Category: Football

Preseason All-NESCAC Team: Offense

Today we publish our complete All-NESCAC team predictions with no reasoning or explanation behind it. Tonight after we release the defense as well we will look back at some of our picks and what they could mean. This will be fun when we look back on how wrong we were in two months.

Offensive Player of the Year- Running Back LaDarius Drew ’15 (Wesleyan)

First Team Offense

Position Name School Class
QB Jesse Warren Wesleyan 2015
RB LaDarius Drew Wesleyan 2015
RB Alex Sycorcurka Williams 2014
RB Kyle Gibson Wesleyan 2015
FB Mike Budness Trinity 2015
OL Joe Magardino Trinity 2015
OL Connor Clancy Colby 2015
OL Larry Guinee Bates 2015
OL Pat DiMase Wesleyan 2015
OL Blake Shapskinsky Middlebury 2015
WR Luke Duncklee Colby 2015
WR Gene Garay Amherst 2015
WR Chris Ragone Trinity 2015
TE Jonathan Day Wesleyan 2015

First Team Specialists

Position Name School Class
PK Phillip Nwosu Amherst 2015
P Kyle Pulek Trinity 2016
RS Darrien Myers Trinity 201
First Team Fullback Michael Budness
First Team Fullback Michael Budness

Second Team Offense

Position Name School Class
QB Matt Cannone Bates 2016
RB Kenny Adinkra Amherst 2016
RB Tyler Grant Bowdoin 2017
RB Carl Lipani Colby 2017
FB Qadir Forbes Williams 2014
OL Alan Felix Williams 2015
OL Anthony Todesco Bowdoin 2015
OL Scott Mergner Amherst 2015
OL Matt Porter Trinity 2016
OL Lyle Seebeck Bates 2016
WR Matthew Minno Middlebury 2016
WR Greg Lanzillo Tufts 2015
WR Josh Hurwitz Wesleyan 2015
TE David Von Euw Colby 2015

Second Team Specialists

Position Name School Class
PK Andrew Murowchick Bowdoin 2016
P David Kurey Bates 2015
RS Mike Rando Tufts 2017

Handicapping the Player of the Year Races

Predicting the potential Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year is about searching for trends in the voting pattern of the NESCAC coaches. Seven of the last eight Offensive POY were quarterbacks, and six of the last seven Defensive POY were linebackers. With that being said, this season looks like it could be very different.

Offensive Player of the Year

The Favorite: Running Back LaDarius Drew ’15 (Wesleyan) – Both All-NESCAC QBs from last season are gone, and Drew looks to be the feature running back on the most explosive offense in the league. He averaged 4.6 yards per carry and scored 10 touchdowns including a 167 yard performance against Bowdoin last year. However, he slowed down as the year went along, averaging under four yards per carry in three of his final four games. Also, Kyle Gibson ’15 will also take a lot of carries and was actually more productive per rush in 2013. Drew could run into a situation where the Wesleyan coaches decide to only give him about 15 carries a game (he averaged 20.5 in 2013), letting Gibson run more, and keeping Drew from putting up big numbers.

Contenders:

Quarterback Jesse Warren ’15 (Wesleyan) – If carries are split by Drew and Gibson then Warren could win if he repeats his efficiency from last season but with slightly more production. Another 15:3 TD:INT ratio will give him a good shot.

Wide Receiver Luke Duncklee ’15 (Colby) – The most productive receiver in the NESCAC will collect a lot of credit if Gabe Harrington ’17 has a seamless transition to the starting role. Fellow receiver Nick Joseph ’15 will also need a good season to make sure teams can’t key on Duncklee.

Quarterback Matt Cannone ’16 (Bates) – After seeing Cannone in action in the scrimmage against Colby, it was clear the junior has made major improvements to his game especially in the passing game. He will rack up both passing and rushing yards in the Bates offense.

Running Back Alex Scyocurka ’14 (Williams) – Opponents keyed on Scyocurka a lot meaning he averaged only 3.3 yards per carry, but he should be able to punish defenses with a more balanced attack this season, and he’s as healthy as he’s ever been, so perhaps he can get closer to the 5.3 yards per rush he averaged in 2012. An improvement as a team will also help his prospects, though he has to cut down on the four fumbles from a year ago.

Wide Receiver Gene Garay ’15 (Amherst)-  The only other receiver who looks to have a shot at POY honors is Garay. The senior was the leading receiver for Amherst last season and should see even more targets with Jake O’Malley graduated. He is also helped by the potential for big plays in the return game.

The Darkhorse: Running Back Chudi Iregbulem ’15 (Trinity) – Iregbulem has not seen the field very much because of all the talent in front of him, but now he steps to the forefront. He will get the majority share of carries in tandem with Jacob Rivers ’15. His 7.2 yards per carry average is inflated somewhat because it came at the end of blowouts against tired defenses. Consider his potential a tacit compliment to the entire Trinity offensive line who will deserve much of the credit if he has a great season.

Defensive Player of the Year

The Favorite: Defensive End James Howe ’16 (Williams)

Howe was the only sophomore selected to the All-NESCAC First Team in 2013. He tallied 55 tackles, which is impressive for a lineman, especially given the fact that teams would choose to run the opposite way if given the choice, seven more than the next-highest total by a lineman, Colby defensive end Caleb Harris ’15. Howe led the league in sacks with 10, 2.5 more than Harris, and was one behind Amherest linebacker Chris Tamasi ’15 with 17 tackles for loss. Usually linebackers get the most recognition because they are asked to do the most on the field, but Howe is on another level compared to his peers. His pressure and dominance on the line makes the linebackers’ and defensive backs’ jobs easier, and for that he comes into 2014 as the favorite to bring home this honor.

Contenders:

Linebacker Tim Patricia ’16 (Middlebury) It’s been noted before, but the tackle numbers on defenses like Middlebury and Tufts are inflated because their offenses run so many plays. Nevertheless, Patricia is a playmaker. The former Rookie of the Year has been a force in the Middlebury for the Panthers since day one. It’s not his athletic tools that make him a great tackler, but his football IQ. Proof that his numbers are not just a product of high play totals: Patricia accounted for almost 14 percent of Middlebury’s tackles and over 13 percent of solos. Leading tackler Joey Cleary ’14 tallied just over 16 percent of Bowdoin’s tackles and just under 16 percent of solos.

