(01-10-2010 07:40 AM)emu steve Wrote:  Is it just me, but does Temple look like the only dominant team in '10? Strong both running and passing.

Too many critical losses at CMU (Lefevour and Brown), BG (Sheehan and Barnes), WMU (Hiller), etc.

Maybe we have young kids to replace them but my hunch is that those teams will slide and three other teams need to step up.

Maybe NIU? Any real dark horse teams?

Rockets should have a potent offense.The QB position is open. The early leader is Austin Dantin who put up almost 400 yds in Total Offense against BGSU in Toledo's season finale. Junior RB Morgan Williams ran for over 1,000 yds as a freshman as a part-timer starter. Freshman All-American Eric Page and JUCO All-American WR Quintin Robinson will lead a potent Rocket receiving corps. The 2009 Rockets finished #13 in the nation in Total Offense and #1 in the MAC. In 2010, UT may put up even bigger numbers returning all but one starter on the OL.

I know BG has a lot to replace after 2 years of large senior classes departing. We will be very young next year. I think we have a lot of young players ready to step up but they are mostly unknowns at this point. Clawson will have his hands full. It will be interesting to see how far he shifts from the spread to the "clawfence", whatever that is.

I would add a second Zac to the list of promising young QBs. Maynard looks very capable for Buffalo.

I look for Miami to make a big turn around within the MAC. OOC not so much but within the MAC I think they will improve a lot and maybe contend.

Temple does seem to be the favorite. I wonder which MAC East team will be chosen to not play Temple the next two years. BG already took its turn. I'm assuming it is a two year rotation to allow for home-n-homes to be completed with other teams.

Turnaround candidates Toledo and maybe Miami if I read the last couple posts correctly.

(01-10-2010 10:45 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  

(01-10-2010 07:40 AM)emu steve Wrote:  Is it just me, but does Temple look like the only dominant team in '10? Strong both running and passing.

Too many critical losses at CMU (Lefevour and Brown), BG (Sheehan and Barnes), WMU (Hiller), etc.

Maybe we have young kids to replace them but my hunch is that those teams will slide and three other teams need to step up.

Maybe NIU? Any real dark horse teams?

Rockets should have a potent offense.The QB position is open. The early leader is Austin Dantin who put up almost 400 yds in Total Offense against BGSU in Toledo's season finale. Junior RB Morgan Williams ran for over 1,000 yds as a freshman as a part-timer starter. Freshman All-American Eric Page and JUCO All-American WR Quintin Robinson will lead a potent Rocket receiving corps. The 2009 Rockets finished #13 in the nation in Total Offense and #1 in the MAC. In 2010, UT may put up even bigger numbers returning all but one starter on the OL.

Its too bad Toledo is looking like having another great offense, but once again the defense won't be able to stop anyone and with Church graduating there is no one scary on the Toledo defense or even someone to worry about like Church.

(01-10-2010 12:14 PM)utpotts Wrote:  

(01-10-2010 10:45 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  

(01-10-2010 07:40 AM)emu steve Wrote:  Is it just me, but does Temple look like the only dominant team in '10? Strong both running and passing.

Too many critical losses at CMU (Lefevour and Brown), BG (Sheehan and Barnes), WMU (Hiller), etc.

Maybe we have young kids to replace them but my hunch is that those teams will slide and three other teams need to step up.

Maybe NIU? Any real dark horse teams?

Rockets should have a potent offense.The QB position is open. The early leader is Austin Dantin who put up almost 400 yds in Total Offense against BGSU in Toledo's season finale. Junior RB Morgan Williams ran for over 1,000 yds as a freshman as a part-timer starter. Freshman All-American Eric Page and JUCO All-American WR Quintin Robinson will lead a potent Rocket receiving corps. The 2009 Rockets finished #13 in the nation in Total Offense and #1 in the MAC. In 2010, UT may put up even bigger numbers returning all but one starter on the OL.

Its too bad Toledo is looking like having another great offense, but once again the defense won't be able to stop anyone and with Church graduating there is no one scary on the Toledo defense or even someone to worry about like Church.

Let's see there is no 4 year All-MAC and First Day NFL Draft type player on Toledo's Defense...
How many times has that happened in Toledo's football history?
LB Archie Donald was pretty good last season 50 Solo Tackles and 116 Total Tackles good for #3 in the MAC and #21 nationally.

(01-10-2010 11:15 AM)emu steve Wrote:  Turnaround candidates Toledo and maybe Miami if I read the last couple posts correctly.

I don't know what exactly is the evidence for Miami improvement. They added a new coach last year and looked absolutely terrible.

If Miami was smart though, they'd give Haywood 5-6 years to try and right the ship. The schedule this year almost automatically dooms Miami to another losing season.

If Miami gets antsy and fires him after a second losing season that will cause even more chaos for a program quickly becoming the EMU of the East.

(01-10-2010 12:14 PM)utpotts Wrote:  

(01-10-2010 10:45 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  

(01-10-2010 07:40 AM)emu steve Wrote:  Is it just me, but does Temple look like the only dominant team in '10? Strong both running and passing.

Too many critical losses at CMU (Lefevour and Brown), BG (Sheehan and Barnes), WMU (Hiller), etc.

Maybe we have young kids to replace them but my hunch is that those teams will slide and three other teams need to step up.

Maybe NIU? Any real dark horse teams?

