Old Dominion Monarchs 2018 Football Preview
Opening Statement: The Monarchs got crushed by the injury bug last fall, losing 17 total players to season ending injuries during a campaign that saw them fall from 10 wins to 5 in 2017. If there is a silver lining to that statement and fact, it's that the team was forced to develop depth across the board last fall, and that should pay off in 2018, as 9 starters return on offense, and 7 return on defense. Bobby Wilder has a veteran team now, and the Monarchs could be a mild surprise in the CUSA race in 2018.
Breakdown Offense: The injury bug crushed the offense last fall, and the Monarchs finished scoring just 20.7 points per game, which ranked 113th nationally. Fixing this starts with Steven Williams getting straightened out at QB, and avoiding 20 total team turnovers once again. A -4 turnover margin ranked 93rd.
Williams played in 10 games at QB as a freshman last fall, and passed for 1528 yards, but he tossed just 6 TDs to 11 INTs, and that ratio will not do again in 2018. He also needs to improve on accuracy, as he completed just 55.9% of his passes on the year. Blake LaRussa, a junior, is the backup, but did little to push Williams last season.
Ray Lawry is gone at RB, and he leaves a large void in the run game. He missed 4 games last fall, and Jeremy Cox will take over after rushing for 621 yards and 4 scores. He is not a big play threat, as he averaged just 4.22 yards per carry last fall. Brandon Sinclair moves into the second spot, while Gemonta Jackson likely takes over the 3rd back role.
Isaiah Harper and Travis Fulgham led the Monarchs in receiving last season, and both return to the starting lineup. Harper posted a line of 39-462 last fall, but never scored once. Fulgham posted a line of 30-394-1, but more must come of their efforts in 2018 to bring this offense up. Jonathon Duhart steps into the 3rd receiver role, but missed 10 games last season, and caught just 7 passes. Hasaan Patterson could push for more time this fall, but caught just 5 passes in 9 games. Jake Herslow and Noah Ellison both return as well.
Freshman Keion White is projected to win the job at TE with Melvin Vaughn moving on. Marcus Joyner and Nijee Cox are also in the mix there.
The line may be the deepest and most talented unit on the offensive side in 2018, as all 5 starters return in Isaac Weaver (LT), Tony Barnett (LG), Nick Clarke (C), Andrew Larson (RG), and Chad Hendricks (RT). Eric Magwood, Andrew Lawson, Jace Mallory, Jack Miller, and Elijah Rivers all serve as backups, giving the Monarchs the deepest offensive line unit in CUSA football.
Breakdown Defense: The defensive line will have 3 starters back from a defense that took a beating last season and allowed 204.2 yards rushing per game. Pressure from an offense that did not perform and turned the ball over often did not help matters. Oshane Ximines (DE), Miles Fox (DT), and Pat Toal (DT) all return to the lineup. Ximines is one of the best in CUSA, as he led the team with 14 TFLs last season. He added 8.5 TFLs, 44 tackles, 3 PBUs, 7 QB hurries, and 4 forced fumbles on the season. Fox added 9 TFLs, 5.5 sacks, 57 tackles, one QB hurry, and one forced fumble. Toal added 5.5 TFLs, 3 sacks, 37 tackles, 2 QB hurries, and a blocked kick. Daniel Appouh is slated to start at the open DE spot, and totaled 6.5 TFLs last fall.
Jordan Young and Marvin Branch are the returning starters at LB, and they were the team's leading tacklers last fall. Branch was the leader with 96 tackles on the year, while Young finished with 85 tackles on the season. They are two of the best LBs in the conference.
The secondary has been completely depleted, with just one starter returning in NB Sean Carter. He totaled 5 PBUs last fall, and did lead the team with 3 INTs on the season. He added 54 tackles and 3.5 TFLs. Jelani Carter and Jo Jo Headen are penciled in as the new starters at CB, and Justin Noye (SS) and Justice Davila (FS) will likely take up the Safety jobs.
Breakdown Special Teams: Nick Rice is back at PK after hitting 15/20 FG attempts last season, and he was perfect on 21 PATs. The Monarchs will be needing more consistency out of him this fall.
Baily Cate is also returning after having a decent season in which he averaged 40.52 yards per punt.
Harper is back as the primary KR man, and he brought 3 kicks back for scores last fall while averaging 29.08 yards per return. He is obviously one of the more dangerous kick return men nationally speaking. Darrell Brown averaged 8.4 yards per return on punts last fall, and should hold that job down once again.
Final Analysis: The Monarchs are fairly loaded in the front seven on defense, but unfortunately, I am not entirely sold on their talent across the board otherwise. Bobby Wilder has done some solid things with this program in a very short program history, but there is now a longer road to travel. There should be plentiful depth on the line offensively, but there are no real stars in the receiving corps or at RB. Looking at the overall schedule, I can actual see a chance for further regression, or a return to another 5 win season, at best. It maybe another full season before the Monarchs are back on the upward arch again.
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