The annual "Governor's Cup" matchup pits the nation's smallest state's two Division I football teams. It is always a war, and very entertaining when these two schools meet, and this year's edition was no different. Neither school has much big league talent, and from that aspect, it was kind of a waste of a couple hours scouting the game, but Zak DeOssie came out of Brown a couple years ago, and URI has a gutsy QB who has an outside camp shot, so...you never know where you might find a new PP. Anyway, Rhode Island is bigger and more physical, and even though Brown is coming off a stunning upset of perennial Ivy powerhouse, Harvard, they were eventually worn down. It was a scoreless game through the first quarter and a half though, when Rhoddy blocked a Brown punt with :40 left before half time and scored to make it 13-0, setting the tone for the rest of the contest. One very intriguing situation occured with URI trying to put the game away in the mid fourth quarter that I had never seen before. QB Derek Cassidy threw a 60-yard bomb for an apparent TD to WR Sean Leonard that was called back for holding. On the next play, Cassidy again threw complete to Leonard, gaining 60 yards down to the Brown 10. This one was also called back for holding. On 3rd and 21, the Rams through a WR screen that gave them a first down (to a different receiver.) Then, on the next play Cassidy threw 50-yards to Leonard again--this time complete inside the Brown 5. In other words, in the space of about two minutes, one receiver went 3 for 170, with a TD--all but 50 of it being called back. I thought that was kinda cool...
SCOUTING SUMMARY:
College: Brown Conference: Ivy League Columnist: Steve Martin
Name # Ht Wt Speed Pos Class Game Notes
Michael Dougherty 14 6' 1.0" 185 4.75 QB 2009: Could be the best QB in the Ivy League, and Brown has a shot at the Ivy title this year, so he might get a look see. Didn't show me that much today though. Not big enough or strong enough, or mobile enough to make up for the other two deficiencies. Obviously smart. Throws well rolling to his right, but not to his left. Flat footed passer. Accurate short. Ball sails long. Below average arm, but can musle up a supriser now and then. Was out of sync and had a poor comp. %age in this one. Didn't complete much long except a lucky break busted heave just before half time, and one other long sidelines toss in the 4th quarter. GRADE: Slightly negative
Dereck Knight 35 6' 1.3" 230 4.70 HB 2009: Big tough, scary looking RB, who looks better than he is. Probably a 4.70 type. Slow starter. Needs a hole. Runs too high, and looks slow. Powerful inside runner. Don't see him getting into a camp, unless I am way off, and he's a 4.50 guy who just isn't letting on, or something....GRADE: Neutral
Steve Ziogas 32 5' 11.4" 220 4.75 LB 2009: Tough and competitive. Decent hitter and wrapper. No Zak DeOssie, for sure, but not a bad Ivy linebacker. Decent pass defender. Aware in coverage. Gets back there. Big hitter who over-runs plays and gets stuck to blocks. Limited chase ability. Obvious size deficiencies will probably keep him out of camp. GRADE: Slightly positive
College: Rhode Island Conference: Colonial Athletic Columnist: Steve Martin
Name # Ht Wt Speed Pos Class Game Notes
Joe Casey 37 5' 10.0" 210 4.65 FB 2009: DNP. Injured. broken foot in first game versus Monomuth. Looking for a medical RS and should get it.
Derek Cassidy 10 6' 2.9" 210 4.76 QB 2009: Intriguing guy who was running the option until this year, when the Rams hired a new coach (Darren Rizzi) and switched to the spread. Derek has picked up the new system far faster than I would have thought possible, and he shows he can throw (and he's always been a tough runner.) This guy could emerge into camp fodder for sure. Line today was: 25 of 37 for 298 yards, 5/1....But it was against an Ivy secondary, so let's not get too excited just yet. GRADE: Slightly positive
OTHER NOTES:
Brown: They have a junior WR/KR named Buddy Farnham (#46, 6'0", 185) who is pretty slippery and surehanded.
URI: Joseph Harris is a sophomore LB (#6, 5'11", 220) who has a chance at a camp offer some day. Not active enough for my tastes, but looks and plays fast. Fluid turning and dropping. Nice guns.
Sr. HB Jimmy Hughes (5'10", 195) has stepped in for the injured Casey, but will not remind anyone of Casey. He is far more of a finesse back who is used more on swing passes and screens than carrying the ball up the middle.
#4 Jimmy Young is a decent CAA cornerback (5'10", 185).
#13 WR Sean Leonard, is a name to remember (see paragraph #1)