02-10-2010, 04:57 PM
Off season, OK ? This guy does a rating countdown of teams every year. Agree or disagree, these are some of his Sun Belt observations thus far. DON'T SHOOT THE MESSENGER !!!!!
Link to thread (WAC board)
http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=451&f=2368&t=5543558&p=1
#120
Arkansas State Red Wolves
The Wolfpack are essentially starting from scratch on offense. New quarterback, new running back, new tight end, new receivers and a new tight end. The only thing holding that unit together is an offensive line returning entirely intact. That is from an offense that ranked in the bottom 3 in the bottom 3 in the Sun Belt in scoring offense, rushing offense and passing offense a year ago and looks to be even worse this year. What held Arkansas State up a season ago was a defense which was tops in the conference, and that unit suffers a lot of losses as well. Northern Illinois became the first team to rise up from the bottom spot of these rankings when they did it a season ago, but I am far less confident in Arkansas State doing so.
Offensive Leaders:
QB Ryan Aplin, Sophomore
OT Kiano Prater, Senior
OG Drew Hilton, Senior
Defensive Leaders:
DT Derek Hall, Senior
LB Demario Davis, Junior
S Kelcie McCray, Junior
Conference Rating: #9 in Sun Belt
#119
Florida International Panthers
They say championships are won in the trenches. Florida International better hope that’s not true, because they suffer a serious lack of talent in those areas. The Panthers averaged under 3 yards per carry in 2009, barely getting over 100 yards per game, while giving up over 230 yards per game on the ground to their opponents. One argument could be that they gave up so many yards because teams were playing them from ahead…but FIU was also 2nd to last in the Sun Belt in passing defense. One time FIU is dangerous is when the ball is in the hands of T.Y. Hilton. Teams caught onto Hilton a year ago though, as he went through a bit of a sophomore slump after putting up over 1,000 yards as a freshman. For FIU to move up he needs to start making more big plays in 2010, both as a receiver and returner.
Offensive Leaders:
WR T.Y. Hilton, Junior
WR Greg Ellingson, Senior
C Brad Serini, Senior
Defensive Leaders:
LB Toronto Smith, Senior
CB Anthony Gaitor, Senior
S Jonathan Cyprien, Sophomore
Conference Rating: #8 in Sun Belt
#117
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
The most recent addition to the FBS has struggled to get off the mat, finishing dead last in the Sun Belt in both scoring offense and scoring defense will do that. Passing for only 147 yards per game is not acceptable, even when you have an all-conference player carrying the ball. Quarterback Kawaun Jakes is in there because of his legs but at only 3 yards per carry he’s not doing nearly enough to allow the Hilltoppers to take advantage of passing opportunities. The secondary played a lot of youngsters which have plenty of upside, but need to start creating opportunities off the turnover, only picking off 6 passes a season ago. With a struggling offense, creating those short field situations is key.
Offensive Leaders:
QB Kawaun Jakes, Sophomore
RB Bobby Rainey, Junior
TE Jack Doyle, Sophomore
Defensive Leaders:
LB Thomas Majors, Senior
S Kareem Peterson, Sophomore
S Mark Santoro, Junior
Conference Rating: #7 in Sun Belt
#110
Florida Atlantic Owls
Florida Atlantic seemed on the verge of taking control of the Sun Belt, and then last year did not go as planned. Rusty Smith graduated, and most of the Owls’ passing attack left with him. Now Florida Atlantic starts over from scratch, relying heavily on tailback Alfred Morris. This is territory the Florida Atlantic has not been in in some time, turning to a new starter at quarterback for the first time since 2005. Morris has the talent to carry that load, earning all-conference honors a season ago, the problem is going to be scoring for a team that was able to move the ball on the ground but unable to punch it in. The bottom of the conference is still weak enough that FAU should pick up some wins but the Owls are not in contention for a conference crown.
