Tuesday--July 2, 2013

Philly.com says J.T. Blyden's verbal happened because UMass wanted him as a TB.

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Is UMass turning into running back U? With Stacey Bedell already on the roster and Lorenzo Woodley coming in this fall, and now the 2014 verbal of three star RB J.T Blyden, the Minutemen look as if the offensive backfield will be a strength in the coming years. Coach Molnar has said he wants UMass to be one of the top teams in the MAC. The RB position looks like the first Minuteman unit to start to achieve an edge over other league teams.

Blyden's signing is also good news for the Woodley and Bedell, if they have NFL dreams. it's better to be part of a stable of running backs than to be the every down player. If you want to play in the NFL you don't want to leave your body in college. Michael Cox is going to make the Giants because he had low mileage on him and he had some gas in the tank to impress at the Combines and training camp.

This article from 2012 talks about Alabama's running backs. Quote from Nick Saben:" I think of it future wise," he said. "A lot of running backs want to get the ball 20-30 times a game, but at the same time it wears your body down, and you don't really know how long your body will last.".

In addition, UMass will probably be playing a tough OOC schedule for the foreseeable future. Coach Molnar's spread offense will work in the MAC and last year's 511 yards of offense against Ohio showed what the Minutemen's future will look like. However, trying to out quick BCS teams like Kansas State, Wisconsin and Vanderbilt can make things tough for your defense. UMass could use a "BCS game offensive" like we showed in the first Michigan game. Run the ball, control the clock and shorten the game. If UMass can get it's offense line fixed, our new running back corps looks as if we may be able to do that in a couple of years.

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Sports chat place previews the Vanderbilt Commodores.

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NBC Sports says the Giants are confident that they will sign Victor Cruz to a long term contract before training camp begins.

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ESPN gives a best-case-worse-case scenario for Kansas State.

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Our old friends at Maize and Brew look at Wisconsin's season.

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The MAC's commissioner talks money, bowl games and TV deals.

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