AMHERST — It’s become the most constant refrains from opposing head coaches before they face UMass.
Every week, a new coach is tasked with trying to slow down Andy Isabella, and every week, the coach tries to warn his local media about Isabella. Inevitably, all of the planning and scheming is made irrelevant by the speedy senior receiver.
In Saturday’s 24-13 loss to Coastal Carolina, Isabella caught at least 10 passes for the third straight game and became the first UMass player in at least 20 years to accomplish the feat. In that stretch, he has caught 35 passes for 563 yards and four touchdowns.
Isabella has been involved in UMass’ first play in five straight games and he has rarely had to wait more than two drives to extend his streak of games with at least two catches, which now stands at 32. That was no different Saturday when the Mayfield, Ohio, native caught three passes in the first quarter and seven by halftime.
“We’re always going to try to get Andy the ball, he’s our best player,” coach Mark Whipple said. “You try to get your best players the ball in different ways. I wouldn’t be using my brain if I didn’t try to get him the ball.”
By utilizing Isabella early and often, Whipple is able to free up space for his other receivers and the Minutemen’s rushing attack. In recent weeks, it has been freshmen Samuel Emilus and Zak Simon who have thrived late in games when all the attention is paid to Isabella.
But it also has helped junior Sadiq Palmer take on a larger role in the offense. Palmer had just seven catches in UMass’ first five games, but he has made 17 over the last three, including seven against the Chanticleers.
“It helps a lot because they’re so focused on him that it allows other receivers – not only me – to get open,” Palmer said.
Palmer said his resurgence into the offense hasn’t been the result of any alterations to the game plan. He said he has worked to become a better option for his quarterbacks, and it certainly paid off with his first 100-yard game of the season.
“It’s the same game plan,” said Palmer, who had a career-best 139 yards against Coastal Carolina. “But I’m just trying to work a little harder just to try to get myself open so I can go make those plays.”
DEFENSE RESPONDS: The noise surrounding the UMass defense entering Saturday’s game wasn’t positive.
The Minutemen had surrendered at least 50 points in four of their previous six games, and at least 30 to every FBS opponent they had faced. Miscommunications and a variety of one-man breakdowns let teams gash UMass for explosive plays on a consistent basis that ultimately would lead to touchdowns if they weren’t scores already.
UMass defenders had plenty of chances to reflect upon the first half of the season during the off week last week, and came back on Sunday recharged and refreshed. It showed on Saturday, holding Coastal Carolina to just three points in the first half and keeping them out of the end zone after both UMass turnovers.
“We see how well our offense has been performing,” safety Brice McAllister said. “When they put up 35 or 40 points, we can’t let another team get more than that. The big thing with this week was keeping the points low and I feel like we accomplished that to a certain extent (Saturday). It was just one we let slip out of our hands.”
KICKING COMPETITION OVER? Although Whipple was non-committal about Cooper Garcia being UMass’ starting kicker after the loss, all signs point to the junior having won that role.
Garcia attempted and made both field goals against Coastal Carolina and was responsible for all four UMass kickoffs in the game. Mike Caggiano, who had missed the previous two games with a groin injury, made the only extra point UMass attempted in the game.
Prior to Caggiano’s injury, the two would alternate handling both the field goal or extra point and the ensuing kickoff.