Safety Jake Bussani ’14 (Wesleyan) The only thing that might keep Bussani from making a run for DPOY honors is the wealth of talent surrounding him on defense, but the graduate has made the All-NESCAC First Team in three straight seasons. His stats weren’t as impressive as in the previous two seasons, but that doesn’t mean that his play has tapered off.

Defensive End Caleb Harris ’15 (Colby) We already mentioned Harris above, but it’s worth reiterating that Harris was the cornerstone of the best run defense in the league last season, and was only six off the pace for most tackles on his own team.

Linebacker Chris Tamasi ’15 (Amherst) Much like the next name on this list, what sets Tamasi apart is his ability to penetrate the backfield. Tamasi led the NESCAC with 18 tackles for loss and had four sacks, tying with teammate Ned Deane ’15 for the most among linebackers.

Linebacker Mike Weatherby ’14 (Trinity) A year after making the All-NESCAC First Team for the first time, Weatherby is back for a fifth year at the heart of the Bantams defense. Weatherby is great at stopping the ball carrier behind the line of scrimmage, as he racked up just one sack in 2013 but 11 tackles for loss.

Cornerback Brian Dones ’15 (Trinity) It’s tough to leave out Dones’ teammate, safety Mike Mancini ’15, but the corner might be the best pass defender in the league. His three interceptions and 11 pass breakups were both tops in the NESCAC, and his 1.8 pass breakups per game was tied for 11th in the nation. Teams might choose to throw away from Dones this year, but expect him to still make some big plays.

The Darkhorse: Safety/Linebacker Gilbert Brown ’15 (Bates) Brown fills the “down safety” position in Bates’ 3-3 stack defense, a position that requires a great deal of versatility. This allows Brown to be a factor in both the run and pass game, and on occasion he will be called on to create pressure on the quarterback. He racked up 42 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions and two pass breakups in 2013. Bates’ defense should be much improved this season with a bunch of starters returning, and Brown could elevate his game and become a game plan player around the NESCAC.

Anyone you think we missed? Let us know in the comments.

Wesleyan Team Preview – Same Team, Greater Expectations

2013 Record: 7-1

Returning Starters: 19 (eight offense, 10 defense, one specialist)

Offensive Overview:

You won’t find a more complete team on either side of the ball in the NESCAC. Eight All-NESCAC honorees return to the Cardinal lineup, four on offense. The Cardinals will lean heavily on the run, as they rushed 353 times last year compared to just 174 pass attempts. LaDarius Drew ’15 ran for 94.5 yards per game last year, and his “back-up,” if it’s fair to call it that, Kyle Gibson ’15 earned Second Team honors by rushing for 73.4 yards per game. If miraculously either of those two workhorses stumble, Lou Stevens ’17 averaged 5.9 yards per carry over his 40 touches. Quarterback Jesse Warren ’15 wasn’t an All-NESCAC recipient, but he had the highest completion percentage and yards per attempt in the league and was second to Mac Foote in TD passes. His only three interceptions came in the season finale at Trinity. Josh Hurwitz ’15 and Jay Fabien ’15 are both in their fourth years as starting receivers. Tight end Jonathan Day ’15 is another All-NESCAC honoree. He serves primarily as a run blocker but was fourth on the squad in receptions last year. The offensive line is stacked as well. Pat DiMase ’15 (Second Team) and Blake Cunningham ’16 line up at tackle, while there is some competition for starting time on the interior, although Taylor Bishop ’15, Shane Scannell ’15 and Austin Frank ’15 are the frontrunners and each has game experience.

Defensive Overview:

The returning depth on the defensive side might even be more impressive than that of the offense. Linebacker Myers Beaird graduated, but starters are back everywhere else. Furthermore, the Cardinals like to rotate players on defense and keep legs fresh, so players up and down the roster have in-game experience. Nik Powers ’15 and grad student Jordan Otis line up at defensive end. Ibraheem Khadar ’15 and Mitch Godfrey ’15 will be on the interior. A host of others will rotate through the defensive line, including Alex Sakhno ’15, Greg Blaize ’16 and Jordan Stone ’17. The linebacking corps is a strength, with leading tackler Alex Daversa-Russo ’16 and Gregg Kelley ’15 back. The third spot will be filled by Jake Siciliano ’15, who opened 2013 as the starter but it was then discovered that he had a stomach tumor. Siciliano’s injury made room for Daversa-Russo in the line up, and having both on the field in 2014 will make the Wesleyan defense that much scarier. In the defensive backfield, grad student Jake Bussani will make a run for his fourth straight All-NESCAC First Team award. Vincent Davis ’15 will be the opposite corner. At safety, two-sport stud Donnie Cimino ’15 returns and is joined by Justin Sanchez ’17 who started in 2013. Lastly, Devon Carrillo ’17 will be on the field as a safety-linebacker hybrid. Carrillo was the team’s second-leading tackler, and was awarded All-NESCAC honors as a return man for his 25.7 yard average on kickoffs. In reality, the defense has more than 10 starters returning. Add Siciliano and Carrillo to the tally, and there are 12 players back who could be considered starters.

Courtesy of Wesleyan Athletics
Clockwise from top left: Donnie Cimino; Jonathan Day; Jay Fabien; Jake Bussani – Courtesy of Wesleyan Athletics

Three Big Questions

1. Can Wesleyan Win the Big One?

After rolling through the first half of the season, outscoring its opponents 163-22, Wesleyan saw some stiffer competition in the final four weeks, and squeaked out victories over its Little Three rivals by a total of eight points. Then disaster struck, Warren failed to take care of the ball as he had all season, the defense imploded, and Trinity closed out its season with a 40-10 beat down of the would-be outright champs. The Cardinals are out to prove that they have become the preeminent program in the NESCAC, and that they can beat big brother down the road in Hartford.

2. Will the Little Three Crown Stay in Middletown?

After a 43-year drought, Wesleyan finally defeated Amherst and Williams in the same season, earning the Little Three championship. Though as mentioned above, the victories were slim. Amherst essentially threw away that matchup with three interceptions and a fumble lost, allowing the Cardinals to get out of Amherst with a 20-14 win, while a late field goal was the difference in Wesleyan’s 16-14 defeat of Williams. Wesleyan will be the favorite in both games but victories will not come easily.