Rockets should have a potent offense.The QB position is open. The early leader is Austin Dantin who put up almost 400 yds in Total Offense against BGSU in Toledo's season finale. Junior RB Morgan Williams ran for over 1,000 yds as a freshman as a part-timer starter. Freshman All-American Eric Page and JUCO All-American WR Quintin Robinson will lead a potent Rocket receiving corps. The 2009 Rockets finished #13 in the nation in Total Offense and #1 in the MAC. In 2010, UT may put up even bigger numbers returning all but one starter on the OL.

Its too bad Toledo is looking like having another great offense, but once again the defense won't be able to stop anyone and with Church graduating there is no one scary on the Toledo defense or even someone to worry about like Church.

That's a great point, but I don't know how important a great defense is right now in the MAC. Right now, it's like the Big 12 Light. The first pass wacky team to 50 points wins. A great defense helped Temple and Northern Illinois, but Ohio and Central Michigan got along fine with average defenses. If Toledo's offense can step up next year, then I don't see any reason why they can't do the same.

OU's defense was pretty good. With the exception of the win against BG, I am trying to figure out where it let the Bobcats down. If anything this season points to the fact that a defense puts you in contention. Kent State also had a strong defense much of the year before they faltered down the stretch particularly because of the QB injury.

I like Miami's QB. That being said, the MAC has so many young quarterbacks that have great potential. CMU, WMU and BG all graduate experienced record-setters, and the East teams in particular could have a similar group coming up. We will have to see who develops and who can put the pieces around them.

(01-10-2010 01:05 PM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  

(01-10-2010 12:14 PM)utpotts Wrote:  

(01-10-2010 10:45 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  

(01-10-2010 07:40 AM)emu steve Wrote:  Is it just me, but does Temple look like the only dominant team in '10? Strong both running and passing.

Too many critical losses at CMU (Lefevour and Brown), BG (Sheehan and Barnes), WMU (Hiller), etc.

Maybe we have young kids to replace them but my hunch is that those teams will slide and three other teams need to step up.

Maybe NIU? Any real dark horse teams?

Rockets should have a potent offense.The QB position is open. The early leader is Austin Dantin who put up almost 400 yds in Total Offense against BGSU in Toledo's season finale. Junior RB Morgan Williams ran for over 1,000 yds as a freshman as a part-timer starter. Freshman All-American Eric Page and JUCO All-American WR Quintin Robinson will lead a potent Rocket receiving corps. The 2009 Rockets finished #13 in the nation in Total Offense and #1 in the MAC. In 2010, UT may put up even bigger numbers returning all but one starter on the OL.

Its too bad Toledo is looking like having another great offense, but once again the defense won't be able to stop anyone and with Church graduating there is no one scary on the Toledo defense or even someone to worry about like Church.

Let's see there is no 4 year All-MAC and First Day NFL Draft type player on Toledo's Defense...
How many times has that happened in Toledo's football history?
LB Archie Donald was pretty good last season 50 Solo Tackles and 116 Total Tackles good for #3 in the MAC and #21 nationally.

In fact, Archie Donald led the Rockets in tackles almost every game last season. He didn't get the hype, but he's a helluva player. Having said that, we need guys like Jermain Robinson to step up big, need to get Morrow back healthy, and bring in some serious speed. I WANT a couple of big mean DTs, but I'd be thrilled with speed at every position if I couldn't have that.

(01-10-2010 11:00 PM)TheMACer Wrote:  That's a great point, but I don't know how important a great defense is right now in the MAC. Right now, it's like the Big 12 Light. The first pass wacky team to 50 points wins. A great defense helped Temple and Northern Illinois, but Ohio and Central Michigan got along fine with average defenses. If Toledo's offense can step up next year, then I don't see any reason why they can't do the same.

How do you figure CMU's D was average? We were in the top 1-3 in a lot of D categories (including #2 in Total Defense):
http://www.nmnathletics.com/fls/9400/Sta...nfldrs.htm

(01-10-2010 07:40 AM)emu steve Wrote:  Is it just me, but does Temple look like the only dominant team in '10? Strong both running and passing.

You're correct. Temple has this freshman kid named Cody Bohler who is 6' 7" 305 pound offensive lineman and he serves as a vacation bible school teacher and is a recipient of the Campus Ministry Award. Intends to study mechanical engineering.

After Cody wipes out the opposing DL/LB, he can say something spiritual and then possibly design an artificial limb for the poor sot, if he's still alive.

Go Temple and Go Karl!

(01-11-2010 12:18 PM)CMUprof Wrote:  

(01-10-2010 11:00 PM)TheMACer Wrote:  That's a great point, but I don't know how important a great defense is right now in the MAC. Right now, it's like the Big 12 Light. The first pass wacky team to 50 points wins. A great defense helped Temple and Northern Illinois, but Ohio and Central Michigan got along fine with average defenses. If Toledo's offense can step up next year, then I don't see any reason why they can't do the same.

How do you figure CMU's D was average? We were in the top 1-3 in a lot of D categories (including #2 in Total Defense):
http://www.nmnathletics.com/fls/9400/Sta...nfldrs.htm

Agree. Our defense wasn't flashy -- and it tackled poorly in the 2nd half of the GMAC bowl to be sure -- but it helped us hold every other opponent on the schedule, including three BCS squads, to 31 points or less. Allowing less than 20ppg isn't at all shabby and is better than average, IMHO.