SpiderNation.com - Q&A with Nova

November 4, 2009

Spidernation Staff

SpiderNation: What are the offensive strengths and weaknesses that the SpiderNation should look for from Villanova this week? Chris Whitney and Matt Szczur look to be carrying much of the load on the offensive side, can you tell us who else might be capable of making the big play?
Offensive strengths are running the ball. Villanova has 3 runners who can gain over 100 yards in any given game in Ball. Szczur, and Whitney. Offensive line is huge and returned 4 starters from last year. Whitney is a very mobile and tough QB, who plays like a linebacker and likes to run over people. If he has a weakness, I would say throwing the long pass accurately.
Brandon Harvey at WR is a big guy at 6"5" who can be very good. Had a great game vs. Temple, especially in the second half. He also is our punt returner. Matt Szczur is also dangerous catching the ball. Weakness is lack of a tight end in passing game.

SpiderNation: What are the defensive strengths and weaknesses that the SpiderNation should look for from the Villanova this week? In the past you have been known to blitz your LB's a lot, do you think we will see the same on Saturday?
Defensively, one of Villanova's great strengths is its speed. Very fast defensively. In Thomas, Kirkland, and Osunde, Villanova has best linebacking crew in CAA. Kirkland is injured however. Would like to see more pressure upfront. VU plays a 3-3-5 defense. VU is an excellent tackling team. Sometimes vulnerable to long passes down middle of field.
SpiderNation: It looks like Whitney has been running almost as much as he has been attempting passes, are these usually designed runs or runs of opportunity? I also looks like you have been running about 2 to 1 thus far this season, do you expect that to continue this weekend?
I definitely expect VU to come out running the football on Saturday. VU is a fast team, but also likes smash mouth football on offense. Whitney is a QB in a linebacker's body. He does not hesitate to take off when his receivers are covered and likes to punish the defense by finishing off his runs.

SpiderNation: I see that Whitney has been getting the majority of the snaps, when has Young been getting his snaps this season, injuries, blowouts or some other time? Both are very good QB's!
With regard to Antwan Young, he has not played the past two games. He has a gun for an arm, but, look to see Whitney the entire game.

SpiderNation: There has been a lot of talk about the CAA splitting in the future, if some teams went up to the FBS do you think Villanova would want to join them, if not who would Villanova like to see remain in the revised CAA (or similar FCS conference)?
There is a lot of talk at Villanova about joining the Big East. People are afraid that basketball, which as you know is Villanova's main and most successful and highest profile sport , will not be in the Big East if there is a Football, Basketball split. Continued high profile presence nationally in the Big East for basketball would be only reason for Villanova to move to FBS. It would certainly not be because fan base and alumni are clamoring for it.
Villanova feels that the CAA is the highest level of FCS football and seems content to be where they are now. I know everybody would like to see the rivalry with UD continue. Villanova and Coach Talley have made a concerted effort to try to play a schedule that would create a lot of local interest, thus Temple, Lehigh, and Penn on the schedule.

SpiderNation: Is there anything else the fans of SpiderNation should know?
Villanova's special teams have been good this year. Punter is rugby style kicker who kicks away to dangerous punt returners. VU has not had a long punt or kick off return against them this year. On kickoff return man Matt Szczur has a good return average and has already taken one kickoff to the house this year and is tied with Brian Westbrook for all time kickoff TD returns in only 2 plus years for the Wildcats. Placekicker Nick Yako is a redshirt Freshman who has been a little up and own this year, but won the Temple game with a 32 yd. field goal at the gun.
I personally feel special teams could be the difference Saturday in a game between 2 very evenly matched teams

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