Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 2018 Football Preview
Opening Statement: Georgia Tech did their usual thing under Paul Johnson, win one season, lose the next. Last fall was a losing season, so by the pattern of the Johnson era, maybe the Yellow Jackets can win this season once again. The Rambling Wreck finished just 5-6 last season, with one cancellation due to bad weather, and they lost 4 of their final 5 games, with the only win coming against Virginia Tech in an upset during that stretch. They were 5-1 at home, and 0-5 away from home last fall, so obviously, winning on the road will be something they have to figure out a way to do this fall.
Breakdown Offense: The triple option is alive and well at Georgia Tech, as the Yellow Jackets averaged 307.36 yards per game on the ground, a number that had them ranked 5th in the nation in that category. Of course, they were one of the very worst teams in the nation throwing the football, averaging just 84.3 yards per game through the air. The problem with this offense is that if you do not get an early lead, or get behind by just as many as 10 points, it becomes virtually impossible to make up for that deficit, because you cannot switch to a passing mentality when you have to. That plagued them last fall, as Tech lost 4 games by 14 points or less. They lost their final 2 games, in clutch situations to become bowl eligible, by an average of 27 points per game (losses to Duke and Georgia).
Taquan Marshall is a solid option QB, and does everything you would want from a triple option trigger man. He led the team in rushing with 1146 yards and 17 scores, but his per carry average was a little underwhelming at 4.64 yards per carry. He passed for 10 more scores, and only turned the football over through the air 5 times on INTs. He returns to run the offense, but he needs more help than he got a year ago. There is no experience on the roster or depth chart behind him, so it all falls on his shoulders this fall.
KirVonte Benson is the B Back, which is the most important back in the triple option offense. He rushed for 1053 yards and 6 scores, while averaging 5.16 yards per carry. Nathan Cottrell is the first of the 2 A Backs, and he rushed for just 271 yards last fall, while averaging 8.21 yards per carry on just 33 carries. Qua Searcy also returns at A Back, and rushed for just 217 yards and one score, while averaging 6.17 yards per carry. Clinton Lynch (AB) and Jerry Howard (BB) provide limited depth.
Ricky Jeune led the team with 25 receptions last season, and has moved on. No other receiver on the roster caught more than 5 passes. Brad Stewart, who caught 4 balls, is back and will start. Jalen Camp also starts, but caught just one pass last fall. There is no discernible depth at the position.
There are some issues to work out on the line, as a starter at RT has not been found as we head into fall camp. Jahaziel Lee (LT), Parker Braun (LG), Kenny Cooper (C), and Will Bryan (RG) project as starters. Will Bryan will back up at the Tackle spots, as will Bailey Ivemeyer. Brad Morgan backs up at OG and C. The main problem will be finding consistency with this group, as there has been a lot of shifting of responsibilities and position changes with this group over the last couple of seasons. The goal will be to cement these guys where they are, and get them to produce as they should.
Breakdown Defense: Tech allowed 26.5 points per game last fall. They were decent against the pass, allowing 200.6 yards per game, and gave up 153.46 yards rushing per game.
Antonio Simmons was the leader on the defensive line last fall, but has moved on. Tyler Merryweather and Anree Saint-Amour will start at DE. Saint-Amour recorded 5.5 TFLs last fall, good for second on the team. He recorded 32 total tackles. Merryweather recorded just 2 total tackles for the entire season. Desmond Branch and Brentavious Glanton are the starters at the DT spots. They combined for 6.5 TFLs and should be in line to show some improvement as a duo this fall. Brandon Adams and Antwan Owens are the backups inside, but depth at the DE spots is still being figured out.
Tyler Cooksey and Victor Alexander are the starting OLBs out of spring ball. Alexander led the team with 60 tackles last fall, while Cooksey played in just 6 games in 2017. Brant Mitchell played in 9 games last fall, and recorded 51 tackles. He starts at the MLB spot. Bruce Jordan-Swilling, a sophomore, backs up the MLB spot, while depth is thin at the OLB spots.
Lamont Simmons and Ajani Kerr are the listed starters at CB. They combined for just 5 PBUs as a duo last season, so the Yellow Jackets appear to be in need of someone who can make plays here. Both Safety jobs are up for grabs as we head into fall camp. Again, depth will be an issue in the secondary.
Breakdown Special Teams: Brenton King left spring ball as the starting PK after hitting 5/6 FG attempts last fall in 8 games, but Shawn Davis is back as well after hitting 2/4 FG attempts in 5 games. Each kicker missed one PAT on the season.
Pressley Harvin III leaves zero doubt at the Punter position, as he averaged 44.1 yards per punt last fall.
Nathan Cottrell averaged just over 20 yards per KR last fall, and returns. Omahri Jarrett averaged just over 18 yards per return, and is also back.
Brad Stewart is back on PR duty, but did not scare anyone last fall.
Final Analysis: The win/lose pattern in alternate years under Johnson has been well established at this point, and if the pattern were followed, this would be a win year upcoming for the Yellow Jackets. Unfortunately, this could be a year where the win season does not deliver. The roster is full of holes, offensive line play has been unstable, and the defense has little to no depth. I, personally, would have fired Johnson by now, as I feel that his tenure has grown stale and predictable. That said, he still has the job, but if the team cannot deliver this fall, does he have a job after the season? This could be one big letdown waiting to happen.
Wednesday, June 6, 2018
Georgia State Panthers 2018 Football Preview
Georgia State Panthers 2018 Football Preview
Opening Statement: To say that the 2017 football season for the Panthers was a roller coaster would be a massive understatement. After opening the refurbished Turner Field as GSU Stadium, the Panthers celebrated that event by promptly scoring just 10 points in a loss to FCS member Tennessee State in their new digs. For some, that could have been a sign of things to come, but the Panthers shrugged it off, and after a loss to Penn State 2 weeks later, they ran off three straight wins before a 24 point loss to Troy. The Panthers then rolled off another 3 wins before dropping their final 2 regular season games to Appalachian State and Idaho by an average of 17.5 points per loss. They snuck into a bowl gae at 6-5, and then celebrated their first ever bowl win, beating Western Kentucky 27-17. Other than Western Kentucky, the Panthers did not beat a team with a winning record last fall, and that is the next phase in the evolution of the program. Can they move forward against tougher competition this fall?
Breakdown Offense: The offense struggled mightily at times in 2017, averaging just 20.3 points per game on the season. The passing attack under senior QB Conner Manning, was impressive at times, as they averaged 270.7 yards passing per game, but the run game, which has been a problem area for some time, struggled to get going once again, as they averaged just 117.33 yards per game on the ground. They no longer have Manning to rely on, and the time has come to develop the ground game.
With Manning having moved on, the job falls to former backup Aaron Winchester. He is the only QB on the roster who has any game experience, and leaving the job in the hands of anyone else would be a massive leap of faith for a team on the edge of moving forward, or falling behind. As is, Winchester attempted just 9 passes himself last fall, completing 6 of them, Jaquez Parks, Dan Ellington, and and RS freshman Jack Walker will all try to get something going in the fall, but my best bet is on Winchester starting game one.
The top 2 backs from last season are gone in Glenn Smith and Kyler Neal, so the Panthers have some work to do in this area as well. Sometimes, when you have a unit not functioning to expected levels, a reboot isn't necessarily a bad thing, as new blood gets an opportunity to get the machine running. Such is the case here. There is hope that Tra Barnett, a junior, will be that guy this fall. Taz Bateman and Demarcus Kirk return, but they combined for just 268 yards as reserves last fall. Kirk is the most promising of those 2, as he averaged 5.8 yards per carry, and will be worth watching in fall camp. Barnett carried just 8 times, but averaged 5.63 yards per carry. A combination of Kirk and Barnett is the best hope they have had at the position in a long while.
RS junior WR Penny Hart is one of the best receivers you may never have heard of. He posted a line of 74-1121-8 last fall, and his 8 TD catches took a chunk out of Manning's 14 total TD passes. He is the primary go to guy in this offense, but he needs some support from the others in the unit. Devin gentry showed some flash and promise to be one of those guys last fall. He caught just 12 passes for 259 yards, but he averaged over 21 yards per reception, and gives the Panthers another deep ball option. Tamir Jones caught 33 passes last fall, but is a more short to intermediate range receiver. RS sophomore Jonathon Ifedi is back, and is trying to work his way into a bigger role in the rotation.
Ari Werts was the leading TE last season, but is also gone. Roger Carter and Emiere Scaife are the leaders to replace him in fall camp. They combined for 11 receptions last fall. Camrin Knight and Michael Kouassi are also back on the roster this fall.
The line appears to be set, and does not look half bad. Hunter Atkinson (LT), Shamarious Gilmore (LG), Jamal Paxton (C), Gabe Mobley (RG), and Lucas Johnson (RT) appear set as starters. Kevin Kwapis is the backup at Tackle, Jalen Jackson backs up at the OG spots, and Malik Sumter backs up at C.
Breakdown Defense: The Panthers were a decent defensive football team last fall, allowing just 24.8 points per game on the season. They did manage to allow 251.4 yards passing per game, and allowed 136.42 yards rushing per contest.
Marterious Allen and Terry Thomas are penciled in as starter at DE after spring camp broke. They combined for 7 TFLs last season, so they will have to show some improved play making ability off the edge in the 3-4 defensive set. Javonte Lain and Hardrick Willis provide some depth at a thin position. Dontae Wilson pencils in at NG, and finished with 5.5 TFLs last season. RS sophomore Clifford Amazan is the likely backup in the middle. Steven Banks also provides some depth, but not much experience.
Trey Payne led all LBs in tackles last season, but has moved on. Chase Middleton returns at an ILB spot, and leads all returning LBs with 65 tackles last fall. Michael Shaw is the top returning tackler at OLB, as he finished last season with 57. Ed Curney pencils in at ILB to start fall camp, and totaled 40 tackles last fall. Victor Heyward projects as a starter at OLB after recording 38 tackles last fall. Trajan Stephens-McQueen is the primary listed backup at ILB after a 38 tackle season, and Kendrec Grady projects as the primary reserve at OLB.
The secondary was not known for making big plays last season, and the staff is hoping for more this fall. Jerome Smith holds one starting job at CB, and finished the year with 4 PBUs in 2017. The other CB spot is wide open heading into fall camp. Cedric Stone may have a beat on that job, but he may end up backing up Smith as well. The other starter/backups can come from a group including Khai Anderson, Jordan Cornelius, Tyler Gore, Ben Hood, and Kerryon Richardson.
DeAndre Applin and Remy Lazerus are the Safeties. Applin finished with 3 PBUs and 46 tackles last fall, while Lazerus finished with 17 as a freshman. Finding depth here, as well as at CB, will be major issues to deal with in fall camp.
Breakdown Special Teams: Brandon Wright struggled mightily at PK, hitting just 12/23 FG attempts, and will be pushed by others on the roster. Shavi Bash, Barry Brown, and Gunnar Kennedy are all available, and will try to stake a claim on the job.
Oliver Holdenson is back at Punter, but he struggled as well, averaging just over 38 yards per punt. Wright got into the action there and averaged 44.41 yards per punt, so moving over and staying at Punter may be the better vision for Wright. Jeff Hollingsworth is also available there.
Glenn Smith had a solid season on KR duty, but has moved on. Devin gentry is penciled in to take his place. Penny Hart returns to take on PR duties.
Final Analysis: The Panthers made some strides under first year head coach Shawn Elliott, and as a whole, the program looks headed in the right direction, even if they could potentially take a step back in year 2. Offensively, questions at QB and RB could derail a unit that already struggled last fall, and defensively, the Panthers lack big time play making ability, and the secondary looks to be incredibly thin. The non conferenc schedule is particularly tough this fall, with a home opener against rising FCS power Kennesaw State, and road trips to NC State and Memphis. They wrap the non con portion of the schedule in Atlanta against MAC power Western Michigan. With all of that hanging on them, a step back should not surprise anyone.
Opening Statement: To say that the 2017 football season for the Panthers was a roller coaster would be a massive understatement. After opening the refurbished Turner Field as GSU Stadium, the Panthers celebrated that event by promptly scoring just 10 points in a loss to FCS member Tennessee State in their new digs. For some, that could have been a sign of things to come, but the Panthers shrugged it off, and after a loss to Penn State 2 weeks later, they ran off three straight wins before a 24 point loss to Troy. The Panthers then rolled off another 3 wins before dropping their final 2 regular season games to Appalachian State and Idaho by an average of 17.5 points per loss. They snuck into a bowl gae at 6-5, and then celebrated their first ever bowl win, beating Western Kentucky 27-17. Other than Western Kentucky, the Panthers did not beat a team with a winning record last fall, and that is the next phase in the evolution of the program. Can they move forward against tougher competition this fall?
Breakdown Offense: The offense struggled mightily at times in 2017, averaging just 20.3 points per game on the season. The passing attack under senior QB Conner Manning, was impressive at times, as they averaged 270.7 yards passing per game, but the run game, which has been a problem area for some time, struggled to get going once again, as they averaged just 117.33 yards per game on the ground. They no longer have Manning to rely on, and the time has come to develop the ground game.
With Manning having moved on, the job falls to former backup Aaron Winchester. He is the only QB on the roster who has any game experience, and leaving the job in the hands of anyone else would be a massive leap of faith for a team on the edge of moving forward, or falling behind. As is, Winchester attempted just 9 passes himself last fall, completing 6 of them, Jaquez Parks, Dan Ellington, and and RS freshman Jack Walker will all try to get something going in the fall, but my best bet is on Winchester starting game one.
The top 2 backs from last season are gone in Glenn Smith and Kyler Neal, so the Panthers have some work to do in this area as well. Sometimes, when you have a unit not functioning to expected levels, a reboot isn't necessarily a bad thing, as new blood gets an opportunity to get the machine running. Such is the case here. There is hope that Tra Barnett, a junior, will be that guy this fall. Taz Bateman and Demarcus Kirk return, but they combined for just 268 yards as reserves last fall. Kirk is the most promising of those 2, as he averaged 5.8 yards per carry, and will be worth watching in fall camp. Barnett carried just 8 times, but averaged 5.63 yards per carry. A combination of Kirk and Barnett is the best hope they have had at the position in a long while.
RS junior WR Penny Hart is one of the best receivers you may never have heard of. He posted a line of 74-1121-8 last fall, and his 8 TD catches took a chunk out of Manning's 14 total TD passes. He is the primary go to guy in this offense, but he needs some support from the others in the unit. Devin gentry showed some flash and promise to be one of those guys last fall. He caught just 12 passes for 259 yards, but he averaged over 21 yards per reception, and gives the Panthers another deep ball option. Tamir Jones caught 33 passes last fall, but is a more short to intermediate range receiver. RS sophomore Jonathon Ifedi is back, and is trying to work his way into a bigger role in the rotation.
Ari Werts was the leading TE last season, but is also gone. Roger Carter and Emiere Scaife are the leaders to replace him in fall camp. They combined for 11 receptions last fall. Camrin Knight and Michael Kouassi are also back on the roster this fall.
The line appears to be set, and does not look half bad. Hunter Atkinson (LT), Shamarious Gilmore (LG), Jamal Paxton (C), Gabe Mobley (RG), and Lucas Johnson (RT) appear set as starters. Kevin Kwapis is the backup at Tackle, Jalen Jackson backs up at the OG spots, and Malik Sumter backs up at C.
Breakdown Defense: The Panthers were a decent defensive football team last fall, allowing just 24.8 points per game on the season. They did manage to allow 251.4 yards passing per game, and allowed 136.42 yards rushing per contest.
Marterious Allen and Terry Thomas are penciled in as starter at DE after spring camp broke. They combined for 7 TFLs last season, so they will have to show some improved play making ability off the edge in the 3-4 defensive set. Javonte Lain and Hardrick Willis provide some depth at a thin position. Dontae Wilson pencils in at NG, and finished with 5.5 TFLs last season. RS sophomore Clifford Amazan is the likely backup in the middle. Steven Banks also provides some depth, but not much experience.
Trey Payne led all LBs in tackles last season, but has moved on. Chase Middleton returns at an ILB spot, and leads all returning LBs with 65 tackles last fall. Michael Shaw is the top returning tackler at OLB, as he finished last season with 57. Ed Curney pencils in at ILB to start fall camp, and totaled 40 tackles last fall. Victor Heyward projects as a starter at OLB after recording 38 tackles last fall. Trajan Stephens-McQueen is the primary listed backup at ILB after a 38 tackle season, and Kendrec Grady projects as the primary reserve at OLB.
The secondary was not known for making big plays last season, and the staff is hoping for more this fall. Jerome Smith holds one starting job at CB, and finished the year with 4 PBUs in 2017. The other CB spot is wide open heading into fall camp. Cedric Stone may have a beat on that job, but he may end up backing up Smith as well. The other starter/backups can come from a group including Khai Anderson, Jordan Cornelius, Tyler Gore, Ben Hood, and Kerryon Richardson.
DeAndre Applin and Remy Lazerus are the Safeties. Applin finished with 3 PBUs and 46 tackles last fall, while Lazerus finished with 17 as a freshman. Finding depth here, as well as at CB, will be major issues to deal with in fall camp.
Breakdown Special Teams: Brandon Wright struggled mightily at PK, hitting just 12/23 FG attempts, and will be pushed by others on the roster. Shavi Bash, Barry Brown, and Gunnar Kennedy are all available, and will try to stake a claim on the job.
Oliver Holdenson is back at Punter, but he struggled as well, averaging just over 38 yards per punt. Wright got into the action there and averaged 44.41 yards per punt, so moving over and staying at Punter may be the better vision for Wright. Jeff Hollingsworth is also available there.
Glenn Smith had a solid season on KR duty, but has moved on. Devin gentry is penciled in to take his place. Penny Hart returns to take on PR duties.
Final Analysis: The Panthers made some strides under first year head coach Shawn Elliott, and as a whole, the program looks headed in the right direction, even if they could potentially take a step back in year 2. Offensively, questions at QB and RB could derail a unit that already struggled last fall, and defensively, the Panthers lack big time play making ability, and the secondary looks to be incredibly thin. The non conferenc schedule is particularly tough this fall, with a home opener against rising FCS power Kennesaw State, and road trips to NC State and Memphis. They wrap the non con portion of the schedule in Atlanta against MAC power Western Michigan. With all of that hanging on them, a step back should not surprise anyone.
Tuesday, June 5, 2018
Georgia Southern Eagles 2018 Football Preview
Georgia Southern Eagles 2018 Football Preview
Opening Statement: The program bottomed out under Tyson Summers last fall, and he was fired in October, when Chad Lunsford took over as interim head coach. The team responded to Lunsford, and he was named the permanent head coach after the season. The Eagles won 2 of their final 3 games last fall, and with that comes hope that the needle is finally pointing upward for 2018.
Breakdown Offense: The Eagles struggles on offense were monumental at times, as they averaged just 20 points per game. They scored fewer than 20 points 7 times last fall, but there was an uptick when they beat South Alabama 52-0 for their first win of the season in November.
Shai Werts is back as the starting QB. He showed some solid play at times, and was not entirely awful, but there is work to be done with him, and he showed some improvement and flash in spring ball. He passd for 929 yards as a freshman, and may have been in a bit over his head at times last fall. Expect to see better play from him as a sophomore, as he has grown more confident over time. He added 722 yards rushing, and his dual threat nature should be his key ally once again. LaBaron Anthony, a RS freshman, is the backup heading into the summer.
Wesley Fields rushed for 811 yards last fall, and returns as the primary back. Monteo Garrett, a senior, is the 2nd option at the position, but both players were banged up and missed most or all of spring practice. In order for this offense to work, there has to be more punch from this group, but they will have to work to see that in fall camp. Garrett has some explosive ability, as he averaged over 7 yards per carry in limited duty last fall. Wesley Fields and Matt LaRoche provide some depth, with Grant Walker, Logan Wright, and Eric Montgomery looking for reps as well.
Malik Henry led the team with 20 receptions, and returns this fall to start. Obe Fortune, the 2nd leading receiver with 15 grabs, is back as well. Wesley Kennedy III caught just 4 passes last fall, but should get work as the 3rd receiver. Darion Anderson, Mark Michaud, and Malik Murray are the backups, but the staff would like to find more production out of this group as a whole, and will be looking for some step up play makers in the fall.
Ellis Richardson will start at TE, and will play off the line, while Cam Brown is a more connected line blocker off the end. Michaud will possibly move into what they call the CRUISER position, which is a more receiver/TE hybrid that can both block and break into the 2nd and 3rd levels as a route runner.
