Spring 2021 Playoff Preview: Delaware round 3

The Jackrabbits have advanced to the semi-finals of the FCS playoffs for the third time in four years and are set to face the Delaware Blue Hens of the CAA.  Delaware bears a striking resemblance to the Jackrabbits in the fact that they are big and physical and prefer to run the ball on offense but yet are very capable passing.  In their opening round win, Delaware defeated Sacred Heart 19-10 and in the second round beat #4 Jacksonville State 20-14 in a very physical matchup.

Offense

The Blue Hen offense averages 29 points per game and are powered by a stout rushing attack that averages 161 ypg but is balanced by a passing attack that goes for 200 ypg.  Because they run the ball so effectively they hold the ball for an impressive 34 minutes per game.  Truly a ball control offense that wants to wear their opponents down.  In the playoffs they have only rushed for 88 and 108 yards in their two contests.  Strangely, they aren't great on 3rd down converting on just 34.34% of their possessions but they are 8 for 8 on 4th down attempts this year.  In the redzone they have scored on 22 of 28 attempts but just 15 have gone for touchdowns.  

If you watched their victory over JSU, you know that quarterback #2 Nolan Henderson (6-1, 195) is a tough SOB. In the first half, he attempted to run and get out of bounds but was drilled by a JSU defender (ruled targeting) and injured his non-throwing arm. He left the game for a bit but returned and still threw the ball well and still was willing to tuck it and run.  He took some additional punishing hits so it will be interested to see how his body feels this week.  Regardless, he has this writer's respect.   On the year, he is completing 69% of his passes for 1,340 yards, 10 TD, and 4 INT.  Just a really solid stat line through 7 games.  As mentioned, he can scramble where he has 176 gross yards (89 net) and 2 TD.  

The CAA player of the year is running back #33 Dejoun Lee (5-7, 185) who runs like prime Doug Martin.  He too left the game for a stretch against JSU with an ankle injury.  On the season he has 555 yards, on a 5.1 ypc average and 6 TD with a long of 74 yards!   He also has 13 receptions for 90 yards and a long of 41.  Against JSU, Lee was held to just 22 yards on the ground and a long of just 3 yards so he will be chomping at the bit to get right after a frustrating game. If Lee is the lightning then #22 Khory Spruill (6-1, 225) is the thunder.  He has 334 yards and 1 TD on the year. He had 29 yards on 11 carries against JSU.  

The pass catching group has a really nice duo in #1 Thyrick Pitts (6-3, 200) and #5 Gene Coleman II (5-11, 195).  Pitts is the big play guy with 27 receptions for 431 yards and 3 TD.  Coleman has 38 receptions for 390 yards and 1 TD.  He is coming off of his biggest game of the year vs JSU when he had 10 receptions for 129 yards. Unlike what we saw with SIU, this duo does not carry the ball often having just 1 carry a piece on the year; Pitts' coming against JSU.  The third starting wide receiver is #11 Dillon Zimmerman (6-3, 195) and he has 6 receptions for 49 yards.  #17 Jourdan Townsend (5-11, 185) has spent some time in the starting lineup and has 10 receptions for 106 yards.  From the tight end position, #81 Bryce DeMaille (6-3, 235) has 14 receptions for 158 yards for 2 TD. 

It sounds like the Blue Hen offensive line is a bit beat up and that has led to some of the challenges in the run game in the playoffs.  Starting last week from left to right were #72 David Kroll (6-7, 315) senior, #52 Stevon Brown (6-5, 300) R-SO, #53 Mickey Henry (6-4, 280) R-JR, #73 Bradly Anyanwu (6-3, 305) R-FR, and #64 Ben Trent (6-5, 305) SR.  That is an impressive group with great size.  Against JSU, Henry experienced some back issues and was replaced by #77 James Prince III (6-4, 300).  Also of note, Anyanwu is starting due to an ankle injury to #69 Carter Lynch (6-5, 305).  At this point it is unclear if he will be able to play or not but he has missed both playoff games.  This group has allowed 15 sacks on the season so there are opportunities to get after the QB.       

Defense

The Delaware defense is very very good.  Maybe the best the Jacks will face this year outside of week 1 UNI.  They play an attacking 3-4 defense that has a lot of moving parts.  Their season high for points allowed is 21(!) and an average of just 11.71 ppg.  Absolutely outstanding!  They play aggressively having 17 sacks  (5 against JSU) on the season, forcing 17 fumbles (recovering 7), and earning 11 interceptions.  It is clear what they want to do.  Opponents are converting just 30% of their 3rd down attempts and are just 2 of 9 on 4th down.  Opponents have just 14 trips into the red zone where they have scored 12 times, 8 being of the touchdown variety.  Yeesh.

