Three Up, Three Down: The William & Mary Edition

Once again we predict three players whose stock will rise and three players whose stock will fall over the course of Penn’s clash with the Tribe on Saturday:

Three Up —

Andrew Holland: Penn will fight hard to win Saturday, but this game is about staying healthy as much as it is getting a ‘W'. Thus you can expect to see a heavier dose of Holland under center than usual this week as coach Al Bagnoli has always been quick to point out the “bumps and bruises” Ragone endures due to his hybrid style. William & Mary safeties Ivan Tagoe and Brian Thompson each have two interceptions and the team has seven picks total in just five games this season, and no matter who the Penn QB is, the Tribe is going to force the Quakers to go deep. Enter Holland.

Dan Wilk: If only because he’s “up” every game. Last week he led the Quakers with eight tackles and registered a sack, one of only four Penn has notched all season. He also has one of only two Penn interceptions so far in 2012. Wilk is also the only defensive back with a sack and simply one of the few explanations in an otherwise weak secondary for Penn’s No. 1-ranked pass defense among Ivies. (Yes, it's true.) There’s no reason why Wilk’s solid play shouldn’t continue against William & Mary’s strained aerial attack.

The hitch route: Ragone picked apart Dartmouth last week with short hitch-and-out routes that built his confidence and allowed the Quakers to play ball control offense. Regardless of who winds up under center the most Saturday, utilizing weapons like Conner Scott, Ryan Mitchell and Ryan Allen in the high-percentage passing game will be imperative against the Tribe’s opportunistic secondary.

Three Down —

Billy Ragone: As mentioned above, Ragone needs his rest. He also doesn’t match up well with the Tribe’s secondary. Most importantly, it would be hard for Ragone to top last week’s efficiency-fest, especially given that he has always been very “up and down” to begin with.

The rest of the secondary: Dartmouth QB Alex Park completed 20-of-29 throws for 279 yards against this secondary in his third collegiate start. Villanova QB John Robertson completed 13-of-20 throws for 213 yards and a touchdown against this secondary in his third collegiate start. This secondary is hurting right now, and we’re not even in the Ivy stretch yet. There's no reason yet to think they'll do an about face soon.

Jeff Jack: Jack has had 32 carries to Lyle Marsh’s seven in Brandon Colavita’s absence against Dartmouth and Villanova. It doesn’t make sense that their touches should be so unbalanced, and Bagnoli promised Marsh will play “an extensive amount” on Saturday. “Extensive amount” of course meaning more than two carries, which was Marsh’s workload at Dartmouth. That means less carries for Jack, and if Jack is indeed Bagnoli’s No. 1 guy with Colavita out, it makes sense to rest him up a bit before the Ivy stretch commences anyway.