New Mexico Lobos 2018 Football Preview
Opening Statement: The Lobos basically bottomed out in several areas last season, finishing just 3-9, and they enter the 2017 season on a 7 game losing streak, a streak that should be broken when the Lobos open the season against FCS member Incarnate Word from the Southland Conference. It gets bad in week 2, however, as the Lobos have to pull up stakes and head to Madison to take on Wisconsin. With off-field issues clouding things (Bob Davie was suspended for alleged player abuse), and a financial situation that is limiting the program, it's hard to see a way out of this tail spin, and is even harder to see a future where Bob Davie coaches this program after his current deal ends.
Breakdown Offense: The option game gave out last fall, and like many option teams, once you get down a littlem you cannot throw your way out of it, and UNM ranked 122nd out of 129 teams in passing yards per game last fall. As a result, they finished 113th in scoring offense at just 20.7 points per game. They were held to under 20 points 8 times last season. Calvin Magee was hired after being let go along with Rich Rodriguez at Arizona, and he will be tasked with keeping the current scheme, while finding a way to diversify it at the same time.
Tevaka Tuioti is back at QB, but he had a tough go of it as a passer, as he tossed more INTs (6) than TD passes (4). He passed for just 705 yards and completed just 48.3% of his passes as a freshman. He did not explode as a runner, either, as he totaled just 142 yards in 9 games, and scored only once. Colton Gerhart, a senior, may push him in camp. He passed for just 180 yards and one score, while tossing 2 picks. He is slightly more accurate, as he completed 58% of his passes in limited action. Lamar Jordan, who began last season as the starter before injuries took hold, is gone.
Tyrone Owens is back as a starter at RB, but he only rushed for 770 yards and 4 scores. He averaged 5.54 yards per carry, however, so he has potential. THe Lobos brought in JC transfer Ahmari Davis, who rushed for 123.5 yards per game and scored 17 times last fall. He will be relied upon to spark the unit. There is not a ton of proven depth, so the unit could be in trouble if injuries settle in, or production stalls out as it did last fall.
Jay Griffin IV led the team with just 393 yards on 29 receptions last season, but is the returning starter in the unit. Delane Hart-Johnson caught 15 passes last fall, and also returns, as this may be the deepest unit on the roster, offensively speaking. Hart-Johnson averaged 20.67 yards per reception last fall. Patrick Reed and Q' Drennan bring depth, as they combined for 14 receptions last fall. Aaron Molina, a senior, caught 2 passes, and returns as well.
Zahneer Shuler is projected to take over at TE this fall, but should still get a push from Marcus Williams. They combined for 6 receptions last fall. Aaron Overacker and Daniel Peabody are the only other TEs on the roster, and Williams is severely undersized for the position.
RG Aaron Jenkins is the only returning starter on a very thin line. Teton Saltes (LT), Charlie Grammel (LG), Beau Hott (C), and Chris Estrella (RT) are the expected new starters. Depth, like I said, is incredibly non-existent.
Breakdown Defense: New Mexico allowed 31.8 points per game in 2017, and ranked 70th nationally in total defense. With the offense looking as thin as it does, this unit could end up beleaguered once again.
Only one starter returns on the line in DE Cody Baker, and he totaled just 2 TFLs last season for the Lobos. Nahje Flowers is expected to win the open DE job, while Aaron Blackwell starts in the middle at NT in the 3-3-5 defensive set. Blackwell played in 11 games as a sophomore, and totaled 3.5 TFLs. Emmanuel Joseph, a sophomore, could fight it out for the open DE spot with Flowers. Jermane Conyers is the backup at NT.
Alex Hart is the lone starter back at LB, and will play in the middle. He totaled 58 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, one sack, 3 PBUs, 5 QB hurries, and one forced fumble. He may be flanked by Jordan Flack on the strong side. Flack finished last season with 22 sacks, one sack, and a pick. On the weak side, Sitivani Tamaivena is penciled in to start. He totaled 20 tackles as a junior. Rhashaun Epting may push Flack on the strong side in camp. Evahelotu Tohi will add some depth in the middle.
The secondary had a rough year in 2017, but 3 starters return looking for redemption. Jalin Burrell and D'Angelo Ross are back at the CB spots. Burrell had 53 tackles with 10 PBUs last fall, while Ross totaled 28 tackles and 11 PBUs. Corey Hightower is back as the 3rd CB, but again, depth is thin after that.
Bijon Parker is back to start at Safety. He totaled 23 tackles last fall and added 3 PBUs. The Lobos lost their two best defenders last fall in Jake Rothschiller and Jacob Girgle, and must replace them. Michael Sewell is slated to take over at SS, while Kameron Miller is penciled in at FS. Stanley Barnwell could push for one of those spots in camp, while Gabe Ortega could provide some depth.
Breakdown Special Teams: The PK job is headed to the hands of freshman Stephen Ruiz this fall, as Jason Sanders has moved on after a fairly uneven season.
The Punter will also likely be in the hands of a freshman, as John Mitchell takes over for Corey Bojorquez, who was one of the best Punters in the nation last fall, as he averaged 47.31 yards per punt. That will be a huge set of shoes to fill.
Both return jobs will be open and fought out in camp.
Final Analysis: New Mexico is in bad shape right now. The coaching future of Davie seems to be bleak, finances are not amazing, and the roster is full of holes, and Davie went the massive JC transfer route to help with it, and that almost never works. The offense, especially at QB, is lacking any star power, and finding anyone who can step up has been difficult. The line is a mess as well.
Defensively, the Lobos cracked under the pressure of having a non-existent offense last fall, and fell apart when it mattered. They lost 3 games by a total of 8 points last season, and if you cannot win the close ones, you find yourself in a hole. Without a strong passing ability to counter the option ground game, the Lobos figure to stay down in the Mountain West Mountain Division basement once again.
Friday, June 22, 2018
2018 College Football Team Previews: Nevada Wolfpack
Nevada Wolfpack 2018 Football Preview
Opening Statement: The Wolfpack got off to a rough start in year one under head coach Jay Norvell, as they finished just 3-9 on the season. They did manage to win 2 of 3 to close out the year, beating San Jose State and UNLV, but neither of those teams made it to a bowl game, so the weight of those wins is not much. They lost their first 5 games of the season, and while there is some talent to recognize coming back this season, there may be just as many questions as a year ago.
Breakdown Offense: The Pack is all set at QB, as they transitioned well into an air raid offensive system last season. Ty Gangi is back for his senior season after passing for 2746 yards and 25 TDs to 11 INTs. He completed 61% of his passes, and as he goes, so does the offense. He added 180 yards rushing, and scored 4 more times on the ground. He maybe one of the more effective returning starting QBs in the Mountain West in 2018. Cristian Solano is also back, and will be the primary backup coming out of spring ball. Kaymen Cureton will also be in the mix for that job as well after attempting 38 passes last fall.
The run game really fell off for the Pack last fall, and RB was a position that had been a strength under previous coaches. Nevada ranked 107th nationally in rushing yards per game last season. Kelton Moore is back after rushing for 855 yards on the year. He scored just 4 times, but did manage to average 5.21 yards per carry. Production really fell off after that. Jaxson Kincaide returns as the primary backup after rushing for just 295 yards last fall. Blake Wright and Isaiaha Hamilton will provide depth, but both are raw at this point in their careers. Incoming freshmen Toa Taua and Devonte Lee will also push everyone when they arrive for fall camp. Lee was the Oklahoma Prep Offensive Player of the Year last season.
Leading receiver Wyatt Demps is gone, but experience and talent are to be found in returning starters Brandon O'Leary-Orange (39-618-4) and McLane Mannix (57-778-6). Mannix averaged 13.65 yards per catch last fall, while O'Leary-Orange averaged 15.85 yards per grab. Kaleb Fossum and Travion Armstrong are penciled in as new starters at WR as we head towards fall camp. They combined for just 16 catches last season. Elijah Cooks and Andrew Celis are also in the mix to grab starting spots. Daiyan Henley returns to add some depth.
The Wolfpack line is set from Center to the left, but the right side of the line must be rebuilt, as they lose stalwart Austin Corbett. Jake Nelson (LT), Anthony Palomares (LG), and Sean Krepsz (C) are the returning starter, while Carl Burton-Hill (RG) and Kevin Spencer (RT) are slated to be the new starters. Look for RS freshman Myles Beach make a push for the RT job. Sophomore Nate Brown will add some additional depth.
Breakdown Defense: Nevada failed to resonate in any one area in 2017 defensively. They ranked 106th in scoring defense, 109th against the rush, 110th against the pass, and 119th in total defense. The only way to go is up, but does the roster possess the talent to go in that direction?
The Pack returns just one starter on the line in NT Hausia Sekona. He totaled just 2.5 TFLs last fall in 12 games. Sophomore Chris Green is the primary backup in the middle, and played in 8 games as a freshman.
New starters need to be identified at one of the DE spots. Korey Rush and Jordan Silva hold those spots coming out of spring ball. There is little in the way of depth, so expect this to be one of my red flag positions for Nevada in 2018. Rush did total 9 TFLs last season and totaled 39 tackles. He was not great as a pass rusher, however, totaling just 2.5 sacks. Silva played in 11 games as a junior, and totaled just 2 TFLs.
Malik Reed and Gabriel Sewell both return at LB in the 3-3-5 defense of Jeff Casteel. Reed totaled 49 tackles last season and totaled 10 TFLs. He led the team with 8 sacks and should be a force off the edge. Sewell was good for 59 tackles, and added 3 TFLs. The open spot should go to Lucas Weber, a senior. He will have to replace leading tackler Austin Paulhus, who is now gone after recording 112 tackles last fall. Weber totaled 24 tackles last season. Kyle Adams will provide some depth, and recorded 12 tackles last fall. Lawson Hall returns as well, and will be a key reserve.
The secondary returns 4 of 5 starters this fall, including all 3 Safeties in Nephi Sewell, Assuni Rufus, and Dameon Baber. Sewell totaled 58 tackles last fall, and finished with 3 PBUs. Rufus finished 3rd on the team with 75 tackles, and forced 3 fumbles in 9 games. He also added 3 PBUs. Baber totaled 2 PBUs and 94 tackles, and led the team with 3 INTs.
Ahki Muhammed is back at CB. He missed one game, and totaled just one PBU. He finished with 51 tackles. EJ Muhammed is slated to start opposite him. He played in 9 games last fall, and finished with 12 tackles. Daniel Brown, who played in 10 games, may push for one of the jobs in camp.
Breakdown Special Teams: Spencer Pettit had a decent run at PK last fall, as he hit 8/11 FG attempts on the season. He was 40/41 on PATs, and returns as a junior.
Quinton Conaway did not have a great run at Punter, but returns to the job this season after averaging just 39.63 yards per punt on the season.
Henley returns on KR duty after averaging over 23 yards per return last fall, while several people could be vying for the PR job in camp.
Final Analysis: For Nevada to improve in 2018, they have to win the tough games at home, and steal a game or two on the road. They will not push for the Mountain West West Division title, but they could push to at least 5 wins this season, which would be a two game push in the right direction. With a lucky bounce, they win 6 and go bowling, but that maybe a bit to ask without an upset or two in the mix. The offense should be strong, especially if that right side of the line can be rebuilt quickly, and the new starters at receiver step up. The defense, on the other hand, lacks any real depth, and as bad as they were a year ago, they have not shown any real trend towards moving up for this fall. Expect a ton of high scoring games, but don't expect miracles.
Opening Statement: The Wolfpack got off to a rough start in year one under head coach Jay Norvell, as they finished just 3-9 on the season. They did manage to win 2 of 3 to close out the year, beating San Jose State and UNLV, but neither of those teams made it to a bowl game, so the weight of those wins is not much. They lost their first 5 games of the season, and while there is some talent to recognize coming back this season, there may be just as many questions as a year ago.
Breakdown Offense: The Pack is all set at QB, as they transitioned well into an air raid offensive system last season. Ty Gangi is back for his senior season after passing for 2746 yards and 25 TDs to 11 INTs. He completed 61% of his passes, and as he goes, so does the offense. He added 180 yards rushing, and scored 4 more times on the ground. He maybe one of the more effective returning starting QBs in the Mountain West in 2018. Cristian Solano is also back, and will be the primary backup coming out of spring ball. Kaymen Cureton will also be in the mix for that job as well after attempting 38 passes last fall.
The run game really fell off for the Pack last fall, and RB was a position that had been a strength under previous coaches. Nevada ranked 107th nationally in rushing yards per game last season. Kelton Moore is back after rushing for 855 yards on the year. He scored just 4 times, but did manage to average 5.21 yards per carry. Production really fell off after that. Jaxson Kincaide returns as the primary backup after rushing for just 295 yards last fall. Blake Wright and Isaiaha Hamilton will provide depth, but both are raw at this point in their careers. Incoming freshmen Toa Taua and Devonte Lee will also push everyone when they arrive for fall camp. Lee was the Oklahoma Prep Offensive Player of the Year last season.
Leading receiver Wyatt Demps is gone, but experience and talent are to be found in returning starters Brandon O'Leary-Orange (39-618-4) and McLane Mannix (57-778-6). Mannix averaged 13.65 yards per catch last fall, while O'Leary-Orange averaged 15.85 yards per grab. Kaleb Fossum and Travion Armstrong are penciled in as new starters at WR as we head towards fall camp. They combined for just 16 catches last season. Elijah Cooks and Andrew Celis are also in the mix to grab starting spots. Daiyan Henley returns to add some depth.
The Wolfpack line is set from Center to the left, but the right side of the line must be rebuilt, as they lose stalwart Austin Corbett. Jake Nelson (LT), Anthony Palomares (LG), and Sean Krepsz (C) are the returning starter, while Carl Burton-Hill (RG) and Kevin Spencer (RT) are slated to be the new starters. Look for RS freshman Myles Beach make a push for the RT job. Sophomore Nate Brown will add some additional depth.
Breakdown Defense: Nevada failed to resonate in any one area in 2017 defensively. They ranked 106th in scoring defense, 109th against the rush, 110th against the pass, and 119th in total defense. The only way to go is up, but does the roster possess the talent to go in that direction?
The Pack returns just one starter on the line in NT Hausia Sekona. He totaled just 2.5 TFLs last fall in 12 games. Sophomore Chris Green is the primary backup in the middle, and played in 8 games as a freshman.
New starters need to be identified at one of the DE spots. Korey Rush and Jordan Silva hold those spots coming out of spring ball. There is little in the way of depth, so expect this to be one of my red flag positions for Nevada in 2018. Rush did total 9 TFLs last season and totaled 39 tackles. He was not great as a pass rusher, however, totaling just 2.5 sacks. Silva played in 11 games as a junior, and totaled just 2 TFLs.
Malik Reed and Gabriel Sewell both return at LB in the 3-3-5 defense of Jeff Casteel. Reed totaled 49 tackles last season and totaled 10 TFLs. He led the team with 8 sacks and should be a force off the edge. Sewell was good for 59 tackles, and added 3 TFLs. The open spot should go to Lucas Weber, a senior. He will have to replace leading tackler Austin Paulhus, who is now gone after recording 112 tackles last fall. Weber totaled 24 tackles last season. Kyle Adams will provide some depth, and recorded 12 tackles last fall. Lawson Hall returns as well, and will be a key reserve.
The secondary returns 4 of 5 starters this fall, including all 3 Safeties in Nephi Sewell, Assuni Rufus, and Dameon Baber. Sewell totaled 58 tackles last fall, and finished with 3 PBUs. Rufus finished 3rd on the team with 75 tackles, and forced 3 fumbles in 9 games. He also added 3 PBUs. Baber totaled 2 PBUs and 94 tackles, and led the team with 3 INTs.
Ahki Muhammed is back at CB. He missed one game, and totaled just one PBU. He finished with 51 tackles. EJ Muhammed is slated to start opposite him. He played in 9 games last fall, and finished with 12 tackles. Daniel Brown, who played in 10 games, may push for one of the jobs in camp.
Breakdown Special Teams: Spencer Pettit had a decent run at PK last fall, as he hit 8/11 FG attempts on the season. He was 40/41 on PATs, and returns as a junior.
Quinton Conaway did not have a great run at Punter, but returns to the job this season after averaging just 39.63 yards per punt on the season.
Henley returns on KR duty after averaging over 23 yards per return last fall, while several people could be vying for the PR job in camp.
Final Analysis: For Nevada to improve in 2018, they have to win the tough games at home, and steal a game or two on the road. They will not push for the Mountain West West Division title, but they could push to at least 5 wins this season, which would be a two game push in the right direction. With a lucky bounce, they win 6 and go bowling, but that maybe a bit to ask without an upset or two in the mix. The offense should be strong, especially if that right side of the line can be rebuilt quickly, and the new starters at receiver step up. The defense, on the other hand, lacks any real depth, and as bad as they were a year ago, they have not shown any real trend towards moving up for this fall. Expect a ton of high scoring games, but don't expect miracles.
2018 College Football Team previews: Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska Cornhuskers 2018 Football Preview
Opening Statement: In retrospect, I was wrong about one thing regarding Nebraska football last fall. I thought they'd finish 4th in the Big 10 West. They finished 5th. I took a ton of heat for my Huskers preview from Nebraska fan last season, but when it all panned out, I was correct on several points. Despite the transfer of Tanner Lee to Lincoln, they still lacked a QB. Mike Riley was indeed on his way out the door, and was a massive mistake hire to begin with for this program. I could go on all day, but I won't for the sake of time, as this is hardly the lone program I will be previewing this summer. Now that I have dealt with that, I will give massive credit for the hiring of Bill Moos as AD, and the subsequent homecoming hiring of Scott Frost as head coach of the football program. Frost has been destined to return to the program at some point, and of the available candidates, he was the lone candidate that made any sense to hire. He understands the culture, and understands what it takes to win in the environment in Lincoln. He also has to understand, immediately, that this is not the Big 12 anymore, and the overall competition is a different animal in the Big 10. I do believe in Frost long term, but this may be an adjustment year to start getting pieces in place, so aiming for a bowl bid should be the max expectation here in 2018. Still, love the hire, and I expect an uptick in talent that he will bring into the program over anything that Riley had done before.
Breakdown Offense: The run game, which has historically been the bread and butter of Nebraska football for decades, completely tanked last season, ranking just 119th nationally in yards per game at 107.5 yards per game. If you want to win at Nebraska, you need to run the football effectively, and even dominantly. That obviously did not happen with Riley's offense last fall. Frost will fix it.
The rushing total was the worst at Nebraska since 2005, and Frost is hoping that JC transfer Greg Bell is the guy who fixes the issue. It's been quite some time since Nebraska has seen a front line, big time rusher (2014), and the hope is that Bell could be the guy that changes things. Devin Ozigbo led the team with just 493 yards last fall, and he should be the backup to Bell this fall. He averaged just 3.82 yards per carry and 49.3 yards per game last fall. Tre Bryant and Mikale Wilbon will battle for the RB3 job in camp. Bryant has some big play skill, as he averaged 5.86 yards per carry last season.
The main struggle for Frost will be finding a QB in the bunch that he has to pick from. Tristan Gebbia looks to battle Adrian Martinez, and Andrew Bunch is in the mix as well. Not one of these guys has attempted a pass as a Husker. How this situation settles out will dictate a good part of the season.
There is some good news at WR, as Stanley Morgan and JD Spielman both return. Morgan led the team with 61 receptions for 986 yards and 10 scores, while averaging 16.16 yards per catch last fall. Spielman finished right behind him with 55 catches for 880 yards and 2 scores, averaging 15.09 yards per grab. Tyjon Lindsay, who caught 12 passes as a freshman, is the 3rd receiver heading into the fall. Bryan Reimers, Mike Williams, and Jaevon McQuitty are the backups, but have little in the way of experience.
Jack Stoll is the lone returning TE who caught a pass last season, and he should step into the starting job this fall. Austin Allen is also in the mix, with Kurt Rafdal and Matt Snyder looking for reps as well.
The line returns 8 players who started one game last fall, but 3 return who finished the season as a starter in Brendan Jaimes (LT), Gerlad Foster (LG), and Tanner Farmer (RG). Matt Farniok looks like a potential starter at RT, while Michael Decker and Cole Conrad could battle in fall camp for the Center job. Christian Gaylord and Matt Sichterman are the backups at Tackle. Boe Wilson and John Raridon are the reserves at OG. Will Farniok is another reserve at C.
Breakdown Defense: There is some excellent news up front for Nebraska, as the line returns all 3 starters. Carlos Davis and Freedom Akinmoladun will start once again at DE, while Mick Stoltenberg is back in the middle at DT. The bad news is that this group totaled just 7 TFLs on the year in 2017, and more, much more, will be needed from this unit in 2018, as the Huskers ranked 114th nationally against the run, allowing 214.8 yards per game. Khalil Davis and DaiShon Neal are the reserves at DE, while Damion Daniels provides help at DT.
