• Follow us on Twitter @buckeyeplanet and @bp_recruiting, like us on Facebook! Enjoy a post or article, recommend it to others! BP is only as strong as its community, and we only promote by word of mouth, so share away!
  • Consider registering! Fewer and higher quality ads, no emails you don't want, access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Even if you just want to lurk, there are a lot of good reasons to register!

On Campus in Ohio: 2005 season preview edition

Bucklion

Throwback
Staff member
Former Premier League Champ
ON CAMPUS IN OHIO: 2005 SEASON PREVIEW
By Bucklion




Welcome to my inaugural “On Campus in Ohio” blog for the 2005 football season. Here, I will try and keep our audience up-to-date on all 8 of the Ohio Division I-A college football programs. This team-by-team preview will be followed throughout the course of the season by weekly analysis, match-up breakdowns, and picks for all of the Ohio games. I hope that many of our fans will be interested in all of the exciting developments in Ohio football throughout the season, and that visiting fans can take a look at what the state has to offer on the DI landscape. So, I hope many of you will be interested in reading this blog…enjoy.





2004 in review: Ohio State fans might have several seasons that come to mind as being more magical than the 2004 season, but it is difficult to recall, top-to-bottom, many seasons that compete statewide. In all, 6 of the 8 Ohio teams had winning records, and 5 went to bowl games, which was a testament to the quality of both the college programs and coaches involved and also the immense talent available in Ohio at the high school level. Ohio State (4-4, 8-4) started slowly, but finished the season with a flourish with a dominating performance over archrival Michigan and a 33-7 pasting of Big XII and insignia-nemesis Oklahoma State in the Alamo Bowl. Bowling Green (6-2, 9-3) capped off another successful season that proved they were no Urban myth by outscoring Memphis 52-35 in the GMAC Bowl. Miami (7-2, 8-5) showed little drop-off following the departure of Big Ben by representing the MAC East in the MAC title game and losing a very competitive Independence Bowl to Iowa State, 17-13. Cincinnati (5-3, 7-5) capped another successful campaign in their final season in Conference USA (T2) by beating Marshall 32-14 in the Fort Worth Bowl. Toledo (8-1, 9-4) bounced back from a horrible start (0-2, giving up 63 points both games) to reel off 9 wins out of their final 10 games, garner the MAC West crown over Northern Illinois, and win the MAC title game, before injuries to key personnel cost them any chance of winning the Motor City Bowl, which they lost to upstart Connecticut 39-10. Akron (6-2, 6-5) was bitten the hardest by the bad-luck bug last season…they were the only bowl eligible team not involved in a brawl (6-5) not to receive an invite, despite claiming a share of the regular season MAC East crown (6-2). Kent State (4-4, 5-6) started 1-6, but then reeled off their longest winning streak in nearly 3 decades to close out the 2004 campaign at 5-6. And finally Ohio (2-6, 4-7), clearly several notches below the state powers, hired a sleeping giant of a coach in the off-season eager to provide a Mike Price-like turnaround, and demonstrate that his firing from one of the college landscape’s elite was entirely unwarranted. In all, it was a very successful season across the state, and all of the teams can look forward to the 2005 campaign with optimism.





2005 Preseason State Rankings:



1 (-) Ohio State: Obviously, there are a whole lot of people on this board who know as much or more about our Buckeyes as I do, and there are many blogs and board threads to cover each Buckeye topic and player in depth. However, I will cover the Buckeyes in the context of covering the other state teams here. Suffice it to say that the Buckeyes are still the class of the state this season, and there is no reason to believe that any of the other 7 squads have made enough headway to even debate the issue, despite some competitive games in recent seasons. But, should someone want to, the RedHawks will get a chance to prove otherwise on opening day.



2 (-) Bowling Green: Despite not representing the MAC West in the title game last season, it appears they are the team to beat as they move to the MAC East this season. Though these rankings will change throughout the season, look for the Falcons to rise to the #2 spot by the conclusion of 2005.



3 (-) Miami: The RedHawks return as MAC East champs, and look to hold off Bowling Green and Toledo as the state’s #2 team. They get the Buckeyes week 1.



4 (-) Toledo: Always tough in conference play, coach Tom Amstutz looks to get off to a better start this year. With Bowling Green moved to the MAC East, the MAC West could be theirs for the taking.



5 (-) Akron: Unlucky Zips lose not only their chance at Bowl glory, but their field general Charlie Frye to the Browns. It will be difficult, if not impossible, to reproduce last year’s magic.



6 (-) Kent State: Finished the season with their best winning streak since 1976. The Golden Flashes lost their best offensive weapon (QB Josh Cribbs) but return most of what turned out to be the MAC’s best defense.



7 (-) Cincinnati: The Bearcats are off to the Big East after a great run in C-USA. Despite coming off a successful campaign, they are a year or two away from contending in their new conference, and must replace virtually their entire starting roster.



8 (-) Ohio: At first glance, it seems obvious that Ohio is at the bottom of the list, but the Bearcats are a bit of a wildcard this year. New coach Frank Solich is eager to dust off his whistle and get to work. We’ll see if the Bobcats can make some noise for him.





