Rhody Football Gameday - WK1 vs Holy Cross

welcome back everyone to roie college game day the weit is finally over as we are about to give you the first episode of the 2024 season I'm Noah mlan alongside me Connor dooa and Johnny Blair we have a lot to talk about tonight guys we are super excited to talk about the off seon the Rams 2024 schedule predictions and everything to follow we also have a couple of special guests AJ Peña and head coach Jim Fleming will be joining us soon and without further Ado the 2024 season is right around the [Applause] corner college game day Connor do Roa Johnny Blair and Noah mlan behind the three of us are two Fields these two Fields have three words Blood Sweat and Tears as we talk about the Rams off seon and preparation that all comes down to tonight in the season opener and guys let's talk about just some of the things that go into the ins and outs the knits and notches of making everything complete and ready for right now yeah Rhode Island started their training camp here on July 31st we are currently standing on the offensive side off offensive field way over there is a defensive field they swap every day to make sure the grounds conditions are good they practice on these grass fields rather than the turfield because that gives more give to the players and helps with wear and tear and then also the point of training camp is first player competition along with development and installation of a new playbook there are tons of new players coming in they need to compete for starting jobs they need to learn each Playbook whether it's offense or defense and so that's the point of training camp is kind of welcoming in new players into the new system and then also finding out who your starters are going to be week one and then also it's going to be conditioning it's hot in the dog days of summer here in Rhode Island so getting these players out on the field every day is going to help them tremendously with their conditioning and also acclimating them to the new weather I think that with the rain as well it rains all the time all year around here in Rhode Island it will help them with their conditioning acclimating weather and then also building team chemistry through all of these ups and downs in training camp well absolutely and you know all of those things that you guys just touched on so well there leads to right now this is the episode of season 1 right here of roie college game day welcome back guys Noah mlan Conor do Roa and Johnny Blair here on roie college game day as we are going to break down the 2024 Rams roster for you right now we're going to start with the very interesting and competitive quarterback Race Connor your thoughts yeah so first up it's a two horse race Devon frell and Hunter Helms with for Devin frell he was here last year transferred in from Virginia Tech so he has a year under his belt already at URI which is you know not like uh Hunter Helms who just barely transferred in Johnny yeah and Hunter Helms the new transfer from Clemson has a year of experience playing there but we are told that we won't know who's coming out for the starting quarterback until the game starts we'll be very interested to see what that will bring as now we're going to jump right into the next position the running back position and boy are there a couple of really talented guys in this category Conor your thoughts first yeah so Rhode Islands once again going with kind of a running back by committee losing jayen McKenzie last off season there's 130 carries to be you know uh taken leading the way is probably going to be uh senior Gabe slow who also just got announced as team captain and then also Malik Grant who was a highly touted transfer from SA at heart Dion silus is also an elusive back that you know could see some playing time this upcoming season as now we jump quickly into the wide receivers and Johnny why don't you break it down for us so starting at the top is Maris Buchanan who is kind of looking to take that lead wide receiver one roll left by cataro Summers and Darius Savage at the end of last season then we get to Jamal menah and Amari Walker who are next up in development is an increase in reps with the team and then we get to Tommy Smith formerly a tight end now a wide receiver a big receiver looking to make some big plays for this Rhode Island offense and then you get to Greg Gaines a fourstar recruit who transferred from Iowa State bringing size and strength to the receiver room and then finally Sean Harris is a lightning quick speed guy on the outside for the receiver room rounding it out well that is a very very indepth wide receiver look is now we toss it to the tight ends and there is a little bit of a limitation in this cat guys but the Rams let's break it down for you the real only known commodity at the tight end position for the Rams is returning player Brady roor so it's a big question mark on who is going to be that tight end two and see other reps whether that be blocking or receiving game uh for the Rhode Island Rams the tight end game will be very interesting we move to the offensive line and guys Johnny who do you think you like on the o line side there are a lot of players to look at there's a lot of holes to fill losing longtime starters Lorenzo Thompson who's now on the Browns practice squad along with Nick kareah and Sebastian deasis and then also now looking to fill those roles is left tackle