Villanova Opens CAA Play Saturday Against Rhode Island
By Matt Leon
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Villanova picked up its first win of the season last weekend as they took care of Fordham on the Main Line, 28-13. Now the Wildcats will try to make it two straight wins on Saturday as they play their first Colonial Athletic Association game of 2012 against Rhode Island at Villanova Staidum.
The Rams will come to town after getting throttled in their opener by Monmouth 41-6. Wildcats head coach Andy Talley experts a better effort this week from the team coached by his former defensive coordinator Joe Trainer.
"I know Joe will bring them in here ready to play and they will be very emotional," Talley tells KYW Newsradio.
Listen to Matt Leon's interview with Andy Talley:
Talley breaks down what he sees on tape from the Rhode Island defense.
"They don't blitz a lot, they are a team that hangs in a four-man front a lot and they just try to be sound on defense. I think they are only about 13% blitz. So we have to make sure that we are ready for any blitzes they do come up with."
As for the other side of the football.
"Offensively, they throw the ball pretty good," Talley says. "They have a returning quarterback from last year who came on very strong for them at the end of the season. They've got some talented receivers. They are a one-back offense. And I think they are going to probably throw the ball 30 times against us for sure."
Villanova rushed for 287 yards in the win over Fordham and Talley is hopeful they can enjoy that kind of success again.
"We probably are going to come out and try to run the ball a little bit. We're hoping that (quarterback) John Robertson can improve a little bit with the passing game, because he has a real good arm, and we've asked him to stay with his reads. But you know, when he pulls the ball down he is a real threat to take off and run."
Robertson rushed for 46 yards and a score in the Fordham win.
Villanova and Rhode Island will kick-off at 3:30pm.
You can follow Matt on Twitter @mattleonkyw.
