Saturday, October 1, 2011

Post-Game - Maine 31, Delaware 17

FOUR INTERCEPTIONS! Unacceptable performance by Tim Donnelly against Maine today as the Hens fall to the Black Bears on the road.  All signs were pointing to a trap game up north, and that's exactly what happened to Delaware today the Maine secondary smothered the Blue Hens passing game in a soggy conference battle.  Pushaun Brown was the offensive star of the game with three scores including a short strike after a long run down to the Delaware 5 that helped to close out the game.  Here's the rundown:
  • First Pick - After a Maine punt, Delaware was able to gain some ground, but a long pass headed for Mark Schenauer was cut off by Black Bears Safety Trevor Costen to start their second drive at the Maine 11-yard line.
  • First Score - Warren Smith throwing the ball with ease in the 1st quarter as Maine marched down the field.  Drawing a couple of offsides from Delaware helped put the Black Bears in even better position as Pushaun Brown ran in for an untouched 26-yard touchdown to put Maine went up 7-0 with 6:13 remaining in the first frame.
  • Slow Start - Andrew Pierce looks to be back as he gets a first down for the Hens, but three plays later, Delaware is forced to punt, leaving Maine to start at their own 15.
  • Ball Hawk - Travis Hawkins saved a home run pass from being completed by the Black Bears by deflecting it down on 3rd-&-2 and the Hens get the ball back instead of being down by two scores.
  • Driving in the Rain - Big first down by White around mid-field for a 15 yard gain, followed by an encroachment by Maine set the Hens up with 1st-&-5 at the Maine 35.  A pass interference on the Black Bears pushed Delaware into the red zone, and a Donnelly pass to White has the Hens at the Maine 11-yard line with 3rd-&-2 as the first quarter comes to an end.
  • 100 Career Receptions - That last catch by Nihja White gives him 100 career receptions.  An incredible achievement for an outstanding receiver.
  • End of the First Quarter - Maine 7, Delaware 0
  • Clutch Catch - Andrew Pierce gave Delaware a 1st-&-Goal from the 7 on the first play of the 2nd quarter.  A 9-yard sack by the Black Bears almost killed this great drive, but Colin Naugle makes a spectacular over-the-shoulder catch in double coverage on the next play to tie the game for the Hens! Tied at 7 in Orono with 13:48 left in the 2nd.
  • Pick Six Three - Warren Smith is intercepted by Jessel Curry early in the following drive as the Hens take over at the Black Bears 21-yard line, giving Delaware a chance to take their first lead of the game.  However, a few weak plays and another sack on Donnelly left the Hens with a 46-yard field goal attempt which Sean Baner nailed into the wind on the stormy day.  Delaware holds a 10-7 lead over Maine with 11:23 to go in the 2nd quarter.
  • Field Position- Maine starts their next drive from their own 10-yard line after a penalty on the kickoff, but a few plays later, the passing game of Black Bears has them at mid-field.  However, a holding penalty that sent them back to their own 40 hurts them as they eventually faced a 4th-&-6 and were forced to punt.  The field position game changes here as the ball is downed at the Blue Hens 1-yard line.
  • 3rd Down Conversions - Andrew Pierce gained 8 yards on the first play of this next drive to get the Hens off of their own goal-line.  On 3rd-&-1, Pierce fumbled the ball but was able to recover it and get the first down for Delaware.  Another 3rd down situation led to a Nihja White grab for a first down.  That would lead to yet another 3rd down play where Pierce made a catch in the flat to grab the first down.
  • Pointless? - A few plays later, the Hens find themselves at the Maine 32 after a personal foul against the Black Bears, but cannot gain another yard as Baner is looking at a career long 49-yard field goal attempt.  The Hens take a timeout to discuss things and come out ready to try for 3, but the kick is blocked by Michael Cole and Maine takes over.  The upside to this drive is that is started back at the Hens 1-yard line and killed tons of time off the clock.
  • Copycat INTs - Warren Smith and the Black Bears came out slinging trying to move down the field quickly, but he was picked off by Travis Hawkins at mid-field and the Hens get the ball yet again with 1:13 remaining in the half and one timeout remaining.  However, after Pierce picks up the first down, Donnelly throws an awful interception to Darlos James as Maine takes over with 19 seconds left.
  • Bombs Away - A long Black Bears pass gets the ball into Delaware territory in one play with 11.7 left on the clock. Another first down set up Maine at the Blue Hens 34-yard line with just 6 seconds left. Maine decides to go for it instead of a field goal attempt, but Smith over-threw the Hail Mary pass and the half ends with the Hens holding on to the three-point lead.
  • End of the First Half - Delaware 10, Maine 7
  • Key Halftime Stat - Maine has outgained Delaware 217-121 total yards in the first half, despite running nine fewer plays.
  • Lead Change - The Hens start with the ball here in the 2nd half at their own 26 yard line. A few plays later, Delaware has to punt and the Black Bears take over at their own 17.  A big 27-yard pass to Perillo has Maine at the Delaware 35 and on 3rd-&-12, Smith connects with Damarr Aultman for a touchdown to put the Black Bears back in the lead with 8:58 left in the quarter.  14-10, Maine.
  • Answering Back - In two plays, the Hens move from their own 26 to the Maine 47-yard line.  A stuffed run followed by a 7-yard pass to Pierce set up another 3rd down for the Hens which was converted by David Hayes to help keep the drive going.  It is getting more and more obvious that the passes to the running backs are helping move the ball and open up the run game just enough as the Hens 3rd down conversion rate is incredible today. A 1st-&-10 at the Maine 13 is turned into six for Delaware as Andrew Pierce goes in for the score.  Blue Hens re-gain the lead, 17-14, with 3:40 left in the 3rd quarter.
  • Can't Extend the Lead - Maine cannot do anything on their next drive and the Hens get right back to work as Pierce helps Delaware gain a huge chunk and re-enter Black Bears territory.  Unfortunately, they could not get any closer, and the Hens have to punt.  A huge 66-yard pass play from Smith to Sessions results in a 1st-&-10 to Maine at the Delaware 18-yard line right off the bat as the 3rd quarter comes to an end.
  • End of the 3rd Quarter - Delaware 17, Maine 14
  • Quick Work - Two plays. 73-yards. Maine takes the lead back on an 18-yard rushing touchdown by Pushaun Brown as the Black Bears lead 21-17 just six seconds into the final quarter.  Scary what an explosive offense can do to the Delaware secondary.  The play-action pass is causing all sorts of problems.
  • Lost Opportunity - An attempt at a squib kick by Maine gives the Hens the ball in Black Bears territory at the 47.  It seems like Delaware would be able to take advantage of the good field position, but a sack and a 3-&-out as the Hens have to punt and pin the Bears deep in their own zone.
  • Defensive Stand - Maine takes over at their own 9-yard line.  With a chance to take the Black Bears off the field on a 3rd-&-4, the Hens sniff out the screen play and tackle Maine for a loss as the home side will have to punt.  Maine is able down the ball at the Black Bears 40 with 11:45 remaining in the 4th quarter.
  • Cannot Finish the Drive - On 2nd down, Nihja White makes a big 10-yard grab to get the Hens to the Maine 25, but the following play results in a hold against the Hens and backs them up to the 30 with a 1st-&-15.  Two failed plays later, Donnelly throws his 3rd interception on the day as Maine takes back over at their 25-yard line.
  • Instant Success - Pushaun Brown breaks free on the first play after the pick and is taken down at the Delaware 5 for a 1st-&-Goal.  Two plays later, Brown punches it home for his 3rd score of the day and the Black Bears extend their lead to 11 points, 28-17 Maine, with 8:01 remaining in regulation.  Both teams have two timeouts remaining at this point.
  • Another Interception - Tim Donnelly throws his 4th interception of the day (McMillian with the pick) as the Maine secondary is shutting this one down.  Delaware holds the Black Bears to a 30-yard field goal attempt, which is good and extends the lead.  Maine up 31-17 with 5:30 remaining in the 4th.
  • Shut Down - The next drive for the Hens cannot produce anything and a 4th down attempt fails as Maine takes over at the Delaware 46 with 4:39 remaining.
  • Killing Time - Maine dismantles the clock and goes for it on 4th-&-1 at the Delaware 36 and gets it with a short run by Brown.  A negative play eventually leads to a Black Bears punt with under a minute left.
  • Thinking Positive - The offensive line played well, and Pierce and Naugle had big days, but those 4 picks from Donnelly and all those sacks/hurried plays hurt the Hens in the end.  Have to give tons of credit to Maine's secondary.  Nothing comes from the final few plays as the Hens fall in Orono.
  • FINAL SCORE - Maine 31, Delaware 17
First of all, I listened to this game on the radio, so I cannot say how bad the interceptions were by Donnelly.  At least one of them appeared to be an awful throw, and another was just a great play made by the defense, but unless you are Tom Brady and throwing for 300+ yards, four picks is never acceptable.  Get ready for tons of quarterback controversy this week as it seems like Trevor Sasek will be at 100% for the William & Mary game.