3. Who Steps in for Departed Placekicker Sebastian Aguirre?

Aguirre was arguably the best placekicker in the NESCAC last year, and indeed made the All-NESCAC Second Team for his efforts, and as noted above he kicked the game winner that sealed the Little Three title for the Cardinals. Options to replace Aguirre include backup QB Ike Fuchs ’16, who came into camp atop the depth chart, Corey Phillips ’17 and newcomer John Henry-Carey ’18.

Team MVP: LaDarius Drew. You know that the Cardinals are going to pound opponents with the run game, and Drew will be the team’s workhorse. Expect both him and Gibson to be at the top of the leaderboards in every rushing category. Oh by the way, if healthy Drew will easily become the school’s all-time leader in rushes, rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.

Biggest Game of the Year: Nov. 8 against Trinity

Is there any doubt? These are probably the two best teams in the conference, they are a 25-minute drive up 91 apart from one another, and Wesleyan still has a sour taste in its mouth from last year when the Bantams took the Cardinals’ NESCAC title and divided it into three parts. It’s not impossible that both teams could be undefeated heading into this game.

Best Tweet of the Offseason: The Wesleyan Football Twitter account (@Wes_Football) kept its followers up to date on what a lot of the Cardinals were doing this summer. Kyle Gibson interned at JPMorgan and was offered a full-time job upon graduation, Josh Hurwitz worked with the Celtics organization and Mitch Godfrey was with the Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod League. But our favorite has to be this series of tweets about how LaDarius Drew spent his summer.

The Cardinals are locked and loaded. Anything short of a NESCAC title will be a disappointment for Wesleyan.

Trinity Team Preview – The Bantams Try to Keep Streaking

Editor’s Note: This preview was co-written by Trinity seniors Carson Kenney ’15 and Sean Meekins ’15.

2013 Record: 6-2

Returning Starters: 16 (8 offense, 6 defense, 2 specialists)

Offensive Overview:

Losing the explosive trio of Evan Bunker ’14, Ben Crick ’14, and A.J. Jones ’14 to graduation will not make it easy on the Bantams offense this year; however they are very optimistic about avenging last season’s 6-2 record. There is a major QB battle that seems to have Henry Foye ’16 leading the pack. Hayden Jardine ’17, Ryan Murphy ’17, and highly touted recruit Spencer Aukamp ’18 are also in the QB mix for this season. Chudi Iregbulem ’15 and Jacob River ’15 are hoping to pick up where the dominant running back tandem of Crick and Bunker left off. Returning starters, Chris Ragone ’15 and Ian Dugger ’16, are going to be the main targets for Foye.

Michael Budness ’15 is going to be a key-returning factor for the Bantams offense. Budness will fill the roll as the wildcard in the offense because he is able to line up at many positions. Brendan Oliver ’15 will return at tight end hoping to also play a major part in the offense this season. The rest of the offense is going to need to step up this season to be the major contender in the NESCAC, but none will be more important then the always consistent offensive line. Tackles Matt Porter ’16 and Will Lynner ’16, guards Connor Flynn’16 and Connor Golden ‘15 and center Joe Magardino ’15 all return. The line has had major success in past years, and looks to continue it success behind captain Magardino. As long as the O-Line stays healthy the Bantams’ offense will have major success.

Defensive Overview:

With a lot of returners including four of the five top tacklers from last year, expect a big year for the Bantam defense. Linebackers Rob Gau ’15, Mike Weatherby ’14, Tom Symanzski ’15, and Frank Leyva ’16 , who missed a lot of the year last year due to injury, look to anchor a D that ranked third in the NESCAC last year in yards per game. Gau and Weatherby combined for 88 tackles last year (16 for a loss), and Symanski was an All-NESCAC linebacker. This year’s freshmen class of backers is also one of Trinity’s best in recent history. As for the secondary, Mike Mancini ’15 is back at free safety, and Brian Dones ’15 will try to lock down receivers at corner. Mancini totaled 48 tackles last year while Dones finished 11th in the nation with 1.8 passes defensed per game. Word out of camp is that sophomore Cornerback Yosa Nosamiefan ’17 is impressing people with his improvement over the summer. Look for him to see time at corner this year across from Dones. Safety Casey Tanner ’15 and Paul McCarthy ’16 will also help stabilize a Bantam secondary that looks to make big plays.

Up front defensively the Bantams will rely on DE Preston Kelly ’16, NT Kyle McGuire ’15, and DE Lyle Baker ’15. Baker had 27 tackles in the 2012 campaign before missing all of last year. His return along with Kelly and McGuire returning should give offenses around the league plenty of trouble establishing any sort of running game. Coming off a year where Trinity ranked sixth nationally in defensive pass efficiency, expect this veteran laden defense to help ease the pressure placed on the offense which is the biggest question mark for right now. If the defense is able to stay healthy, and the offense is able to limit turnovers and control the time of possession, look for the Bants to make a hard push for the NESCAC title.

Courtesy of Trinity Athletics
Courtesy of Trinity Athletics

Three Big Questions

1. Who will be the starting QB?

Junior Henry Foye is leading the pack up to this point, but it will be interesting to see how the season unfolds. Sophomores, Jardine and Murphy, are looking to be potential candidates behind Foye. Spencer Aukamp is going to have a major eye on him this year, as the New Jersey recruit is also looking to contend heavily for the QB battle. People are hyping up the QB battle due to Puzzo’s departure but Foye (who started 5 games last year, all of them wins) can flat out ball too.

2. Can the veteran linebackers continue to show consistent success?

Gau, Weatherby, Szymanski, and Leyva are all returning linebackers. These linebackers have had immense success in the past and hope to continue to anchor the consistently dominant Bantams’ defense. As long as everyone stays healthy the Bantams will be able to control NESCAC offenses.

3. Can offensive tackle Matt Porter stay healthy?

Porter is without question one of the best tackles in the conference. The question is, will he be able to stay on the field to protect Foye more often than not? He missed time last year due to a sprained knee that was suffered in the middle of the season and will play a very important role this season in anchoring an offensive line that is one of the league’s best. With an offense that lost playmakers, the O-Line will need to be tough up front and create holes early in the season to allow Rivers and Iregbulem to get their feet under them and get going. If Porter is able to stay on the field for the majority of the year, expect the running game to flourish.

