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| Taisun Phommachanh #3 |
Mike Traini of "Fight Massachusetts" (who is effectively the UMass beat writer with the demise of the dead tree media), does a pre-season review of the UMass quarterbacks.
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Traini's write-up pretty much parallels my take on current QB room. Since our move to FBS the Minutemen offense has been a problem. During the Whipple II era his offense still worked. The pro-style down-the-field passing game rang up good statistics. However, UMass rarely won those MAC shoot-outs. Blake Fronapfel threw for a MAC single game record and UMass still lost the game. In two years (2014-2015) Fronapfel threw for 6,148 yards and 38 TD's---and won only 3 games both years.
The new dual-threat offense is probably a better fit for our current status. We are a cold weather team. A more run-first ball control probably better fits our Independent schedule.
Last year's offensive struggles had deeper roots than just the QB's. We need more speed and less drops from the wide receivers. In 2022 UMass was #67 in rushing offense and #127 in third down conversions. Generally, if you can run the ball, you've got a good looking offense (and a good looking QB). The Minutemen did not put pressure on opposing defense on either passing or running.
Like the defense, I think resurrecting the UMass offense is a several year process. This year, UMass has greatly added talent in QB's and RB's. It may be another year before the offensive line and WR's are where Brown wants them to be. Still, I think the offense will be much improved and we will move out of FBS's basement in most offensive categories .
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Indiana OC Walt Bell lands a highly rated QB he started recruiting while at UMass.
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