The staff was pleased with the line play in the spring, and they feel that this group could be the strength of the offense. Jeremiah Culbreth (LT), Jakob Cooper (LG), Curtis Rainey (C), Lawrence Edwards (RG), and Drew Wilson (RT) lead a balanced group that will have 2 seniors, 2 juniors, and a sophomore this season. Freshman Jarrod Leeds projects as the backup at LT, while Brian Miller, another freshman, is the backup at RT. Jawaski Webb and Ryan Northrup are battling it out for the backup job at LG, while Caleb Kelly is the backup on the right side. Drake Grall, a senior, is the backup at C as we head into the summer.
Breakdown Defense: This unit spun out in 2017, allowing over 32 points per game. Improvements must come in all areas, as they allowed 230.1 yards passing and 180.33 yards rushing per game.
The Eagles are transitioning to a 3 man front in 2018, and so changes must be made, as players are moving off and onto the line. Raymond Johnson III and Logan Hunt are the starters at DE. Hunt led the team with 11 TFLs, while Johnson added 6.5. This duo could be one of the better edge units in the Sun Belt this fall. Quan Griffin and Traver Vliem are battling it out to back up Johnson, while Josh Johnson and Deshon Cooper are battling out for the spot to back up Hunt.
RS senior Ian Bush is the starting NT, but is more of an Earth mover than a play maker. Ty Phillips is slated to back him up.
Todd Bradley finished with 25 tackles last fall, and moves into the starting job at MLB this fall in the new 4 LB alignment. Tomarcio Reese finished with 45 tackles, and starts at the WLB position. Chris Harris and Tre' Allen are battling to back up the MLB spot, while Rashad Byrd is the backup to the WLB spot. According to the staff, this group had a rough early spring, but came around by the end, and they will be looking for continued improvements in fall camp.
Jay Bowdry finished last fall with 37 tackles, and starts at the ANCHOR position outside. Randy Wade played in just 5 games as a freshman last fall, and finds himself as the starting DOG backer this fall. Lane Ecton backs up the ANCHOR spot, while there is an ongoing battle between Alvin Ward, Benz Josue, and Demetrice Lofton to back up Wade at the DOG spot.
Monquavion Brinson and Kindle Vildor are the starting CBs, with Christian Matthew leading for the 3rd CB spot. Bryce Cross, a RS freshman, is considered as the 4th CB. Brinson led the team with 12 PBUs last fall and had 5 INTs. Vildor had 3 picks and 7 PBUs. This group will be playing more zone defense than man, which was primary last season in coverage.
Joshua Moon (FS) and Sean Freeman (SS) are the deep starters. They combined for 5 PBUs last fall. Moon was 3rd on the team with 47 tackles, while Freeman had 32. RJ Murray, Martial Washington, and Kenderick Duncan are fighting to back up the FS spot, while Jessie Liptrot and Darrell Baker are battling for the backup spot at SS.
Breakdown Special Teams: Tyler Bass hit 15/19 FG attempts last fall, and returns as one of the best kickers in the Sun Belt. Magill Bauerle is the new Punter with the departure of Matt Flynn.
Malik Henry returns from a crowded field of Kick Returners, and will now be the primary guy. Wesley Kennedy III is the punt return man, and averaged 15.67 yards per return in limited duty last fall.
Final Analysis: The Eagles will not let last season become the norm, as this program hit the ground hard when they transitioned from FCS football, much as Appalachian State did in the same conference. There is a ton of history and pride in this program, and that will not change as the staff makes the necessary adjustments under Lunsford and his staff. 20 new players will come into camp in August, so anything regarding player battles could get more intensified by a freshman class that is ready to push some vets for jobs, so stay tuned. Georgia Southern could be the most improved team in the Sun belt in 2018, but a lot of things have to come together first. I am betting on good things in the next couple of seasons here, and the fan base must stay patient as things get fixed.
Opening Statement: The program bottomed out under Tyson Summers last fall, and he was fired in October, when Chad Lunsford took over as interim head coach. The team responded to Lunsford, and he was named the permanent head coach after the season. The Eagles won 2 of their final 3 games last fall, and with that comes hope that the needle is finally pointing upward for 2018.
Breakdown Offense: The Eagles struggles on offense were monumental at times, as they averaged just 20 points per game. They scored fewer than 20 points 7 times last fall, but there was an uptick when they beat South Alabama 52-0 for their first win of the season in November.
Shai Werts is back as the starting QB. He showed some solid play at times, and was not entirely awful, but there is work to be done with him, and he showed some improvement and flash in spring ball. He passd for 929 yards as a freshman, and may have been in a bit over his head at times last fall. Expect to see better play from him as a sophomore, as he has grown more confident over time. He added 722 yards rushing, and his dual threat nature should be his key ally once again. LaBaron Anthony, a RS freshman, is the backup heading into the summer.
Wesley Fields rushed for 811 yards last fall, and returns as the primary back. Monteo Garrett, a senior, is the 2nd option at the position, but both players were banged up and missed most or all of spring practice. In order for this offense to work, there has to be more punch from this group, but they will have to work to see that in fall camp. Garrett has some explosive ability, as he averaged over 7 yards per carry in limited duty last fall. Wesley Fields and Matt LaRoche provide some depth, with Grant Walker, Logan Wright, and Eric Montgomery looking for reps as well.
Malik Henry led the team with 20 receptions, and returns this fall to start. Obe Fortune, the 2nd leading receiver with 15 grabs, is back as well. Wesley Kennedy III caught just 4 passes last fall, but should get work as the 3rd receiver. Darion Anderson, Mark Michaud, and Malik Murray are the backups, but the staff would like to find more production out of this group as a whole, and will be looking for some step up play makers in the fall.
Ellis Richardson will start at TE, and will play off the line, while Cam Brown is a more connected line blocker off the end. Michaud will possibly move into what they call the CRUISER position, which is a more receiver/TE hybrid that can both block and break into the 2nd and 3rd levels as a route runner.
The staff was pleased with the line play in the spring, and they feel that this group could be the strength of the offense. Jeremiah Culbreth (LT), Jakob Cooper (LG), Curtis Rainey (C), Lawrence Edwards (RG), and Drew Wilson (RT) lead a balanced group that will have 2 seniors, 2 juniors, and a sophomore this season. Freshman Jarrod Leeds projects as the backup at LT, while Brian Miller, another freshman, is the backup at RT. Jawaski Webb and Ryan Northrup are battling it out for the backup job at LG, while Caleb Kelly is the backup on the right side. Drake Grall, a senior, is the backup at C as we head into the summer.
Breakdown Defense: This unit spun out in 2017, allowing over 32 points per game. Improvements must come in all areas, as they allowed 230.1 yards passing and 180.33 yards rushing per game.
The Eagles are transitioning to a 3 man front in 2018, and so changes must be made, as players are moving off and onto the line. Raymond Johnson III and Logan Hunt are the starters at DE. Hunt led the team with 11 TFLs, while Johnson added 6.5. This duo could be one of the better edge units in the Sun Belt this fall. Quan Griffin and Traver Vliem are battling it out to back up Johnson, while Josh Johnson and Deshon Cooper are battling out for the spot to back up Hunt.
RS senior Ian Bush is the starting NT, but is more of an Earth mover than a play maker. Ty Phillips is slated to back him up.
Todd Bradley finished with 25 tackles last fall, and moves into the starting job at MLB this fall in the new 4 LB alignment. Tomarcio Reese finished with 45 tackles, and starts at the WLB position. Chris Harris and Tre' Allen are battling to back up the MLB spot, while Rashad Byrd is the backup to the WLB spot. According to the staff, this group had a rough early spring, but came around by the end, and they will be looking for continued improvements in fall camp.
Jay Bowdry finished last fall with 37 tackles, and starts at the ANCHOR position outside. Randy Wade played in just 5 games as a freshman last fall, and finds himself as the starting DOG backer this fall. Lane Ecton backs up the ANCHOR spot, while there is an ongoing battle between Alvin Ward, Benz Josue, and Demetrice Lofton to back up Wade at the DOG spot.
Monquavion Brinson and Kindle Vildor are the starting CBs, with Christian Matthew leading for the 3rd CB spot. Bryce Cross, a RS freshman, is considered as the 4th CB. Brinson led the team with 12 PBUs last fall and had 5 INTs. Vildor had 3 picks and 7 PBUs. This group will be playing more zone defense than man, which was primary last season in coverage.
Joshua Moon (FS) and Sean Freeman (SS) are the deep starters. They combined for 5 PBUs last fall. Moon was 3rd on the team with 47 tackles, while Freeman had 32. RJ Murray, Martial Washington, and Kenderick Duncan are fighting to back up the FS spot, while Jessie Liptrot and Darrell Baker are battling for the backup spot at SS.
Breakdown Special Teams: Tyler Bass hit 15/19 FG attempts last fall, and returns as one of the best kickers in the Sun Belt. Magill Bauerle is the new Punter with the departure of Matt Flynn.
Malik Henry returns from a crowded field of Kick Returners, and will now be the primary guy. Wesley Kennedy III is the punt return man, and averaged 15.67 yards per return in limited duty last fall.
Final Analysis: The Eagles will not let last season become the norm, as this program hit the ground hard when they transitioned from FCS football, much as Appalachian State did in the same conference. There is a ton of history and pride in this program, and that will not change as the staff makes the necessary adjustments under Lunsford and his staff. 20 new players will come into camp in August, so anything regarding player battles could get more intensified by a freshman class that is ready to push some vets for jobs, so stay tuned. Georgia Southern could be the most improved team in the Sun belt in 2018, but a lot of things have to come together first. I am betting on good things in the next couple of seasons here, and the fan base must stay patient as things get fixed.
Georgia Bulldogs 2018 Football Preview
Georgia Bulldogs 2018 Football Preview
Opening Statement: Georgia had one of the most thrilling postseasons in modern college football history, with a huge Rose Bowl win over Oklahoma, followed by a heartbreaking late loss to Alabama in the national title game. The Bulldogs lost a massive amount of talent to the NFL, but do not worry, as the Bulldogs have enough talent on hand to not only return to the top of the SEC East with relative ease, but they have what it takes to make another national title run as well.
Breakdown Offense: Jacob Eason got hurt last fall, and never regained the starting QB job from the rock solid freshman Jacob Fromm. Eason transferred to Washington, and Fromm remains, but he cannot rest this fall, as another talented player comes into the QB position in Justin Fields. If Fromm struggles, Fields will be there to jump on the job. Fromm was a rock star in the playoffs, as nothing seemed to phase the freshman. He passed for 2615 yards with 24 TDs and 7 INTs. Between the SEC title game through the national title game, he tossed 5 TDs and just 2 INTs (both in the title game), and passed for 625 yards. He completed 62.2% of his passes, an area I expect will improve this fall.
Nick Chubb and Sony Michel are gone, and they take 31 total TDs rushing out the door with them, along with 2572 yards from last fall. That may seem like a set of numbers to dispair over, but the talent coming back is immense. D'Andre Swift averaged 7.63 yards per carry, Brian Herrion carried 61 times, and Elijah Holyfield is built like a Mack Truck, and averaged 5.86 yards per carry as well. This unit should not disappoint.
Javon Wyms, the leading receiver with 45 receptions, has moved on, but look out for those who are returning. Terry Godwin averaged 16.82 yards per catch last season and scored 6 times. Mecole Hardman averaged 16.72 yards per reception, and Riley Ridley averaged 15.57 yards per catch. This is a talented projected starting unit. Ahkil Crumpton caught just 5 passes last fall, but averaged ovr 19 yards per grab, and will be a primary reserve. Tyler Simmons, Matt Landers, and freshman Kearis Jackson all will work into reserve roles in fall camp.
Isaac Nauta caught 9 passes at TE last fall, and returns as the starter. Charlie Worner is the TE2 when needed, and also caught 9 passes. Jackson Harris returns as well, and should be the 3rd TE.
The line could be a key area of concern in camp, as 3 sophomores are projected to start. Andrew Thomas (LT), Ben Cleveland (RG), and Isaiah Wilson (RT) bring the youth, while Kendall Baker (LG) and Lamont Gaillard (C) are the senior leaders. Depth is a concern as well. D'Marcus Hayes and Cade Mays are the listed backups at the Tackle spots, but Mays is a freshman. Trey Hill projects as the backup Center, while Solomon Kindley, a sophomore, is the backup at OG.
Breakdown Defense: The Bulldogs were dominant at times on defense, and allowed just 16.4 points per game. They gave up 34 points per game in the playoffs, however, so the hope is that the regular season dominance bleeds over to the 2018 season, and not the playoff version.
Jonathan Ledbetter and Walter Grant are projected as starters at DE this fall, with Grant being a sophomore this fall. They combined for 8 TFLs, so there is some reason to believe that they can play to a higher expectation this fall in larger roles. Michail Carter and Robert Beal are projected as the backups, while Malik Herring, a sophomore, provides depth on the 3rd unit.
Julian Rochester and Tyler Clark are slotted in as starters at DT. Clark finished with 6 TFLs up the middle, while Rochester added 2.5 in the rotation. DaQuan Hawkins-Muckle and David Marshall are the primary backups, while Michael Barnett and Justin Young are the 3rd team candidates.
Roquan Smith has moved on at LB, and that is a huge loss, but D'Andre Walker returns at WLB. He finished with 39 tackles, but totaled 13.5 TFLs, 5.5 sacks, and 6 QB hurries. Juwan Taylor had just 13 tackles as a junior, but is the primary candidate to replace Smith at MLB. Natrez Patrick had 35 tackles, and is projected to start at SLB. Keyon Brown, Tae Crowder, and Brenton Cox will provide depth at the OLB spots, while sophomore Monte Rice figures in as the backup at MLB to Taylor.
Deandre Baker and Tyrique McGhee are the starters at CB. Baker led the team with 9 PBUs, while McGhee added another 5. Baker also added 3 INTs, good for 2nd on the team. Tray Bishop and Ameer Speed, both sophomores, are the primary reserves, while Latavious Brini and KJ Smith roll up the 3rd unit.
Richard LeCounte III starts at SS, while Mark Webb is the FS. This is going to be the concern area on defense, as neither provided much in the way of production last fall. William Poole III and Jarvis Wilson should provide some push in fall camp, while Jake Skole and Joseph Hull are your 3rd team unit.
Breakdown Special Teams: Rodrigo Blankenship quietly became one of the best kickers in the nation last season, hitting 20/23 FG attempts, and he returns to work once again, while Marshall Long looks like the new Punter.
Hardman returns as the primary kick return man, as he averaged 25.25 yards per return. He also averaged 11.78 yards per punt return, and should handle that job as well.
Final Analysis: There are few reasons to worry about the offense, but 3 sophomores on the line may be something that needs some watching early in the season. The other areas, QB, RB, and WR, should be well taken care of. Defensively, it would seem that the line is solid, but the LB corps could be a bit diminished, even with the return of Walker. The CB slots are solid, but the Bulldogs are weak deep, an that could become a problem. Overall, there is plenty of talent to mitigate the concerns, but if one or two things go the wrong way, the Bulldogs could get exposed. I still see them as a top 5 program with the tools to push for an SEC title and national playoff appearance.
Opening Statement: Georgia had one of the most thrilling postseasons in modern college football history, with a huge Rose Bowl win over Oklahoma, followed by a heartbreaking late loss to Alabama in the national title game. The Bulldogs lost a massive amount of talent to the NFL, but do not worry, as the Bulldogs have enough talent on hand to not only return to the top of the SEC East with relative ease, but they have what it takes to make another national title run as well.
Breakdown Offense: Jacob Eason got hurt last fall, and never regained the starting QB job from the rock solid freshman Jacob Fromm. Eason transferred to Washington, and Fromm remains, but he cannot rest this fall, as another talented player comes into the QB position in Justin Fields. If Fromm struggles, Fields will be there to jump on the job. Fromm was a rock star in the playoffs, as nothing seemed to phase the freshman. He passed for 2615 yards with 24 TDs and 7 INTs. Between the SEC title game through the national title game, he tossed 5 TDs and just 2 INTs (both in the title game), and passed for 625 yards. He completed 62.2% of his passes, an area I expect will improve this fall.
Nick Chubb and Sony Michel are gone, and they take 31 total TDs rushing out the door with them, along with 2572 yards from last fall. That may seem like a set of numbers to dispair over, but the talent coming back is immense. D'Andre Swift averaged 7.63 yards per carry, Brian Herrion carried 61 times, and Elijah Holyfield is built like a Mack Truck, and averaged 5.86 yards per carry as well. This unit should not disappoint.
Javon Wyms, the leading receiver with 45 receptions, has moved on, but look out for those who are returning. Terry Godwin averaged 16.82 yards per catch last season and scored 6 times. Mecole Hardman averaged 16.72 yards per reception, and Riley Ridley averaged 15.57 yards per catch. This is a talented projected starting unit. Ahkil Crumpton caught just 5 passes last fall, but averaged ovr 19 yards per grab, and will be a primary reserve. Tyler Simmons, Matt Landers, and freshman Kearis Jackson all will work into reserve roles in fall camp.
Isaac Nauta caught 9 passes at TE last fall, and returns as the starter. Charlie Worner is the TE2 when needed, and also caught 9 passes. Jackson Harris returns as well, and should be the 3rd TE.
The line could be a key area of concern in camp, as 3 sophomores are projected to start. Andrew Thomas (LT), Ben Cleveland (RG), and Isaiah Wilson (RT) bring the youth, while Kendall Baker (LG) and Lamont Gaillard (C) are the senior leaders. Depth is a concern as well. D'Marcus Hayes and Cade Mays are the listed backups at the Tackle spots, but Mays is a freshman. Trey Hill projects as the backup Center, while Solomon Kindley, a sophomore, is the backup at OG.
Breakdown Defense: The Bulldogs were dominant at times on defense, and allowed just 16.4 points per game. They gave up 34 points per game in the playoffs, however, so the hope is that the regular season dominance bleeds over to the 2018 season, and not the playoff version.
Jonathan Ledbetter and Walter Grant are projected as starters at DE this fall, with Grant being a sophomore this fall. They combined for 8 TFLs, so there is some reason to believe that they can play to a higher expectation this fall in larger roles. Michail Carter and Robert Beal are projected as the backups, while Malik Herring, a sophomore, provides depth on the 3rd unit.
Julian Rochester and Tyler Clark are slotted in as starters at DT. Clark finished with 6 TFLs up the middle, while Rochester added 2.5 in the rotation. DaQuan Hawkins-Muckle and David Marshall are the primary backups, while Michael Barnett and Justin Young are the 3rd team candidates.
Roquan Smith has moved on at LB, and that is a huge loss, but D'Andre Walker returns at WLB. He finished with 39 tackles, but totaled 13.5 TFLs, 5.5 sacks, and 6 QB hurries. Juwan Taylor had just 13 tackles as a junior, but is the primary candidate to replace Smith at MLB. Natrez Patrick had 35 tackles, and is projected to start at SLB. Keyon Brown, Tae Crowder, and Brenton Cox will provide depth at the OLB spots, while sophomore Monte Rice figures in as the backup at MLB to Taylor.
Deandre Baker and Tyrique McGhee are the starters at CB. Baker led the team with 9 PBUs, while McGhee added another 5. Baker also added 3 INTs, good for 2nd on the team. Tray Bishop and Ameer Speed, both sophomores, are the primary reserves, while Latavious Brini and KJ Smith roll up the 3rd unit.
Richard LeCounte III starts at SS, while Mark Webb is the FS. This is going to be the concern area on defense, as neither provided much in the way of production last fall. William Poole III and Jarvis Wilson should provide some push in fall camp, while Jake Skole and Joseph Hull are your 3rd team unit.
Breakdown Special Teams: Rodrigo Blankenship quietly became one of the best kickers in the nation last season, hitting 20/23 FG attempts, and he returns to work once again, while Marshall Long looks like the new Punter.
Hardman returns as the primary kick return man, as he averaged 25.25 yards per return. He also averaged 11.78 yards per punt return, and should handle that job as well.
Final Analysis: There are few reasons to worry about the offense, but 3 sophomores on the line may be something that needs some watching early in the season. The other areas, QB, RB, and WR, should be well taken care of. Defensively, it would seem that the line is solid, but the LB corps could be a bit diminished, even with the return of Walker. The CB slots are solid, but the Bulldogs are weak deep, an that could become a problem. Overall, there is plenty of talent to mitigate the concerns, but if one or two things go the wrong way, the Bulldogs could get exposed. I still see them as a top 5 program with the tools to push for an SEC title and national playoff appearance.