The LB corps returns 2 starters in Luke Gifford and Dedrick Young. Gifford will start at OLB, with Young playing inside. Young finished 2nd on the team with 80 tackles last season, while Gifford had just 39 on the season. Mohammed Berry is slated to compete with big time JC transfer Will Honas at the open ILB spot, while Collin Miller and Alex Davis will compete for the open spot outside. Tyrin Ferguson and Avery Roberts bring additional depth.
Antonio Reed (SS) and Aaron Williams (FS) both return, but both missed 2 games each last fall as well. The Huskers will need to keep them healthy this fall, because depth and ability at CB may be lacking, and the Huskers could be beaten by the deep ball. Williams tied for the team lead with 2 INTs last fall, and totaled 48 tackles. Reed totaled 42 tackles, but did not do much against the pass. Deontai Williams and Marquel Dismuke are the backups.
Lamar Jackson is back to start at CB this fall, but totaled just 3 PBUs last season as a sophomore. DiCaprio Bootle shuld join him, taking up the open spot at CB. He played in 12 games last season, and recorded 15 tackles. Tony Butler, Ethan Cox, and Eric Lee, Jr. are the backups, but overall, the CB position is incredibly thin.
Breakdown Special Teams: Drew Brown was a bright spot for the Huskers at PK last fall, hitting 12/14 FG attempts, but he has moved on now. The job likely falls to Barret Pickering, who is a freshman this season.
Caleb Lighthorn is back at Punter, and averaged 42.14 yards per punt last fall.
Spielman is a solid option on kick returns, and averaged 24.78 yards per return with one score last season. The PR job is open heading into camp.
Final Analysis: Nebraska has some work to do after the mess that was the Mike Riley era has ended. Frost is a top tier coach who did wonders at UCF, and has a proven track record as an OC before that, and will work hard to fix what has been broken, but fixing the program may take some time, and there a lot of questions to be answered. Patience is the word of the day in Lincoln, as Frost gets everything put back together. Remember, it did not take very long for him to take the UCF program from winless to undefeated. That may be a tough ask to change things that quickly in the Big 10, but the fix is definitely coming.
Opening Statement: In retrospect, I was wrong about one thing regarding Nebraska football last fall. I thought they'd finish 4th in the Big 10 West. They finished 5th. I took a ton of heat for my Huskers preview from Nebraska fan last season, but when it all panned out, I was correct on several points. Despite the transfer of Tanner Lee to Lincoln, they still lacked a QB. Mike Riley was indeed on his way out the door, and was a massive mistake hire to begin with for this program. I could go on all day, but I won't for the sake of time, as this is hardly the lone program I will be previewing this summer. Now that I have dealt with that, I will give massive credit for the hiring of Bill Moos as AD, and the subsequent homecoming hiring of Scott Frost as head coach of the football program. Frost has been destined to return to the program at some point, and of the available candidates, he was the lone candidate that made any sense to hire. He understands the culture, and understands what it takes to win in the environment in Lincoln. He also has to understand, immediately, that this is not the Big 12 anymore, and the overall competition is a different animal in the Big 10. I do believe in Frost long term, but this may be an adjustment year to start getting pieces in place, so aiming for a bowl bid should be the max expectation here in 2018. Still, love the hire, and I expect an uptick in talent that he will bring into the program over anything that Riley had done before.
Breakdown Offense: The run game, which has historically been the bread and butter of Nebraska football for decades, completely tanked last season, ranking just 119th nationally in yards per game at 107.5 yards per game. If you want to win at Nebraska, you need to run the football effectively, and even dominantly. That obviously did not happen with Riley's offense last fall. Frost will fix it.
The rushing total was the worst at Nebraska since 2005, and Frost is hoping that JC transfer Greg Bell is the guy who fixes the issue. It's been quite some time since Nebraska has seen a front line, big time rusher (2014), and the hope is that Bell could be the guy that changes things. Devin Ozigbo led the team with just 493 yards last fall, and he should be the backup to Bell this fall. He averaged just 3.82 yards per carry and 49.3 yards per game last fall. Tre Bryant and Mikale Wilbon will battle for the RB3 job in camp. Bryant has some big play skill, as he averaged 5.86 yards per carry last season.
The main struggle for Frost will be finding a QB in the bunch that he has to pick from. Tristan Gebbia looks to battle Adrian Martinez, and Andrew Bunch is in the mix as well. Not one of these guys has attempted a pass as a Husker. How this situation settles out will dictate a good part of the season.
There is some good news at WR, as Stanley Morgan and JD Spielman both return. Morgan led the team with 61 receptions for 986 yards and 10 scores, while averaging 16.16 yards per catch last fall. Spielman finished right behind him with 55 catches for 880 yards and 2 scores, averaging 15.09 yards per grab. Tyjon Lindsay, who caught 12 passes as a freshman, is the 3rd receiver heading into the fall. Bryan Reimers, Mike Williams, and Jaevon McQuitty are the backups, but have little in the way of experience.
Jack Stoll is the lone returning TE who caught a pass last season, and he should step into the starting job this fall. Austin Allen is also in the mix, with Kurt Rafdal and Matt Snyder looking for reps as well.
The line returns 8 players who started one game last fall, but 3 return who finished the season as a starter in Brendan Jaimes (LT), Gerlad Foster (LG), and Tanner Farmer (RG). Matt Farniok looks like a potential starter at RT, while Michael Decker and Cole Conrad could battle in fall camp for the Center job. Christian Gaylord and Matt Sichterman are the backups at Tackle. Boe Wilson and John Raridon are the reserves at OG. Will Farniok is another reserve at C.
Breakdown Defense: There is some excellent news up front for Nebraska, as the line returns all 3 starters. Carlos Davis and Freedom Akinmoladun will start once again at DE, while Mick Stoltenberg is back in the middle at DT. The bad news is that this group totaled just 7 TFLs on the year in 2017, and more, much more, will be needed from this unit in 2018, as the Huskers ranked 114th nationally against the run, allowing 214.8 yards per game. Khalil Davis and DaiShon Neal are the reserves at DE, while Damion Daniels provides help at DT.
The LB corps returns 2 starters in Luke Gifford and Dedrick Young. Gifford will start at OLB, with Young playing inside. Young finished 2nd on the team with 80 tackles last season, while Gifford had just 39 on the season. Mohammed Berry is slated to compete with big time JC transfer Will Honas at the open ILB spot, while Collin Miller and Alex Davis will compete for the open spot outside. Tyrin Ferguson and Avery Roberts bring additional depth.
Antonio Reed (SS) and Aaron Williams (FS) both return, but both missed 2 games each last fall as well. The Huskers will need to keep them healthy this fall, because depth and ability at CB may be lacking, and the Huskers could be beaten by the deep ball. Williams tied for the team lead with 2 INTs last fall, and totaled 48 tackles. Reed totaled 42 tackles, but did not do much against the pass. Deontai Williams and Marquel Dismuke are the backups.
Lamar Jackson is back to start at CB this fall, but totaled just 3 PBUs last season as a sophomore. DiCaprio Bootle shuld join him, taking up the open spot at CB. He played in 12 games last season, and recorded 15 tackles. Tony Butler, Ethan Cox, and Eric Lee, Jr. are the backups, but overall, the CB position is incredibly thin.
Breakdown Special Teams: Drew Brown was a bright spot for the Huskers at PK last fall, hitting 12/14 FG attempts, but he has moved on now. The job likely falls to Barret Pickering, who is a freshman this season.
Caleb Lighthorn is back at Punter, and averaged 42.14 yards per punt last fall.
Spielman is a solid option on kick returns, and averaged 24.78 yards per return with one score last season. The PR job is open heading into camp.
Final Analysis: Nebraska has some work to do after the mess that was the Mike Riley era has ended. Frost is a top tier coach who did wonders at UCF, and has a proven track record as an OC before that, and will work hard to fix what has been broken, but fixing the program may take some time, and there a lot of questions to be answered. Patience is the word of the day in Lincoln, as Frost gets everything put back together. Remember, it did not take very long for him to take the UCF program from winless to undefeated. That may be a tough ask to change things that quickly in the Big 10, but the fix is definitely coming.
2018 College Football Team Previews: Navy Midshippmen
Navy Midshippmen 2018 Football Preview
Opening Statement: After a 5-0 start last season, the wheels simply feel off the wagon for the Midshippmen in 2017, as they lost their final 3 games, and 6 of 7 to sloe the regular season before beating Virginia 49-7 in the Military Bowl. If you pay attention to such things, the Navy program has been on a downward slide since 2015, as they have fallen from 11 wins, to 8, and then to 7 last fall. They have also been on a 2 game skid against Army, which is probably more painful than anything after dominating the Cadets for years. With an offense that became boxed in last season by ineffective outside running, penalties, and dumb mistakes, to a defense that cannot stop the pass, and hasn't been able to do so for years, Ken Niumatololo may start to feel some heat for the first time in his 11 years at Navy.
Breakdown Offense: The offense bombed in the second half of last season for Navy, which was a huge cause for their mid to late season skid. They got to work on some of that during bowl prep, and Navy came out as a different team against Virginia in a 49-7 win, and they are trying to ride that wave into the 2018 season. Garrett Lewis may push for the primary backup job, and Abey could be moving to WR in the fall, so that is a situation that bares watching.
Zack Abey is back at QB, but once he became completely lost as an outside runner, teams knew they could bottleneck him inside in the triple option offense. Malcolm Perry will also return, and is more of the outside threat on the run than Abey is, and so you could see Perry take over full time, or share the job with Abey in a 2 QB system. If anyone is asking me, I say run with Perry and see what happened. Nobody has asked me.
The Middies are trying to replace the entire starting backfield behind the QBs this fall. Anthony Gargiulo has the edge at FB. He rushed for 423 yards last season, while averaging 5.57 yards per carry. He scored 3 times. Mike Martin, who carried just 5 times as a junior, is the primary backup on the depth chart, so experience is not overwhelming. Nelson Smith, a sophomore, is the 3rd teamer at FB.
Tre Walker and Kioni-Kordell Makekau are penciled in as the new Slot guys. They combined for 25 total carries last fall. Tazh Maloy and CJ Williams are the immediate backups, and neither had a carry last season.
Navy also has to replace both WRs this fall, with Ryan Mitchell and Taylor Jackson in the mix. Neither caught a single pass last fall. Abey, if he actually makes the move to WR, as has been mentioned, could push Mitchell, but he caught just one pass last season. Aleksei Yaramus, OJ Davis, and Michael Onuoha are the backups, and not one of these players has a collegiate catch to their name.
The line is also looking for 3 new starters, all on the inside. Both tackles return in Jake Hawk and Andrew Wood. Kendal Wright, a junior, could push Hawk at LT in fall camp. Alec Keener, Adam Amosa-Tagovailoa and Peter Nestrowitz are the backups.
David Forney and Steve Satchell are slated in to start at OG this fall. Chris Gesell could very well push Satchell at RG, and that should be a battle heading into fall camp. Billy Honaker, Laurent Njiki, and Lance Angulo are the reserves at OG.
Ford Higgins appears to have locked down the starting job at Center as we head into the Summer. Bryan Barrett and Sean Rattay are the reserves.
Breakdown Defense: Navy, while not being horrible overall defensively, also did not scare anyone at any given time. The Navy defense picked up just 16 sacks and 10 QB hurries all season, and the pass defense was problematic once again, and has been that way for some time now. If Navy is going to have any shot at reversing current trends, these are things that need to be ironed out befor ethe season kicks off against Hawaii on September 1.
Navy does get 2 starters back on the line in DE Jarvis Polu and NG Jackson Pittman. They combined for just 6.5 TFLs last season, and will have to be more aggressive to give the secondary time to adjust this fall. Marcus Edwards and Corbin Heyward will back up Polu at DE, while Alema Kapoi and Dave Tolentino are the backups to Pittman inside.
Josh Webb is the starter heading into fall camp at the other DE spot. He totaled 4 TFLs as a junior last fall, but again, increased production off the edge will be a necessary thing. Anthony Villalobos played in 7 games last fall, and is the primary backup. Denzel Polk adds some depth.
Navy returns just one starter at LB this fall in Hudson Sullivan. He totaled just 40 tackles last season, and will be starting at the SAM spot. He was not the most effective player in the game last fall, and again, increased production as a returning starter is a must. Elan Nash is expected to start at the STAR spot, while Taylor Heflin is the new starter at the MIKE spot. Nizaire Cromartie is also slated in as the starter at the RAIDER spot. This is a massively raw group, and could create problems in the fall if they do not mesh quickly. Evan Fochtman and Carter Bankston are the backups outside, while Pepe Tanuvasa and Griffin Baumoel are the backups inside.
The secondary was ineffective last fall, and returns only 2 starters in CB Jarid Ryan and FS Sean Williams. Ryan totaled just 3 PBUs last season, and totaled 43 tackles. Williams was good for 4 PBUs, and added one INT to go with 76 tackles, which was good for 2nd on the team. Khaylan Williams is slotted in as the new starter at CB, but Micah Farrar is still in the mix as we head into fall camp. Farrar could end up with an edge, as he played in 12 games as a freshman last season. Jake Springer appears set to battle with Juan Hailey for the open SS job in camp.
Breakdown Special Teams: The PK game, in a word, was horrible last season. Bennett Moehring returns to the job, but hit just 8/15 FG attempts on the season, and was 42/43 on PATs. JR Osborn, who hit his only attempt last fall, is the backup, and may push for the job if things start out badly.
Owen White returns as the Punter, and averaged a decent 40.55 yards per punt.
Tre Walker is slated to return kicks, but hardly blew the doors off the building in limited duty in that role last season. Ryan or Springer could end up returning punts, as that job is open heading into camp as well.
Final Analysis: After 11 seasons, is the shine wearing off on Niamatololo at the academy? His overall record is solid, and he had taken Navy football to new heights, but those days seem to be behind him, and the needle is pointed in the wrong direction again. With holes all over a struggling defense, and an offense that is largely rebuilding after an off season, could this be another off year for Navy? It would seem that this is the more likely scenario of many.
Opening Statement: After a 5-0 start last season, the wheels simply feel off the wagon for the Midshippmen in 2017, as they lost their final 3 games, and 6 of 7 to sloe the regular season before beating Virginia 49-7 in the Military Bowl. If you pay attention to such things, the Navy program has been on a downward slide since 2015, as they have fallen from 11 wins, to 8, and then to 7 last fall. They have also been on a 2 game skid against Army, which is probably more painful than anything after dominating the Cadets for years. With an offense that became boxed in last season by ineffective outside running, penalties, and dumb mistakes, to a defense that cannot stop the pass, and hasn't been able to do so for years, Ken Niumatololo may start to feel some heat for the first time in his 11 years at Navy.
Breakdown Offense: The offense bombed in the second half of last season for Navy, which was a huge cause for their mid to late season skid. They got to work on some of that during bowl prep, and Navy came out as a different team against Virginia in a 49-7 win, and they are trying to ride that wave into the 2018 season. Garrett Lewis may push for the primary backup job, and Abey could be moving to WR in the fall, so that is a situation that bares watching.
Zack Abey is back at QB, but once he became completely lost as an outside runner, teams knew they could bottleneck him inside in the triple option offense. Malcolm Perry will also return, and is more of the outside threat on the run than Abey is, and so you could see Perry take over full time, or share the job with Abey in a 2 QB system. If anyone is asking me, I say run with Perry and see what happened. Nobody has asked me.
The Middies are trying to replace the entire starting backfield behind the QBs this fall. Anthony Gargiulo has the edge at FB. He rushed for 423 yards last season, while averaging 5.57 yards per carry. He scored 3 times. Mike Martin, who carried just 5 times as a junior, is the primary backup on the depth chart, so experience is not overwhelming. Nelson Smith, a sophomore, is the 3rd teamer at FB.
Tre Walker and Kioni-Kordell Makekau are penciled in as the new Slot guys. They combined for 25 total carries last fall. Tazh Maloy and CJ Williams are the immediate backups, and neither had a carry last season.
Navy also has to replace both WRs this fall, with Ryan Mitchell and Taylor Jackson in the mix. Neither caught a single pass last fall. Abey, if he actually makes the move to WR, as has been mentioned, could push Mitchell, but he caught just one pass last season. Aleksei Yaramus, OJ Davis, and Michael Onuoha are the backups, and not one of these players has a collegiate catch to their name.
The line is also looking for 3 new starters, all on the inside. Both tackles return in Jake Hawk and Andrew Wood. Kendal Wright, a junior, could push Hawk at LT in fall camp. Alec Keener, Adam Amosa-Tagovailoa and Peter Nestrowitz are the backups.
David Forney and Steve Satchell are slated in to start at OG this fall. Chris Gesell could very well push Satchell at RG, and that should be a battle heading into fall camp. Billy Honaker, Laurent Njiki, and Lance Angulo are the reserves at OG.
Ford Higgins appears to have locked down the starting job at Center as we head into the Summer. Bryan Barrett and Sean Rattay are the reserves.
Breakdown Defense: Navy, while not being horrible overall defensively, also did not scare anyone at any given time. The Navy defense picked up just 16 sacks and 10 QB hurries all season, and the pass defense was problematic once again, and has been that way for some time now. If Navy is going to have any shot at reversing current trends, these are things that need to be ironed out befor ethe season kicks off against Hawaii on September 1.
Navy does get 2 starters back on the line in DE Jarvis Polu and NG Jackson Pittman. They combined for just 6.5 TFLs last season, and will have to be more aggressive to give the secondary time to adjust this fall. Marcus Edwards and Corbin Heyward will back up Polu at DE, while Alema Kapoi and Dave Tolentino are the backups to Pittman inside.
Josh Webb is the starter heading into fall camp at the other DE spot. He totaled 4 TFLs as a junior last fall, but again, increased production off the edge will be a necessary thing. Anthony Villalobos played in 7 games last fall, and is the primary backup. Denzel Polk adds some depth.
Navy returns just one starter at LB this fall in Hudson Sullivan. He totaled just 40 tackles last season, and will be starting at the SAM spot. He was not the most effective player in the game last fall, and again, increased production as a returning starter is a must. Elan Nash is expected to start at the STAR spot, while Taylor Heflin is the new starter at the MIKE spot. Nizaire Cromartie is also slated in as the starter at the RAIDER spot. This is a massively raw group, and could create problems in the fall if they do not mesh quickly. Evan Fochtman and Carter Bankston are the backups outside, while Pepe Tanuvasa and Griffin Baumoel are the backups inside.
The secondary was ineffective last fall, and returns only 2 starters in CB Jarid Ryan and FS Sean Williams. Ryan totaled just 3 PBUs last season, and totaled 43 tackles. Williams was good for 4 PBUs, and added one INT to go with 76 tackles, which was good for 2nd on the team. Khaylan Williams is slotted in as the new starter at CB, but Micah Farrar is still in the mix as we head into fall camp. Farrar could end up with an edge, as he played in 12 games as a freshman last season. Jake Springer appears set to battle with Juan Hailey for the open SS job in camp.
Breakdown Special Teams: The PK game, in a word, was horrible last season. Bennett Moehring returns to the job, but hit just 8/15 FG attempts on the season, and was 42/43 on PATs. JR Osborn, who hit his only attempt last fall, is the backup, and may push for the job if things start out badly.
Owen White returns as the Punter, and averaged a decent 40.55 yards per punt.
Tre Walker is slated to return kicks, but hardly blew the doors off the building in limited duty in that role last season. Ryan or Springer could end up returning punts, as that job is open heading into camp as well.
Final Analysis: After 11 seasons, is the shine wearing off on Niamatololo at the academy? His overall record is solid, and he had taken Navy football to new heights, but those days seem to be behind him, and the needle is pointed in the wrong direction again. With holes all over a struggling defense, and an offense that is largely rebuilding after an off season, could this be another off year for Navy? It would seem that this is the more likely scenario of many.
Thursday, June 21, 2018
Missouri Tigers 2018 Football Preview
Missouri Tigers 2018 Football Preview
Opening Statement: After a 1-5 start last fall, the Tigers went on a 6 win tear, only to finish with a loss to Texas in the Texas Bowl. That is still something to build on for Barry Odom and his staff, who enter a critical year 3 of their tenure with an 11-14 record overall. Offensively, Missouri brings a scary attack that ranked 8th nationally in yards per game, but they also have to drag around a defense that ranked 82nd nationally in yards allowed per game, and 108th nationally against the pass. If the Tigers cannot find improvement on defense, we could see a golden opportunity for this football team go to waste.
Breakdown Offense: Drew Lock is one of the top 5 QBs in college football, and will return to Columbia after shaking off a shot at the NFL for one more season. Lock passed for 3964 yards and 44 TDs last fall to just 13 INTs, but he needs to lower those turnover numbers and increase accuracy this fall, as he completed just 57.8% of his passes last season. Micah Wilson remains as the backup, as he attempted just 10 passes last season as the reserve, while completing just 5 of them.
