The football team will be hoping to open with a win for the fourth straight season on Saturday when they play host to the Wesleyan Cardinals. The game marks the first time these two teams have met since the 2001 season opener; a matchup the Jumbos won 35-20.
Traditionally a running team, Tufts will look to be slightly more balanced this year, but expect senior running back Steve Cincotta to get plenty of carries against Wesleyan. Cincotta struggled with injuries for much of the 2003 season, but showed flashes of what he is capable of when healthy. In the season opener against Hamilton last year, Cincotta rushed for 166 yards on a Jumbo-record 45 carries.
The running game could be especially effective against Wesleyan, who gave up a staggering 225 rushing yards per game last year. Tufts coach Bill Samko dismissed that statistic as irrelevant, however.
"Last year is last year," Samko said. "They had about a dozen guys out of school for different reasons, and a lot of them were on defense. I've always felt that when you have even one guy out, it changes everything, so they're going to be a different team."
At the same time, Samko acknowledged that Tufts would likely run the ball a lot on Saturday.
"I guess [statistics] affect you some," he said. "But the way we look at it, we have six senior starters on the offensive line and we're going to run the ball at you. You can bring out anybody, and we'll do the same thing. We feel like it's one of our strengths and something we can really hang our hat on."
With a young defense, the rushing game has the added benefit of allowing Tufts to control the ball.
"You know your defense is really good when they're on the sideline," Samko said. "If we can run, control the ball, maybe we can keep the defense out of bad situations. When a pass is incomplete the clock stops, and that just makes the game longer for the defense."
If Wesleyan stacks the line against the run, the Jumbos won't hesitate to put the ball in the air. Senior quarterback Jason Casey is 6-3 in his career as a starter, and he played very well at the end of last year. Big things are expected out of the receiving corps this year, with Tufts' all-time leading receiver John Troy joining the coaching staff as receivers coach. Kevin Holland, who was a second team all-conference selection last year, is back for his senior year and figures to be Casey's top target.
The young Tufts defense is in for its first test of the season, particularly if Wesleyan continues its pass-first style it has displayed over the last several years. Samko expects the Cardinals to take to the air, but admits that he isn't sure exactly what to expect.
"They threw the ball all over the place last year," Samko said. "That tends to be their style, they like to throw it. But some of that from last year may have been because they lost some guys on the offensive line [and couldn't run effectively]. Going into the first game, we're kind of blind. All the other games after this, we'll have some idea of how the team plays; we have film exchange and all that. But this game we can't really be sure what their style is. They could do virtually anything."
Wesleyan's emphasis on passing could create opportunities for interceptions for defensive back Donavan Brown and the rest of the Tufts secondary. Last year Cardinal quarterbacks threw 22 picks in just eight games. While Wesleyan is breaking in a new QB this year, Brown, who had three interceptions in just five games last year, is looking to make big plays for the defense.
"The defense has played pretty well," Samko said. "They've taken some strides. They're young, but it's not like there isn't ability there. We've got some good players, and they've really come together as a cohesive unit."
Expect junior Mike McCann, sophomore Ryan Byrne, and freshman Adam Arsenault to all see time at linebacker, as Samko tries to find the best combination of players on defense.
"I hope we play well," Samko said. "I'd be surprised if we laid an egg. [The players] will lay it all out there, I'll guarantee that much. If they don't, fire me."
