It’s been a rough start to the 2012 season for the Robert Morris Colonials, dropping their first three games by a combined score of 97-24; certainly not the start to the season that Colonials’ head coach Joe Walton was hoping for.
Following a bye week, RMU gets back in action Saturday, but things won’t get any easier as they host unbeaten Lafayette (3-0).
To come away with a win, the Colonials offense must get going. That’s a possibility after they got back quarterback Jeff Sinclair last time out against Dayton. Despite the loss, the Colonials have something to build from.
After scoring only one touchdown their first two games of the season, Sinclair threw a pair of touchdown passes against Dayton. In addition, the Colonials out gained the Flyers on the afternoon and had a statistical advantages in categories such as first downs, passing yards, time of possession and third down conversion percentage.
To have any success against Lafayette, RMU must build off that performance. In addition, finding a ground game would help Sinclair a great deal. Through three games. the RMU rushing attack has been non-existent. Evan Taylor leads the team in rushing, but has only 122 yards on 43 carries. good for only a 2.8 yards per carry average. As a team, the Colonials have averaged only 1.9 yards per carry on the season and have yet to find the end zone on the ground.
Sinclair wasn’t great in his first game back, completing only 10-of-27 (37 percent) pass attempts for 176 yards, a pair of touchdowns and a pair of picks, but he gave the RMU offense the playmaker they were missing the first two weeks of the season.
In addition to having Sinclair back under center, Robert Morris may have found a weapon on the outside in wide receiver Donte Jeter. Jeter had only two catches for 31 yards combined the first two weeks, but caught four passes against Dayton for 113 yards including a 77-yard touchdown.
Whether it’s Jeter or someone else, one thing is for certain and that’s someone will have to step up and make plays if the Colonials are going to find their way into the win column.
Photo Credit: Robert Morris
