Coming off of a 14-0 record the previous year, 2010 set-up as Boise State's best chance yet to make a run at the National Championship. Boise State started off with an impressive victory in the opening week against Virginia Tech. In week three Boise State beat it's other BCS non-conference opponent as it took out talented but jekyl & hyde Oregon State. Boise State then went on a run of terror against non-BCS Conference foes where their closest margin of victory was 29 points against Louisiana Tech. After destroying Fresno State by the tune of 51-0, the Broncos fell to a ranked Nevada team 34-31 in OT by a missed FG. Did Boise's run of easy targets set them up for the loss? It's tough to be in a position like Boise is in. You play in a conference where their isn't anybody else on your level so you basically play 8 easy "gimme" games a year. You try to schedule up but a lot of the bigger name teams don't have anything to gain by playing Boise (and have much more to lose) so Boise ends up only getting big match-ups here and there and it's almost always at their opponents stadium or near their opponents lair. While it's much easier for Boise to run the table than say LSU or Alabama there is also the argument that maybe they aren't as battle tested as they could be if they played in a better conference. Led by 2011 Heisman Candidate Kellen Moore and talented WRs Austin Pettis and Titus Young, Boise State had another great season in 2010 and I think that Boise can play with any team in the country on any given day. The question that we will never know (at least not right now) is how Boise would do if they played big-time talent week in and week out and had to face the grind of a conference schedule that teams in the SEC, Big 12 and Big Ten face instead of having borderline scrimmages every week instead of conference games. Would the attrition of playing against tougher teams and better coaches wear on the team mentally and physically or would it keep them sharper because they know they have to be on their A game every week? That's one of the questions that keeps Boise on the outside looking in when a lot of pollsters make their ballots and I can't say that I blame them. I would love to see Boise get a chance to step up into a bigger pond and play a tougher schedule and see how they could do. Next year Boise again looks like it has a two-team schedule as they open up against a talented Georgia team that severely under-achieved in 2010 and they end it against a tough TCU team that will be starting a new QB this year. In 2010, even if Boise had gone undefeated they would not have played for the National Championship because of a combination of their schedule and the fact that two teams from BCS Conferences went undefeated. In 2011, Boise State's National Championship hopes again rest on them winning out and having other teams fall by the way-side. We caught up with Kevan Lee of the SB Nation Boise State Blog One Bronco Nation Under God (OBNUG) to get his take on the 2010 Broncos and get a quick peak into 2011.
1. Expectations ran high for the Broncos this year. Do you feel that this team met expectations this year?
Boise State fans had some pretty high expectations - like winning a national championship. So no, Boise State did not meet expectations. Now, whether or not those expectations were reasonable or fair is an entirely different question and one that I'm glad you didn't ask. I don't have the answer to that one.
Thing is, this was perhaps the greatest football team in Boise State history. Obviously, there's room for debate about that since the "greatest team" couldn't do what so many previous ones had - go undefeated. Football's a weird game like that, where anything can happen and on-paper greatness can be undone by a series of bounces or a pair of short uprights. What? Was that out loud? My apologies. I do not mean to hijack this Q&A into a discussion about WAC officiating, which is terrible. Just saying.
2. Which player were the biggest surprise of the season?
DE Shea McClellin had the outstanding season that many expected DE Ryan Winterswyk to have. It helped that Winterswyk was double teamed all the time in order to avoid said outstanding season. But still, McClellin made at least one play per game where you thought, "Wow, this kid is really good at football," or "Wow, toeheads can excel in organized sports." (As a toehead myself, I can understand the poignancy of the latter.)
A lot of other players could fall into the "surprise" category, too, but I'd like to point out one really obvious one: Titus Young. He surprised me with the way he became Boise State's clear-cut No. 1 receiving threat despite the presence of Austin Pettis. That, my friend, is not easy to do.
