Patriot League Preview

With the college football 2009 season kicking off September 5, it is time to get back into the spirit of rabid fandom. Even better for the Patriot League, popular favorite Holy Cross will face perpetual bottom-feeding Georgetown in Massachusetts at 1:00 p.m. that day. As such, let us take a look at the Patriot League, one team per day up through kickoff Saturday. The dubious honor of worst team in the Patriot League goes to…

7. Georgetown – One Patriot League win in three years. Six wins in eight years. One would think the team with the most athletes would be able to find enough talent to compete, even a little. The good news is, the Hoyas return three-quarters of the team, including 19 starters (with both specialists). If they can win, this would be the year. The bad news is, two of the three top pass-catchers and the team's sacks leader (a second-team All-Patriot League selection) are gone, the quarterback is a sophomore who threw for three touchdowns and the running back rushed for an entire 32 yards. The team just is not very good, but may be good enough to steal a win from a title contender to spoil a season.

 

 

Passing game: D

Sophomore James Brady returns after flashing some potential as the youngest starting quarterback in the league; all six other teams return an upperclassman starter. Experience will work against Brady all season, as will the loss of his top two receivers and his receiver-quality tight end. Brady will have a tough time finding targets this season.

 

Rushing game: F

Junior slot receiver Keerome Lawrence handles the rushing for the Hoyas, picking up 392 yards on 119 attempts last season (517 gained, 125 lost). Suffice to say, Georgetown apparently is unfamiliar with what rushing is, and their attack isn't the hardest thing to stop.

 

The trenches: B

The entire offensive line (two seniors and three juniors) returns after allowing only three sacks in 114 pass attempts by Brady last season. The chemistry this line has built over all of last season should certainly help this year, so Brady should at least have time to look for the receivers who won't be open before throwing the ball away.

 

Defense: C

Nine starters are back, but without the team's sacks leader pressuring the quarterback will be that much tougher. However, the entire linebacking and secondary corps return, so the league's second-best pass defense should have few holes. Unfortunately, few teams will feel the need to throw after gutting the line and pulling ahead early.

There's no question the team will be better this season, but that should only equate to good games against Bucknell and Lehigh and perhaps an upset of a contender looking ahead a week. The potential seems to be there, but the odds of the Hoyas putting it together remain astronomic.

6. Lehigh – Yes, I ranked Bucknell above at least two Patriot League teams this season. The sad fact is, the Mountain Hawks probably will not be very good at all this season, as they lose 13 starters and return only 10 (Jason Leo handled both kicking and punting duties last season – good luck replacing that). In some sense, Lehigh ought to be near the bottom of the league every year anyway, with only 50 or so athletes on the roster each year. With two-fifths of that gone for this season, numerous holes gape for the Mountain Hawks to fill, and the odds that they fill enough to do much of anything in what should be a decent conference are far too long for comfort. Do not put any money on Lehigh this season. Unless it's the Georgetown game.

 

 

Passing game: C+

If it weren't for junior quarterback J.B. Clark, Lehigh would be lost. Clark threw for 2,350 yards and 23 touchdown s last season (or two-thirds of what Holy Cross' Dominic Randolph did). Unfortunately, he probably will only match those numbers at best this season; seven offensive players are gone, including his top two wide receivers (1,403 combined yards and 15 touchdowns on 99 receptions), tight end and two backfield players (basically every eligible scorer). Clark will be hard-pressed to do much of anything this season with all-new weapons.

 

Rushing game: F

Matt McGowan is gone, as are his 805 yards and four touchdowns, and so is Adam Watson, along with his 124 yards and three touchdowns. All that remains is senior blocking fullback Anthony Fossati. Not a pretty picture, and that will certainly not help Blake find open men in the aerial attack either.

 

The trenches: C

The pair of junior 6'4" 300-plus pound offensive linemen Keith Schauder and Will Rackley (First Team All-Patriot League) returns to anchor the line, and they will probably do a well enough job. Second-Teamer Kevin Bayani's departure hurts a lot, but with Fossati still in the backfield, Clark might have enough protection to make something happen on a few plays.

 

Defense: C

This grade could skyrocket, as some big tacklers are gone, and those could very well be distributed amongst current members of the defense. Senior linebacker Matt Cohen's return is crucial, as he will likely league the league in sacks again; interceptions again too, perhaps (five-way tie with three last season). Expect his name to be in the mix for defensive player of the year if Lehigh goes anywhere this season. Both safeties are gone, however, as are the 155 tackles between them, and linebacker Tim Diamond took another 104 tackles with him. This could be a very scary defense.