Offensive Leaders:
QB Jeff VanCamp, Senior
RB Alfred Morris, Junior
WR Lester Jean, Senior
Defensive Leaders:
DE Kevin Cyrille, Junior
LB Michael Lockley, Senior
S Marcus Bartels, Junior
Conference Rating: #6 in Sun Belt
#107
UL Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns
UL Lafayette made gigantic strides year ago on defense, and now the offense needs to catch up. If that unit had even been a shell of the 2008 version, Lafayette would probably have been bowl bound. You know they want to be able to run the ball, although senior Undrea Sails didn’t fit the bill last year. He split time with redshirt freshman Yobes Walker a season ago, and it led the Cajuns to fall from 7th nationally to 7th in the Sun Belt in rushing. Still the key is field position and defense, and fortunately Lafayette might have the best unit in the conference. Chris Masson is not going to carry the team, but he just needs to avoid costing them games.
Offensive Leaders:
QB Chris Masson, Junior
TE Ladarius Green, Junior
OT Jonathan Decoster, Senior
Defensive Leaders:
LB Grant Fleming, Senior
CB Dwight Bentley, Junior
P Spencer Ortego, Senior
Conference Rating: #5 in Sun Belt
#103
UL Monroe Warhawks
The Warhawks can score, but can they stop anyone? They had one of the better defenses in the Sun Belt a season ago, but suffered massive losses, only returning four players from a season ago. What they did well last year was knock the quarterback around early and often. However, 16 of their 27 sacks are gone, along with 9 of the 11 interceptions made by non-linemen. They have plenty of talent ready to fill in, but the biggest loss is Cardia Jackson, who was not only the best player on the field for Monroe, but also played a similar role to the one that Rolando McClain did at Alabama, as a coach on the field. They may look for OLB Theo Smith to move to the inside of the 3-3-5 they run and try to fill that gap.
Offensive Leaders:
QB Trey Revell, Senior
RB Frank Goodin, Senior
WR Luther Ambrose, Junior
Defensive Leaders:
DE Troy Evans, Junior
LB Theo Smith, Senior
CB Nate Brown, Junior
Conference Rating: #4 in Sun Belt
Link to thread (WAC board)
http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=451&f=2368&t=5543558&p=1
#120
Arkansas State Red Wolves
The Wolfpack are essentially starting from scratch on offense. New quarterback, new running back, new tight end, new receivers and a new tight end. The only thing holding that unit together is an offensive line returning entirely intact. That is from an offense that ranked in the bottom 3 in the bottom 3 in the Sun Belt in scoring offense, rushing offense and passing offense a year ago and looks to be even worse this year. What held Arkansas State up a season ago was a defense which was tops in the conference, and that unit suffers a lot of losses as well. Northern Illinois became the first team to rise up from the bottom spot of these rankings when they did it a season ago, but I am far less confident in Arkansas State doing so.
Offensive Leaders:
QB Ryan Aplin, Sophomore
OT Kiano Prater, Senior
OG Drew Hilton, Senior
Defensive Leaders:
DT Derek Hall, Senior
LB Demario Davis, Junior
S Kelcie McCray, Junior
Conference Rating: #9 in Sun Belt
#119
Florida International Panthers
They say championships are won in the trenches. Florida International better hope that’s not true, because they suffer a serious lack of talent in those areas. The Panthers averaged under 3 yards per carry in 2009, barely getting over 100 yards per game, while giving up over 230 yards per game on the ground to their opponents. One argument could be that they gave up so many yards because teams were playing them from ahead…but FIU was also 2nd to last in the Sun Belt in passing defense. One time FIU is dangerous is when the ball is in the hands of T.Y. Hilton. Teams caught onto Hilton a year ago though, as he went through a bit of a sophomore slump after putting up over 1,000 yards as a freshman. For FIU to move up he needs to start making more big plays in 2010, both as a receiver and returner.