Brock Betha who was a right tackle in 2023 now moves to the left side another more important position protecting the quarterback's blinds side one of the most important positions on the football field and then Jacob o is another tackle Adam McKenna a versatile offensive lineman Trey Alexander looking to lead the offensive line from that Center position and then newcomers by via the transfer portal include Dimitri Robinson transfer from Mercer Thomas buckon from Stonehill and Jordan Cooper from Northwestern State as now we're going to jump right into the defensive lineman and Conor what do you have for us on the defensive side of things so for returning starters we got Malachi BBY and wesle Wesley Neil Jr are returning at full strength uh in addition we got some new recruits from Sacred Heart Carson primrose uh and then you got some more depth down throughout the roster if need be uh with people like case M uh son of Patriots leg Legend Logan manin actually Karem Wilson Jr and Patrick conerve well guys I'll tell you what Wesley Neil I don't know if you guys have seen him in game I'm sure you have but that is one guy that will get you fired up he is very fun to watch just a big shout out to him let's talk about the outside linebackers and a couple of the guys well one who we just will have in this segment right here but uh guys why don't you take it away talk about the outside linebackers so obviously the big name the star outside pass rusher AJ paena looking to take another leap in his game looking to be one of the best pass rushers in the conference and but then also Gabe Solomon is on the other side of paa they look to make one of the most you know talented and strong and like best I don't want to say best but maybe one of them uh pass rushing tandems in the whole conference they're looking to get after the quarterback and then also Georgia Southern transfer Sean pisan uh rotated in as a key contribut contributor last year during his senior year um looking to make a big impact up for the defense now on the inside Evan Stewart who graduated this is a big role to fill what are we going to look for the inside Conor yeah so the inside linebacker position is going to be huge for the Rams Evan Stewart graduating he was the team's leading tackler last year luckily the Rams have former be at Devin Hightower who looks to be that Mike linebacker that linebacker one that that guy who's who's likely going to be towards the top of the team and tackles alongside uh Cole Brockwell who has impressed the staff in the team all offseason all the way through training camp in preseason look for those two players to be all around the ball anytime it's up the middle for the Rhode Island defense now let's talk about one of my favorite positions in the game let's talk DBS and Johnny uh what do you have for us obviously we lost s giv to the transfer portal last year one of the most talented freshman in the entire conference this past year but coming back for one of the most experienced players on the team is Frederick Malay who's looking to lead that cornerback room to being a very shut down group shutting down opposing receivers and then also alongside him is Braden price and aande Johnson uh looking to contribute more in the cornerback rotation locking down the opposing team's receivers the DB positions have really improve their skills and strength also they have more depth this year so that is something to look out as Connor let's talk about the safety positions who are we looking forward to seeing this year yeah so the safety position also like the quarterback positions lost a big player in Jordan Colbert who was an undrafted free agent signed by the Dolphins I believe he's on their practice squad right now so they lose a star player in that secondary alongside say Gibs but this year the Rams have an extremely extremely deep safety group with the of Emanuel goes Andre deina uh gray uh treml States Jones uh and a total of five safeties that can make legitimate impacts in the first game and now guys this is the last category but this is these guys they often times go underrated under the radar They Don't Really uh get the attention lines a lot of times but these guys are important of just about every single rep that they do because they might not be out there for as long but let me tell you the special team teams they have a lot of returning pieces and this is going to be very valuable Johnny what do you have for us on special teams returners the Special Teams is led by The sixthe Long Snapper Donado croissan and then the team's primary kicker is Ty gr and punter Devin Walt are looking to improve on their second season here at URI a very important part of the team is the special teams that always goes underrated but it can always impact winning when it's done right well I don't know about you guys but to me that sounds like a very very dangerous 2024 Rams roster and if you are an opposing team I would not want to see a lot of those names on that list that's a breakdown of the roster we'll have more on college game day right after this welcome back to me Stadium Conor roia Johnny Blair and no mlan well guys today we're going to break down for you the 2024 schedule for the Rhode Island Rams of course tonight the home opener uh for the Rams facing off against Holy Cross next week in FBS matchup against former UNH quarterback and the uh Max brosmer and the Minnesota team that will be week