3. Which player are you most excited about for next season?
The combination of Kellen Moore / Doug Martin is going to keep Bronco hearts warmed all offseason long. BSU has college football's best quarterback (blah blah Andrew Luck, yeah I get it) and one of its most dynamic running backs. The returning starters aren't nearly as many as last year, but that fact seems a little easier to swallow with Moore and Martin returning to the backfield.
4. Boise State had a great duo of senior receivers (Austin Pettis and TItus Young). Who steps up to replace them next year?
The players who are most likely to fill in for Pettis and Young will probably come from this group: Tyler Shoemaker, Mitch Burroughs, Chris Potter, Geraldo Hiwat, Aaron Burks, and Kirby Moore.
My money is on Shoemaker to play the Pettis role next year. His style of play is similar to Pettis in that he is a big body with strong hands who can make plays on key downs and distances. Whether he has the route-running and separation skills needed to survive as Boise State's WR1 remains to be seen.
Opposite Shoemaker, I think Hiwat gets the call. If the Broncos are serious about filling in for Pettis and Young as closely as possible, they'll need a burner and a deep threat outside. Hiwat would be the obvious choice in that role based on his cameos in-season.
Moore is my pick for the starting slot receiver, although I wouldn't be surprised if he pushes either Shoemaker or Hiwat for playing time at the X or Y spots.
5. How big is the Georgia game to start off the year? Boise will be coming in as the higher ranked team and the favorite but Georgia will have a chip on it's shoulder after having two consecutive disappointing seasons.
This game is just as big as the VT one was last year. If Boise State wins, it has a good road to a BCS berth. If it loses, season over. #collegefootballsigh
The difference will be that not as many people will talk about this one since Georgia may not be a preseason Top 25 team. Psychologically, the remnants of the 2005 disaster still remain for Bronco fans, but as far as the players are concerned, none of them played back then and it won't matter. The more important factors will be how quickly Boise State's new starters gel in the starting lineup. This Bronco team could be very good by November but still a little shaky in September.
Showing posts with label MWC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MWC. Show all posts
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Thursday, December 30, 2010
BYU Cougars: 2010 Exit Survey
Coming into the 2010/2011 season the BYU Cougars had some high expectations. They were coming off of an 11-2 year in 2009/2010 that included wins over Oklahoma, Utah, Air Force and Oregon State. After beating Jake Locker and Washington to start off the year, BYU fell into a tail-spin losing 4 consecutive games and 5 out of 6 including a loss to Utah State (which finished 4-8). BYU then reeled off 4 straight victories against teams with losing records before falling to a Top 25 team in Utah. In it's bowl game BYU made short work of Conference USA's UTEP by putting up 52 points against them. BYU finished 7-6 and in a 3rd place tie (with Air Force and San Diego State) in the Mountain West Conference. Earlier this year we spoke with the website BYU Football Talk about the upcoming season in our Pre-Season Preview. Now that the season is over we once again call on our friends at BYU Football Talk to find out about their thoughts on the 2010/2011 football season and get a quick glimpse into next year.
In our Pre-Season preview you predicted BYU to finish 9-3. They ended up 7-6 after dropping 4 straight early before coming back to win 5 out of 6 to close out the year. Do you consider this year a success, a failure or somewhere in the middle?
As it stands now, the verdict on the 2010 BYU football season cannot be given. It wasn't the reloading success that I optimistically predicted last summer, but with a winning record and a bowl win, it can't be deemed a complete failure. Lack of experience and chemistry on offense cost BYU two, maybe three games early in the year. A series of bizarre plays cost BYU another win in the regular season finale against Utah. Poor defensive coaching the first five games didn't help either.
Two pivotal moments in the year were the firing of the defensive coordinator five games into the season, and the bye week eight games into the season. Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall took over the defense and the impact was immediate. He had those guys playing as well as the best defensive units in the country. The bye week gave the offense extra time to work on its chemistry, and that side of the ball exploded the final five games.
