Conference USA PREVIEW-2026

[Section J]

"The defense gave up too many big plays, and the run game didn't complement the pass well enough, but by any definition, 2025 was a rousing success. Delaware had fallen into a rut, with a 58-53 record in the decade before Carty's arrival, but the former Blue Hens quarterback immediately turned his alma mater around, and now he has eased it into the FBS with initial success. Impressive."

[Cluck U]

I like 4 true defensive lineman. That's who I am. The 3-3-5 is very successful in a lot of places and can be here. Copy the teams that apply pressure and forget the bend but don't break Rojas system. As a side note about Colby Reeder. He was misused. He was too often asked to play as a spy LB. He didn't get to use his aggressive nature. That in a nut shell is the Rojas scheme. I always thought that was part of the reason Colby transferred.

Yup.

I've posted it before...I've been lucky enough to speak with a dozen or more UD defensive players (LBs, DLs, CBs and Ss) over the years...and to a man, they were ALL frustrated with the lack of aggressiveness on D. Good kids...wanted to let loose and cause chaos on the field. Manny's D scheme handcuffed our guys. Damned shame.

[frmrbluehen]

In the encounters I have had, where Manny has had chances to connect with alumni, his actions seem to align with his defense....passive and not willing to engage. I'll leave that thought to resonate with the people on this board. I'm sure everyone here gets where I am coming from.

[UDFootballFan]

I was really hoping Carty would have made a change this off season but instead he gave Manny a new title and probably a raise. I just dont get it

[frmrbluehen]

I was really hoping Carty would have made a change this off season but instead he gave Manny a new title and probably a raise. I just dont get it

Could not agree more - Manny may be a "nice" guy, but his mentality of a good college defense is absurd. His passive ways will lose more games in the FBS than win. I am hoping (fingers crossed) with the signings we have coming in, we play big boy football and run a 4-man front with pressure from all angles, but until I see that happen I am afraid it will be the same story it has been the last few years. Hope and pray we outscore.

[Caribbean Hen]

I am one of the few here who doesn't hate the 3 3 5 D but we need to be more aggressive, disciplined, and more unpredictable to keep opposing offenses guessing.

I'm with you on this. Its not the alignment that's the problem. It's how it's employed. But I'm not quite with you on the talent part. The front six needs an upgrade, Maybe we got it and maybe we didn't. Time will tell. We've had some decent talent up front but haven't had the monster disruptor since Bilal. Raise hell up front and magically the secondary looks much better (as does the DC).

#14

Someone in my head is telling me this young buck is a man of Steel and potentially good enough to turn Manny into “Dexter Riley” overnight

Good players are the resume builders for coaches

IMG_3516.jpeg (64.49 KiB) Viewed 2776 times

[Henny]

Good one Carib! Can’t wait to see Steel in action!

[HENJOHN]

Is that Captain Binghamton with Kurt Russell!!

Good stuff Caribe. Hoping #14 James Steel can add some serious push and some nasty to the DLine.

[Brookside kid hen]

I want to see either a LB or CB going after the QB on the blitz on every play. That's the aggression I want to see on defense this season, a repeat of the game plan for the FIU game last season.

[DaveB]

DraftKings dropped their CUSA FB odds

Liberty +260
WKU +280
JSU +450
Delaware +700
KSU +1000
FIU +1100
NMSU +2500
MoSt. +2800
MTSU +5500
SHSU +8000

[BlueHenBill]

IMO a major disadvantage of playing a 3 man Defensive Front is in recruiting DL. If I am a DL transfer or an incoming FR why should I come to a program that uses 25% fewer DL? As a DL I have more of a chance at meaningful playing time in a 4 or even 5 man DL. When UD was in the FCS the coaching staffs used the excuse that it was too difficult to recruit enough quality DL depth to play a 4 man front, even though many of UD FCS opponents seemed to do it successfully. Now that UD is in the FBS that excuse no longer has any validity. Further IMO a 4 man front is harder to run aginast and generates more pressure on the opposing QBs.

[TimD]

DraftKings dropped their CUSA FB odds

Liberty +260
WKU +280
JSU +450
Delaware +700
KSU +1000
FIU +1100
NMSU +2500
MoSt. +2800
MTSU +5500
SHSU +8000

I can't be mad about that. Anyone who thinks UD should have better odds than the top three at this point is probably not being realistic. Gotta prove it on the field. Onward and upward!

[Oldhen]

The fact that Manny is still here means the university’s still not ready for prime time. This shouldn’t be the HC’s decision at this point.

[Fightinghens2025]

Loyal to a fault maybe…. but also these additional titles are ways to give people raises for holding multiple titles when we don’t really have the money to pay individual positions more. hopefully our defense improves this year.