Two weeks and two major hurdles have been cleared .. Wins against Villanova and CCSU have the Hawks primed for a run to an NEC title .. Some things to consider in why MU has won two games that most would have likely put as losses before the season started ..
The Defense is playing great as evidenced by back to back weeks in which a Monmouth Linebacker has been named as the NEC defensive player of the week .. Dan Sullivan against Villanova and Steve Barroso this past week against the Blue Devils .. With improved front seven play, it has allowed the secondary to be a compliment to the defense and not the main factor in stopping the run as it has been the last two years .. The whole unit is playing with an extreme amount of confidence and it shows on the field right now as each week they get better and each week more and more players get involved ..
One of the spots that was in question during the preseason was the offensive line as three of the five spots were going to be new starters and after a rough game against Lehigh in week one .. This unit has really come together, opening up running lanes and allowing Kyle Frazier to do what he does best which is to be patient and let his receivers run their routes and make good decisions with the ball ..
Another big test looms this week as MU returns against league champ Robert Morris who is certainly for a win after starting the year 0-3 and having two weeks to prepare for the Hawks .. Wins on the road are big but a win at home this week after the way the season would really have people getting excited .. One step at a time ..
Programming reminder .. The Kevin Callahan Monmouth Football Show returns tonight at 7pm from Buffalo Wild Wings @ Monmouth Mall .. 1160/1310 WOBM AM .. Saturday's game is home against Robert Morris .. Kickoff is @ 12 noon on 1160/1310 WOBM AM & shoresportsnetwork.com or gomuhawks.com
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
A Monumental Win
Have to be honest I am still smiling after calling Saturday's 20-9 win over Villanova for so many reasons, so please allow me to break it down some more.
1 - Confidence -- This is a key component to any team over the course of the season and in looking at the MU schedule this wasn't one that many would have picked as a win in a brutal five game stretch to open the 2011 season. Now with the win, the Hawks have seen how well they can play and the intensity it takes to win these big games. That will only help this young moving into NEC play.
2 - Play-makers -- There has been talk about the difference in talent and depth between this year's team and maybe the last few year teams and it showed up on Saturday vs. the Wildcats. We have seen the emergence of Neil Sterling and Dan Sullivan both of whom were rewarded with player of the week awards from the NEC. Sterling made one incredible catch and finished up combining with Soph. Mitchell Pollard to provide a 1-2 receiving threat that MU hasn't had since Austin and San Miguel were playing together. Jose Gumbs had the play of the game with a forced fumble and showed why he is the leader of this team with a never give up attitude that seems to be contagious.
3 - Improvement -- MU showed great strides between the loss to Lehigh and the win with Villanova which is what you would expect with a bye week and a veteran coaching staff. BUT (there's always a but) there is still things to work on as Central Conn State is a very good tea, and I think the one thing that coaches look for is players not to be too high after ONE very good performance. The offense needs to cash in with touchdowns when it gets in the red zone. Defensively, third down defense and giving up the big play still could be an issue and on the special teams .. you can't give long returns after you score points.
All in all however, it was maybe the best regular season win that MU has ever had in the non conference portion of a schedule -- no matter what Villanova does the rest of the year.
Big test this weekend as MU travels to Central Conn State for a match-up with the Blue Devils .. Payback should be on the minds of the Hawks after dropping back to back heart-breakers against CCSU .. Kickoff is @ 12 noon on 1160/1310 WOBM AM & shoresportsnetwork.com or gomuhawks.com
1 - Confidence -- This is a key component to any team over the course of the season and in looking at the MU schedule this wasn't one that many would have picked as a win in a brutal five game stretch to open the 2011 season. Now with the win, the Hawks have seen how well they can play and the intensity it takes to win these big games. That will only help this young moving into NEC play.
2 - Play-makers -- There has been talk about the difference in talent and depth between this year's team and maybe the last few year teams and it showed up on Saturday vs. the Wildcats. We have seen the emergence of Neil Sterling and Dan Sullivan both of whom were rewarded with player of the week awards from the NEC. Sterling made one incredible catch and finished up combining with Soph. Mitchell Pollard to provide a 1-2 receiving threat that MU hasn't had since Austin and San Miguel were playing together. Jose Gumbs had the play of the game with a forced fumble and showed why he is the leader of this team with a never give up attitude that seems to be contagious.
3 - Improvement -- MU showed great strides between the loss to Lehigh and the win with Villanova which is what you would expect with a bye week and a veteran coaching staff. BUT (there's always a but) there is still things to work on as Central Conn State is a very good tea, and I think the one thing that coaches look for is players not to be too high after ONE very good performance. The offense needs to cash in with touchdowns when it gets in the red zone. Defensively, third down defense and giving up the big play still could be an issue and on the special teams .. you can't give long returns after you score points.
