By Jack Fitzpatrick
You realize, the world could also be in fixed turmoil, however there may be one factor we are able to all rely on each week.
CAA insanity. Each. Distinctive. Saturday.
So let’s analyze this. Villanova, Delaware, JMU, UNH and Richmond didn’t play. A few of the greatest groups have been out of motion, which highlighted among the groups with query marks and this weekend was a terrific barometer of how good they’re.
Rhode Island earned its second victory (each in time beyond regulation), the Tribe crushed Elon and Maine fully dominated Stony Brook on Lengthy Island.
These outcomes additionally introduced the large image into focus. So let’s break down my emotions at this actual second after three weeks of CAA motion.
- Delaware (2-Zero, 2-Zero)
The Combating Blue Hens have been out of motion this week because of COVID, however are on the high of the primary two contests as much as No. 1. Delaware has some of the full groups within the CAA with a higher-scoring offense with a common of 34 per sport and the most effective scoring protection permitting only one.5 factors per sport.
It’s a very small pattern dimension and each video games have been completed at residence. UNH was going to be Delaware’s first highway sport of the season and that was going to be a giant check simply to get out of the comfy confines of Newark, DE.
Because the season progresses, Maine’s beating seems to be higher and higher, whereas Stony Brook’s victory is sort of what you may anticipate.
Delaware is now the primary workforce till confirmed in any other case.
- Rhode Island (2-Zero, 2-Zero)
Is that this a knee-jerk response? In fact.
Is that this completed for clickbait? I can’t reply that.
Actually, I actually like what Rhode Island is doing proper now. Tons of transfers are having a right away impression, most notably the QB Kasim Hill switch. Head coach Jim Fleming is in his sixth season and has Rhode Island wanting like program and the Rams are even 18th within the newest STATS FCS ballot.
Kasim Hill is the important thing on this race for Rhode Island. In each video games, on the highway, I need to add, he is been the one who opened the sport along with his legs and made the performs to maintain the Rams on him along with his arm. He averages 181.5 passing yards per sport and has 206 whole offensive yards per sport. He has thrown a TD this season and ran for one more two and so as to add to that he performed your entire Albany sport with a nasty ankle. Hill hasn’t provide you with astonishing numbers, however he is constant and makes the important thing performs when vital.
This Rhode Island workforce is not any fluke. Two time beyond regulation wins. Two victories on the highway. Two daring performances. This group is maybe the worst workforce this season within the CAA.
- Villanova (1-1, 1-1)
Oh how I might like to get the Villanova workforce into qualifying, however actually, I can not (but). Week 1 was a detailed win over a unhealthy Stony Brook workforce. Week 2 was a waste of time beyond regulation at residence towards a good Rhode Island workforce. What is the level of that?
Quarterback Daniel Smith has been taking part in and leads the CAA in whole offensive yards and is by all statistics the most effective quarterback within the CAA proper now, nevertheless his workforce received one and misplaced one.
Scoring wasn’t actually an issue towards Rhode Island, however the protection could not have stopped him from working and working over them! (For reference, my athletic top was taking part in intramural basketball at JMU and hitting a Three on 15 tries and getting kicked out of a sport.)
I might have beloved to see Villanova in motion final Saturday, however they have been on the bye week. This week, their sport towards UNH was postponed, so if all goes effectively, the subsequent time we’ll see them is April Three in Maine.
Villanova hasn’t impressed this season, however he additionally hung 37 at Rhode Island and appears to have a really competent offense and on this league that is crucial factor.
- Maine (2-1, 2-1)
After the completely horrible efficiency in Week 1, Maine is again and looking out good. They beat Albany on the highway after which dominated Stony Brook on Lengthy Island.
I’ve a sense Maine goes to be a checkered workforce this season. They’ll have nice reveals like final Saturday and they’ll even have reveals not so good as Week 1. Proper now, after they misplaced 25 factors at Stony Brook and handed for 250 yards and WR Andre Miller burned Stony Brook fully. 133 yards I’ve them at 4.
- Richmond (2-Zero, 2-Zero)
Richmond is coming off a weekend during which he was unable to play because of COVID points inside the JMU program. The final time we noticed them they beat Elon.
Richmond, based mostly on head-to-head matches and scoring towards related opponents, is the most effective workforce within the South proper now. That they had a incredible Week 1 win over William & Mary after which left the Phoneix to ashes.
Do I feel they’ve essentially the most proficient squad? No, removed from it. However I do assume proper now they’re the most effective workforce within the South led by QB Joe Mancuso and RB Aaron Dykes.
