UNH has lost only once, and they came into this one fully expecting to dominate a Rhode Island squad that was so far winless in conference play, but lit' Rhoddy fought hard in this one and was actually ahead 10-7 late in the first quarter. Their transfer QB Chris Paul-Etienne (22 of 39 for 429 yards, 4/2) continues to improve and has been putting up some huge numbers. This one was pretty close all the way, and turned into a total track meet. It was 35-30 UNH late in the 3rd quarter, and 38-36 with just 12:41 to play. Both teams left their defense at homes as the combine offensive output broke several CAA game records. In the end, UNH pulled away as they continued to complete passes and to run whenever they felt like it, while URI suffered a couple of miscues that iced this one away late for the home team.

SCOUTING SUMMARY:

College: Rhode Island Conference: Colonial Athletic Columnist: Steve Martin

Game Notes
Shawn Leonard 13 6' 1.6" 210 4.70 WR 2010: Has a lot of talent, and can use it to climb the ladder. Makes tough catches in traffic and wins in jump ball situations at this level. Has better speed than we are listing, I would guess. Very productive at this level and is really getting comfortable with a productive new QB. Was a 6'8" high jumper in High School and flashes that kind of athleticism when he wants to. Has above average hands, and seems to know how to get open and behind a defender. Doesn't always give maximum effort. Lets the losing get to him. Doesn't always take advantage of his physical gifts. Has a long memory. Not a real blood and guts type. Tallied an amazing 10-275-3 in this one, but didn't leave it all on the field despite the impressive numbers. GRADE: Slightly positive

Joe Bellini 83 5' 9.7" 195 4.60 WR 2010: Dependable hands guy who is now the second option only, and his role has been quite reduced. Had a couple nice catches including a 20-yard TD grab, but also had a big drop. A smallish possession guy who will have to find a home in a sub-NFL environment. GRADE: Slightly negative

Rodney Mitchell 3 5' 10.0" 190 4.60 S 2010: DNS, and I know he has been nursing a labrum injury, but he really showed up when he came in somewhere around the 2nd quarter. The URI defense is noticeably better with him on the field. Makes tackles. Reads run and flies up quickly. ST leader and solid tackler. Looks like he can cover pretty well too. May just be a solid CAA-level safety, and lacks the eye-popping measurables, but I'd try to sneak him into camp....GRADE: Slightly positive



College: New Hampshire Conference: Colonial Athletic Columnist: Steve Martin

Game Notes
Scott Sicko 89 6' 4.0" 236 4.75 TE 2010: Improving blocker who gives good effort and will get in the way and open things up on the second level. Stays after run blocks. Above average hands with nice size and some size potential. Rumbles pretty well with the ball in his hands and will fight for YAC. Not physically imposing and needs to develop his upper body strength. Benefits some from the scheme, and his productivity is inflated. Good but not great hands. May never be much of an in-line blocker. More than the average prospect, an awful lot will depend on post-season testing. Still, he was one of 2-3 legit professional prospects in the game, and shows why CDS chose him as our preseason FCS Offensive POTY. GRADE: Slightly positive

Ryan Hinds 26 6' 0.5" 190 4.60 S 2010: Very involved today and had 4 PDs but was beaten a couple times too. Nice size for a CAA corner, but he projects to safety at the next level. Lot to like about him in coverage, but he is going to have to do it with his size and strength and speed burners could give him fits at the next level. Nice ups. Really breaks on the ball. Stone hands. Can play corner here, but doesn't have those kind of hips for the NFL and is smallish for a safety. GRADE: Neutral

Chad Kackert 27 5' 7.7" 191 4.55 HB 2010: Tough cuss who thinks he weighs 230. Plays like it, and takes a beating. Has enough speed to be a star in college, but not in the pros. Busts it outside and does not get caught at this level. Shows better field speed than timed speed. Decent vision and balance. Very competitive and plays hard on every down. Not sure what you do with him. Lacks true HB openfield moves. But...he's one of those guys the draft is supposed to still be about: i.e. a football player. Reminds me of Danny Woodhead. Put up 15-168-2. GRADE: Slightly positive

Sean Ware 4 6' 1.5" 233 4.75 LB 2010: A legitimate pro prospect, but not necessarily at the position he's playing for UNH. Has a safety background and may fit back there if couple with a scheme that wants their SSs to just run and hit. Gets to the sidelines and makes plays all over in the running game. Has some coverage ability, solid pass drops and reads pass quickly and accurately. Has just enough size and quicks to make you think he could possibly transition back to safety if he lost a few pounds. Play maker and football player. Leader. A tweener with no real home at the NFL level. Looks like an ideal defensive all-star for s sub-NFL pro league. Built up size. Not agile enough to be a safety conversion at his current size and 4.75 may be about right--truth be known. Despite his decent pass-defense instincts, he does not have super quick hips or outstanding ups, and may always have to be covered up some in pass defense. A little older than some rookies. GRADE: Slightly positive

Terrence Klein 17 5' 10.7" 195 4.60 S 2010: Playing out of position as an OLB in UNH's 4-2-5 scheme. Hard to project. Obviously way too small for an NFL LB, but plays like one at this level and does a very nice job of it. Not able to evaluate his coverage ability. If he's 4.60, I'd be surprised, and to project him as a true safety candidate he'd have to be. Stretches running plays out and foils them. Easy to block. No current pro position, but again, he's a play maker. GRADE: Neutral

Kevin Peters 97 6' 2.4" 240 4.85 DE 2010: Pretty much just a guy. Works hard and breaks through a block every once in awhile. Squatty powerful build. Strong at POA at this level. May be shorter than we have him listed. Gives solid effort. Consistent. Does not look like an NFL DE and does not possess flexibility to convert. One of those solid college DEs whose best days are probablyt behind him. GRADE: Neutral

Tom Neill 65 6' 3.2" 286 5.15 C 2010: Not really a PP after this evaluation. Cut blocks OK. Too low in his stance and can be tipped over backwards by a strong bull rush. Keeps his head on a swivel in pass pro. Not a real bull run blocking. Better in short yardage running situations than openfield situations. Misses and doesn't feel he needs to try again. Doesn't hunt. Patty cake blocks. Will get to the second level, and looks good on some plays. Inconsistent. GRADE: negative


OTHER NOTES:

UNH: Junior QB R.J. Toman was solid both running and throwing. WR Kevin Mason (#5) flashed some good things, and backup TE Chris Geannot (#86, 6'6", 230) may prove to be better than Sicko down the line.

URI: QB Chris Paul-Etienne is a true revelation and has really improved with time in the offense. Not sure where he maxes out, but he throws a dart, is very athletic, showing really nice moves when running the ball. Makes some truly beautiful throws. Struggles with reads and with pitch decisions in the option at this point. A lot of his shortcomings are correctable. Accurate on short sidelines patterns and the ball comes out on time. Doesn't lead his receivers enough on longer patterns. Lots of upside with this guy. LB Rob Damon (#5) is a future possible PP, but he's small. Soph Rutgers-transfer CB Robinson Alexis has some skills.