Minutemen may take a run at Coastal
The running game has been one of the few bright spots so far for UMass as first-year coach Walt Bell looks to rebuild and recast the program.
So the Minutemen (0-3) might be well-served to turn to the powerful hands of Bilal Ally and running mates Cam Roberson and Kevin Brown as they prepare to welcome Coastal Carolina to Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium in Amherst on Saturday.
Coastal Carolina (2-1) knocked off Kansas, 12-7, for its first-ever victory over a Power 5 member, just six days before the Jayhawks ventured into Alumni Stadium and doubled up Boston College, 48-24.
The 21-year-old Ally, whose family moved from New Orleans to Jacksonville, Fla. in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, has been a revelation. The redshirt junior already has surpassed his meager totals from last season when he had 25 rushes for 139 yards and a touchdown in four games.
This year, the 5-foot-11 Ally opened with a 11-carry, 68yard effort against Rutgers and hasn’t looked back. He leads the Minutemen through three games with 41 attempts for 214 yards (5.2 avg.) and one touchdown. Roberson, a converted receiver, has 31 carries for 149 yards. Brown, the newcomer of the trio who is from Dorchester and played at Everett High, has gained 69 yards on 17 carries with a touchdown.
“I would say we have a special group. We have speed, finesse, and thunder,” Ally said.
UMass running backs coach Fredi Knighten agrees and said all three have distinct roles to play.
“Bilal has done a great job so far. Ally is one of those guys who is always trying to figure out the game, not only running the ball but in the pass protection aspect of the game, as well. He really plays hard,” Knighten said. “Cam gives us the dynamic part. He was a receiver before so we can split him out wide. He brings an electricity to the locker room. He’s sort of a jokester that way. But, once he steps on the field, he’s all business. You can see it on the field. And Kevin brings the physical part of it that we love. The biggest thing for Kevin, as a freshman, is that right now, he might not be ‘the guy.’ It all comes down to how does he accept that challenge.
“Our job, as coaches, is to help them and try to get them up to that proper level of consistency and playing hard.”
Ally, who was heavily recruited by Troy and Presbyterian College before deciding on UMass, credits the recruiting trip he made to Amherst where he met future teammates Isaiah Rodgers, Martin Mangram and Tyshaun Ingram.
“I loved the culture up here and I met some great guys on my recruiting trips and we have a great bond,” Ally said. “It’s been true ever since.”
As far as the immediate task at hand, Ally said the Minutemen need to do a better job of executing. There is a UMass-Coastal Carolina connection as Chanticleers offensive line/tight ends coach Bill Durkin starred for the linemen and is a member of the 50th Year Yankee Conference Anniversary team. Coastal star defensive back Chandler Kryst already has three interceptions this year.
“Offensively, we have to do a better job using our offense in a productive way and get their defense tired. If we do all those things, we should do OK,” Ally said.
Last week’s lopsided 52-17 road loss at Charlotte left a bitter taste in the collective mouths of the Minutemen, who are desperate to hand their faithful a home victory Saturday.
“Home, away, gravel, parking lot, I really don’t care right now,” Bell said. “We played a lot of freshmen and a lot of walkon(s) and we have to continue to get them better and prepared to play every day.”