Team MVP: It’s no question that Trinity will rely on their offensive line after losing starters at key positions, namely running back. Bunker and Crick were one of the greatest 1-2 punches at RB that the NESCAC has ever seen.  The receiving core is also experienced and will play a big part in Trinity’s success this year. However none of this is possible without the O-Line. Led by Porter, Magardino, Golden and  Flynn, the Bantams offense will be able to take off if the line continues their dominance in the trenches. The backs will be able to establish the running game which will in turn allow Foye to air it out, meaning good things for the Bants.

Biggest Game of the Year (Sean)

Oct. 25 against Middlebury.

Every game at home for the Bantams is a big game because of the 51 game winning streak, and Middlebury shocked the Bantams in Vermont last year in a controversial game that left the Bantams with a bad taste in their mouths. Not saying that game cost the Bantams their season, but in the short eight game sprint, they cannot afford another mishap leading into their last two major games. The Bantams need to be looking at Amherst in the following week of the season with a 6-0 record. That is why the October 25th game is so vital. The Bantams are playing a good Middlebury team, so they must make their presence known.

Biggest Game of the Year (Carson)

Nov. 1 against Amherst.

After losing to Amherst last year in somewhat dramatic fashion, the Bants are eager to get back on the field with the Lord Jeffs. In NESCAC football, every single game is incredibly important, however this will be the biggest game of the year. Aside from wanting revenge from last year, this game is also the last home game for Trinity of the year, which hopefully means the last chance to extend their winning streak at home. If the Bantam’s are still in contention for the title come November 1st, expect Hartford to be buzzing as Amherst makes the trip to the Coop.

Best Tweet of the Offseason: Not many NESCAC teams can claim they made SI. #NPITC

Trinity reloads instead of rebuilding, and despite the loss of stars from 2013, the Bantams will be right back in the thick of the title race.

Williams Team Preview – The Defense Knows Howe to Win

2013 Record: 2-6

Returning Starters: 17 (seven offense, eight defense, two specialists)

Offensive Overview: 

One thing is certain about the Williams offense. Number 22 is going to see a lot of carries. Fifth-year running back Alex Scyocurka saw 155 of the team’s 261 carries in 2013, and that percentage will likely rise as the Ephs plan to ride the workhorse back. Where there is less certainty is the quarterback position, where returners Tom Murphy ’15 and Mark Pomella ’16 are competing with Boston College transfer Austin Lommen ’17. Lommen redshirted his first year at BC and didn’t see the field in year two, but that’s a similar story to that of a pretty successful quarterback who left his mark on the program up in Middlebury over the last couple years. Neither Murphy or Pomella had consistent success in 2013, so the door stands open for the newcomer.

Whoever is under center (or behind, as head coach Aaron Kelton intends to spread the field a bit more this season) will have experienced targets at his disposal. Steven Kiesel ’15 and Darrias Sime ’16 saw starter-like reps last year and were second and third on the team in receptions, and starting tight end Alex Way ’16 returns. The offensive line should be a strength. Led by Alan Felix ’15, the entire o-line will have starting experience.

Defensive Overview:

Williams’ 4-3 defense was slightly above average in 2013, but one area where the Ephs excelled as pass defense, allowing the second-fewest pass yards per game of any team in the conference. This is due in part to the work done by All-NESCAC First-Teamer James Howe ’16 at defensive end, arguably the best returning defensive player in the league. Howe racked up 10 sacks and 17 tackles for loss, and remarkably led the team in total tackles. All-NESCAC Second Team safety Tom Cabarle ’15 and company benefited from the pressure created by Howe and others. Both starting corners are back from last year, and fifth-year man Andre Lafontant will return from an injury that kept him out most of 2013 and should slot in next to Cabarle at safety. The Ephs return their entire starting linebacker core with Antonio Blanco ’15, James O’Grady ’16 and John Bond ’16 as well as Jack Ryan ’16 who has plenty of experience. The defense should improve in 2014 and will benefit if the offense can do a better job with time of possession.

Three Big Questions:

1. Can the offense sustain long drives?

The defense was better last year than most people realize, allowing the third-fewest yards per play in the NESCAC. But the offense did little to help out, putting up the worst time of possession in the league. Despite seeing so much time on the field, the defense was able to hold the league’s top four offenses to 21 points or less. So for Williams to turn its record around in 2014, the offense will need to show marked improvement. Much of that responsibility lies with the quarterback position, as there is experience and production returning at every other position.

2. Can Scyocurka stay healthy?

The feature back has struggled with injuries over the course of his career, which explains why he’s earned an extra year of eligibility. As a freshman Scyocurka carried the ball 67 times, but then only played in six games between 2011-12. Reports were that Scyocurka was healthier than ever entering camp. If he can combine his 2013 durability (59 percent of the team’s carries) and his 2012 explosiveness (5.3 yards per rush), Scyocurka might make a surprise push for Offensive Player of the Year.

3. Can James Howe elevate his game?

Howe already put up great numbers in 2013, earning 2.5 more sacks than the next most prolific pass rusher. But he can’t become complacent. So much of the defense’s success depends on his getting pressure on the quarterback and plugging holes against the run. It’s a long shot, but Williams has a Player of the Year candidate on both sides of the ball.

Team MVP: James Howe. He was probably the team’s best player last year, and even if he only repeats those numbers he would still be a logical choice. One could also look to the aforementioned Scyocurka or Felix as possible candidates, but Howe’s production from defensive end is so far above his peers that there’s really no debate.

Biggest Game: Nov. 8 at Amherst

The Biggest Little Game in America lives on for its 129th edition in 2014. No matter the records, this game is the most important on both teams’ schedules. Williams holds the historical advantage having gone 71-52-5, but the Lord Jeffs have won three straight. It’s possible that one (or both) of these teams will still be playing for a title in Week 8, which adds even more drama to this already emotionally-charged game.

Best Tweet of the Offseason: This is from back in March. Wide receiver Darrias Sime and former Williams basketball center Mike Mayer took some time to read to a class of first graders at South Elementary School.

Improved quarterback play should give the Ephs a good chance at competing for a spot near the top of the NESCAC in 2014. The defense will be strong again and the offense will lean heavily Scyocurka. If everything clicks the Ephs will be a surprise team this season.

