Delaware Blue Hens football wraps up spring practice

Spring football games offer just a hint of what is to come when the competition gets real in the fall.

Those are September and October answers.

April does offer clues, because it’s often the first look at who might play where. In Delaware’s case, that includes practically the entire defense, which keyed two FCS playoff qualifications the past three seasons, and a new quarterback to replace record-setting Nolan Henderson.

That’s a big job, and it will carry through August preseason camp and well past the Blue Hens’ Aug. 31 opener at CAA rival Stony Brook.

Delaware’s annual intrasquad tussle Friday night at Delaware Stadium provided few answers to the question “How good will the Blue Hens be?”

Here’s what we’ve learned about Delaware after spring drills concluded Friday and heading into the 2023 season.

Offense wins

Last season the defense dominated the spring game, getting several takeaways and showing its superiority over a developing offense.

The offense, while still in a formative stage, prevailed this time, winning 38-24. The defense was spotted 24 points and could have earned points for takeaways but had none.

Each of the two quarterbacks vying for the starting job threw a touchdown pass – Ryan O’Connor to Harvard transfer Kym Wimberly and Zach Marker to tight end Matt Carlino.

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Freshman Jo’Nathan Silver ran for 18- and 38-yard touchdowns. Battling some injuries during spring, he impressed coach Ryan Carty with how he responded to the heightened intensity of a game situation.“He showed flashes for sure,” Carty said. “ . . . That’s what you need to see.”

And East Stroudsburg transfer Nate Reed was 4-for-4 on field-goal tries including 34- and 44-yarders.

“We played hard out there on both sides of the ball,” Carty said. “I thought there were some good things on both sides of the ball. I thought there were some bad things on both sides of the ball.

“I think we gotta clean some things up obviously, I’m glad we didn’t have to play Stony Brook today. But I think if we continue to practice the way that we practiced this spring, we will be ready to play Stony Brook.”

Who will be the quarterback?

It’s too early to say. That will be an August decision.

But O’Connor, who played most of last year’s FCS playoff loss at South Dakota State after Henderson got hurt, and JUCO transfer Marker both appeared poised and comfortable.

“I think the thing that I’m most pleased with is they don’t make the same mistake twice,” Carty said. “All three of them [Noah Sanders also saw action] played pretty well today.”

All are also able and willing runners, but since quarterbacks couldn’t be tackled it was difficult to assess that aspect of the game.

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“What Ryan showed you what that when the moment is getting a little tighter he gets a lit bit better,” Carty said. “And I think what Zach showed you is that when he makes a bad play it really does not affect him, which is a skill.”

Delaware did not keep individual statistics from the game, but the offense had no turnovers.

“I’m getting more comfortable. Every rep I take is me getting more muscle memory down and not making the same mistake twice,” O’Connor said of his spring. “ . . . There’s definitely some things tonight I want to improve on but that’s the story of football.”

What position area is most advanced?

It may be the offensive line, which has been the frequent object of scorn in recent years.

The Blue Hens have been able to develop some depth and consistency there and the experience shows, though continued improvement is a must.

The first unit presently consists of center Brock Gingrich, guards Patrick Shupp and Bradly Anyanwu, the Dover High graduate, and tackles Blaise Sparks and Fintan Brose.

The second unit appears to consist of center Steven Dembowski, guards Noah Buttiglieri and T.J. Thomas, the Delaware Military Academy alum, and tackles Cole Snyder, Braden Clark or Jamie Ramos.

About that defense

It will be a work in progress in August and throughout the 2023 season probably with so much inexperience and new players coming in, including likely transfer additions later this spring and summer.

“I think what the defense showed was flashes of the ability to make some big plays.” Carty said. “There is a lot of talent and athleticism out there. I think sometimes it showed as young today and throughout spring that was kind of up and down. But I think they’re full-speed mistakes. I also think there’s people running around and hitting and that’s a good thing.”

Carty had said the front seven on defense has developed nicely during spring while the secondary, which has far less experience, is “not as settled.”

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All-CAA defensive lineman Chase McGowan, by far the Blue Hens’ most experienced defensive player with 40 games to his credit, said progress is being made.

“The theme of the spring is growing and building that bond and trust together,” he said. “ . . . I think we’re going in the right direction.”

Kicking game better

Only Rhode Island (four) had fewer field goals than Delaware’s six among the CAA’s 13 teams last season. But Delaware made just two — on eight tries with three different kickers — in the first 10 games before Brandon Ratcliffe kicked 32- and 25-yarders in the regular-season finale at Villanova and 27- and 39-yarders in the FCS round-of-16 playoff defeat at South Dakota State.

Naturally, seeing Reed deliver four field goals and boom several kick-offs into the end zone was a happy sight for those in attendance. And Reed will have to compete with St. Francis transfer and All-NEC kicker Alex Schmoke after he arrives this summer.

“He did it all spring,” Carty said of Reed, who had a 52-yard field goal in one practice. “That was not a fluke. He’s been kicking it great.”

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Delaware Blue Hens football wraps up spring practice

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