The Tigers lose leading rusher Ish Witter, but Damarea Crockett has jumped over Larry Roundtree to take the starting job in spring ball. Both should get ample carries in the offense this fall. Crockett rushed for 481 yards and 2 scores last fall, while averaging 6 yards per carry. Roundtree rushed for 703 yards and 6 scores, while averaging 5.58 yards per carry. Dawson Downing, who carried 20 times as a freshman, is the 3rd back on the depth chart, with Isaiah Miller providing a bit more depth.
Emmanuel Hall and Johnathon Johnson are back at WR this fall, but leading receiver J'Mon Moore is gone. Hall caught 33 passes last fall, while Johnson added 41 receptions. Hall averaged over 24 yards per catch last season, and will be a major deep threat for Lock. Johnson averaged over 17 yards per catch, and can spread the field as well. Nate Brown, who caught 11 passes last season, is the 3rd receiver to start. Richaud Floyd, Justin Smith, Daniel Elinger, Steven Spadaratto, and Barrett Banister will provide some depth, but not much experience.
Albert Okwuegbunam is back as the starter at TE after catching 29 passes and a team leading 11 scores last fall. He is one of the better red zone TEs in the nation heading into the season. Kendall Blanton is back as the primary backup as well, and Logan Christopherson left spring ball as the 3rd TE.
The offensive line returns intact with Yasir Durant (LT), Kevin Pendleton (LG), Trystan Colon-Castillo (C), Tre'Vour Wallace-Simms (RG), and Paul Adams (RT) all back in action. Hyrin White and Larry Borom provide depth at Tackle, while Case Cook and Samson Bailey are the OG reserves. Jonah Dubinsky is the backup at C.
Breakdown Defense: The defense allowed 31.8 points per game last fall, and allowed 30 points or more 8 times. If the Tigers are to move forward from the middle of the SEC pack, that cannot continue moving forward.
The major issues start on the line for the Tigers, as only one starter returns in DT Terry Beckner, Jr. He totaled 11 TFLs from the middle last season, and is a major building block, but he needs some assistance. He tied for the team lead with 7 sacks, and ended up with 2 PBUs and 5 QB hurries. He totaled 38 tackles as well. His partner in the middle is penciled in as Walter Palmore at NT, but look for Kobie Whitseside to push him in camp. Whiteside is a riser who played in 12 games as a freshman last season, and may be the better long term option. Jordan Elliott could be in play here as well. Rashad Brandon and Markell Utsey provide some depth.
The Tigers need to find 2 new starters at DE as well. Tre Williams and Chris Turner, both sophomores, will likely land those roles. Experience and production are a concern here. Nate Anderson and Franklin Agbasimere are the backups heading into the fall. They totaled a combined 3 TFLs last season. This is a red flag position, as if the young players do not develop quickly, the Tigers will not have much of an edge rush.
The news is significantly better at LB, as all 3 starters return in Terez Hall, Cale Garrett, and Brandon Lee. Garrett led the team from the MLB spot with 105 tackles last season and finished with 10 TFLs. He added 3 sacks as well. Hall finished 2nd on the team in tackles with 85, and also finished 2nd on the team with 12.5 TFLs. He added 3 PBUs in pass coverage from his SLB spot. Lee finished with 42 tackles last fall, and added 5 TFLs. Aubrey Miller, Jamal Brooks, and Joshua Bledsoe are the key reserves.
Both CBs return in DeMarkus Acy and Adam Sparks. Acy, a junior, finished with 3 PBUs last season and added 48 tackles. Sparks ended up starting as a freshman last fall, and totaled 4 PBUs, and added 2 INTs. He totaled 43 tackles on the year. Finis Stribling IV and Christian Holmes are the key backups.
The Tigers must find 2 new starters at Safety. Joshua Bledsoe could make a move from LB to start at SS, or Ronnell Jenkins could beat him for the job in fall camp. Jordan Ulmer is also in the mix. Cam Hilton is the leader at FS heading into the fall, with Tyree Gillespie adding some competition to the mix.
Breakdown Special Teams: Tucker McCann was rock solid last season as a sophomore, as he hit 15/17 FG attempts. He needs to be a bit sharper on PATs, as he missed a pair of them last fall, finishing 51/53.
Cory Fatoni is simply one of the better Punters in the nation, as he averaged 44.31 yards per punt last fall. He is back as well.
Roundtree should be back on KR duty, as he averaged over 21 yards per return last fall, while Floyd is one of the best in the business on PR duty, averaging 19.82 yards per return with 2 scores last fall.
Final Analysis: Missouri has few worries offensively speaking. With Lock and a bevy of weapons and a stable line returning, the Tigers should continue on their mission of scoring tons of points and moving the football at will. The major questions will come in fixing the defense, which is loaded with questions up front and in the Safety spots. The LB corps should be quite busy with a young set of ends who have not produced. Odom needs to win, and he needs to win now. I don't see him going anywhere this season, but if the Tigers do not show some serious improvement, he will be on the hot seat at the very least, and could be in real trouble entering 2019, 2 year extension aside. I do not expect the Tigers to push for the SEC East title, but they should be pushing for 2nd or 3rd in the division this season. Anything less would be a letdown.
Opening Statement: After a 1-5 start last fall, the Tigers went on a 6 win tear, only to finish with a loss to Texas in the Texas Bowl. That is still something to build on for Barry Odom and his staff, who enter a critical year 3 of their tenure with an 11-14 record overall. Offensively, Missouri brings a scary attack that ranked 8th nationally in yards per game, but they also have to drag around a defense that ranked 82nd nationally in yards allowed per game, and 108th nationally against the pass. If the Tigers cannot find improvement on defense, we could see a golden opportunity for this football team go to waste.
Breakdown Offense: Drew Lock is one of the top 5 QBs in college football, and will return to Columbia after shaking off a shot at the NFL for one more season. Lock passed for 3964 yards and 44 TDs last fall to just 13 INTs, but he needs to lower those turnover numbers and increase accuracy this fall, as he completed just 57.8% of his passes last season. Micah Wilson remains as the backup, as he attempted just 10 passes last season as the reserve, while completing just 5 of them.
The Tigers lose leading rusher Ish Witter, but Damarea Crockett has jumped over Larry Roundtree to take the starting job in spring ball. Both should get ample carries in the offense this fall. Crockett rushed for 481 yards and 2 scores last fall, while averaging 6 yards per carry. Roundtree rushed for 703 yards and 6 scores, while averaging 5.58 yards per carry. Dawson Downing, who carried 20 times as a freshman, is the 3rd back on the depth chart, with Isaiah Miller providing a bit more depth.
Emmanuel Hall and Johnathon Johnson are back at WR this fall, but leading receiver J'Mon Moore is gone. Hall caught 33 passes last fall, while Johnson added 41 receptions. Hall averaged over 24 yards per catch last season, and will be a major deep threat for Lock. Johnson averaged over 17 yards per catch, and can spread the field as well. Nate Brown, who caught 11 passes last season, is the 3rd receiver to start. Richaud Floyd, Justin Smith, Daniel Elinger, Steven Spadaratto, and Barrett Banister will provide some depth, but not much experience.
Albert Okwuegbunam is back as the starter at TE after catching 29 passes and a team leading 11 scores last fall. He is one of the better red zone TEs in the nation heading into the season. Kendall Blanton is back as the primary backup as well, and Logan Christopherson left spring ball as the 3rd TE.
The offensive line returns intact with Yasir Durant (LT), Kevin Pendleton (LG), Trystan Colon-Castillo (C), Tre'Vour Wallace-Simms (RG), and Paul Adams (RT) all back in action. Hyrin White and Larry Borom provide depth at Tackle, while Case Cook and Samson Bailey are the OG reserves. Jonah Dubinsky is the backup at C.
Breakdown Defense: The defense allowed 31.8 points per game last fall, and allowed 30 points or more 8 times. If the Tigers are to move forward from the middle of the SEC pack, that cannot continue moving forward.
The major issues start on the line for the Tigers, as only one starter returns in DT Terry Beckner, Jr. He totaled 11 TFLs from the middle last season, and is a major building block, but he needs some assistance. He tied for the team lead with 7 sacks, and ended up with 2 PBUs and 5 QB hurries. He totaled 38 tackles as well. His partner in the middle is penciled in as Walter Palmore at NT, but look for Kobie Whitseside to push him in camp. Whiteside is a riser who played in 12 games as a freshman last season, and may be the better long term option. Jordan Elliott could be in play here as well. Rashad Brandon and Markell Utsey provide some depth.
The Tigers need to find 2 new starters at DE as well. Tre Williams and Chris Turner, both sophomores, will likely land those roles. Experience and production are a concern here. Nate Anderson and Franklin Agbasimere are the backups heading into the fall. They totaled a combined 3 TFLs last season. This is a red flag position, as if the young players do not develop quickly, the Tigers will not have much of an edge rush.
The news is significantly better at LB, as all 3 starters return in Terez Hall, Cale Garrett, and Brandon Lee. Garrett led the team from the MLB spot with 105 tackles last season and finished with 10 TFLs. He added 3 sacks as well. Hall finished 2nd on the team in tackles with 85, and also finished 2nd on the team with 12.5 TFLs. He added 3 PBUs in pass coverage from his SLB spot. Lee finished with 42 tackles last fall, and added 5 TFLs. Aubrey Miller, Jamal Brooks, and Joshua Bledsoe are the key reserves.
Both CBs return in DeMarkus Acy and Adam Sparks. Acy, a junior, finished with 3 PBUs last season and added 48 tackles. Sparks ended up starting as a freshman last fall, and totaled 4 PBUs, and added 2 INTs. He totaled 43 tackles on the year. Finis Stribling IV and Christian Holmes are the key backups.
The Tigers must find 2 new starters at Safety. Joshua Bledsoe could make a move from LB to start at SS, or Ronnell Jenkins could beat him for the job in fall camp. Jordan Ulmer is also in the mix. Cam Hilton is the leader at FS heading into the fall, with Tyree Gillespie adding some competition to the mix.
Breakdown Special Teams: Tucker McCann was rock solid last season as a sophomore, as he hit 15/17 FG attempts. He needs to be a bit sharper on PATs, as he missed a pair of them last fall, finishing 51/53.
Cory Fatoni is simply one of the better Punters in the nation, as he averaged 44.31 yards per punt last fall. He is back as well.
Roundtree should be back on KR duty, as he averaged over 21 yards per return last fall, while Floyd is one of the best in the business on PR duty, averaging 19.82 yards per return with 2 scores last fall.
Final Analysis: Missouri has few worries offensively speaking. With Lock and a bevy of weapons and a stable line returning, the Tigers should continue on their mission of scoring tons of points and moving the football at will. The major questions will come in fixing the defense, which is loaded with questions up front and in the Safety spots. The LB corps should be quite busy with a young set of ends who have not produced. Odom needs to win, and he needs to win now. I don't see him going anywhere this season, but if the Tigers do not show some serious improvement, he will be on the hot seat at the very least, and could be in real trouble entering 2019, 2 year extension aside. I do not expect the Tigers to push for the SEC East title, but they should be pushing for 2nd or 3rd in the division this season. Anything less would be a letdown.
Mississippi State Bulldogs 2018 Football Preview
Mississippi State Bulldogs 2018 Football Preview
Opening Statement: When you really break down what Dan Mullen did during his tenure at Miss State, it's nothing short of impressive. Mullen managed to turn the Bulldogs into a consistent threat in the SEC West, and even though there were no breakthroughs in terms of division titles, he made MSU relevant, and that was a hard thing to do when he arrived in Starkville. He could not resist the call to move back to Florida, and the Bulldogs went outside the south and realm of SEC assistant hires when they lured Joe Moorhead, the OC at Penn State and former head coach at Fordham, who has zero experience working in the south, to the SEC. He is something out of a different book, and has known nothing but success. Can he adapt to the SEC and take this thing higher with his offensive pedigree?
Breakdown Offense: With Moorhead in as the head coach, expect bigger things from a healthy Nick Fitzgerald at QB. Fitzgerald, despite his success, often had a leash on him as a passer, and that will no longer be the case, as Moorhead values the deep ball as a regular piece of the offense, and integrates it into game planning. Look for Fitzgerald to be able to both run and pass freely in the new offense, and that should be great news for Bulldog fans and Fitzgerald himself. Fitzgerald also managed to rush for 984 yards and 14 scores, something you will see more of in the new offense. He passed for just 148 yards per game last season, a number that we should see increase in a big way. Keytaon Thompson is the backup once again, and is game ready, giving the Bulldogs significant depth at the position. Jalen Mayden will likely see a redshirt season to prepare for taking the job in the next year or two.
Aeris Williams returns at RB after rushing for 1107 yards and 6 scores. I would expect his average yards per carry (4.61) to blow up a bit this season in the new offense under Moorhead. Moorhead has always had big time performers at the position at both Fordham and Penn State, and there is no reason to expect any less here. Kylin Hill rushed for 393 yards, and is the primary backup. Nick Gibson and Dontavian Lee provide depth.
Jesse Jackson is the lone returning starter at WR this fall. He caught just 27 passes last season, a number that should also increase in the new offense. Stephen Guidry and Malik Dear are also penciled in as starters heading into fall camp. Reggie Todd and Jamal Couch are in the mix as well, and look for both Keith Mixon and Deddrick Thomas push Dear for the SLOT role. Austin Williams and Devonta Jason add more depth.
Farrod Green caught 9 passes as a sophomore last season, and should step into the starting TE job with the departure of Jordan Thomas. Justin Johnson is also expected to get plenty of reps moving forward.
The line boasts 4 returning starters in 2018, but they lose star Tackle Martinas Rankin. Expect Greg Eiland, a sophomore, to replace him in fall camp. Darryl Williams (LG), Eigton Jackson (C), Deion Calhoun (RG), and Stewart Reese (RT) are all returning to their roles from last season. Michael Story and Tyre Phillips are the reserves at Tackle, Dareuan Parker and Story back up inside, and Blake Mitchell backs up at C.
Breakdown Defense: Mississippi State, quietly, was one of the best defensive football teams in the nation last fall, finishing 10th nationally in total defense. The ranked 12th against the pass. There is good news and bad news this season, with 7 starters returning.
There is plenty of good news up front, where all 4 starters return on the line. Gerri Green and Montez Sweat are the DEs once again. This is a dominating duo on the edge, as Sweat led the Bulldogs with 15.5 TFLs last fall. He also led the team with 10.5 sacks on the year. Green had a big season on his own, as he finished the year with 11 TFLs and 5.5 sacks. This is one of the more dominating edge units in college football. Kobe Jones is the backup to Sweat, and finished with 4.5 TFLs as a freshman. He is one to watch after this season specifically. Chauncey Rivers and Fletcher Adams are two big time talents as well, and add depth behind Green.
Jeffery Simmons and Braxton Hoyett are the starters at DT heading into fall camp. Simmons adds to what is one of the best defensive lines in college football, as he finished last season with 12 TFLs, and added 5 sacks. Hoyett totaled 2.5 TFLs and acts more as a NT in the formation. Corey Thomas could rotate with Hoyett in the middle.
Leo Lewis returns to start at LB in the 4-2-5 formation that Bob Shoop is installing. He totaled 46 tackles as a sophomore last fall. Erroll Thompson moves into a starting spot after a productive freshman season that saw him finish with 46 tackles as a reserve. Willie Gay saw the field plenty as a freshman last fall as well, and figures into some kind of a rotation at LB. Tim Washington and Tyler Dunning provide inexperienced depth, as this position figures to be quite young in 2018.
Both Safeties return in Mark McLaurin (SS) and Jonathon Abram (FS). McLaurin led the team with 79 tackles last season, and totaled 6 PBUs in pass defense. He also totaled 3.5 TFLs last fall, and led the team with 6 INTs, including multiple picks of Lamar Jackson in the Tax Slayer Bowl. Abram totaled 71 tackles, with 5 TFLs and 5 PBUs. He added 2 forced fumbles. Jaquarias Landrews, Landon Guidry, and CJ Morgan all add depth.
With the addition of the 5th DB by Shoop, expect Brian Cole to be the new NB this fall. Cole sat out last fall after transferring from Michigan, where he played WR. Guidry and Morgan also figure to back him up.
The Bulldogs need to find two new starters at CB. Cam Dantzler, a sophomore, is expected to start at one spot, while senior Chris Rayford is expected to start opposite him. Dantzler finished with 3 PBUs as a freshman last fall. Jamal Peters is expected to push one or the other in fall camp for a starting job. He totaled 2 PBUs as a sophomore last season. Maurice Smitherman, Korey Charles, and Marcus Murphy are the reserves, but all are expected to take their shots at the starting job.
Breakdown Special Teams: Jace Christmann returns as the PK after a rock solid season that saw him hit 12/14 FGs last fall as a freshman. He was perfect on 42 PAT.
Logan Cooke has moved on as the Punter, so expect Kody Schnexnayder to take on the job as a sophomore this fall.
Reggie Todd was fairly average on kick returns last season, and could be pushed as the primary KR man this fall. Deddrick Thomas is one of the most dangerous PR men in the nation, as he averaged 17.33 yards per return last fall, with one score.
Final Analysis: The offense, which wanked 46th in total yards per game last fall, should show major signs of improvement once Moorhead takes the leash off of his guys. His offenses at Fordhm and Penn State were incredibly explosive, and should prove for plenty of entertainment this fall, as talent abodes all over the place. Fitzgerald should completely blossom in what will be his final season in Starkville. Defensively, there is talent to go around as well, but there are questions at LB and at CB that must be addressed to replicate the success of a season ago. If those areas are addressed, Mississippi State could be one of the most surprising teams in the nation this season. A road test early in non con play at Kansas State will show us what this team will be made of.
Opening Statement: When you really break down what Dan Mullen did during his tenure at Miss State, it's nothing short of impressive. Mullen managed to turn the Bulldogs into a consistent threat in the SEC West, and even though there were no breakthroughs in terms of division titles, he made MSU relevant, and that was a hard thing to do when he arrived in Starkville. He could not resist the call to move back to Florida, and the Bulldogs went outside the south and realm of SEC assistant hires when they lured Joe Moorhead, the OC at Penn State and former head coach at Fordham, who has zero experience working in the south, to the SEC. He is something out of a different book, and has known nothing but success. Can he adapt to the SEC and take this thing higher with his offensive pedigree?
Breakdown Offense: With Moorhead in as the head coach, expect bigger things from a healthy Nick Fitzgerald at QB. Fitzgerald, despite his success, often had a leash on him as a passer, and that will no longer be the case, as Moorhead values the deep ball as a regular piece of the offense, and integrates it into game planning. Look for Fitzgerald to be able to both run and pass freely in the new offense, and that should be great news for Bulldog fans and Fitzgerald himself. Fitzgerald also managed to rush for 984 yards and 14 scores, something you will see more of in the new offense. He passed for just 148 yards per game last season, a number that we should see increase in a big way. Keytaon Thompson is the backup once again, and is game ready, giving the Bulldogs significant depth at the position. Jalen Mayden will likely see a redshirt season to prepare for taking the job in the next year or two.
Aeris Williams returns at RB after rushing for 1107 yards and 6 scores. I would expect his average yards per carry (4.61) to blow up a bit this season in the new offense under Moorhead. Moorhead has always had big time performers at the position at both Fordham and Penn State, and there is no reason to expect any less here. Kylin Hill rushed for 393 yards, and is the primary backup. Nick Gibson and Dontavian Lee provide depth.
Jesse Jackson is the lone returning starter at WR this fall. He caught just 27 passes last season, a number that should also increase in the new offense. Stephen Guidry and Malik Dear are also penciled in as starters heading into fall camp. Reggie Todd and Jamal Couch are in the mix as well, and look for both Keith Mixon and Deddrick Thomas push Dear for the SLOT role. Austin Williams and Devonta Jason add more depth.
Farrod Green caught 9 passes as a sophomore last season, and should step into the starting TE job with the departure of Jordan Thomas. Justin Johnson is also expected to get plenty of reps moving forward.
The line boasts 4 returning starters in 2018, but they lose star Tackle Martinas Rankin. Expect Greg Eiland, a sophomore, to replace him in fall camp. Darryl Williams (LG), Eigton Jackson (C), Deion Calhoun (RG), and Stewart Reese (RT) are all returning to their roles from last season. Michael Story and Tyre Phillips are the reserves at Tackle, Dareuan Parker and Story back up inside, and Blake Mitchell backs up at C.
Breakdown Defense: Mississippi State, quietly, was one of the best defensive football teams in the nation last fall, finishing 10th nationally in total defense. The ranked 12th against the pass. There is good news and bad news this season, with 7 starters returning.