Amherst Team Preview – The Jeffs Look to Keep Rolling

2013 Record: 7-1

Returning Starters: 16 (six offense, eight defense, two specialists)

Offensive Overview:

2013 was a down year for the Amherst offense. Though they still finished fourth in points per game with 21.1, Middlebury was third with 29.8 points per game. That meant Amherst came exactly as close to finishing ninth in points per game as they came to finishing third. The main problems were at the quarterback position where Head Coach EJ Mills could not settle between Alex Berluti ’17 and Max Lippe ’15. Lippe started the season as the starter and saw the vast majority of the snaps, but his occasional struggles led to Berluti seeing some significant playing time as well. Lippe brings size and experience to the position and should once again have a chance to be the undisputed starter. Running back is a strength with Kenny Adinkra ’16 and Nick Kelly ’17 possessing a good complement of skills. Adinkra is stronger and can run over defenders while Kelly is a very tall 6’2″ for a running back.

Receivers Jake O’Malley ’14 and Wade McNamara ’14 will have to be replaced with Brian Ragone ’16 inheriting the top outside position. Jackson McGonagle ’16 will see an uptick in playing time and is a big target at 6’3″. In the slot Gene Garay ’15 will give teams fits with his quick pivot routes while also returning kickoffs. Henry Falter ’15 will be the primary tight end. The offensive line lacks depth with only sixth upperclassmen so sophomores and freshman might have to play earlier than Mills would like. Scott Mergner ’15, Colman Duggan ’15, and Jonathan Woodrow ’15 have a lot of experience and will be invaluable breaking in the two new starters. Lippe and Berluti were only sacked eight times combined, and the line should be able to replicate that type of protection.

Defensive Overview:

The top four tacklers from 2013 are all back to lead a unit that should once again be one of the very best. Like so many other teams in the NESCAC, the strength of the defense is in the front seven. Amherst runs a 3-4 scheme that can shut down run attacks. Max Lehrman ’15, Robert Perdoni ’16, and Sam Caldwell ’16 all return as starters on the line that has several other upperclassmen returning for depth. In the middle Chris Tamasi ’15 enjoyed a first team All-NESCAC season in 2013, and an argument could be made that other inside linebacker Ned Deane ’15 had as good a season even though he did not earn All-NESCAC honors. Tyler Mordas ’16 returns after stepping into a starting role because of injury, and Tomas Kleyn ’16 looks to fill the other outside position after injury cut his 2013 short. Many other talented linebackers are on the roster like Parker Chapman ’17, so Mills will have the luxury of rolling out different packages for passing and running downs.

The secondary has more questions in it after the graduation of Landrus Lewis ’14 and Max Dietz ’14. Talent is still plentiful with Jaymie Spears ’16, Jimmy Fairfield-Sonn ’16, and Chris Gow ’16 combining for 8 interceptions last season. The other corner spot across from Spears is wide open with Stefan Soucy ’17 possibly capable of making a huge jump of playing time. The secondary has to tighten up some of the holes it had despite all the interceptions they had as a group.

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Three Big Questions:

1. How good can the junior class be?

Because of the depth of talent Amherst brings in every season, each class takes time to gain playing time, but the 2016 group has already stepped into major roles especially on defense. In total 11 starters could come from the junior class with many of them already having starting experience. There are plenty of senior stars like Tamasi and Garay, but the success of Amherst will come down to their juniors.

2. Can a QB step up?

The one thing that can hold back great programs is mediocre quarterback play. And make no mistake that Amherst is a great program with the most wins of any team in the last five seasons. Berluti has great physical tools, but Lippe is the QB who Amherst will ultimately depend on because of his experience. If he can play better then the Jeffs will be right there once again in the title mix.

3. Can they continue to force turnovers?

Amherst led the NESCAC with 23 defensive turnovers with a whopping 20 of those coming as interceptions. Expecting that same number of interceptions is foolish, but an uptick in fumble recoveries could offset that. Turnovers is a statistic that can see a lot of variation year to year, and a steep drop could cause more yards and points to be scored against the Jeffs.

Team MVP: Kicker Phillip Nwosu ’15 is an unusual choice for MVP, but consider the type of team Amherst was last season. They thrived behind a strong defense and offense that didn’t mess up too often. The importance of kickers is increased in low scoring games, and Nwosu is as good as they come in the NESCAC. He is a threat from anywhere within 50 yards and will force touchbacks on most of his kickoffs.

Biggest Game: Oct. 18 at Wesleyan

Amherst needs to avenge their only loss of 2013. Last season Wesleyan came in and ruined homecoming for the senior Jeffs, and in the process the Cardinals announced they had arrived. Both Wesleyan touchdowns came after they started the drive in Amherst territory, so field position will be a point of concentration this time around. Ultimately it was losing the turnover battle by four that doomed the Jeffs last time. This time around could be a different story.

Best Tweet of the Offseason: No word on who ended up winning the Open.

This is a team with a lot of pride and talent that is more than capable of running the table.

Bates Team Preview – The Bobcats Are on the Prowl

2013 Record: 4-4

Returning Starters: 15 (6 offense, 9 defense, 0 specialists)

Offensive Overview:

The triple option run game always makes Bates a headache to face, but the loss of Ryan Curit ’14 and Shawn Doherty ’14 to graduation could change the number of passes this season. Matt Cannone ’15 will have to fend off a challenge from Patrick Dugan ’16 at QB. Dugan was seeing the majority of the snaps before he broke his ankle in the second game of last season, and Cannone played well in his absence. Nick LaSpada, backup QB in 2013, has also transferred to Merrimack. Ivan Reese ’17 replaces Curit in the fullback position that requires great physicality. In his only game as the starter against Middlebury, Reese rushed for 101 yards. Replacing Doherty is more worrisome because the returning players have much less experience. Shaun Carroll has the most yards of any returner- 61. To make matters even worse, leading wide receiver Kevin Davis ’14 also graduated leaving the passing game without its most dynamic target. Harrison Murphy ’16 and Chris Tomaino ’15 both have good size at 6’5″ and 6’2″ respectively while Mark Riley ’16 has also flashed big play ability.

The offensive line returns three starters in Larry Guinee ’15, Owen Mahan ’15, and Lyle Seebeck ’16. Mitch Hildreth ’17 will be one of the tackles with Jimmy Fagan ’17 the favorite to win the final tackle position. The interior line is more important for Bates than other teams because they run more often, so having returners at all three of those positions, with a three year starter in Guinee at center,  is a huge advantage for them. Finding playmakers on offense around the QB will be essential before the first game against Amherst.

