UNH notebook: Line dancing
Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com
If you granted University of New Hampshire football coach Sean McDonnell three wishes, one of his requests might be a healthy, productive offensive line.
A combination of injuries and players leaving the program (Josh Lane and Jayson Elmore) have forced McDonnell to shuffle his starting line several times since the end of spring practice.
McDonnell said senior Tom Neill will be moved from center to right tackle for Saturday's opener against St. Francis (Pa.). Redshirt freshman Chris Zarkoskie will play center, senior Dan Larkin is at right guard, sophomore George Pecoraro is at left guard and redshirt freshman Mickey DiLima will line up at left tackle.
"We still got injuries there," McDonnell said. "The starting five that was settled in our mind was Zarkoskie, Larkin, Pecoraro and Neal -- those four guys. Seth Price was right up there until he sprained his ankle in camp and he's been very limited in what he can do.
"Depth is going to be a big issue in the offensive line. That's an area of concern. I think the guys we have playing there are capable. Again, we haven't seen them yet so we don't know."
Scouting St. Francis
The Red Flash finished 0-11 overall and 0-7 in the Northeast Conference last season, and was held to an average of 11.4 points per game in those 11 contests. Chris Villarrial, who spent 11 years as an offensive lineman in the National Football League, was hired in the offseason to be the team's offensive coordinator.
Junior linebacker Scott Lewis was an honorable-mention selection on the 2009 College Sporting News Preseason FCS All-America Team. Lewis set a Northeast Conference record by making 142 tackles last season (second in the nation).
"It's a team that last year, with it's old offensive coordinator, was a tight end, two-back operation," McDonnell said. "They had one really good receiver last year. This kid Omar Winston. And then one of their best receivers of all time, Antoine Rivera, was hurt last year. He only played in two games.
"So they have two pretty good receivers. Their running backs -- Jude Yearwood and Calvin Williams -- are very good. The Yearwood kid (No. 32) is a big kid. He's 6-foot, 220. So he's got some size and some strength.
"Sounds like they've settled on a freshman at quarterback, John Kelly. The Kelly kid must have had a helluva camp because (George) Little started all of their games but one last year when he was out with an injury.
"Defensively they come at you from a lot of angles. Little causes a lot of commotion from his linebacking position."
League leaders
Here's McDonnell's take on the Colonial Athletic Conference this season:
"I think this league is really strong this year. It starts with the defending national champion (Richmond). You have 17 starters returning on a team that has it's quarterback back.
"You look at Villanova -- two quarterbacks down there: (Chris) Whitney and (Antwon) Young. A great defense, good running back, good receivers. They're a good football team. I really believe JMU will retool it and get it going. I think Delaware will bounce back -- and all those teams are in the South.
"You come back up to the North, I think Massachusetts is going to be good again, and I really think Maine is ready to take that next step. And I think all the other teams (in the North) are going to be better.
"William & Mary could be the darkhorse. If they can get a quarterback to play. Their defense played well at the end of last year. (Running back) Jonathan Grimes and their two receivers are really good.
"It's a strong, strong league. Solid from top to bottom, inside and out."
See Kackert run
Although running back Chad Kackert practiced this week, McDonnell said Kackert is questionable for Saturday's contest. Kackert is still hampered by a hamstring injury.
Defensive lineman Jordan Long will not play Saturday (shoulder and hamstring). McDonnell said sophomomre John Murray will likely start in place of Long.
Starting strong
UNH has opened the season with a victory in five of the last six years. The victories came against Central Connecticut (2003), Delaware (20040, UC Davis (2005), Northwestern (2006) and Army (2008).
The Wildcats opened the 2007 season with a loss to James Madison.