2005 Team-By-Team Season Preview:



1- Ohio State Buckeyes (Columbus, OH): Big Ten (predicted finish: 1st)



Outlook/Philosophy: The Buckeyes started slowly in 2005, narrowly avoiding defeat by Marshall and then losing their first 3 conference games. The team closed strong winning 4 out of 5, made all the more sweet by a pasting of archrival Michigan to close the season and vault the team to the Alamo Bowl, where they soundly defeated Oklahoma State to build some serious mo for a big run in 2005. Coach Tressel prefers a multiple attack on offense, mixing everything from the power I to the occasional spread. The offense struggled mightily at times last season, finishing 98th in total yards (320.8/game). This team was and is built with the 4-3 “Silver Bullet” defense as its foundation. This year’s version is built with serious power and physicality, reminiscent of defenses of lore. The Buckeyes return a huge number of starters, and if they get consistent play from the offense at key times, and get by the Longhorns early, look for the Buckeyes to make a run at the MNC in 2005.



Offense: Returning Starters: 9



LT Rob Sims (6-4, 310, SR)

C Nick Mangold (6-4, 290, SR)

RG Doug Datish (6-5, 295, JR)

RT Kirk Barton (6-6. 305, SO)

TE Ryan Hamby (6-5, 250, SR)

WR Santonio Holmes (5-11, 185, JR)

WR Ted Ginn (6-0, 170, SO)

FB Brandon Schnittker (6-2, 250, SR)

QB Troy Smith (6-1, 215, JR)



This unit struggled at times, but showed signs of life towards the end of 2005, and shone brightly to close the campaign. Four starters return on the line, which should help both the passing game and the struggling running game (145.4/game, 70th nationally). Mangold is arguably the best of the lot, but Barton is powerful in the running game and Sims possess great mobility for a man his size. Steady TE Ryan Hamby also returns, having caught 16 passes in 2004. The backfield was underachieving during stretches of 2004, but picked up production as the season progressed, and is they key to an ultra-successful season in 2005. The QB position will probably be manned by the athletic Smith, who proved his mettle both passing and running during the Michigan game…an all-around outstanding performance. Justin Zwick was gutsy in the Bowl game and is also a viable option, and will probably open the season as the starter. He needs to work on his consistency, but has proven he can lead the team over a quality opponent at the Alamo Bowl. The running game struggled in a non-Ohio-State-like fashion last season. This year, Antonio Pittman (72 for 381, 1 TD) and/or Eric Haw need to step up and take control, running behind a tough veteran line. To make a title run, the running game must at least approach the success they had in 2002, at least in terms of being able to move the chains in key moments with the game on the line. If the backfield has questions, then saying the Buckeyes have answers at wideout would be a drastic understatement, as the Buckeyes have as good a unit as one can find. Hiccups say they are “quick as Ted Ginn”, and the explosive-fast wideout should be a bigger factor in the offense as well as being the world’s most dangerous return man in 2005. Santonio Holmes is more than capable of blowing games open himself also, and he is the team’s returning leading receiver (55 for 769 yards, 7 TDs). Anthony Gonzalez (8 for 179, 2 TDs) is frightening to cover as a 3rd receiver, and for good measure Roy Hall (17 for 230, 1 TD) can also go downfield as the 4th guy. A 4-receiver set is an absolute nightmare for a DC on this year’s schedule, and if the QB play is solid…look out downfield, and look out Big Ten.



Defense: Returning Starters: 9



DT Marcus Green (6-3, 290, SR)

DT Quinn Pitcock (6-3, 295, JR)

DE Mike Kudla (6-3, 265, SR)

WLB A.J. Hawk (6-1, 238, SR)

MLB Anthony Schlegel (6-2, 245, SR)

SLB Bobby Carpenter (6-3, 255, SR)

CB Aston Youboty (6-1, 188, JR)

SS Tyler Everett (5-11, 196, SR)

FS Nate Salley (6-3, 215, SR)



This is a physical defense that also has very good speed, particularly in the secondary. Pitcock and Green are run-stuffers in the middle, and Kudla provides quickness as well as size off the edge. The linebacking corps is the class of the defense, and it is as good or better than any in the country. Hawk wreaks havoc at will, pounding ball carriers, defending pass routes, terrorizing QBs, and generally following the football wherever it goes and punishing somebody doing it. If he’s not the best linebacker in the nation, I’ll take him first anyway. Schlegel and Mike D’Andrea will battle it out for the middle spot (both are capable in their own right), and Carpenter is a rare combination of size and speed at his position, able to hammer a tailback or cover a TE with equal ferocity. The secondary is also experienced, with Youboty coming off turning in one of the greatest performances in Ohio State rivalry lore, eradicating all-everything WR Braylon Edwards for much of the Michigan game. FS Nate Salley is also a veteran player who plays the system very well. The other two spots will include a combination of the returning Everett, the explosive Donte Whitner, and perhaps a few appearances by Ted Ginn. Sirijo Welch could also work himself in to the mix regularly. Overall, this defense has all the talent and the proven scheme to be a terror on opposing offenses, and look for the Buckeye defense to again carry the day on most fall afternoons.



Specialty Teams: Gone is Mike Nugent, the Groza Award winner and arguably the best kicker on the college landscape in recent memory. In his place is Josh Huston, who once competed with Nugent for the job. A.J. Trapasso may be another key to the season from the punter position, considering coach Tressel is a grand-master of the field-position chess game. Ginn and Holmes make opposing ST coaches buy stock in Maalox in the return game, and the coverage teams should also be solid, and they must be to effectively play the field position game.