There is plenty of good news up front, where all 4 starters return on the line. Gerri Green and Montez Sweat are the DEs once again. This is a dominating duo on the edge, as Sweat led the Bulldogs with 15.5 TFLs last fall. He also led the team with 10.5 sacks on the year. Green had a big season on his own, as he finished the year with 11 TFLs and 5.5 sacks. This is one of the more dominating edge units in college football. Kobe Jones is the backup to Sweat, and finished with 4.5 TFLs as a freshman. He is one to watch after this season specifically. Chauncey Rivers and Fletcher Adams are two big time talents as well, and add depth behind Green.
Jeffery Simmons and Braxton Hoyett are the starters at DT heading into fall camp. Simmons adds to what is one of the best defensive lines in college football, as he finished last season with 12 TFLs, and added 5 sacks. Hoyett totaled 2.5 TFLs and acts more as a NT in the formation. Corey Thomas could rotate with Hoyett in the middle.
Leo Lewis returns to start at LB in the 4-2-5 formation that Bob Shoop is installing. He totaled 46 tackles as a sophomore last fall. Erroll Thompson moves into a starting spot after a productive freshman season that saw him finish with 46 tackles as a reserve. Willie Gay saw the field plenty as a freshman last fall as well, and figures into some kind of a rotation at LB. Tim Washington and Tyler Dunning provide inexperienced depth, as this position figures to be quite young in 2018.
Both Safeties return in Mark McLaurin (SS) and Jonathon Abram (FS). McLaurin led the team with 79 tackles last season, and totaled 6 PBUs in pass defense. He also totaled 3.5 TFLs last fall, and led the team with 6 INTs, including multiple picks of Lamar Jackson in the Tax Slayer Bowl. Abram totaled 71 tackles, with 5 TFLs and 5 PBUs. He added 2 forced fumbles. Jaquarias Landrews, Landon Guidry, and CJ Morgan all add depth.
With the addition of the 5th DB by Shoop, expect Brian Cole to be the new NB this fall. Cole sat out last fall after transferring from Michigan, where he played WR. Guidry and Morgan also figure to back him up.
The Bulldogs need to find two new starters at CB. Cam Dantzler, a sophomore, is expected to start at one spot, while senior Chris Rayford is expected to start opposite him. Dantzler finished with 3 PBUs as a freshman last fall. Jamal Peters is expected to push one or the other in fall camp for a starting job. He totaled 2 PBUs as a sophomore last season. Maurice Smitherman, Korey Charles, and Marcus Murphy are the reserves, but all are expected to take their shots at the starting job.
Breakdown Special Teams: Jace Christmann returns as the PK after a rock solid season that saw him hit 12/14 FGs last fall as a freshman. He was perfect on 42 PAT.
Logan Cooke has moved on as the Punter, so expect Kody Schnexnayder to take on the job as a sophomore this fall.
Reggie Todd was fairly average on kick returns last season, and could be pushed as the primary KR man this fall. Deddrick Thomas is one of the most dangerous PR men in the nation, as he averaged 17.33 yards per return last fall, with one score.
Final Analysis: The offense, which wanked 46th in total yards per game last fall, should show major signs of improvement once Moorhead takes the leash off of his guys. His offenses at Fordhm and Penn State were incredibly explosive, and should prove for plenty of entertainment this fall, as talent abodes all over the place. Fitzgerald should completely blossom in what will be his final season in Starkville. Defensively, there is talent to go around as well, but there are questions at LB and at CB that must be addressed to replicate the success of a season ago. If those areas are addressed, Mississippi State could be one of the most surprising teams in the nation this season. A road test early in non con play at Kansas State will show us what this team will be made of.
Ole Miss Rebels 2018 Football Preview
Ole Miss Rebels 2018 Football Preview
Opening Statement: Do you remember back when the Rebels could not climb out of the SEC basement for years? You are about to get familiar with those memories all over again. The off-field disaster that was Hugh Freeze has plummeted the Rebels program into darkness, and although they tried to reach outside of the program to find an interested coach that could hold things together, the reality was that nobody wanted to touch this mess with a 30 foot pole. Matt Luke was elevated from interim as the answer, but there is a 2018 bowl ban, a bunch of transfers moving out, and an overall lack of depth and talent to deal with, and it is not a good situation in Oxford for 2018.
Breakdown Offense: Jordan Ta'amu took over at QB when Shea Patterson was injured last season and never relinquished the job. He passed for 1682 yards and 11 TDs to 4 INTs in 8 games, and averaged 210.3 yards passing per game, while completing 66.5% of his passes. He added 4 rushing TDs on the season as well, and now has to be the man for the Rebels on offense. Incoming freshman Matt Corral looks like the future at the position, and could end up as the backup. Alex Faniel and Jason Pellarin are the only other scholarship QBs left on the roster, but neither have attempted a pass.
The Rebels are looking for a new starter at RB, but the options are few. Eric Swinney appears to be the choice, while JC transfer Scott Phillips will need to step in and fill out some depth. D'Vaughan Pennamon was injured last season, and his availability is unknown currently. Swinney carried just 41 times last fall. All in all, this is a fairly weak position for Ole Miss, as the Rebels ranked just 103rd nationally in rushing yards per game last season.
AJ Brown is a beast at WR, and returns to give the Rebels a star quality player that they need in the passing game. He posted 75-1252-11 last season, and is a future NFL first round pick. He averaged 16.69 yards per catch. DK Metcalk returns after posting a line of 39-646-7, and DeMarkus Lodge also returns to the lineup after -posting a line of 41-698-7. The Rebels may have one of the bets receiving corps in the nation heading into the fall. Van Jefferson transferred out to Florida after a 42 catch season, so that could effect depth, but Braylon Sanders is back after playing in 7 games as a freshman. Watch for Elijah Moore, a true freshman, to have some impact as a slot receiver this fall.
Dawson Knox, who caught 24 passes last fall, returns as the TE for the Rebels. He had surgery after last season ended, but should be ready to go this fall. Octavious Cooley returns as the backup after playing in 10 games last fall, and Michael Howard fills in as the jumbo TE on short yardage plays as an extra blocker.
The line will return 4 starters this fall in Greg Little (LT) is the star up front, and is joined by Javon Patterson (LG), Sean Rawlings (C), and Alex Givens (RT). Senior Jordan Sims is penciled in for now as the starter at RG. Bryce Matthews, Ben Brown, and Royce Newman, all sophomores, are the depth for now, but have little by way of experience.
Breakdown Defense: Ole Miss finished 115th nationally in total defense last fall, and return just 4 starters from that unit. IN essence, it's a reboot through attrition this season, as the Rebels try to find respectability on this side of the football.
Two starters return up front on the line in DTs Benito Jones and Josiah Coatney.This was an active duo as they tried to find their way as new starters last season, and they ended up combining for 15.5 TFLs on the season. This could be one of the better interior duos in the nation, but they need plenty of help around them, something they did not have a year ago. Ross Donelly and Austrian Robinson are the backups, while Sincere McDonald redshirted last fall after switching over from the O line.
Both Ends must be replaced this fall. Sophomore Ryder Anderson and junior Qaadir Sheppard are penciled in as starters for now. Victor Evans could also battle for one of these spots, but will get plenty of reps either way this fall. Charles Wiley and Markel Winters are trying to prove themselves as backups. This is a position thin on overall experience, and could be a problem area.
It's total reboot time at LB, as the Rebels are looking to move to a 4-2-5 look this fall. Detric Bing-Dukes is slated to start at one spot, and played in just 9 games last year, totaling just 24 tackles. Josh Clarke, a freshman, is penciled in to start at the second LB spot. Brendan Williams could have some say in the battle as well, but totaled just 2 tackles last season. Donta Evans and Willie Hibler both return as well, but overall, this is not what one could call a great unit.
The secondary returns 3 players with starting experience this fall. Zedrick Woods (SS) and CJ Moore (SS) are back to anchor a group that allowed 214 yards passing per game. They combined for 7 PBUs last season. Woods finished with 64 tackles, while Moore finished the year with 51 tackles. Jaylon Jones finished the season with 34 tackles, and could push for some work here. Montrell Custis, CJ Miller, and Cam Ordway are all back to provide decent depth.
Myles Hartsfield is the lone returning starter at CB this fall. He totaled just 3 PBUs last season, so the CB spot is a bit thin on production. Ken Webster is slated as the other starting CB heading into fall camp. He totaled just 2 PBUs last fall. Javion Hamilton also returns, and could push Webster in the fall. DD Bowie is back to provide depth.
Vernon Dasher, a junior, should fill the role of Nickel Back this fall.
Breakdown Special Teams: Gary Wunderlich is gone after hitting 81% of his FG attempts last fall. Luke Logan his 2/3 attempts, and was perfect on 9 PATs last fall as a freshman. He takes over.
Will Gleeson has moved on at Punter, and Mac Brown takes over after averaging 42.2 yards per punt on 5 tries last season.
Jaylon Jones should be the primary KR man once again after averaging 25 yards per return with one score last season. Brown averaged 6.71 yards per PR last fall, and will handle the job once again.
Final Analysis: The Rebels are a mess on defense, and while there are pieces in place to try and patch it up, there is inexperience all over the place that may undermine some efforts. Depth is at issue on both sides of the football, so some ill times injuries could derail the plan this fall. The bowl ban does not help either, as it is hard to get motivated in a season where you know you aren't going anywhere. Luke was the safe choice as head coach to try and stabilize the program, but he will not be immune next season if things are not going well. It is simply a "show me" year in 2018, and then the pressure ramps up in 2019.
Opening Statement: Do you remember back when the Rebels could not climb out of the SEC basement for years? You are about to get familiar with those memories all over again. The off-field disaster that was Hugh Freeze has plummeted the Rebels program into darkness, and although they tried to reach outside of the program to find an interested coach that could hold things together, the reality was that nobody wanted to touch this mess with a 30 foot pole. Matt Luke was elevated from interim as the answer, but there is a 2018 bowl ban, a bunch of transfers moving out, and an overall lack of depth and talent to deal with, and it is not a good situation in Oxford for 2018.
Breakdown Offense: Jordan Ta'amu took over at QB when Shea Patterson was injured last season and never relinquished the job. He passed for 1682 yards and 11 TDs to 4 INTs in 8 games, and averaged 210.3 yards passing per game, while completing 66.5% of his passes. He added 4 rushing TDs on the season as well, and now has to be the man for the Rebels on offense. Incoming freshman Matt Corral looks like the future at the position, and could end up as the backup. Alex Faniel and Jason Pellarin are the only other scholarship QBs left on the roster, but neither have attempted a pass.
The Rebels are looking for a new starter at RB, but the options are few. Eric Swinney appears to be the choice, while JC transfer Scott Phillips will need to step in and fill out some depth. D'Vaughan Pennamon was injured last season, and his availability is unknown currently. Swinney carried just 41 times last fall. All in all, this is a fairly weak position for Ole Miss, as the Rebels ranked just 103rd nationally in rushing yards per game last season.
AJ Brown is a beast at WR, and returns to give the Rebels a star quality player that they need in the passing game. He posted 75-1252-11 last season, and is a future NFL first round pick. He averaged 16.69 yards per catch. DK Metcalk returns after posting a line of 39-646-7, and DeMarkus Lodge also returns to the lineup after -posting a line of 41-698-7. The Rebels may have one of the bets receiving corps in the nation heading into the fall. Van Jefferson transferred out to Florida after a 42 catch season, so that could effect depth, but Braylon Sanders is back after playing in 7 games as a freshman. Watch for Elijah Moore, a true freshman, to have some impact as a slot receiver this fall.
Dawson Knox, who caught 24 passes last fall, returns as the TE for the Rebels. He had surgery after last season ended, but should be ready to go this fall. Octavious Cooley returns as the backup after playing in 10 games last fall, and Michael Howard fills in as the jumbo TE on short yardage plays as an extra blocker.
The line will return 4 starters this fall in Greg Little (LT) is the star up front, and is joined by Javon Patterson (LG), Sean Rawlings (C), and Alex Givens (RT). Senior Jordan Sims is penciled in for now as the starter at RG. Bryce Matthews, Ben Brown, and Royce Newman, all sophomores, are the depth for now, but have little by way of experience.
Breakdown Defense: Ole Miss finished 115th nationally in total defense last fall, and return just 4 starters from that unit. IN essence, it's a reboot through attrition this season, as the Rebels try to find respectability on this side of the football.
Two starters return up front on the line in DTs Benito Jones and Josiah Coatney.This was an active duo as they tried to find their way as new starters last season, and they ended up combining for 15.5 TFLs on the season. This could be one of the better interior duos in the nation, but they need plenty of help around them, something they did not have a year ago. Ross Donelly and Austrian Robinson are the backups, while Sincere McDonald redshirted last fall after switching over from the O line.
Both Ends must be replaced this fall. Sophomore Ryder Anderson and junior Qaadir Sheppard are penciled in as starters for now. Victor Evans could also battle for one of these spots, but will get plenty of reps either way this fall. Charles Wiley and Markel Winters are trying to prove themselves as backups. This is a position thin on overall experience, and could be a problem area.
It's total reboot time at LB, as the Rebels are looking to move to a 4-2-5 look this fall. Detric Bing-Dukes is slated to start at one spot, and played in just 9 games last year, totaling just 24 tackles. Josh Clarke, a freshman, is penciled in to start at the second LB spot. Brendan Williams could have some say in the battle as well, but totaled just 2 tackles last season. Donta Evans and Willie Hibler both return as well, but overall, this is not what one could call a great unit.
The secondary returns 3 players with starting experience this fall. Zedrick Woods (SS) and CJ Moore (SS) are back to anchor a group that allowed 214 yards passing per game. They combined for 7 PBUs last season. Woods finished with 64 tackles, while Moore finished the year with 51 tackles. Jaylon Jones finished the season with 34 tackles, and could push for some work here. Montrell Custis, CJ Miller, and Cam Ordway are all back to provide decent depth.
Myles Hartsfield is the lone returning starter at CB this fall. He totaled just 3 PBUs last season, so the CB spot is a bit thin on production. Ken Webster is slated as the other starting CB heading into fall camp. He totaled just 2 PBUs last fall. Javion Hamilton also returns, and could push Webster in the fall. DD Bowie is back to provide depth.
Vernon Dasher, a junior, should fill the role of Nickel Back this fall.
Breakdown Special Teams: Gary Wunderlich is gone after hitting 81% of his FG attempts last fall. Luke Logan his 2/3 attempts, and was perfect on 9 PATs last fall as a freshman. He takes over.
Will Gleeson has moved on at Punter, and Mac Brown takes over after averaging 42.2 yards per punt on 5 tries last season.
Jaylon Jones should be the primary KR man once again after averaging 25 yards per return with one score last season. Brown averaged 6.71 yards per PR last fall, and will handle the job once again.
Final Analysis: The Rebels are a mess on defense, and while there are pieces in place to try and patch it up, there is inexperience all over the place that may undermine some efforts. Depth is at issue on both sides of the football, so some ill times injuries could derail the plan this fall. The bowl ban does not help either, as it is hard to get motivated in a season where you know you aren't going anywhere. Luke was the safe choice as head coach to try and stabilize the program, but he will not be immune next season if things are not going well. It is simply a "show me" year in 2018, and then the pressure ramps up in 2019.
Wednesday, June 20, 2018
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders 2018 Football Preview
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders 2018 Football Preview
Opening Statement: Injuries kill a season, and the Blue Raiders had plenty of them last fall. Brent Stockstill (QB), Richie James (WR), and all three returning RBs all suffered injuries last fall, and the offense, which is normally dependable, fell apart to finish 71st nationally. If Middle Tennessee is to push FAU in the CUSA East, that issue cannot be repeated. Stockstill returns, but if he can't stay on the field, it won't matter.
Breakdown Offense: Stockstill played in just 8 games last season, and his absence affected the team in severe and negative ways. It's simple...Stockstill stays healthy, they win, if not, they face long odds and normally lose. He passed for 1672 yards last fall, and tossed 16 TDs to 8 INTs. He also fell short in accuracy when on the field, as he completed just 57.7% of his passes. He has to be healthy, and has to be better in 2018. The Blue Raiders also must replace backup QB John Urzua, who has quit football over concussions he has received. He completed 61.8% of his passes when replacing Stockstill last season, but had more INTs (9) than TD passes (7). That job will be a wide open battle in fall camp.
If the Raiders can stay healthy this fall, they may have a 3 deep RB contingent. Tavares Thomas was the best of the bunch, and rushed for 507 yards and 9 scores, averaging 5.45 yards per carry. He is the tank of the group. Brad Anderson returns, and rushed for 491 yards, and averaged 5.52 yards per carry, but never scored in 9 games. Terelle West rushed for 308 yards and 4 scores, and averaged 5.4 yards per carry in 7 games. Again, the key is that this group must stay healthy. An area of concern is that not one member of this group averaged 10 carries per game.
Richie James is gone at WR, but there is some talent left over. Ty Lee returns, as does Patrick Smith. Lee ended up leading the team with 79 receptions for 955 yards and 5 scores last season. Smith caught 29 passes for 329 yards and 2 scores. CJ Windham caught 25 passes last fall, and also returns in the spread offense. Jimmy Marshall, who caught 8 passes, is penciled in as the 4th receiver as we left spring ball. Ruben Garnett caught 5 passes last season, and will be a key reserve. Isaiah Upton and Tavonn Salter add depth.
The Blue Raiders return 3 starters on the line, and this group will have to protect a fragile QB and set of RBs. Carlos Johnson (LT), Robert Behannan (C) and Chandler Brewer (RG) are the returning starters. Angelo Owens (LG) and Amir Luckett (RT) appear penciled in as the new starters. JOsh Fannin is looking for additional reps at C, while Cole Kirby provides some support at the OT spots. Luke Harris (OG) provides support inside.
Breakdown Defense: The Blue Raiders had a respectable defensive season in 2018, finishing 35th nationally in total defense, and 8 starters return, starting with 3 on the line. Walter Brady and Jahmal Jones both return at DE. They combined for 10 TFLs last fall. The staff would like to see them get a bit more aggressive this fall off of the edge. Tyshun Render and Trae Philpots are also in the mix for rotational jobs at DE. Each played in 13 games last fall. Darrius Liggins adds more depth.
Malik Manciel is back at DT this fall. He totaled 5 TFLs as well last season. Jordan Ferguson is the likely starter at the open DT spot as a sophomore. He finished with 5.5 TFLs as a freshman last season in 12 games played. Rakavian Poydras played in 13 games as a freshman last fall, and provides depth along with Ty Nix, who played in 10 games as a freshman last season.
Khalil Brooks and Darius Harris both return to start at LB. Brooks finished with 76 tackles, and led the team with a rock solid 18.5 TFLs last season. He also led the team with 7.5 sacks, and finished with 6 QB hurries. Harris totaled 64 tackles and 7.5 TFLs, while adding 4.5 sacks and 6 PBUs. RS freshman Cody Harris slots in between the 2 returning starters as a freshman, and moves to the LB spot after enrolling as a DB at 187 pounds. He know sits at 227, and has added solid muscle. Caleb Felton and Chris Melton will add depth.
The secondary boasts 3 returning starters this fall, with Jovante Moffett (SS) and Reed Blankenship (FS) returning to cover deep and support in the run defense. Moffett led the team with 101 tackles last fall, while Blankenship added 68 tackles. Wesley Bush serves as the 3rd Safety, but there is little depth after that.
Darryl Randolph is back to start at CB. He totaled just 2 PBUs last fall, and added 48 tackles. Senior OJ Johnson looks to fill the open CB spot, but again, depth is not a thing beyond the starters. Pass defense was the one weaker spot defensively for the Blue Raiders, as they ranked just 64th against the pass, while not ranking lower than 46th in any other area.
Breakdown Special Teams: Canon Rooker has moved on at PK, and will likely be replaced by Crews Holt, who hit his only attempt as a freshman.
Matt Bonadies returns as the Punter, but struggled last fall, averaging just 39.56 yards per punt. Matthew Stephenson is the only other Punter on the roster that could push him in camp.
The KR job is open, and will be filled in fall camp, while Blankenship averaged over 11 yards per return last fall on punts, and will handle that job once again.
Final Analysis: If healthy, the Blue Raiders can make a run for the second or third spot in the CUSA East in 2018, but pushing FAU seems like a reach to me, and even Marshall may have a better edge. The pieces are there, but one problem I have had with this program for years is the constant under performing nature of the program and the staff under Rick Stockstill, who is only 7 games over .500 in 12 years. I just don't see that changing, and to bank on the health of Brent Stockstill at QB is like betting on an Enron comeback. Not safe. He has missed 8 games over the last two seasons. In short, Middle Tennessee could have a solid year, and hit another bowl, but not be in the mix for the CUSA crown.
Opening Statement: Injuries kill a season, and the Blue Raiders had plenty of them last fall. Brent Stockstill (QB), Richie James (WR), and all three returning RBs all suffered injuries last fall, and the offense, which is normally dependable, fell apart to finish 71st nationally. If Middle Tennessee is to push FAU in the CUSA East, that issue cannot be repeated. Stockstill returns, but if he can't stay on the field, it won't matter.
