Pre-season CAA rankings…

[HenZoneNation]

https://x.com/flofootball/status/181616 ... _pquooqVoA

They gotta be kidding me right?

[Caribbean Hen]

What don’t you like about it HZN?

[tenn hen]

because it's

[BlueHenBobby]

Pretty much the rankings you would expect based on last year's performance. However the landscape can change rapidly with player movement through the portal and coaching changes. Who expected Albany to be what they were last year? Lots to do with the arrival of Puffenberger. I'd be concerned if at the end of the season Delaware isn't #3 or better. Are we picking up any late transfers in time for camp this year?

[Hensfansince03]

Pretty much the rankings you would expect based on last year's performance. However the landscape can change rapidly with player movement through the portal and coaching changes. Who expected Albany to be what they were last year? Lots to do with the arrival of Puffenberger. I'd be concerned if at the end of the season Delaware isn't #3 or better. Are we picking up any late transfers in time for camp this year?

The HENS with the current schedule should easily be 6-0 going into Richmond October 19th. The first 6 games we should have a major advantage in talent over. Then we have Richmond, Albany, Rhode Island, Campbell, and Villanova to close. This is the real season.

We should easily beat Rhode Island and Campbell (these 2 will be tougher than the first 6 but we should be way better than them, if not we are in trouble) and have 8 easy wins for the season.

Then we have the 3 tough games. These are the only teams that would be close or equal to what we will be playing at the mid to bottom of CUSA in 2025. These games will give us a gauge for how much work needs to be done before we start CUSA play.

Richmond
Albany
Villanova

These 3 teams are all ranked ahead of us in the pre-season rankings and based on last year's performance and proven talent returning this is a pretty fair assessment. The 2024 roster is what it is as of now. We have Yarns pre-season All American and Herring CAA 2nd or 3rd team other than that no pre-season standouts. Going to be hard to replace some of the receivers we lost and our best players on defense Jackson Taylor and Chase McGowan. What players are going to emerge to elite levels on 2024 to drive excitement for 2025? Do we have anyone with potential to be first team CAA or All Americans?

[Cluck U]

Hens # 19 in the HERO poll.

Fun read.

https://herosports.com/fcs-2024-delawar ... view-bzbz/

Some snippets:

"Yarns will have a super veteran o-line leading the way. Delaware brings back five multi-year starters up front — two-time All-CAA selection Fintan Brose (6’2” 304 lbs), Bradly Anyanwu (6’3” 331 lbs), Brock Gingrich (6’2” 300 lbs), Blaise Sparks (6’7” 322 lbs), and Patrick Shupp (6’3” 352 lbs).

Delaware has to replace its top four pass-catchers from 2023. JoJo Bermudez will see an elevated role after hauling in 25 catches for 277 yards and a TD. Phil Lutz made some plays last year too, tallying 14 catches for 208 yards and a score.

Nicholas Laboy adds valuable experience for the wide receivers. The transfer started all 20 games from 2022-23 at Cornell. He had 25 catches for 369 yards and two TDs in 2022. Last season, Laboy earned Second Team All-Ivy League after tallying 58 receptions for 705 yards and two touchdowns.

Delaware also added four FBS transfer pass-catchers — Michigan WR Jake Thaw, Rutgers WR Max Patterson, Colorado TE Caleb Fauria, and New Mexico TE Connor Witthoft."

Delaware strengthened its defense with the addition of five FBS transfers — Rutgers DL Q’yaeir Price, Troy LB Blake Matthews, NC State DB Nate Evans, Boston College DB Jason Scott, and Marshall LB Marc Viechec."




For those who say the big boys up front win games...we have the beef and experience on the OL.

Can't stand our D philosophy...and we need some more bigs up front. Hope we can hold up on that end.

[Hengrad07]

If most of these transfers see the field, RC & Co did a great recruiting job! - #GoHens

[jd of de]

I love the experience we bring to the O-line this season with Yarns behind them. IMO that could be the difference in winning the Big 3 games; Richmond, Albany and Villanova.

The talent is there at WR, so as much production as we have to replace, we should be okay. The competition this month will be fierce.

Figuring out who benefits from only playing 4 games this season is the wildcard and what 63 scholarship players dress each week will take spreadsheet.

[UDan]

https://herosports.com/fcs-2024-caa-foo ... view-dsds/

A CAAFB preview linked above.

In order to best understand where I have Delaware in the predicted order of finish (it might look jarring at first), the paragraphs that follow explain the possible tie at the third-best record spot.

[UDan]

The talent is there at WR, so as much production as we have to replace, we should be okay. The competition this month will be fierce.

And at that, the WR competition looks to extend into game 1 -- HC RC has some idea of the front end of the rotation, sure, but he is intent on finding out which guys can do what/in which scenarios in-game, too. He/we won't know until they're tested the first Thu night, he's gotten across to us.