Bottom Line: Anyone who doesn’t think this team is the class of the state is kidding themselves…in fact, given the tradition and facilities, it isn’t even a fair comparison. The rest of them teams are basically vying for “best in state” besides The State University. Still, many of the games with in-state teams in recent years have been competitive, if a bit sloppy, and clearly the other Ohio schools put forth their best effort in playing the Buckeyes. This is the season that many have predicted previously that Ohio State would make a title run. The talent is there, especially if the QB play is consistent and the RBs step up. The schedule is difficult, with a showdown at the ol’ corral with Texas early, followed by trips to Penn State, Minnesota, and Michigan, interspersed with home dates with Iowa and Michigan State. Plus, there is the fact that Purdue doesn’t play Ohio State OR Michigan this season to contend with in terms of the Big Ten title. Still, a major run at a title and some New Year’s Day noise are distinct possibilities after a modest but decent 2004 to build on. Does this team have the intangibles to match the magical 2002 campaign? Time and change will surely show...



2- Bowling Green Falcons (Bowling Green, OH): MAC East (predicted finish: 1st)



Outlook/Philosophy: It’s been a great run at Bowling Green in recent years. Since Urban Meyer took over in 2001, the Falcons have reeled off at least 8 wins every year, and coach Gregg Brandon has taken the team to bowl games each season since taking over in 2003. The Falcons piled up 532 points last season, good for fourth in DI in scoring (44/game), and scored at least 40 in 9 of their 12 contests. The one-back spread offense originally instituted by Urban Meyer has achieved dramatic success for the Falcons. Defensively, the team runs a basic 4-3 predicated on speed and swarming pursuit, and it must tighten up in key situations if they are to pull an upset or two and make a run at an undefeated season. The Falcons outscored their opponents 184-34 in the first quarter in 2004, so look again for the Falcons to jump early and often on opposing defenses…and look to their own defense to try and control the rest of the game while the opponent attempts to play catch-up.



Offense: Returning starters: 6



LT Rob Warren (6-6, 296, SR)

LG Kory Lichtensteiger (6-3, 300, JR)

WR Charles Sharon (6-1, 178, SR)

WR Steve Sanders (6-3, 201, SR)

QB Omar Jacobs (6-4, 224, JR)

RB P.J. Pope (5-9, 216, SR)



The Falcons return over half the starters from a unit that led the conference in scoring offense (44.3/game), passing offense (338.1/game), total offense (506.3/game), first downs (26.1/game), 3rd down conversions (51.9/game), turnover margin (+1.25), and fewest sacks allowed (13). The 506.3 yards/game was second in the nation last season. Coordinator Greg Studrawa has been highly successful instituting the spread offense. Junior QB Omar Jacobs, a Josh Harris protégé, was the 2004 MAC offensive player of the year, leading the conference in virtually every statistical category, including passing efficiency (167.2), yards (333.5), and total offense (358.5), while tossing only 4 picks in 462 attempts. He is a deadly threat with both his arm and legs, having thrown 41 TD passes and rushed for 300 yards, and is back to lead the attack again in 2005. Senior RB P. J. Pope is looking to notch his third consecutive 1000 yard rushing season (1,098 in 2004) and he led the team with 21 TDs last season…he was also 2nd team All-MAC a year ago. He also caught 50 passes for 6 TDs last year. B. J. Lane is a capable backup. Senior WR Charles Sharon returns, having caught 66 passes for 1070 yards and 15 TDs last season. He will be opposite senior WR Steve Sanders, who caught 55 passes for 984 yards and 8 scores in 2004. Both returning starters on the line were all-conference performers last season: LT Warren was first team, LG Lichtensteiger second team. The line must replace the right side, but there are plenty of options to step up, including the 6-5, 341 pound behemoth Derrick Markray at RG. The Falcons are loaded again offensively this season, and don’t expect to see a significant drop-off from their output in 2004.



Defense: Returning Starters: 6



DE Brad Williams (6-3, 259, JR)

DT Mike Thaler (6-1, 281, SR)

DE Devon Parks (6-3, 239, JR)

WLB Teddy Piepkow (6-0, 228, SR)

CB Terrill Mayberry (5-11, 169, SR)

CB Jelani Jordan (5-10, 177, SR)



The Falcons also return plenty of experience on defense, though they must replace 4 all-MAC honored defensemen this season. Piepkow offers the most potential (leading returning tackler with 81) to be a superstar, but plenty of good players also return up front, including Parks, who had 4 sacks in 2004. The Falcons rotate a lot of people, and several underclassmen provide valuable depth as well as laying the foundation for a bright future. The secondary will be tested frequently as teams try and keep up or catch up with the Falcon offense, so having returning starters at the corners will give the Falcons a boost defensively, where Jordan led the conference in passes defended (15) in 2004. This unheralded unit went a stretch of 6 games last season of giving up 20 points or less, so they are very capable performers. In key games, they must avoid allowing the game to turn into a shootout. Unfortunately, the quick-strike spread offense puts a lot of pressure on the defense, so look for a lot of rotation throughout the course of games to keep the starters fresh for the fourth quarter.



Specialty Teams: Punter Nate Fry (5-10, 211, SR) was adequate, averaging 38.2 yards/punt, dropping 12 inside the 20. Kicker Shaun Suisham, the school’s all-time leading scorer, must be replaced. Charles Sharon and B.J. Lane are solid return men, and each returned a kick for a TD last year. The kickoff team should also be good…they get a lot of game experience.