Breakdown Offense: Stockstill played in just 8 games last season, and his absence affected the team in severe and negative ways. It's simple...Stockstill stays healthy, they win, if not, they face long odds and normally lose. He passed for 1672 yards last fall, and tossed 16 TDs to 8 INTs. He also fell short in accuracy when on the field, as he completed just 57.7% of his passes. He has to be healthy, and has to be better in 2018. The Blue Raiders also must replace backup QB John Urzua, who has quit football over concussions he has received. He completed 61.8% of his passes when replacing Stockstill last season, but had more INTs (9) than TD passes (7). That job will be a wide open battle in fall camp.
If the Raiders can stay healthy this fall, they may have a 3 deep RB contingent. Tavares Thomas was the best of the bunch, and rushed for 507 yards and 9 scores, averaging 5.45 yards per carry. He is the tank of the group. Brad Anderson returns, and rushed for 491 yards, and averaged 5.52 yards per carry, but never scored in 9 games. Terelle West rushed for 308 yards and 4 scores, and averaged 5.4 yards per carry in 7 games. Again, the key is that this group must stay healthy. An area of concern is that not one member of this group averaged 10 carries per game.
Richie James is gone at WR, but there is some talent left over. Ty Lee returns, as does Patrick Smith. Lee ended up leading the team with 79 receptions for 955 yards and 5 scores last season. Smith caught 29 passes for 329 yards and 2 scores. CJ Windham caught 25 passes last fall, and also returns in the spread offense. Jimmy Marshall, who caught 8 passes, is penciled in as the 4th receiver as we left spring ball. Ruben Garnett caught 5 passes last season, and will be a key reserve. Isaiah Upton and Tavonn Salter add depth.
The Blue Raiders return 3 starters on the line, and this group will have to protect a fragile QB and set of RBs. Carlos Johnson (LT), Robert Behannan (C) and Chandler Brewer (RG) are the returning starters. Angelo Owens (LG) and Amir Luckett (RT) appear penciled in as the new starters. JOsh Fannin is looking for additional reps at C, while Cole Kirby provides some support at the OT spots. Luke Harris (OG) provides support inside.
Breakdown Defense: The Blue Raiders had a respectable defensive season in 2018, finishing 35th nationally in total defense, and 8 starters return, starting with 3 on the line. Walter Brady and Jahmal Jones both return at DE. They combined for 10 TFLs last fall. The staff would like to see them get a bit more aggressive this fall off of the edge. Tyshun Render and Trae Philpots are also in the mix for rotational jobs at DE. Each played in 13 games last fall. Darrius Liggins adds more depth.
Malik Manciel is back at DT this fall. He totaled 5 TFLs as well last season. Jordan Ferguson is the likely starter at the open DT spot as a sophomore. He finished with 5.5 TFLs as a freshman last season in 12 games played. Rakavian Poydras played in 13 games as a freshman last fall, and provides depth along with Ty Nix, who played in 10 games as a freshman last season.
Khalil Brooks and Darius Harris both return to start at LB. Brooks finished with 76 tackles, and led the team with a rock solid 18.5 TFLs last season. He also led the team with 7.5 sacks, and finished with 6 QB hurries. Harris totaled 64 tackles and 7.5 TFLs, while adding 4.5 sacks and 6 PBUs. RS freshman Cody Harris slots in between the 2 returning starters as a freshman, and moves to the LB spot after enrolling as a DB at 187 pounds. He know sits at 227, and has added solid muscle. Caleb Felton and Chris Melton will add depth.
The secondary boasts 3 returning starters this fall, with Jovante Moffett (SS) and Reed Blankenship (FS) returning to cover deep and support in the run defense. Moffett led the team with 101 tackles last fall, while Blankenship added 68 tackles. Wesley Bush serves as the 3rd Safety, but there is little depth after that.
Darryl Randolph is back to start at CB. He totaled just 2 PBUs last fall, and added 48 tackles. Senior OJ Johnson looks to fill the open CB spot, but again, depth is not a thing beyond the starters. Pass defense was the one weaker spot defensively for the Blue Raiders, as they ranked just 64th against the pass, while not ranking lower than 46th in any other area.
Breakdown Special Teams: Canon Rooker has moved on at PK, and will likely be replaced by Crews Holt, who hit his only attempt as a freshman.
Matt Bonadies returns as the Punter, but struggled last fall, averaging just 39.56 yards per punt. Matthew Stephenson is the only other Punter on the roster that could push him in camp.
The KR job is open, and will be filled in fall camp, while Blankenship averaged over 11 yards per return last fall on punts, and will handle that job once again.
Final Analysis: If healthy, the Blue Raiders can make a run for the second or third spot in the CUSA East in 2018, but pushing FAU seems like a reach to me, and even Marshall may have a better edge. The pieces are there, but one problem I have had with this program for years is the constant under performing nature of the program and the staff under Rick Stockstill, who is only 7 games over .500 in 12 years. I just don't see that changing, and to bank on the health of Brent Stockstill at QB is like betting on an Enron comeback. Not safe. He has missed 8 games over the last two seasons. In short, Middle Tennessee could have a solid year, and hit another bowl, but not be in the mix for the CUSA crown.
Michigan State Spartans 2018 Football Preview
Michigan State Spartans 2018 Football Preview
Opening Statement: There has been a ton of horrible news out of East Lansing outside of football matters, and some regarding football off-field matters, during this particularly distressing off-season for Michigan State. This fall, some good news appears to be brewing, as the Spartans are bringing back a ton of talent on offense, and they bring back a chunk of a defense that ranked 7th nationally in total defense last fall. Michigan State appears ready to make a run at the Big 10 East title in a year where Ohio State may be slightly vulnerable.
Breakdown Offense: The Spartans offense struggled to get the job done at times, despite the team winning 10 games, including a blowout win over Washington State in the Holiday Bowl. Pieces are in place that make me believe that the dark days on offense (ranked 91st nationally in total offense) are behind them, and a move forward should be in store.
Brian Lewerke is back at QB to lead the offense. He passed for 2793 yards and 20 TDs last season against 7 INTs. He has to work on TD to INT ratio a bit more, and he was working hard on his accuracy in spring ball, with some tangible gains being made. He completed 59% of his passes last season, a number that he knows needs to improve if the offense is to turn in the right direction. He added 559 yards rushing, and another 5 scores, and averaged 4.51 yards per carry. Rocky Lombardi had an up and down spring game, but the RS freshman appears to be ready for the number 2 job right now. With Lewerke having 2 more seasons of eligibility, Lombardi has some time to work his way up. Mickey Macius is the 3rd QB post spring as a grad transfer.
LJ Scott gave the Spartans great news when he agreed to forego the NFL draft last spring to return for his senior season. He rushed for 898 yards and 8 scores, but averaged just 4.47 yards per carry last fall, most of which is to be blamed on an ineffective line, which I will cover later. One area of concern is turnovers for Scott, which was an item addressed in spring practice. Connor Heyward, who rushed just 3 times as a freshman last season, left spring with the backup job in his hold. La'Darius Jefferson and Elijah Collins are both incoming freshmen, and may be all the depth the Spartans have at the position, along with RS freshman Weston Bridges. Either Jefferson or Collins could end up redshirting. Alonte Thomas got in some work in the spring game, but had serious fumble issues.
Cody White and Felton Davis III are back at WR. Davis broke out with a line of 55-776-9 last fall, while averaging 14.11 yards per catch. White caught 35 passes as a freshman last fall, and should see an increased load in the passing game this fall. Darrell Stewart also returns after a 50 receptions season as a sophomore. Sophomore Cam Chambers is catching some attention, and had a solid spring game, while RS freshman CJ Hayes has also been catching some looks. Jahz Watts, a walk on RS freshman, looked flashy with his speed in spring ball. There were a ton of receivers in camp, so there are bodies, but just not a ton of experience beyond the starters.
Matt Sokol caught 21 passes as a junior at TE, and will be back to start. Matt Dotson, who caught 2 passes as a freshman, appeared to be a fast riser in spring camp, and may push for more reps with the first team. Chase Gianacakos is the primary big blocking back in jumbo sets. Noah Davis had surgery post spring, and his return is uncertain. Freshman Trenton Gillison is the option to replace Davis for now if Davis cannot go.
The line was a huge issue last season, and could not get a consistent push from play to play or game to game. That has got to change if the Spartans are to make a push in the division this season. The Spartans return 4 starters here, and could go 7 deep after the spring. Cole Chewins (LT), David Beedle (LG), Kevin Jarvis (RG), and Luke Campbell (RT) all return, but the Spartans must replace their anchor in C Brian Allen. Chewins and Campbell have to improve against the edge rush, which was a major problem last season. Sophomore Matt Allen left spring ball with the edge on the C job. If Campbell struggles, Jordan Reid could be in line to push him. If Chewins struggles, Campbell slides over to the left side, with Reid replacing the RT spot. Tyler Higby will be someone to watch at LG and at C, and gives the interior some solid depth. Mustafa Khaleefa is a RS freshman who impressed in the spring as a reserve at the Tackle spots. Blake Bueter, another RS freshman, is another option for depth at C.
Breakdown Defense: Nine starters return from a defense that allowed 20 points or more just 5 times last fall. Three of those starters are back up front on the line. Raequan Williams and Mike Panasiuk are the returning starters at DT. They combined for 9 TFLs up the middle last fall, and should create a formidable wall this fall. Gerald Owens and Naquan Jones provided depth last fall, and continue to do so for this season. They combined for 3 TFLs off of the bench.
Kenny Willekas returns to start at DE this fall, and led the Spartans with 14.5 TFLs last season. He added 7 sacks and 8 QB hurries, and should be one of the better edge rushers in the Big 10 this fall. Jacub Panasuik will likely start at the open spot at DE this fall as a sophomore. Dillon Alexander and Justice Alexander both provide depth.
Joe Bachie is back at WILL LB this fall, while Andrew Dowell is back at the STAR position. Bachie led the team last fall with 100 tackles, adding 8.5 TFLs and 3.5 sacks. He also forced 2 fumbles. Dowell finished with 74 tackles last season, with 2.5 TFLs, 4 PBUs, and 2 QB hurries. Tyriq Thompson will move into the SAM spot this fall. He totaled just 11 tackles as a sophomore last season, and had an open look in spring ball with an injury to Byron Bullough opening things up. Antjuan Simmons, Brandon Randle, and Bullough are the 2nd unit here.
The entire secondary returns this fall, and that is cause for celebration. Justin Layne and Josiah Scott are the starters at CB. Scott recorded 10 PBUs last fall, while Layne added 8. They combined for 3 INTs on the season. They combine to create a shut down tandem that may be one of the best in the nation. Tyson Smith and Josh Butler are veteran reserves, while RS freshman Shakur Brown and freshman Kalon Gervin are risers to watch.
Khari Willis is back at SS, while David Dowell is back at FS. Dowell led the Spartans with 5 INTs last fall and finished with 4 PBUs and 52 tackles. Willis finished with 71 tackles and 3 PBUs on the season. Matt Morrissey will be involved in Nickel coverage and freshman Xavier Henderson could have immediate impact as well in package coverage units.
Breakdown Special Teams: Matt Coghlin had a solid effort last fall, hitting 15/19 FGs on the season, and was perfect on 38 PATs.
Jake Hartbarger returns for his senior season as the Punter, and averaged 41.96 yards per punt last fall.
Heyward and Stewart should work well in tandem on kick returns, while the PR job could be open in fall camp between Laress Nelson, Cody White, and Stewart.
Final Analysis: The line was a primary problem on offense last fall, and it has apparently improved through spring ball, and now could be as many as 7 or 8 deep heading into fall camp. Defending better against the edge rush, and getting some push in the run game will be paramount to success. Defensively, it's hard to knock the Spartans anywhere, as a massive bulk of starters and depth players return to the same roles they held last fall on what was a fantastic defense. The schedule sets up incredibly well, with winnable games against Utah State, Arizona State, and Central Michigan in non con games, and Indiana is the first conference game. Northwestern is the first challenging game on the schedule, and the Spartans don't get them until October 6, and it is in East Lansing. Michigan State has what it will take to make a push on paper, and now they need to execute that push.
Opening Statement: There has been a ton of horrible news out of East Lansing outside of football matters, and some regarding football off-field matters, during this particularly distressing off-season for Michigan State. This fall, some good news appears to be brewing, as the Spartans are bringing back a ton of talent on offense, and they bring back a chunk of a defense that ranked 7th nationally in total defense last fall. Michigan State appears ready to make a run at the Big 10 East title in a year where Ohio State may be slightly vulnerable.
Breakdown Offense: The Spartans offense struggled to get the job done at times, despite the team winning 10 games, including a blowout win over Washington State in the Holiday Bowl. Pieces are in place that make me believe that the dark days on offense (ranked 91st nationally in total offense) are behind them, and a move forward should be in store.
Brian Lewerke is back at QB to lead the offense. He passed for 2793 yards and 20 TDs last season against 7 INTs. He has to work on TD to INT ratio a bit more, and he was working hard on his accuracy in spring ball, with some tangible gains being made. He completed 59% of his passes last season, a number that he knows needs to improve if the offense is to turn in the right direction. He added 559 yards rushing, and another 5 scores, and averaged 4.51 yards per carry. Rocky Lombardi had an up and down spring game, but the RS freshman appears to be ready for the number 2 job right now. With Lewerke having 2 more seasons of eligibility, Lombardi has some time to work his way up. Mickey Macius is the 3rd QB post spring as a grad transfer.
LJ Scott gave the Spartans great news when he agreed to forego the NFL draft last spring to return for his senior season. He rushed for 898 yards and 8 scores, but averaged just 4.47 yards per carry last fall, most of which is to be blamed on an ineffective line, which I will cover later. One area of concern is turnovers for Scott, which was an item addressed in spring practice. Connor Heyward, who rushed just 3 times as a freshman last season, left spring with the backup job in his hold. La'Darius Jefferson and Elijah Collins are both incoming freshmen, and may be all the depth the Spartans have at the position, along with RS freshman Weston Bridges. Either Jefferson or Collins could end up redshirting. Alonte Thomas got in some work in the spring game, but had serious fumble issues.
Cody White and Felton Davis III are back at WR. Davis broke out with a line of 55-776-9 last fall, while averaging 14.11 yards per catch. White caught 35 passes as a freshman last fall, and should see an increased load in the passing game this fall. Darrell Stewart also returns after a 50 receptions season as a sophomore. Sophomore Cam Chambers is catching some attention, and had a solid spring game, while RS freshman CJ Hayes has also been catching some looks. Jahz Watts, a walk on RS freshman, looked flashy with his speed in spring ball. There were a ton of receivers in camp, so there are bodies, but just not a ton of experience beyond the starters.
Matt Sokol caught 21 passes as a junior at TE, and will be back to start. Matt Dotson, who caught 2 passes as a freshman, appeared to be a fast riser in spring camp, and may push for more reps with the first team. Chase Gianacakos is the primary big blocking back in jumbo sets. Noah Davis had surgery post spring, and his return is uncertain. Freshman Trenton Gillison is the option to replace Davis for now if Davis cannot go.
The line was a huge issue last season, and could not get a consistent push from play to play or game to game. That has got to change if the Spartans are to make a push in the division this season. The Spartans return 4 starters here, and could go 7 deep after the spring. Cole Chewins (LT), David Beedle (LG), Kevin Jarvis (RG), and Luke Campbell (RT) all return, but the Spartans must replace their anchor in C Brian Allen. Chewins and Campbell have to improve against the edge rush, which was a major problem last season. Sophomore Matt Allen left spring ball with the edge on the C job. If Campbell struggles, Jordan Reid could be in line to push him. If Chewins struggles, Campbell slides over to the left side, with Reid replacing the RT spot. Tyler Higby will be someone to watch at LG and at C, and gives the interior some solid depth. Mustafa Khaleefa is a RS freshman who impressed in the spring as a reserve at the Tackle spots. Blake Bueter, another RS freshman, is another option for depth at C.
Breakdown Defense: Nine starters return from a defense that allowed 20 points or more just 5 times last fall. Three of those starters are back up front on the line. Raequan Williams and Mike Panasiuk are the returning starters at DT. They combined for 9 TFLs up the middle last fall, and should create a formidable wall this fall. Gerald Owens and Naquan Jones provided depth last fall, and continue to do so for this season. They combined for 3 TFLs off of the bench.
Kenny Willekas returns to start at DE this fall, and led the Spartans with 14.5 TFLs last season. He added 7 sacks and 8 QB hurries, and should be one of the better edge rushers in the Big 10 this fall. Jacub Panasuik will likely start at the open spot at DE this fall as a sophomore. Dillon Alexander and Justice Alexander both provide depth.
Joe Bachie is back at WILL LB this fall, while Andrew Dowell is back at the STAR position. Bachie led the team last fall with 100 tackles, adding 8.5 TFLs and 3.5 sacks. He also forced 2 fumbles. Dowell finished with 74 tackles last season, with 2.5 TFLs, 4 PBUs, and 2 QB hurries. Tyriq Thompson will move into the SAM spot this fall. He totaled just 11 tackles as a sophomore last season, and had an open look in spring ball with an injury to Byron Bullough opening things up. Antjuan Simmons, Brandon Randle, and Bullough are the 2nd unit here.
The entire secondary returns this fall, and that is cause for celebration. Justin Layne and Josiah Scott are the starters at CB. Scott recorded 10 PBUs last fall, while Layne added 8. They combined for 3 INTs on the season. They combine to create a shut down tandem that may be one of the best in the nation. Tyson Smith and Josh Butler are veteran reserves, while RS freshman Shakur Brown and freshman Kalon Gervin are risers to watch.
Khari Willis is back at SS, while David Dowell is back at FS. Dowell led the Spartans with 5 INTs last fall and finished with 4 PBUs and 52 tackles. Willis finished with 71 tackles and 3 PBUs on the season. Matt Morrissey will be involved in Nickel coverage and freshman Xavier Henderson could have immediate impact as well in package coverage units.
Breakdown Special Teams: Matt Coghlin had a solid effort last fall, hitting 15/19 FGs on the season, and was perfect on 38 PATs.
Jake Hartbarger returns for his senior season as the Punter, and averaged 41.96 yards per punt last fall.
Heyward and Stewart should work well in tandem on kick returns, while the PR job could be open in fall camp between Laress Nelson, Cody White, and Stewart.
Final Analysis: The line was a primary problem on offense last fall, and it has apparently improved through spring ball, and now could be as many as 7 or 8 deep heading into fall camp. Defending better against the edge rush, and getting some push in the run game will be paramount to success. Defensively, it's hard to knock the Spartans anywhere, as a massive bulk of starters and depth players return to the same roles they held last fall on what was a fantastic defense. The schedule sets up incredibly well, with winnable games against Utah State, Arizona State, and Central Michigan in non con games, and Indiana is the first conference game. Northwestern is the first challenging game on the schedule, and the Spartans don't get them until October 6, and it is in East Lansing. Michigan State has what it will take to make a push on paper, and now they need to execute that push.
Michigan Wolverines 2018 Football Preview
Michigan Wolverines 2018 Football Preview
Opening Statement: The Wolverines took a tumble last season after massive losses from the 2016 team left Michigan as being overloaded with inexperience all over both sides of the football. While there are still holes to fill this fall, specifically on offense, the overall outlook of Michigan is much shinier now than it was a year ago. Michigan starts the season coming off of a rare 3 game skid, with losses to Wisconsin, Ohio State, and South Carolina crushing any kind of momentum from an 8-2 start. The Wolverines will be trying to end that streak on the road as they travel to Notre Dame to start the season, and will also be trying to...for the love of all things holy...beat Ohio State after a long drought in the series. This will be an important year for Jim Harbaugh, who still has not beaten the Buckeyes.
Breakdown Offense: It is incredibly strange to many people that Harbaugh has not yet found an elite QB to bring to Ann Arbor. He may have found someone who pushes the needle closer to that direction in Ole Miss transfer Shea Patterson, who was granted immediate eligibility in April. Patterson passed for 2259 yards and 17 scores in 7 games before missing the rest of the season with an injury. Brandon Peters, who played extensively in 6 games last fall, will be the backup heading into camp, but he did have a solid spring, and may not be ready to relinquish the job just yet.He passed for 672 yards and 4 TDs to 2 INTs, but completed just 52% of his passes.
Karan Higdon is back at RB after rushing for 994 yards and 11 scores last fall while averaging 6.06 yards per carry. Chris Evans also returns as the second part of a 2 headed beast in the backfield. He rushed for 685 yards and 6 scores while averaging 5.07 yards per carry. Kareem Walker and O'Maury Samuels both received a bit of work last fall, and returns as depth, if needed.
