UMass Minutemen College Football Preview 2021: Keys To The Season
UMass Minutemen Biggest Key: Offense
Just start moving the chains. Name any aspect of the 2020 UMass offense and it needs improving. It couldn’t run, it really couldn’t throw, it couldn’t block, and it couldn’t score points. Other than that, everything was great.
It all starts, though, with simply being able to convert once in a while on third downs. It all tied into that – the team couldn’t move the ball, couldn’t go on any decent drives, the time of possession was a disaster, and every game was ugly.
As bad as previous UMass offenses were, the 2018 team was able to convert 37% of its tries, and the 2019 O converted 35% of its chances. Last year? 25%, converting just 14 of 55 tries.
UMass Minutemen Biggest Key: Defense
Do something to slow down the run. The pass rush wasn’t all that bad, there were plays in the backfield, and there’s a ton of bulk on the defensive line. It didn’t matter a lick last season as the run D clunked.
It held up okay against Florida Atlantic allowing 140 yards and two scores, but Georgia Southern and Liberty each ran for over 300 yards, and Marshall tore off 267 yards. On the year, the Minutemen allowed 6.5 yards per carry and 11 touchdowns. That’s why …
UMass Minutemen Key Player To A Successful Season
DT Taishan Holmes, Sr.
The 6-3, 335-pound senior made six tackles in his first season on the nose. Billy Wooden is 310 pounds, Cletus Mathurin is 305 pounds, and Josh Atwood is 360 pounds.
There’s bulk on the inside of the UMass line, and it all has to translate into more production against the run. There rotation has to keep everyone fresh, and something has to happen to hold up between the tackles. Holmes should be the best tackle of the bunch.
UMass Minutemen Key Game To The 2021 Season
Eastern Michigan, Sept. 18
The Eagles are stronger than UMass, but it’s a home game and it’s a winnable game among a sea of almost certain losses over the first part of the season.
The Minutemen start out the season at Pitt and with Boston College to follow, however, there’s a chance to go on a little bit of a run over the second half of the year. Any wins in the first part of the season would be gravy, and if they can beat EMU, and with UConn coming up in early October, there’s a chance to start turning this around record-wise.
2020 UMass Minutemen Fun Stats
– Scoring: Opponents 161 – UMass 12
– Yards Per Game: Opponents 482 – UMass 188.8
– Time of Possession: Opponents 33:14 – UMass 26:46