- William and Mary (1-1, 1-1)
I actually like this William & Mary workforce. Hollis Mathis leads the CAA in passing yards per sport at 189.5, forward of the likes of Daniel Smith and Jeff Undercuffler and has this Tribe workforce buzzing to the correct.
Sitting at 1-1, that they had the Week 1 loss to Richmond after which the dominance over Elon in Week Three. (The Tribe’s Week 2 sport was postponed because of COVID points inside the JMU Program).
Hollis Mathis is breaking it proper now and has made an enormous leap from 12 months one within the system to 12 months two, as has head coach Mike London. Mathis ranks first in passing yards per sport, fifth in passing effectivity and second in whole offense. It’s the engine that drives the workforce. If the protection held its personal for a collection or two towards Richmond, this workforce might be 2-Zero.
However they don’t seem to be and they’re 1-1 and sixth within the energy rankings.
- JMU (Three-Zero, 1-Zero)
Oh man, I can not wait to learn my mentions this week. Final week they referred to as me silly for placing Richmond above JMU and now this week William & Mary AND Richmond are above them.
Look, I feel JMU has essentially the most proficient roster, however this can be a energy rating and never a projection or rating expertise listing. The very last thing I noticed was a workforce in misery barely yelling for Elon. That very same Elon workforce has now gone out and been destroyed by Richmond and William & Mary and neither workforce actually appeared to have an issue doing it.
Have you learnt what it signifies that JMU is ranked under them? In my view, in the event that they exit and destroy these two groups, they are going to go up within the rankings.
On the finish of the day, the workforce that may trot out and hit the sector on Saturday can be vastly totally different from the one we noticed within the third quarter towards Elon.
There’s a new beginning QB. Liam Fornandel is out for the spring season. And who is aware of who can be lacking within the two safeties on Saturday.
JMU has been disappointing this season and I’ll say … IT’S OKAY !!! It is a unusual spring season. Cole Johnson was not what we thought, which made the workforce one-dimensional, which made it simpler for the defenses to enter and cargo the field and cease the four-headed monster. Will Gage change that? Possibly. However proper now they’re certainly not the most effective workforce within the South.
- Albany (1-2, 1-2)
All proper, who needs my Albany shares? I do know, they are saying by no means purchase excessive and promote low, however right here I’m. I purchased final season when Albany was trashing the CAA and Undercuffler had 41 TDs per move at 10 INTs with Three,543 yards averaging 250+ yards per sport. These numbers made me fall in love and I had excessive hopes for him and this Nice Dane this season.
Up to now, they’ve been upset. This offense can not seem to get into any form of rhythm and it looks as if I am looking for a rhythm, unable to take action. In Week 1, the win over UNH was the star and the offense did sufficient to beat a below-average UNH workforce.
In Week 2, the offense scored 34 factors, however the protection allowed 38. In Week Three, the offense scored 10 and the protection allowed solely 10 factors in regulation time.
In 2019, Undercuffler had two elite senior receivers who have been the masters of the yards after the catch. They have been among the greatest not within the CAA however within the nation to rack up the YAC. The quantity of 2-yard routes that become 30-yard TD passes was insane.
This season, Undercuffler simply does not have the receivers to do the job for him and he cannot win the sport along with his proper arm. Add to that their star working again, Karl Mofor, has been upset in each of his losses.
The Undercuffler cannot win video games alone and I believed they might and this workforce can have a giant drop, however now they’re out of it within the spring. I used to be very mistaken in regards to the Nice Danes.
- UNH (Zero-1, Zero-1)
UNH has not performed since dropping to an Albany workforce that has gotten progressively worse every week. The Wildcats L is wanting worse and worse each week.
- Stony Brook (Zero-Three, Zero-Three)
So, Stony Brook.
- An L near Villanova
- A blowout L to Delaware
- A disappointing L to Maine.
Two of the defeats got here at residence, one on the highway. There’s not a lot to love about this workforce. An offensive and defensive decrease third within the CAA and the Seawolves have delivered the ball. Seven occasions in three video games. This workforce simply is not that nice and performs up north, this spring season, though it is a shortened schedule, it might probably appear so long as 67 days of darkness in Alaska in winter.
- Elon (1-Four, Zero-Four)
I really feel like I haven’t got to say a lot. The Phoenix should not good. They might not win a single sport within the SOUTH. Good luck within the fall when, hopefully, Cheek is again.
