We’re pleased to be joined this week with Michael Traini, Publisher and Site Manager for Fight Massachusetts, the 247Sports home for UMass.
1. UMass has struggled this year under first year head coach Walt Bell. Has the team regressed this much or is something else going on?
Michael Traini: It’s hard to quantify, but you could certainly say the program has regressed in 2019, though for a specific reason. It has to do with the change in coaching and thus a complete change in systems, which has led to some upheaval both on and off the field. The Minutemen program is essentially restarting again with the hiring of Bell and his staff, and it has made for a very long season so far in Massachusetts’ Pioneer Valley.
2. Is the team improving as the year goes on? It seemed that the UConn game was at least competitive compared to some games earlier this year that were complete blowouts.
MT: The UConn game was more competitive, however the same issues that have crippled the Minutemen this year were present and led to their defeat, mainly the inability to stop the run. UConn is not a good team this year, but it happens that UMass is worse. It’s hard to find improvements to identify, and Bell and his staff have even said that many of the pluses they’re taking from this season are quite small and happening more off the field than on.
3. Who are the players to watch on offense?
MT: Offensively running back Bilal Ally is the Minutemen’s go to option on the ground. He’s a solid back with the ability to break some tackles and be dangerous in open space if he finds it. At wide receiver Samuel Emilus and true freshman Jermaine ‘OC’ Johnson are the two names to watch. Emilus is a strong possession target and OC has game-breaking speed.
4. The defense was bad last year and doesn’t seem to be any better this year. What should we expect from that unit Saturday?
MT: Defensively LU fans should expect a unit that is not capable of stopping the run nor getting legitimate pressure on the quarterback without blitzing. I know the Flames are more of a passing offense, but Buckshot Calvert, Antonio Gandy-Golden and the boys might not need to be on in the same way they have in other matchups. If Liberty has even an above-average ground game, the Minutemen will not really be able to slow it down.
5. Last year was a shootout between these two teams. Do you expect the same this year? What’s your prediction?
MT: I’m not expecting a shootout this year, rather I see the Flames covering the spread and being able to coast to their 6th win of the year. I know LU will need at least one more to get to bowl eligibility, but UMass unfortunately shouldn’t provide much in the way of an obstacle towards that goal. I’d say you’re looking at something like Liberty 49, UMass 21.