Bottom Line: The Falcons open with an immediate assessment of their team’s quality…at Madison, against the Badgers. They also play one of the most intriguing games of the season when they travel to Boise State September 21st, which could be an ABCEFG game…no D allowed. The conference schedule is favorable, with road trips to weaker opponents (Ball State, Buffalo, Kent State), and home dates with Ohio, Akron, Western Michigan, and Toledo. The game versus archrival Miami at Oxford Nov. 15th will probably decide the East, and the Falcons close with Toledo, giving them tough back-to-back games leading into a potential MAC title game. The offense will be as explosive as ever, and shouldn’t miss a beat in 2005. If the Falcons can get effective defense at key moments, 8 wins is almost assured, and 10 wins are possible. Look for the Falcons to head to a potential back-to-back rematch with Toledo in the MAC title game and go bowling for the third straight season.



3- Miami RedHawks (Oxford, OH): MAC East (predicted finish: 2nd)



Outlook/Philosophy: It was a good season to start off the post-Big Ben era in Oxford. The RedHawks won the MAC East, lost a close one to Toledo in the title game, and then lost another close contest to Iowa State in the Independence Bowl. Shane Montgomery’s multiple formation (3 receiver/single back base) passing attack didn’t skip a beat last year, finishing 11th nationally with 279.6 yards per contest and 34th nationally in total offense with 399.7 yards/game. As the tailback position is up for grabs this season, look for the offense (which Montgomery will still run) to rely heavily on the passing attack again this year, with a returning QB and several other key returnees. Defensively, the 4-3, based on quickness and pursuit, was also good, ranking 34th nationally allowing 338.8 yards/game. They were especially good against the run, yielding only 123.2/game (29th nationally) and 6 of the front 7 returns this season, so they should be good again. Basically, there’s a lot of reason for optimism heading into Montgomery’s first year as the head man, and the RedHawks should again contend for the MAC East crown.



Offense: Returning Starters: 8



LT Mark Kracium (6-5, 286, SR)

C Todd Londot (6-7, 308, SR)

RG Nate Bunce (6-7, 337, SR)

RT Charlie Norden (6-6, 314, SO)

TE Dan Tyler (6-5, 244, SR)

WR R.J. Corbin (6-1, 203, JR)

WR Ryne Robinson (5-10, 169, JR)

QB Josh Betts (6-3, 219, SR)



This is a great offense, and most of it returns in tact. The skill players get most of the publicity, but the fact is this line is outstanding. Londot is a versatile 3-year starter, returning to center from tackle this year. The tackles are both very good, and Bunce is a certified bulldozer at the guard spot. The QB Betts, of course, is no slouch either, having tossed for 3,495 yards and 23 TDs last year. He should be better this season, having a year of running the system behind him. Despite losing Michael Larkin, the receiving corps is also good, with Robinson (64 for 932 yards, 4 TDs) leading the way. Martin Nance also returns to the corps having missed much of 2004 with a knee injury: he caught almost 1500 yards worth of passes in 2003, and will make this receiving corps hellacious to defend. The only point of concern is the running game, where Brandon Murphy (48 carries, 248 yards, 4 TDs) takes over for the capable Luke Clemens. The run will have to keep defenses honest this year, but with the line this team has, that shouldn’t be a problem. This offense is in great shape to make a run at a top 10 unit ranking this year with the MAC schedule, and don’t be surprised to see a lot of big numbers on the scoreboard in Oxford in 2005.



Defense: Returning Starters: 9



DE Marcus Johnson (6-3, 260, SR)

DT John Glavin (6-0, 278, SR)

DT Jarrod Rich (6-3, 267, SR)

OLB John Busing (6-4, 228, SR)

MLB Derek Rehage (6-2, 239, SR)

OLB Terna Nande (6-1, 228, SR)

CB Frank Wiwo (6-3, 171, SR)

CB Darrell Hunter (6-1, 213, SR)

SS Joey Card (6-0, 197, JR)



All one has to do is look at the class of most of the players on the list above to realize how experienced this defense is. However, the team sees its third coordinator (Taver Johnson) in 3 seasons, so the scheme needs to be solid to take advantage of the experience they have. The linebackers are a strength, with Nande as a big hitter with great speed (4.45) who was 1st team all-MAC last year, and Busing is the returning leader in tackles (93). Johnson is back after recording 7.5 sacks last season, and he was also 1st team all-MAC last season. Hunter is a fast NFL prospect that picked off 2 passes last year and was a 2nd team all-MAC selection. Overall, this unit is deep, seasoned, and talented, and will be able to put serious pressure on opponents. Like Bowling Green, they need to get big stops in key games and try and control games in the 2nd half after their offense scores some points.



Specialty Teams: Kicker Todd Soderquist is back after being a kickoff/long FG specialist, and Jacob Richardson will do the punting. Ryne Robinson was the special teams player of the year in the MAC in 2004 and is very dangerous in the return game, running 2 punts back for scores and averaging 14 per return. The coverage teams were also solid, and did not allow a TD. The kickers must be solid this season for the RedHawks to win the close contests with division contenders.



Bottom Line: There’s plenty of reasons for optimism in Oxford. Bowling Green’s move to the East sets up a showdown November 15th between these two rivals to potentially take the division, given Akron’s expected drop-off. The RedHawks open at Ohio State, and the Buckeyes would be wise to take this team seriously…this could be the most dangerous in-state opponent to date for the Buckeyes. The rest of the early schedule is favorable, setting up a date at Northern Illinois October 5th. Four winnable games then set up the showdown with Bowling Green before closing the year in Athens. The rest of the non-conference games (Temple, Cincinnati) are almost sure wins, and most of the conference has nothing for the RedHawks either. 8 wins is almost a sure thing, and if they get by the Huskies, they could be staring at 10 potential wins when the Falcons come to Oxford. Look for the Hawks to contend for both the conference title and a bowl bid.