The best part of 2010 is that most of the contributors will be back, not just for 2011 but 2012 as well. Obviously, the early struggles cannot be ignored, so 2010 will never be considered a resounding success. However, if the lessons learned the hard way this year result in 11, 12, or even 13 win seasons and top 10 rankings (note the plural) in the near future, then we can look back on 2010 and call it a success.
One of the most interesting things about BYU is that their student athletes go on missions which takes them away from football for entire seasons. With Riley Nelson returning next season do you think it would be beneficial for young Jake Heaps to go now or wait until later in his career?
Following the New Mexico Bowl, Jake Heaps was asked the mission question. While many BYU football players who belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serve two year missions, it is not mandatory. Heaps answered that he will not leave the team to serve a mission, rather he will stick around and help build what was started this year and help BYU start the Independent road successfully.
Riley Nelson has already served a mission and will be back next year. Coming off a medical redshirt, he will still have two years of eligibility. Although Nelson's running ability adds a wrinkle to the offense, Heaps showed that he is clearly the future. He has the potential to enter the Ty Detmer and Jim McMahon realm of BYU quarterbacks. Bronco Mendenhall is hesitant to name Heaps the starter next year, but it will take a catastrophic turn of events for Nelson to start over Heaps.
Outside of the QB position who are you most excited about seeing play next year?
There are a lot of players who get me excited about 2011.
Linebacker Kyle Van Noy is another freshman who not only contributed, but impressed. His speed and athleticism gives him the ability to make plays all over the field.
Cornerback Corby Eason should assume a full time role with Brandon Bradley graduating. He can become BYU's next shutdown corner. Besides his play making in the secondary, he also makes plays in the back field. Eason's specialty this year was the corner blitz. He had 3.5 sacks this year, which gives the BYU defense a tool that I don't ever remember seeing in over 20 years watching BYU football.
Wide receiver Cody Hoffman became Jake Heaps' go to guy, and BYU's best deep threat, at the end of the year. Hoffman also emerged as a dangerous return man on kickoffs.
Running back Drew Phillips redshirted this year, but the word coming from the practice field is that he is explosive and has playmaker written all over him. On the scout team, he scored over 20 touchdowns against BYU's first-team defense.
What was your favorite moment of this College Football Season?
Watching Jake Heaps breakout in the UNLV game. During the week before this game, I questioned on my blog whether Heaps was the worst freshman quarterback to ever play for BYU. He had thrown for less than 100 yards the two previous games, he threw a pick-6 in the last game that almost cost BYU the game, and he had a sickening 2:7 touchdown to interception ratio.
Against UNLV, Heaps made me look silly. He threw for 294 yards (season high) and 2 touchdowns, while guiding BYU to a 55-7 victory. The game was over at halftime with BYU up 38-0, punctuated by Heaps moving the team into field goal range in just 36 seconds after the defense intercepted a UNLV pass.
Once Heaps broke out, there was no stopping him. He passed for over 200 yards in each of the remaining four games, and finished with a 15:9 TD to interception ratio.
What area(s) does BYU need to improve on most going into the 2011/2012 season?
The defensive secondary will be replacing two corners and the strong safety. As evidenced in the New Mexico Bowl, BYU was susceptible to getting beat deep for long pass plays.
Tight end is another trademark position for BYU. This year, however, tight end play was abysmal. BYU is loaded with talent, but no one was able to step up and become the next great BYU tight end.
Defending mobile quarterbacks. BYU did well against Jake Locker in the season opener, but mobile quarterbacks for Florida State, Nevada, and Utah State all burned the Cougars.
In our Pre-Season preview you predicted BYU to finish 9-3. They ended up 7-6 after dropping 4 straight early before coming back to win 5 out of 6 to close out the year. Do you consider this year a success, a failure or somewhere in the middle?
As it stands now, the verdict on the 2010 BYU football season cannot be given. It wasn't the reloading success that I optimistically predicted last summer, but with a winning record and a bowl win, it can't be deemed a complete failure. Lack of experience and chemistry on offense cost BYU two, maybe three games early in the year. A series of bizarre plays cost BYU another win in the regular season finale against Utah. Poor defensive coaching the first five games didn't help either.
