University of Massachusets Athletics
Coach Don Brown's Weekly CAA Teleconference
October 20, 2008 | Football
Oct. 20, 2008
AMHERST, Mass. -
Coach Brown's general thoughts on last week's 30-15 loss to Richmond:
Well Richmond came into the game very highly touted, we knew we had a good opponent, and they got off to a really good start on us. We were sitting there at halftime and it was 16-9. We really didn't get any rhythm going offensively. I thought they did a good job of executing their offense in the first half. We gave up one big play to Josh Vaughan and we also gave up a fourth down pass conversion. So we're sitting there at 16-9 at the half and feel like we've been outplayed, but we were still in the game. In the second half their offense had three plays for minus 10 yards, three plays for minus two yards and then the crusher hit us. We had a punt blocked when it was 16-12 on the 12 yard line, and obviously they went in to score. Then our defense responded again with four plays for two yards, two plays for minus ten yards when we recovered the fumble. And then we had three plays for eight yards. When got the game to 23-15 and with two minutes to go, we were right there to get back into the football game, but we just couldn't get it done. Unfortunately we had no rhythm on offense for the day, and they made it tough on us. On the good end, Eric Ward was 11-for-20 for 90 yards. Their wideouts, who have really done a nice job this season, managed three catches and we held them to 90 yards throwing. But it's hard to overcome a blocked punt and that was the difference in the football game.
Coach Brown on the play of the special teams and the kicking game:
It's really a function of the guys knowing how to correct it. We can see exactly why it happened; it was a technique error. We just have to do a better job. Unfortunately it hit us at that point in the game. Again, defensively I thought we stood up pretty good. They had a couple of good returns; they got the ball on their 35 yard line, our 34 yard line and our 45 yard line and we were able to stop them on four downs on one and get the fumble of the second drive. But again, overcoming a blocked punt is a difficult scenario.
Brown on the Richmond defense and their impact on the UMass run game:
Of all the teams we've played, they did the best job of slowing us down. Every play was important in that game. We had one run of ten yards called back because of a penalty. We didn't execute quite as well as we would have liked in a couple of areas. But you have to give Richmond a lot of credit; they have a pretty good front and they chase the ball really well. I think their front is very stout.
Coach Brown on quarterback Liam Coen's injury:
Liam was very sore yesterday, but I would list him as day-to-day.
Coach Brown's thoughts about the current playoff picture:
It's just too early in the season to worry about it. We have a long way to go and we have a lot of football games to play. We just have to get our focus on Bryant and getting ready to play our best game of the year; that's really what it comes down to. I look at our losses, one to James Madison, they're pretty good. Once to Texas Tech, I think they're really good; and one to Richmond who was a former number one and just lost to James Madison. So I don't think we're chopped liver, we're in the evaluation process. Obviously we don't make those decisions and all we can do is look up in November. We all know the reality is that you have to get to eight or nine wins, and that's where you have to be. We better just focus on playing one game at a time and living in the moment, because there's a lot of football left to be played. We're just going to see where we are in November, and then we'll make our case at that point. I do feel good about our football team; I do feel like we're competing hard. And again, when you look at the quality of opponents that we've played, and you see where we're at, I'm not disappointed. I'd like to be a little better, but the reality is that you just have to move on and live in the moment.
Coach Brown's thoughts on this week's game against Bryant:
They have transitioned to Division 1-AA, and they're right around the .500 mark. They blitz everyone on defense, and they are very methodical on offense. I like their quarterback; I think Jay Graber has a good understanding on what they're trying to get done. They are big on the offensive line and they move the ball fairly well. We just need to worry about ourselves this week, and make sure we get ourselves ready to play our best game of the year.
