SpiderNation.com - UMass Q&A

October 22, 2009

Spidernation Staff

Question #1: First off, congrats to Richmond on their National Championship. I watched the championship
game at least twice. The Spiders had a great playoff run.

As for UMass, we have a veteran offense except for our QB Kyle Havens. He's a JUCO from California. He has been a little up-and-down so far this year. Our LT Vladimir Ducasse is an All-American and some draft services have him as the top FCS draft prospect in 2010.

UMass runs a pro-set offense and tries to be balanced between run and pass. Jonathan Hernandez is our second-string back. Tony Nelson is our #1 guy. Hernandez is more of a speed back; Nelson is a power back. He has missed most of three games with an upper body and quad injuries. Nelson will be back for the Richmond game.

Victor Cruz is our best WR and the top statistical receiver in the CAA in 2008. He will be the #1 choice of our QB this Saturday.

Question #2: The strength of the UMass defense is our DL. We start four seniors. They have been very active and, except for the Delaware game, have put a lot of pressure on opposing QB's. We had double-digit knockdowns on UNH's Tolman. That interception on the last play of the UNH game was caused by Tolman getting leveled as he threw the ball.

Our weakness is a lack of bodies in the defensive backfield. We played most of the UNH game with RFr at both safety positions. Jeromy Miles our starting FS is another potential NFL pick. He's a transfer from Navy.

Question #3: UMass has had a ton of injuries this year. Our starting MLB (and All-American) Josh Jennings has not played a down for us this year. He has a back injury. Our starting RT Rob Getek has likewise not played yet this year.

Jennings back up at MLB Kurt Filler, tore an ACL against Stony Brook. So we are now starting a true freshman Perry McIntyre at MLB.

Question #4: Our K Armando Cuko is the leading kicker in FCS, averaging three FG's per game. He is deadly from 45 yards in. If it comes down to a field goal, he'll win it for UMass.

Question #5: Right now, it is not realistic for UMass to be thinking of moving up to FBS football. The State of Massachusetts is a financial basket case. Should we ever make the move, the Big East would be our preferred conference with old rival UConn as a member.

I look for Saturday's game between the Minutemen and the Spiders to be a tough grind-it-out contest. UMass will have to avoid turnovers and stop the Spiders running game.

Since I'm a UMass fan, I'll say that the game will be tied 14-14 in the fourth quarter and Armando Cuko kicks a 49-yarder with 12 seconds left to win it for the Minutemen.

However it turns out, good luck to the Spiders with the rest of your season and in the playoffs!

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