All in all however, it was maybe the best regular season win that MU has ever had in the non conference portion of a schedule -- no matter what Villanova does the rest of the year.
Big test this weekend as MU travels to Central Conn State for a match-up with the Blue Devils .. Payback should be on the minds of the Hawks after dropping back to back heart-breakers against CCSU .. Kickoff is @ 12 noon on 1160/1310 WOBM AM & shoresportsnetwork.com or gomuhawks.com
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Getting ready to head to Nova
The Hawks get ready for the second game of the season and a continued theme of tough non-conference opponents. This week it is Villanova, who has won a National Championship in FCS as recently as 2009 and is a perennial playoff team. Here are some the basics going into the game; Monmouth is 0-1 after a week one loss to Lehigh while Villanova is a surprising 0-2 after losses to Temple and Towson. The good thing is that maybe this Wildcats team is not as good as years past but any underestimation would be a severe mistake. Many teams start slow and get better as the year goes on and this Villanova team may be one of those teams.
Monmouth comes into this game after doing some good things in the loss to Lehigh but just not enough of or with enough consistency. The opening drive of the game was a high point as MU marched right down the field and scored to go up 7-0. I think in that drive you saw the balance and mixing around of the football that could lead to great success this season. Kyle Frazier has control of the offense and with more weapons this year than the last two years it could be a year to open things up even more. One game does not a season make but there is some reason to be concerned about the lack of a full time number one running back. I think it is great the Hawks have options at the RB position but at some point you want to know who the best back is and who can carry the ball 15-18 times per game. It was good to see three different backs get in the end zone and be able to finish off scoring drives with 6 points and not try for 3.
The Hawks are a young team, especially on the defensive side of the ball and that showed in the first game and may pop up during the course of the season but this a talented group with impact players. The idea of course is to get those players to make more impact than mistakes. Jose Gumbs is obviously the one player that all MU fans expect to make the big hit, key interception, or game changing play but he can't do it alone so names like Lawson and Sullivan (among others) will have balance out this defense.
This is a set up in competition for Monmouth for football as up until this week, Villanova was again a top 20 team and remember the Big East has shown interest in the Wildcats moving to the FBS side of college football. The Wildcats have hurt themselves in the first two week with multiple turnovers in both losses and I couldn't imagine they want to open up the year at 0-3. This is a talented team with a long time head coach in Andy Talley and a program not used to losing.
MU has had two weeks to prepare for this and maybe the week 2 bye helped as it gave the coaches almost another week of preseason and an opportunity to work on fundamentals for a week and not a game plan.
Reminder .. The Kevin Callahan Monmouth Football Show returns tonight at 7pm from Buffalo Wild Wings @ Monmouth Mall .. 1160/1310 WOBM AM
Monmouth comes into this game after doing some good things in the loss to Lehigh but just not enough of or with enough consistency. The opening drive of the game was a high point as MU marched right down the field and scored to go up 7-0. I think in that drive you saw the balance and mixing around of the football that could lead to great success this season. Kyle Frazier has control of the offense and with more weapons this year than the last two years it could be a year to open things up even more. One game does not a season make but there is some reason to be concerned about the lack of a full time number one running back. I think it is great the Hawks have options at the RB position but at some point you want to know who the best back is and who can carry the ball 15-18 times per game. It was good to see three different backs get in the end zone and be able to finish off scoring drives with 6 points and not try for 3.
The Hawks are a young team, especially on the defensive side of the ball and that showed in the first game and may pop up during the course of the season but this a talented group with impact players. The idea of course is to get those players to make more impact than mistakes. Jose Gumbs is obviously the one player that all MU fans expect to make the big hit, key interception, or game changing play but he can't do it alone so names like Lawson and Sullivan (among others) will have balance out this defense.
This is a set up in competition for Monmouth for football as up until this week, Villanova was again a top 20 team and remember the Big East has shown interest in the Wildcats moving to the FBS side of college football. The Wildcats have hurt themselves in the first two week with multiple turnovers in both losses and I couldn't imagine they want to open up the year at 0-3. This is a talented team with a long time head coach in Andy Talley and a program not used to losing.
MU has had two weeks to prepare for this and maybe the week 2 bye helped as it gave the coaches almost another week of preseason and an opportunity to work on fundamentals for a week and not a game plan.
Reminder .. The Kevin Callahan Monmouth Football Show returns tonight at 7pm from Buffalo Wild Wings @ Monmouth Mall .. 1160/1310 WOBM AM
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