UMass D awakens during bye week

The numbers are painfully accurate.

Dominic Randolph and Holy Cross piled up 375 yards and 42 points in Worcester. Rodney Landers and James Madison chewed up 423 yards in a 52-point assault in Harrisonburg, Va. Texas Tech, a top-10 program in the Bowl Subdivision, compiled 538 yards and 56 points in Lubbock, Texas.

Last week's bye came at an opportune time for a University of Massachusetts squad that prides itself on a ball-hawking, in-your-face, pressure defense, yet is allowing 41.5 points per game in a 2-2 start.

"We went back to the drawing board, and had fairly physical practices," said UMass coach Don Brown earlier this week.

However, there was no pointing fingers for a veteran unit featuring 11 juniors and seniors.

"We were not doing the little things as a group, not focused on coming together as a team," said senior cornerback Courtney Robinson, who called the performances "embarrassing . . . I didn't like how it felt like, losing."

Back on the friendly turf at McGuirk Stadium today for the first time since late August, the 18th-ranked Minutemen have an opportunity to make a statement against No. 16 Delaware, which beat Albany, 38-7, in a nonleague game last week.

Versatile back/receiver Kervin Michaud (broken clavicle), the heart and soul of the team, said coach K.C. Keeler, is one of four Blue Hens out for the season.

First-year starter Robby Schoenhoft, a 6-foot-6-inch, 250-pound junior quarterback who transferred in from Ohio State, has taken command of the huddle, moves well in the pocket, and has showcased a strong arm. "He picks up protection schemes better than anyone else I've had, a very smart player," said Keeler. Last year's starter, Joe Flacco, is now playing for the Baltimore Ravens.

Robinson is confident the Minutemen can halt their skid - they lost, 52-38, to James Madison, and 56-14 to Texas Tech - starting with a collective effort on defense.

"We need more gang tackling, we've worked on tackling," said Robinson. "You will see a better UMass defense, and a different UMass team. It helps to be at home," where the Minutemen have ripped off 15 straight wins.

"We all have to take on more of a leadership role. It's not just one player. If we come together in all three phases of the game, we'll be just fine."

Keeler has seen the numbers, and has viewed the footage, too. He remains impressed.

"They got into a shootout with James Madison, and Texas Tech scores on everybody," said Keeler, whose squad is finally playing its Colonial Athletic Association opener. "The defensive numbers are not impressive, but the defensive personnel is not unimpressive. I understand how the numbers got where they got. It is a very complete football team."

He pointed out Robinson and fellow corner Sean Smalls, arguably the CAA's top pro prospect; and junior linebacker Josh Jennings, who paces the Minutemen in tackles, sacks, and interceptions. And he knows winning at McGuirk is one of the more difficult challenges in the conference.

Brown believes his squad is ready to deliver a complete effort.

"I like the way we went about business [in practice]," said the coach. "And I expect our guys to be very focused.

"But you can't analyze if you're able to grow until you play a game, because that's when it counts, when the lights go on."

Northeastern (1-3) hits the road for Johnny Unitas Stadium to take on Towson (2-3). The Huskies are without preseason All-America tight end Brian Mandeville (knee), their top receiving threat, for at least two weeks. But coach Rocky Hager has confidence in 6-6, 253-pound sophomore Conor Gilmartin-Donohue. Towson senior QB Sean Schaefer has 60 career touchdown passes.

Rhode Island (1-4) hosts 25th-ranked Brown (2-0) in the 27th annual Governor's Cup in Kingston.

With seven turnovers in two games, Harvard coach Tim Murphy is concerned with his squad's ability to take care of the ball. "It's a big problem. In 10 games last year, we had seven [fumbles]," said Murphy, whose squad (1-1) travels to Lafayette (3-0). "Same kids, same [offense]. We've beaten [Lafayette] seven years in a row now, we've been very fortunate."

Holy Cross (1-2) travels to New Haven to take on Yale (1-1), which leads the series, 26-4.

In the NESCAC, unbeaten Amherst (2-0) travels to defending champion Middlebury (1-1); Tufts (at Bowdoin) and Trinity (at Hamilton) aim to remain unbeaten . . . Curry (4-0) shoots for its 35th consecutive New England Football Conference win, playing at Salve Regina (2-1); MIT (3-1) takes on UMass-Dartmouth (2-2) in what promises to be a shootout.

Craig Larson can be reached at clarson@globe.com