Thursday, February 07, 2013

Thursday February 7, 2013

UPDATE: 247 Sports ranks UMass' class as tied for third in the MAC. And 101st overall.

Most other sites haven't added Woodley yet.

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A quick comment on yesterday's recruiting class. We'll have all Spring to hash things over, but one thing jumps out--- offensive linemen. Remember how well we played in the first Michigan game? We had TWO all-conference running backs and an experienced offensive line. We ran the ball, shortened the game and looked good doing it.

This year our biggest failure was UMass' inability to run the ball. We averaged 89.6 yards a game and 2.6 yards a carry. That was good for a bottom five ranking in all of FBS for 2012. Taking out Cox's 200+ yards against Miami of Ohio, we could dead last in FBS rushing.

If you can run the ball, generally speaking, you've got a good looking QB. If the QB is continually comes up to call the play and it's third-and-13 like we did all 2012, his stats are going to
look really sad. For the play action pass to work, the defense has respect the run somewhat.

So the upshot is we really need to improve our running game. And it all starts up front. It'll take a couple of years for before this year's recruiting class hits its stride, but the offensive linemen we recruited this year will make us competitive in the future. Offensive linemen don't make your recruiting class look good on paper because they don't get a lot of "stars' for people to talk about.  This class will pay dividends in the future.

Of course an All-Conference RB wouldn't hurt either.

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I wrote the above before checking the morning news. Bingo. Lorenzo Woodley signs with UMass.

Matty V has more.

Woodley's ESPN page.

According to ESPN Woodley was the highest rated recruit we signed.

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More recruit signing articles:

Logan Laurent has two articles here and here.

QB Todd Stafford signing article here.

Steve Casali here.

Nj.com on Nate Crutchfield's signing with the Minutemen.

E.J. Burston and Shaq Harris here.

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Is this fun or what?