The Rhode Island Rams have (finally) bailed on the option offense under new coach Dan Rizzi.
In the past, the Maroon and White had an answer for the trick-and-flick offense (save for monsoon-like conditions), and were able to roll past its southern rivals. This year, the Rams will go to the air in Kingston Town – however, I’m still not worried about a ‘ting.
Derek Cassidy is captaining the ship for URI and has more than 2,000 yards through the air and 15 touchdown passes. However, Cassidy doesn’t have laser-point accuracy and has tossed 12 interceptions in nine games.
Take note: All of last season, Cassidy had five touchdown passes and 1,025 yards.
Even though the scheme has changed, the results are about the same. The Rams are scoring just over 20 points per game, very similar to the option-earned 20.7 from last year. The yards per game are down almost 20 – this year URI is averaging a total of 326.3 ypg, last year they had 347.9.
Without captain Sean Smalls, the Minutemen are going to have to stand strong against URI’s plethora of average at receiver. The Rams have six players with more than 10 catches, and only Shawn Leonard has more than two touchdowns.
URI’s resume is weak – at best. The Rams barely beat Monmouth, a good NEC team, and beat up on in-state rival Brown. Other than that, the Rams have lost to everyone … including an absolute beatdown by Villanova on 10/18.
UMass, on the other hand, has to win the rest of its games to be considered for the FCS playoffs and is coming off a dominating victory over Bryant. To boot, senior Liam Coen is playing his last college game in his home state – you better believe he’s going to be ready.
My prediction:
- UMass – 28
- URI – 10
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Draft Express had a nice writeup on Stephane Lasme.
Just a month or so off being cut by the Miami Heat, Lasme has adapted himself superbly to European basketball thus far, allowing him to produce impressive numbers in nearly every statistical category, in both the Euroleague and Adriatic Leagues. Lasme has given Partizan a huge boost with his activity on the glass and defensively in the paint, as well as in running the floor in transition and being a terrific target to catch and finish passes around the rim. He’s drawing tons of fouls, making a huge impact as an offensive rebounder, and possibly most surprisingly, is showing a very advanced understanding of his team’s half-court offense with the way he’s moving the ball around the court intelligently.
This could be a very important season in Lasme’s development as a player, and he’ll surely learn quite a bit more playing twice a week against a high level of competition than he would have warming an NBA bench. If he continues to perform the way he has early on, he’ll have quite a few options for himself this summer.
