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Everybody who sees last year's tapes is going to try to run on the UMass defense. Our foray into the 3-4 last year was terminated when we were run over. Maine ran the ball 45 times and averaged 5.5 yards a carry. Kansas State ran 46 times for 7.2 yards a pop.
Most 3-4 defenses like to have a monster nose tackle that the offensive lineman can't move. We don't have that. One thing a defense can do is commit the strong safety to run stopping. Our two 2014 DB recruits Jerall Addo 6-2 190 and Charan Singh 6-2 195 are both bigger than any of our current DB's. It wouldn't surprise me to see at least one of them play as a true freshman.
At the Spring game the following were the "ones" for the linebackers:
- Jovan Santos-Knox SO 4 starts 32 TT 3 TFL 0.5 SACKS 1 INT
- Stanley Andre RSJR 12 starts 111 TT 6 TFL 0.5 SACKS
- Kassan Messiah SO 0 starts 21 TT 0.5 TFL
- Trey Seals RSO 4 starts 9 TT
Out of spring ball with injuries were:
- Steve Caseli FR 3 games 3 TT
- Shane Huber 5 starts 16 TT 0.5 TFL 0.5 SACKS
Other linebackers looking to contribute:
- Andrew Ellis FR
- Hassan Graham FR
- Vondell Langston SO
- Michael McKenna SO
- Peter Ngobidi 6 games 1 TT
- Trey Seals 4 starts 9 TT
- John Robinson-Woodgett SO
- Adam Richard SO 7 games 4 TT
New this year to the team:
- Da'Sean Downey FR Joined team this spring
- Zeke Edmonds FR
In the 3-4, the SAM linebacker can play standing up or with his hand down depending on the situation. So a number of Minutemen DE's could see time as a LB.
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Nick O'Malley of MassLive looks at Rob Blanchflower as a draft day sleeper.
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Adham Talaat, a former UMass player now at Gallaudet University hopes for call during the NFL draft.
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UMass is one of 55 schools under investigation for Title IX sex abuse complaints.
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CBS Sports looks at the impact of the playoffs on BCS and non-BCS leagues.
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Remember I said FBS teams will want to run the ball at us? Boston College will look to the run again this year.
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