two week three is facing off against Campell as they joined last year in 2023 this uh week four will be against Liu week five is a bye for the Rams but we know guys everything will be in preparation for week six against Hampton and this is the first matchup between those two teams since they joined the CA in 2022 week seven it is the Governor's Cup and against Brown and that is also a roie fights against cancer game that is another one that you guys don't want to miss week eight against New Hampshire who lost a former U uh UNH quarterback Max brosmer to Minnesota via the transfer portal who we just mentioned a moment ago week nine the Rams will have the homecoming festivities as well as a couple of surprise guests as they face off against Maine in week 10 the first matchup between the two teams of Monmouth and URI since 2022 7 overtime 4846 win for URI week 11 the Rams will face off against Delaware the final matchup ahead of Delaware leaving for the Conference USA in FBS matchup in week 12 it'll be you Albany and senior day and rounding it out it is the instate rivalry against Bryant where the first match up between the RH Island Rams and Bryant since they joined the conference in 2024 that's a look at the 2024 Game Day schedule for the Rhode Island Rams all right and now everyone give it up for the head coach of the Rhode Island Rams football team coach Jim Fleming how's it going it's going well we got game day man finally we're here and good to see you guys we appreciate you taking the time as always before this very big important game home opener season opener against Holy Cross first question I have for you how does it feel right now we're getting the new season started a fresh page get to write your own story how does it feel about the same and always felt for 39 years on the game opener you just really kind of look forward to seeing what you're all about under you know full competition against a quality opponent know been going against each other for so long you know you get to know each other but to test our football team versus somebody else is what you're looking for and Coach uh you know you had an entire offseason the entire preseason leading up to today what are some of the biggest strides you guys have made not only on the field but also in the front office to you know prepare yourself for Holy Cross and the rest of the season double prong question there let's start off with the front office you know the the efforts that have been made by Jeff Wen craw and Mason smaller and you guys bring it in to you know professionalize our operation get URI football out in front of people in a more con consistent manner uh be able to help us with raising the necessary funds to be able to build a product that we're all going to be very proud of so I think those efforts have been a year and a half in the making and now you're starting to see this thing roll a little bit and I'm really excited to see you know what the possibilities exist with that concept which is uh it's not normal for most places and then you know about our football team I you know you know at the end of the season you got guys coming you got guys going uh lot of recruiting a lot of building but you know I think that what we've developed is a very cohesive unit you know a group on defense that loves to play the game and play physical offensively I think we've got a lot of fire power and I'm really waiting to see how it goes against other people uh and our kicking game returns so I mean I feel good about it and we just got to go out and perform tonight all right coach now what are you most looking forward to tonight from the fan perspective this environment should be outstanding we got a game under the lights with a soldout crowd what are you most looking forward to from the RO faithful I want to see him hanging off the Raptors I want to see them going nuts at the appropriate times I want to see the opponent come out and have our fans making a very hard place for them to play I want Holy Cross to feel you know the RO spirit and full force right now as the as the 12th def 12 man on the football field yeah fans very crucial for for football as it's the game of passion and everything but beating holy cross holy cross has been pretty all these past few years s and four last year and 12-1 in 2022 with great starts both seasons um what are just some of the the key you know factors you look to If You I is going to come out successful with a victory tonight I think we you know you got to start with the basic fundamentals of football we've got to be able to stop the run you know they've got big backs and solid offensive line and we got to keep the ball you know inside and in front of us in the in the secondary and then you know offensively I think you know we we've got to get our Run game going whether it's going to be the pass game setting up the Run game or vice versa that's going to kind of be dictated to the to the flow of the game and you know it's going to be fun murf's got a good plan put together the offensive staff done an incredible job as have Chris lorenti and the defensive staff so and of course you always got coach Gilmer you know been here every step of the way dep on those special teams and they've been special for us since we've been here and last question coach for the new fans going to their first first ever URI game tonight the Freshman the new class getting their first experience