Fresno State Bulldogs 2018 Football Preview
Fresno State Bulldogs 2018 Football Preview
Opening Statement: Jeff Tedford's big return to college football was triumphant in 2017, as his Bulldogs bounced back from the cellar of the West Division of the Mountain West to win the division and finish with 10 wins. This was unthinkable at one point with as bad as the program became under former coach Tim DeRuyter, and the final days of Pat Hill were no picnic either. Still, Tedford took a tattered and beaten program, and turned it back into the proud winner that this program had been for years. This was no simple job, and what will be more difficult is taking the league by surprise once again.
Breakdown Offense: Marcus McMaryion's transfer from Oregon State at QB was one of the best things to happen to Fresno State in years. He took over at QB after Chase Virgil struggled early, and created a path at the position that the Bulldogs had not seen in some time. He passed for 2726 yards, with 14 TDs and just 5 INTs, but he gave them consistency, and that stabilized a struggling offense. He added 4 more scores on the ground, and kept defenses honest on a weekly basis.
The bad news at QB is that Virgil transferred to SE Louisiana, giving Fresno State zero experience on the bench behind McMaryion. Jorge Reyna, a JC transfer, could be the answer, but RS freshman Kyle Lindquist is fighting for a look. That fight should continue into the fall.
The Bulldogs really struggled to run the ball effectively last fall, and the line played no small part in that. Finding a back who can step up and make things happen may be dependent on better line play as much as it depends on finding someone who can take the job and run with it, and nobody has presented themselves as that guy, as a committee, the Bulldogs rushed for 155 yards, which was an improvement over the year before, but a star has not been identified yet. Jordan Mims rushed for 627 yards and 6 scores, while Ronnie Rivers rushed for 480 yards and 5 scores. Josh Hokit led the team with 7 rushing scores, along with 583 yards. DeJonte O'Neal and Saevion Johnson had limited carries and action last fall, but this should be the deepest the Bulldog RB stable has been in some time.
KeeSean Johnson is one of the more talented receivers in the nation, and returns as a senior after posting a line of 77-1013-8, and he averaged 13.16 yards per catch. Experience and production drops off significantly after Johnson, however, as Jamire Jordan caught just 27 passes, and is the next best receiver returning as far as numbers are concerned. Derrion Grim is back as the 3rd option after catching 13 passes last fall. Justin Allen and Kevin Parker also caught passes and provide some limited depth.
Jared Rice caught 22 passes at TE last fall and returns, but could get pushed for reps by senior Kyle Rittering, who caught 8 passes as a junior.
The line appears fairly set coming out of spring ball. Christian Kronk (LT), Netani Muti (LG), Markus Boyer (C), Micah St. Andrew (RG), and Syrus Tuitele (RT) are all projected as starters. This is a veteran unit overall, with 3 seniors starting, and so expectations are high. Nick Aibuedefeprovides as a backup at the OT spots, while Quireo Woodley is the backup inside.
Breakdown Defense: The Bulldogs allowed just 17.9 points per game last fall, but have some holes to fill if they want to repeat that feat this season.
Kwami Jones, a JC transfer, is the only real locked up option at DE this fall, as the Bulldogs lose both starters and a ton of production from last fall. Jones finished with 2 TFLs last fall in his first season in the program. Emeka Ndoh could get a look, as could Damian DeGruy, but the position, like the rest of the line, is thin.
Jasad Haynes and Kevin Atkins project as the starters at DT this fall. They combined for 4 TFLs last fall, and need some experience. Again, depth is a problem on the interior as it is on the exterior.
Jeffrey Allison is the star of the defense, and returns after recording 124 tackles last fall. He added 5.5 TFLs, 2 sacks, 3 PBUs, and 2 forced fumbles. He starts at MLB, while Georgie Helmuth (89 tackles) returns at start at SLB. Helmuth added 8 TFLs, 4 sacks, and 5 QB hurries. James Bailey returns at WLB, and recorded 71 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, and 2 PBUs. You will be hard pressed to find a better starting LB unit in the Mountain West this season. Justin Rice and Trent Soechting provide backup depth and experience in the program that few teams have this fall.
Anthoula Kelly and Jaron Bryant are projected as the starters at CB this fall, and they combined for 15 PBUs. Bryant led the team with 4 INTs on the season and recorded 67 tackles. Kelly finished with 44 tackles. Sherman Coleman, a senior, is the 3rd CB when needed, and played in 7 games last fall.
JuJu Hughes, a junior, is the starter at SS, while Mike Bell, also a junior, is the FS. Hughes finished with 7 PBUs last fall, and added 71 tackles in a solid season. Bell added 77 tackles of his own, and knocked away 3 passes. Ka'Lonn Milton Provides work as the 3rd Safety.
Breakdown Special Teams: Jimmy Camacho is gone at PK after hitting 25 FGs last fall. Even mor concerning is that he attempted 32 of them, so his leg was incredibly important last fall. Asa Fuller and Mateo Thompson, a JC transfer, will battle in the fall for the job to replace him. Blake Cusick, who averaged 42.54 yards per punt on 4.8 punts per game, returns.
Dejonte O'Neal returns at KR, but averaged just over 19 yards per return last fall, and could be pushed this fall by Jamire Jordan.
O'Neal averaged 13.33 yards per PR last fall, and could find his way back into that role once again as well.
Final Analysis: While it may be difficult to sneak up on everyone in the Mountain West once again, the talent to do so is on hand. Fresno State has some issues to iron out defensively up front, but the LB and DB corps are both rock solid, with tons of veteran experience on hand at the starting and backup spots. Offensively, McMaryion will have to increase what he was able to do, because he won't be shocking anyone again. Having KeeSean Johnson to throw to will be a huge gain, but the Bulldogs need to find other capable receivers to get the ball to, or else Johnson will get bottled up. Finding a step up star at RB should be important as well. Fresno State has the talent on hand to win the West once again, but will be in a dog fight with San Diego State. Can they get past the Aztecs, only to face an improved Boise State in the championship game once again? Possibly.
Opening Statement: Jeff Tedford's big return to college football was triumphant in 2017, as his Bulldogs bounced back from the cellar of the West Division of the Mountain West to win the division and finish with 10 wins. This was unthinkable at one point with as bad as the program became under former coach Tim DeRuyter, and the final days of Pat Hill were no picnic either. Still, Tedford took a tattered and beaten program, and turned it back into the proud winner that this program had been for years. This was no simple job, and what will be more difficult is taking the league by surprise once again.
Breakdown Offense: Marcus McMaryion's transfer from Oregon State at QB was one of the best things to happen to Fresno State in years. He took over at QB after Chase Virgil struggled early, and created a path at the position that the Bulldogs had not seen in some time. He passed for 2726 yards, with 14 TDs and just 5 INTs, but he gave them consistency, and that stabilized a struggling offense. He added 4 more scores on the ground, and kept defenses honest on a weekly basis.
The bad news at QB is that Virgil transferred to SE Louisiana, giving Fresno State zero experience on the bench behind McMaryion. Jorge Reyna, a JC transfer, could be the answer, but RS freshman Kyle Lindquist is fighting for a look. That fight should continue into the fall.
The Bulldogs really struggled to run the ball effectively last fall, and the line played no small part in that. Finding a back who can step up and make things happen may be dependent on better line play as much as it depends on finding someone who can take the job and run with it, and nobody has presented themselves as that guy, as a committee, the Bulldogs rushed for 155 yards, which was an improvement over the year before, but a star has not been identified yet. Jordan Mims rushed for 627 yards and 6 scores, while Ronnie Rivers rushed for 480 yards and 5 scores. Josh Hokit led the team with 7 rushing scores, along with 583 yards. DeJonte O'Neal and Saevion Johnson had limited carries and action last fall, but this should be the deepest the Bulldog RB stable has been in some time.
KeeSean Johnson is one of the more talented receivers in the nation, and returns as a senior after posting a line of 77-1013-8, and he averaged 13.16 yards per catch. Experience and production drops off significantly after Johnson, however, as Jamire Jordan caught just 27 passes, and is the next best receiver returning as far as numbers are concerned. Derrion Grim is back as the 3rd option after catching 13 passes last fall. Justin Allen and Kevin Parker also caught passes and provide some limited depth.
Jared Rice caught 22 passes at TE last fall and returns, but could get pushed for reps by senior Kyle Rittering, who caught 8 passes as a junior.
The line appears fairly set coming out of spring ball. Christian Kronk (LT), Netani Muti (LG), Markus Boyer (C), Micah St. Andrew (RG), and Syrus Tuitele (RT) are all projected as starters. This is a veteran unit overall, with 3 seniors starting, and so expectations are high. Nick Aibuedefeprovides as a backup at the OT spots, while Quireo Woodley is the backup inside.
Breakdown Defense: The Bulldogs allowed just 17.9 points per game last fall, but have some holes to fill if they want to repeat that feat this season.
Kwami Jones, a JC transfer, is the only real locked up option at DE this fall, as the Bulldogs lose both starters and a ton of production from last fall. Jones finished with 2 TFLs last fall in his first season in the program. Emeka Ndoh could get a look, as could Damian DeGruy, but the position, like the rest of the line, is thin.
Jasad Haynes and Kevin Atkins project as the starters at DT this fall. They combined for 4 TFLs last fall, and need some experience. Again, depth is a problem on the interior as it is on the exterior.
Jeffrey Allison is the star of the defense, and returns after recording 124 tackles last fall. He added 5.5 TFLs, 2 sacks, 3 PBUs, and 2 forced fumbles. He starts at MLB, while Georgie Helmuth (89 tackles) returns at start at SLB. Helmuth added 8 TFLs, 4 sacks, and 5 QB hurries. James Bailey returns at WLB, and recorded 71 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, and 2 PBUs. You will be hard pressed to find a better starting LB unit in the Mountain West this season. Justin Rice and Trent Soechting provide backup depth and experience in the program that few teams have this fall.
Anthoula Kelly and Jaron Bryant are projected as the starters at CB this fall, and they combined for 15 PBUs. Bryant led the team with 4 INTs on the season and recorded 67 tackles. Kelly finished with 44 tackles. Sherman Coleman, a senior, is the 3rd CB when needed, and played in 7 games last fall.
JuJu Hughes, a junior, is the starter at SS, while Mike Bell, also a junior, is the FS. Hughes finished with 7 PBUs last fall, and added 71 tackles in a solid season. Bell added 77 tackles of his own, and knocked away 3 passes. Ka'Lonn Milton Provides work as the 3rd Safety.
Breakdown Special Teams: Jimmy Camacho is gone at PK after hitting 25 FGs last fall. Even mor concerning is that he attempted 32 of them, so his leg was incredibly important last fall. Asa Fuller and Mateo Thompson, a JC transfer, will battle in the fall for the job to replace him. Blake Cusick, who averaged 42.54 yards per punt on 4.8 punts per game, returns.
Dejonte O'Neal returns at KR, but averaged just over 19 yards per return last fall, and could be pushed this fall by Jamire Jordan.
O'Neal averaged 13.33 yards per PR last fall, and could find his way back into that role once again as well.
Final Analysis: While it may be difficult to sneak up on everyone in the Mountain West once again, the talent to do so is on hand. Fresno State has some issues to iron out defensively up front, but the LB and DB corps are both rock solid, with tons of veteran experience on hand at the starting and backup spots. Offensively, McMaryion will have to increase what he was able to do, because he won't be shocking anyone again. Having KeeSean Johnson to throw to will be a huge gain, but the Bulldogs need to find other capable receivers to get the ball to, or else Johnson will get bottled up. Finding a step up star at RB should be important as well. Fresno State has the talent on hand to win the West once again, but will be in a dog fight with San Diego State. Can they get past the Aztecs, only to face an improved Boise State in the championship game once again? Possibly.
Florida State Seminoles 2018 Football Preview
Florida State Seminoles 2018 Football Preview
Opening Statement: The only word that really can explain the 2017 season for Florida State was disaster. The Seminoles needed a win over Delaware State, and later ULM, just to get bowl eligible, and all of that came as part of an injury that knocked starting QB Deondre Francois out in the first game, a loss to Alabama that they were not in when he was healthy. When all the smoke had cleared, Jimbo Fisher took the first train out of Tallahassee, and took the Texas A&M job. Willie Taggart, a self professed life-long Seminoles fan, took the opportunity to leave Oregon after just one year on the job, and is trying to build something from the ashes of what happened. It's not an impossible job, as FSU is still a prime job, but how much damage was done with Jimbo's wondering eye, and how long will it take to get everyone back in the boat?
Breakdown Offense: The Francois injury should not have decimated the Seminoles as it did, as they had what should have been plenty of talent on hand to work around it. The simple fact is that the talent on hand was overrated in every conceivable way, and the roster was dotted with players who were completely out of their element, especially on offense, where inconsistency plagued the team all season long.
Francois is not a sure thing to win back the QB job, a she has some off-field (drug related) issues to deal with, and it seems as if he has already lost the trust of Taggart. James Blackmon has now had an entire season under his belt, and while things weren't always perfect, he mostly held his own, and seemed to be in a decent groove to tend the season. Still, he onlyt averaged 185 yards passing per game as a freshman last season, and completed just 58.2% of his passes. He is a work in progress, but that seems to be right up Taggart's alley. Bailey Hockman got some reps in the spring, but neither Blackmon, nor Hockman, set themselves apart, and a battle could rage into the fall.
Cam Akers returns after breaking a school freshman rushing record with 1025 yards and 7 scores. He averaged 5.28 yards per carry on the season, and should be the bell cow back for the Seminoles this fall. Jacques Patrick returns as the primary backup, and rushed for 735 yards and 7 scores. Khalan Laborn had a big spring, and should see some action as well. Under Jimbo fisher, the Seminoles ran the football upwards of 60% of the time or more, and I would expect that number to fall with Taggart, who loves to toss the football around.
Auden Tate moves on after catching 40 passes last season, and the battle to replace him falls between Tamorrian Terry or Keith Gavin. Gavin has not lived up to his billing in the program so far as a junior, and terry has serious injury concerns. This is a spot worth watching for that battle alone. Nyqwan Murray is back after leading the team with 604 yards on 40 catches. He scored 4 times, and can stretch the field, as he averaged 15.1 yards per catch. DJ Matthews caught just 6 passes last fall, but is in line for a larger role as a sophomore this season. George Campbell, a junior who caught 6 passes, and walk-on Deonte Sheffield are the only confirmed depth so far.
Tre McKitty caught one pass as a freshman at TE last fall, but is projected to replace Ryan Izzo at TE. Naseir Upshur left spring camp right behind him for the job, and could push for reps in fall camp.
Derrick Kelly II looks like the projected starter at LT, while Cole Minshew (LG), Alec Eberle (C), Landon Dickerson (RG), and Josh Ball (RT) all appear to have jobs locked down as well. Jauan Williams and Mike Arnold are the backups at the Tackle spots, while Abdul Bello provides relief at the OG spots. Baveon Johnson could push for the job at C, but it appears that Eberle would be the best option there. Experience and depth are an overall concern for the Seminoles up front, so this could be a major area of concern and rebuilding moving forward.
Breakdown Defense: Josh Kaindoh missed spring ball with an injury, but should return at DE in the fall to claim a starting spot after recording 6.5 TFLs as a freshman. Brian Burns led the team in TFLs with 13.5 as a sophomore last season, and will start at DE opposite Kaindoh. Wally Aime' and Janarius Robinson are the backups heading into the summer. They combined for 3.5 TFLs off the bench last fall.
Demarcus Christmas returns after many had him heading off to the NFL after the season. He finished with 4.5 TFLs at DT last fall. Marvin Wilson was projected to start opposite Christmas, but tore his MCL in spring ball, and his status is unknown. Many feel like he will return at some point during the season, but nobody knows when that will be. Fred Jones left spring as the likely backup, and would step into the starting role. Cory Durden expects to get some reps as well after redshirting last fall.
The Seminoles lost 3 starters at LB, and so the unit is in reboot mode. Adonis Thomas and DeCalon Brooks are projecting as starters at the OLB spots, but neither has much experience, with Brooks being a RS freshman. Both had decent springs, but they could be in for a tough go when real games begin. Josh Brown, Amari Gainer, and Emmett Rice are looking for bigger roles at the OLB spots as well. Dontavious Jackson is the starter at MLB. He played in 9 games last fall, but the coaching staff really like his makeup and character.
Stanford Samuels III and Levonta Taylor are projected to start at the CB spots. Samuels played solidly as a freshman last fall, as he finished with 5 PBUs. Taylor finished with 3 PBUs, and they both finished tied for the team lead with 2 INTs each. Carlos Becker II and Kyle Meyers project as the backups.
Cyrus Fagan (FS) and Jaiden Woodby, a true freshman, are projected to win the Safety jobs. Fagan played in 7 games as a freshman last season, so experience is an issue, even if talent is not. AJ Westbrook and Hamsah Nasirildeen are the reserves heading into fall camp.
Breakdown Special Teams: Ricky Aguayo is almost automatic at PK, and returns to the job after hitting 18/21 FG attempts last fall. He also hit 42/44 PATs on the season.
Logan Tyler has developed into one of the better Punters in the nation, and averaged 43.17 yards per punt last fall.
Keith Gavin, who averaged 25.43 yards per kick return last fall, left spring camp with the primary job his. DJ Matthews averaged 11.11 yards per punt return, and fills that role once again as well.
Final Analysis: Willie Taggart is a fixer. He has always taken on programs in the cellar (Western Kentucky, USF) and turned them into big winners within 5 years. Had he stayed at Oregon, I have no doubt that he would have had Oregon in national title hunts before too long. With a rich recruiting ground to work with, and a program name to go with it, Taggart will likely fix Florida State in very short order. He is one of the most underrated coaches in college football, and Florida State was lucky to nab him. He attempted to lure Jim Leavitt to come with him as DC, but Leavitt stayed at Oregon instead, but the defense has enough young talent to build up rapidly, no matter who coordinates it. Florida State will not be down long, so get them while you can.
Opening Statement: The only word that really can explain the 2017 season for Florida State was disaster. The Seminoles needed a win over Delaware State, and later ULM, just to get bowl eligible, and all of that came as part of an injury that knocked starting QB Deondre Francois out in the first game, a loss to Alabama that they were not in when he was healthy. When all the smoke had cleared, Jimbo Fisher took the first train out of Tallahassee, and took the Texas A&M job. Willie Taggart, a self professed life-long Seminoles fan, took the opportunity to leave Oregon after just one year on the job, and is trying to build something from the ashes of what happened. It's not an impossible job, as FSU is still a prime job, but how much damage was done with Jimbo's wondering eye, and how long will it take to get everyone back in the boat?
Breakdown Offense: The Francois injury should not have decimated the Seminoles as it did, as they had what should have been plenty of talent on hand to work around it. The simple fact is that the talent on hand was overrated in every conceivable way, and the roster was dotted with players who were completely out of their element, especially on offense, where inconsistency plagued the team all season long.
Francois is not a sure thing to win back the QB job, a she has some off-field (drug related) issues to deal with, and it seems as if he has already lost the trust of Taggart. James Blackmon has now had an entire season under his belt, and while things weren't always perfect, he mostly held his own, and seemed to be in a decent groove to tend the season. Still, he onlyt averaged 185 yards passing per game as a freshman last season, and completed just 58.2% of his passes. He is a work in progress, but that seems to be right up Taggart's alley. Bailey Hockman got some reps in the spring, but neither Blackmon, nor Hockman, set themselves apart, and a battle could rage into the fall.
Cam Akers returns after breaking a school freshman rushing record with 1025 yards and 7 scores. He averaged 5.28 yards per carry on the season, and should be the bell cow back for the Seminoles this fall. Jacques Patrick returns as the primary backup, and rushed for 735 yards and 7 scores. Khalan Laborn had a big spring, and should see some action as well. Under Jimbo fisher, the Seminoles ran the football upwards of 60% of the time or more, and I would expect that number to fall with Taggart, who loves to toss the football around.
Auden Tate moves on after catching 40 passes last season, and the battle to replace him falls between Tamorrian Terry or Keith Gavin. Gavin has not lived up to his billing in the program so far as a junior, and terry has serious injury concerns. This is a spot worth watching for that battle alone. Nyqwan Murray is back after leading the team with 604 yards on 40 catches. He scored 4 times, and can stretch the field, as he averaged 15.1 yards per catch. DJ Matthews caught just 6 passes last fall, but is in line for a larger role as a sophomore this season. George Campbell, a junior who caught 6 passes, and walk-on Deonte Sheffield are the only confirmed depth so far.
Tre McKitty caught one pass as a freshman at TE last fall, but is projected to replace Ryan Izzo at TE. Naseir Upshur left spring camp right behind him for the job, and could push for reps in fall camp.
