Can UMass football avoid dreaded winless season in 2020?

Only way to go is up for the defense in 2020

Unlike the offense, the defense literally cannot get any worse. They ranked 130th in points last season. That is dead last in FBS for those scoring at home. Their yard differential was -267.1 as they surrendered 560 yards of total offense last season. This was a terrible unit that won’t be much better this season.

The defense surrendered 25 or more points in every game last year and 40 or more in every game save their lone win against Akron — they gave up 29 to the Zips.

This season, the defense likely starts four freshmen including two in a secondary that gave up over 260 passing yards per game.

Their pass rush was nearly non-existent. They did not have a single player with at least three sacks last season. Isaiah Rodgers did have four interceptions last season, but he graduated.  Much of their production defensively — such as it was — has moved on from last season.

They are retooling like their offense.

If they are going to win games this season, they are going to have to win some shootouts. That is not very likely since their offense won’t be much good either. Their defense won’t keep them in many games this season. Their defensive unit is also hampered by the lack of spring and summer ball.