Two pivotal moments in the year were the firing of the defensive coordinator five games into the season, and the bye week eight games into the season. Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall took over the defense and the impact was immediate. He had those guys playing as well as the best defensive units in the country. The bye week gave the offense extra time to work on its chemistry, and that side of the ball exploded the final five games.
The best part of 2010 is that most of the contributors will be back, not just for 2011 but 2012 as well. Obviously, the early struggles cannot be ignored, so 2010 will never be considered a resounding success. However, if the lessons learned the hard way this year result in 11, 12, or even 13 win seasons and top 10 rankings (note the plural) in the near future, then we can look back on 2010 and call it a success.
One of the most interesting things about BYU is that their student athletes go on missions which takes them away from football for entire seasons. With Riley Nelson returning next season do you think it would be beneficial for young Jake Heaps to go now or wait until later in his career?
Following the New Mexico Bowl, Jake Heaps was asked the mission question. While many BYU football players who belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serve two year missions, it is not mandatory. Heaps answered that he will not leave the team to serve a mission, rather he will stick around and help build what was started this year and help BYU start the Independent road successfully.
Riley Nelson has already served a mission and will be back next year. Coming off a medical redshirt, he will still have two years of eligibility. Although Nelson's running ability adds a wrinkle to the offense, Heaps showed that he is clearly the future. He has the potential to enter the Ty Detmer and Jim McMahon realm of BYU quarterbacks. Bronco Mendenhall is hesitant to name Heaps the starter next year, but it will take a catastrophic turn of events for Nelson to start over Heaps.
Outside of the QB position who are you most excited about seeing play next year?
There are a lot of players who get me excited about 2011.
Linebacker Kyle Van Noy is another freshman who not only contributed, but impressed. His speed and athleticism gives him the ability to make plays all over the field.
Cornerback Corby Eason should assume a full time role with Brandon Bradley graduating. He can become BYU's next shutdown corner. Besides his play making in the secondary, he also makes plays in the back field. Eason's specialty this year was the corner blitz. He had 3.5 sacks this year, which gives the BYU defense a tool that I don't ever remember seeing in over 20 years watching BYU football.
Wide receiver Cody Hoffman became Jake Heaps' go to guy, and BYU's best deep threat, at the end of the year. Hoffman also emerged as a dangerous return man on kickoffs.
Running back Drew Phillips redshirted this year, but the word coming from the practice field is that he is explosive and has playmaker written all over him. On the scout team, he scored over 20 touchdowns against BYU's first-team defense.
What was your favorite moment of this College Football Season?
Watching Jake Heaps breakout in the UNLV game. During the week before this game, I questioned on my blog whether Heaps was the worst freshman quarterback to ever play for BYU. He had thrown for less than 100 yards the two previous games, he threw a pick-6 in the last game that almost cost BYU the game, and he had a sickening 2:7 touchdown to interception ratio.
Against UNLV, Heaps made me look silly. He threw for 294 yards (season high) and 2 touchdowns, while guiding BYU to a 55-7 victory. The game was over at halftime with BYU up 38-0, punctuated by Heaps moving the team into field goal range in just 36 seconds after the defense intercepted a UNLV pass.
Once Heaps broke out, there was no stopping him. He passed for over 200 yards in each of the remaining four games, and finished with a 15:9 TD to interception ratio.
What area(s) does BYU need to improve on most going into the 2011/2012 season?
The defensive secondary will be replacing two corners and the strong safety. As evidenced in the New Mexico Bowl, BYU was susceptible to getting beat deep for long pass plays.
Tight end is another trademark position for BYU. This year, however, tight end play was abysmal. BYU is loaded with talent, but no one was able to step up and become the next great BYU tight end.