Derrick Kelly II looks like the projected starter at LT, while Cole Minshew (LG), Alec Eberle (C), Landon Dickerson (RG), and Josh Ball (RT) all appear to have jobs locked down as well. Jauan Williams and Mike Arnold are the backups at the Tackle spots, while Abdul Bello provides relief at the OG spots. Baveon Johnson could push for the job at C, but it appears that Eberle would be the best option there. Experience and depth are an overall concern for the Seminoles up front, so this could be a major area of concern and rebuilding moving forward.
Breakdown Defense: Josh Kaindoh missed spring ball with an injury, but should return at DE in the fall to claim a starting spot after recording 6.5 TFLs as a freshman. Brian Burns led the team in TFLs with 13.5 as a sophomore last season, and will start at DE opposite Kaindoh. Wally Aime' and Janarius Robinson are the backups heading into the summer. They combined for 3.5 TFLs off the bench last fall.
Demarcus Christmas returns after many had him heading off to the NFL after the season. He finished with 4.5 TFLs at DT last fall. Marvin Wilson was projected to start opposite Christmas, but tore his MCL in spring ball, and his status is unknown. Many feel like he will return at some point during the season, but nobody knows when that will be. Fred Jones left spring as the likely backup, and would step into the starting role. Cory Durden expects to get some reps as well after redshirting last fall.
The Seminoles lost 3 starters at LB, and so the unit is in reboot mode. Adonis Thomas and DeCalon Brooks are projecting as starters at the OLB spots, but neither has much experience, with Brooks being a RS freshman. Both had decent springs, but they could be in for a tough go when real games begin. Josh Brown, Amari Gainer, and Emmett Rice are looking for bigger roles at the OLB spots as well. Dontavious Jackson is the starter at MLB. He played in 9 games last fall, but the coaching staff really like his makeup and character.
Stanford Samuels III and Levonta Taylor are projected to start at the CB spots. Samuels played solidly as a freshman last fall, as he finished with 5 PBUs. Taylor finished with 3 PBUs, and they both finished tied for the team lead with 2 INTs each. Carlos Becker II and Kyle Meyers project as the backups.
Cyrus Fagan (FS) and Jaiden Woodby, a true freshman, are projected to win the Safety jobs. Fagan played in 7 games as a freshman last season, so experience is an issue, even if talent is not. AJ Westbrook and Hamsah Nasirildeen are the reserves heading into fall camp.
Breakdown Special Teams: Ricky Aguayo is almost automatic at PK, and returns to the job after hitting 18/21 FG attempts last fall. He also hit 42/44 PATs on the season.
Logan Tyler has developed into one of the better Punters in the nation, and averaged 43.17 yards per punt last fall.
Keith Gavin, who averaged 25.43 yards per kick return last fall, left spring camp with the primary job his. DJ Matthews averaged 11.11 yards per punt return, and fills that role once again as well.
Final Analysis: Willie Taggart is a fixer. He has always taken on programs in the cellar (Western Kentucky, USF) and turned them into big winners within 5 years. Had he stayed at Oregon, I have no doubt that he would have had Oregon in national title hunts before too long. With a rich recruiting ground to work with, and a program name to go with it, Taggart will likely fix Florida State in very short order. He is one of the most underrated coaches in college football, and Florida State was lucky to nab him. He attempted to lure Jim Leavitt to come with him as DC, but Leavitt stayed at Oregon instead, but the defense has enough young talent to build up rapidly, no matter who coordinates it. Florida State will not be down long, so get them while you can.
Monday, June 4, 2018
Florida International Panthers 2018 Football Preview
FIU Panthers 2018 Football Preview
Opening Statement: Butch Davis managed to do what FIU has not done since they fired Mario Cristobal...they became somewhat relevant as a program again. The Panthers won 8 games last fall, but unlike local rival FAU, they had a bumpy run to the finish line, losing 3 of their final 5 games, including a 28-3 bowl loss to Temple. There are some changes coming to the roster and depth chart this fall, but one thing looks clear, and that's that FIU is in decent shape to make another solid push in CUSA East football, if all the chips fall into place.
Breakdown Offense: The Panthers scored 25.6 points per game lasat fall, while passing for 233.2 yards per game, and rushing for 159.15 yards per contest. The Panthers could use a little more flash in their offensive dance, but expect things to remain a little bit the same this fall, as changes come at both QB and RB.
Alex McGough is gone at QB, leaving an open fight between the Alexander boys, Christian and Maurice, for the job. Maurice was the backup last fall when he passed for 174 yards while completing just 18/39 passing attempts. Christian did not play last fall, but the play of Maurice when given the opportunity, left the door wide open. Kaylan Wiggins and Malik Tyson, both RS freshmen, are also back to throw chaos into the mix.
Napoleon Maxwell had a solid spring, and looks like the bet to replace Alex Gardner at RB. Maxwell rushed for 477 yards and 5 scores, while averaging 5.89 yards per carry. ShawnDarrius Phillips looks like the primary backup, but could also share the starting carries. He rushed for 469 yards and 4 scores last fall. D'Vonte Price looks for a bigger role as well after just 15 carries as a freshman.
Thomas Owens caught 59 passes to lead the team last season, but has moved on. Tony Gaiter IV is the leading returning receiver with 34 catches last fall for 314 yards. Austin Maloney caught 21 passes last fall, and looks to slide into a starting job. Bryce Singleton caught 17 balls as a freshman, and looks to be the 3rd receiver. Darrius Scott and Stanley Thomas-Oliver III round out the returning experience, along with Shermar Thornton.
The line looks set heading into the season. Daquane Wilkie (LT), Chris Miller (LG), Neal Mars (C), Doug Connell (RG), and Kai Absheer (RT) all left spring with starting jobs. Shane McGough could be in the conversation at C once fall camp opens as well. Depth at the other positions will not be ironed out until camp closes to start the season.
Breakdown Defense: Fermin Silva and John Broome are slated to start at DE. Silva led the team with 14 TFLs, and should be one of the better edge rushers in the conference for 2018. He totaled 50 tackles on the season, and tied for the team lead with 7 sacks. Broome is unproven, and will bare some watching. Kevin Oliver and Noah Curtis could each push him for reps.
Anthony Johnson and Milord Juste are the starters at DT. Johnson tied Silva with 7 sacks on the season. Juste added 4.5 TFLs. Jermaine Sherriff and Josh Little add depth inside, and combined for another 4 TFLs off the bench.
Anthony Wint and Trayvon Johnson combined for 184 tackles last season, but are both gone at LB. Tyree Johnson and Sage Lewis are projected as starters at the OLB spots, but the MLB spot is wide open heading into fall camp. Lewis collected 55 tackles, while Johnson added 17 as a backup. Jamal Gates is the backup on the outside, but again, is unproven.
Khairi Reaser and Emmanuel Lubin are the starting CBs. Bryce Canady and Brad Muhammad are both gone, so this new team up has to prove themselves early on. Lubin could move to S, making things a bit more complicated in the secondary. Rishard Dames projects a starter at Safety, but does not have a ton of experience defending the pass. He did finish his freshman season with 36 tackles.
Breakdown Special Teams: Jose Borregales was a huge find as a freshman in 2017, as he nailed 15/18 FG attempts and was perfect on 40 PATs. His leg will be important for a young and developing offense this season, as he rarely leaves points on the field.
Stone Wilson returns as the Punter to further solidify what should be a solid kicking game all the way around. He averaged 41 yards per punt last fall as a junior.
Bryce Singleton gives the Panthers a solid option in the kick return game, as he averaged 22.69 yards per return. Tony Gaitor IV was the main option at the PR spot, but it looks like Napoleon Maxwell may take the job from him after a strong spring.
Final Analysis: If the line is truly set heading into fall camp, it will be the foundation of a young and developing offense trying to find a new QB and starting RB. Maxwell is getting some love after a strong spring in the run game, and that would certainly be a welcome development, as would finding someone in a young receiver corps to stretch and open the field for a young QB.
Defensively, the line should be one of the better units in CUSA this fall, but there was tremendous loss at the LB position. Finding key play makers for the middle of the defense in fall camp is a huge task. The secondary will be trying to fit in some new pieces as well, so the defense could be facing some bumps in the road in the back seven.
Special teams are solid, and may be the most dependable piece to the puzzle right now. Borregales will have some pressure on him to not hit a sophomore jinx, and that young defense could use some working room with Wilson punting.
All in all, there are some pieces here that look promising, even if it may be more of a struggle to reach 8 wins than it was a year ago. Still, I think that it is overkill to proclaim doom for this program this fall as some have, as with some early development, and a few bounces the right way, FIU could certainly push for a bowl bid this fall.
Opening Statement: Butch Davis managed to do what FIU has not done since they fired Mario Cristobal...they became somewhat relevant as a program again. The Panthers won 8 games last fall, but unlike local rival FAU, they had a bumpy run to the finish line, losing 3 of their final 5 games, including a 28-3 bowl loss to Temple. There are some changes coming to the roster and depth chart this fall, but one thing looks clear, and that's that FIU is in decent shape to make another solid push in CUSA East football, if all the chips fall into place.
Breakdown Offense: The Panthers scored 25.6 points per game lasat fall, while passing for 233.2 yards per game, and rushing for 159.15 yards per contest. The Panthers could use a little more flash in their offensive dance, but expect things to remain a little bit the same this fall, as changes come at both QB and RB.
Alex McGough is gone at QB, leaving an open fight between the Alexander boys, Christian and Maurice, for the job. Maurice was the backup last fall when he passed for 174 yards while completing just 18/39 passing attempts. Christian did not play last fall, but the play of Maurice when given the opportunity, left the door wide open. Kaylan Wiggins and Malik Tyson, both RS freshmen, are also back to throw chaos into the mix.
Napoleon Maxwell had a solid spring, and looks like the bet to replace Alex Gardner at RB. Maxwell rushed for 477 yards and 5 scores, while averaging 5.89 yards per carry. ShawnDarrius Phillips looks like the primary backup, but could also share the starting carries. He rushed for 469 yards and 4 scores last fall. D'Vonte Price looks for a bigger role as well after just 15 carries as a freshman.
Thomas Owens caught 59 passes to lead the team last season, but has moved on. Tony Gaiter IV is the leading returning receiver with 34 catches last fall for 314 yards. Austin Maloney caught 21 passes last fall, and looks to slide into a starting job. Bryce Singleton caught 17 balls as a freshman, and looks to be the 3rd receiver. Darrius Scott and Stanley Thomas-Oliver III round out the returning experience, along with Shermar Thornton.
The line looks set heading into the season. Daquane Wilkie (LT), Chris Miller (LG), Neal Mars (C), Doug Connell (RG), and Kai Absheer (RT) all left spring with starting jobs. Shane McGough could be in the conversation at C once fall camp opens as well. Depth at the other positions will not be ironed out until camp closes to start the season.
Breakdown Defense: Fermin Silva and John Broome are slated to start at DE. Silva led the team with 14 TFLs, and should be one of the better edge rushers in the conference for 2018. He totaled 50 tackles on the season, and tied for the team lead with 7 sacks. Broome is unproven, and will bare some watching. Kevin Oliver and Noah Curtis could each push him for reps.
Anthony Johnson and Milord Juste are the starters at DT. Johnson tied Silva with 7 sacks on the season. Juste added 4.5 TFLs. Jermaine Sherriff and Josh Little add depth inside, and combined for another 4 TFLs off the bench.
Anthony Wint and Trayvon Johnson combined for 184 tackles last season, but are both gone at LB. Tyree Johnson and Sage Lewis are projected as starters at the OLB spots, but the MLB spot is wide open heading into fall camp. Lewis collected 55 tackles, while Johnson added 17 as a backup. Jamal Gates is the backup on the outside, but again, is unproven.
Khairi Reaser and Emmanuel Lubin are the starting CBs. Bryce Canady and Brad Muhammad are both gone, so this new team up has to prove themselves early on. Lubin could move to S, making things a bit more complicated in the secondary. Rishard Dames projects a starter at Safety, but does not have a ton of experience defending the pass. He did finish his freshman season with 36 tackles.
Breakdown Special Teams: Jose Borregales was a huge find as a freshman in 2017, as he nailed 15/18 FG attempts and was perfect on 40 PATs. His leg will be important for a young and developing offense this season, as he rarely leaves points on the field.
Stone Wilson returns as the Punter to further solidify what should be a solid kicking game all the way around. He averaged 41 yards per punt last fall as a junior.
Bryce Singleton gives the Panthers a solid option in the kick return game, as he averaged 22.69 yards per return. Tony Gaitor IV was the main option at the PR spot, but it looks like Napoleon Maxwell may take the job from him after a strong spring.
Final Analysis: If the line is truly set heading into fall camp, it will be the foundation of a young and developing offense trying to find a new QB and starting RB. Maxwell is getting some love after a strong spring in the run game, and that would certainly be a welcome development, as would finding someone in a young receiver corps to stretch and open the field for a young QB.
Defensively, the line should be one of the better units in CUSA this fall, but there was tremendous loss at the LB position. Finding key play makers for the middle of the defense in fall camp is a huge task. The secondary will be trying to fit in some new pieces as well, so the defense could be facing some bumps in the road in the back seven.
Special teams are solid, and may be the most dependable piece to the puzzle right now. Borregales will have some pressure on him to not hit a sophomore jinx, and that young defense could use some working room with Wilson punting.
All in all, there are some pieces here that look promising, even if it may be more of a struggle to reach 8 wins than it was a year ago. Still, I think that it is overkill to proclaim doom for this program this fall as some have, as with some early development, and a few bounces the right way, FIU could certainly push for a bowl bid this fall.
Florida Atlantic Owls 2018 Football Preview
Florida Atlantic Owls 2018 Football Preview
Opening Statement: It took one full season, and after a bumpy 1-3 start, Lane Kiffin completely changed the trajectory of FAU football, as the Owls rattled off on a 10 game winning streak that carries into the 2018 season, and they finished 11-3 with a bowl win over Akron that was never even close. There are some changes, but in short order, Kiffin has built a roster that can sustain losses and still be massively competitive, as they should be in CUSA play this fall. With Marshall and FIU looking like the only teams within range to press the Owls in the CUSA East, FAU football looks like it has the chance to soar high once again.
Breakdown Offense: The Owls scored 40.6 points per game last fall, and broke the 40 point plane 8 times last fall. The scoring offense was good enough to be ranked 8th nationally on the season, and there is no reason to expect much of a fall off from that peak this fall.
FAU passed for 213.1 yards per game last fall, but there is some change here after Jeff Driskel announced that he would be retiring from the sport to seek his degree in January. Daniel Parr has also moved on, leaving this job wide open for battle in the fall. I fully expect De'Andre Johnson to latch onto the job and run with it when fall camp breaks.
Devin Singletary broke out big time in 2017, as he rushed for 1920 yards and a whopping 32 TDs on the season. He averaged 6.38 yards per carry, while carrying 21.5 times per game and averaging 137.14 yards per game. He will be a key cog in the machine this fall, especially with a developing QB situation brewing. Gregoy Howell, the backup who rushed for 740 yards last fall, has moved on. Kerrith Shyte, Jr. should have the inside angle on the backup job as he rushed for 347 yards and 2 scores while averaging 6.31 yards per carry. Gerald Hearns, Tyrek Tisdale, and a host of others return to add depth to what should be a very good corps this fall.
Willie White returns at WR after posting 56-657-6 last fall, and should be the primary short and mid-range target this season. He averaged 11.73 yards per catch. Things do get a bit murky after that, as the Owls lose Kalib Woods Kamrin Solomon, and John Franklin III. DeAndre McNeil should get a bigger role this fall, as he caught 23 passes as a junior. Tavaris Harrison is pushing for a starting job as well, but would end up as the 4th receiver as well. D'Anfernee McGriff and LaDante Harris provide some depth to the unit.
Harrison Bryant caught 32 passes at TE last season, and returns to action, but he could be pushed for reps by John Raine, who caught just 6 passes last season, but came on strong in the spring.
Reggie Bain (LT), Tarrick Thomas (C), Will Tuihalamaka (RG), and Brandon Walton (RT) all have locked up jobs on the line as we leave the spring, but the LG job is wide open, and that battle rages into fall camp. Ean Biancardi is the depth at tackle, but depth otherwise has not been determined, leaving the line an area of some minor concern.
Breakdown Defense: The Owls allowed just 22.7 points per game on the season, and are primed to be solid again in year 2 under the Lane Train. They allowed 230.7 yards passing per game, while allowing 158.56 yards rushing per game.
The line looks set, as Hunter Snyder and Leighton McCarthy have the DE spots locked down heading into fall camp. They combined for 17 TFLs last fall, and could be one of the best edge duos in CUSA this fall. Snyder tied for the team lead with 6 sacks, while McCarthy added 4.5. Depth could be an issue at DE, so this is a position that bears some watching as time moves forward in the season.
William Davis and Steven Legett are the starting DTs. They combined for 8 TFLs, and should provide good pressure up the middle this fall. Kevin McCrary, a junior, provides some depth in a rotational capacity.
Azeez Al-Shaair is back at LB this fall, and led the Owls with a whopping 147 tackles last fall. He totaled 10.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, 4 PBUs, 4 QB hurries, and a forced fumble, and is one of the most exciting players returning to college football defensively this fall. Rashad Smith joins him, and finished 2nd on the team with 99 tackles as a sophomore last season. He led the team with 12 TFLs, and had 6 sacks. He added 5 PBUs and 4 QB hurries. Herb Miller is the Nickel Backer, and he finished with 4 PBUs and 3 QB hurries last fall. He totaled 35 tackles. Khantrell Burden and Hosea Barnwell V are the backups at LB.
Chris Tooley and Shelton Lewis are the starters at CB. Lewis finished with 8 PBUs, while Tooley added another 5 last fall. They also finished with 4 INTs each in what was a deep, rich secondary. Jalen Young is back at S, and is one of the more talented secondary players in the nation. He led the Owls with 7 INTs, and he added 77 total tackles. Andrew Soroh also returns at S after recording 47 tackles. Korel Smith brings depth at CB, while James Pierre and Zyon Gilbert are the backups at S.
Breakdown Special Teams: Greg Joseph (PK) and Ryan Rickel (P) both moved on after last fall. Vladimir Rivas looks like the starting PK this fall, and and Tyler Gilley looks to be the Punter. gilley could handle both jobs if needed.
Whyte averaged 24.7 yards per return on kicks last fall, and returns to the job, while Young returns on PR duty after averaging a strong 12.44 yard per return average.
Final Analysis: On offense, questions at QB, WR and on the line need to be cleared up, while the defense has some depth issues up front. Otherwise, this team looks primed to be very good for a long while. Recruiting is heading upwards, depth is solid most places, and there are big time play makers on both sides of the football and in the return game as well. Kiffin has built the Owls into an immediate G5 power, and if he sticks around long enough, the Owls look like a team that can eventually challenge for an NY6 bowl down the road. The Owls have to travel to Marshall on October 20th, which looks like it could be for all the marbles in the Eastern Division of CUSA football. Singletary is one of the most exciting players in the nation at RB, and the LB corps looks outstanding. Jalen Young may be one of the best Safeties in the nation that nobody knows about.
Opening Statement: It took one full season, and after a bumpy 1-3 start, Lane Kiffin completely changed the trajectory of FAU football, as the Owls rattled off on a 10 game winning streak that carries into the 2018 season, and they finished 11-3 with a bowl win over Akron that was never even close. There are some changes, but in short order, Kiffin has built a roster that can sustain losses and still be massively competitive, as they should be in CUSA play this fall. With Marshall and FIU looking like the only teams within range to press the Owls in the CUSA East, FAU football looks like it has the chance to soar high once again.
Breakdown Offense: The Owls scored 40.6 points per game last fall, and broke the 40 point plane 8 times last fall. The scoring offense was good enough to be ranked 8th nationally on the season, and there is no reason to expect much of a fall off from that peak this fall.
FAU passed for 213.1 yards per game last fall, but there is some change here after Jeff Driskel announced that he would be retiring from the sport to seek his degree in January. Daniel Parr has also moved on, leaving this job wide open for battle in the fall. I fully expect De'Andre Johnson to latch onto the job and run with it when fall camp breaks.
Devin Singletary broke out big time in 2017, as he rushed for 1920 yards and a whopping 32 TDs on the season. He averaged 6.38 yards per carry, while carrying 21.5 times per game and averaging 137.14 yards per game. He will be a key cog in the machine this fall, especially with a developing QB situation brewing. Gregoy Howell, the backup who rushed for 740 yards last fall, has moved on. Kerrith Shyte, Jr. should have the inside angle on the backup job as he rushed for 347 yards and 2 scores while averaging 6.31 yards per carry. Gerald Hearns, Tyrek Tisdale, and a host of others return to add depth to what should be a very good corps this fall.
