So we are at that point of the season where things can go one way or the other.  In the midst of a three game losing streak, the 2012 season has taken a nasty turn but with four games left there is still time enough to turn it around and at least call it semi-successful season. 

Monmouth Quarterback Kyle Frazier
Monmouth Quarterback Kyle Frazier (Monmouth athletics)
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Semi-successful was not what this batch of Hawks had in mind with high expectation among an experienced group that was trying to win a 6th NEC title and earn a bid into the FCS playoffs.  I am sure there is some mathematic scenario that gets MU back in the title picture with still half of the NEC schedule left to play BUT that is all immaterial unless this team can themselves figured out and the way Albany has played , the likely hood that they lose twice doesn’t garner much  hope.

The Albany loss was the one that started this slide and I wonder, even though the team has had 4th quarter leads against Cornell and Bryant, if MU has ever fully recovered from losing to the Great Danes.  I think so much was put into that game after a 3-1 start and a 2-0 beginning in league play that after the loss, the players may be doing more questioning of themselves then they need to.  The time has come to get back to the way they started the season with a balanced offense mixing in the run and pass.  The run game, short of Kyle Frazier scrambling and KB Asante having a good game against Bryant, has not had the normal punch it was supposed to which has put a lot of pressure on the passing game and although good most of the time, I am reminded of the cliché of when you throw the ball two of the three that can happen are bad (incomplete and INT).  That being said, I would love to see MU this week come out and establish the run game and try to dominate Duquesne at the line of scrimmage.

I can’t explain the defense and what has happened but this week will be a huge chore to try and slow the Dukes one-two punch of RB Larry McCoy & QB Sean Patterson.  McCoy is as solid as they come and the DU offense is coming off a 35-point effort against Sacred Heart last week. DU is entering a murderous schedule for the next month with games against MU, Robert Morris, Albany, & Wagner so maybe they are looking ahead a little bit and they certainly are not a dominant team as evidenced by a loss to CCSU and near loss to St. Francis (PA).

To me however, this game is about Monmouth and what the next four games mean to this team.  This is a key game because with a win I can see MU going 4-0 to finish out the year but with a loss, it may be hard to keep motivated.  JUSTA REMINDER FOR SATURDAY .. 12 PM KICKOFF

You can listen to all MU Football games on 1160/1310 AM along with shoresportsnetwork.com or gomuhawks.com. Pregame show starts 10 minutes prior to kickoff.

Join us every week at Jack’s Goal Line Stand in the West End for the Kevin Callahan Monmouth Football Show, Tuesdays from 7-8pm.

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