Dan Malone has a post on UMass' hopes for an improved defense.
A lot of things improved in 2014, but the defense struggled in nine of the Minutemen's 12 games. UMass gave up 33 points/game and 448 yards of offense in 2014. The totals for 2013 were 33 points and 433 yards/game. In our three wins against Kent State, Eastern Michigan and Ball State, UMass gave up 17, 14 and 10 points respectively. In our other five MAC games the UMass defense gave up 202 points or 40.4 points/game.
Let's hope for some substantial improvement in 2015. The defensive struggles are really no surprise as the offense has had a majority of the scholarships and transfers since we went FBS.
IMHO, UMass should follow the lead of Kansas State and bring in a number of JUCO's and transfers every year. The Minutemen just do not have the recruiting base to take in all four-year players.
Consider Boston College: the Eagles have pretty much dominated New England recruiting. Go over to the BC blog "BC Interruption" and they'll be glad to tell you as much.
Then consider what Boston College has done over the last five years.
2010 7-6
2011 4-8
2012 2-10
2013 7-6
2014 7-6
Five of the Eagles' wins in that period were over FCS teams and Boston College is 0-4 in Bowl games since 2008...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dan also looks at UMass' attempts to cure the Minutemen's long-running kicking woes.
UMass added three kickers to this year's squad: K Mike Caggaino (FR.) K Jack Coveney (Fr.), K Theo Yongue (R-Fr.)
Caggaino is likely to be the instant starter. If UMass' kicking game just improved to average, it could add one or two wins in 2015.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fellow Independent BYU has mostly finished their 2017 schedule. Mentions UMass.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Register-Guard says Colorado is confident despite low outside expectations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pittsburgh writer Neal Coolong says Rob Blanchflower may make the Steelers squad as an H-back.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Columbus Dispatch says Miami (Ohio) sees signs of hope.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------