Defending mobile quarterbacks. BYU did well against Jake Locker in the season opener, but mobile quarterbacks for Florida State, Nevada, and Utah State all burned the Cougars.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Pre-Season Preview: New Mexico Lobos
2009 Record: 1-11 (1-7 in Mountain West)
2009 Bowl: None
Final 2009 AP Ranking: Not Ranked
Head Coach: Mike Locksley (1-11 in 1 year at New Mexico)
Non-Conference Schedule: at Oregon (9/4), Texas Tech (9/11), Utah (9/18), UTEP (10/2)
2009 Offensive Statistics
Scoring: 16.3 points per game (last in MWC, 113th in Nation)
Rushing Yards/Game: 100 (9th in MWC, 110th in Nation)
Passing Yards/Game: 215 (6th in MWC)
Total Yards/Game: 315 (8th in MWC, 103rd in Nation)
2009 Defensive Statistics
Scoring: 35.9 points per game (last in MWC, 113th in Nation)
Rushing Yards/Game: 165 (6th in MWC)
Passing Yards/Game: 253 (9th in MWC, 105th in Nation)
Total Yards/Game: 418 (8th in MWC, 100th in Nation)
2009 Misc Stats
Turnover Margin: -0.58 per game (8th in MWC, 102nd in Nation)
Penalties: 60 yards per game (7th in MWC)
Returning Starters
Offense: 5
Defense: 6
Kicker/Punter: 0
Top Returning Statistical Leaders
Passing: QB B.R. Holbrook, Soph (19 of 34 for 170 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT)
Rushing: RB Desmond Dennis, Soph (78 carries for 427 yds, 3 TD, 5.4 ypc, 42 ypg)
Receiving: WR Ty Kirk, Soph (35 rec, 418 yds, 2 TD, 3.5 rec/game)
Tackles: LB Carmen Messina, Jr (163)
Sacks: DE Jonathan Rainey, Jr (9.5)
Interceptions: CB Nathan Enriquez, Soph (2)
2010 Pre-Season Rankings
Athlon Sports: #105
Sporting News: #96
2010 Pre-Season MWC Prediction:
Athlon Sports: #9
Phil Steele: #9
It is not a good mix when you are last in your conference in points scored and you also give up the most points. That's the boat that New Mexico was in last year, but shockingly despite finishing 1-11 on the year they did not come in last place in Mountain West. When we needed answers about UNLV we turned to Jacob from the SB Nation blog Mountain West Connection. For this preview we head back to Mountain West Connection and spoke with Jeremy about the New Mexico Lobos.
What are the major strengths and biggest weaknesses of the team?
The running game appears to be a strength with that position going four deep, and the defensive line could be one of the best in the Mountain West. Well, the defensive line could be good as the Lobos are pinning their hopes on two transfers from Illinois --Reggie Ellis and Ugo Uzodinma -- who are now eligible and four star defensive tackle recruit Calvin Smith from Florida. The team has no go to wide receiver and their quarterback is green and only played sparingly because he got mono last year and was out a month. There really is not too much hope in New Mexico expect for the slogan should be "It can't be any worse then 2009." The team by default should be better wit a year in the Mike Locksley system. The back seven of the defense will be in trouble again with the exception of LB Carmen Messina who lead the nation in tackles last year.
Looking at the schedule who will be the first major test and why?
Right out of the gate the Lobos travel to Autzen stadium where they stand little to no chance, and then it does not get any easier as they play Texas Tech and Utah at home. Their first test against a reasonable opponent comes in week four when they play at UNLV who is breaking in a new head coach. The UNLV game -- and possibly the Tech game -- will where we will know if the Lobos are going to be any better then last year. The Rebels will be transitioning to a more pro style offense and move away from the spread attack they ran under Mike Sanford, so the learning curve will be there for the Rebels which could give the Lobos chance to get their first win.
What team on the schedule do you fear the most?
TCU, because it is the last game of the season and if New Mexico is not in contention for a bowl game, and if TCU is going for a BCS bid then things could get ugly. TCU may need to put on some style points to prove they are really that good and will need the win to stay ahead of other teams vying for that BCS bid.