Last season was not a sterling year for the Michigan passing attack, but some talent has returned in the receiving corps that can hopefully change those fortunes. Grant Perry returns after leading the team with 25 catches last fall. Donovan Peoples-Jones is an immense physical talent that needs to put it all together as a sophomore this season. Tarik Black played in just 3 games last season, and his return should show immediate dividends payed for the passing game. Nico Collins, Oliver Martin, Eddie McDoom, and Kekoa Crawford will provide depth. That group combined for 31 receptions last fall.
The Wolverines have another 2 headed situation, this time at the TE position. The Detroit Free Press calls Sean McKeon the best blocking TE that he has ever seen at Michigan, while Zach Gentry caught 17 passes last season. Nick Eubanks appears ready for a breakout performance, while Tyrone Wheatley, Jr. and Mustapha Muhammed bring depth.
The line has some questions heading into camp at the Tackle spots, while the interior appears settled with Ben Bredeson (LG), Cesar Ruiz (C), and Mike Onwenu (RG) all back to start. Juwan Bushell-Beatty appears to have an edge at LT, while Jon Runyan, Jr. appears to be in the lead on the right side. James Hudson and Nolan Ulizio appear to be the reserves at Tackle, for now. Stephen Spanellis may push Onwenu at RG, while Andrew Stueber, Joel Honigford, and Chuck Filiaga will add depth inside.
Breakdown Defense: The Wolverines return 8 starters total on what was the 3rd ranked team in the nation in total defense last fall, but only 2 return on the line, both at DE in Chase Winovich and Rashan Gary. The return of both players was amazing news for the Wolverines, as these players combined for 30.5 TFLs as a duo, with Winovich leading the team with 18.5. This may be one of the top 5 DE duos in FBS football coming into the season. Winovich recorded 8 sacks, while Gary recorded 6. Kwite Paye leds the way as the backup at DE, while Carlo Kemp and Donovan Jeter will move inside and out when needed.
The Wolverines are looking for 2 new starters at DT. Michael Dwumfour and Aubrey Solomon appear to have the edge heading into fall camp. Solomon played in 13 games as a freshman last fall, recording 2 TFLs. Dwumfour appeared in 9 games as a sophomore. Bryan Mone and Lawrence Marshall appear to be the reserves inside specifically.
Devin Bush led the Wolverines with 102 tackles last season, and returns to man the MIKE spot at LB. He added 9.5 TFLs, 5 sacks, and 8 PBUs, and should be looked at as a potential 1st round NFL draft pick in 2019. Khaleke Hudson also returns after recording 82 tackles, 18 TFLs, 8 sacks, 9 PBUs, 4 QB hurries, and 2 forced fumbles. Like Bush, he is a future NFL 1st round draft pick candidate for 2019.The WLB spot is open heading into fall camp, with Josh Ross competing with Devin Gil. They combined for 9 total tackles last fall. Josh Uche, Noah Furbush, and Drew Singleton are reserves, but will push for reps themselves in camp.
The secondary returns intact after Michigan finished first nationally against the pass last season. Lavert Hill and David Long are the CBs. They combined for 13 PBUs last fall, and tied with each other with 2 INTs per player. They combined for 47 tackles, and were a big reason that Michigan's defense was so efficient in getting off of the field. Hill did suffer some injuries in spring camp, but should be ready to go. Ambry Thomas and Brandon Watson will provide depth at CB, while Jaylen Kelly-Powell inserts as the Nickel. Casey Hughes provides depth at both CB and S.
Josh Metellus and Tyree Kinnel are back at SS and FS, respectively. They combined for 12 PBUs last fall, and Kinnel led the duo with 69 tackles. Metellus totaled 49 tackles from his strong spot. J'Marick Woods, Brad Hawkins, and Jordan Glasgow give the Wolverines plenty of depth here.
Breakdown Special Teams: Quinn Nordin returns at PK after hitting 19/24 FG attempts last season, but he needs to sharpen up on PATs, as he missed 3 a year ago (35/38).
Brad Robbins had a decent go at Punter as a freshman last season, averaging 40.36 yards per punt. He should show improvement across the board this fall.
The Wolverines could use some improvement on KR duty, as Ambry Thomas and Kekoa Crawford both failed to average over 20 yards per return last fall. Peoples-Jones averaged 8 yards per PR last fall, and took one to the house.
Final Analysis: Harbaugh should have a lifetime gig at Michigan, but the faithful will start to grumble (as some already have) about his failure to beat Ohio State, and his lackluster performance in bowl games. Finishing 2nd or 3rd in the Big 10 East annually will not satiate anyone in Ann Arbor, and while the defense appears to be fired up once again for Michigan, the offense has got to work off the rust and get moving this fall, because the competition in the division with the Buckeyes, Penn State, and Michigan State, is as strong as it has ever been in 2018, and then there's Wisconsin out of the West. Finding elite offensive talent at Michigan has been a problem, and that has to be solved if the Wolverines are to push through and win the Big 10, which will eventually become a must.
Opening Statement: The Wolverines took a tumble last season after massive losses from the 2016 team left Michigan as being overloaded with inexperience all over both sides of the football. While there are still holes to fill this fall, specifically on offense, the overall outlook of Michigan is much shinier now than it was a year ago. Michigan starts the season coming off of a rare 3 game skid, with losses to Wisconsin, Ohio State, and South Carolina crushing any kind of momentum from an 8-2 start. The Wolverines will be trying to end that streak on the road as they travel to Notre Dame to start the season, and will also be trying to...for the love of all things holy...beat Ohio State after a long drought in the series. This will be an important year for Jim Harbaugh, who still has not beaten the Buckeyes.
Breakdown Offense: It is incredibly strange to many people that Harbaugh has not yet found an elite QB to bring to Ann Arbor. He may have found someone who pushes the needle closer to that direction in Ole Miss transfer Shea Patterson, who was granted immediate eligibility in April. Patterson passed for 2259 yards and 17 scores in 7 games before missing the rest of the season with an injury. Brandon Peters, who played extensively in 6 games last fall, will be the backup heading into camp, but he did have a solid spring, and may not be ready to relinquish the job just yet.He passed for 672 yards and 4 TDs to 2 INTs, but completed just 52% of his passes.
Karan Higdon is back at RB after rushing for 994 yards and 11 scores last fall while averaging 6.06 yards per carry. Chris Evans also returns as the second part of a 2 headed beast in the backfield. He rushed for 685 yards and 6 scores while averaging 5.07 yards per carry. Kareem Walker and O'Maury Samuels both received a bit of work last fall, and returns as depth, if needed.
Last season was not a sterling year for the Michigan passing attack, but some talent has returned in the receiving corps that can hopefully change those fortunes. Grant Perry returns after leading the team with 25 catches last fall. Donovan Peoples-Jones is an immense physical talent that needs to put it all together as a sophomore this season. Tarik Black played in just 3 games last season, and his return should show immediate dividends payed for the passing game. Nico Collins, Oliver Martin, Eddie McDoom, and Kekoa Crawford will provide depth. That group combined for 31 receptions last fall.
The Wolverines have another 2 headed situation, this time at the TE position. The Detroit Free Press calls Sean McKeon the best blocking TE that he has ever seen at Michigan, while Zach Gentry caught 17 passes last season. Nick Eubanks appears ready for a breakout performance, while Tyrone Wheatley, Jr. and Mustapha Muhammed bring depth.
The line has some questions heading into camp at the Tackle spots, while the interior appears settled with Ben Bredeson (LG), Cesar Ruiz (C), and Mike Onwenu (RG) all back to start. Juwan Bushell-Beatty appears to have an edge at LT, while Jon Runyan, Jr. appears to be in the lead on the right side. James Hudson and Nolan Ulizio appear to be the reserves at Tackle, for now. Stephen Spanellis may push Onwenu at RG, while Andrew Stueber, Joel Honigford, and Chuck Filiaga will add depth inside.
Breakdown Defense: The Wolverines return 8 starters total on what was the 3rd ranked team in the nation in total defense last fall, but only 2 return on the line, both at DE in Chase Winovich and Rashan Gary. The return of both players was amazing news for the Wolverines, as these players combined for 30.5 TFLs as a duo, with Winovich leading the team with 18.5. This may be one of the top 5 DE duos in FBS football coming into the season. Winovich recorded 8 sacks, while Gary recorded 6. Kwite Paye leds the way as the backup at DE, while Carlo Kemp and Donovan Jeter will move inside and out when needed.
The Wolverines are looking for 2 new starters at DT. Michael Dwumfour and Aubrey Solomon appear to have the edge heading into fall camp. Solomon played in 13 games as a freshman last fall, recording 2 TFLs. Dwumfour appeared in 9 games as a sophomore. Bryan Mone and Lawrence Marshall appear to be the reserves inside specifically.
Devin Bush led the Wolverines with 102 tackles last season, and returns to man the MIKE spot at LB. He added 9.5 TFLs, 5 sacks, and 8 PBUs, and should be looked at as a potential 1st round NFL draft pick in 2019. Khaleke Hudson also returns after recording 82 tackles, 18 TFLs, 8 sacks, 9 PBUs, 4 QB hurries, and 2 forced fumbles. Like Bush, he is a future NFL 1st round draft pick candidate for 2019.The WLB spot is open heading into fall camp, with Josh Ross competing with Devin Gil. They combined for 9 total tackles last fall. Josh Uche, Noah Furbush, and Drew Singleton are reserves, but will push for reps themselves in camp.
The secondary returns intact after Michigan finished first nationally against the pass last season. Lavert Hill and David Long are the CBs. They combined for 13 PBUs last fall, and tied with each other with 2 INTs per player. They combined for 47 tackles, and were a big reason that Michigan's defense was so efficient in getting off of the field. Hill did suffer some injuries in spring camp, but should be ready to go. Ambry Thomas and Brandon Watson will provide depth at CB, while Jaylen Kelly-Powell inserts as the Nickel. Casey Hughes provides depth at both CB and S.
Josh Metellus and Tyree Kinnel are back at SS and FS, respectively. They combined for 12 PBUs last fall, and Kinnel led the duo with 69 tackles. Metellus totaled 49 tackles from his strong spot. J'Marick Woods, Brad Hawkins, and Jordan Glasgow give the Wolverines plenty of depth here.
Breakdown Special Teams: Quinn Nordin returns at PK after hitting 19/24 FG attempts last season, but he needs to sharpen up on PATs, as he missed 3 a year ago (35/38).
Brad Robbins had a decent go at Punter as a freshman last season, averaging 40.36 yards per punt. He should show improvement across the board this fall.
The Wolverines could use some improvement on KR duty, as Ambry Thomas and Kekoa Crawford both failed to average over 20 yards per return last fall. Peoples-Jones averaged 8 yards per PR last fall, and took one to the house.
Final Analysis: Harbaugh should have a lifetime gig at Michigan, but the faithful will start to grumble (as some already have) about his failure to beat Ohio State, and his lackluster performance in bowl games. Finishing 2nd or 3rd in the Big 10 East annually will not satiate anyone in Ann Arbor, and while the defense appears to be fired up once again for Michigan, the offense has got to work off the rust and get moving this fall, because the competition in the division with the Buckeyes, Penn State, and Michigan State, is as strong as it has ever been in 2018, and then there's Wisconsin out of the West. Finding elite offensive talent at Michigan has been a problem, and that has to be solved if the Wolverines are to push through and win the Big 10, which will eventually become a must.
Tuesday, June 19, 2018
Miami (Ohio) Redhawks 2018 Football Preview
Miami (Ohio) Redhawks 2018 Football Preview
Opening Statement: I have read statements about this program stating that the rebuild should be complete. I could no agree less. In short, I think that this team has been a mess, and last season proved that as goes Gus Ragland, the team goes with him, and they are 1-5 without him. That is not a rebuilt football team, at least not in my book. Chuck Martin is in a win now or else situation, and placing the expectation on him that the rebuild should be complete puts my statement on him to the test. Call me someone who does not buy that the rebuild is complete, because my assessment will not show that.
Breakdown Offense: Gus Ragland is back, but he gets hurt, a lot. He played in 9 games last fall, and passed for 2032 yards with 19 scores and 7 INTs. He completed just 55.8% of his passes last season, and if that is who they are banking success on, the program could be in for a rough time. Much is being made of the grad transfer of Alex Malzone from Michigan, but he never tossed a pass for the Wolverines, and even if he was a 4 star prospect, I find it hard to get pumped about a 3 year player who never saw the field. That 4 star ranking no longer means anything. He is, however, in the wings if Ragland goes down...again.
Kenny Young and Alonzo Smith are both back at RB, and combined to rush for 1441 yards last fall, but neither is a star on his own, and neither appear prepared to carry the load, if asked. They also both missed time last fall, which is something to be concerned about. Maurice Thomas returns, but missed 9 games last fall with yet another injury. What he brings to the table will be based on if he can stay healthy or not.
James Gardner is a solid option at WR, as he returns after posting a line of 47-927-11 last fall. He averaged 19.72 yards per catch on the season, but only averaged 3.9 receptions per game last fall. The Redhawks need to find 2 new starters at WR, and they appear to be Luke Mayock and Dominique Robinson. Jack Sorenson is in the fight for an open spot, but he did not catch a pass as a RS freshman last season. Depth at the position, and experience, are not good.
Ryan Smith, who caught 35 passes at TE last fall, is gone. Nate Becker, who caught 3 passes last fall, is the likely starter here. Again, depth is not great.
Only 3 starters return on the line in LT Jordan Rigg, LG Sam McCollum, and RG Jarrett LaRubbio. Danny Godleveke is in a battle to win the C job with Mitch Palmer, while Tommy Doyle and Matt Skibbinski are battling at RT. Ian Leever provides backup work at Tackle, and Ryan Mullen is the backup at OG. Jack Schoer is the backup at C.
Breakdown Defense: There is some experience returning up front on the line, as 3 starters return. Pasquale Calcagno is back at DE and recorded 5 TFLs last fall. Dean Lemon is slated in as the other starter at DE as a junior, but does not have a ton of experience. Ben Kimpler is the backup off the edge.
Nate Trawick and Doug Costin are the DTs. Costin is extremely disruptive, as he finished with 8.5 TFLs last fall. Trawick finished with 3 TFLs last fall. Mack Duffin provides depth in the middle.
Brad Koenig and Junior McMullen are back at LB. Koenig totaled 102 tackles last fall, and added a team leading 10.5 TFLs. Bart Baratti has the edge on the weak side at LB, and should be able to lock it down. Depth is not great here as far as experience is concerned.
The secondary is in decent shape, despite losing both 4 year starters at CB. Deondre Daniels, who has starting experience at CB, is back and should role into one of the jobs. He totaled 7 PBUs last fall, and should create a seamless transition. Zedrick Raymond is slated at the CB spot, but Travion Banks could push him. Neither made much of an impact last season.
De'Andre Montgomery is back at SS, while Joshua Allen is the FS. Montgomery finished with 62 tackles, but missed 3 games due to injury last fall. Allen finished with 4 PBUs, and totaled 53 tackles. Daryus Thompson is the backup.
Breakdown Special Teams: Samuel Sloman is back at PK after hitting 12/16 FG attempts last fall. He should have more expectations on him as a junior this fall.
Kyle Kramer is back at Punter, and he was decent last fall with an average of 40.55 yards per punt. Again, he needs to show some minute improvements this season as a junior.
Jaylon Bester should be the primary KR man after averaging 20.44 yards per return last fall. A new PR man must be found in fall camp.
Final Analysis: The Redhawks rebuilding effort is definitely not finished. There are depthissues on defense, and the offensive group lacks star quaility players that we have seen in other strong MAC programs in the last decade. If they want to put it all on Ragland at QB, that may backfire, because he tends to be overrated when healthy, and he tends to not be healthy often. I just don't like the pieces on the roster as much as others may, and I find it difficult to reconcile this team as a MAC conference or division contender in my head.
Opening Statement: I have read statements about this program stating that the rebuild should be complete. I could no agree less. In short, I think that this team has been a mess, and last season proved that as goes Gus Ragland, the team goes with him, and they are 1-5 without him. That is not a rebuilt football team, at least not in my book. Chuck Martin is in a win now or else situation, and placing the expectation on him that the rebuild should be complete puts my statement on him to the test. Call me someone who does not buy that the rebuild is complete, because my assessment will not show that.
Breakdown Offense: Gus Ragland is back, but he gets hurt, a lot. He played in 9 games last fall, and passed for 2032 yards with 19 scores and 7 INTs. He completed just 55.8% of his passes last season, and if that is who they are banking success on, the program could be in for a rough time. Much is being made of the grad transfer of Alex Malzone from Michigan, but he never tossed a pass for the Wolverines, and even if he was a 4 star prospect, I find it hard to get pumped about a 3 year player who never saw the field. That 4 star ranking no longer means anything. He is, however, in the wings if Ragland goes down...again.
Kenny Young and Alonzo Smith are both back at RB, and combined to rush for 1441 yards last fall, but neither is a star on his own, and neither appear prepared to carry the load, if asked. They also both missed time last fall, which is something to be concerned about. Maurice Thomas returns, but missed 9 games last fall with yet another injury. What he brings to the table will be based on if he can stay healthy or not.
James Gardner is a solid option at WR, as he returns after posting a line of 47-927-11 last fall. He averaged 19.72 yards per catch on the season, but only averaged 3.9 receptions per game last fall. The Redhawks need to find 2 new starters at WR, and they appear to be Luke Mayock and Dominique Robinson. Jack Sorenson is in the fight for an open spot, but he did not catch a pass as a RS freshman last season. Depth at the position, and experience, are not good.
Ryan Smith, who caught 35 passes at TE last fall, is gone. Nate Becker, who caught 3 passes last fall, is the likely starter here. Again, depth is not great.
Only 3 starters return on the line in LT Jordan Rigg, LG Sam McCollum, and RG Jarrett LaRubbio. Danny Godleveke is in a battle to win the C job with Mitch Palmer, while Tommy Doyle and Matt Skibbinski are battling at RT. Ian Leever provides backup work at Tackle, and Ryan Mullen is the backup at OG. Jack Schoer is the backup at C.
Breakdown Defense: There is some experience returning up front on the line, as 3 starters return. Pasquale Calcagno is back at DE and recorded 5 TFLs last fall. Dean Lemon is slated in as the other starter at DE as a junior, but does not have a ton of experience. Ben Kimpler is the backup off the edge.
Nate Trawick and Doug Costin are the DTs. Costin is extremely disruptive, as he finished with 8.5 TFLs last fall. Trawick finished with 3 TFLs last fall. Mack Duffin provides depth in the middle.
Brad Koenig and Junior McMullen are back at LB. Koenig totaled 102 tackles last fall, and added a team leading 10.5 TFLs. Bart Baratti has the edge on the weak side at LB, and should be able to lock it down. Depth is not great here as far as experience is concerned.
The secondary is in decent shape, despite losing both 4 year starters at CB. Deondre Daniels, who has starting experience at CB, is back and should role into one of the jobs. He totaled 7 PBUs last fall, and should create a seamless transition. Zedrick Raymond is slated at the CB spot, but Travion Banks could push him. Neither made much of an impact last season.
De'Andre Montgomery is back at SS, while Joshua Allen is the FS. Montgomery finished with 62 tackles, but missed 3 games due to injury last fall. Allen finished with 4 PBUs, and totaled 53 tackles. Daryus Thompson is the backup.
Breakdown Special Teams: Samuel Sloman is back at PK after hitting 12/16 FG attempts last fall. He should have more expectations on him as a junior this fall.
Kyle Kramer is back at Punter, and he was decent last fall with an average of 40.55 yards per punt. Again, he needs to show some minute improvements this season as a junior.
Jaylon Bester should be the primary KR man after averaging 20.44 yards per return last fall. A new PR man must be found in fall camp.
Final Analysis: The Redhawks rebuilding effort is definitely not finished. There are depthissues on defense, and the offensive group lacks star quaility players that we have seen in other strong MAC programs in the last decade. If they want to put it all on Ragland at QB, that may backfire, because he tends to be overrated when healthy, and he tends to not be healthy often. I just don't like the pieces on the roster as much as others may, and I find it difficult to reconcile this team as a MAC conference or division contender in my head.
Miami Hurricanes 2018 Football Preview
Miami Hurricanes 2018 Football Preview
Opening Statements: Mark Richt was a breath of fresh air when he was hired as head football coach at Miami after his term at Georgia had ended in a stale trance. Miami was home for Richt, and Miami needed his services in the worst of ways. Richt may have grown tired at Georgia, but he is one hell of a football coach, and he immediately fired up the prospects of the program moving forward. The 2018 season should be another move upwards for the Canes, and the future looks bright once again.
