Tufts looks to build on breakthrough season's success

In the first game of their 2014 football season, the Jumbos snapped a three-year losing streak. Three wins later, that seemingly lucky break quickly became old news. After finishing last season with a respectable 4-4 record, this year's team looks to build on last year's success.

Coach Jay Civetti has made an enemy of complacency within the program, latching on to the motto "always compete" and focusing entirely on both the present and immediate future.

"Last year was great, [an] awesome experience, tremendously important for the program, but right now we are focused on today," he said. "We are trying to leave last year in the past [and focus] on being better at execution regardless of where we are, what the environment is. We are focused on ... finding confidence in our preparation."

"The past is in the past -- last year was last year," senior co-captain defensive lineman Corey Burns said. "The team as a whole every day is trying to get better [and] the effort, the [level of] toughness around us is definitely higher than it has been in the past."

Preseason kicked off on Sept. 1, and the Jumbos have been running a variety of individual position drills so that younger players can get repetitions in before the season starts.

"Everybody is coming out here and grinding," junior running back Mike Rando said while running plays during a hurry up offense segment.

The Jumbos will be focusing in particular on their performance at away games this season, especially after dropping all four last year. Civetti believes success on the road comes down to mental toughness.

"We try to create as many distracting environments as we can during practice so that [the players] can focus on their jobs and the tasks that [are asked of them]," Civetti said. "There's no speech. I've tried that already, [and] it didn't work. There's no special meal -- I've done that, too. I think it really just comes down to making sure the guys are as prepared as they can be."

The Jumbos were buoyed by strong offensive and special teams' performances last year. The offense can expect strong contributions from Rando in a variety of ways. In addition to junior running back Chance Brady, Rando is a receiving threat out of the backfield and can play split-out wide, as evidenced by his 137 receiving yards last season. An accomplished punt and kick returner, Rando will act as a veritable Swiss army knife for Tufts.

"On offense, I want to be a spark, make big plays and bring some leadership," Rando said. "Same thing [for special teams], just to ... get the guys going and [to] do everything in my power to get the team ahead. I really take pride in being able to be someone that my teammates can lean on if need be."

Junior quarterback Alex Snyder takes command of the Jumbos' high-powered passing offense, a unit that finished second in the NESCAC in passing yards per game. Snyder played six games last season, posting a respectable 721 yards with six touchdowns and five interceptions on only 116 attempts. The keys for the 6'5" Snyder will be boosting his 45.7 percent completion rate, continuing to attack downfield and extending plays with his legs.

Tufts' running game occasionally faltered last season, ranking only seventh in rushing yards in the NESCAC. A consistent bright spot was Brady, though, who returns this year to lead the ground attack. Brady posted 391 yards and four touchdowns last year behind an offensive line graduating just two players. His 4.3 yards per carry tied for fourth best in the NESCAC. However, Tufts will have to limit their fumbles if they are to be successful in improving their run game.

Coach Civetti is unconcerned with last year's relative lack of production on the ground.

"We are just trying to play good, honest football," he said. "We are trying to find whatever allows us to score the most points. If our run game does it, great. If our pass game does it, great. We are just trying to be the best at what we do. We are the most physical football team in the league. That's something that we hang our hat on. I think it's something that we push for every day. We talk about the six second rule, you know: trying to be better than your opponent, trying to give your best five to six seconds."

On the defensive side of the ball, Tufts will look to force more turnovers this year and continue to prevent yards after the catch. Senior co-captain linebacker Matt McCormack led the NESCAC with 52 solo and 36 assisted tackles last season. His ability to get to the ballcarrier quickly is an asset for the Jumbos' run defense -- a defense that, with just six interceptions and 12 sacks, was below average at intercepting passes and getting to the quarterback. As a result, the Jumbos allowed the most passing yards per game and must focus on pressuring opposing quarterbacks this year.

"I just know that I have to be a rock no matter what happens with this team," Burns said.

With a plethora of returning players and talent -- plus a number of young players capable of stepping into larger roles -- the Jumbos are poised to dominate offensively and improve on their defense en route to another successful season.

"The expectation is to win a championship, but [we] understand right now [we need to focus] on building that championship culture," Civetti said. "The success will come based on how hard we work to prepare ourselves ... to compete every Saturday for the next 12 weeks."