here at me Stadium what can you tell them to expect from the team tonight on the field I think you're just going to expect I want a a clean solid group come out looking good right out of the locker room and all the way to the end of the fourth quarter I want to be able to inspire the people that are watching in terms of the passion and energy that they play with and I want to put on a good show you know and then that means you know play well enough to get yourself in a position to win the game and and hopefully we can do that at any point in time I tell them always we got to be prepared to win it on the last play of the game but please don't have to wait till the last play of the game if we want to put it away early I'm all good all right coach thank you so much for the time we'll let you get back to your busy day wishing you the best of luck tonight against a good opponent in Holy Cross and we'll be right back on Ro game day with so much more welcome back today we are joined with star outside linebacker AJ paa how are we doing AJ doing good ready on Game Day ready on game day so AJ coming to this year big expectations you love the team at sacks last year you had nine sacks this season you're projected to be the ca conference sack leader first off how do you manage you know expectations entering your third season but also you know keep striving to be the best and go farther than those expectations even um so I just feel like you know like when I came out the womb like I was born you know sack quarterbacks you know I have an obsession in a knack for it you know I I think about him at night you know what I'm saying especially in practice you know they wear red jerseys and stuff like that so it's very T to even just touch them you know I can't obviously but you know high expectations every time I I think about quarterbacks and you know the team relies on it so that makes it even that much more of an incentive to to reach that and before the games even start you know you you lead into every every game with a with a game day routine can you just take us through what your game day routine is leading up you know leading up to today's game against Holy Cross uh I always it's hard for me to even go to sleep every every like pregame normally but uh I have to mix in some different like calming relaxing music because I can't start off with like the hard rap that I normally listen to I have to like slide in like nickel back or something in there I'm serious I'm serious I'm serious I'm serious but like uh like I'm big into like WWE so like constant WWE songs may be weird to some people but that's what I've been growing up on my whole life mainly like Triple H you know what I'm saying so yeah love that love that big WWE Fan over here too um you know today you mentioned trying to stay calm but today sold out crowd Under The Lights you know emotion especially on the defensive side of the ball you know when you're you're trying to take the quarterback's head off every single play how much do you feed off that once you step step between the lines in the grid iron oh it's it's the number one thing I feed off of it's nothing better when the crowd Med stadium is is going Wilding on third down I mean it just gets me going it makes me push that much harder obviously I got my teammates around me you know who I'm you know fighting for who I'm playing for but that crowd is definitely something special here so well also uh you know we you talked about this just a little bit ago AJ and now for yourself as an individual first what are your specific goals I know we talked about the numerous sacks that you're and we will be expecting from you as you've seen you've been able to do that year in and year out uh for you personally and then as a a team what are your goals for this very competitive Ram Squad so as a team obviously the goal is the ca title but I don't want to think about that too much right now I want to take a game by game and win every single game that we can and then it'll naturally come to us I feel like when you look at it you know I'm like you say it's it's a huge goal but like you got to treat every opponent like it's a Super Bowl you know what I'm saying like we got to be ready you know so that's what I'm thinking for the team goals and my individual goals is I'm trying to get 14 plus sacks this year you know double digit tfls 22 plus you know and like 70 80 plus tackles maybe a couple picks in there you know what I'm saying so yeah that's that's my goals fantastic now there's a saying it's called lights camera action well it's under the lights the cameras will be on you and action is what you will be providing but tonight in the season opener what are you most excited for against a talented team like holy cross um I'm just wanted to test their you know their skill levels you know obviously they coming off a seven to four season they had a really good quarterback that just left in there kind of a new identity a new culture we don't really like the offensive coordinator from Maine and also in the C is over there now so we're very familiar with him but we don't know if it's the same flavor stuff that we're growing again so we have to be very prepared for the uncertain but the coaches have done a good job this week of making sure we're prepared for every situation you know um obviously there's going to be some adversity tonight it's just how we respond to that and we don't we