4- Toledo Rockets (Toledo, OH): MAC West (predicted finish: 1st)



Outlook/Philosophy: Coach Tom Amstutz must replace both coordinators, who left for different positions after last season. In come OC John Shannon and DC Tim Rose to try and get the Rockets back to the MAC title game. Offensively, the spread has been very effective in recent seasons, and don’t look for any significant change in philosophy this year. By contrast, new DC Tim Rose brings his preference for the 3-4 from Louisiana Tech, and may choose to institute some variation of it to better play to the team’s strengths. The Rockets gave up 126 points in 2 games to start last season…the coaches know they need a better start than that, though the competition this season isn’t nearly as formidable. The Rockets are also almost unbeatable at home (30-1 in their last 31 at the Glass Bowl) so the road games will be the key to this season.



Offense: Returning Starters: 5



LT John Greco (6-5, 315, SO)

RG Chris Wakeman (6-5, 290, SR)

WR Steve Odom (5-10, 165, JR)

QB Bruce Gradkowski (6-2, 210, SR)

RB Trinity Dawson (5-10, 195, SR)



This offense ranked 11th in the nation last season at 459.2 yards/game, and scored 33.2 points per contest, good for 15th. Amstutz, a former DC, installed this offense when he took over at Toledo, and it has worked like a charm. Back to man the point is Gradkowski, who completed over 70% of his passes and threw 27 TDs last year, and was the 2004 MAC title game MVP. Also back are tailbacks Trinity Dawson (84 for 427, 3 TDs) and Quinton Broussard (113 for 507, 4 TDs), and also Scooter McDougle, coming off knee surgery, will be dangerous in the backfield, and could take the starting job after scoring 7 times last year and gaining a team-high 620 yards. Jalen Parmele is also in the mix. This could be a back-by-committee situation again this season, given all the talent available. The receiving corps must replace all-MAC receiver Lance Moore, but seems to be in good shape with Steve Odom (53 catches, 675 yards, 5 TDs) leading the way. TE Andrew Clarke, an all-MAC performer before missing last season with an injury, could also provide an additional big target (6-4, 249, SR) over the middle. The line is solid, with 2 returning starters and another guard (David Perkins) with extensive experience. Still, losing 4-time all-MAC lineman Nick Kaczur leaves a large void, and the line must gel to be able to adequately protect Gradkowski, whose strength is picking out receivers and tossing quick, accurate passes. It will be important for Greco to make a smooth transition from the right to the left side.



Defense: Returning Starters: 7



DT Tyree Pollard (6-4, 310, SO)

DT Alfred Martin (6-5, 255, SO)

ILB Anthony Jordan (6-3, 230, SR)

ILB David Thomas (6-2, 230, SR)

ROV Keon Jackson (5-11, 206, SR)

CB Antonio Malone (6-1, 186, SR)

CB Nigel Morris (6-0, 164, SO)



Rose will probably favor the “speed-and-swarm” approach for this defense, and has building blocks in LBs Jordan and Thomas. Jordan had 107 tackles in 2004, including 49 solo. Plenty of these players, particularly on the line and in the secondary, got significant playing time as freshman, and the seasoning could pay off this season. Morris and Jackson each picked off 3 passes last season, and Jackson was 2nd team all-MAC last year. Although the safeties are new, the secondary is deep and talented. The key this season is the transition to Rose’s scheme and the emergence of a line that must help stop the run, as the Rockets were next-to-last in run defense last season. If the line is capable and the secondary holds up, the linebacking corps should shine, and this defense will be vastly improved this year. The West title probably depends on it.



Specialty Teams: Jason Robbins returns to kick, and Brett Kern returns as the punter. Kern was good, averaging over 40 yards a kick. The kicking was good from short range (9/10 last season), but Toledo usually went for it on 4th down outside the 20 last year…look for more of the same. Odom will be the man in the return game. The kick coverage was decent last season.



Bottom Line: The Rockets are again the favorites in the MAC West. The schedule is not anywhere near as imposing as 2004, especially at the front end: the Rockets open with I-AA Western Illinois and follow that with Western Michigan and Temple. Week 4 sees a tough trip out to Fresno State, but after that, it could be smooth sailing, with weaker teams from the East (Buffalo, Ohio), Ball State, and the “Michigan Soup” schools in the middle of the schedule. The end of the season is where the Rockets must put their money where their collective mouths are: they close entertaining West archrival Northern Illinois and then make the daunting trip to Bowling Green. They could play the Falcons again in the title game if the offensive line gels, the defensive line emerges, and the linebackers can open up a can on defense. The team must also respond to the new coordinators, which shouldn’t be a problem as long as Amstutz is at the helm. Look for the Rockets to head to the title game and take the conference’s second bowl slot with 8 or 9 wins.



5- Akron Zips (Akron, OH): MAC East (predicted finish: 3rd)



Outlook/Philosophy: It would be hard to see how things could be much more frustrating at Akron. The Zips got hosed out of a bowl game in 2004, despite tying for the lead in the MAC East, and being the only Bowl eligible team not involved in a melee to not receive an invite. This, while having one of college football’s most exciting players in QB Charlie Frye, who as fate would have it, has graduated and moved on to the NFL. Such is life in Akron, but life goes on for coach J.D. Brookhart, who is in the infant stages of putting his mark on this program. The offense runs a multiple attack, made easier last season, of course, by Frye’s playmaking ability, and the defense is a basic 4-3 alignment with emphasis on speed and athleticism, especially in the secondary. Look for the defense to try and keep the Zips in games early in the season while the offense renovates a new line and finds a new field general.