Defensive Overview:

Star safety Andrew Kukesh ’14 is gone, but the defense should be better this season given all the starters back. Injuries forced younger players to step in, and now with those injured players back, the defense is one of the deepest Bates has ever had. The Bobcats runs the 3-3 stack that allows them to employ multiple fronts and blitz packages. Sam Hundley ’15, Joe DiPalma, and Tucker Oniskey ’16 start on the defensive line where they do the uncelebrated job of often having to take on multiple blockers. DiPalma is returning from a preseason injury that knocked him out of virtually all of 2013. Linebacker is very deep with Adam Cuomo ’15, Steven Hild ’15, and Josh Freedland ’15 all very experienced. Mark Upton ’17 also saw playing time earlier than expected because of injury and will provide depth and flexibility.

Unique to the Bates defense is the down safety, a player on both sides who has to be able to control the edge, rush the passer sometimes, and help out in coverage. Gilbert Brown ’15 is coming off a season where he performed well despite moving around position-wise. Pat Gilligan ’15 is currently the starter on the other side, and Ben Coulibaly ’17 will push him hard for playing time. Corner Mike Kelleher ’15 takes over the mantle of leader in the secondary without Kukesh. Kelleher is bigger than most NESCAC corners and is not afraid to come up in run coverage, tallying the second most tackles on the team last year. Safety Ryan Newson ’15 is the other returner in the group, and he played very well in part time action a year ago, so the dropoff from Kukesh might not be that significant.  The final corner position is Mike Lee’s ’16, with Brandon Williams ’17 a solid prospect for more playing time as well.

Courtesy of Bates Athletics
Courtesy of Bates Athletics

3 Big Questions:

1. Where does the offensive dynamism come from?

Even though the triple option is often seen as “three yards and a cloud of dust”, like any offense it still looks for big plays. Doherty and Davis supplied the vast majority of those. The QB will be featured more running the ball, but if the defense can key on one guy in the triple option, it’s over for Bates. An intriguing possibility (disclaimer: we have no evidence this has even been discussed by the Bates staff) is to move one of Dugan or Cannone to the slot position in order to get the most possible talent out on the field.

2. Can they hold onto the ball?

Bates fumbled the ball 15 times last season. Cannone alone accounted for six of them. One positive is that Reese did not fumble the ball once last season in his 50 carries while Curit had four fumbles, albeit in 145 rushes. An offense that struggles to move the ball and turns it over is an awful one. If Bates makes sure to take care of the turnover part, the offense will at least be decent.

3. Will all the pieces on defense fit together?

For all the talent and depth on the defense now, Bates finished ahead of only Hamilton and Tufts in terms of total yards given up. They allowed the Hamilton offense, a unit that averaged 283.8 yards per game, 392 yards in the final game of the season. They have to figure out ways to get more pressure on the QB as they only registered nine sacks last season. The loss of Kukesh appears likely to be significant as well. It won’t be enough to have a lot of very good players for Bates; a few of them will have to step up and become great.

Team MVP: Cannone would get the nod except it’s possible he is not even the starter week one, so instead the interior offensive line gets some glory for once. The trio of Guinee, Mahan, and Seebeck should clear big holes for Reese and the QB to run through. Guinee in particular is important as the center for helping to figure out blocking assignments.

Biggest Game: Oct. 25: Home against Colby

This one is simple. Bates gets the chance to avenge their 21-3 loss at home. Last season’s game was a disappointment with four turnovers playing a major role in Colby’s comfortable win. Bates was held for only 88 yards rushing, the first time they were held to under 100 yards rushing since Colby held them to 85 yards in 2011. The Bobcats will have to find a solution to the Colby defense.

Best Tweet: In case you didn’t know, Bates football lifts. #lightweight (actually a good deal of weight)

Bates has some questions to answer, but behind a strong offensive line and wealth of returners on defense, they appear capable of challenging anybody.

Middlebury Team Preview – Panthers Look to Find Their Matt Saracen

2013 Record: 7-1

Returning Starters: 15 (5 offense, 8 defense, 2 specialists)

Offensive Overview:

In case you hadn’t heard, there was some pretty good quarterback play in Middlebury over the last couple years. Mac Foote’s name is all over the NESCAC record book, right alongside his predecessor Donnie McKillop. The question now is whether there is a young Panther ready to step up and be the next great NESCAC quarterback. Middlebury’s one-back, spread offense depends heavily on good quarterback play, and three signal-callers are currently in the hunt for the starting job. Each has played well and shown improvement this preseason, and the competition is still up in the air. Matt Milano ’16 served as the primary back up in 2012 and 2013, but had just seven passing attempts in 2013. Eric Bertino ’15 fell behind Milano on the depth chart last season, but one more year of familiarity with the playbook will help him in this battle. Youngster Jake Stalcup ’17, who doubles as a reliever on the baseball team, has the best size of the group at 6’5″, and is absolutely a factor as well. The coaching staff probably won’t make a decision on its starter until the week before the team’s season opener.

There are further question marks on offense. All-NESCAC tight end Billy Sadik-Khan is gone to graduation, and explosive playmaker Joey Zelkowitz ’17 has followed the path of multiple two-sport stars before him at Middlebury and hung up the football cleats in order to focus on lacrosse. The offensive line has two returning starters in Blake Shapskinsky ’15 and Dan Finta ’15, and BC transfer Win Homer should provide stability at left tackle, but the other two spots are up for grabs. Whoever wins the QB battle will have talented and experienced receivers at his disposal with All-NESCAC First-Teamer Matt Minno ’16, Second-Teamer Brendan Rankowitz ’15 and Grant Luna ’17 all back. Ryan Hislop ’15 is the favorite to see the majority of the carries early on, but he has yet to show consistency in his career.

Defensive Overview:

The opening day defense will have more experience than its counterparts. Tim Patricia ’16 is among the best tacklers in the NESCAC, and indeed leads the league over the past two years in total tackles. There isn’t tremendous size on the defensive line, and coach Bob Ritter tends to rotate bodies through those positions in order to keep legs fresh. At the back, Matt Benedict ’15 is a strong all-around safety with a lot of experience, and Nate Leedy ’17 burst on the scene last year at cornerback and instantly became one of the NESCAC’s best, tallying one pick and seven pass break ups. Patricia and Benedict each made the All-NESCAC Second Team in 2013. The defense was above average last year, ranking fourth in points per game allowed despite seeing more snaps than any other team in the league, but will need to be even better while the offense goes through a transition.