Who is the best player on your team that nobody talks about?
Linebacker Carmen Messina because he played on a defense that was one of the worst in the country, but he was able to lead the nation in tackles and was an all-MWC player. If the defense can improve as expected look for him to be able to attack more in blitzing situations which would only make him better.
Who is the best offensive player on the team?
Running back Demond Dennis he had 427 yards on offense in only ten games, but managed a 5.47 yard per carry average, but at home he was a stud by averaging over eight yards per carry. His numbers were not great, but the Lobos will look to have a quartet of backs running the ball. The upside to that is that they will all be fresh, but look for Dennis to be the main back and get close to the 1,000 yard mark this season.
Who is the most impactful defensive player on the team?
There are two impact players on defense and the first is LB Carmen Messina who had 162 tackles mainly because the defense was on the field a lot and the defensive line was not very good, and the other is defensive end Johnathan Rainey had 9.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss. The two will hopefully lead a defense that must get better, plus couple that with Reggie Ellis and Ugo Uzodinma who will be eligible after transferring from Illinois, and super freshman Calvin Smith who was a four star defensive tackle from Florida.
What player(s) needs to step up this year in order for the team to reach it's full capability?
The pressure will be on the running back corp which will be the best position on the team. They will need to help ease in BR Holbrook who is expected to be the starting QB. Sophomore Demond Dennis will lead the running back corp that will go four deep. If the running game can become solid that will make the quarterback transition much easier as well as help the defense by running some time off of the clock. A go to receiver is a must need for the BR Holbrook who is expected to be the starting quarterback.
Who is the top offensive newcomer that can make an impact this year?
This is not a flashy player by any means, but it looks to be redshirt freshman Dillon Farrell who will play center. He is projected to be in the starting lineup, and is 6'4 but is undersized at 272 pounds and will need to put on some weight to be able to become a force. Besides him there is the possibility of a true freshman starting at quarterback with Tarean Austin and Darian "Stump" Godfrey who are the type of player to run the Locksley system. There is a three star athlete Detchauz Wray who allegedly runs a 4.4, but is small at 5'11 and 162 pounds, and could be used as a return player, slot receiver, or may just redshirt to put on some weight.
Who is the top defensive newcomer that can make an impact this year?
There are three actually who should make an immediate impact. The first two are defensive tackles Reggie Ellis and Ugo Uzodinma who followed head coach Mike Locksley from Illinois to New Mexico. Both are sophomores The other is four star defensive tackle Calvin Smith. Smith should see the field immediately and make an impact from day one. It is still odd that he choose New Mexico over most SEC schools, Notre Dame, and Florida State. Guess this really shows the prowess that Locksley has in recruiting which was one of the reasons he was brought into New Mexico.
Mike Locksley is coming off of a 1-11 debut season at New Mexico. What did he do well last year and what does he need to work on most?
They really did nothing well last year, but if I have to choose one is that they somehow almost beat BYU and had their kicker been able to make a couple of kicks they would have pulled an upset over the Cougars. The offense needs the most work, they were at the bottom or near the bottom in every major offensive category. Locksley brought over with him his spread attack, but did not have the quarterback to run the system. Donovan Porterie was the starter and is athletic but was coming off of an ACL injury that limited his athletic ability.
Is Locksley the answer at Head Coach? If so, what kind of time table do you see for his turning this team around?
His recruiting is the reason he is in town, but the Lobos never had as bad a season as last year in a very long time. Under previous coach Rocky Long the team was always competitive and able to attend the occasional bowl game. He is on thin ice with the incident of slugging the wide receivers coach last season and the lawsuits about sexual harassment and ageism, so he needs to show drastic improvement in the win column and limit the beat downs. If his recruiting is alleged to be as good as advertised he will need another two years where he will have his players in his system before the Lobos will be in contention for a bowl game.
Gut feeling on the teams final record at the end of the regular season and what makes this a successful season in your eyes?
