Georgetown has plenty of good excuses.

By Rich Cirminiello | @RichCirminiello

Rob Sgarlata is beginning his second season at the toughest place to win in the Patriot League.

The Hoyas don’t offer scholarships, have the conference’s smallest budget and have had just one winning season since joining the league in 2001.

Since an underrated defense won’t be the same without DE Alec May and LB Nick Alfieri, the offense must pick up more of the slack.

Fortunately, the attack was young last year, so not many first-timers will be broken in. QB Kyle Nolan, who showed flashes, welcomes back seven of last year’s top pass-catchers.

Meanwhile, all-league RB Jo’el Kimpela will get more help from a front wall that used plenty of rookies a season ago.

With expectations lowered for the Hoya defense, it’s imperative that the offense operates with more pop and crunch-time execution this season.

Kimpela aside, the unit was feeble in 2014, ranking last in the league in total offense, rushing, passing efficiency and scoring at just 13 points per game.

A second year with the same staff means fewer miscommunications between the coaches and the players. That’s the good news.

But the Hoyas will continue to be a step or two behind the rest of the league in terms of overall talent and depth. Improving upon last year’s 3-8 mark is unlikely, especially without the leadership and playmaking of May and Alfieri on D.

If Sgarlata can get this team to four wins, chalk it up as progress.

What You Need To Know About The Offense: Since the defense has been hammered by graduation, the offense will be asked to pick up more slack in 2015. Fortunately, the attack was young last year, so not many first-timers will need to be broken in. QB Kyle Nolan, who showed flashes as a passer and a runner, welcomes back seven of his top pass-catchers. Meanwhile, all-league RB Jo’el Kimpela will get more help from a front wall that employed a lot of rookies. With expectations lowered for the Hoya D, it’s imperative that the offense operates with more pop and crunch-time execution. Kimpela aside, the unit was feeble in 2014, ranking last in the league in total offense, rushing, passing efficiency and scoring at just 13 points per game.

What You Need To Know About The Defense: The Hoyas were surprisingly stingy a year ago, tying for second in the league in points allowed. But a repeat is unlikely now that stalwart DE Alec May and LB Nick Alfieri are out of eligibility. In fact, of Georgetown’s four defensive all-stars from 2014, only CB Ettian Scott had eligibility remaining in 2015. LB Matthew Satchell is poised to become one of the new defensive leaders after finishing second to Alfieri with 92 tackles. But May was indispensable, and his 16.5 sacks were more than half of the entire team’s total. And if one of the untested edge guys can’t offset some of the pass rush production, Georgetown will be painfully vulnerable over the top.