can't let it just like affect us you know one play mentality if it's a bad play goes to the next one and then just dominate you know so well AJ we can't thank you enough for being here we look forward to seeing you in the back field with the quarterback on the ground not in a red jersey this time um so just thank you so much and good luck tonight thank you appreciate it welcome back to ro college game day Conor Roa Johnny Blair and Noah mclan right now we are going to have some of our predictions and anticipation about today's game and guys the first question that I have for you is which team and who will score the first touchdown Conor what's up with you so I'm I'm starting as any Rhode Island faithful wood with Rhode Island Rams scoring the first touchdown courtesy of senior Captain Gabe slow I think it gets in on the ground on the first possession of the game what about you Johnny for me it's going to be wide receiver Maris Buchanan uh I don't know which quarterback is going to be throwing him the ball we won't know until the game starts but I know he's taking over that wide receiver one roll and I think he's going to make it in instant impact for the Rhode Island offense now guys I have a bit of a curveball to throw your way the speech from AJ pñ sent me through a wall AJ Peña is going to not only sack the quarterback he is going to recover the fumble and he is going to run it into the End Zone for one of the most hype Rhode Island touchdowns you will ever see that's my te and now we move on to the next seg just like that the second question is the play of the game who has the play of the game and why Conor so stealing one from Johnny Blair I think marus be Canon has a massive game there's a thousand receiving yards and about 60 catches on the table left from just catero Summers not even Tak into account Darius Savage marus Buchanan no clue who he's getting uh who's throwing him the ball but he's going to see the ball early and often the entire game look for him to have over 100 yards and be a massive key to success for Rhode Island today and and for me it's going to be on the defensive side of the ball as well I have a pick from Frederick Malay that's going to impact the game in a way so major maybe it's at the end of the game maybe it's a pick six I don't know I I'm not that kind of fortune teller but I can feel one brewing for the long time Rhode Island DB well guys I mean I I kind of already told you why I think AJ Peña is not only going to score the first touchdown but I think that's going to be the play of the game to just get this thing rolling and that's going to set the tone from point A to point B now even if that touchdown doesn't happen AJ Peña is going to be the tone Setter he is going to come out like a burning fire in the uh word that we're not going to say the next thing is the breakout performance of the week who has this week's best performance and uh well let's switch it up Johnny who do you think I think it's going to be Gabe slow the running back I think he's going to make his mark on this Rhode Island running back room Jaden McKenzie is gone so there's a lot of carries left in the air and I think he's going to make his Mark and try to get as many as he can yeah I would say it does come back uh from the running back room but I'm going to go a different different route I'm going to go Malik Grant a transfer from Sacred Heart we all know gab slow gab slow got a lot of a decent amount of touches last year Malik Grant is a little unknown he's going to come in here and I think provide great value for what he's supposed to do I'm going to go gab slow and I think I'm just going to say plain and simple I think he's going to be the guy that also outside of the defensive side with AJ Pena who I've so highly praising these last few questions we're going to switch it up and I'm going to say gab slow is going to be the player of the week for the Rams to start it off and now my favorite part of this segment we're going to go final score predictions please do not come for us unless you're a betting man and Connor what do you have for us I've got a relatively low scoring game 24 to 17 the home team Rhode Island Rams take the victory wouldn't be surprised if it's a little slow start passing for you know either offense new quarterback new team for Holy Cross and new quarterback potentially or you know Deon frell from last season but didn't play much you know new quarterbacks for both teams entering the season so wouldn't be surprised if both teams rely on the run and it's a little slower start to the game for me I got more of a high-scoring game I got 3128 Rhode Island takes it just by a hair just by a field goal and I think it's going to be a good one here in Kingston fantastic uh first of all I got Rhode Island winning let's get that out of the way number two the final score prediction I have Rhode Island 2 4 and I have Holy Cross 14 that is my final score prediction and that is a look at today's predictions and expectations on roie college game day well thank you everyone for joining us today on today's episode of roie college game day Connor do Roa Johnny Blair and myself Noah mlan we'd also like to give a big shout out to head coach Jim Fleming and AJ Peña for joining us today and well folks the Rams will travel to Minnesota next week so be sure to stay tuned we'll have a lot more for you guys in just a few days this is RO college game day signing off