Willie White returns at WR after posting 56-657-6 last fall, and should be the primary short and mid-range target this season. He averaged 11.73 yards per catch. Things do get a bit murky after that, as the Owls lose Kalib Woods Kamrin Solomon, and John Franklin III. DeAndre McNeil should get a bigger role this fall, as he caught 23 passes as a junior. Tavaris Harrison is pushing for a starting job as well, but would end up as the 4th receiver as well. D'Anfernee McGriff and LaDante Harris provide some depth to the unit.
Harrison Bryant caught 32 passes at TE last season, and returns to action, but he could be pushed for reps by John Raine, who caught just 6 passes last season, but came on strong in the spring.
Reggie Bain (LT), Tarrick Thomas (C), Will Tuihalamaka (RG), and Brandon Walton (RT) all have locked up jobs on the line as we leave the spring, but the LG job is wide open, and that battle rages into fall camp. Ean Biancardi is the depth at tackle, but depth otherwise has not been determined, leaving the line an area of some minor concern.
Breakdown Defense: The Owls allowed just 22.7 points per game on the season, and are primed to be solid again in year 2 under the Lane Train. They allowed 230.7 yards passing per game, while allowing 158.56 yards rushing per game.
The line looks set, as Hunter Snyder and Leighton McCarthy have the DE spots locked down heading into fall camp. They combined for 17 TFLs last fall, and could be one of the best edge duos in CUSA this fall. Snyder tied for the team lead with 6 sacks, while McCarthy added 4.5. Depth could be an issue at DE, so this is a position that bears some watching as time moves forward in the season.
William Davis and Steven Legett are the starting DTs. They combined for 8 TFLs, and should provide good pressure up the middle this fall. Kevin McCrary, a junior, provides some depth in a rotational capacity.
Azeez Al-Shaair is back at LB this fall, and led the Owls with a whopping 147 tackles last fall. He totaled 10.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, 4 PBUs, 4 QB hurries, and a forced fumble, and is one of the most exciting players returning to college football defensively this fall. Rashad Smith joins him, and finished 2nd on the team with 99 tackles as a sophomore last season. He led the team with 12 TFLs, and had 6 sacks. He added 5 PBUs and 4 QB hurries. Herb Miller is the Nickel Backer, and he finished with 4 PBUs and 3 QB hurries last fall. He totaled 35 tackles. Khantrell Burden and Hosea Barnwell V are the backups at LB.
Chris Tooley and Shelton Lewis are the starters at CB. Lewis finished with 8 PBUs, while Tooley added another 5 last fall. They also finished with 4 INTs each in what was a deep, rich secondary. Jalen Young is back at S, and is one of the more talented secondary players in the nation. He led the Owls with 7 INTs, and he added 77 total tackles. Andrew Soroh also returns at S after recording 47 tackles. Korel Smith brings depth at CB, while James Pierre and Zyon Gilbert are the backups at S.
Breakdown Special Teams: Greg Joseph (PK) and Ryan Rickel (P) both moved on after last fall. Vladimir Rivas looks like the starting PK this fall, and and Tyler Gilley looks to be the Punter. gilley could handle both jobs if needed.
Whyte averaged 24.7 yards per return on kicks last fall, and returns to the job, while Young returns on PR duty after averaging a strong 12.44 yard per return average.
Final Analysis: On offense, questions at QB, WR and on the line need to be cleared up, while the defense has some depth issues up front. Otherwise, this team looks primed to be very good for a long while. Recruiting is heading upwards, depth is solid most places, and there are big time play makers on both sides of the football and in the return game as well. Kiffin has built the Owls into an immediate G5 power, and if he sticks around long enough, the Owls look like a team that can eventually challenge for an NY6 bowl down the road. The Owls have to travel to Marshall on October 20th, which looks like it could be for all the marbles in the Eastern Division of CUSA football. Singletary is one of the most exciting players in the nation at RB, and the LB corps looks outstanding. Jalen Young may be one of the best Safeties in the nation that nobody knows about.
Stanley Cup Game 3 Review
Written By: Mitch McCombs
June 4th, 2018
Capitals Press Home Ice, Holtby Works Some Magic In Net
Vegas fell yet again to the Capitals in game 3 with a 3-1 loss. They had good chances all night but the Capitals held them by blocking their shots and Holtby, again, had an outstanding game. The Knights defense didn’t help Fleury during the 2nd period allowing 14 shots on goal.
The Capitals outshot the Knights for the first time this series with 26 shots and the Knights surprisingly only got 22 shots on net. The Caps completely dominated in the blocked shots category with 26 blocked shots when the Knights had only 9. Kuznetsov was a big part of this win, after being questionable to play this game and nobody expected him to play. He finished this game with a goal and an assist. Early in the game they had scored a goal but it was waved off because of goaltender interference, with Devante Smith-Pelly barreling into Fleury, taking him out of a save opportunity, and putting Vegas on the power play. Washington’s penalty kill was amazing again this game, as they have been the entire series, but their power play didn’t convert on their 5 chances this game.
Vegas just got outworked. They only received 22 shots this game, and this is the only time they’ve had less than 30 shots this series. The first line did a better job this game, with Riley Smith and Johnathan Marchessault hitting the post in the first period which would have put them up 2-0 if they would’ve made those shots. This game, they only had 7 giveaways while the Capitals had triple that with 21. Fleury played out of his mind and tried to keep them in the game the best he could. They also did terribly on the faceoff, only winning 37.1% of them.
The Knights need to make some changes if they want to win this series. The defense also needs to help out Fleury. He’s been standing on his head trying to keep them in these games. If the Capitals want to win this series they need to keep playing like they have been, holding the Knights to few opportunities and pressuring their defense to force the Knights to make mistakes. If the Knights make the changes they need to make, this series will be still be close and exciting to watch.
2018 College Football Team Previews: Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma Sooners 2018 Football Preview
Opening Statement: The Sooners came on one half game short of playing for a national title in 2017, as a second half slow down awarded Georgia that shot instead. The Rose Bowl loss to the Bulldogs had snapped an 8 game winning streak for Oklahoma, and the Sooners lost considerable talent from that roster, but let's not got tied up worrying about that, because the roster is still loaded with talent, and Lincoln Riley is just getting things going under his stamp. Recruiting was strong once again, and the cupboard is certainly not empty. The Big 12 may be a battle at the top once again, but Oklahoma making another run this fall should not be a shock.
Breakdown Offense: Oklahoma finished 3rd nationally in scoring offense last season, averaging 45.1 points per game. The Sooners scored 40 points or more on 10 occasions last fall, and their offense is primed in that direction once again. They passed for 361.8 yards per game, and rushed for another 217.79 yards per contest. They ranked 27th nationally in rushing yards per game, and 3rd nationally in passing. With Baker Mayfield having moved on, there is a chance that the offense could balance out a bit more this fall, and I will explain why in the next paragraph.
Kyler Murray is potentially back as the starting QB for the Sooners, and is one of the better dual threat QBs in the nation looking to grab a starting job. The only question about him is whether or not he will choose baseball or football, when some MLB team is expected to draft him early in their draft this month. Lincoln Riley made a statement within 72 hours of this posting stating that he fully expects Murray to be in pads in fall camp. I expect it as well, but the program is on pins and needles about the prospect. Murray played in 7 games last fall, completing 18/21 passes for 359 yards and 3 scores with zero INTs. He was used in change of pace, wildcat type sets last fall, and he could provide a deep zone read option look for the Sooners that could be better than even Mayfield could provide, and he was not, as they say, half bad. There really is not a QB battle, as some have projected, as it looks like Murray would have a lock on the job. The real battle could be at QB2, where Tanner Schafer and Austin Kendall could have a fight. Schafer made one appearance last fall, completing 3/5 passes, while Kendall played in 2 games during the 2016 season, completing 16/22 passes for 143 yards, with 2 TD passes and zero picks. Connor McGinnis and Reece Clark, a pair of RS juniors, round out the group, with the exception of incoming freshman Tanner Mordecai.
The RB corps may be the deepest in the nation, as 3 of the top 4 backs who had carries in 2017 all return. Rodney Anderson rushed for 1161 yards and 13 scores last fall, while averaging 6.18 yards per carry and 82.93 yards per game. He did that damage all while averaging just 13.43 carries per game. Sophomore Trey Sermon showed plenty of splash last fall, as he rushed for 744 yards and 5 scores, averaging 6.15 yards per carry, all on just 8.64 carries per game. Marcelius Sutton also returns, and carried 22 times last fall, scoring 2 times. Freshmen TJ Pledger and Kennedy Brooks (RS) round out the group.
Marquise Brown is back as a junior this fall, and posted 57-1095-7 last fall to lead the Sooners receiving corps. He averaged 19.21 yards per catch, and is one of the better deep ball threats in the nation. CeeDee Lamb also returns after a rock solid freshman season that saw him catch 46 passes for 807 yards and 7 scores, while averaging an eye popping 17.54 yards per grab. Mykel Jones caught 16 passes as a sophomore and figures into an elevated role this fall. Lee Morris, AD Jones, Myles Tease, Chase Nevel, and Sam Iheke could provide some depth, but the group is largely inexperienced, or has not provided much in terms of production, due to the depth of the group, and 3 more freshmen are coming in as well in JaquayIn Crawford, Jaylon Robinson, and Kundarrius Taylor.
The line loses star tackle Orlando Brown, but again, there is plenty of talent remaining for Oklahoma coming into the 2018 season. Cody Ford could roll into the LT job, but Quinn Mittermeier is also in consideration for the job. RS sophomore Erik Swenson is also in the mix, but looks like the reserve in any eventuality or simulation. Ben Powers projects to start at LG. Marquis Hayes projects as the reserve at LG, but if Ford does not start at LT, some projections have him as backing up at LG, so Hayes potentially has a battle coming on. There is a battle brewing at C that will head into fall camp, with projections there showing Creed Humphery, a RS freshman, battling out with RS senior Jonathon Alvarez. Dru Samia has a lock at the RG spot, with RS freshman Tyrese Robinson projecting as his backup. Bobby Evans also has a lock at RT, with RS freshman Adrian Ealy projecting as his primary backup. The Sooners added 3 incoming freshmen, with a total of 15 linemen already having been at spring camp.
Breakdown Defense: When the Sooners score as often and as quickly as they tend to do, the defense can take a bit of a hit, as they allowed 27.1 points per game last season. Still, when you score as much as they did, this number looks higher and more worrisome than it ever should be, as the Sooners still won games on average by over 18 points per contest. Oklahoma allowed 238.4 yards passing per game, and allowed 156.5 yards on the ground. Talent was lost on this side of the football as well, but fear not, as there is plenty of talent on the defensive side returning as well.
The line loses some star power with Ogbonnia Okoronkwo and DJ Ward, and they took 24.5 TFLs with them when they moved on. There is still plenty to be happy about. Kenneth Mann gets the start at DE, as he finished with 6 TFLs last fall in 13 games. He should have a much bigger role in the defense this fall. Marquise Overton projects at the NG spot, and finished with 3 TFLs last fall in 13 games as a sophomore. Amani Bledsoe also finished with 3 TFLs last fall in 10 games, also as a sophomore. The main concern will be depth behind this unit, as there was not a lot of production that could have come from whomever will win the backup battles. Expect Dillon Faamatau, Neville Gallimore, and Addison Gumbs to all get increased action this fall. The Sooners expected to net 5 new defensive linemen in the recruiting class, and netted all 5 in the process, so some new blood gets infused this fall.
Emmanuel Beal will be missed at LB this fall, as he led the Sooners with 95 tackles last season. Kenneth Murray returns at the MIKE spot, however, and the sophomore should become a star this fall, after he finished 2nd on the team with 77 tackles as a freshman. He added 7.5 TFLs, one sack, 3 QB hurries, and a forced fumble. Mark Jackson, Jr. projects to start at SAM spot, but recorded just 7 tackles as a sophomore last fall. Caleb Kelly projects as the WILL, and finished with 56 tackles last fall. Gumbs could come off the line to start at the JACK spot, but could be in a battle there with Bryan Mead. Of each group for the Sooners, this unit could face the most uncertainty as we head into the 2018 season. Jon-Michael Terry may provide some depth, but the rest of the second and third units are looking like ongoing, fluid situations as we enter the summer.
Tre Norwood and Parnell Motley project to start at the CB spots. They combined for 17 PBUs last fall, and could be one of the best CB duos in the Big 12 this fall. Motley picked off 2 passes last fall, and totaled 63 tackles. Norwood finished with 30. Tre Jordan and Jordan Parker are the backups. Brendan Radley-Hiles and Jordan Broiles could both see times at the Nickel when needed.
The Safety spots seem less settled as we head into the summer. Chanse Sylvie and Radley-Hiles appear locked in a fight for the SS position. Experience will be an issue, with Radley-Hiles being a freshman, and Sylvie being a RS junior who has been blocked on the depth chart. FS has a similar problem, as Kahlil Haughton appears stuck in battle with Robert Branes. This fight will go well into fall camp before settled.
Breakdown Special Teams: It's all good news here with the return of Austin Seibert, who hit 17/21 FG attempts last season, and was perfect on 81 PATs. He could not be a heck of a lot better than he was last season.
Seibert also averaged 42.33 yards per punt, so the news is twice as good.
Sutton averaged over 21 yards per kick return, and will return to that job, while Lamb returns punts once more.
Final Analysis: While there are concerns at LB and S, as far as starting jobs and experience are concerned, the Sooners return enough firepower and talent to overcome those situations. Talent and coaching often go above such circumstances, and they have plenty of that on hand. Offensively, despite the loss of Mayfield and star TE Mark Andrews, look for the Sooners to have plenty left over to go to work with, especially when it comes to the run game. Oklahoma looks strong enough to stave off all challengers for the Big 12 title once again, and I can absolutely see another run for a national title being in the cards. Look for the Sooners to be, at worst, a top 10 program, in what has the makings for yet another strong season in Norman.
Opening Statement: The Sooners came on one half game short of playing for a national title in 2017, as a second half slow down awarded Georgia that shot instead. The Rose Bowl loss to the Bulldogs had snapped an 8 game winning streak for Oklahoma, and the Sooners lost considerable talent from that roster, but let's not got tied up worrying about that, because the roster is still loaded with talent, and Lincoln Riley is just getting things going under his stamp. Recruiting was strong once again, and the cupboard is certainly not empty. The Big 12 may be a battle at the top once again, but Oklahoma making another run this fall should not be a shock.
Breakdown Offense: Oklahoma finished 3rd nationally in scoring offense last season, averaging 45.1 points per game. The Sooners scored 40 points or more on 10 occasions last fall, and their offense is primed in that direction once again. They passed for 361.8 yards per game, and rushed for another 217.79 yards per contest. They ranked 27th nationally in rushing yards per game, and 3rd nationally in passing. With Baker Mayfield having moved on, there is a chance that the offense could balance out a bit more this fall, and I will explain why in the next paragraph.
Kyler Murray is potentially back as the starting QB for the Sooners, and is one of the better dual threat QBs in the nation looking to grab a starting job. The only question about him is whether or not he will choose baseball or football, when some MLB team is expected to draft him early in their draft this month. Lincoln Riley made a statement within 72 hours of this posting stating that he fully expects Murray to be in pads in fall camp. I expect it as well, but the program is on pins and needles about the prospect. Murray played in 7 games last fall, completing 18/21 passes for 359 yards and 3 scores with zero INTs. He was used in change of pace, wildcat type sets last fall, and he could provide a deep zone read option look for the Sooners that could be better than even Mayfield could provide, and he was not, as they say, half bad. There really is not a QB battle, as some have projected, as it looks like Murray would have a lock on the job. The real battle could be at QB2, where Tanner Schafer and Austin Kendall could have a fight. Schafer made one appearance last fall, completing 3/5 passes, while Kendall played in 2 games during the 2016 season, completing 16/22 passes for 143 yards, with 2 TD passes and zero picks. Connor McGinnis and Reece Clark, a pair of RS juniors, round out the group, with the exception of incoming freshman Tanner Mordecai.
The RB corps may be the deepest in the nation, as 3 of the top 4 backs who had carries in 2017 all return. Rodney Anderson rushed for 1161 yards and 13 scores last fall, while averaging 6.18 yards per carry and 82.93 yards per game. He did that damage all while averaging just 13.43 carries per game. Sophomore Trey Sermon showed plenty of splash last fall, as he rushed for 744 yards and 5 scores, averaging 6.15 yards per carry, all on just 8.64 carries per game. Marcelius Sutton also returns, and carried 22 times last fall, scoring 2 times. Freshmen TJ Pledger and Kennedy Brooks (RS) round out the group.
Marquise Brown is back as a junior this fall, and posted 57-1095-7 last fall to lead the Sooners receiving corps. He averaged 19.21 yards per catch, and is one of the better deep ball threats in the nation. CeeDee Lamb also returns after a rock solid freshman season that saw him catch 46 passes for 807 yards and 7 scores, while averaging an eye popping 17.54 yards per grab. Mykel Jones caught 16 passes as a sophomore and figures into an elevated role this fall. Lee Morris, AD Jones, Myles Tease, Chase Nevel, and Sam Iheke could provide some depth, but the group is largely inexperienced, or has not provided much in terms of production, due to the depth of the group, and 3 more freshmen are coming in as well in JaquayIn Crawford, Jaylon Robinson, and Kundarrius Taylor.
The line loses star tackle Orlando Brown, but again, there is plenty of talent remaining for Oklahoma coming into the 2018 season. Cody Ford could roll into the LT job, but Quinn Mittermeier is also in consideration for the job. RS sophomore Erik Swenson is also in the mix, but looks like the reserve in any eventuality or simulation. Ben Powers projects to start at LG. Marquis Hayes projects as the reserve at LG, but if Ford does not start at LT, some projections have him as backing up at LG, so Hayes potentially has a battle coming on. There is a battle brewing at C that will head into fall camp, with projections there showing Creed Humphery, a RS freshman, battling out with RS senior Jonathon Alvarez. Dru Samia has a lock at the RG spot, with RS freshman Tyrese Robinson projecting as his backup. Bobby Evans also has a lock at RT, with RS freshman Adrian Ealy projecting as his primary backup. The Sooners added 3 incoming freshmen, with a total of 15 linemen already having been at spring camp.
Breakdown Defense: When the Sooners score as often and as quickly as they tend to do, the defense can take a bit of a hit, as they allowed 27.1 points per game last season. Still, when you score as much as they did, this number looks higher and more worrisome than it ever should be, as the Sooners still won games on average by over 18 points per contest. Oklahoma allowed 238.4 yards passing per game, and allowed 156.5 yards on the ground. Talent was lost on this side of the football as well, but fear not, as there is plenty of talent on the defensive side returning as well.
The line loses some star power with Ogbonnia Okoronkwo and DJ Ward, and they took 24.5 TFLs with them when they moved on. There is still plenty to be happy about. Kenneth Mann gets the start at DE, as he finished with 6 TFLs last fall in 13 games. He should have a much bigger role in the defense this fall. Marquise Overton projects at the NG spot, and finished with 3 TFLs last fall in 13 games as a sophomore. Amani Bledsoe also finished with 3 TFLs last fall in 10 games, also as a sophomore. The main concern will be depth behind this unit, as there was not a lot of production that could have come from whomever will win the backup battles. Expect Dillon Faamatau, Neville Gallimore, and Addison Gumbs to all get increased action this fall. The Sooners expected to net 5 new defensive linemen in the recruiting class, and netted all 5 in the process, so some new blood gets infused this fall.
Emmanuel Beal will be missed at LB this fall, as he led the Sooners with 95 tackles last season. Kenneth Murray returns at the MIKE spot, however, and the sophomore should become a star this fall, after he finished 2nd on the team with 77 tackles as a freshman. He added 7.5 TFLs, one sack, 3 QB hurries, and a forced fumble. Mark Jackson, Jr. projects to start at SAM spot, but recorded just 7 tackles as a sophomore last fall. Caleb Kelly projects as the WILL, and finished with 56 tackles last fall. Gumbs could come off the line to start at the JACK spot, but could be in a battle there with Bryan Mead. Of each group for the Sooners, this unit could face the most uncertainty as we head into the 2018 season. Jon-Michael Terry may provide some depth, but the rest of the second and third units are looking like ongoing, fluid situations as we enter the summer.
Tre Norwood and Parnell Motley project to start at the CB spots. They combined for 17 PBUs last fall, and could be one of the best CB duos in the Big 12 this fall. Motley picked off 2 passes last fall, and totaled 63 tackles. Norwood finished with 30. Tre Jordan and Jordan Parker are the backups. Brendan Radley-Hiles and Jordan Broiles could both see times at the Nickel when needed.