Offense: Returning Starters: 5



LT Tim Crouch (6-3, 290, JR)

TE Kris Kasparek (6-6, 265, SO)

WR Jason Montgomery (5-11, 170, SR)

WR Domenik Hixon (6-2, 192, SR)

RB Brett Briggs (5-9, 190, SR)



The Zips are in rebuilding mode in 2005. Frye set 54 school records and completed over 70% of his passes last season…the returning leader in passing was wideout Jabari Arthur, and he completed 3 for 12 yards. It looks as if Arthur is the heir apparent for the job. Tim Crouch is a solid tackle, but four new players will be broken in along the line, which is generally not a good combination with an inexperienced QB. The team ranked 106th in the nation in rushing last year (97.3/game), and clearly that will have to be better this season to take some pressure off the new QB. Biggs is a small but good RB (2nd team all-MAC last year), and returns after gaining 871 yards and scoring 10 times in 2004. He is also a good receiver out of the backfield, having caught 32 balls and scoring twice last season. Biggs will be the key to the early part of the season for the Zips, until the passing game gets squared away. The receiving corps is deep and talented, with the lightening-fast Hixon (66 catches, 882 yards, 6 TDs) leading the way. Jason Montgomery (42 for 466, 4 TDs) is also capable. Hixon needs to get the ball as many ways as possible as often as possible, and throwing some safe passes to him could help the QB build confidence. The development of the new line is also a critical factor in the fortunes of this team.



Defense: Returning Starters: 7



DT Brain White (6-2, 275, SR)

DT Kiki Gonzalez (6-2, 300, SR)

SLB Jay Rohr (5-11, 220, SR)

CB Reggie Corner (5-9, 175, SR)

CB Dionte Henry (5-11, 191, JR)

SS Chevin Pace (5-10, 190, SO)

FS Dion Elie (6-0, 195, SR)



This defense is an interesting mixture. There is quite a bit of beef up front, with smaller, quicker players manning the linebacker and secondary positions. Rohr is the returning leader in tackles (67) and sacks (5), and should be free to make plays if Gonzalez consistently draws a double-team in the middle. This defense wasn’t very good against the pass last year (237/game, 87th nationally) but the entire secondary returns in tact, with Corner and Henry having picked off 2 passes each. The defense ranked 91st in scoring and 98th overall, so there is significant room for improvement this year. Considering division foes Bowling Green and Miami, the experience at secondary could help the Zips stay in games if the revamped offense struggles. The consistency in the second half of 2004 after a couple of blowout losses early is grounds for optimism for 2005.



Specialty Teams: Kicker Jason Siger is back...he hit a game-winner against Marshall, but was maddeningly inconsistent over stretches of the season. Punter Bill Sullivan is decent, and is also back. Hixon is a terror in the return game, returning a kickoff and a punt for TDs last year. The coverage teams were less than stellar (4 punts returned for TDs) so look for this to be a point of emphasis this year.



Bottom Line: The Zips are probably at the top of the rebuilding teams in the state this year, but are clearly below the level of the top 4 teams statewide. They don’t have to do anything spectacular to reproduce their top 3 division finish this year, but don’t look for the Zips to contend for the title again. The schedule is difficult, with a season opener at Purdue, followed by a trip to Sun Belt contender Middle Tennessee and the conference opener with Northern Illinois. They also have to play the 2 division heavyweights (Miami and Bowling Green) away. Home dates with Army, Central Michigan, and Ohio are winnable, and they entertain bitter archrival Kent State to close the season. Perhaps the most telling games will be road trips to Ball State and Buffalo, because if the Zips can win one or both of those, a winning record is very possible. Given the new QB and inexperience up front, a 6-5 season would be a nice follow-up for coach Brookhart. Look for 5-7 wins, and while a 4-7 season would be a monumental disappointment, it is an outside possibility if the team starts slowly.



6- Kent State Golden Flashes (Kent, OH): MAC East (predicted finish: 4th)



Outlook/Philosophy: Depending on one’s point of view, last season was either disappointing or a momentum-builder for 2005. It was disappointing because there were high hopes in Kent to make some noise in the MAC with Joshua Cribbs at the helm and a solid defense, and the team started 1-6. It was a momentum-builder because they won their final four games, for their longest winning streak since 1976…however, those four teams had a combined record of 10-34, including winless Central Florida. Still, coach Doug Martin had some cause for optimism, with an overachieving defense that led the conference and ranked 15th in the nation last season. He coordinates his own offense, where he employs a multiple attack, usually with 3 receivers, made all the more effective the past few seasons by the versatile Cribbs. The defense is an ultra-aggressive 3-4, which is predicated on smaller, quicker players. Look for the defense to be the key to keeping the Flashes in early games until a new field general can be broken in.



