Anything and everything about Liberty Flames football. Your comments on games, recruiting and the direction of the program as we move into new era.

Moderators: jcmanson, Sly Fox, BuryYourDuke, Class of 20Something

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By Sly Fox
Registration Days Posts
#462006
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Bryant University
Smithfield, Rhode Island



Bryant Football Official Site


Founded in 1863
Private Institution
Enrollment: 3614
Religious Affiliation: None
Athletic Affiliation: Northeast Conference (NEC) since 2012
Nickname: Bulldogs
Famous Alumni: Nicholas Colasanto (Coach from Cheers) & Earl Silas Tupper (Founder of Tupperware)



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Marty Fine
11th Season as Bryant Head Coach



2014 Schedule/Results
  • AUG 28 - @ Stony Brook ....................... W 13-7
    SEP 06 - Merrimack .............................. W 40-14
    SEP 13 - Maine .................................... W 13-10
    SEP 20 - @ Liberty ............................... 7:00 PM
    OCT 04 - Bucknell
    OCT 18 - @ St. Francis (PA)
    OCT 25 - Robert Morris
    NOV 01 - Central Connecticut State
    NOV 08 - @ Duquesne
    NOV 15 - @ Sacred Heart
    NOV 22 - Wagner

Top Players

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    #2 Dalton Easton
    6' 0" 192 lbs Sophomore Quarterback
    Thru 3 Games: 48-of-86 (55.8%) for 548 Yards with 5 TDs & 1 INT


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    #23 Paul Canevari
    5' 11" 210 lbs Junior Running Back
    Thru 3 Games: 50 Carries for 223 Yards (4.5 Per Carry) with 1 TD + 1 Catch for 4 Yards


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    #8 Chad Ward
    6' 3" 185 lbs Junior Receiver
    Thru 3 Games: 15 Catches for 207 Yards & 2 TDs + 8 Punt Returns for 20 Yards


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    #51 Maduka Nwanekezi
    6' 3" 230 lbs Senior Defensive Lineman
    Thru 3 Games: 11 Tackles including 6.5 for Loss with 3.5 Sacks + 1 Forced Fumble


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    #48 Marquise Watson
    6' 0" 250 lbs Sophomore Linebacker
    Thru 3 Games: 22 Tackles including 1.5 for Loss


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    #25 Sebastian Amedee
    6' 1" 195 lbs Senior Defensive Back
    Thru 3 Games: 17 Tackles including 1.5 for Loss + 1 INT
By JakeP50
Registration Days Posts
#462019
Like the others have said, their offense doesn't have as much "firepower" as ours. So the offense plays half as well as they did against Brevard, we will win this game relatively easily.
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By bluejacket
Registration Days Posts
#462031
Jeff Covitz is arguably their best player overall. He hasn't put the numbers up yet this season, but that's because a lot of teams have been keying off of him.

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#77 Jeff Covitz
6' 2" 255 lbs Senior Defensive Line
Thru 3 Games: 17 Tackles with 6.5 for Loss + 1 Sack
By Chippy
Registration Days Posts
#462075
bluejacket wrote:Jeff Covitz is arguably their best player overall. He hasn't put the numbers up yet this season, but that's because a lot of teams have been keying off of him.

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#77 Jeff Covitz
6' 2" 255 lbs Senior Defensive Line
Thru 3 Games: 17 Tackles with 6.5 for Loss + 1 Sack
Those are exceptional numbers for a D lineman.
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By BJWilliams
Registration Days Posts
#462083
It won't be as easy to run plays away from him as it was when we were game planning for Lynden Trail (who had 7 tackles, assisted on a TFL and assisted on a sack in their loss to William and Mary yesterday)

I have Bryant at 23 in my AGS ballot this week.
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By bluejacket
Registration Days Posts
#462084
Chippy wrote:
bluejacket wrote:Jeff Covitz is arguably their best player overall. He hasn't put the numbers up yet this season, but that's because a lot of teams have been keying off of him.

Image
#77 Jeff Covitz
6' 2" 255 lbs Senior Defensive Line
Thru 3 Games: 17 Tackles with 6.5 for Loss + 1 Sack
Those are exceptional numbers for a D lineman.
My mistake, I read the wrong stats. He's on a slightly better pace than he was last season.
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By Rooster Cogburn
Registration Days Posts
#462114
Here is a good breakdown from a Bryant fan on AGS. Some important nuggets, like they will be bussing it down.
I would love to see Bryant win down in Lynchburg, but I think a few factors will preclude us from winning the game:

1. the atmosphere, Bryant has never played at a place that big nor in front of a crowd that big. A few years ago Bryant played in front of a large Stony Brook crowd, but no one is left from that team.

2. the trip, Bryant is not flying, but taking 3 buses down to the game. Even though it will be a multi-day drive trip I think it will be too much. Driving for two days then spending a night settling in will not be enough for the young kids.

Scouting the team:

Uncle Buck was on point. The defense is our strength, specifically the front seven. I think you will have a problem running the ball, but throwing will kill us. Our secondary is slow and playing zone helps at time but also leaves a lot of guys open. We have been fortunate in the first three games because QBs have either over thrown the ball quite a few times or WRs have dropped passes.

On offense I think the short passing game is our strength, Dalton has an okay arm but he isn't a big threat to throw the ball down field. We have a few quality RBs but none are standout players. I think the rushing game can be contained -- and probably will -- and we will see more screen passes and short routes throughout the game.

I think the Bryant defense contains Liberty enough to keep the score low, but we will not produce enough points to keep it close. I envision a 17-6 type game.
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By bluejacket
Registration Days Posts
#462135
I don't think that they can keep us to 17 points. Their defense is very good, but I don't think that it is better than Norfolk State; its more balanced but not better. The Bryant fan on AGS is absolutely correct in saying that their defensive front seven is the team's strength but that the secondary is the weak point. That is our offensive strength and where we are most aggressive in play calling. There will be opportunities for home run balls over the top of their defense.