[Caribbean Hen]

https://herosports.com/fcs-2024-caa-foo ... view-dsds/

A CAAFB preview linked above.

In order to best understand where I have Delaware in the predicted order of finish (it might look jarring at first), the paragraphs that follow explain the possible tie at the third-best record spot.

Great article Dan

my eyes worked your prediction bottom up and they were surprised not to see Stony Brook first…

They were horrific last year but admittedly I haven’t really followed them other than knowing the Head Coach was cut loose. The Buffalo transfer QB was no stud. I’m thinking Bryant will be a much tougher opening night test than Stony Brook was in the opener last year.

[UDan]

my eyes worked your prediction bottom up and they were surprised not to see Stony Brook first…

They were horrific last year but admittedly I haven’t really followed them other than knowing the head coach was cut loose. The Buffalo transfer QB was no stud. I’m thinking Bryant will be a much tougher opening night test than Stony Brook was in the opener last year.

I'm betting on Stony Brook being modernized on offense with new HC Billy Cosh, who coordinated at Richmond and Western Michigan. Billy knows the CAA and injects SBU with a youthful mojo, something we've probably discussed as it relates to these parts.

Casey Case is still on the roster for Stony this fall, but I'll be really surprised if he resumes as starter. I'm looking for a Cosh guy incoming, namely Seawolf newbie Tyler Knoop (Georgetown QB 2019-23, now grad student).

I'm also counting on SBU sneaking up on people because of the lack of viability last year. I genuinely don't think they'll be last place when we revisit this thread. They might have a longer ways to go than I'm appreciating, though. A lot of it is looking at the new staff, but Billy is a first-timer HC, too. Bit of a box o chocolates.

SBU's schedule is a mixed bag, too. Setting aside opener at a decent G5, you'd wanna see them take care of business at home against a relatively new NEC-er in Stonehill. Later on, at Campbell and at Bryant are CAAFB road games you'd think could be stealable if the new-look progress is made. Seawolves also go to Towson, another team that I think is ripe to debut a new starting quarterback and hasn't had the HC long.

Last place in the 2024 CAAFB ladder is its own challenge to discern and I'll make NC A&T prove that it can move it through the air before I budge

[HENJOHN]

Always GREAT Stuff Dan. Keep it coming. It was Great seeing you and talking with you at Practice recently. See you soon.

[Caribbean Hen]

my eyes worked your prediction bottom up and they were surprised not to see Stony Brook first…

They were horrific last year but admittedly I haven’t really followed them other than knowing the head coach was cut loose. The Buffalo transfer QB was no stud. I’m thinking Bryant will be a much tougher opening night test than Stony Brook was in the opener last year.

I'm betting on Stony Brook being modernized on offense with new HC Billy Cosh, who coordinated at Richmond and Western Michigan. Billy knows the CAA and injects SBU with a youthful mojo, something we've probably discussed as it relates to these parts.

Casey Case is still on the roster for Stony this fall, but I'll be really surprised if he resumes as starter. I'm looking for a Cosh guy incoming, namely Seawolf newbie Tyler Knoop (Georgetown QB 2019-23, now grad student).

I'm also counting on SBU sneaking up on people because of the lack of viability last year. I genuinely don't think they'll be last place when we revisit this thread. They might have a longer ways to go than I'm appreciating, though. A lot of it is looking at the new staff, but Billy is a first-timer HC, too. Bit of a box o chocolates.

SBU's schedule is a mixed bag, too. Setting aside opener at a decent G5, you'd wanna see them take care of business at home against a relatively new NEC-er in Stonehill. Later on, at Campbell and at Bryant are CAAFB road games you'd think could be stealable if the new-look progress is made. Seawolves also go to Towson, another team that I think is ripe to debut a new starting quarterback and hasn't had the HC long.

Last place in the 2024 CAAFB ladder is its own challenge to discern and I'll make NC A&T prove that it can move it through the air before I budge

You make some really excellent points Dan and this place always gets more knowledgeable when you’re posting.

I’ll just leave you with this and maybe it will motivate you to post some more

Bryant > Stony Brook

Some of the “Delaware haters” on a AGS have pointed out that the transition year or last year in FCS has been tough for a lot of FCS team moving up to FBS and the big reason being is as the season grinds on there’s less and less to play for. I countered with well Marcus Yarns stayed at Delaware and everybody talks about how good the team attitude is under Carty. So it will be interesting to see how the Hens do going down the stretch, and it certainly would be great to beat Villanova as we leave the CAA and FCS.

[Brookside kid hen]

Caribbean, I would at this point take a 1-10 record this year if we beat the living daylights out of those butt wipes from Villanova!!! I've despised a few of our foes over the years, but never any team more than the stinking wildcats!!!