Offense: Returning Starters: 5



LT Daniel Carter (6-3, 310, SR)

LG Kliff Kinkead (6-1, 295, SO)

RG Craig Rafdal (6-4, 300, JR)

RT Joe Marafine (6-4, 275, SO)

WR Najah Pruden (6-3, 185, JR)



The offense will be breaking in a multitude of new skill position starters this year, but all is never lost when the offensive line is experienced, which the Flashes are with 4 returning starters…including Carter, a battering ram at LT. Pruden has nice size, and is the team’s top deep threat at the WR position, having caught 20 passes for 271 yards and 2 scores last year. The running backs are thin on experience, but have some talent as a group. Someone will have to step up and take control of the position in 2005, and it is as yet unclear who that will be. The QB duties will fall on big Michael Machen, a JUCO transfer with a howitzer attached to his right shoulder (6-6, 240). This offense will be quite a bit different with the transition from the mobile and dangerous Cribbs to the larger Machen, so the line is the key to protecting the QB and allowing the running game to take some pressure off until he gets settled in.



Defense: Returning Starters: 6



DT Daniel Muir (6-2, 255, SR)

WLB Jon Sessler (6-2, 240, SR)

MLB Bruce Rice (6-1, 250, JR)

SLB Justin Parrish (6-2, 240, SR)

CB Jack Williams (5-9, 170, SO)

CB Usama Young (5-11, 185, JR)



What a great year for coordinator Pete Rekstis and the Flashes defense. Justin Parrish was an absolute terror, recording 17.5 tackles for loss and a school record 14 sacks…he was 2nd team all-MAC in 2004. Jon Sessler was also very good, recording 77 tackles. In fact the front 7 was very effective as a whole, allowing a paltry 111.3 yards rushing per game. The secondary returns both corners, including Young, who picked off 3 passes. Few holes exist (strong safety is a bit of a concern), and there is no expectation of a significant drop-off from last year’s stellar performance. Given the overhaul on offense, it is imperative that this is the case.



Specialty Teams: In contrast to the defense, the special teams struggled. Kicker Travis Mayle and punter Joshua Brazen are both back, but whether that’s good or not is a matter of perspective. Mayle struggled, hitting 6/11 FGs, and Brazen had 3 kicks blocked…though he did average a solid 40.3 yards/kick. Jon Drager is a decent kick returner, and several other speedy players make the return game a positive for the Flashes.



Bottom Line: Despite last year’s success on defense and in the record at the end of the season, not too many are convinced across the college football landscape that the Flashes will replicate their 5 wins from a year ago. The development of the QB and the running game are keys to the fate of the Flashes, because the defense is solid and the O-line is veteran. The schedule isn’t particularly favorable, with a trip to East Lansing followed by I-AA SE Missouri State, and then the conference opener against the RedHawks. Other home dates with Northern Illinois and Bowling Green are no picnic, either…only Buffalo is a more comfortable contest. The conference road contests are more manageable, playing at Ohio and Eastern and Western Michigan before closing with their grudge match at the Rubber Bowl in Akron. Look for a win total between 3-5, depending on how well everything falls into place, but a winning season is a very outside chance in 2005.



7- Cincinnati Bearcats (Cincinnati, OH): Big East (predicted finish: 6th)



Outlook/Philosophy: The general consensus seems to be that the Bearcats are in deep trouble after a highly successful run in C-USA. With very, very few returning players with significant experience, coach Mark Dantonio has his work cut out for him as he moves his team to the Big East, and he must find a way to replace 10 players that garnered All-C-USA honors in 2004. The offense is a multiple attack, but it is difficult to know what philosophy coordinator Don Treadwell will try and institute without knowing which of a whopping 7 candidates will take over the QB job, and who will be catching passes, and who is going to block. Other than that, everything is all set. One thing’s for sure: the running game will be as important as ever this season, and even there they are replacing Richard Hall, who ran for over 1,000 yards last season. The 4-3 defense will also have to be rebuilt…a bad time to have to do so when the offense is being overhauled. Still, the Bearcats hope they can build some momentum early and surprise some people…and Dantonio is the gritty coach who may be able to pull it off.



Offense: Returning Starters: 3



LT Steve Eastlake (6-5, 294, JR)

TE Brent Celek (6-4, 250, JR)

FB Doug Jones (6-4, 282, SO)



Well, where to begin? The loss of QB Gino Guidugli, who led the team to multiple bowl games and nearly pulled the upset of Ohio State in 2002, is gone. There is no QB who has attempted a pass, so the offense is starting from scratch. Luckily, whoever emerges will be able to throw to Celek, who has great size and caught 8 TDs last year, and was 2nd team All-C-USA. He’s an outstanding safety valve. Jones can carry the ball from the FB spot, and several other promising RBs are on the roster, including Bradley Glatthaar (72/315/4) and Butler Benton, who leads returning rushers with 453 yards and 4 TDs. The line is a major concern…besides the solid Eastlake, 4 other new players must step up big-time into the starting roles and protect the new QB. Earnest Jackson (24 catches for 314 yards, 1 TD) is probably the biggest threat downfield at the WR position…if the ball has time to get downfield, that is. This offense is basically starting from the very beginning…the running game must emerge immediately, which means the line has to be solid early, and the QB position must have a steep learning curve if this team is going to be competitive.



Defense: Returning Starters: 3



DE Adam Roberts (6-3, 275, SR)

CB Antoine Horton (5-10, 185, JR)

SS Dominic Ross (6-0, 201, JR)



This unit was decent last year (the Louisville game not withstanding), ranking 38th nationally overall, but it will also have to be rebuilt from the ground up. Roberts is a very good player along the line, but the linebacking corps is entirely gone, and the rest of the line also needs to be replaced. Early indications are that DE Anthony Hoke is a player to watch. A slew of underclassmen will be filling the remaining spots in the front 7, so look for the team to have great difficulty stopping the run (they ranked 58th last year), at least early on. The secondary is better, with 2 starters returning and several additional players with game experience. With so many questions and holes to fill with players without experience, Coach Dantonio will earn every dollar he makes if this unit finishes in the top half of the country this season.



