WAC 2010-Utah State Aggies

2009 Record: 4-8 (3-5)
Head Coach: Gary Anderson (3rd season, 8-15)
Offensive Coordinator: Dave Baldwin (2nd season)
Defensive Coordinator: Bill Busch (2nd season)
2009 Bowl Game: It's been awhile...

Offense: Bet that you didn't know that USU had the 12th best offense in the nation in 2009. Diondre Borel can beat you with his feet and arm, and his arm improved in the offseason. RB Robert Turbin was expected to be back after a huge season, but he injured his knee, and now may miss the entire season. Michael Smith will now take his place. Stanley Morrison is the returning WR. He was the team leader in receptions last season. Eric Moats played a good deal last season as well. The good news is that Anderson hit the JC ranks and scored huge. Speed will be the word of the day with Matt Austin and Xavier Martin both running sub 4.3 40s. 3 starters return on the line.

Defense: In order for the Aggies to become the Idaho of 2010, the defense has to get fixed. USU had the 113th ranked D last season, and that is not acceptable, even in this league. The front 7 is deep with experience, with all 3 LBs (Bobby Wagner, Kyle Gallagher, Junior Keiaho) returning. DE Quinn Garner and DT Sean Enesi also return. Both CBs return in Chris Randle and Curtis Marsh  as does FS Rajric Coleman, so the secondary has some experience as well. This group has to tighten up without question.

Special Teams: Peter Caldwell was the best punter in the WAC in 2009, and now will add PK duties as well, which he did in 2007.

2010 Schedule

Wins: 9/11 Idaho State, 11/6 New Mexico State, 11/13 San Jose State

Toss Up games: 9/25 @ San Diego State, 10/23 Hawaii, 11/20 Idaho

Losses: 9/4 @ Oklahoma, 9/18 Fresno State, 10/1 BYU, 10/9 @ Louisiana Tech, 10/30 @ Nevada, 12/4 @ Boise State

USU has all of the offensive potential to break out in 2010, but the defense has to show some sign of life for that to happen. There are 6 winnable games, and I can't remember the last time that was a reality.

Outlook: If USU wants to break out in 2009, than the D needs to be the spark. The offense is already there. Gary Anderson is slowly changing the culture in Logan, and the wins are coming. 4 wins for the Aggies last season was a huge surprise, and I think that we are in store for more in the next couple of seasons, if, of course, the Aggies end up in a good place when the WAC falls apart after this season.