We're going to get their best shot coming out right of the gate. It is important that we start the game fast.
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By Rooster Cogburn
Registration Days Posts
#462146
Here's a little something my son put together for your info leading up to this game.
Liberty vs Bryant

Games
Liberty:
@ UNC – L 56-29

@ NSU – W 17-0

vs BC – W 56-31

Bryant:
@SBU – W 13-7

vs MC – W 40-14

vs UM – 13-10

Key Players
Liberty:
QB: J. Woodrum: 44-72, 724 yds, 5 td- 2 int

RB: D. Abnar: 46- 259 yds, 3 td

WR: D. Pererson: 14- 347 yds, 1td.

Bryant:
QB: D. Easton: 48-86, 548 yds, 5 td- 1 int

RB: P. Canevari: 50- 223 yds, 1 td

WR: C. Ward: 15- 207 yds, 2 td

Offense
Liberty:
PPG: 34.0

Pass YPG: 241.3

Rush YPG: 175.7

YPG: 417.0

Bryant:
PPG: 22.0

Pass YPG: 189.0

Rush YPG: 133.0

YPG: 322.0

Defense
Liberty:
PPG: 29.0

Pass YPG: 108.0

Rush YPG: 253.0

YPG: 361.0

Bryant:
PPG: 10.3

Pass YPG: 189.0

Rush YPG: 133.0

YPG: 322.0
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By BJWilliams
Registration Days Posts
#462152
bluejacket wrote:I don't think that they can keep us to 17 points. Their defense is very good, but I don't think that it is better than Norfolk State; its more balanced but not better. The Bryant fan on AGS is absolutely correct in saying that their defensive front seven is the team's strength but that the secondary is the weak point. That is our offensive strength and where we are most aggressive in play calling. There will be opportunities for home run balls over the top of their defense.

We're going to get their best shot coming out right of the gate. It is important that we start the game fast.
This...if we can get out to a 14 or 21 point lead early on, we might be able to break their spirit and cruise from there...The longer they hang around, the more confidence they develop and that won't be good for us
Last edited by BJWilliams on September 15th, 2014, 9:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
By prototype
Registration Days Posts
#462180
Rooster Cogburn wrote:Here is a good breakdown from a Bryant fan on AGS. Some important nuggets, like they will be bussing it down.
I would love to see Bryant win down in Lynchburg, but I think a few factors will preclude us from winning the game:

1. the atmosphere, Bryant has never played at a place that big nor in front of a crowd that big. A few years ago Bryant played in front of a large Stony Brook crowd, but no one is left from that team.

2. the trip, Bryant is not flying, but taking 3 buses down to the game. Even though it will be a multi-day drive trip I think it will be too much. Driving for two days then spending a night settling in will not be enough for the young kids.

Scouting the team:

Uncle Buck was on point. The defense is our strength, specifically the front seven. I think you will have a problem running the ball, but throwing will kill us. Our secondary is slow and playing zone helps at time but also leaves a lot of guys open. We have been fortunate in the first three games because QBs have either over thrown the ball quite a few times or WRs have dropped passes.

On offense I think the short passing game is our strength, Dalton has an okay arm but he isn't a big threat to throw the ball down field. We have a few quality RBs but none are standout players. I think the rushing game can be contained -- and probably will -- and we will see more screen passes and short routes throughout the game.

I think the Bryant defense contains Liberty enough to keep the score low, but we will not produce enough points to keep it close. I envision a 17-6 type game.
I'm excited that people are starting to notice the atmosphere here!!
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By VAGolf
Registration Days Posts
#462187
Not sure if this was posted above but listen to Bryant's HC talk about our team and Woodrum. http://media.liberty.edu/t5ed8

I've been a big Woodrum fan since he got here, since I saw him play at Cave Spring. Surely, part of this is Marty Fine trying to hype his team. But still, best player he's ever coached against at this level? That's a pretty fine compliment.
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By bluejacket
Registration Days Posts
#462203
VAGolf wrote:Not sure if this was posted above but listen to Bryant's HC talk about our team and Woodrum. http://media.liberty.edu/t5ed8

I've been a big Woodrum fan since he got here, since I saw him play at Cave Spring. Surely, part of this is Marty Fine trying to hype his team. But still, best player he's ever coached against at this level? That's a pretty fine compliment.
Its coachspeak. There have been several very fine players in the NEC over the past few seasons, let alone in their games against Maine, Albany, Fordham, Stony Brook, and UMass.

Regardless of our attendance, this is going to be the biggest crowd that Bryant has ever played in front of. They're going to keep playing off of the chip on their shoulder until it stops working.
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By BJWilliams
Registration Days Posts
#462204
aceinthehole over on AGS is largely downplaying the effect of the crowd on the game. While I do agree that the crowd will not win or lose the game for us, you can't downplay the effect that being in that hostile an environment will play. With about 3,000-5,000 students right behind the bench screaming and shouting while they send calls in, you have to think that a few false start penalties are certainly possible among other things.
Last edited by BJWilliams on September 16th, 2014, 3:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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By Purple Haize
Registration Days Posts
#462214
BJWilliams wrote:aceinthehole over on AGS is largely downplaying the effect of the crowd on the game. While I do agree that the crowd will not win or lose the game for us, you can't downplay the effect that being in that hostile an environment will play. With about 3,000-5,000 students right behind the bench screaming and shouting while they send calls in, you have to think that a few false start penalties are certainly possible among other things.
Great. We are back to quoting people in other threads. Threads and people few here know or care about
:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:
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