Monday, September 30, 2013

Balanced Offense Helped Hornets Get Their 1st Win

Back on Saturday night during the Hornets 24-22 victory over Savannah State, Delaware State offense was not one dimensional unlike the previous three games. Instead in their MEAC opener, they gained 134 yards rushing and 198 yards throwing.

The best highlights of the game was a 61 yard touchdown run by Dae Hon Cheung back in the 2nd quarter. That's something the Hornets running game needs to continue throughout the rest of the season.

In the 3rd quarter Quarterback Cory Murphy found Malik Goldson for a 53 yard scored and in the 4th quarter Murphy found Aries Scott for an insurance touchdown before Savannah State made a furious rally that was two points short.

If the Hornets can continue their balanced offensive attack for the rest of the season then the Hornets might have a winning record. Their best test is yet to come as the Hornets take on the defending MEAC champion Bethun-Cookman in Dover this Saturday.


Saturday, September 21, 2013

Hornets Has Faced a #1 Team Before

Later on today at 3:30 pm on ESPN3.com, the Delaware State Hornets football team will take on the #1 team in Division I-AA, North Dakota State, the defending two time FCS (Football Championship Sub-division) National Champions.

This is not the first time that the Hornets has faced a team ranked #1 in the nation.

Lets go back nine years ago, September 25, 2004 during Al Lavan's first year as the Hornets football coach. It was a nice day for football at Alumni Stadium in Dover as Delaware State was hosting the #1 team in the nation Southern Illinois. It was a exposure for Delaware State to faced a #1 ranked team in the country.

However, when the game started, the Hornets were completely outmatched from start to finish in 49-0 defeat. This game was so bad that I almost fell asleep on the bleachers during the 4th quarter in that hot sun. Besides the Hornets were 0-3 entering that game.

Today the Hornets are entering today's game vs #1 North Dakota State winless at 0-2 to start the season. At least the Hornets don't have to play outdoors they will be playing indoors but the Bison crowd will be very loud all game long. For coach Kermitt Blount and his team, it will be a barn burner like no other just like their 42 point lost at the lands of #4 Towson last week in Maryland.

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Special Teams Fail to Make the Grade

After the first two games of the 2013 football season, the Delaware State Hornets special teams can't seem to find answers on their production performance.

On September 7 versus University of Delaware, the Hornets gave up a 65 yard punt return for a touchdown not to mention giving the Blue Hens good field position several times that led to touchdown scoring drives.

Then back on Saturday vs #4 Towson, the Hornet's special teams gave up a 95 kick off return return for a touchdown to start the 3rd quarter. What poor coverage by Delaware State.

Also the kicking game didn't help the Hornets scoring at all. So far place kicker Mitchell Ward is 0 for 2 so far in field goals this season. During the UD game, Ward missed a 30 yard field goal chip shot and his 39 field goal in the 3rd quarter got blocked thanks to a low snap. You know the old saying, never trust kickers in college football.

I can tell special teams coach Curtis Thomas must be fuming inside and he should be due to the fact that the Hornets needs to do a better job at covering very fast punt/kick returners this season. If they don't, they will be in a whole lot of trouble this season.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Hornets Defense Exposed

During the Hornets 42-21 lost to University of Delaware back on September 7, the hornets defense gave up some huge gaps on the gridiron that allowed the Blue Hens to piled up over 400 yards of offense.

In the 1st quarter of UD's second drive, Blue Hen quarter back Trent Hurley found wide receiver Michael Johnson for a long 55 yard touchdown pass. Hornets linebacker Devon Morre blew his assignment to cover Johnson not to mention the secondary to help him out. Then in the same quarter,the Hornets defense gave up 72 yards on UD's 12 plays that resulted in a 14-0 lead heading into the 2nd quarter.

During the 2nd quarter the Hornets gave up a 33 yard touchdown pass when Hurley found Rob Jones again in the endzone to make the score more difficult to catch up at 21-7. Right before halftime, the Hornets gave up a 83 yard drive that result in another touchdown to make it 35-7.

In the 2nd half the Hornets defense calm only to give up 7 points for the entire half.

Other stuff I notice from the Hornets defense is their inability to cover receivers that made hug chunk of yards for 1st downs. Also I did not see not one blitzing scheme from their defensive backs all game in order to pressure the quarter. No wonder DSU had no sacks in the game. They have go clean that up quickly. I figured out why because DSU is worried about the running game that UD will produce than the passing game.

Also during the game, UD was playing the hurry up offense. Kind like the Oregon Ducks or the 2 minute drill to throw off the defense.

If the Hornets defense thinks the Blue Hens was tough wait till Saturday night when DSU plays #5 Towson and the two time defending FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) National Champion North Dakota State next Saturday.