The Safety spots seem less settled as we head into the summer. Chanse Sylvie and Radley-Hiles appear locked in a fight for the SS position. Experience will be an issue, with Radley-Hiles being a freshman, and Sylvie being a RS junior who has been blocked on the depth chart. FS has a similar problem, as Kahlil Haughton appears stuck in battle with Robert Branes. This fight will go well into fall camp before settled.
Breakdown Special Teams: It's all good news here with the return of Austin Seibert, who hit 17/21 FG attempts last season, and was perfect on 81 PATs. He could not be a heck of a lot better than he was last season.
Seibert also averaged 42.33 yards per punt, so the news is twice as good.
Sutton averaged over 21 yards per kick return, and will return to that job, while Lamb returns punts once more.
Final Analysis: While there are concerns at LB and S, as far as starting jobs and experience are concerned, the Sooners return enough firepower and talent to overcome those situations. Talent and coaching often go above such circumstances, and they have plenty of that on hand. Offensively, despite the loss of Mayfield and star TE Mark Andrews, look for the Sooners to have plenty left over to go to work with, especially when it comes to the run game. Oklahoma looks strong enough to stave off all challengers for the Big 12 title once again, and I can absolutely see another run for a national title being in the cards. Look for the Sooners to be, at worst, a top 10 program, in what has the makings for yet another strong season in Norman.
Sunday, June 3, 2018
CFL Pre-Season Week 1 Recap
The CFL is back in action, as two weeks of training camp entered the full schedule game phase (Edmonton defeated the Roughriders 35-12 the week before). Here is our first weekly recap of CFL news and notes from the weekend action:
Ottawa 27, Montreal 7
Danny Collins passed for 185 yards, and Lewis Ward chipped in 4 FGs as the RedBlacks took out Montreal at home in the pre-season opener. Ottawa outscored Montreal in the second half to pull away as the Alouettes were held to a single in the 3rd quarter. Collins and Dominique Davis each tossed a TD pass for Ottawa in the win. Matt Schiltz led Montreal with 114 yards passing, but was held without a TD pass, and was picked off once.
Keiran Duncan and Dominique Rhymes each caught scoring passes in the win.
Toronto 36, Hamilton 18
The Argos pulled away from the Tiger-Cats in during the first half of Johnny Manziel's debut game for Hamilton, giving the Ticats a tough home loss. Former UCLA and Scaramento State QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson got the start for Toronto when Ricky Ray did not dress for the game, and promptly took the hype and spotlight off of the TiCats QBs byt completing 9/11 passes for 122 yards and a pair of scores, giving him a clear shot at being the primary backup to Ray when the season starts.
Jeremiah Masoli, who is projected as the starter at QB for Hamilton, was picked off 2 times in the loss. Manziel completed 9/11 passes as well for just 80 yards, with no scores or INTs on the day.
The Ticats got some ground support from their backs, as Mercer Timmis and Storm Johnson combined to rush for 104 yards , with Johnson averaging over 9 yards per carry. Brandon Burks and Chandler Worthy both caught scoring passes for Toronto in the win. Toronto led 26-6 at the half. Swayze Waters hit on 3/3 FG attempts in the win.
Winnipeg 33, Edmonton 13
Clint Streveler made his CFL debut in pursuit of the backup QB job behind Matt Nichols in Winnipeg, and completed his first 8 passes of work, including an 80 yards scoring strike to Myles White, as the Blue Bombers rolled past Edmonton. Nichols completed a 15 yards TD strike to former Eskimo Adarius Bowman to take the early lead over Edmonton, and the Bombers never looked back in this runaway win at home. When all was said and done, Streveler completed all 10 of his passing attempts for 140 yards. Nichols finished the game completing 7/13 passes for 107 yards, a score, and an INT.
Edmonton was held to just 151 yards passing (57 by Danny O'Brien, 50 by Zach Kline, and -6 by Eli Jenkins) in the loss, with no TD passes in the game, and were held to just 64 yards rushing. Johnny Augustin rushed for 81 yards on just 8 carries for the Bombers. Myles Shuler led the Eskimos with just 44 yards from scrimmage in receiving for a non QB playing Eskimo.
Justin Medlock and Felix Menard-Briere each hit a pair of FGs to add to the win total for Winnipeg.
BC Lions 36, Calgary 23
Calgary led the Lions 17-11 at the half, but BC turned on the heat after the half, outscoring the Stamps 25-6 on the way to the big pre-season win on the road.
Ricky Lloyd led the way for the Lions, completing 15/23 passes for 121 yards and 3 scores in the win. He was not picked off on the night. Ricky Collins, Travon Van, and Kevin elliott all caught scoring passes from Lloyd. Ricky Stanzi, the former Iowa product, had a rough night for Calgary, as he completed just 6/15 passes for 72 yards in the loss. Stanzi and Nick Arbuckle combined to toss 3 INTs for Calgary, with just one TD pass from Stanzi.
Calgary's starter when the season begins, Bo Levi Mitchell (Eastern Washington, SMU), played sparingly, completing 3/5 passes, and he ran for a score.
Markeith Ambles caught the lone scoring strike in a losing effort for the Stampeders, a 20 yard pass from Stanzi. Terry Williams, in limited carries, averaged 9.4 yards per carry in the loss, and Kicker Rene Paredes hit 3 FGs as well.
Ottawa 27, Montreal 7
Danny Collins passed for 185 yards, and Lewis Ward chipped in 4 FGs as the RedBlacks took out Montreal at home in the pre-season opener. Ottawa outscored Montreal in the second half to pull away as the Alouettes were held to a single in the 3rd quarter. Collins and Dominique Davis each tossed a TD pass for Ottawa in the win. Matt Schiltz led Montreal with 114 yards passing, but was held without a TD pass, and was picked off once.
Keiran Duncan and Dominique Rhymes each caught scoring passes in the win.
Toronto 36, Hamilton 18
The Argos pulled away from the Tiger-Cats in during the first half of Johnny Manziel's debut game for Hamilton, giving the Ticats a tough home loss. Former UCLA and Scaramento State QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson got the start for Toronto when Ricky Ray did not dress for the game, and promptly took the hype and spotlight off of the TiCats QBs byt completing 9/11 passes for 122 yards and a pair of scores, giving him a clear shot at being the primary backup to Ray when the season starts.
Jeremiah Masoli, who is projected as the starter at QB for Hamilton, was picked off 2 times in the loss. Manziel completed 9/11 passes as well for just 80 yards, with no scores or INTs on the day.
The Ticats got some ground support from their backs, as Mercer Timmis and Storm Johnson combined to rush for 104 yards , with Johnson averaging over 9 yards per carry. Brandon Burks and Chandler Worthy both caught scoring passes for Toronto in the win. Toronto led 26-6 at the half. Swayze Waters hit on 3/3 FG attempts in the win.
Winnipeg 33, Edmonton 13
Clint Streveler made his CFL debut in pursuit of the backup QB job behind Matt Nichols in Winnipeg, and completed his first 8 passes of work, including an 80 yards scoring strike to Myles White, as the Blue Bombers rolled past Edmonton. Nichols completed a 15 yards TD strike to former Eskimo Adarius Bowman to take the early lead over Edmonton, and the Bombers never looked back in this runaway win at home. When all was said and done, Streveler completed all 10 of his passing attempts for 140 yards. Nichols finished the game completing 7/13 passes for 107 yards, a score, and an INT.
Edmonton was held to just 151 yards passing (57 by Danny O'Brien, 50 by Zach Kline, and -6 by Eli Jenkins) in the loss, with no TD passes in the game, and were held to just 64 yards rushing. Johnny Augustin rushed for 81 yards on just 8 carries for the Bombers. Myles Shuler led the Eskimos with just 44 yards from scrimmage in receiving for a non QB playing Eskimo.
Justin Medlock and Felix Menard-Briere each hit a pair of FGs to add to the win total for Winnipeg.
BC Lions 36, Calgary 23
Calgary led the Lions 17-11 at the half, but BC turned on the heat after the half, outscoring the Stamps 25-6 on the way to the big pre-season win on the road.
Ricky Lloyd led the way for the Lions, completing 15/23 passes for 121 yards and 3 scores in the win. He was not picked off on the night. Ricky Collins, Travon Van, and Kevin elliott all caught scoring passes from Lloyd. Ricky Stanzi, the former Iowa product, had a rough night for Calgary, as he completed just 6/15 passes for 72 yards in the loss. Stanzi and Nick Arbuckle combined to toss 3 INTs for Calgary, with just one TD pass from Stanzi.
Calgary's starter when the season begins, Bo Levi Mitchell (Eastern Washington, SMU), played sparingly, completing 3/5 passes, and he ran for a score.
Markeith Ambles caught the lone scoring strike in a losing effort for the Stampeders, a 20 yard pass from Stanzi. Terry Williams, in limited carries, averaged 9.4 yards per carry in the loss, and Kicker Rene Paredes hit 3 FGs as well.
Friday, June 1, 2018
Stanley Cup Game 2 Review
Written By: Mitch McCombs
June 1, 2018
Holtby Comes Through, Caps Win On Team Effort
June 1, 2018
Holtby Comes Through, Caps Win On Team Effort
Game 2 was a much improved game for both teams. This game was more physical as well with the Capitals having 46 hits and the Golden Knights having 39 hits. Even though Vegas dominated in takeaways in both games, the Caps had only 4 giveaways in game 2. Both teams also converted on a power play..
The Capitals were playing more defensive with 18 blocks. Their penalty kill units also were outstanding, only allowing 1 goal on 5 penalty kills. Holtby really showed up with 37 saves and a last minute save with his stick to keep the lead and secure the win for the Capitals. They hardly gave the puck away this game with only 4 give aways. The biggest downfall for the Capitals was Kuznetsov getting hurt in the first period, he’s a big part of this team and it’s going to be interesting to see what they do without him, as he is their top point scorer. If the Caps want to win this series, they need to keep this tempo, but not allow as many shots on Holtby.
The Knights showed improvement as well. They played better defensively against the Caps, and produced more scoring opportunities. Fleury played a good game making 23 saves on 26 shots on net. He did all he could to keep them in the game. The Knights first line needs to show up in game 3, as they hardly did anything in game 2. In game 2 they produced 2 points and a -2 rating. If the Knights want to come out and win the Stanley Cup, the 1st line needs to help produce points and defense like they have been all throughout these playoffs.
This series is already tough like I knew it would be. These first 2 games have been fexciting and nerve racking for fans of both teams. I can see this series going to game 7. This series is fast and physical, and the fan bases on both sides are getting what they are watching for.
Florida Gators 2018 Football Preview
Florida Gators 2018 Football Preview
Opening Statement: Welcome back Dan Mullen, the offense has surely missed you. Mullen, who was the OC during the famed Tebow days at Florida, is back as head coach after a successful run at Mississippi State. He arrives to find an offense that needs his help more than ever, and a defense that has sometimes crumbled under the strain of not having a great offense to support it. If indications are what they are, and he made a long struggling Mississippi State team credible and competitive, things are about to swing back to the good in Gainesville.
Breakdown Offense: Florida scored just 22.1 points per game last fall, which tied them at 108th nationally with Minnesota and Akron. That's not getting it done. The passing game stalled out to a tune of 179.5 yards per game, and they rushed for 156.36 yards per game. Expect a massive upswing in the passing department in year one.
Feleipe Franks is expected largely to be the starter for Dan Mullen, but he may have to prove himself once again. He passed for 1438 yards, with 9 TDs and 8 INTs, and completed just 54.6% of his passes. If there is a push coming, Emory Jones, a freshman, could be the one to do the pushing. Jake Allen also has had a year in the program, and could emerge in the fall race. This job is not a lock yet.
Jordan Scarlett returns at RB, but do not expect him to be the lock to hold the starting job when the season opens. Lamical Perine is back as well, and rushed for 8 scores last fall. Malik Davis rushed for 6.66 yards per carry before getting hurt, and will demand some reps as well. Adarius Lemons showed some big play potential in limited action, averaging over 7 yards per carry. This should be one of the most talented groups of backs in the SEC.
If Van Jefferson and Trevon Grimes are eligible after transfers, they should add a different dimension to the receiving corps, but that has not all been entirely cleared up as of yet. Freddie Swain and Tyree Cleveland looked solid in the spring, and Cleveland averaged over 18 yards per catch last season. Josh Hammond will get a look this fall as well. Kadarius Toney will be the Y receiver as we head into summer. Dre Massey returns to add some depth.
C'Yontai Lewis looks to start at TE, while Kemore Gamble and Moral Stephens are the backups.
Martez Ivey (LT), Brett Heggie (LG), TJ McCoy (C), Fred Johnson (RG), and Jawaan Taylor (RT) makes up the starting line. Jean DeLance and TJ Moore add depth at OT, while Tyler Jordan can back up at both OG and C. Nick Buchanan and Kavaris Harkless will look for work as backups at the OG spots as well, while Stone Forsythe is the 3rd team OT.
Breakdown Defense: The Gators will employ a 3-4 front this fall, and should be able to improve upon the 2017 season in which they allowed 27.3 points per game. Florida allowed 195 yards passing, and 153.91 yards rushing per game.
Jabari Zuniga and Jachai Polite are the starters at DE. They combined for 13.5 TFLs last fall, and should be set up to do more damage in 2018. Antonneus Clayton and Zachary Carter are solid backups there. Elijah Concliffe could figure into a rotation as well. Keivonnis Davis adds some depth, as does Luke Ancrum.
Khairi Clark is the NT for the Gators, but could be pushed by Tedarrell Slayton. Kyree Campbell and Marlon Dunlap add to a deep group.
David Reese is a star at the MIKE spot for the Gators, as he led the team with 102 tackles and 10 TFLs last fall. Cece Jefferson starts at SLB, and led the Gators with 4.5 sacks. Vosean Joseph will return at WILL, and finished with 55 tackles. Jeremiah Moon is the starter at OLB and had 24 tackles last fall. Antonneous Clayton, Nick Smith, Rayshad Jackson, and Lacedrick Brunson add depth at the outside LB spots, while Ventrell Miller, Kylan Johnson, and James Houston IV add tremendous depth on the inside.
CJ Henderson and Marco Wilson are the starters at CB. Wilson finished with 10 PBUs as a freshman last season, with Henderson adding 4 more. Henderson tied for the team lead with 4 INTs. Chris McWilliams and Brian Edwards are the backups. Jeawon Taylor is the starter at SS, and finished with 34 tackles last fall. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson is the FS. He finished with 58 tackles last fall, good for second on the team, and added 7 PBUs. Quincy Lenton backs up at SS, while Brad Stewart, and Shawn Davis add depth at FS.
Breakdown Special Teams: Jorge Powell looks to take over at PK, but has big shoes to fill with the departure of Eddy Piniero, who hit 17/18 FG attempts last season. Johnny Townsend, who averaged 47.6 yards per punt, has also moved on, and the battle to replace him will rage into the fall.
Adarius Lemons averaged 22.5 yards per KR, and will man the job again. Dre Massey lef the spring with the PR job, but could be pushed in the fall by Freddie Swain or Chauncey Gardner-Johnson.
Final Analysis: As the last several years have been hard to bare for Gators fans, things are about to change. The personnel on offense is such that the Gators should be ready to blow off the shell that has held them back. There is abundant talent at RB and WR, and the line could be as strong as it has been in a long while. If the QB situation irons out, this could be a monumental shift in success on offense this season. Even if it doesn't things should still be better than they have been. Defensively, Florida could show major improvements over last season, and depth is rock solid at almost every spot. There is, again, a ton of talent already on the roster, and the newcomers should make this unit even deeper. Florida may not compete with Georgia for the SEC East, but that though should no longer be a laughing matter. Georgia may finally have some company in the SEC East.
Opening Statement: Welcome back Dan Mullen, the offense has surely missed you. Mullen, who was the OC during the famed Tebow days at Florida, is back as head coach after a successful run at Mississippi State. He arrives to find an offense that needs his help more than ever, and a defense that has sometimes crumbled under the strain of not having a great offense to support it. If indications are what they are, and he made a long struggling Mississippi State team credible and competitive, things are about to swing back to the good in Gainesville.
Breakdown Offense: Florida scored just 22.1 points per game last fall, which tied them at 108th nationally with Minnesota and Akron. That's not getting it done. The passing game stalled out to a tune of 179.5 yards per game, and they rushed for 156.36 yards per game. Expect a massive upswing in the passing department in year one.
Feleipe Franks is expected largely to be the starter for Dan Mullen, but he may have to prove himself once again. He passed for 1438 yards, with 9 TDs and 8 INTs, and completed just 54.6% of his passes. If there is a push coming, Emory Jones, a freshman, could be the one to do the pushing. Jake Allen also has had a year in the program, and could emerge in the fall race. This job is not a lock yet.
Jordan Scarlett returns at RB, but do not expect him to be the lock to hold the starting job when the season opens. Lamical Perine is back as well, and rushed for 8 scores last fall. Malik Davis rushed for 6.66 yards per carry before getting hurt, and will demand some reps as well. Adarius Lemons showed some big play potential in limited action, averaging over 7 yards per carry. This should be one of the most talented groups of backs in the SEC.
If Van Jefferson and Trevon Grimes are eligible after transfers, they should add a different dimension to the receiving corps, but that has not all been entirely cleared up as of yet. Freddie Swain and Tyree Cleveland looked solid in the spring, and Cleveland averaged over 18 yards per catch last season. Josh Hammond will get a look this fall as well. Kadarius Toney will be the Y receiver as we head into summer. Dre Massey returns to add some depth.
C'Yontai Lewis looks to start at TE, while Kemore Gamble and Moral Stephens are the backups.
Martez Ivey (LT), Brett Heggie (LG), TJ McCoy (C), Fred Johnson (RG), and Jawaan Taylor (RT) makes up the starting line. Jean DeLance and TJ Moore add depth at OT, while Tyler Jordan can back up at both OG and C. Nick Buchanan and Kavaris Harkless will look for work as backups at the OG spots as well, while Stone Forsythe is the 3rd team OT.
Breakdown Defense: The Gators will employ a 3-4 front this fall, and should be able to improve upon the 2017 season in which they allowed 27.3 points per game. Florida allowed 195 yards passing, and 153.91 yards rushing per game.
Jabari Zuniga and Jachai Polite are the starters at DE. They combined for 13.5 TFLs last fall, and should be set up to do more damage in 2018. Antonneus Clayton and Zachary Carter are solid backups there. Elijah Concliffe could figure into a rotation as well. Keivonnis Davis adds some depth, as does Luke Ancrum.
Khairi Clark is the NT for the Gators, but could be pushed by Tedarrell Slayton. Kyree Campbell and Marlon Dunlap add to a deep group.
David Reese is a star at the MIKE spot for the Gators, as he led the team with 102 tackles and 10 TFLs last fall. Cece Jefferson starts at SLB, and led the Gators with 4.5 sacks. Vosean Joseph will return at WILL, and finished with 55 tackles. Jeremiah Moon is the starter at OLB and had 24 tackles last fall. Antonneous Clayton, Nick Smith, Rayshad Jackson, and Lacedrick Brunson add depth at the outside LB spots, while Ventrell Miller, Kylan Johnson, and James Houston IV add tremendous depth on the inside.
CJ Henderson and Marco Wilson are the starters at CB. Wilson finished with 10 PBUs as a freshman last season, with Henderson adding 4 more. Henderson tied for the team lead with 4 INTs. Chris McWilliams and Brian Edwards are the backups. Jeawon Taylor is the starter at SS, and finished with 34 tackles last fall. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson is the FS. He finished with 58 tackles last fall, good for second on the team, and added 7 PBUs. Quincy Lenton backs up at SS, while Brad Stewart, and Shawn Davis add depth at FS.
Breakdown Special Teams: Jorge Powell looks to take over at PK, but has big shoes to fill with the departure of Eddy Piniero, who hit 17/18 FG attempts last season. Johnny Townsend, who averaged 47.6 yards per punt, has also moved on, and the battle to replace him will rage into the fall.
Adarius Lemons averaged 22.5 yards per KR, and will man the job again. Dre Massey lef the spring with the PR job, but could be pushed in the fall by Freddie Swain or Chauncey Gardner-Johnson.
Final Analysis: As the last several years have been hard to bare for Gators fans, things are about to change. The personnel on offense is such that the Gators should be ready to blow off the shell that has held them back. There is abundant talent at RB and WR, and the line could be as strong as it has been in a long while. If the QB situation irons out, this could be a monumental shift in success on offense this season. Even if it doesn't things should still be better than they have been. Defensively, Florida could show major improvements over last season, and depth is rock solid at almost every spot. There is, again, a ton of talent already on the roster, and the newcomers should make this unit even deeper. Florida may not compete with Georgia for the SEC East, but that though should no longer be a laughing matter. Georgia may finally have some company in the SEC East.