Second, start getting used to the parity in the CAA.  It is becoming obvious that the gap between the elite and lower teams in the conference has shrunk over the summer and everyone except for Villanova seems to have a chance at taking the CAA title.  There is rarely an easy game in the CAA most years.

Other story lines from this game will be the Delaware secondary being lit up yet again this year, and the susceptibility of the defense allowing big plays.  Again, the upsides were the offensive line and the run game, but too many long 2nd and 3rd downs forced the Hens to shy away from the ground game.  Plenty to work on for the Blue Hens when they return to Newark to prepare for William & Mary.

REVIEWING MY PREDICTIONS
My Over/Under for UD vs. UM

  • Total Points: 50.5 points - only a field goal away, although it wasn't the direction I thought it would be.
  • Maine Passing Yards: 209.5 yards - Smith threw for 264 yards on the day, much better than I thought with all of the bad weather talk.
  • Delaware Rushing Yards: 169.5 yards - 115 yards on the ground for the Hens today.  Was expecting more, and there probably should have been more, but those long downs forced passing plays on the Hens.

Bold Prediction:  Delaware's leading receiver will not be a wideout.
(Bad weather means short passes to tight ends and
running backs in the flats.  An accurate Tim Donnelly
helps make this plan seem even more likely.)
Here's the thing... While Pierce led the team in receptions, White led the team in yards with 52.  I intended this to be a yardage thing, so I get the fail here.  Naugle was only 7 yards away, so I was right that the RB's and TE's would be big factors in the passing game, but technically, I'm wrong on this one.  Plus, accurate and Tim Donnelly were not meant to be today.

Projected Score:  Delaware 31, Maine 20
(If this were being played on a sunny day, I'd probably
predict higher scores, but the Hens by 11 has been
working so far this year, so I see that being the final margin.
Part of me wants to go even lower, but it's not like I'm being paid to be right...)
When it was 10-7 at the half, I had a feeling that this result wouldn't hold up.  The fact that Maine exploded in the fourth helped to reach the score itself, but the result was WAY off.

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