2008 Woodie Awards
Coen to lead new-look receiving corps
Horne leads group in '08 opener
Jeffrey R. Larnard, Collegian Staff
Issue date: 5/13/08 Section: Sports
When the Massachusetts football team graduated both J.J. Moore and Rasheed Rancher, the Minutemen had huge holes to fill at the wide receiver position. Despite a 28-16 win over Albany on Saturday night, those holes were visible.
With the five receivers on UMass' active roster combining for 18-career receptions heading into the season, filling those holes stood as a major task for UMass coach Don Brown and his coaching staff.
Redshirt junior Jeremy Horne led the group of receivers with 12-career catches prior to Saturday's game with the Great Danes and was the main target of senior quarterback Liam Coen in the Minutemen's season opener. Horne led all UMass receivers with four catches, including a 17-yard touchdown reception, and 37 yards.
Beyond Horne, the only wide receiver with a reception was redshirt freshman Julian Talley. Coen, who completed 10 of his 20 passes for 92 yards and three scores, found his backfield to be targets on three occasions and redshirt senior tight end Ian Jorgensen for the final two.
Of Coen's 20 attempts, his target was a wide receiver for only 11 of them; six for incompletion. Two of the miscues were intended for redshirt junior Victor Cruz, one that was bobbled and then knocked away by the defender while the other was overthrown by Coen. Redshirt sophomore Ke'Mon Bailey dropped another in the end zone.
With the inexperience in the wide receiver corps, Coen looked to veteran targets. Both redshirt senior Ian Jorgenson and redshirt junior running back Tony Nelson caught 2-yard touchdown passes from Coen.
Jorgensen, who is known more for his blocking ability, has been improving his hands to help out the passing game. Apart from the touchdown catch, his reception deep in Albany territory on a second-and-five extended a UMass drive, which resulted in Horne's touchdown.
Jorgensen was one of Coen's favorite targets last season in the red zone, catching 15 passes, with five of them resulting in touchdowns.
With the five receivers on UMass' active roster combining for 18-career receptions heading into the season, filling those holes stood as a major task for UMass coach Don Brown and his coaching staff.
Redshirt junior Jeremy Horne led the group of receivers with 12-career catches prior to Saturday's game with the Great Danes and was the main target of senior quarterback Liam Coen in the Minutemen's season opener. Horne led all UMass receivers with four catches, including a 17-yard touchdown reception, and 37 yards.
Beyond Horne, the only wide receiver with a reception was redshirt freshman Julian Talley. Coen, who completed 10 of his 20 passes for 92 yards and three scores, found his backfield to be targets on three occasions and redshirt senior tight end Ian Jorgensen for the final two.
Of Coen's 20 attempts, his target was a wide receiver for only 11 of them; six for incompletion. Two of the miscues were intended for redshirt junior Victor Cruz, one that was bobbled and then knocked away by the defender while the other was overthrown by Coen. Redshirt sophomore Ke'Mon Bailey dropped another in the end zone.
With the inexperience in the wide receiver corps, Coen looked to veteran targets. Both redshirt senior Ian Jorgenson and redshirt junior running back Tony Nelson caught 2-yard touchdown passes from Coen.
Jorgensen, who is known more for his blocking ability, has been improving his hands to help out the passing game. Apart from the touchdown catch, his reception deep in Albany territory on a second-and-five extended a UMass drive, which resulted in Horne's touchdown.
Jorgensen was one of Coen's favorite targets last season in the red zone, catching 15 passes, with five of them resulting in touchdowns.
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