Breakdown Offense: Malik Rosier is back at QB after passing for 3120 yards and 26 TDs and 14 INTs. If Miami is to fly as high as they can offensively, they need Rosier to increase his accuracy. He completed just 54% of his passes last fall, and his 14 INTs were a problem at times as well. The offense fell off of a cliff in a 3 game losing streak, and he had a part in that. N'Kosi Perry is the backup heading into fall camp, and many thought he would end up starting last season (including me), but Rosier held the job, and looms to once again.
Mark Walton missed 9 games last fall to injury, and has moved on. Travis Homer took over, and carried the load. He rushed for 966 yards and 8 scores, and averaged 5.93 yards per carry. Lorenzo Lingard, a freshman, had a big spring, and may provide some depth this fall, which is a problem for the Hurricanes at the RB position. They lack serious depth here. DeeJay Dallas is in the mix as the backup, but carried just 41 times last fall.
Ahmmon Richards is back to lead the team at the WR position. He caught just 24 passes, and played in only 8 games last fall. Lawrence Cager and Jeff Thomas are also slated to start, They combined for just 33 receptions last season. Darrell Langham and Dayall Harris are the primary backups, while Brian Hightower adds depth. Mike Harley could put on a battle to start in the slot.
Michael Irvin II steps in as the starting TE after catching 9 passes as a sophomore. Brian Polendey is the backup.
The Canes are set at both Tackle spots and at Center, but they need to replenish the OG spots. Tyree St. Louis (LT), Tyler Gauthier (C), and Navaughan Donaldson (RT) return as starters. Jahair Johnson (LG) and Hayden Mahoney (RG) are in the lead heading into fall. George Brown, John Campbell, and Kai-Leon Herbert are the reserves at Tackle, while Delone Scaife and Zalon'tae Hillery are the reserves at OG. Corey Gaynor is the reserve at C.
Breakdown Defense: The Hurricanes have to replace 3 starters on the line from a defense that allowed just 21 points per game. Joe Jackson is the lone returning starter, and will line up at DE. He totaled 11.5 TFLs last season, and is one of the better ends in the ACC. Demetrius Jackson is slated to start opposite him. He played in just 7 games last fall, but still managed 6.5 TFLs. Scott Patchan, Jonathon Garvin, and Gregory Rousseau are the reserves at DE.
Gerald Willis III and Pat Bethel are the starters at DT as we head into fall, and it looks as if they will lock down those jobs. Jon Ford should rotate into the lineup at DT, and is the 3rd Tackle on the depth chart. Tyreic Martin adds some depth.
The LB corps returns intact in the starting lineup. Shaq Quarterman, Michael Pinckney and Zach McCloud are the starters. Quarterman totaled 83 tackles, and Pinckney totaled 68. McCloud had 48 tackles on the weak side. Derrick Smith got a ton of reps in spring ball, and will be the backup at SLB. Mike Smith and Waynmon Steed will back up on the weak side. Bradley Jennings is the backup in the middle.
The Canes are set at Safety, as both Jaquan Johnson and Sheldrick Redwine both return. Redwine finished with 6 PBUs, and forced 2 fumbles, and totaled 59 tackles. He also added 2 INTs. Johnson is the enforcer, as he totaled 96 tackles. Robert Knowles and Amari Carter are the backups.
Michael Jackson is back at CB, and finished with 5 PBUs last season, and tied for the team lead with 4 INTs. He is a lock for day one, but less of a lock is Jhavonte Dean, who was pushed hard by Trajan Bandy. Johnson did tie for the team lead with 4 INTs, and forced 3 fumbles last season. Bandy finished with 6 PBUs.
Breakdown Special Teams: Michael Badgley is gone at PK, and he was the all-time leading FG kicker at Miami when he left. Marco Baeza Turner Davidson, a RS freshman, are in a battle to take over the job.
Zach Feagles is back at Punter, but he largely struggled in 2017, averaging just 38.6 yards as a freshman last season. More is expected of his second go around.
Jeff Thomas is the primary KR man for Miami, as he averaged 21.59 yards per return last fall. With Braxton Berrios gone, the Canes will be looking for a new PR man in camp.
Final Analysis: Despite the late season collapse, Miami football is on its way back to relevance these days, and that could be a scary thing for the other annual contenders in the ACC. The O line looks deeper this season, and needs to be more consistent than it was last season, and the QB play will be key. If Miami gets the passing game that they had for 10 weeks, they will be right there for a division title. If not, they won't be. There will be new faces starting on the D line this fall, but they are talented players who can more than continue the work of last season. In short, there is no reason to believe that Miami will not be in the national mix, especially if everything comes to gether in the problemed areas that I have mentioned.
Opening Statements: Mark Richt was a breath of fresh air when he was hired as head football coach at Miami after his term at Georgia had ended in a stale trance. Miami was home for Richt, and Miami needed his services in the worst of ways. Richt may have grown tired at Georgia, but he is one hell of a football coach, and he immediately fired up the prospects of the program moving forward. The 2018 season should be another move upwards for the Canes, and the future looks bright once again.
Breakdown Offense: Malik Rosier is back at QB after passing for 3120 yards and 26 TDs and 14 INTs. If Miami is to fly as high as they can offensively, they need Rosier to increase his accuracy. He completed just 54% of his passes last fall, and his 14 INTs were a problem at times as well. The offense fell off of a cliff in a 3 game losing streak, and he had a part in that. N'Kosi Perry is the backup heading into fall camp, and many thought he would end up starting last season (including me), but Rosier held the job, and looms to once again.
Mark Walton missed 9 games last fall to injury, and has moved on. Travis Homer took over, and carried the load. He rushed for 966 yards and 8 scores, and averaged 5.93 yards per carry. Lorenzo Lingard, a freshman, had a big spring, and may provide some depth this fall, which is a problem for the Hurricanes at the RB position. They lack serious depth here. DeeJay Dallas is in the mix as the backup, but carried just 41 times last fall.
Ahmmon Richards is back to lead the team at the WR position. He caught just 24 passes, and played in only 8 games last fall. Lawrence Cager and Jeff Thomas are also slated to start, They combined for just 33 receptions last season. Darrell Langham and Dayall Harris are the primary backups, while Brian Hightower adds depth. Mike Harley could put on a battle to start in the slot.
Michael Irvin II steps in as the starting TE after catching 9 passes as a sophomore. Brian Polendey is the backup.
The Canes are set at both Tackle spots and at Center, but they need to replenish the OG spots. Tyree St. Louis (LT), Tyler Gauthier (C), and Navaughan Donaldson (RT) return as starters. Jahair Johnson (LG) and Hayden Mahoney (RG) are in the lead heading into fall. George Brown, John Campbell, and Kai-Leon Herbert are the reserves at Tackle, while Delone Scaife and Zalon'tae Hillery are the reserves at OG. Corey Gaynor is the reserve at C.
Breakdown Defense: The Hurricanes have to replace 3 starters on the line from a defense that allowed just 21 points per game. Joe Jackson is the lone returning starter, and will line up at DE. He totaled 11.5 TFLs last season, and is one of the better ends in the ACC. Demetrius Jackson is slated to start opposite him. He played in just 7 games last fall, but still managed 6.5 TFLs. Scott Patchan, Jonathon Garvin, and Gregory Rousseau are the reserves at DE.
Gerald Willis III and Pat Bethel are the starters at DT as we head into fall, and it looks as if they will lock down those jobs. Jon Ford should rotate into the lineup at DT, and is the 3rd Tackle on the depth chart. Tyreic Martin adds some depth.
The LB corps returns intact in the starting lineup. Shaq Quarterman, Michael Pinckney and Zach McCloud are the starters. Quarterman totaled 83 tackles, and Pinckney totaled 68. McCloud had 48 tackles on the weak side. Derrick Smith got a ton of reps in spring ball, and will be the backup at SLB. Mike Smith and Waynmon Steed will back up on the weak side. Bradley Jennings is the backup in the middle.
The Canes are set at Safety, as both Jaquan Johnson and Sheldrick Redwine both return. Redwine finished with 6 PBUs, and forced 2 fumbles, and totaled 59 tackles. He also added 2 INTs. Johnson is the enforcer, as he totaled 96 tackles. Robert Knowles and Amari Carter are the backups.
Michael Jackson is back at CB, and finished with 5 PBUs last season, and tied for the team lead with 4 INTs. He is a lock for day one, but less of a lock is Jhavonte Dean, who was pushed hard by Trajan Bandy. Johnson did tie for the team lead with 4 INTs, and forced 3 fumbles last season. Bandy finished with 6 PBUs.
Breakdown Special Teams: Michael Badgley is gone at PK, and he was the all-time leading FG kicker at Miami when he left. Marco Baeza Turner Davidson, a RS freshman, are in a battle to take over the job.
Zach Feagles is back at Punter, but he largely struggled in 2017, averaging just 38.6 yards as a freshman last season. More is expected of his second go around.
Jeff Thomas is the primary KR man for Miami, as he averaged 21.59 yards per return last fall. With Braxton Berrios gone, the Canes will be looking for a new PR man in camp.
Final Analysis: Despite the late season collapse, Miami football is on its way back to relevance these days, and that could be a scary thing for the other annual contenders in the ACC. The O line looks deeper this season, and needs to be more consistent than it was last season, and the QB play will be key. If Miami gets the passing game that they had for 10 weeks, they will be right there for a division title. If not, they won't be. There will be new faces starting on the D line this fall, but they are talented players who can more than continue the work of last season. In short, there is no reason to believe that Miami will not be in the national mix, especially if everything comes to gether in the problemed areas that I have mentioned.
Monday, June 18, 2018
Memphis Tigers 2018 Football Preview
Memphis Tigers 2018 Football Preview
Opening Statement: Once upon a time, there was a football program in Memphis that could simply not get out of its own way at times, and seemed doomed to an eternal hell of losing, where the ceiling was mediocrity. Some years later, a wizard named Justin Fuente came along and waved his wand, and the Tigers became ferocious. He moved along to Blacksburg, but in came Mike Norvell, and the days of darkness and losing seem to be far behind this program. For the first time in my considerable life, the Tigers are a program that people fear, and that is the stuff of miracles.
Breakdown Offense: The Tigers took some hits after last season, and one of the bigger hits is the loss of Riley Ferguson at QB. The Tigers are starting over, and will be rather young at the position this time around. David Moore is a RS sophomore, and has all of 10 pass attempts to his name (he completed 7 of them). Brady White is a grad transfer from Arizona State, but has about as much experience as Moore does at this point. He last played in a college game in 2016, when he attempted 49 passes that season. This battle rages into the fall.
The Tigers will have depth at RB, and that is a good thing with a developing QB situation. Darrell Henderson rushed for 1154 yards and 8 scores last fall, averaging a whopping 8.88 yards per carry. Patrick Taylor also returns, and is a beast in his own right, as he rushed for 13 scores on 866 yards last fall. He averaged 5.52 yards per carry. Tony Pollard is the 3rd head of the beast, as he rushed for 7.67 yards per carry with 2 scores in more limited work.
Anthony Miller is gone, and that is a big hit. That said, there is still plenty of talent around. Antonio Gibson is a bigger target than Miller was, and should become a go to guy this season. Damonte Coxie could start as well after catching 21 passes last season. John Williams caught 12 passes last fall, and returns, as does Kedarian Jones, who caught 8 passes for 152 yards. Mechane Slade is also back to add depth, and every member of the RB group can catch the football as well.
Joey Magnifico and Sean Dykes are back at TE, and combined for 36 receptions last fall, and should provide a nice combo punch once again. Scottie Dill provides work as the TE3 or as a 3rd tackle off the line.
The line should be talented and deep this fall, as 4 starters return in Trevon Tate (LT), Dustin Woodard (LG), Drew Kyser (C), and Roger Joseph (RT). Dylan Parham, a freshman, could be in line for the RG job that is open. Obine Eze provides depth at the Tackle spots, while Tauvaga Ho Ching provides depth at the OG spots.
Breakdown Defense: Improvements can and must be made on this side of the football for the Tigers, especially when they have questions on offense with the developing QB and WR spots. Memphis ranked 102nd in scoring defense last fall, allowing 32.5 points per game. They ranked 121st against the pass (282.1 yards per game allowed), and 116th in total defense (466.2 yards allowed).
The Tigers are set with returning starters in the interior line this fall, as both NT O'Bryan Goodson and DT Jonathon Wilson return. They combined for 9 TFLs last season out of the 3-4 set. John Tate and Emmanuel Cooper will add some depth inside. Jospeh Dorceus is penciled in at DE heading into the fall, as he finished with 5 TFLs as a freshman last season.
Losing Genard Avery at LB is huge for the Tigers. He was good for 22 TFLs last fall and finished with 80 tackles. Three starters do return, however, in Curtis Akins, Tim Hart, and Austin Hall. Akins led the team with 88 tackles, while Hall added 84. Hall finished with 8 TFLs, while Akins added 4.5. Hart finished with 49 tackles on the season. Bryce Huff steps into Avery's spot. He totaled 30 tackles last season, and finished with 5 TFLs. JJ Russell and Thomas Pickens add some depth.
TJ Carter and Tito Windham are both back at CB. Carter finished with 11 PBUs, as did Windham. Carter led the team with 5 INTs last fall and totaled 69 tackles. Windham finished the season with 36 tackles. La'Andre Thomas is the 3rd corner when needed.
Both Safeties must be replaced. Josh Perry and Carlito Gonzalez, both sophomores, head into fall with the jobs. Tyrez Lindsay is also in the mix, but looks like the 3rd Safety as of now.
Breakdown Special Teams: Riley Patterson had an up and down season in 2017, as he connected on 11/16 FG attempts on the year for a success rate of just 68.8%. He returns, seeking improvement in 2018.
The Punter job is open and will be decided in camp. Aidan Daily, a junior, has the insdie track as of now. Adam Williams will battle him in camp.
Pollard is one of the most explosive KR men in the nation, as he averaged 40.05 yards per return with 4 scores last fall. Williams handles PR duties once again.
Final Analysis: The losses were big, there is no doubt of that. The good news is that the staff has recruited amazingly well, and there is plentiful talent to go around everywhere, especially on offense. The QB and WR positions must get ironed out early in camp to keep the good times rolling. If there is a struggle there, the Tigers may be stepping back a bit this season. If they get dealt with early on, the Tigers are competing in the AAC West once again. Defensively, the offense has to score a ton, or else the defense may fold on itself once again. Improvement must be found, and there is enough talent on hand to make that happen. This is going to be a wild ride for this football team, especially with a trip to Navy coming early in the season in weak 2. Navy should be the toughest team they face in the West this season. They do not play another team that could beat them until October 13, when UCF comes to town.
Opening Statement: Once upon a time, there was a football program in Memphis that could simply not get out of its own way at times, and seemed doomed to an eternal hell of losing, where the ceiling was mediocrity. Some years later, a wizard named Justin Fuente came along and waved his wand, and the Tigers became ferocious. He moved along to Blacksburg, but in came Mike Norvell, and the days of darkness and losing seem to be far behind this program. For the first time in my considerable life, the Tigers are a program that people fear, and that is the stuff of miracles.
Breakdown Offense: The Tigers took some hits after last season, and one of the bigger hits is the loss of Riley Ferguson at QB. The Tigers are starting over, and will be rather young at the position this time around. David Moore is a RS sophomore, and has all of 10 pass attempts to his name (he completed 7 of them). Brady White is a grad transfer from Arizona State, but has about as much experience as Moore does at this point. He last played in a college game in 2016, when he attempted 49 passes that season. This battle rages into the fall.
The Tigers will have depth at RB, and that is a good thing with a developing QB situation. Darrell Henderson rushed for 1154 yards and 8 scores last fall, averaging a whopping 8.88 yards per carry. Patrick Taylor also returns, and is a beast in his own right, as he rushed for 13 scores on 866 yards last fall. He averaged 5.52 yards per carry. Tony Pollard is the 3rd head of the beast, as he rushed for 7.67 yards per carry with 2 scores in more limited work.
Anthony Miller is gone, and that is a big hit. That said, there is still plenty of talent around. Antonio Gibson is a bigger target than Miller was, and should become a go to guy this season. Damonte Coxie could start as well after catching 21 passes last season. John Williams caught 12 passes last fall, and returns, as does Kedarian Jones, who caught 8 passes for 152 yards. Mechane Slade is also back to add depth, and every member of the RB group can catch the football as well.
Joey Magnifico and Sean Dykes are back at TE, and combined for 36 receptions last fall, and should provide a nice combo punch once again. Scottie Dill provides work as the TE3 or as a 3rd tackle off the line.
The line should be talented and deep this fall, as 4 starters return in Trevon Tate (LT), Dustin Woodard (LG), Drew Kyser (C), and Roger Joseph (RT). Dylan Parham, a freshman, could be in line for the RG job that is open. Obine Eze provides depth at the Tackle spots, while Tauvaga Ho Ching provides depth at the OG spots.
Breakdown Defense: Improvements can and must be made on this side of the football for the Tigers, especially when they have questions on offense with the developing QB and WR spots. Memphis ranked 102nd in scoring defense last fall, allowing 32.5 points per game. They ranked 121st against the pass (282.1 yards per game allowed), and 116th in total defense (466.2 yards allowed).
The Tigers are set with returning starters in the interior line this fall, as both NT O'Bryan Goodson and DT Jonathon Wilson return. They combined for 9 TFLs last season out of the 3-4 set. John Tate and Emmanuel Cooper will add some depth inside. Jospeh Dorceus is penciled in at DE heading into the fall, as he finished with 5 TFLs as a freshman last season.
Losing Genard Avery at LB is huge for the Tigers. He was good for 22 TFLs last fall and finished with 80 tackles. Three starters do return, however, in Curtis Akins, Tim Hart, and Austin Hall. Akins led the team with 88 tackles, while Hall added 84. Hall finished with 8 TFLs, while Akins added 4.5. Hart finished with 49 tackles on the season. Bryce Huff steps into Avery's spot. He totaled 30 tackles last season, and finished with 5 TFLs. JJ Russell and Thomas Pickens add some depth.
TJ Carter and Tito Windham are both back at CB. Carter finished with 11 PBUs, as did Windham. Carter led the team with 5 INTs last fall and totaled 69 tackles. Windham finished the season with 36 tackles. La'Andre Thomas is the 3rd corner when needed.
Both Safeties must be replaced. Josh Perry and Carlito Gonzalez, both sophomores, head into fall with the jobs. Tyrez Lindsay is also in the mix, but looks like the 3rd Safety as of now.
Breakdown Special Teams: Riley Patterson had an up and down season in 2017, as he connected on 11/16 FG attempts on the year for a success rate of just 68.8%. He returns, seeking improvement in 2018.
The Punter job is open and will be decided in camp. Aidan Daily, a junior, has the insdie track as of now. Adam Williams will battle him in camp.
Pollard is one of the most explosive KR men in the nation, as he averaged 40.05 yards per return with 4 scores last fall. Williams handles PR duties once again.
Final Analysis: The losses were big, there is no doubt of that. The good news is that the staff has recruited amazingly well, and there is plentiful talent to go around everywhere, especially on offense. The QB and WR positions must get ironed out early in camp to keep the good times rolling. If there is a struggle there, the Tigers may be stepping back a bit this season. If they get dealt with early on, the Tigers are competing in the AAC West once again. Defensively, the offense has to score a ton, or else the defense may fold on itself once again. Improvement must be found, and there is enough talent on hand to make that happen. This is going to be a wild ride for this football team, especially with a trip to Navy coming early in the season in weak 2. Navy should be the toughest team they face in the West this season. They do not play another team that could beat them until October 13, when UCF comes to town.
U Mass Minutemen 2018 Football Preview
U Mass Minutemen 2018 Football Preview
Opening Statement: Things looked bleak at U Mass last fall when the Minutemen started out at 0-6, but they won 4 of their final 6 games last season, including 2 of 3 to finish off the year, and hopes are a bit higher than normal coming into fall camp in 2018. With solid wins over Appalachian State and BYU, it appears that the Minutemen are feeling more confident than ever, and the season opening slate in 2018 is not something that looks too big to handle anymore. Mark Whipple has done a solid job at keeping his head above water, and maybe he breaks through this fall.
Breakdown Offense: The return of Andrew Ford at QB is a major thing for this program in 2018. Ford had an amazing season when all was said and done last fall, as he passed for 2924 yards with 22 TDs to just 4 INTs on the season for a 4 win football team. He completed 63.2% of his passes and passed for 265 yards per contest. Ross Comis is back as the primary backup, with Randall West bringing up the 3rd QB spot. In all, there are 7 total QBs on the roster, as this program is becoming a place to be for aspiring gunslingers.
Marquis Young is back to start at RB after rushing for 982 yards and 9 scores, while averaging 5.4 yards per carry last fall. He is a solid bet to push for 1000 yards or more this season, but needs to carry the ball more than 15.17 times per game to make that happen. Bilal Ally returns as the primary backup, while Tyshaun Ingram adds some depth with Nick Orekoya.
