Engineers count on defense to win again.Byline: Jennifer Toland WORCESTER - Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester Polytechnic Institute - (WPI) A well-regarded, small engineering college. Address: Worcester, MA, USA. coach Ed Zaloom likes this year's defense and it's easy to see why. The unit, especially at linebacker and in the secondary, is filled with experienced playmakers Playmakers is a TV series on ESPN that depicted the lives of the players on a fictional professional football team. The show starred Omar Gooding, Marcello Thedford, Christopher Wiehl, Jason Matthew Smith, Russell Hornsby and Tony Denison. and possibly the most talent in Zaloom's 10 seasons with the Engineers. "I have the strongest feeling about that group," Zaloom said. Senior linebacker Matt Boudreau, the 2006 Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year, and senior strong safety Andrew Sides, a second-team preseason All-American, head the group, which also features linebacker Michael Toto and free safety Chris Boudreau, who are also returning starters. In the Liberty League, WPI WPI - Worcester Polytechnic Institute ranked third in scoring defense and first in red-zone defense during last year's 4-6 season. "We're really excited about all the guys we have coming back on defense," Sides said. Sides, the first WPI player to be selected a preseason All-American by d3football.com, is coming off an outstanding season in which he led the league with six interceptions and earned all-league honors. Sides returned two interceptions for touchdowns in wins over Worcester State and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Matt Boudreau, Sides, Toto and Chris Boudreau ranked 1-2-3-4 in tackles for the Engineers last season. Senior Justin Thomas and sophomore Brendan Gove lead the defensive line, though depth is a concern up front. "Our defense in general is awesome," senior quarterback Justin Wells Justin Wells is a news producer for Fox Television in New York, NY. Wells began his television career in 1999 with the Fox Owned and Operated television station in Tampa, Florida, WTVT. said. "Every day in practice, they give us one of the best looks we'll see all year. I love watching them during games. It gets me excited." Wells backed up Rob Pantalone Pantalone (French: Pantaloon) is a stock character that is classified as one of the vecchi (old men) in Commedia dell'arte. He is a miserly and often libidinous character who is portrayed as a Venetian and often speaks in the Venetian dialect. the last three seasons, but got substantial playing time. In eight games last year, he completed 36 of 66 passes for 496 yards and four touchdowns. Wells, who won a New England New England, name applied to the region comprising six states of the NE United States—Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. The region is thought to have been so named by Capt. Football Writers Gold Helmet as a freshman in 2005, tossed a pair of TD passes against Hobart last year and completed 15 of 19 passes for 236 yards and a 10-yard TD in a shutout of Merchant Marine. Filling out the rest of the skill positions will be a top task for WPI. The Engineers graduated their lead running back, George Chyoghly, as well as their top three receivers, Mike Butler For the football player of the same name see Mike Butler (football player). Michael (Mike) Edward Butler (born October 22 1946, in Memphis, Tennessee) is an American former professional basketball player. , Matt Burger and Orry Cummings. Zaloom is hoping juniors R.C. Grady of Shirley and Cody McGregor step in at wide receiver and sophomores Manny Manny may refer to: In nobility:
WPI returns three starters on the offensive line with junior center Justin Pollard pollard fine protein-rich feed supplement for farm animals; a byproduct from the milling of wheat for flour. Called also shorts. and junior left guard Stan St. Juste, both second-team all-league selections in 2007, and senior left tackle Bobby Evers. The Engineers started last season 4-0, but dropped their last six and won just one league game. "Our league games are a big focus for us and hopefully we can make some noise in the Liberty League this year," Sides said. Numbers are up for WPI and the competition in camp has been good. "I like their attitude and I like their effort," Zaloom said. The Engineers begin the season Saturday at UMass-Dartmouth, and play their home opener Sept. 13 against city rival Worcester State. "We had some tough losses last year, but hopefully we learned from them," Matt Boudreau said. "We can only go up from there." Engineers at a glance Coach: Ed Zaloom (10th year, 37-50). League: Liberty League. 2007 record: 4-6, 1-6 league. Top returnees: Sr. LB Matt Boudreau (team-high 82 tackles), Sr. S Sr. abbr. 1. or sr. senior 2. señor 3. Ecclesiastical sister (title) Adj. 1. sr. Andrew Sides (69 tackles, 6 INTs), Sr. LB Michael Toto (65 tackles, 3 sacks), Sr. LB Stefan Nicotra (21 tackles), Jr. S/P S/P Status Post S/P Serial to Parallel S/P Policy Planning Staff S/P Sound Powered S/P Sharp & Pink (description of optic nerve in eye) Chris Boudreau (55 tackles, 2 INTs, 33-yard punt avg.), Sr. QB Justin Wells (36 of 66, 496 yards, 4 TDs), Jr. C Justin Pollard, Jr. LG Stan St. Juste, Sr. LT Bobby Evers, So. RB Manny Cambra (68 carries, 363 yards, 3 TDs), Jr. WR R.C. Grady (17 catches, 192 yards, TD). Key losses: QB Matt Pantalone, WR Matt Burger, WR Mike Butler, RB George Chyoghly. Notable newcomers: Fr. DB John Perron Per´ron n. 1. (Arch.) An out-of-door flight of steps, as in a garden, leading to a terrace or to an upper story; - usually applied to mediævel or later structures of some architectural pretensions. . Schedule: Sept. 6 ... at UMass-Dartmouth, 7 Sept. 13 ... Worcester State, 1 Sept. 20 ... Becker, 1 Sept. 27 ... at Rensselaer, 1 Oct. 4 ... Union, 1 Oct. 11 ... at Merchant Marine, 4 Oct. 25 ... Rochester, noon Nov. 1 ... at Hobart, noon Nov. 8 ... Susquehanna, noon Nov. 15 ... at St. Lawrence, noon |
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