Season Predictions

[Cluck U]

Would humbly submit Hens' most difficult matchup is a September road tilt in Pennsylvania.

Details, details.

[Caribbean Hen]

7-4 no playoffs

A few thoughts

This is a big transition year and the statements like “anything less than 8-3 will be a disaster” are comical. A disaster would be 5-6. Delaware hasn’t won 8 games in a regular season since 2010, 13 years ago when the UD freshman class was 5 years old. These kids have no idea what the Delaware brand of football was and are probably wondering what’s the big deal. I like what Carty is doing so far in trying to get it back (except locking the media and fans out, that’s not the Delaware way)

The DL is more of a concern than than OL for me, I know we’ve added several nice players on D but thinking the overall D is going to be giving up more points than last years D. Do we have that JMU type DE yet? Nope
This will be the year that tells us if Manny can coach.

Whomever wins QB job is going to be a rookie under pressure to put up points, and they will need more points than last year. Right now, we’re looking at a situation where 2 new QBs are playing. Hall, Flacco and Devlin didn’t turn the tables in year one. Actually last year, the offense really didn’t look that good vs the better teams like Richmond and The Burg. (But the schedule) The big upgrade on special teams can’t hurt, but hope the FG kicker or punter is not the MVP.
The good news is the skill players (promo coming later)

As Cluck has mentioned, the overall talent level of the team has been headed the wrong way for a long time (towards Patriot league) the result was a Delaware team that had no chance to beat the really good FCS teams. I won’t name them as this post is already too long.

Carty has a great opportunity at Delaware but it’s going to take several years. I’m very interested to see how his high school recruiting goes and forget about the rating, we won’t know until they play, if they even do. The best coaches know it’s really about recruiting and Carty knows he has to get it right or else.

[Udforever1]

Lot of good points there, Carib.

[BlueHenBobby]

Hard to say how we'll end up. I lean towards 7-4. Biggest concern is the defense. A lot of our lost players were on defense. Best part of our defense last year was the linebacking and to a lesser extent the d-backs. Most of them are gone. Our DL upfront was pretty average. I'm still not a fan of the 3-3-5 we use. An improved DL would help there. I think Carty did a lot to fill the holes, but we'll see. We'll score points but will they be enough to cover. This is really the start of Carty's tenure here from a recruit and transfer standpoint. The Stonybrook game (yeah I know they are not supposed to be that good) may be a bell-weather for what the team really is. PSU should be a definite L. They are not Navy. Come September 16 a 1-1 record makes all things possible for the rest of the season. Elon, Nova and UNH will probably be the tough ones from the 16th on.

[Hens79]

Many good points, especially about the previous lack of talent and the need for an upgrade. But this schedule is pathetic. The team should be 8-3 unless both QB’s are terrible and I don’t think they are.

[Info Hound]

Agreed 8-3, unless we can (amazingly) beat Villanova at home to go 9-2.

[Cluck U]

Today’s Newark Post (at least the physical version) has an article about our Blue Hen football team. Written by Patrick Laporte.

Ryan Carty: “There is no doubt that we are certainly one of those teams that can fight and hopefully finish in that top half [of the CAA] as well.”

Now there’s a quote.

[Henzone]

Hard to say how we'll end up. I lean towards 7-4. Biggest concern is the defense. A lot of our lost players were on defense. Best part of our defense last year was the linebacking and to a lesser extent the d-backs. Most of them are gone. Our DL upfront was pretty average. I'm still not a fan of the 3-3-5 we use. An improved DL would help there. I think Carty did a lot to fill the holes, but we'll see. We'll score points but will they be enough to cover. This is really the start of Carty's tenure here from a recruit and transfer standpoint. The Stonybrook game (yeah I know they are not supposed to be that good) may be a bell-weather for what the team really is. PSU should be a definite L. They are not Navy. Come September 16 a 1-1 record makes all things possible for the rest of the season. Elon, Nova and UNH will probably be the tough ones from the 16th on.

I think you're going to be pleasantly surprised by the LB play. Taylor will be an impact player from day 1, Trainer we already know is very good and Vandamia is solid. After that there is a huge drop off though. D backs seem to be a work in progress and that's a major concern.

[HENJOHN]

I'm also feeling ok with the LBs. Some transfer help should assist with depth. The spot I'm most concerned about is the Defensive front. I'm looking for Brogna to make a big leap of improvement this season.

[Cluck U]

I'm also feeling ok with the LBs. Some transfer help should assist with depth. The spot I'm most concerned about is the Defensive front. I'm looking for Brogna to make a big leap of improvement this season.

Agree.

Hope our DL holds up. Small…No big space eaters.

DBs should be fine. We got beat deep too often at critical times last year. Can’t have that happen again. Just keep things in front of them and they will be OK.

[tenn hen]

is there any news who's lining up in practice for the O and D lines. I'm well aware it isn't that important this early in camp, but it's an indication of the coaches present attitudes.

HZ- are the 3 LBs your choices or info from the inside? I figured Taylor was automatic. T and V have experience and continuity. Mulumba's Stonehill production appeared solid-maybe? Filippo? Possibly a few others will be moved over to view their possibility. This lack of depth could pose a major problem since LBs are super important to any team's D.

HJ- I hope Brogna can MAN the middle. Size does matter..... you guys know the famous maxim

[Henzone]

Check with the depth chart on here weekly. It's fairly accurate for the first and second teams.Hunter is the main big man in the defensive front.

[HENJOHN]

is there any news who's lining up in practice for the O and D lines. I'm well aware it isn't that important this early in camp, but it's an indication of the coaches present attitudes.

HZ- are the 3 LBs your choices or info from the inside? I figured Taylor was automatic. T and V have experience and continuity. Mulumba's Stonehill production appeared solid-maybe? Filippo? Possibly a few others will be moved over to view their possibility. This lack of depth could pose a major problem since LBs are super important to any team's D.

HJ- I hope Brogna can MAN the middle. Size does matter..... you guys know the famous maxim

You mentioned Fileppo. Does anyone remember his Dad John who played as a hard hitting Safety in the 90s?

https://bluehens.com/sports/football/ro ... eppo/12543

[Caribbean Hen]

Davis will be the leader on D

He’s a natural, if my eyes got it right, he stared down some upper classmen last year after big plays and didn’t seem to care who saw him doing it

[UD '01 grad]

Today’s Newark Post (at least the physical version) has an article about our Blue Hen football team. Written by Patrick Laporte.

Ryan Carty: “There is no doubt that we are certainly one of those teams that can fight and hopefully finish in that top half [of the CAA] as well.”

Now there’s a quote.

Whispers of relevance in the air ...