First off beating their rival New Mexico State is a must, getting to at least three wins, and not getting blown out. Their schedule is stacked at the beginning with games at Oregon, Texas Tech, and Utah at home, and then their tail end of the schedule is tough with games at Air Force, at BYU, and TCU at home. They realistically should be able to be competitive with UTEP, UNLV, and Colorado State and possibly win those games. A very early record prediction is 3-9 with wins over New Mexico State, UNLV, and UTEP.
Visit the SB Nation blog Mountain West Connection for news and views on the MWC. You can also follow them on twitter @JeremySBN.
Previous Mountain West Previews
Colorado State Rams
UNLV Rebels
Utah Utes
Next Up: Illinois Fighting Illini
2010 Previews
ACC- Boston College Eagles, Florida State Seminoles, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Maryland Terrapins
Big 12- Kansas State Wildcats, Missouri Tigers, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Big East- Cincinnati Bearcats, Pittsburgh Panthers, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, USF Bulls, West Virginia Mountaineers
Big Ten- Michigan Wolverines, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Northwestern Wildcats, Purdue Boilermakers
Conference USA- Houston Cougars, Tulane Green Wave, UTEP Miners
MAC- Ball State Cardinals, Bowling Green Falcons, Buffalo Bulls, Central Michigan Chippewas, Temple Owls, Toledo Rockets
Pac-10- Arizona State Sun Devils, Oregon Ducks, USC Trojans, Washington Huskies
SEC- Auburn Tigers, Kentucky Wildcats, Mississippi Rebels, South Carolina Gamecocks, Vanderbilt Commodores
Sun Belt- Troy Trojans
WAC- New Mexico State Aggies
2009 Bowl: None
Final 2009 AP Ranking: Not Ranked
Head Coach: Mike Locksley (1-11 in 1 year at New Mexico)
Non-Conference Schedule: at Oregon (9/4), Texas Tech (9/11), Utah (9/18), UTEP (10/2)
2009 Offensive Statistics
Scoring: 16.3 points per game (last in MWC, 113th in Nation)
Rushing Yards/Game: 100 (9th in MWC, 110th in Nation)
Passing Yards/Game: 215 (6th in MWC)
Total Yards/Game: 315 (8th in MWC, 103rd in Nation)
2009 Defensive Statistics
Scoring: 35.9 points per game (last in MWC, 113th in Nation)
Rushing Yards/Game: 165 (6th in MWC)
Passing Yards/Game: 253 (9th in MWC, 105th in Nation)
Total Yards/Game: 418 (8th in MWC, 100th in Nation)
2009 Misc Stats
Turnover Margin: -0.58 per game (8th in MWC, 102nd in Nation)
Penalties: 60 yards per game (7th in MWC)
Returning Starters
Offense: 5
Defense: 6
Kicker/Punter: 0
Top Returning Statistical Leaders
Passing: QB B.R. Holbrook, Soph (19 of 34 for 170 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT)
Rushing: RB Desmond Dennis, Soph (78 carries for 427 yds, 3 TD, 5.4 ypc, 42 ypg)
Receiving: WR Ty Kirk, Soph (35 rec, 418 yds, 2 TD, 3.5 rec/game)
Tackles: LB Carmen Messina, Jr (163)
Sacks: DE Jonathan Rainey, Jr (9.5)
Interceptions: CB Nathan Enriquez, Soph (2)
2010 Pre-Season Rankings
Athlon Sports: #105
Sporting News: #96
2010 Pre-Season MWC Prediction:
Athlon Sports: #9
Phil Steele: #9
It is not a good mix when you are last in your conference in points scored and you also give up the most points. That's the boat that New Mexico was in last year, but shockingly despite finishing 1-11 on the year they did not come in last place in Mountain West. When we needed answers about UNLV we turned to Jacob from the SB Nation blog Mountain West Connection. For this preview we head back to Mountain West Connection and spoke with Jeremy about the New Mexico Lobos.
What are the major strengths and biggest weaknesses of the team?
