UMass faces triple threat at No. 17 Coastal Carolina
No. 17 Coastal Carolina’s triple-option offense is difficult to defend and a system nobody likes competing against.
UMass coach Walt Bell and defensive coordinator Tommy Restivo need an antidote for the Chanticleer’s attack for their Saturday match in Conway, S.C.
“They have a very unique system that is triple-option based but they do have the ability to push the ball down the field,” said Bell. “They are a really good play-action pass team and those guys have done a great job with it.”
Coastal Carolina is one of three mid-major programs ranked in the top 25, along with independents Notre Dame (12) and Brigham Young (15). Coastal Carolina caught voters’ attention when they trounced Kansas 49-22 in the season opener.
UMass (0-3) struggled against now 2-0 Pittsburgh and gave 3-0 Boston College a fight with 28 second-half points.
The Minutemen, led by quarterback Brady Olson, a true freshman from Bellingham, and tailback Ellis Merriweather, had their moments in last Saturday’s 42-28 loss to Eastern Michigan. Merriweather rushed for 142 yards on 23 carries while Olson passed for 288 yards in his second career start but the Minutemen couldn’t overcome an early 21-0 deficit. Now the Minutemen come face to face against their first ranked opponent.
“Coach (Jamey) Chadwell has done a great job building a team that fit them and they have gotten good over a three- or four-year period very quickly,” said Bell.
“When I was in the Sun Belt (Conference) they were just making the transition and they stayed patient and a lot of their guys have gotten older and matured. He has recruited well and built a pretty nice program.”
The Chanticleers employ an adapted version of the triple-option attack, a scheme that gained national attention in the late 1960s when Texas coach Darrell Royal instituted the wishbone offense.
Coastal Carolina’s more balanced approach does not eschew a passing attack. The Chanticleers average 275 passing yards and 233.3 rushing per game.
The manager of Coastal Carolina’s offense is quarterback Grayson McCall, an efficient passer who has completed 46-of-59 throws for 739 yards and six touchdowns with one pick.
“There is definitely a lot more mental work, you really have to lock in and focus every minute of practice,” said defensive end Avien Peah. “You can’t take a rep off in practice and the mental focus is key because this is a very difficult offense to stop. We have to stop the run and defensive staff is putting it out there for us to do.”