Courtesy of Middlebury Campus
Courtesy of Middlebury Campus

Three Big Questions:

1. How great was Mac Foote’s impact?

The Middlebury offense always provides the opportunity for a few great individual seasons. But you still need talented players in order to be successful. The best player on the field for Middlebury over the past three seasons has been Foote, and it’s impossible to know right now if Minno and the rest of the receiving corp can repeat last year’s production with a new wing under center. Will Middlebury be able to hold onto the ball for long drives? Or will the defense be playing with a lot of short fields behind them? Can the offense repeat the level of red zone efficiency that it displayed in 2013? The ramifications of Foote’s departure are multiple, and his replacement will need to play at a similar level in order to come close to again earning a share of the NESCAC crown.

2. Can the defense create big plays?

Middlebury employed a bend-don’t-break strategy in 2013, allowing the fifth-most yards per game but only 16.2 points per game. It worked for the Panthers last year, but it is a dangerous way to play defense. Furthermore, the Panthers would like to improve on the eight interceptions and five fumble recoveries they garnered last season.

3. Is Middlebury here to stay?

The Panthers have three championships since 2000, but two of those (2000 and 2013) were one-third shares, with the only outright title coming in 2007. After a 4-4 2011, Middlebury has gone 7-1 in back-to-back seasons. Can the Panthers maintain their current level of success? It will come down to whether Coach Ritter and the rest of his staff have brought in enough talent to reload given the departure of so many impact players on the offensive side of the ball.

Team MVP: Middlebury will rely more heavily on its defense than in past years, and Nate Leedy has the ability to shut down a team’s best receiver. Cornerbacks don’t often get this kind of recognition, with the majority of the glory on defense going to the linebacking corps, but Leedy might be the most talented Panther on the defensive side of the ball.

Biggest Game: Oct. 25 at Trinity

Middlebury opens the season against tri-champion Wesleyan and meets Amherst, the third member of the championship trio, in Week 3, but both of those games come at home. While the first three weeks will tell us a lot about this year’s Panthers team, the most interesting game for Middlebury will be its Week 6 trip to Hartford. Trinity’s winning streak is well-documented, and assuming that Middlebury doesn’t sweep Wesleyan and Amherst (and the rest of its early season games), the Panthers will need a win at Trinity to stay in the championship hunt.

Best Tweet of the Offseason: From Middlebury freshman Logan Shrout, who has already figured out the best part of college sports.

The 2014 Panthers still have plenty of talent on the roster, and will undoubtedly have some newcomers make an impact. Is it enough to compete for a championship once again? Only time will tell.

Colby Team Preview – The Mules Look to Leave a Legacy

2013 Record: 4-4

Returning Starters: 18 (8 offense, 9 defense, 1 specialist)

Offensive Overview:

The offseason headlines centered around dual-threat QB Justin Ciero transferring, but the Mule offense still has a lot of talent remaining. The good news for the new QB is that the strongest returning group is wide receiver with Luke Duncklee ’15, Nick Joseph ’15, and Ryder Arsenault ’17 all back. Gabe Harrington ’16 at this point is the favorite to win the job barring a major late push from transfer Michael Ecke ’17. While Duncklee was far and away the most targeted receiver last season, Arsenault and Joseph should see more throws their way in order to keep defenses honest. Carl Lipani ’17 won the starting running back role halfway through the year, and he will see a large bump in carries as well.

Tight ends Glenn Parsons ’16 and David Von Euw ’15 were also not targeted often last season, but they will both see the field a lot, possibly in two tight end packages. The offensive line has a couple of holes to fill, but the biggest issue could be depth if there are injuries. Captain Connor Clancy ’15 along with returners Tom Abare ’15 and Jesse Eddy ’16 will have to play very well in order to keep the offensive line effective. This offense will have a different look than the one last year, but that doesn’t mean it couldn’t still be successful.

Defensive Overview:

With nine starters back, this could be one of the best defenses in the NESCAC. The strength of the team is in the front seven where all seven starters and other upperclassmen return to a  group that allowed only 88.2 rushing yards per game. The defensive line had 19 sacks last season, led by the 7.5 sacks from defensive end Caleb Harris ’15. Ryan Ruiz ’15 returns from injury and is the other end, while a name to watch is Jack Muntu-Caron. He came on in the second half of the season including a two sack game in the finale against Bowdoin. Chris Marano ’17 and Kalu Kalu ’15 are the starting tackles on the inside with others ready to play behind them. The linebackers are loaded with Henry Nelson ’15, a four year starter, a force from the middle linebacker position. Stephen O’Grady ’16 and Tony Atkinson ’15 are the outside linebackers, and both are now three year starters.

The secondary is led by stars corner Jason Buco ’15 and safety Zach Padula ’15. Those two will have to make big plays in order to keep teams from attacking Colby in the air as the Mules were eighth in the league in terms of defensive passing yards per game. Ethan Johnson ’16 and Randy Person ’15 are the others who will see time the the defensive backfield. The defense has a lot of talent and experience, but they need to do a better job against the best offenses. The season opener against Trinity will be an interesting test.

Courtesy of Amherst Athletics
Courtesy of Amherst Athletics

Three Big Questions:

1. Can they survive the first half of the season?

Colby’s schedule this season gets harder with the inclusion of Trinity giving Colby four very hard games to start the season. In order, they play Trinity, Middlebury, Wesleyan, and Amherst. Last season they emerged from the first half with a 1-3 record before winning three straight. Playing such a tough schedule with a new starting QB means another dimension of complexity, but the defense should keep them in every single game they play.

2. How well can the offensive line play?

The new QB will have an easy transition as long as the offensive line plays well. He has the skill position players around him to succeed, but he will need a solid running game and time in the pocket to make plays. Ciero often danced around in the pocket which sometimes led him to avoid sacks but also caused him to take sacks when he should have gotten the ball away quicker. The Colby rushing attack was one of the better ones in the league last season. As said above, injuries could be a potential downfall.

