Buffalo Bulls 2018 Football Preview

Buffalo Bulls 2018 Football Preview

Opening Statement: The questions were storming around last fall about whether the experiment to hire D3 power house coach Lance Leipold had worked or not. Leipold was struggling to get the Bulls competitive in the MAC, and the answer was starting to look like a resounding no, which was a shame, because I though it was a bold move to begin with, and I love a bold move. Leipold finally turned a bit of a corner, as the Bulls won 6 games last fall, as they snapped a 4 game skid during mid-season to win their final 3 games against Bowling Green, Ball State, and Ohio. Not exactly murderers row, I give you that, but it was enough to show that there was some life in the program, and now, everyone wants to see what the Bulls can do to stay the course in 2018, and improve on it.

Breakdown Offense: Buffalo managed to score 28.5 points per game last season, and improvement year to year of a whopping 12 points. That was encouragement enough to see that the program was trending in the right direction. They passed for 290.8 yards per game, and managed to rush for 141.08 yards per game, which was actually a downturn in the middle of all of this good news.

Tyree Jackson returns as the starting QB in 2017 after rising to become one of the better QBs in the MAC. He passed for 2096 yards and 12 TDs to just 3 INTs, but got banged up and played in just 9 games. He added 4 rushing TDs as well. Even with his success, there were those who questioned whether or not the right QB had the job last season, as there were voices calling for Drew Anderson to be the starter. Anderson played in 5 games, and managed to pass for 1039 yards and 10 TDs to just one INT. He also rushed 11 times for 92 yards, averaging over 8 yards per carry. Had he stuck it out, Anderson would have given Leipold 2 options at QB with starting ability, but Anderson announced he would be leaving Buffalo, and will head off to FCS school Murray State as a grad transfer. That leaves Kyle Vantrease and Dominic Johnson to battle for the backup job.

Emmanuel Reed returns to action at RB after rushing for 840 yards and 9 scores last fall. It is hoped that he can improve upon his pedestrian 4.22 yards per carry this fall. Theo Anderson carried the ball 97 times last fall, and returns as the primary backup. Jonathon Hawkins returns as the 3rd back on the depth chart as well.

Anthony Johnson is one of the best, yet unknown, receivers in the nation, and returns for his senior season. He posted a line of 76-1356-14 last fall, and should be a pre-season WR of the Year candidate. He also averaged 17.84 yards per reception last fall. KJ Osborn has a chance to move up the depth chart this fall, as he caught 35 passes to finish 3rd on the team. Antonio Nunn also returns to provide some depth at the position. There is not a lot of depth at the position, so health will be a major concern.

Tyler Mabry caught 24 passes at TE last fall, and returns as the starter. Zac Lefebvre is back as his backup as well. Andrew gray returns as well to add some depth.

The line appears to be in decent shape. Evin Ksiezarczyk (LT), James O'Hagan (C), and Tomas Jack-Kurdyla (RG). Questions remain at LG and RT, however. Paul Nosworthy, a Grambling transfer, could slide in at LG in fall camp, while Kayode Awosike could slide into the starting job at RT. Jacquis Webb, Michael Kenefick, and Skylar Hartly add some depth to the group.

Breakdown Defense: Buffalo allowed just 24.8 points per game last fall, a 7.5 point improvement over 2016. The Bulls allowed 203.3 yards passing per game, but they had some issues stopping the run, allowing 194.83 yards per game rushing.

The Bulls lose Demone Harris up front, and that is a big spot to fill, as he led the team with 9.5 TFLs last fall. Kennedy Emesibe is gone as well. Scott Ford also joins the group of departed linemen up front. Chuck Harris does return for the Bulls, and he finished 2nd with 7.5 TFLs last season at DE. Look for Malcolm Koonce and Myles Nicholas should battle into fall camp for the open DE spot.

Justin Brandon is back at DT for the Bulls, and could be a primary player in improving the defense against the run. He finished with 4 TFLs a year ago, and he will be counted on for penetration into the backfield to disrupt the offense up the middle. Jake Khoury is the projected starter at NT. Wesley Scott, who transferred in from the JC ranks a year ago, provides some depth at DT, but depth behind the NT spot is thin, at best.

The wrecking ball that is Khlail Hodge is back at LB this fall after finishing with a massive 154 tackles last fall. He finished with 6.5 TFLs, and may be the best returning LB in the MAC for 2018. He starts in the middle, while being flanked by Jordan Collier on the strong side. Collier finished with 6 TFLs to go with his 66 tackles on the year. Jarrett Franklin is gone on the weak side, so there should be a battle to replace him in fall camp. Sophomore Kadofi Wright could be someone to watch there. Matt Otwinowski provides some depth up the middle behind Hodge.

Brandon Williams and Cameron Lewis are back to start at CB for the Bulls in 2018. Williams broke up 4 passes last fall, while Lewis added 4 of his own. They combined for 78 tackles and 2 INTs. Roy Baker and Tatum Slack are the reserves, with Slack working as the NB. Slack broke up 9 passes last fall. Baker played in 8 games as a freshman.

Tim Roberts has moved on at SS, so look for the job to go to Jeremiah Dadeboe, if he can hold the job in camp. Dadeboe played in 11 games as a freshman last fall, and made 5 total tackles. Ryan Williamson was the star of the deep secondary last fall, and he has moved on as well, opening the FS job to a battle that still has not been ironed out just yet.

Breakdown Special Teams: Adam Mitcheson had his struggles at PK last season, hitting just 15/24 FG attempts, but he returns to the job as the starter, unless he gets a push from Michael Cummings in camp, but that does not look likely.

RS freshman Evan Finegan is the lone Punter on the roster, and the job is all his after the departure of Kyle DeWeen.

KJ Osborn handles both KR and PR duties this fall, and is far more adept on punt returns, as he averaged 10.25 yards per return on that end.

Final Analysis: The transfer of Anderson at QB really clears things up as to who that job belongs to, and Jackson should have another solid season, if he can stay healthy, and the few questions get solved on the line. Finding a more stable rushing attack could help as well on offense. Anthony Johnson is one of the best receivers in the nation, and should be acknowledged as such as we head into the fall. Defensively, the Bulls have to get better at stopping the run, and Hodge should be the one to spearhead that project at MLB. The biggest issue on defense, however, is finding adept replacements at both Safety positions. If that does not happen early, the Bulls could crumble again against the run, and then against the deep ball. There is potential for the Bulls to turn another corner this fall, but all the chips must fall into place, and this group of starters must stay healthy, because depth is not amazing across the board. Getting to a bowl game should be the target goal this fall.