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I still think they are better suited to play a 4-3.
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"THE STORYLINES
Getting it done in the zone.
In the MEAC, Hampton was second in total yards (382 ypg) but seventh in scoring (22.5 ppg). The reason? Only 69-percent efficiency in the red zone (to its opponents' 84 percent). Part of the blame goes to turnovers — Hampton had 32. In the opener against Old Dominion, HU fumbled twice inside the 5-yard line in the fourth quarter and lost 41-28. And part of it was the kicking game, which converted only 10 of 19 field-goal opportunities. In a 30-29 loss to Howard in the finale, PK Anthony Prevost was 1-of-4. "I think that's going to get a little better this year with another year in the system and everybody on the same page," Maynor said. That and, he hopes, the arrival of Watford.
Options on the edge.
They don't have a cool nickname (yet) like "The Fun Bunch," but one of HU's biggest strengths will be its receiving corps. The Pirates return four receivers who caught a combined 168 passes for 2,006 yards and 17 TDs. Twarn Mixson and Rayshad Riddick had 50 receptions each, Bethel grad Rashawn Proctor had 45 and SeQuan Gooding 23. Mixson was the leader in yards (615) and touchdowns (6), but Watford should have no trouble spreading the ball. "We feel good about the receivers and quarterbacks," Maynor said. "We've got to get the O-Line straight and do a better job in the red zone."
Shoring up the D.
Last season, the Pirates gave up 397 yards and 31 points a game — ninth and 10th, respectively, in the 11-team MEAC. They lost games despite scoring 28, 35 and 29 points. HU gave up 473 yards to Miles College in a 34-30 win. Looking back, Maynor believes a good part of the reason was switching to a 3-4 defense though he didn't have the parts. "You've got to have some beasts to play a 3-4," he said. "Those ends have to be some men." He's hopeful that with eight returning starters, including Thorne and DE Miles Grooms (13 TFL, 5 sacks), things will be different this season. "Last year, we didn't have the personnel or the depth," Maynor said. "We've addressed that issue and hopefully we'll see better results."
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"THE STORYLINES
Getting it done in the zone.
In the MEAC, Hampton was second in total yards (382 ypg) but seventh in scoring (22.5 ppg). The reason? Only 69-percent efficiency in the red zone (to its opponents' 84 percent). Part of the blame goes to turnovers — Hampton had 32. In the opener against Old Dominion, HU fumbled twice inside the 5-yard line in the fourth quarter and lost 41-28. And part of it was the kicking game, which converted only 10 of 19 field-goal opportunities. In a 30-29 loss to Howard in the finale, PK Anthony Prevost was 1-of-4. "I think that's going to get a little better this year with another year in the system and everybody on the same page," Maynor said. That and, he hopes, the arrival of Watford.
Options on the edge.
They don't have a cool nickname (yet) like "The Fun Bunch," but one of HU's biggest strengths will be its receiving corps. The Pirates return four receivers who caught a combined 168 passes for 2,006 yards and 17 TDs. Twarn Mixson and Rayshad Riddick had 50 receptions each, Bethel grad Rashawn Proctor had 45 and SeQuan Gooding 23. Mixson was the leader in yards (615) and touchdowns (6), but Watford should have no trouble spreading the ball. "We feel good about the receivers and quarterbacks," Maynor said. "We've got to get the O-Line straight and do a better job in the red zone."
Shoring up the D.
Last season, the Pirates gave up 397 yards and 31 points a game — ninth and 10th, respectively, in the 11-team MEAC. They lost games despite scoring 28, 35 and 29 points. HU gave up 473 yards to Miles College in a 34-30 win. Looking back, Maynor believes a good part of the reason was switching to a 3-4 defense though he didn't have the parts. "You've got to have some beasts to play a 3-4," he said. "Those ends have to be some men." He's hopeful that with eight returning starters, including Thorne and DE Miles Grooms (13 TFL, 5 sacks), things will be different this season. "Last year, we didn't have the personnel or the depth," Maynor said. "We've addressed that issue and hopefully we'll see better results."