Andy Isabella and Sadiq Palmer both return at WR this fall. Isabella led the team with 65 receptions last fall for 1020 yards and 10 scores. He averaged 15.69 yards per catch last fall, and may be one of the better receivers in the nation that you have not heard of. Palmer caught 35 passes last season and could see an increased role this fall. He averaged 14.8 yards per catch. Sophomore Jessie Britt could step into the WR3 role this fall after catching 29 passes as a freshman. Jacoby Herring and Brennan Dingle could add some solid depth as Dingle caught 21 passes last fall, and Herring caught 7. Marquis Young is also an incredible option out of the backfield, as he caught 35 passes last fall.
There is a huge void to fill at TE, as Adam Breneman has moved on from a stellar career at U Mass. He caught 64 passes last fall. Taylor Edwards looks like he has first crack at the job, while Travis Reynolds and Kyle Horn press for reps as well.
Four starters are back on the line, but the Minutemen lost RT Jack Driscoll to Auburn on a transfer. Ray Thomas-Ishman (LT), Jake Largay (LG), Derek Dumais (C), and Lukas Kolter (RG) are all back and have solid grasps on their jobs. Larnel Coleman looks to be first in line at RT as we head to camp. James Reilly looks to be the backup at the Tackle spots, while Dan DiNicola and Mike Yerardi look to backup inside. This could be one of the deepest, and most talented lines, that U Mass has had in years, and certainly since joining FBS football.
Breakdown Defense: So, now we get to the bad news. The Minutemen were a wreck in 2017 defensively, allowing 31.8 points per game last season, which ranked them 94th nationally. Teams ran for 197.9 yards per game against them, and they allowed 404 yards per game of total offense.
DT Joe Previte is the lone returning starter up front. He totaled just 3.5 TFLs last fall, and will need to really step up his game this fall. Charlie Timite will likely start next to him inside. He played in 12 games as a freshman last fall. Mario Patton provides some depth, but there is not much of that.
Jake Byczko likely starts at DE, along with Chris DiTommaso. They combined for 2 TFLs as freshmen last season. If some help develops inside, Previte could, at some point, move outside to help out there. There is a group of freshmen coming in for line help in the fall, and the staff would rather not burn a redshirt season for them, but they may need to.
Bryton Barr and Jarrell Addo are back to start at LB this fall. Barr led the team with 105 tackles last fall, and totaled 9 TFLs and 5 sacks. Addo totaled 67 tackles, 7 TFLs, and a sack. Steve Casali is gone, and that opens up a large hole in the unit. Leon Flanagan is expected to step into his spot, but he is raw at this point, and inexperienced overall. He had just 15 tackles in 9 games last fall. There is little depth here.
Both CBs return this fall in Lee Moses and Isaiah Rodgers. Rodgers is a star, as he finished with 14 PBUs last fall, adding 3 INTs. Moses led the Minutemen with 4 INTs, and finished with 6 PBUs. Again, depth is a problem, but this starting unit is rock solid.
Tyler Hayes returns at FS after finishing last fall with 53 tackles and 3 PBUs. He added a pair of INTs as well. Brice McCallister is penciled in as the starter at FS as we head to fall camp, but Bakhari Goodson is also in the mix there. He totaled 3 PBUs last fall.
Breakdown Special Teams: Logan Laurent moves on after a 13/15 year on FGs, leaving a huge hole. Cooper Garcia is a JC transfer from Ventura, California, and will step into the job.
The Minutemen also are in need for a new Punter, and freshman George Georgopoulos is the leader heading into fall camp.
U Mass struggled on KR duty last fall, but Britt is back after averaging just over 18 yards per return, and Young averaged 24.1 yards per return on 10 returns.
Rodgers handled PR duty last season, but did not excel. He could be replaced in camp.
Final Analysis: The offense is not the problem in Amherst. Whipple has put together as strong an offense as you will find anywhere in the nation this fall with Andrew Ford at QB led by a veteran roster of guys who are really developing solidly. The defense, on the other hand, is a mess, and could really use some help. Recruiting went well on this side of the ball, but the unit, especially up front, is young and raw. There is solid talent returning at LB and in the secondary, but the entirety has to come together at some point. Maybe this is the year it happens. U Mass ended last season well, and there is reason to be optimistic that some pleasant surprises could be in store in 2018.
Opening Statement: Things looked bleak at U Mass last fall when the Minutemen started out at 0-6, but they won 4 of their final 6 games last season, including 2 of 3 to finish off the year, and hopes are a bit higher than normal coming into fall camp in 2018. With solid wins over Appalachian State and BYU, it appears that the Minutemen are feeling more confident than ever, and the season opening slate in 2018 is not something that looks too big to handle anymore. Mark Whipple has done a solid job at keeping his head above water, and maybe he breaks through this fall.
Breakdown Offense: The return of Andrew Ford at QB is a major thing for this program in 2018. Ford had an amazing season when all was said and done last fall, as he passed for 2924 yards with 22 TDs to just 4 INTs on the season for a 4 win football team. He completed 63.2% of his passes and passed for 265 yards per contest. Ross Comis is back as the primary backup, with Randall West bringing up the 3rd QB spot. In all, there are 7 total QBs on the roster, as this program is becoming a place to be for aspiring gunslingers.
Marquis Young is back to start at RB after rushing for 982 yards and 9 scores, while averaging 5.4 yards per carry last fall. He is a solid bet to push for 1000 yards or more this season, but needs to carry the ball more than 15.17 times per game to make that happen. Bilal Ally returns as the primary backup, while Tyshaun Ingram adds some depth with Nick Orekoya.
Andy Isabella and Sadiq Palmer both return at WR this fall. Isabella led the team with 65 receptions last fall for 1020 yards and 10 scores. He averaged 15.69 yards per catch last fall, and may be one of the better receivers in the nation that you have not heard of. Palmer caught 35 passes last season and could see an increased role this fall. He averaged 14.8 yards per catch. Sophomore Jessie Britt could step into the WR3 role this fall after catching 29 passes as a freshman. Jacoby Herring and Brennan Dingle could add some solid depth as Dingle caught 21 passes last fall, and Herring caught 7. Marquis Young is also an incredible option out of the backfield, as he caught 35 passes last fall.
There is a huge void to fill at TE, as Adam Breneman has moved on from a stellar career at U Mass. He caught 64 passes last fall. Taylor Edwards looks like he has first crack at the job, while Travis Reynolds and Kyle Horn press for reps as well.
Four starters are back on the line, but the Minutemen lost RT Jack Driscoll to Auburn on a transfer. Ray Thomas-Ishman (LT), Jake Largay (LG), Derek Dumais (C), and Lukas Kolter (RG) are all back and have solid grasps on their jobs. Larnel Coleman looks to be first in line at RT as we head to camp. James Reilly looks to be the backup at the Tackle spots, while Dan DiNicola and Mike Yerardi look to backup inside. This could be one of the deepest, and most talented lines, that U Mass has had in years, and certainly since joining FBS football.
Breakdown Defense: So, now we get to the bad news. The Minutemen were a wreck in 2017 defensively, allowing 31.8 points per game last season, which ranked them 94th nationally. Teams ran for 197.9 yards per game against them, and they allowed 404 yards per game of total offense.
DT Joe Previte is the lone returning starter up front. He totaled just 3.5 TFLs last fall, and will need to really step up his game this fall. Charlie Timite will likely start next to him inside. He played in 12 games as a freshman last fall. Mario Patton provides some depth, but there is not much of that.
Jake Byczko likely starts at DE, along with Chris DiTommaso. They combined for 2 TFLs as freshmen last season. If some help develops inside, Previte could, at some point, move outside to help out there. There is a group of freshmen coming in for line help in the fall, and the staff would rather not burn a redshirt season for them, but they may need to.
Bryton Barr and Jarrell Addo are back to start at LB this fall. Barr led the team with 105 tackles last fall, and totaled 9 TFLs and 5 sacks. Addo totaled 67 tackles, 7 TFLs, and a sack. Steve Casali is gone, and that opens up a large hole in the unit. Leon Flanagan is expected to step into his spot, but he is raw at this point, and inexperienced overall. He had just 15 tackles in 9 games last fall. There is little depth here.
Both CBs return this fall in Lee Moses and Isaiah Rodgers. Rodgers is a star, as he finished with 14 PBUs last fall, adding 3 INTs. Moses led the Minutemen with 4 INTs, and finished with 6 PBUs. Again, depth is a problem, but this starting unit is rock solid.
Tyler Hayes returns at FS after finishing last fall with 53 tackles and 3 PBUs. He added a pair of INTs as well. Brice McCallister is penciled in as the starter at FS as we head to fall camp, but Bakhari Goodson is also in the mix there. He totaled 3 PBUs last fall.
Breakdown Special Teams: Logan Laurent moves on after a 13/15 year on FGs, leaving a huge hole. Cooper Garcia is a JC transfer from Ventura, California, and will step into the job.
The Minutemen also are in need for a new Punter, and freshman George Georgopoulos is the leader heading into fall camp.
U Mass struggled on KR duty last fall, but Britt is back after averaging just over 18 yards per return, and Young averaged 24.1 yards per return on 10 returns.
Rodgers handled PR duty last season, but did not excel. He could be replaced in camp.
Final Analysis: The offense is not the problem in Amherst. Whipple has put together as strong an offense as you will find anywhere in the nation this fall with Andrew Ford at QB led by a veteran roster of guys who are really developing solidly. The defense, on the other hand, is a mess, and could really use some help. Recruiting went well on this side of the ball, but the unit, especially up front, is young and raw. There is solid talent returning at LB and in the secondary, but the entirety has to come together at some point. Maybe this is the year it happens. U Mass ended last season well, and there is reason to be optimistic that some pleasant surprises could be in store in 2018.
Maryland Terapins 2018 Football Preview
Maryland Terapins 2018 Football Preview
Opening Statement: Maryland was one of the more snake bit teams in the nation in 2017. After an opening road win over Texas, it looked like DJ Durkin had turned the program in the right direction. Injuries at QB then took hold, and Maryland was on their 4th QB of the year by October. Fortunes sagged, and the program skidded to a 4-8 finish, with just 2 wins in the final 10 games of the season. Things could turn right again this fall if the Terps can stay healthy, but health is key once again.
Breakdown Offense: Five different QBs attempted at least one pass last fall, but Kasim Hill and Tyrell Pigrome are back from their knee injuries, and the position looks to become stabilized this fall. Hill played in just 3 games, while Pigrome started the Texas game and was injured in the win. Hill appears to be the starter, but that battle could rage into fall camp, and both could see action in games. Max Bortenschlager, who played in 11 games as a sophomore, will fade back to the 3rd job.
Maryland could end up with one of the deeper RB units in the Big 10 this season. Ty Johnson ran for 875 yards and scored 5 times, while averaging 6.39 yards per carry. Lorenzo Harrison rushed for 622 yards and 3 scores last fall, and returns as the primary backup, and Anthony McFarland returns after missing last fall with a broken leg. Jake Funk played in 12 games last season, and Javon Leake brings additional depth.
DJ Moore is gone at WR, and that will be a solid hole to fill after he posted a line of 80-1033-8 last season. Taivon Jacobs will return after posting 47-553-5, but he averaged just over 11 yards per catch, making him more of a possession receiver type. DJ Turner projects to start as well, but caught just 5 passes last season. Rayshad Lewis also projects as the 3rd receiver, but did not catch a pass last season. This group does not boast much depth, and could be a red flag position for the Terps this season.
Avery Edwards projects as the starter at TE, and will have an expanded role in Matt Canada's offense.
Four starters return on the line in Derwin Gray (LT), Sean Christie (LG), Brendan Moore (C), and Terrance Davis (RG). Sophmore Marcus Minor has an edge at the open RT position heading into fall camp, but Damian Prince could push him for the job. Johnny Jordan and Ellis McKennie are key reserves.
Breakdown Defense: The defense crumbled last fall while the offense withered away, as they allowed 37.1 points per game, 190.8 yards rushing per game, and 226.5 yards passing per game. In all, the Terps ranked 119th in the nation in scoring defense.
A lot will depend on the foot of DE Jessie Aniebonam, as he broke the foot in the opener last season after finishing 2016 with 9 sacks. The rest if the unit could not match his output last fall, and the team crashed around that void defensively. He had a second surgery in the spring, and his status is questionable for fall camp at this time. Byron Cowart is the other DE heading into fall camp, and needs to realize his potential at some point after he came into college ball at Auburn as the top defensive recruit in the nation. Melvin Keihn and Brett Kulka are standing by if neither of those options work out.
Adam McLean projects as the starting NT this fall, but has yet to establish himself on the field. Seun Oluwatimi is another option to push McLean in camp. He finished with 1.5 TFLs in 12 games last fall. Mbi Tanyi starts at DT once again and should have the job locked up. He totaled just 2 TFLs in 12 games last season, so he has to show more this fall. Depth inside is not exactly optimal.
The LB group is looking for a new starter, with one returning. Isaiah Davis returns after a 70 tackle season. He finished with just 2 TFLs last fall, so few of his tackles happened at the initial line or behind it. Jermaine Carter is gone, and that will be a huge hole to fill in the middle of the defense. Tre Watson, a grad transfer from Illinois, will try to fill the hole. Nick Underwood finished with just 7 tackles after transferring from Air Force and Riverside CC in California, and will try to provide some depth, which overall, is minimal.
Three starters return in the five man secondary. Tino Ellis is back at CB to start, and finished with 5 PBUs last fall. He is exepcted to be joined at CB by junior Marcus Lewis. Lewis is a Florida State transfer who should fit right in. If he does not, RaVon Davis is available, as he appeared in 12 games last fall.
Antoine Brooks is back at the Nickel, and finished 2nd on the team with 77 tackles last fall. He added 2 INTs.
Darnell Savage is the starter at FS, and tied for the team lead with 3 INTs, and finished with 59 tackles last season. He also led the team with 8 total PBUs on the season. Antwaine Richardson and Qwuantrezz Knight are in a battle for the SS job heading into fall camp.
Breakdown Special Teams: A 3 way battle looms in camp for the open PK position to replace the departed Henry Darmstadter and Adam Greene. The good news is that it cannot get much worse, as those two combined to hit just 8/15 FG attempts, despite combining for a perfect 37/37 on PATs. Freshman Joseph Petrino has the edge, but Mike Shinsky and Paul Inzerillo are in the mix as well.
Wade Lees is back at Punter as well, but struggled for distance last season, averaging just 39.23 yards per punt.
Ty Johnson will double as the primary KR man as well in 2018, after averaging 24.33 yards per return with one score last fall. The PR job will be open in camp, as DJ Moore left that job open upon his departure.
Final Analysis: The Terps really fell apart under the strain of injuries on both sides of the football last fall, and when the offense fell apart, a weakened defense could not keep up. A change was made at OC, as Matt Canada lands on his feet after the debacle of working with Ed Orgeron at LSU played out, and he has some changes in mind for the offense. If the Terps can stay healthy, you can probably feel pretty good betting on this team to be a squad who did not go bowling last fall, to do so this season. There is plenty of talent on offense, and if the defense can get some help up front, this team could easily swing to 6 or 7 wins with ease. The non con schedule, other than the "home" opener with Texas, is fairly easy, and other than a road trip to Michigan, the first half of the conference schedule is manageable. Durkin cannot be blamed with how last season went, but he will feel some heat if it goes that way again in 2018.
Opening Statement: Maryland was one of the more snake bit teams in the nation in 2017. After an opening road win over Texas, it looked like DJ Durkin had turned the program in the right direction. Injuries at QB then took hold, and Maryland was on their 4th QB of the year by October. Fortunes sagged, and the program skidded to a 4-8 finish, with just 2 wins in the final 10 games of the season. Things could turn right again this fall if the Terps can stay healthy, but health is key once again.
Breakdown Offense: Five different QBs attempted at least one pass last fall, but Kasim Hill and Tyrell Pigrome are back from their knee injuries, and the position looks to become stabilized this fall. Hill played in just 3 games, while Pigrome started the Texas game and was injured in the win. Hill appears to be the starter, but that battle could rage into fall camp, and both could see action in games. Max Bortenschlager, who played in 11 games as a sophomore, will fade back to the 3rd job.
Maryland could end up with one of the deeper RB units in the Big 10 this season. Ty Johnson ran for 875 yards and scored 5 times, while averaging 6.39 yards per carry. Lorenzo Harrison rushed for 622 yards and 3 scores last fall, and returns as the primary backup, and Anthony McFarland returns after missing last fall with a broken leg. Jake Funk played in 12 games last season, and Javon Leake brings additional depth.
DJ Moore is gone at WR, and that will be a solid hole to fill after he posted a line of 80-1033-8 last season. Taivon Jacobs will return after posting 47-553-5, but he averaged just over 11 yards per catch, making him more of a possession receiver type. DJ Turner projects to start as well, but caught just 5 passes last season. Rayshad Lewis also projects as the 3rd receiver, but did not catch a pass last season. This group does not boast much depth, and could be a red flag position for the Terps this season.
Avery Edwards projects as the starter at TE, and will have an expanded role in Matt Canada's offense.
Four starters return on the line in Derwin Gray (LT), Sean Christie (LG), Brendan Moore (C), and Terrance Davis (RG). Sophmore Marcus Minor has an edge at the open RT position heading into fall camp, but Damian Prince could push him for the job. Johnny Jordan and Ellis McKennie are key reserves.
Breakdown Defense: The defense crumbled last fall while the offense withered away, as they allowed 37.1 points per game, 190.8 yards rushing per game, and 226.5 yards passing per game. In all, the Terps ranked 119th in the nation in scoring defense.
A lot will depend on the foot of DE Jessie Aniebonam, as he broke the foot in the opener last season after finishing 2016 with 9 sacks. The rest if the unit could not match his output last fall, and the team crashed around that void defensively. He had a second surgery in the spring, and his status is questionable for fall camp at this time. Byron Cowart is the other DE heading into fall camp, and needs to realize his potential at some point after he came into college ball at Auburn as the top defensive recruit in the nation. Melvin Keihn and Brett Kulka are standing by if neither of those options work out.
Adam McLean projects as the starting NT this fall, but has yet to establish himself on the field. Seun Oluwatimi is another option to push McLean in camp. He finished with 1.5 TFLs in 12 games last fall. Mbi Tanyi starts at DT once again and should have the job locked up. He totaled just 2 TFLs in 12 games last season, so he has to show more this fall. Depth inside is not exactly optimal.
The LB group is looking for a new starter, with one returning. Isaiah Davis returns after a 70 tackle season. He finished with just 2 TFLs last fall, so few of his tackles happened at the initial line or behind it. Jermaine Carter is gone, and that will be a huge hole to fill in the middle of the defense. Tre Watson, a grad transfer from Illinois, will try to fill the hole. Nick Underwood finished with just 7 tackles after transferring from Air Force and Riverside CC in California, and will try to provide some depth, which overall, is minimal.
Three starters return in the five man secondary. Tino Ellis is back at CB to start, and finished with 5 PBUs last fall. He is exepcted to be joined at CB by junior Marcus Lewis. Lewis is a Florida State transfer who should fit right in. If he does not, RaVon Davis is available, as he appeared in 12 games last fall.
Antoine Brooks is back at the Nickel, and finished 2nd on the team with 77 tackles last fall. He added 2 INTs.
Darnell Savage is the starter at FS, and tied for the team lead with 3 INTs, and finished with 59 tackles last season. He also led the team with 8 total PBUs on the season. Antwaine Richardson and Qwuantrezz Knight are in a battle for the SS job heading into fall camp.
Breakdown Special Teams: A 3 way battle looms in camp for the open PK position to replace the departed Henry Darmstadter and Adam Greene. The good news is that it cannot get much worse, as those two combined to hit just 8/15 FG attempts, despite combining for a perfect 37/37 on PATs. Freshman Joseph Petrino has the edge, but Mike Shinsky and Paul Inzerillo are in the mix as well.
Wade Lees is back at Punter as well, but struggled for distance last season, averaging just 39.23 yards per punt.
Ty Johnson will double as the primary KR man as well in 2018, after averaging 24.33 yards per return with one score last fall. The PR job will be open in camp, as DJ Moore left that job open upon his departure.
Final Analysis: The Terps really fell apart under the strain of injuries on both sides of the football last fall, and when the offense fell apart, a weakened defense could not keep up. A change was made at OC, as Matt Canada lands on his feet after the debacle of working with Ed Orgeron at LSU played out, and he has some changes in mind for the offense. If the Terps can stay healthy, you can probably feel pretty good betting on this team to be a squad who did not go bowling last fall, to do so this season. There is plenty of talent on offense, and if the defense can get some help up front, this team could easily swing to 6 or 7 wins with ease. The non con schedule, other than the "home" opener with Texas, is fairly easy, and other than a road trip to Michigan, the first half of the conference schedule is manageable. Durkin cannot be blamed with how last season went, but he will feel some heat if it goes that way again in 2018.
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