Specialty Teams: Punter Chet Ervin is back, after averaging a solid 41.2 yards per boot last season. Kicker Kevil Lovell, fresh off an 11/15 performance on FGs last season, also returns. Mike Daniels is a solid return man. This is an area where the team can keep games close if the coverage teams are decent.



Bottom Line: Well, new coaches always like to get the chance to put their stamp on their team…and coach Dantonio definitely gets that opportunity this year, probably earlier than he wanted. Both the offense and defense will be built from the ground up, so we’ll see how much success he has. The schedule features an opener with Eastern Michigan and a game with I-AA Western Carolina in between a game at Penn State, resuming a series which has featured some of the greatest (a 14-3 win in 1983 coming off the Penn State title in 1982), and worst (81-0 loss in 1991) moments in program history. The rest of the schedule is brutal, traveling to Oxford to face Miami and then to Pittsburgh, followed by entertaining UConn and Louisville, who hung 70 on the Bearcats last season. They also have to play at Syracuse, Rutgers, and South Florida and entertain West Virginia. It is hard to see how this team could win more than 3 games, and a 1-10 disaster is possible if they don’t get off to a good start. Still, if they can get by EMU and WCU early, they could carry that into competing with better teams later in the season. Look for 1-4 wins.



8- Ohio Bobcats (Athens, OH): MAC East (predicted finish: 6th)



Outlook/Philosophy: New coach Frank Solich brings reason for hope to Athens this season. He has stated he hopes to use a multiple offensive scheme, branching from the option-based wishbone attack he favored at Nebraska, his last stop in coaching. Defensively, the team will switch to a 4-3, and Solich wants a tough, physical defense…in sharp contrast to the speed and swarm approach of several of the MAC defenses. The Bobcats had one of the better defenses in the MAC last season, and if the offense can control games a little better this year, the Bobcats should be competitive. Still, they are clearly well behind the conference elites (11-35 the last 4 seasons), so Solich will have his work cut out for him.



Offense: Returning Starters: 5



LT Matt Coppage (6-4, 278, JR)

RG Matt Miller (6-3, 290, SO)

TE Dave Cody (6-4, 250 SR)

WR Scott Mayle (6-1, 175 JR)

RB Kalvin McRae (5-11, 200 SO)



Ohio can’t figure out what scheme it wants to run, and the lack of continuity has killed the Bobcats. Over the last 2 seasons, they went from the triple option to the one-back set, and now Solich looks to mix in a little of everything this year. That puts a lot of pressure on QB Austin Everson, who is expected to make Solich’s offense go…he threw for 588 yards and 4 scores last year in primarily a backup role. Kalvin McRae is the most dependable skill player and leading returning rusher, having gained 559 yards and scoring 4 TDs last year. Mayle led the team with 583 receiving yards last season. The line should be decent, with 2 starters returning, and are a work in progress. Overall, the skill players are solid but not particularly explosive, so it will be important for the line to gel and the QB to gain some confidence. The offense must be significantly better if the Bobcats expect to compete for an upper-division finish.



Defense: Returning Starters: 6



NG Shane Yates (6-2, 291, SR)

WLB Tyler Russ (6-1, 212, JR)

MLB Matt Muncy (6-2, 225 JR)

SLB Michael Graham (5-10, 200, JR)

CB T.J. Wright (5-11, 156, JR)

CB Dion Byrum (5-11, 177, SR)



The defense was pretty good last season, considering the record. The Bobcats were the second best D in the MAC in yards allowed. The returning linebacking corps will help Coach Solich establish the toughness factor. With only one returning starter on the line, and a transition from a 3-4 to a 4-3 without the benefit of returning starters at the ends, the LBs will be they key to supporting the run. Muncy led the team in tackles (78) last season, and had 5 sacks. It’s always nice to have the returning corners (albeit a bit undersized) back to combat the aerial assaults of many of the MAC teams. Wright returns having picked off 3 passes last season. The safeties will need to be replaced, but the Bobcats don’t expect much of a drop-off from a defense that ranked first in the conference in passing yards allowed (195.4/game). Overall, the defense will be solid again, but without adequate offense, even a great defense can get wasted…just ask any fan at Vanderbilt during the 1990s.



Specialty Teams: Both the kicker (Brooks Rossman) and punter (Matthew Miller) return, and were decent last season, but Rossman needs to improve the 7/14 on FG attempts. The team was first in the MAC in net punt and kickoff coverage, so defensively they were pretty good…the return games could use some work.



Bottom Line: Solich, a native of Cleveland, has Ohio ties and plenty of optimism, and fan interest has piqued this season, given his track record at Nebraska. Still, it could be a while before the terms “Ohio” and “contender” are used in the same sentence. The defense will be good despite a realignment, but the offense was terrible last season and is undergoing the second major overhaul in as many seasons. The schedule doesn’t do him any favors either, with non-conference games against Pittsburgh, Northwestern and defending ACC champ Virginia Tech, and conference trips to Bowling Green and Akron and visits from Toledo and Miami. The team will probably be better, maybe much better, but it would be surprising if the record reflected that at the end of the year. A 4 win season would be a good start for coach Solich, but 2-3 wins is much more realistic.





*Information sources included the spring prospectus of each team, College Football Data Warehouse website, CBSSportsline.com, and college previews by the Sporting News, Athlon, and Street and Smith’s
 
Back
Top