3. Will special teams see improvement?

Colby was weak in a lot of areas in special teams last season. Louw Scheepers ’15 was solid on kickoffs and field goals going 7-11 including a long of 41 yards, but his punting was not as steady. Colby averaged as a team 31.1 yards per punt, 3.4 yards less than any other team. Padula was the primary returner on punts and kickoffs. While he did a decent job, the Mules still had the third lowest kickoff return average. Given the potential for a slow start to the offense, a great special teams would help Colby steal a game or two even.

Team MVP: Caleb Harris ’15. You know another thing that helps teams when there are questions around the offense? Having a defensive end who can make the opposing offense’s day terrible. Harris’ sack numbers are inflated somewhat because he had four in one game against Hamilton, but he still posted at least half a tackle for loss in every game.

Biggest Game: Sept. 27 against Middlebury

Colby’s second game of the season will tell us if they can continue to grow as a team or if the loss of Ciero will cause the potential for a special season to fizzle. A win at home against Middlebury sets up Colby for a potential late season run that would send them about .500. The matchup of the two new QB’s in this game will be a fun one to watch with two defenses that both have been under-appreciated before.

Best Tweet of the Offseason: Remember people, everyone loves Wawa.

 

Bowdoin Team Preview – Polar Bears Look to Prove Winter is Coming

Editor’s Note: This post was written by editor Adam Lamont, a former member of the Bowdoin football team. Adam played his freshman year and very beginning of sophomore year for the Polar Bears, but is no longer in uniform for Bowdoin and instead roots them on from the sideline.

2013 Record: 3-5

Number of Returning Starters: 14 (7 offense, 6 defense, 1 specialist)

Offensive Overview:

In terms of yards per game, Bowdoin was the worst offense in the NESCAC last season, though the team did finish seventh in scoring offense. Running back Zach Donnarumma ’14 and two offensive lineman don’t return, but the other starters coming back give Bowdoin a compelling case for improvement. Quarterback Mac Caputi ’15 is the key to the offense. He struggled in 2013, especially against the better defenses in the league, but he finished the year on a high note throwing for 211 yard with a completion percentage of 64 percent (16-25). His two starting receivers, Dan Barone ’16 and Ethan Drigotas ’15, are both back. Barone will serve once again as a Julian Edelman-type player by returning punts and kickoffs, working out of the slot, and running the ball on the occasional sweep. Drigotas plays on the outside where he runs crisp routes and acts as Caputi’s security blanket.

Tyler Grant ’17 is the starting running back after being the backup last season. The offensive line shifts around a little bit. Jake Giovanucci ’15 is in his third year at left tackle while fellow three year starter Anthony Todesco ’15 moves from his center position to right tackle. Matt Netto ’16 therefore changes from his guard position to center. That means the two guard positions were open entering camp, but Stephen Melgar ’16 and Brian Mullin ’17 appear to have grabbed those spots as first year starters. Captain and tight end Matt Perlow ’15 is healthy after recovering from an ACL tear last season.

Defensive Overview:

The strength of this defense may have shifted in recent weeks. As we reported yesterday on Twitter, Clarence Johnson ’15, starting defensive tackle and All-NESCAC second team performer in 2012, is no longer playing because of foot injuries. Dan Wanger ’17 looks like the favorite to win increased playing time beside Jake Prince ’15 at tackle. Tom Wells ’15 and Brian Golger ’15 are both third year starters at defensive end, and there is still a lot of depth with Parker Mundt ’16 a top backup along with others. All three linebackers graduated leaving Brendan Lawler ’16, Brandon Morin ’16, and Bjorn Halvorsen ’17 the new starters.

Meanwhile in the secondary, reports are that captain Jon Fraser ’14 has looked great in camp and Jibrail Coy ’16 is healthy and should start at a safety position. The secondary also returns Reeder Wells ’17 and Dan Johnson ’15 to a unit that looks primed for major improvement this year. If the veteran front four is able to consistently make plays then Bowdoin’s pass defense, second worst in the NESCAC last season, should improve.

Dan Barone makes the Hail Mary Catch (Courtesy D3Football.com)
Dan Barone makes the Hail Mary Catch (Courtesy D3Football.com)

Three Big Questions:

1. Will Tyler Grant hold up?

Grant showed he has talent when he ran for 119 yards against Wesleyan when Donnarumma was injured, but his health is a concern. His height and weight as a freshman last year was 5’10”, 158 pounds. While he has put on about fifteen pounds (heights and weights on the current Bowdoin roster have not been updated), he is going to take a lot of hits over the course of the season. Behind him at running back are a few promising, albeit very uncertain, options including Garrett Thomas ’17 and Barone, who could switch positions if Grant sustains a lasting injury.

2. Are the linebackers ready to step up?

All three of the graduated linebackers were major playmakers a year ago that limited the time the backups saw.  Lawler ’16 is the most experienced returner as he started the second half of the season because of an injury to Griffin Cardew ’14. Morin played some against run heavy Bates, and he could be primed for a big year while replacing 2013 NESCAC defensive player of the year Joey Cleary ’14. Halvorsen is a little bigger of a question mark because he was so limited in playing time last season, but he has looked confident and athletic in camp at his outside linebacker position.

3.  Can Bowdoin engineer big plays in the passing game?

For the offense to take a step forward, plays of more than 20 yards are going to have to come more often. The lack of a down-field passing attack was a major reason why Caputi only threw for four touchdowns all season. Unfortunately Ken Skon ’16, Bowdoin’s biggest receiver and best deep ball threat last season, is not playing because of back and knee injuries he sustained in 2013. A combination of receivers will have to replace him, and taking more chances could also yield more big plays.

Team MVP: Dan Barone. He was fifth in the NESCAC in total yards from scrimmage and could be primed for an even bigger year this season. An uptick in passing will leave Barone as one of the biggest benefactors. The more times he gets the ball in space, the more chances the shifty slot receiver will shake a defender and pick up a big gain.

Biggest Game: Nov. 1 against Bates

The Bobcats have now beaten Bowdoin for three consecutive seasons and won the CBB title the last two seasons. Last season’s game in Lewiston was a low scoring affair that saw the Bates defense stifle the Bears. Expect head coach Dave Caputi to open up the playbook a lot more in this matchup. The linebackers, who will have almost an entire season of experience under their belts by November, will be tested by the Bates triple option.

Best Tweet of the offseason: QB Mac Caputi and LB Brendan Lawler spent the summer in the Marines. Great story.

Bowdoin looks to see its magical end to 2013 grow into a big season around its returners.