Paul Peck's Bull Session: UMass
11/26/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
Each week, Voice of Bulls Football Paul Peck will preview the upcoming game.
Buffalo (5-6, 3-4) vs. UMass (2-9, 1-6)
For the second straight week, the Bulls are in a playoff game. The prize is a bowl game. A win last week would have nearly clinched a postseason trip. While a win Friday against UMass won't do that, it will put the Bulls in position to be one of the 80 teams left standing when the bowl bids are dished out. Right now 71 of the 80 spots are filled by teams with at least six wins. Bulls Radio Network sideline reporter Scott Wilson has done the research, and it shows that 18 teams are still eligible for those nine spots…including the Bulls. Those 18 teams still have a chance to get to six wins. The problem for the Bulls is if more than nine teams finish at 6-6, then UB could be on the outside looking in. Power Five conference teams at 6-6 will get the first shot at the open spots. The MAC already has a record seven teams bowl eligible, and getting an eighth (UB) to a game might be a challenge. So along with rooting for a Buffalo win, UB fans will need to do some scoreboard watching and hope teams like Nebraska, Missouri, Washington and Indiana lose their games and don't get to six wins.
The UMass Minutemen are facing a lot of ends on Friday at UB Stadium. It's the end of their disappointing season. They were picked by some as a breakout team in the MAC, but they only have wins over Florida International and Eastern Michigan. It's also the end of their four year run in the MAC. They will become an independent team next year. The Bulls will be sorry to see them go. UB has beaten the Minutemen four years in a row, and each are memorable. In 2012 at Gillette Stadium, the Bulls were down 13-0 at the half before using a blocked punt to rally for a 29-19 win. In 2013, Khalil Mack had an interception return for a TD & Branden Oliver ran for 216 yards in a 32-3 win. Last year, a week after the snowed-out Kent State game, the Bulls took their frustrations out on UMass as Anthone Taylor ran for 237 yards in a 41-21 win. Good luck Minutemen, we'll miss you.
Bullseye on: Buffalo Offense
When asked about the general inconsistency of the Bulls offense, Lance Leipold pointed to the team's struggle to get off to good starts. The numbers back that up. UB has only scored on three of their 11 first drives, and those have just been field goals. They are being outscored 86-57 in the first quarter and 194-125 in the first half. As good as the numbers are in the second half, Leipold might trade that for a more consistent four quarter effort….Despite that, other numbers are indicators of an offense that has had good balance among the running backs and receivers.
Anthone Taylor has 744 yards rushing, while Jordan Johnson is just behind at 734. They are seventh and ninth in the MAC in rushing. Johnson is seventh in scoring, and he's hit the end zone eight times in the last five games.
If Marcus McGill catches three passes against UMass, he'll join Matt Weiser and Ron Willoughby with 50 grabs. The Bulls have never had that happen in their FBS history. McGill has had a breakout season. Last year, he had only 22 catches. The junior wideout has 20 catches in his last 3 games. Willoughby is also close to a career-high season. His 56 catches are already there, and he's 20 yards away from setting a new personal high in yards. Weiser is currently third in the nation in receiving yards among tight ends. He leads the Bulls with 57 catches.
Joe Licata moved into the MAC's top ten in career touchdown passes with his 75th against Akron. He is ninth, and trails Ben Roethlisberger by nine. With 35 yards passing, Licata will pass Bruce Gradkowski (Toledo) and Nate Davis (Ball State) and take over 12th in MAC history in passing yards. This will be Joe's fourth career start against the Minutemen. He is 3-0.
UMass' defense has struggled all season. They are ranked 10th or worse in every major MAC category. They are giving up almost 32 points per game, although they have not allowed more than 28 points in four of their six conference losses. Their current problem is a depleted secondary. Three regular starters have missed the last two games, forcing UMass to play two freshman and a junior college transfer. The heart of their 3-4 defense is senior inside linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox. His 121 tackles are third in the MAC. He's had 69 tackles in the last five games, an average of 13 per outing. The Minutemen's pass rush has generated only 15 sacks in 11 games. They are last in the MAC in red zone defense, giving up 44 scores and 28 touchdowns on 49 opponents trips inside the 20.