Eastern Michigan Eagles 2018 Football Preview
Eastern Michigan Eagles 2018 Football Preview
Opening Statement: When Eastern Michigan won 7 games in 2016, and went to their first bowl appearance in decades, the program looked to be pointing the needle in the right direction under Chris Creighton, a head coach that was embattled by a lagging support system on campus, that saw many academic leaders pushing for the discontinuation of the program. The 7 win bowl season shut down some of that talk, but the 2017 season came along, and then the bottom dropped out, as a 6 game losing streak that went into the middle and latter parts of the season transpired, and the Eagles dropped back to 5-7 and missed a bowl. Now, many wonder whether or not the 2016 season was sustainable, or whether the 2017 season was a harbinger of things to come.
Breakdown Offense: EMU scored 26.3 points per game in 2017, down 3.5 points per game from 2016. They passed for 357.3 yards per game, while rushing for just 129.5 yards per game. Both numbers were down from 2016 by around 30 yards per category, or 60 total yards per game. That trend could continue in 2018.
Brogan Roback is gone at QB, leaving the job in the hands of sophomore Isaac Stiebeling, who struggled in limited action last season. Stiebeling passed for just 49 yards on 8/17 passing, and completed just 47.1% of his passes. Mike Glass III could compete for the job with Tyler Wiegers, as they are the only upperclassmen in the QB group. Aaron Jackson, Preston Hutchinson, and Jairus Grissom are all coming in as freshmen.
Ian Eriksen and Shaq Vann are both back to give the rushing game half a chance at life this season after this unit fell off the radar in 2017. Eriksen rushed for 805 yards and 8 scores, while Vann, who was largely expected to be the man last fall, rushed for just 520 yards in 9 games, as he was beat up most of the season. Breck Turner returns as the 3rd back as well, and rushed for 118 yards on just 31 carries.
The Eagles lose their top 3 receivers from a year ago, which places even more strain on the passing game. Matthew Sexton, who caught 26 passes, is the most experienced returnee. Eddie Daugherty, who caught just 10 passes,and Isaac Holder, who caught 9 passes, are the only returnees who caught passes last season. Lemar Harris, a RS junior, had a solid spring, and may get a crack at some reps.
Bryce Kemp caught 6 passes at TE last season, and starts, but is primarily a blocker. Tre'Shown Fields backs him up.
The line could actually be solid this fall. Chris Bukoski (LT), Jeremy Hickey (LG), Dakota Tallman (C), Jake Donnellon (RG), and Steve Neilson (RT) all left spring ball with locked up starting jobs. Ka'John Armstrong and Pete Bergman give solid depth at the Tackle spots, while Jimmy Leatiota backs up the OG spots. Mike Van Hoeven is the backup at C.
Breakdown Defense: The Eagles allowed 23.3 points per game last fall, which was actually a 6.5 points per game improvement over 2017. They allowed just 190.3 yards passing and 173.25 yards rushing per game in their 4-2-5 defensive set.
Maxx Crosby is a beast at DE, as he finished with 16.5 TFLs as a sophomore last fall. He led the team with 11 sacks, 11 QB hurries, and 4 forced fumbles. Clay Holford, a junior, backs him up.
Desmond Kelly will start at NT. He finished last fall with just 0.5 TFLs after transferring from Dodge City CC. Chris Hendrix should get first shot at the open DT job, but finished with just 2 TFLs last season.
Jeremiah Harris is back at the BULL hybrid spot after finishing with 12.5 TFLs last fall. He finished with 45 tackles, 6 sacks, 3 PBUs, 6 QB hurries, and 2 forced fumbles.
Kyle Rachwal is back at the MIKE spot, and finished with 67 tackles last season. Jason Beck, who led the team with 80 tackles last fall, is gone, and the WILL spot is wide open as we head into the summer.
Kevin McGill and Ross Williams are back to start at CB for the Eagles. They each finished with 7 PBUs last fall. Jalen Phelps and Jeff Hubbard are the backups. Vince Calhoun is the starter at ROVER, and finished with 78 tackles, which was tied for 2nd on the team. Freddie McGee II is tha backup there. Brody Hoying also finished with 78 tackles, and returns to the DOG position. Justin Moody is the FREE, and had 50 tackles.
Breakdown Special Teams: Paul Fricano is back at PK and hit 15/21 FG attempts last fall. The staff would like to see more consistency out of him this season.
Jake Julien is back at Punter, and did a solid job last fall, averaging 42.64 yards per punt. Sexton is the KR man, but struggled, at just 17.33 yards per return. Blake Banham is the PR man, but struggled as well with an average return of just over 5 yards.
Final Analysis: The Eagles struggles last season came as a result of an offense that failed to get going, and that unit was also fairly beat up at times. Getting a solid running foundation was something that never happened, and the turnovers by Roback (15 INTs) did not help either. Getting some kind of consistency will be hard this season with the loss of Roback, and a host of receivers. Defensively, the Eagles have some holes, especially at LB and DT, but the secondary could be decent, and there are weapons with Crosby and Harris up front, and if Rachwal can develop into a force at LB, this team could surprise some people in the fall. Consistency will be where everything comes together, but finding it is sometimes elusive. EMU, even if everything comes together, can't expect to contend for a MAC title this season, but if they can avoid the horrible slumps again, a bowl could be within reach.
Opening Statement: When Eastern Michigan won 7 games in 2016, and went to their first bowl appearance in decades, the program looked to be pointing the needle in the right direction under Chris Creighton, a head coach that was embattled by a lagging support system on campus, that saw many academic leaders pushing for the discontinuation of the program. The 7 win bowl season shut down some of that talk, but the 2017 season came along, and then the bottom dropped out, as a 6 game losing streak that went into the middle and latter parts of the season transpired, and the Eagles dropped back to 5-7 and missed a bowl. Now, many wonder whether or not the 2016 season was sustainable, or whether the 2017 season was a harbinger of things to come.
Breakdown Offense: EMU scored 26.3 points per game in 2017, down 3.5 points per game from 2016. They passed for 357.3 yards per game, while rushing for just 129.5 yards per game. Both numbers were down from 2016 by around 30 yards per category, or 60 total yards per game. That trend could continue in 2018.
Brogan Roback is gone at QB, leaving the job in the hands of sophomore Isaac Stiebeling, who struggled in limited action last season. Stiebeling passed for just 49 yards on 8/17 passing, and completed just 47.1% of his passes. Mike Glass III could compete for the job with Tyler Wiegers, as they are the only upperclassmen in the QB group. Aaron Jackson, Preston Hutchinson, and Jairus Grissom are all coming in as freshmen.
Ian Eriksen and Shaq Vann are both back to give the rushing game half a chance at life this season after this unit fell off the radar in 2017. Eriksen rushed for 805 yards and 8 scores, while Vann, who was largely expected to be the man last fall, rushed for just 520 yards in 9 games, as he was beat up most of the season. Breck Turner returns as the 3rd back as well, and rushed for 118 yards on just 31 carries.
The Eagles lose their top 3 receivers from a year ago, which places even more strain on the passing game. Matthew Sexton, who caught 26 passes, is the most experienced returnee. Eddie Daugherty, who caught just 10 passes,and Isaac Holder, who caught 9 passes, are the only returnees who caught passes last season. Lemar Harris, a RS junior, had a solid spring, and may get a crack at some reps.
Bryce Kemp caught 6 passes at TE last season, and starts, but is primarily a blocker. Tre'Shown Fields backs him up.
The line could actually be solid this fall. Chris Bukoski (LT), Jeremy Hickey (LG), Dakota Tallman (C), Jake Donnellon (RG), and Steve Neilson (RT) all left spring ball with locked up starting jobs. Ka'John Armstrong and Pete Bergman give solid depth at the Tackle spots, while Jimmy Leatiota backs up the OG spots. Mike Van Hoeven is the backup at C.
Breakdown Defense: The Eagles allowed 23.3 points per game last fall, which was actually a 6.5 points per game improvement over 2017. They allowed just 190.3 yards passing and 173.25 yards rushing per game in their 4-2-5 defensive set.
Maxx Crosby is a beast at DE, as he finished with 16.5 TFLs as a sophomore last fall. He led the team with 11 sacks, 11 QB hurries, and 4 forced fumbles. Clay Holford, a junior, backs him up.
Desmond Kelly will start at NT. He finished last fall with just 0.5 TFLs after transferring from Dodge City CC. Chris Hendrix should get first shot at the open DT job, but finished with just 2 TFLs last season.
Jeremiah Harris is back at the BULL hybrid spot after finishing with 12.5 TFLs last fall. He finished with 45 tackles, 6 sacks, 3 PBUs, 6 QB hurries, and 2 forced fumbles.
Kyle Rachwal is back at the MIKE spot, and finished with 67 tackles last season. Jason Beck, who led the team with 80 tackles last fall, is gone, and the WILL spot is wide open as we head into the summer.
Kevin McGill and Ross Williams are back to start at CB for the Eagles. They each finished with 7 PBUs last fall. Jalen Phelps and Jeff Hubbard are the backups. Vince Calhoun is the starter at ROVER, and finished with 78 tackles, which was tied for 2nd on the team. Freddie McGee II is tha backup there. Brody Hoying also finished with 78 tackles, and returns to the DOG position. Justin Moody is the FREE, and had 50 tackles.
Breakdown Special Teams: Paul Fricano is back at PK and hit 15/21 FG attempts last fall. The staff would like to see more consistency out of him this season.
Jake Julien is back at Punter, and did a solid job last fall, averaging 42.64 yards per punt. Sexton is the KR man, but struggled, at just 17.33 yards per return. Blake Banham is the PR man, but struggled as well with an average return of just over 5 yards.
Final Analysis: The Eagles struggles last season came as a result of an offense that failed to get going, and that unit was also fairly beat up at times. Getting a solid running foundation was something that never happened, and the turnovers by Roback (15 INTs) did not help either. Getting some kind of consistency will be hard this season with the loss of Roback, and a host of receivers. Defensively, the Eagles have some holes, especially at LB and DT, but the secondary could be decent, and there are weapons with Crosby and Harris up front, and if Rachwal can develop into a force at LB, this team could surprise some people in the fall. Consistency will be where everything comes together, but finding it is sometimes elusive. EMU, even if everything comes together, can't expect to contend for a MAC title this season, but if they can avoid the horrible slumps again, a bowl could be within reach.
East Carolina Pirates 2018 Football Preview
East Carolina Pirates 2018 Football Preview
Opening Statement: One has to wonder what happened to East Carolina football. When Ruffin McNeil was in charge, the Pirates were, at the very least, competitive every season. Since he was fired under a shroud of God knows what, and replaced by Scottie Montgomery, who is clearly in way over his head, the program has hit rock bottom. Once again, the program is in a position of having to find leaders, and having to find wins under rocks, to get close to even being competitive, as the rest of the AAC (outside of U Conn and Cincy) pulls away.
Breakdown Offense: The offense scored 24.9 points per game. On paper, that may not look bad, but when you consider what may be coming this season, it looks brilliant.
The QB situation went from pretty good in 2016, to serviceable in 2017, to looking like a bottomless pit in 2018. Gardner Minshew left as a grad transfer, first to Alabama, but then to Washington State, and Thomas Sirk, the Duke grad transfer, is gone as well, leaving only Reid Herring as a QB with any experience at all, albeit one pass attempt in 2 games last season. The QB job is wide open, and there will be no real answers until the fall. Consider this area to be extremely concerning.
The Pirate rushing attack was anemic last season. Hussein Howe returns, but led all rushers with just 419 yards and 3 scores last fall. Darius Pinnix is the backup, but rushed for just 219 yards, Devin Anderson, who carried just 29 times, and is listed as the 3rd back heading into the season.
Three of the top four receivers are gone from last season, which will be another major blow to what was already going to be a problem passing attack area. Trevon Brown, who caught 60 passes last fall to lead the team, is back after rolling up 1069 yards and 7 scores, but his supporting cast has moved on. Deonfre Farrier, who caught 24 passes as a sophomore, is the next best option. Tahj Deans caught 16 passes last fall, and seems primed to take on a larger role, as is Mydreon Vines, who caught 2 passes last fall.
When they use a TE, or Y receiver, which is rare, Anthony Watley appears to have the edge to take on that role for 2018.
D'Ante Smith (LT), John Spellacy (C), Garrett McGhin (RG) are the only players currently on the roster that have jobs on the line locked up, leaving openings at LG and RT as we head into fall camp. DqMarcus Shaw and Cortez Herrin could be up for the LG spot, but the RT job is an open door right now.
Breakdown Defense: East Carolina had the worst scoring defense in the nation last season among FBS football schools, allowing 45 points per game. The Pirates allowed 296.2 yards passing per game, while allowing another 245.5 yards per game on the ground. There is no other way to go but up or sideways this fall.
Shaun James looks to kick out to DE from the interior this fall, and will be joined at DE by Kendall Futrell. The two combined for just 3.5 TFLs last season, so the Pirates are pretty much without much of a threat off the edge up front. Chandon Hickerson is the backup at both spots for now, but did nothing last year worth mention.
Jalen Price and Alex Turner are the starters at DT heading into the summer. They provide nothing if not a lack of experience and production, so the Pirates could be extremely vulnerable up the middle as well. Raequan Purvis is the backup inside, and played in 12 games as a freshman, providing just one TFL.
Cannon Gibbs (MIKE) and Aaron Ramseur (WILL) are the returning LBs. Gibbs finished last fall with 50 tackles, while Ramseur finished with 57. The Pirates lose Jordan Williams, who totaled 87 tackles last fall. Sophomore Bruce Bivens provides the only real relief, and finished with 10 tackles last fall.
The Pirates deploy a 4-2-5 set, and the starting jobs in the secondary look locked down for the summer, with few exceptions. Colby Gore played in 10 games as a sophomore last season, finishing with 4 PBUs, and will start at one CB spot. Corey Seargant, who played in 8 games as a sophomore, is the Nickel Back, and he finished with just 2 PBUs. Devon Sutton comes in at SS, and finished 3rd on the team with 68 tackles. Davondre Robinson is the FS, and played in 6 games as a freshman last fall. Keyshawn Canady, who was expected by some to start at CB, is listed at RB for the spring and fall, but will likely stay on the defensive side, unless he can spark the tepid rushing attack, as he did in high school.
Breakdown Special Teams: Jake Verity really struggled as the PK last fall, hitting just 16/25 FG attempts, and will not only be handling that job once again, but will also be handling the P job with the departure of Austin Scott, who averaged 44 yards per punt last season.
Trevon Brown averaged just over 21 yards per return on kicks last fall, and returns, while Colby Gore left the competition in spring ball with the PR job.
Final Analysis: Dare I say that the 2017 season, where the Pirates won just 3 games and were a defensive disaster, could look like a joyride compared to what could be coming this fall? The Pirates have no solid QB to rely on, a completely useless rushing attack, a ton of holes at receiver, and a patchwork offensive line, while the defense, again, the worst scoring defense in college football, also has more questions than answers. Scottie Montgomery was a mistake hire when he was brought on to replace McNeil, and now the real heat is on, as even the fan base that I communicate with seems to really have no faith in him as their leader. I would expect to see Montgomery on the firing line if things get worse, and there is absolutely zero indication that it will not get worse. Get ready for the fall, because it may be a hard one.
Opening Statement: One has to wonder what happened to East Carolina football. When Ruffin McNeil was in charge, the Pirates were, at the very least, competitive every season. Since he was fired under a shroud of God knows what, and replaced by Scottie Montgomery, who is clearly in way over his head, the program has hit rock bottom. Once again, the program is in a position of having to find leaders, and having to find wins under rocks, to get close to even being competitive, as the rest of the AAC (outside of U Conn and Cincy) pulls away.
Breakdown Offense: The offense scored 24.9 points per game. On paper, that may not look bad, but when you consider what may be coming this season, it looks brilliant.
The QB situation went from pretty good in 2016, to serviceable in 2017, to looking like a bottomless pit in 2018. Gardner Minshew left as a grad transfer, first to Alabama, but then to Washington State, and Thomas Sirk, the Duke grad transfer, is gone as well, leaving only Reid Herring as a QB with any experience at all, albeit one pass attempt in 2 games last season. The QB job is wide open, and there will be no real answers until the fall. Consider this area to be extremely concerning.
The Pirate rushing attack was anemic last season. Hussein Howe returns, but led all rushers with just 419 yards and 3 scores last fall. Darius Pinnix is the backup, but rushed for just 219 yards, Devin Anderson, who carried just 29 times, and is listed as the 3rd back heading into the season.
Three of the top four receivers are gone from last season, which will be another major blow to what was already going to be a problem passing attack area. Trevon Brown, who caught 60 passes last fall to lead the team, is back after rolling up 1069 yards and 7 scores, but his supporting cast has moved on. Deonfre Farrier, who caught 24 passes as a sophomore, is the next best option. Tahj Deans caught 16 passes last fall, and seems primed to take on a larger role, as is Mydreon Vines, who caught 2 passes last fall.
When they use a TE, or Y receiver, which is rare, Anthony Watley appears to have the edge to take on that role for 2018.
D'Ante Smith (LT), John Spellacy (C), Garrett McGhin (RG) are the only players currently on the roster that have jobs on the line locked up, leaving openings at LG and RT as we head into fall camp. DqMarcus Shaw and Cortez Herrin could be up for the LG spot, but the RT job is an open door right now.
Breakdown Defense: East Carolina had the worst scoring defense in the nation last season among FBS football schools, allowing 45 points per game. The Pirates allowed 296.2 yards passing per game, while allowing another 245.5 yards per game on the ground. There is no other way to go but up or sideways this fall.
Shaun James looks to kick out to DE from the interior this fall, and will be joined at DE by Kendall Futrell. The two combined for just 3.5 TFLs last season, so the Pirates are pretty much without much of a threat off the edge up front. Chandon Hickerson is the backup at both spots for now, but did nothing last year worth mention.
Jalen Price and Alex Turner are the starters at DT heading into the summer. They provide nothing if not a lack of experience and production, so the Pirates could be extremely vulnerable up the middle as well. Raequan Purvis is the backup inside, and played in 12 games as a freshman, providing just one TFL.
Cannon Gibbs (MIKE) and Aaron Ramseur (WILL) are the returning LBs. Gibbs finished last fall with 50 tackles, while Ramseur finished with 57. The Pirates lose Jordan Williams, who totaled 87 tackles last fall. Sophomore Bruce Bivens provides the only real relief, and finished with 10 tackles last fall.
The Pirates deploy a 4-2-5 set, and the starting jobs in the secondary look locked down for the summer, with few exceptions. Colby Gore played in 10 games as a sophomore last season, finishing with 4 PBUs, and will start at one CB spot. Corey Seargant, who played in 8 games as a sophomore, is the Nickel Back, and he finished with just 2 PBUs. Devon Sutton comes in at SS, and finished 3rd on the team with 68 tackles. Davondre Robinson is the FS, and played in 6 games as a freshman last fall. Keyshawn Canady, who was expected by some to start at CB, is listed at RB for the spring and fall, but will likely stay on the defensive side, unless he can spark the tepid rushing attack, as he did in high school.
Breakdown Special Teams: Jake Verity really struggled as the PK last fall, hitting just 16/25 FG attempts, and will not only be handling that job once again, but will also be handling the P job with the departure of Austin Scott, who averaged 44 yards per punt last season.
Trevon Brown averaged just over 21 yards per return on kicks last fall, and returns, while Colby Gore left the competition in spring ball with the PR job.
Final Analysis: Dare I say that the 2017 season, where the Pirates won just 3 games and were a defensive disaster, could look like a joyride compared to what could be coming this fall? The Pirates have no solid QB to rely on, a completely useless rushing attack, a ton of holes at receiver, and a patchwork offensive line, while the defense, again, the worst scoring defense in college football, also has more questions than answers. Scottie Montgomery was a mistake hire when he was brought on to replace McNeil, and now the real heat is on, as even the fan base that I communicate with seems to really have no faith in him as their leader. I would expect to see Montgomery on the firing line if things get worse, and there is absolutely zero indication that it will not get worse. Get ready for the fall, because it may be a hard one.