The front seven for the Blue Hens isn't huge but they are nasty. #91 Artis Hemmingway (6-2, 265), #92 Tommy Walsh (6-3, 250), and #95 Frank Burton  (6-2, 265) are the defensive line.  Hemmingway leads the group with 21 tackles, 5 TFL, and 2.5 sacks.  Walsh has 17 stops of his own while Burton has 10.  #98 Nick Coomer (6-4, 285) brings some size to the table and is a key contributor racking up 17 tackles, 2 sacks and a forced fumble.  #54 Chase McGowan (6-1, 240) is a pass rushing specialist and has 12 tackles, 7.5 TFL, and is the team leader with 5 sacks.  This group loves to slant, loop, stunt, and play other games.  They are quick and all high motor guys.       

All of the linebackers will blitz and bring pressure.  Every player needs to be accounted for.  In this way, they remind me of the 2019 Illinois State defense.  The mike linebacker is #33 Johnny Buchanan (6-0, 230) and he is the co-leader in tackles with 39, 2 TFL, and he has also added a sack.  #51 Drew Nickles (6-3, 225) plays the will and he has 12 tackles. #10 Anothony Toro (6-3, 245) plays the bandit which is an edge type position.  Toro has 12 tackles and a forced fumble. His backup is #7 Dae'Lun Darient (6-4) 215) who has 12 tackles, 1 INT, 1 PBU, 1 FR, and 1 FF.   #42 Andrew Pawlowski (6-4, 225) plays what they call the KAT position which is a safety/linebacker hybrid and he has 32 tackles.  #41 Joe Zubillaga (6-1, 210) is a reserve backer who has 2 interceptions and 12 tackles.  Reserve linebacker #11 Liam Trainer (6-2, 235) is very active with 24 tackles, 2.5 TFL and a sack. #4 Colby Reeder (6-3, 235) has 2 sacks, 17 tackles, and a FF in a reserve role. #19 Matt Palmer has 14 tackles, 2 sacks, a FR, and 2 sacks. This is obviously a deep position group; 9 players who have made major contributions!   

The safties are an active duo of #29 Noah Plack (6-2, 215) and #1 Kedrick Whitehead (5-11, 195).  Plack is the other co-leader in tackles with 39 but he also has .5 sack, 2 INT, 2 PBU, and 2 FF; just an absolute playmaker.  Whitehead has 28 tackles of his own with 1 INT, 2 PBU, 2 FR, and 1 FF.  Again, a playmaker.   

The cornerbacks are #16 Nijuel Hill (5-10, 185) and #21 Justis Henley (5-11, 175). Hill has 24 tackles, .5 sack, 3 INT (team leader), and 2 PBU.  Henley has 13 tackles and a forced fumble. #32 Amonte Strothers (6-1, 195) is the top reserve and he has 6 tackles and 4 PBU.  These are the only three corners listed on the roster with any real statistics on the season. Hill appears to be a ballhawk while Henley looks like he must not be targeted often.  JSU is typically a pretty prolific passing offense and they held them to 93 total passing yards!       

Special Teams

The  kicking duties belong to #40 Ryan Coe, sophomore, and he is 11 of 15 on field goals with a long of 53 yards and he has made all 24 XP attempts. Coe also handles kickoff where he carries a 57. yard average on 42 attempts with 17 touchbacks.  The punting responsibilities are handled by true freshman #34 Tyler Pastula.  On 32 punts, he has a 39.25 yard average, a long of 69, has forced 8 to be fair caught, and landed 9 inside the 20.  He has also had 3 punts blocked this year which certainly bears watching as the Jacks can get after the punter.  

The kick return duties are handled by Dejoun Lee, but I would suspect he would not be back there this week given his ankle injury.  If he is, he is good.  He has 7 attempts with an 87 yard touchdown to his credit.  #5 Gene Coleman II is the other primary returner.  He has just 1 attempt that went for 24 yards.  The punt return duties belong to reserve wide receiver #17 Jourdan Townsend who has a 4 yard return average on 11 attempts with a long of 16.    

Prediction

Again, this is so weird looking at Delaware, besides the 3-4 alignment they remind me so much of the Jackrabbits.  The are big, physical, have a nice mix of experience and youth, are balanced on offense, and play solid defense.  The Jackrabbits will have to protect the ball and need to force a few turnovers of their own.  I'm very interested in the injury status of Lee and Henderson.  Both finished the game against JSU and I'm sure are receiving treatment this week to get their bodies back together.  

I like the Jacks in a close one 24-20 to advance to their first national championship game.

How to Watch

In person!  Be there if you can.  Tickets go on sale Wednesday on gojacks.com.  If you can't be there the game will be on ESPN.

Go Jacks!

Matt