Offensive Leaders:
WR T.Y. Hilton, Junior
WR Greg Ellingson, Senior
C Brad Serini, Senior
Defensive Leaders:
LB Toronto Smith, Senior
CB Anthony Gaitor, Senior
S Jonathan Cyprien, Sophomore
Conference Rating: #8 in Sun Belt
#117
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
The most recent addition to the FBS has struggled to get off the mat, finishing dead last in the Sun Belt in both scoring offense and scoring defense will do that. Passing for only 147 yards per game is not acceptable, even when you have an all-conference player carrying the ball. Quarterback Kawaun Jakes is in there because of his legs but at only 3 yards per carry he’s not doing nearly enough to allow the Hilltoppers to take advantage of passing opportunities. The secondary played a lot of youngsters which have plenty of upside, but need to start creating opportunities off the turnover, only picking off 6 passes a season ago. With a struggling offense, creating those short field situations is key.
Offensive Leaders:
QB Kawaun Jakes, Sophomore
RB Bobby Rainey, Junior
TE Jack Doyle, Sophomore
Defensive Leaders:
LB Thomas Majors, Senior
S Kareem Peterson, Sophomore
S Mark Santoro, Junior
Conference Rating: #7 in Sun Belt
#110
Florida Atlantic Owls
Florida Atlantic seemed on the verge of taking control of the Sun Belt, and then last year did not go as planned. Rusty Smith graduated, and most of the Owls’ passing attack left with him. Now Florida Atlantic starts over from scratch, relying heavily on tailback Alfred Morris. This is territory the Florida Atlantic has not been in in some time, turning to a new starter at quarterback for the first time since 2005. Morris has the talent to carry that load, earning all-conference honors a season ago, the problem is going to be scoring for a team that was able to move the ball on the ground but unable to punch it in. The bottom of the conference is still weak enough that FAU should pick up some wins but the Owls are not in contention for a conference crown.
Offensive Leaders:
QB Jeff VanCamp, Senior
RB Alfred Morris, Junior
WR Lester Jean, Senior
Defensive Leaders:
DE Kevin Cyrille, Junior
LB Michael Lockley, Senior
S Marcus Bartels, Junior
Conference Rating: #6 in Sun Belt
#107
UL Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns
UL Lafayette made gigantic strides year ago on defense, and now the offense needs to catch up. If that unit had even been a shell of the 2008 version, Lafayette would probably have been bowl bound. You know they want to be able to run the ball, although senior Undrea Sails didn’t fit the bill last year. He split time with redshirt freshman Yobes Walker a season ago, and it led the Cajuns to fall from 7th nationally to 7th in the Sun Belt in rushing. Still the key is field position and defense, and fortunately Lafayette might have the best unit in the conference. Chris Masson is not going to carry the team, but he just needs to avoid costing them games.
Offensive Leaders:
QB Chris Masson, Junior
TE Ladarius Green, Junior
OT Jonathan Decoster, Senior
Defensive Leaders:
LB Grant Fleming, Senior
CB Dwight Bentley, Junior
P Spencer Ortego, Senior
Conference Rating: #5 in Sun Belt
#103
UL Monroe Warhawks
The Warhawks can score, but can they stop anyone? They had one of the better defenses in the Sun Belt a season ago, but suffered massive losses, only returning four players from a season ago. What they did well last year was knock the quarterback around early and often. However, 16 of their 27 sacks are gone, along with 9 of the 11 interceptions made by non-linemen. They have plenty of talent ready to fill in, but the biggest loss is Cardia Jackson, who was not only the best player on the field for Monroe, but also played a similar role to the one that Rolando McClain did at Alabama, as a coach on the field. They may look for OLB Theo Smith to move to the inside of the 3-3-5 they run and try to fill that gap.
Offensive Leaders:
QB Trey Revell, Senior
RB Frank Goodin, Senior
WR Luther Ambrose, Junior
Defensive Leaders:
DE Troy Evans, Junior
LB Theo Smith, Senior
CB Nate Brown, Junior
Conference Rating: #4 in Sun Belt