The hottest team in the MAC East right now is the same team many picked to come in last. The Minutemen officially have their first winning streak of FBS play with a thorough beating of the Eastern Michigan University Eagles. In some alternate universe, the Minutemen are 6-2 going into Toledo. Of course, there are also universes where the Minutemen are 5-3, 4-4, 3-6, and still in FCS football. Rather than dwell on what could've been against Colorado, Vanderbilt, Bowling Green and Miami, let's dwell on the much happier EMU result.
1) UMass has been historically bad against rushing quarterbacks. Who can forget that Jordan Lynch ran for 119 yards on 17 carries? Reginald Bell, Jr. just torched the Bufallo Bulls to the tune of 17 carries for 202 yards. Many expected that EMU would rush its way to victory. Flash-forward to this week, 21 carries for 40 yards. A mere 1.9 yards per carry. Overall, the defense has really stepped up these past two weeks. After a horrible second half collapse against Miami where they gave up 28 points, UMass hasn't given up more than 20 points in a game, and only 7 points in the second half. That isn't to say the defense doesn't have its warts. On the first touchdown, Tyreese Russell found himself behind three UMass defenders, and not one defender turned to see where the ball was at any point. On the second touchdown, Bronson Hill was completely uncovered downfield after both the corner and the safety went to cover the flats. The pass coverage still needs to avoid these gaffes, but holding Bell to 10 of 21 and hauling in another interception is definite improvement.
2) Whipple continued to whip this week, bringing out his top two playmakers, Sifrin and Shapre, in the red-zone to provide a heavier line, and boy did it work. Shadrach Akbrokwah had himself a day. Four touchdowns, 5.6 yards a carry. A lot of the credit goes to the offensive line, who finally got a push this week, and also kept Blake Frohnapfel off his back, as EMU went without a sack. Lorenzo Woodley did fine in his own rite, averaging 4.2 yards per carry, but he did have a late fumble. To briefly speak of the latter, UMass has got to stop fumbling the ball late in games. A J.T. Blyden fumble cost the Minutemen against Bowling Green, an Akbrokwah fumble against Miami, and both Jean Sifrin and Woodley fumbled late this week. While it didn't cost the Minutemen, these types of things have and will come back to haunt them.
3) Finally, I'm not one to toot my own horn (at least not in public), but section 110 was getting into the "Hip Hip...TAJAE" chant. Remember, every time Tajae Sharpe makes a play, give him three good "Hip Hip...TAJAE's" to cheer him on. Don't worry folks, if you miss it the first time, you'll have plenty more tries at it each game. This week Sharpe unloaded with 13 catches for 193 yards. You can also vote for Sharpe for the Biletnikoff here. What are you waiting for? Go salute your Sharpe's.