Hobart will face a Dickinson team looking to rebound from last season’s disappointing 3-7 overall record, which included no wins on their home turf. Unfortunately it sounds like the rest of the Centennial Conference (CC) feels that it will be more of the same for the Red Devils picking them to finish 7th in the 2011 preseason CC poll.
Some of the concerns in Carlisle have to do with starting a rookie QB. SO Todd Smolinsky won the starting job over SR QB Ricky Martz, Jr. in the offseason, but is very inexperienced. Martz started five games at QB in 2010 (and scored Dickinson’s lone TD in last year’s 38-7 defeat at Boswell Field) while Smolinsky has only 13 career pass attempts to his resume (he completed six). Only five other starters (three OL, TE and FB) return from an offensive unit that averaged 22.7 points and 319.6 yards per game in 2010. Smolinsky’s most likely targets will be SR WR Cam Di Fede (13 catches for 214 yards in 2010) and SR TE Tyler Rosa (seven catches, 16 YPC average).
In my opinion, the biggest question mark for Dickinson is who will start at RB? RB Greg Lord, who rushed 39 times for 252 yards and three TDs in his career vs. Hobart, and RB Tim Smith (523 yards on 126 attempts, including 5 TDs in 2010) graduated last spring. SO FB Mike Capone and SR RB Mike Shimkin each ran for only 122 yards last season as backups.
On defense the Devils are most experienced in the secondary, welcoming back all three starters, SR FS Scott Sullivan (84 tacles and three INTs), SR CB Andrew Fink (58 tackles) and JR CB Pat McBreen (26 tackles). SR LB Julian Rosen (61 tackles and 2 INTs), SR DT Andrew Downs and SR DT Ross Johnson will lead the interior defense. Dickinson surrendered 29 PPG, which ranked 8th in the CC, and was their worst showing in that category since 1983.
On special teams Dickinson welcomes back SR P David London. He averaged 39.3 yards on 18 punts last fall, eight of those landing inside the opponent’s 20 yard line. The Devils will need to find a replacement to graduated Gordon Craig, Dickinson’s all-time kick-scorer.
Keys to the Game:
1. Ease Strang into the game (i.e., RUN THE BALL): Dickinson ranked 8th in the CC in rushing defense, allowing opponents 167.3 YPG and surrendering over 200 yards rushing in five games in 2010. Given Hobart is returning nearly its entire OL and backfield intact, I hope Coach DeWall will refrain from his usual pass first approach and let JR QB Nick Strang hand the ball off to SO RB Steven Webb, JR RB Bobby Dougherty and SO FB Juan O’Farrill.
2. Pressure Smolinsky: The Devils will look to test the Statesmen’s inexperienced defensive ends and OLB’s with off tackle plays and bubble screens given the Hobart’s aggressive blitz schemes. If the Statesmen can protect the three gaps, it will force Dickinson to pass, opening up opportunities for interceptions by the Hobart defense. Hobart’s opening score in 2010 came off a Reggie Robinson interception early in the first quarter, setting the Statesmen offense up on their 48 yard line.
3. Follow last year's script (make big plays): Last season Drake Woodard scored a TD on a blocked punt and a 90 yard Steven Webb kickoff return for a TD. Yosh Karbownicz even converted a 4th down on a 17 yard run off a fake punt. Also, in contrast to what occurred later in the year, Hobart won the turnover battle, collecting four takeaways (one fumble, two INTs and the aforementioned blocked kick) and committing none (the Dickinson game was the only one in 2010 where the Statesmen did not commit a turnover).
Prediction:
While Hobart also needs to rebuild from a disappointing 2010 season, they have more and stronger players coming back in 2011 than Dickinson in my opinion. Although Hobart’s last win in Carlisle was in 2005, I believe this Statesmen team will take control of the game given their superior personnel. That said I am going to pick Hobart to come away a 35-7 victory.
Tune into http://www.weos.org/ WEOS 89.7 FM to hear Ted Baker's call of the game. Go 'Bart!
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