2007 CAA FOOTBALL PREVIEW -- DELAWARE
CAASports.com will highlight one CAA Football squad daily leading up to the Inaugural 2007 season. Be sure to click on the link above to see Media Day interview footage of the selected squad's head coach. Also linked at the bottom of this page is the selected squad's portion of the 2007 CAA Football Media Guide.
DELAWARE BLUE HENS
The University of Delaware football team didn’t have to think too hard when it came time to post a slogan on the back of the off-season workout t-shirts. Plastered right on the back of the gray shirts in big blue letters were the words “Never Again”. Never again did this team want be known as one of the few Blue Hen squads to suffer through a losing season.
The Blue Hens are once again in good hands under center as senior Joe Flacco, an All-American candidate, returns after posting some of the best passing numbers in Delaware history. Behind Flacco’s leadership, the Hens should possess one of the top passing attacks in the country as all three starting wide receivers return including Preseason All-Conference pick junior Aaron Love. The Hens also return all five offensive linemen to starting roles including another preseason honoree in Mike Byrne. Flacco ended the 2006 season completing a school record 264-of-417 passes for 2,783 yards and 18 touchdowns. Omar Cuff, who missed four games a year ago, still managed to lead the team in rushing for the third-straight season including 541 yards.
Defensively, a much-maligned unit looks to be much-improved as 12 players with starting experience return. The Hens struggled for most of the season in 2006 and ranked near the bottom of the league standings in rushing defense (195.2 yards/game), total defense (397.7 yards/game) and scoring defense (25.9 points/game). The return of sophomore defensive end Matt Marcorelle, who missed all but two games a year ago with an injury, and the addition of Notre Dame transfer Ronald Talley give the Hens one of the better pass rushes in the CAA after the unit recorded just 13 sacks a year ago. The addition of University of Connecticut transfer Jonathon Smith bolsters the Delaware linebacker corps and a young but talented defensive secondary should be capable of making some big plays.