Bullseye on: Buffalo Defense
It was frustrating to watch the Bulls have one of their worst games on defense at Akron. Zips quarterback Thomas Woodson and his receivers used the pump fake, double moves and the long ball to hit three touchdowns of 28 yards or more. The UB defense gave up eight plays of 20 yards or more, the most in a game all season.
Nick Gilbo's ten tackles against Akron put him over 100 on the season, exactly at 105. That's good for fifth in the MAC. Teammate Brandon Berry is five tackles away from 100, and would give the Bulls two over the century mark for the first time since 2008.
Defensive tackle Chris Ford had one of his best games, totaling a career-high five tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. Redshirt freshman Jake Khoury saw his most extensive playing time as part of the defensive tackle rotation.
The Bulls remain the NCAA leader in defensive touchdowns with seven. Arkansas State is one behind. Last season, UMass quarterback Blake Frohnapfel was the MAC's first-team QB after throwing for 3,345 yard and 23 touchdowns. This season, teams have responded and Frohnapfel's numbers and success are much lower. He's currently the MAC's fourth leading passer with 2,756 yards and 16 touchdowns. Opposing defenses have geared up to stop him, and some of his decisions have led to 11 interceptions. The Bulls did not face Frohnapfel last year, as he was injured for the season finale. But his struggles have not slowed down wide receiver Tajae Sharpe, the nation's leading receiver. Sharpe, a big six-foot-three target, has 105 catches. He's the only NCAA receiver over 100 this season. He's had games of 15, 13, 12 catches, along with three games of 11 catches. But in the last three games, facing constant double-teams, Sharpe has only 17 catches. He's projected as a middle round NFL draft pick.
The UMass offense has been boosted by a Western New Yorker. Fairport native Marquis Young is their leading rusher. The freshman is averaging 6.2 yards per carry, good for 10th in the MAC. He had 103 yards against Notre Dame, including an 83 yard touchdown run. Young shares the running back spot with senior Jamal Wilson. The Minutemen use a fullback. Rodney Mills is their second leading receiver. They have started the same offensive line all season, but they have allowed 29 sacks. 17 of their 29 scoring drives have been two minutes or less…The Minutemen are last in the MAC in red zone offense, scoring just 19 touchdowns on 38 trips inside the 20.
17 Bulls seniors will play their last game at UB Stadium. It is a class that has enjoyed a bowl trip, called six NFL players teammates, and went through the process of a coaching change. The members of this class are also some of the best to wear the Blue & White. Joe Licata is the school's all time leading passer. Anthone Taylor is one of the best all time rushers. Ron Willoughby stands among the top receivers, Tyler Grassman among the best punters, Matt Weiser with the greatest tight ends. Devin Campbell is the school's all time leading kickoff returner. Nick Gilbo goes from walk-on to leading tackler, John Kling and Robert Blodgett rocks on the line, and Okezie Alozie is an inspiration to his teammates and his family. Marqus Baker has come from illness to solid starter. Tony Daniel is a leader and inspiration from the sidelines. Kendall Patterson does the dirty work at fullback. Kyrill Threats and Travis Pitzonka are locals at linebacker who provide depth, while Dillon Guy and Todd Therrien are the kind of tough offensive lineman that every team needs. It's a senior class that has led the transition to consistent winner and challenger in the MAC. For that, they will get their moment before the game and they will never be forgotten.
Please join me, color analyst Jim Kubiak, sideline reporter Scott Wilson, game host Brad Riter and postgame host Bob Gaughan for the broadcast on the Bulls Football Network. Our pregame show starts at 3:30pm. You can hear it in Buffalo on ESPN 1520 (www.espn1520.com), in Rochester on Sports 1280 WHTK (www.foxsports1280.com).