 

Actually, the math puts this grade between D+ and C-, but who likes when teachers hand back papers with that stupid slash between the two half-grades (which are actually one-third grades)? Lehigh has too many question marks, and it cannot be reasonably expected that the team will address all of them, although with the first Patriot League matchup on Oct. 11 against Fordham at home, perhaps things will be figured out enough by then to do some damage.

 

5. Bucknell – If the Bison hope to get back to their days of four-win conference records, this is the season to do it. Lehigh and Lafayette both took big hits due to graduation, while Bucknell lost no one of consequence (although it remains to be seen if they return anyone of consequence either). 17 starters return – nine on offense, eight on defense – and no single position will have to endure several losses at once, with the exception of both specialists having graduated. The Bison could be very dangerous this season.

 

Passing game: B+

Senior quarterback Marcello Trigg may be small for the position (5'11" 186 lbs.), but he plays one of the biggest games in the league. With potential oozing from his right arm, Trigg is probably the second-most talented passer in the league, but has not had the chance to show it due to injuries throughout his career; he played only two-thirds of last season, which would have given him about 2,000 yards passing and 20 touchdowns had he finished it out. With 6'3" junior Shaun Pasternak returning at wideout (1,083 yards, 12 touchdowns), Trigg lost no weapons and should pick up right where he left off, making a run at 2,500 yards and 25 touchdowns (he will run for at least five more touchdowns himself).

 

Rushing game: C

Despite having possibly the most versatile threat in the Patriot League in redshirt senior A.J. Kizekai, the Bison get nowhere near the production out of their backfield that they ought to. Kizekai rushed only 104 times for 484 yards last season and caught only 27 balls for 383 yards and a touchdown. Granted, Kizekai is a bit small for a running back at 5'9" 185 lbs., but he should be breaking a long run or two once in a while, even while sharing a few carries with bigger senior Josh Lee.

 

The trenches: C

If there was more production in the run game, the offensive line might get more credit than it does. That ought to change this year, with four young linemen returning (only one senior), as there should be much more chemistry this season, perhaps enough for Kizekai to break a long run or two.

 

Defense: C

The defense is all that holds Bucknell back. Ranked dead last in several categories, including rush defense, the Bison need to figure out how to make tackles close to the line of scrimmage. With four linebackers, two linemen and two defensive backs returning, there is no reason for this defense to take a step back (if that is even possible) and every reason for it to take a step or two forward. If it weren't for the horrid performances last season, I would rank the defense – and team – much higher in the league; but it has to show it has some real playmakers before being given any credit.

 

Bucknell used to be a decent team, despite what your gut is telling you even as you read this, and it looks like the Bison may be headed for better times very soon. This has to be the season for the big jump however, as a step back is expected once Trigg graduates next year. The Bison are very capable of making that big jump, but it will be tough to get more than three wins considering the strength of the top few teams and the competitiveness of the rest. Do not be at all surprised if Bucknell appears near the top of the standings early and stays there.

 

4. Lafayette – Simply put, the Leopards are always a threat to take the championship, or at least ruin the favorites' chances. They boasted by far the league's stingiest defense last season, and despite losing Defensive Player of the Year Andy Romans, senior also-linebacker Mark Leggiero steps right in as the preseason Defensive Player of the Year. That will probably be the central theme for this squad – having lost multiple contributers, reserves will simply step in and put up at least competitive numbers.

 

Passing game: D

Senior Rob Curley returns; not that that will be of much use – he threw for only 1,424 yards and barely twice as many touchdowns (nine) as interceptions (four). On top of those pedestrian numbers, his starting tight end and only wide receiver – Lafayette prefers a three-pronged running attack – are gone, along with their combined 983 yards and eight touchdowns. Don't expect much passing from the Leopards this year.

 

Rushing game: C+

Losing bruising fullback Joe Russo is tough – he was a First Team All-Patriot League selection – but the Leopards return two starting tailbacks, a yardage guy and a touchdown guy. They will both get more reps this year without Russo's dependence, but expect Head Coach Frank Tavani to find some way to fill in the gap Russo left.

 

The trenches: B

Senior tackle Ryan Hart-Predmore (2008 First Team All-Patriot League) anchors the line, playing alongside monstrous junior guard Brian Wycinowski and senior center Michael Wojcik (both 6'5" and around 300 pounds). Tackle Joe Plenski's departure will hurt, but Tavani has eight underclassmen and four upperclassmen to choose from. This year's offensive line should be one of the most dominant in the league.

