AMHERST — UMass might not have picked a better time for its bye week this season.
The Minutemen hadn’t had a break since arriving on campus in late July for the start of preseason camp, an earlier start to practice than normal because of their Week 0 matchup with Duquesne. They proceeded to play seven straight games and entered their off week at 2-5.
As he has done for the past three years, coach Mark Whipple gave his team the entire week off. Whipple and his staff hit the recruiting trail, while the players had time to catch-up on schoolwork and to rejuvenate themselves.
“I felt like it was well-needed,” senior linebacker Jarell Addo said. “Everybody got away for a little bit, I went back to my hometown (Leominster) and I know a lot of other players went home and just hit that restart button, refreshed a bit, focused on their grades. … I just feel like everybody coming back this past Sunday was a great start to practice, everybody had fresh legs, running around and getting to the ball and the energy was there.
“Even (Tuesday), everyone was flying around and making plays and we were happy to be out there. It was a well-needed week, but we couldn’t wait to get back onto that field.”
The time away from practice also gave Whipple time for introspective thought on his team. When he wasn’t meeting with recruits and coaches, he said he did a lot of self-scouting of the Minutemen in an attempt to clean up their mistakes.
On offense, he said the fundamentals have hurt UMass with three bad snaps and several penalties holding back the Minutemen from scoring more.
However, the bigger issues lie with the defense, which has allowed 44.9 points and 496 yards per game, 272 of which have come on the ground. Whipple said there was a lot of honest discussion about how the coaches could better put the unit in a position to succeed.
“It’s spacing, it’s depth of your defense and calls, we’ve looked at those with (defensive coordinator Ed) Pinkham and the defensive staff,” Whipple said. “(We looked at) some schematic things and personnel, but the one thing is we have everybody finally back in position where we practiced in the spring and the summer.”
ADDO GLAD TO BE BACK: Addo made his return from a six-game suspension two weeks ago against South Florida, making a team-best 12 tackles in the 58-42 loss. The senior linebacker played on the Minutemen’s scout team during his suspension and said he was glad to be back on the field on Saturdays doing what he does best.
“It felt great to be out there and be part of the team and just go out there and have fun and do what we do best, which is fly around,” Addo said.
Addo’s return gave an early boost to a struggling UMass defense. He admitted it was difficult to watch his teammates struggle during his suspension, but hopes his presence can help the defense fulfill its potential.
“It’s not easy not being out there when I want to be,” Addo said. “But we’re a unit, it’s not about me, it’s about we. I felt like there’s a few kinks in the defense and I think my presence can kind of help the situation.”
Although Addo made an impact with his play against USF, the veteran also brought added leadership to the unit. Whipple said Addo’s return took some leadership onus off the shoulders of seventh-year linebacker Bryton Barr and gave the Minutemen a better connection with the secondary because of his skillset compared to Barr’s strengths.
“(Addo)’s a leader, he’s made plays, the guys really respect him and he had a great spring,” Whipple said. “It take a little of the leadership pressure off Bryton a little bit. He’s probably more of a guy who intertwines with the secondary and Bryton is more of the interior guy.”
WHIPPLE MUM ON SUSPENSION: Whipple rebuffed questions about his one-week suspension that came right before UMass’ off week. He said he didn’t want to look back and instead focus on Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. game against Coastal Carolina at McGuirk Alumni Stadium.
“I’m just moving forward and getting ready for this game, that’s all,” Whipple said. “We’re playing Coastal. That’s what I’m on now.”
TRANSFER WIRE: Three players announced their intentions to transfer from UMass since the Minutemen returned from their off week on Sunday.
Wide receiver Jessie Britt, who hadn’t played in the last two games, officially confirmed his departure on Twitter on Tuesday. Defensive back Brian Roberts Jr. also tweeted Tuesday that he would leave UMass. On Sunday, wideout Patrick Volcy announced on Twitter he had left the team.
INJURY UPDATE: Whipple said he won’t know if senior running back Marquis Young will be available for Saturday’s game until Thursday or Friday when he receives the medical report. The coach gave the same prognosis for linebacker Michael Nesmith, who was taken off the field on a stretcher in the first half against USF after a block on a kickoff left him unconscious.