight. Leading 20 - 17 with under 2 minutes to go in the 4th, the Pride needs one last defensive stand. However, it was not to be as Pat Devlin leads the Hens 80 yds for the game winning TD as UD wins 24 - 20 in front of the home faithful.
11/14 @ Northeastern. The Pride travels north again to take on a weakend NU team, and comes away with the much needed win 42 - 21.
11/21 vs UMass. In a game that's been marked on the Pride calendar since the schedule was set, HU wears down the Minuteman 28 - 21 to finish the season above .500.
Overall 6 - 5, CAA 4 - 4