Duke Blue Devils 2018 Football Preview
Duke Blue Devils 2018 Football Preview
Opening Statement: The reality about the Duke program is simply that all they have to do is finish at .500 and above, go to a bowl game, and most people will be happy. Expectations are never all that high, and Duke is not a program that is going to compete for ACC or national titles. We know that, and if the fan base that supports this program is good with it, than so should everyone else be. Duke is, and always will be, a basketball school, and even in an era where football and the money that comes with it is king, that will likely never change. So the question is, can Duke get to .500 and above and go to another bow, and be reasonably competitive? Probably so.
Breakdown Offense: Daniel Jones is back at QB, and is one of the more interesting QBs in a dual threat role that you will see, but he has to do a better job of morphing into a passer than he has done to date. Jones passed for 2691 yards, but tossed just 14 TDs to 11 INTs as a sophomore, his second full season in the job. He also completed just 56.7% of his passes on the year. He managed to rush for 518 yards and 7 scores, but averaged just 3.22 yards per carry. He is capable of more explosive play, and should provide better numbers this fall. If he stays healthy, I would expect him to take all of the snaps this fall, but if anyone does take any snaps, it will be Quentin Harris, who is also a junior.
Shaun Wilson has moved on at RB, leaving the job in the hands of Brittain Brown, who shared carries last season while rushing for 701 yards and 7 scores, while averaging 5.39 yards per carry. Deon Jackson, who rushed just 32 times last fall, to little effect, projects as the primary backup. Nicodem Pierre would likely be the 3rd back with Elijah Deveaux also in the mix.
The top three WRs return from last season in TJ Rahming, Jonathon Lloyd, and Chris Taylor. Rahming posted a line of 65-795-2, Lloyd posted 39-367-1, and Taylor posted 25-332-1. None of these returnees are particularly adept at spreading the field, so expect a short to mid-range passing game this fall. Aaron Young, Scott Bracey, and Keyston Fuller will provide some depth.
Daniel Helm, who caught 22 passes last season, is the returning starter at TE. Davis Koppenhaver is back as the primary backup, with Noah Gray returning as the 3rd team TE.
The line looks relatively set this fall, with Christian Harris (LT), Julian Santos (LG), and Robert Kraeling (RT) all set to start. Zach Harmon figures to start at either C or RG this fall, leaving only one real spot to be concerned with. Rakavius Chambers and Zach Baker could each fill in at OG, so Harmon makes more sense at C. Jaylen Miller provides some depth at OT.
Breakdown Defense: Last fall was a particularly good season for the Duke defense, which allowed just over 20 points per game, and allowed just 179.4 yards passing per contest.
Tre Hornbuckle starts at DE, and finished the year with 9.5 TFLs, and is a key piece off the edge. Victor Dimukeje starts at the DE spot opposite, and finished with 7.5 TFLs, making the edge a tough place to do business against Duke on either side. Drew Jordan and Terrel Lucas are the depth at DE, while Twazanga Mugala can add some help inside or out.
Trevon McSwain could rotate himself into a starting spot at DT this fall after finishing with 3 TFLs last season. One starting spot in the middle is open for the Blue Devils as we head to camp. Derrick Tangelo will be in the hunt for that spot as well. Edgar Cerenord starts at the other DT spot, and finished last season with 3 TFLs. Alex Nyembwe adds some depth there.
Joe Giles-Harris is the likely star in the middle of the defense for Duke this fall, as he returns to start at WLB after recording 125 tackles last fall. He added an impressive 16 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, one INT, 4 PBUs, and 6 QB hurries. He tossed in a forced fumble to boot. Koby Quansah fills in the MLB spot, and recorded 55 tackles last fall. Ben Humphries added another 70 tackles to the group, and is a force as well. Brandon Hill adds some depth at LB and on ST coverage. Xander Gagnon will be looking to add some reps as a sophomore.
The secondary, which was so good last season, returns Mark Gilbert at CB. He was a major lock down CB last fall with 14 PBUs. He was one of the national leaders with 6 INTs and finished with 35 tackles. Brandon Feamster is slated to start opposite Gilbert at CB, but could see some action at Safety as well.
The Blue Devils run a 3 Safety set, and will have Marquis Waters, Michael Carter, and Dylan Singleton slated to start as we leave spring ball behind. Singleton is the most accomplished of the group, as he totaled 42 tackles last fall. Jeremy McDuffie returns as well, and should actually boot one of those projected starters, if healthy. He finished with 58 tackles last fall, added 9 PBUs, and 3 INTs.
Breakdown Special Teams: Austin Parker is no longer around, and he handled both PK and P duties to a good deal of success a last season. That leaves both jobs wide open as we head into the fall. There are 5 PKs vying for work, and 2 Punters.
Deon Jackson takes over as the primary KR man, and Rahming returns at PR after averaging 7 yards per return.
Final Analysis: Duke football is primed to make some people realize that they downplayed the program for this season. The defense should be rock solid once again, as they have returned a very good amount of talent from a great unit a year ago. The offense is set to be very good, but they need some play makers to step in and explode for them, and I am not sure that those players exist on this roster. If the defense continues to make plays, they will make the offense look better than they are. Look for another solid Duke football season, and another bowl game should be on the horizon.
Opening Statement: The reality about the Duke program is simply that all they have to do is finish at .500 and above, go to a bowl game, and most people will be happy. Expectations are never all that high, and Duke is not a program that is going to compete for ACC or national titles. We know that, and if the fan base that supports this program is good with it, than so should everyone else be. Duke is, and always will be, a basketball school, and even in an era where football and the money that comes with it is king, that will likely never change. So the question is, can Duke get to .500 and above and go to another bow, and be reasonably competitive? Probably so.
Breakdown Offense: Daniel Jones is back at QB, and is one of the more interesting QBs in a dual threat role that you will see, but he has to do a better job of morphing into a passer than he has done to date. Jones passed for 2691 yards, but tossed just 14 TDs to 11 INTs as a sophomore, his second full season in the job. He also completed just 56.7% of his passes on the year. He managed to rush for 518 yards and 7 scores, but averaged just 3.22 yards per carry. He is capable of more explosive play, and should provide better numbers this fall. If he stays healthy, I would expect him to take all of the snaps this fall, but if anyone does take any snaps, it will be Quentin Harris, who is also a junior.
Shaun Wilson has moved on at RB, leaving the job in the hands of Brittain Brown, who shared carries last season while rushing for 701 yards and 7 scores, while averaging 5.39 yards per carry. Deon Jackson, who rushed just 32 times last fall, to little effect, projects as the primary backup. Nicodem Pierre would likely be the 3rd back with Elijah Deveaux also in the mix.
The top three WRs return from last season in TJ Rahming, Jonathon Lloyd, and Chris Taylor. Rahming posted a line of 65-795-2, Lloyd posted 39-367-1, and Taylor posted 25-332-1. None of these returnees are particularly adept at spreading the field, so expect a short to mid-range passing game this fall. Aaron Young, Scott Bracey, and Keyston Fuller will provide some depth.
Daniel Helm, who caught 22 passes last season, is the returning starter at TE. Davis Koppenhaver is back as the primary backup, with Noah Gray returning as the 3rd team TE.
The line looks relatively set this fall, with Christian Harris (LT), Julian Santos (LG), and Robert Kraeling (RT) all set to start. Zach Harmon figures to start at either C or RG this fall, leaving only one real spot to be concerned with. Rakavius Chambers and Zach Baker could each fill in at OG, so Harmon makes more sense at C. Jaylen Miller provides some depth at OT.
Breakdown Defense: Last fall was a particularly good season for the Duke defense, which allowed just over 20 points per game, and allowed just 179.4 yards passing per contest.
Tre Hornbuckle starts at DE, and finished the year with 9.5 TFLs, and is a key piece off the edge. Victor Dimukeje starts at the DE spot opposite, and finished with 7.5 TFLs, making the edge a tough place to do business against Duke on either side. Drew Jordan and Terrel Lucas are the depth at DE, while Twazanga Mugala can add some help inside or out.
Trevon McSwain could rotate himself into a starting spot at DT this fall after finishing with 3 TFLs last season. One starting spot in the middle is open for the Blue Devils as we head to camp. Derrick Tangelo will be in the hunt for that spot as well. Edgar Cerenord starts at the other DT spot, and finished last season with 3 TFLs. Alex Nyembwe adds some depth there.
Joe Giles-Harris is the likely star in the middle of the defense for Duke this fall, as he returns to start at WLB after recording 125 tackles last fall. He added an impressive 16 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, one INT, 4 PBUs, and 6 QB hurries. He tossed in a forced fumble to boot. Koby Quansah fills in the MLB spot, and recorded 55 tackles last fall. Ben Humphries added another 70 tackles to the group, and is a force as well. Brandon Hill adds some depth at LB and on ST coverage. Xander Gagnon will be looking to add some reps as a sophomore.
The secondary, which was so good last season, returns Mark Gilbert at CB. He was a major lock down CB last fall with 14 PBUs. He was one of the national leaders with 6 INTs and finished with 35 tackles. Brandon Feamster is slated to start opposite Gilbert at CB, but could see some action at Safety as well.
The Blue Devils run a 3 Safety set, and will have Marquis Waters, Michael Carter, and Dylan Singleton slated to start as we leave spring ball behind. Singleton is the most accomplished of the group, as he totaled 42 tackles last fall. Jeremy McDuffie returns as well, and should actually boot one of those projected starters, if healthy. He finished with 58 tackles last fall, added 9 PBUs, and 3 INTs.
Breakdown Special Teams: Austin Parker is no longer around, and he handled both PK and P duties to a good deal of success a last season. That leaves both jobs wide open as we head into the fall. There are 5 PKs vying for work, and 2 Punters.
Deon Jackson takes over as the primary KR man, and Rahming returns at PR after averaging 7 yards per return.
Final Analysis: Duke football is primed to make some people realize that they downplayed the program for this season. The defense should be rock solid once again, as they have returned a very good amount of talent from a great unit a year ago. The offense is set to be very good, but they need some play makers to step in and explode for them, and I am not sure that those players exist on this roster. If the defense continues to make plays, they will make the offense look better than they are. Look for another solid Duke football season, and another bowl game should be on the horizon.
U Conn Huskies 2018 Football Preview
U Conn Huskies 2018 Football Preview
Opening Statement: Every since Randy Edsell left U conn the first time to head off to Maryland with no team meeting after a loss to Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl, nothing has seemingly gone right for the Huskies or their football program. Of course, the team that lost to the Sooners was hardly a great football team, with just 8 wins that season, but they were good enough to represent the conference then known as the Big East in a BCS bowl game. It's not a far slip from 8 wins to total irrelevance, especially in the modern era, with a system that makes the BCS look inclusive. Randy Edsell returned to U Conn, but what he found was a broken down car parked in a ditch. U Conn football is, in short, a disaster these days, and finding a footing to recruit in a region of the country that does not value college football at all, is, put simply, a massive challenge, like getting an elephant to fly. Can Edsell 2.0 find a way to lift this program anywhere, or is this a doomed venture?
Breakdown Offense: There was a scoring increase last fall, as the Huskies climbed for just over 14 points per game in 2016, to just over 23 points per game in 2017. That is an encouraging number and increase, but it still needs work to compete in today's game. The Huskies passed for 269.2 yards per game, while they rushed for just 146. It's better than it was, but still miles from good overall.
Don't expect a repeat in the passing game this fall. The Huskies are thin as can be at the QB position, and have virtually no real experience returning outside of David Pindall, and that is not great news. Pindall passed for 937 yards in 9 games last fall, but passed for just 4 TDs and tossed 6 INTs. He also has some severe accuracy issues, as he completed just 52.8% of his passes. Short of a major makeover, if Pindall is the guy, this position could be a problem. Brandon Bisack is the only other upperclassman on the roster at QB, and has not thrown a pass. There are a pair of RS freshmen coming aboard this fall in Jordan McAfee and Marvin Washington, but that's the lot.
The Huskies were devoid of any real stars at RB last fall, and it showed in the final result. Kevin Mensah and Nate Hopkins shared the load and carries, but neither blew anyone away. Mensah averaged just 51 yards rushing per game, and Hopkins averaged just 31.18. With only 4 total RBs on the spring roster, this position could be more concerning that the QB spot.
Hergy Mayala is back at WR after leading the Huskies with a line of 43-615-7, and he may be the best returning player the Huskies have on offense. He averaged 14.3 yards per catch last fall, but finding someone to actually get the football to him will be a huge task in fall camp. Keyion Dixon and Quayvon Skanes both return as well, and combined for 68 catches last fall. Whomever ends up at QB will have a decent receiving corps, but again, who is that guy going to be? Tyraiq Beals also returns to provide some depth, and has 30 receptions last year. Mason Donaldson is back as a sophomore, as is Kyle Buss, who is the last returnee in the group to have caught at least one pass last season.
Tyler Davis has moved to TE, and caught 11 passes last fall. He is the only listed TE on the spring roster to have caught a pass last season.
The line is full of holes once again, and only 3 players had jobs even remotely locked up heading out of the spring. Ryan Van Demark (LT), Cam DeGeorge (RG), and Matthew Peart (RT) had spots as we headed into the summer. Nino Leone could be in play at LG in the fall, but everything else is mayhem.
Breakdown Defense: Neither DE spot has been locked up heading into fall camp on a defense that allowed a whopping 37.9 points per game last fall. Teams passed for 333.9 yards per game on the Huskies, while they rushed for another 185.
IN order to get anything fixed, those DEs need to be found and coached up, as U Conn has virtually zero edge rush coming back this season. Not only are the starters not identified, the backups are still in play as well. Kevin Murphy has locked down the NT spot, but provided nothing of note last fall. Four Huskies who got game experience on the line last year all moved on, and depth is terrible as we head into fall camp.
The LB corps is in a similar boat this fall, as the top 3 producers are all gone, including Junior Joseph and Vontae Diggs, the two top tacklers from a year ago. Darrian Beavers and Ryan Gilmartin, both RS sophomores, figure into starting roles, but the 3rd spot is wide open, with nothing but inexperienced players vying for the spot.
Tyler Coyle starts at one CB spot, and finished with 5 PBUs as a freshman, but there is no word on who is partner at the CB position will be just yet. Tahj Herring-Wilson is the FS, but again, did not do much last fall. Again, there is no real indication, reliable or otherwise, to suggest who starts at SS. Marshe Terry could end up at CB, or could role into the SS job, but he is the only experienced guy left to really move into either role.
Breakdown Special Teams: Michael Tarbutt largely struggled last season at PK, hitting just 12/18 FG attempts, but at least he returns to shore up a spot that would have otherwise just been another major void. He also missed 2 PATs.
Brett Graham also, surprising as it is, struggled at Punter. He averaged just 38.76 yards per punt last fall, which a struggling defense does not need.
Skanes will handle both KR and PR duties, and without going into it, his numbers were nothing if not pedestrian, at best.
Final Analysis: If the Huskies win 4 or more games, I will wear a Husky hat for a month. I actually see U Conn as ending the 2018 season as one of the worst teams in college football once again, and there is little end in sight. Edsell is hitting the JUCO ranks for support, but when you look at programs who go that route, few of them actually ever succeed on any sustainable level. He is also looking at redshirting freshmen and building a 5 year program, but again, that worked in the 1980s, and kids don't buy into that today. Also, when you are one of the worst programs in America, you need help now, not tomorrow, and kids don't normally stay in programs 5 years anymore, and you still lose them early, if they are any good. I don't like the planning, and I don't like the direction, and Edsell 2.0 is looking more and more like his disastrous Maryland tenure coming back to life.
Opening Statement: Every since Randy Edsell left U conn the first time to head off to Maryland with no team meeting after a loss to Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl, nothing has seemingly gone right for the Huskies or their football program. Of course, the team that lost to the Sooners was hardly a great football team, with just 8 wins that season, but they were good enough to represent the conference then known as the Big East in a BCS bowl game. It's not a far slip from 8 wins to total irrelevance, especially in the modern era, with a system that makes the BCS look inclusive. Randy Edsell returned to U Conn, but what he found was a broken down car parked in a ditch. U Conn football is, in short, a disaster these days, and finding a footing to recruit in a region of the country that does not value college football at all, is, put simply, a massive challenge, like getting an elephant to fly. Can Edsell 2.0 find a way to lift this program anywhere, or is this a doomed venture?
Breakdown Offense: There was a scoring increase last fall, as the Huskies climbed for just over 14 points per game in 2016, to just over 23 points per game in 2017. That is an encouraging number and increase, but it still needs work to compete in today's game. The Huskies passed for 269.2 yards per game, while they rushed for just 146. It's better than it was, but still miles from good overall.
Don't expect a repeat in the passing game this fall. The Huskies are thin as can be at the QB position, and have virtually no real experience returning outside of David Pindall, and that is not great news. Pindall passed for 937 yards in 9 games last fall, but passed for just 4 TDs and tossed 6 INTs. He also has some severe accuracy issues, as he completed just 52.8% of his passes. Short of a major makeover, if Pindall is the guy, this position could be a problem. Brandon Bisack is the only other upperclassman on the roster at QB, and has not thrown a pass. There are a pair of RS freshmen coming aboard this fall in Jordan McAfee and Marvin Washington, but that's the lot.
The Huskies were devoid of any real stars at RB last fall, and it showed in the final result. Kevin Mensah and Nate Hopkins shared the load and carries, but neither blew anyone away. Mensah averaged just 51 yards rushing per game, and Hopkins averaged just 31.18. With only 4 total RBs on the spring roster, this position could be more concerning that the QB spot.
Hergy Mayala is back at WR after leading the Huskies with a line of 43-615-7, and he may be the best returning player the Huskies have on offense. He averaged 14.3 yards per catch last fall, but finding someone to actually get the football to him will be a huge task in fall camp. Keyion Dixon and Quayvon Skanes both return as well, and combined for 68 catches last fall. Whomever ends up at QB will have a decent receiving corps, but again, who is that guy going to be? Tyraiq Beals also returns to provide some depth, and has 30 receptions last year. Mason Donaldson is back as a sophomore, as is Kyle Buss, who is the last returnee in the group to have caught at least one pass last season.
Tyler Davis has moved to TE, and caught 11 passes last fall. He is the only listed TE on the spring roster to have caught a pass last season.
The line is full of holes once again, and only 3 players had jobs even remotely locked up heading out of the spring. Ryan Van Demark (LT), Cam DeGeorge (RG), and Matthew Peart (RT) had spots as we headed into the summer. Nino Leone could be in play at LG in the fall, but everything else is mayhem.
Breakdown Defense: Neither DE spot has been locked up heading into fall camp on a defense that allowed a whopping 37.9 points per game last fall. Teams passed for 333.9 yards per game on the Huskies, while they rushed for another 185.
IN order to get anything fixed, those DEs need to be found and coached up, as U Conn has virtually zero edge rush coming back this season. Not only are the starters not identified, the backups are still in play as well. Kevin Murphy has locked down the NT spot, but provided nothing of note last fall. Four Huskies who got game experience on the line last year all moved on, and depth is terrible as we head into fall camp.
The LB corps is in a similar boat this fall, as the top 3 producers are all gone, including Junior Joseph and Vontae Diggs, the two top tacklers from a year ago. Darrian Beavers and Ryan Gilmartin, both RS sophomores, figure into starting roles, but the 3rd spot is wide open, with nothing but inexperienced players vying for the spot.
Tyler Coyle starts at one CB spot, and finished with 5 PBUs as a freshman, but there is no word on who is partner at the CB position will be just yet. Tahj Herring-Wilson is the FS, but again, did not do much last fall. Again, there is no real indication, reliable or otherwise, to suggest who starts at SS. Marshe Terry could end up at CB, or could role into the SS job, but he is the only experienced guy left to really move into either role.
Breakdown Special Teams: Michael Tarbutt largely struggled last season at PK, hitting just 12/18 FG attempts, but at least he returns to shore up a spot that would have otherwise just been another major void. He also missed 2 PATs.
Brett Graham also, surprising as it is, struggled at Punter. He averaged just 38.76 yards per punt last fall, which a struggling defense does not need.
Skanes will handle both KR and PR duties, and without going into it, his numbers were nothing if not pedestrian, at best.
Final Analysis: If the Huskies win 4 or more games, I will wear a Husky hat for a month. I actually see U Conn as ending the 2018 season as one of the worst teams in college football once again, and there is little end in sight. Edsell is hitting the JUCO ranks for support, but when you look at programs who go that route, few of them actually ever succeed on any sustainable level. He is also looking at redshirting freshmen and building a 5 year program, but again, that worked in the 1980s, and kids don't buy into that today. Also, when you are one of the worst programs in America, you need help now, not tomorrow, and kids don't normally stay in programs 5 years anymore, and you still lose them early, if they are any good. I don't like the planning, and I don't like the direction, and Edsell 2.0 is looking more and more like his disastrous Maryland tenure coming back to life.
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