Projo Sports Blog

BY MIKE SZOSTAK
Journal Sports Writer

This is going to be a really long football season for the University of Rhode Island unless the offense gets untracked and starts scoring, preferably touchdowns.

Defense has been the problem with this program, but second-year defensive coordinator Dick Hopkins has his unit playing better by the quarter. The Rams rank a respectable fifth in the Colonial Athletic Association in total defense (346.5) and third in scoring defense (20.5 points) after two games.

Offense is the worry now. The option-oriented attack championed by head coach Tim Stowers and offensive coordinator Harold Nichols, usually among the most prolific in the league and occasionally the nation since their arrival in 2000, is missing something this season: points.

The 0-2 Rams, 9th in the league in total offense (362.5 yards) are 10th in scoring offense (15.0) and last in red zone offense. They have moved the ball inside the opponent’s 20-yard line 10 times and have scored three touchdowns and kicked two field goals. They have missed two field goals, lost a fumble, thrown an interception and lost the ball on downs.

“We really are concerned about that,” Stowers said. “That is a major, major concern for us right now. We are able to move the football but not knock it in. So we’ve got to take probably a little different approach on the offensive side of the ball so we can get more points on the board.”

Say again? A little different approach? Something other than fullback Joe Casey up the middle, halfbacks Jimmy Hughes and Tim Allen on toss sweeps or quarterback Derek Cassidy searching for a hole or perfect between-the-hash spot for a field-goal attempt? Can we expect a pass, perhaps?

“Well, I’d rather keep that a little bit of a secret,” Stowers said with a laugh.

“We got to take a little bit different approach mentally, too. You got to cut down on missed assignments, and you got to cut down on fumbles going inside the red zone. Fumbles can get you beat.”

Only Delaware and William & Mary have had more red-zone opportunities than URI. The Blue Hens, Rhody’s challenge this week, have scored on all 12 of their trips inside the 20. The Tribe has scored on 10 of its 13 chances.

A puzzling factor to URI’s scoring ineptitude is the failure of the veteran offense in short-yardage situations. Rhody has featured a potent rushing game the last seven seasons and still ranks third in the CAA (238.5). But the Rams can’t move the ball when they get close to the goal line. In overtime at Army they had first and goal at the 4-yard line, failed to score and left Michie Stadium with a 14-7 loss. A veteran line, quarterback and all-conference fullback must do better than that.

Bryant's Polomski honored
Bryant linebacker Paul Polomski is the Northeast-10 defensive player of the week. The sophomore from Franklin, Mass., made six tackles, recovered a fumble and intercepted two passes in Bryant’s season-opening 13-6 victory over American International. His 44-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter sealed the victory. The Bulldogs will play at Merrimack Friday night.

Silva moves into second
Two interceptions by Boston College free safety Jamie Silva (East Providence) weren’t enough to garner weekly recognition from the Atlantic Coast Conference, but they put him in a tie for second in the league in that category behind teammate DeJuan Tribble, who has three. Silva is tied for second on the BC defense with 15 tackles. Linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar, the ACC defensive lineman of the week, leads with 17. BC (2-0) visits Georgia Tech (2-0) Saturday night.

Dean's list
Seven Rhode Islanders are on the 99-man roster at Dean College in nearby Franklin, Mass. The Rhody contingent includes sophomore wide receivers Ryan Garofano (Charlestown/Bishop Hendricken) and Aaron Rousseau (Charlestown/Chariho) and freshmen Ryan Contee (LB, Providence/La Salle), Patrick Cahill (DB, Woonsocket), Raphael Hernandez (OL, Cranston/East), Jared Awokande (WR, East Providence) and Paul Appleton (WR, North Kingstown). Todd Vasey of Cumberland is the head coach, Dean kicked off its 2007 season with a 33-7 victory over the Assumption JV Sunday. Dean will play the Springfield JV next Sunday and the Bryant JV Sept. 23. The last five games on the 10-game schedule are against junior-college teams in the Northeast Football Conference. Among Vasey’s players are 14 from Georgia and six from Florida.

Brown ready to open
Brown will open Saturday at home against Duquesne (0-1) with untested junior Michael Dougherty at quarterback. He made three appearances last year and complted 3 of 10 passes for 47 yards. He was injured and did not play in the spring game. Sophomore Bobby Sewall (Portsmouth) and freshman Kyle Newhall-Caballero are the back-ups. Sewall will also see action at flanker. Sewall is one of five Rhode Islanders on the Brown roster. The others are seniors Dereck Knight (TB, Pawtucket/Shea) and Tyler Rowley (FB, Narragansett/Bishop Hendricken/Williston Northampton Prep) and freshmen Mohammed Abdalah (OL, Pawtucket/Shea) and John Anderson (LB, Barrington).

---