Defense: B-

The minus is for Romans' absence this season; the rest is for Leggiero's potential and Lafayette's perennially stingy defense (only team since 2004 to allow less than 200 points; the Leopards have done it twice – in 2007 and 2008 – as well as allowing only 204 in 2005). First Team All-Patriot League defensive end Jason Mills' absence will also be felt this season, especially with his fellow end also having graduated – but again, Lafayette will find ways to plug gaps, so don't expect much of a decline here.

 

The only reason Lafayette is ranked ahead of Bucknell is based on past performance and the Leopards' returning both specialists to Bucknell's none. The odds of Bucknell finishing ahead of Lafayette – which faded down the stretch last season – should be set at about 45-55. As sorry as it may sound, the order of finish may ride on junior Davis Rodriguez's hitting another superb 13-15 field goals. If fellow junior punter Tom Kondash can bring his average up to 40.0 yards, field position should vault the Leopards over the Bison.

3. Fordham – Sure, we all want the Rams to win, but not with the likes of Colgate and Holy Cross still around. Nevertheless, there is still a clear top three in this league to real followers, and Fordham rounds it out. The annually early Colgate game will quickly decide the order of finish here, unless Holy Cross somehow splits with both later in the season. Since the game is at Colgate, the Raiders get the nod this year. That does not mean Colgate cannot win the league, however; be sure to check in tomorrow and Saturday morning before game time for the final two finishers.

 

Passing game: B

As much love as everyone gives senior quarterback John Skelton, he needs to show more consistency if he wants to call himself a real NFL prospect. With his younger brother Stephen Skelton returning at tight end along with senior wideouts Jason Caldwell and Asa Lucas, senior Skelton will have his reliable targets available one more season, as well as juniors David Moore, Michael Shorter and sophomore Jon Arnold; the Rams will once again boast their enviable receiving depth, although someone still has to step up and really lead the corps – four receivers with over 200 yards but none with 500 is not a recipe for success.

 

Rushing game: A

Junior running back Xavier Martin, the 2007 Patriot League Rookie of the Year, might be the best back in the league now that Jordan Scott has left Colgate. He makes things happen, and can catch if he needs to, on top of which he also returns kickoffs pretty well. In the spread-offense, running-quarterback-happy era, a player like Martin is fun to watch dominate, and he should do plenty of that to opposing lines this season.

 

The trenches: B-

Justin Sarabez and Michael Nardone's departures hurt enough to make Head Coach Tom Masella shuffle the lines to fill in the gaps. Seniors Robby Reis and Andrew Tyshovnytsky are essential to the line's success, and they have to develop excellent chemistry with the new members if the Rams hope to have a chance.

 

Defense: C

This defense could earn itself an A very quickly, but it could earn a D just as easily; both Ryan Mehra and Greg DeMarco leave the defensive line, at defensive end and defensive tackle, respectively, meaning there will be much less pressure on opposing quarterbacks; that is, unless junior linebacker Nick Magiera can rediscover his early-2008 form and put up a few more two-sack games. Masella has moved several others around, including Second Team All-Patriot League selection James Crockett, who moves from linebacker to free safety to cover for the departed Matt Loucks, one of Fordham's most productive tacklers ever and a 2008 First Team All-Patriot League pick despite missing several games due to injury. With senior linebacker Ryan Darcey and junior linebacker Andre Delaire returning, however, the linebacking corps should remain quite formidable, and senior nose tackle Darzell Wright will return to head the point of attack. The Rams have many weapons on defense, but with the flurry of moves and losses, much remains to be proven.

 

Final Grade: B

With the senior class being made up of Crockett, Lucas, Reis, Skelton and Wright, the Rams need to win now. Good times are ahead too, as Fordham will now offer athletic-based scholarships rather than need-based, as Patriot League rules stipulate (the Rams will not be eligible for the league title and automatic NCAA FCS playoff berth from 2010 through at least 2012), but the Rams have been planning on making this their big year ever since Masella arrived four years ago and found such weapons at his disposal. All have extensive starting experience, and with a more than capable supporting cast, the Rams have no excuse not to get the job done this season. Sophomore punter Cameron Dean will have to improve on his rookie-respectable 35.0 average, and the Rams will replace kicker Adam Danko easily enough, but the rest of the team really has a job to do, and unfortunately, last year's results do not point to proper execution this year either. Yet hope still abounds, and not unfounded.

2. Colgate – If not for 2006, Head Coach Dick Biddle would still be without a losing season as the Raiders' front man, having turned the team from an annual punching bag into one of the most feared in all of the FCS. He will need all the craftiness and dominance he has instilled in his team this season, as the loss of multiple Patriot League record-holding running back Jordan Scott and four offensive linemen will severely hamper the offense. Scott won maybe half of Colgate's games on his own. The defense will have to be even better this year if the Raiders expect to contend – and they probably will.

 

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