After shutout loss, UAlbany football trying to correct red-zone frustrations

UAlbany head coach Tom Perkovich is shown during a game against Monmouth earlier this month in Albany. (Jim Franco/Times Union) The University at Albany football team has come up empty in the red zone too often to satisfy head coach Tom Perkovich.

>It's an area Perkovich, whose team has lost back-to-back games, plans to work on leading into Saturday's nonleague finale against Delaware State at Casey Stadium.

>The Great Danes' offense ranks last in the Coastal Athletic Association in efficiency in the red zone, defined as the area between the opponent's 20-yard line and the end zone. UAlbany has scored 12 times in 18 trips into the red zone, a league-worst 66.7% success rate that's tied for 102nd nationally in the Football Championship Subdivision.

>"We've got to -- obviously -- execute better in the red zone," Perkovich said Monday during the CAA coaches' media conference call. "That's hurt us big-time in the last few weeks."

>UAlbany (2-3) failed to score inside the 5 in the final minutes of a 21-17 loss at Buffalo on Sept. 3 and in a 28-20 defeat against Monmouth on Sept. 19. The Great Danes were 0-for-2 in the red zone in Saturday's 22-0 loss at Princeton.

>This past weekend, quarterback Kai Colon threw an ill-advised pass under pressure for an interception at the Princeton 3 in the second quarter. Later, the Great Danes had the ball at the Tigers 1 early in the fourth quarter, but backup quarterback Aidan Semo lost a yard on third down and a Colon pass to Tavahri Groves was broken up on fourth.

>"We need to probably get a little bit more creative and do some different things," said Perkovich, who is the offensive play-caller. "I thought we had some things dialed up. It comes down to execution of our jobs and being able to pin your ears back, and go and get physical. We've got to figure it out."

>Perkovich said he'd like to get the ball more to wide receiver BJ Norman and running back Rahshan La Mons in the red zone.

>"Trying to get those guys involved more," Perkovich said. "We're struggling to get the passing game going and (to) get those guys on the perimeter the ball. We've got to do a better job of that."

>He also emphasized protecting Colon and Semo better.

>"That's really hurt us over the last few weeks," Perkovich said.

>UAlbany began the Princeton game with Jackson Nixon, who has played center, moving outside to left tackle. William Van Neil, a transfer from Division III Anna Maria College, started at center. Later in the game, Nixon moved back inside to center with Shaker High graduate Emmitt Harris coming off the bench to play left tackle.

>On a positive note, UAlbany has scored 12 touchdowns in the red zone, tied for fourth in the CAA. However, the Great Danes are the league's only team that hasn't kicked a red-zone field goal.

>"We've got to be OK with playing for three (points) sometimes when it doesn't go our way," Perkovich said. "We can't force things. I think we're forcing things. We're tight because of what's happened. We've just got to play football and us, as coaches, probably have to do a better job of getting creative down there, and giving some different looks and different presentations, and try to find a way to get in the end zone."

>Perkovich said he could see UAlbany doing "a little bit" more work than usual in the red zone in practice this week.

>The Great Danes will try to get back on track against Delaware State (3-2) of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, coached by former NFL wide receiver DeSean Jackson, before heading into their bye week. After that, UAlbany returns to CAA play for the rest of the season.

>Delaware State beat UAlbany 37-32 last season.

>Perkovich wants to see his team play "with some pride" in front of a homecoming crowd on Saturday.

>"As I say to our staff, we're not throwing the baby out with the bath water," he said. "We're not throwing the whole thing out. We're still working on the things we know we can do, and maybe add some wrinkles and do that."

SubscribeThere’s more to Albany with the Times Union. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at After shutout loss, UAlbany football trying to correct red-zone frustrations.