Positives:
- The improved play of the football team has become a storyline here recently. After scoring just 24 points their first four games, the Rams put up 31 in their loss to Brown Saturday. After rushing for negative eight yards last week, running back Harold Cooper led the way with 109 yards on 14 carries. Cooper is definitely an X-factor and the first win is coming. There is light at the other end of the tunnel.
- The potential of the volleyball team was evident this weekend when they nearly beat the third-ranked team in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll, the Saint Louis Billikens, on the road in three straight sets. Unfortunately they couldn’t seal the deal and the Billikens came back to grab the win. The loss snapped a nine-match winning streak for Rhody.
- The tying goal by the URI men’s soccer team against no. 18 Saint Louis University was a great way to start the second half after an even first half. Grabbing the tie rather than the loss against the favorites in the conference was huge for a potential tie later in the season.
Negatives:
- The football team’s defensive effort Saturday was atrocious. In the Governor’s Cup against Brown, the Bears put up 559 total yards and ran 100 plays against the Rams. They also allowed the Beats to convert four of five fourth downs.
- The football team’s decision-making has been poor recently. Junior quarterback Paul Mroz has shown glimpses of potential, but he has to cut down on turnovers. Three more interceptions on Saturday for Mroz as he continues to lob passes up instead of throwing them away.
- The comebacks allowed by the football and women’s volleyball teams allowed chances at statement wins to slip away. You have to capitalize on those chances against good teams.
Players of the week:
Harold Cooper (41-31 loss vs Brown) – Cooper had 122 total yards on just 16 touches, giving him 7.6 yards per touch, and 7.8 yards per rush. Named CAA Special Teams Player of Week
Franki Darnold (3-2 loss vs Saint Louis) – The superb senior had 20 more kills against a very good Saint Louis team on the road.
Emil Jesman Sunde (1-1 tie vs Saint Louis) – The game-tying goal against a ranked foe is kind of a big deal.
Team of the Week:
URI men’s soccer: Honoring the late former Ram Dawid Badecki makes the game tough to keep emotions in check, especially against a ranked conference foe. A tie is a huge win.
Off the record: Remember when everyone was picking the Dolphins, Bills or Jets to win the AFC East? Yeah so do Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and the 3-0 Patriots. It is funny, but quarterbacks might actually be an important position to address. Maybe the Jets, Dolphins and Bills should write that down.