The running game appears to be a strength with that position going four deep, and the defensive line could be one of the best in the Mountain West. Well, the defensive line could be good as the Lobos are pinning their hopes on two transfers from Illinois --Reggie Ellis and Ugo Uzodinma -- who are now eligible and four star defensive tackle recruit Calvin Smith from Florida. The team has no go to wide receiver and their quarterback is green and only played sparingly because he got mono last year and was out a month. There really is not too much hope in New Mexico expect for the slogan should be "It can't be any worse then 2009." The team by default should be better wit a year in the Mike Locksley system. The back seven of the defense will be in trouble again with the exception of LB Carmen Messina who lead the nation in tackles last year.
Looking at the schedule who will be the first major test and why?
Right out of the gate the Lobos travel to Autzen stadium where they stand little to no chance, and then it does not get any easier as they play Texas Tech and Utah at home. Their first test against a reasonable opponent comes in week four when they play at UNLV who is breaking in a new head coach. The UNLV game -- and possibly the Tech game -- will where we will know if the Lobos are going to be any better then last year. The Rebels will be transitioning to a more pro style offense and move away from the spread attack they ran under Mike Sanford, so the learning curve will be there for the Rebels which could give the Lobos chance to get their first win.
What team on the schedule do you fear the most?
TCU, because it is the last game of the season and if New Mexico is not in contention for a bowl game, and if TCU is going for a BCS bid then things could get ugly. TCU may need to put on some style points to prove they are really that good and will need the win to stay ahead of other teams vying for that BCS bid.
Who is the best player on your team that nobody talks about?
Linebacker Carmen Messina because he played on a defense that was one of the worst in the country, but he was able to lead the nation in tackles and was an all-MWC player. If the defense can improve as expected look for him to be able to attack more in blitzing situations which would only make him better.
Who is the best offensive player on the team?
Running back Demond Dennis he had 427 yards on offense in only ten games, but managed a 5.47 yard per carry average, but at home he was a stud by averaging over eight yards per carry. His numbers were not great, but the Lobos will look to have a quartet of backs running the ball. The upside to that is that they will all be fresh, but look for Dennis to be the main back and get close to the 1,000 yard mark this season.
Who is the most impactful defensive player on the team?
There are two impact players on defense and the first is LB Carmen Messina who had 162 tackles mainly because the defense was on the field a lot and the defensive line was not very good, and the other is defensive end Johnathan Rainey had 9.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss. The two will hopefully lead a defense that must get better, plus couple that with Reggie Ellis and Ugo Uzodinma who will be eligible after transferring from Illinois, and super freshman Calvin Smith who was a four star defensive tackle from Florida.
What player(s) needs to step up this year in order for the team to reach it's full capability?
The pressure will be on the running back corp which will be the best position on the team. They will need to help ease in BR Holbrook who is expected to be the starting QB. Sophomore Demond Dennis will lead the running back corp that will go four deep. If the running game can become solid that will make the quarterback transition much easier as well as help the defense by running some time off of the clock. A go to receiver is a must need for the BR Holbrook who is expected to be the starting quarterback.
Who is the top offensive newcomer that can make an impact this year?
This is not a flashy player by any means, but it looks to be redshirt freshman Dillon Farrell who will play center. He is projected to be in the starting lineup, and is 6'4 but is undersized at 272 pounds and will need to put on some weight to be able to become a force. Besides him there is the possibility of a true freshman starting at quarterback with Tarean Austin and Darian "Stump" Godfrey who are the type of player to run the Locksley system. There is a three star athlete Detchauz Wray who allegedly runs a 4.4, but is small at 5'11 and 162 pounds, and could be used as a return player, slot receiver, or may just redshirt to put on some weight.
Who is the top defensive newcomer that can make an impact this year?
There are three actually who should make an immediate impact. The first two are defensive tackles Reggie Ellis and Ugo Uzodinma who followed head coach Mike Locksley from Illinois to New Mexico. Both are sophomores The other is four star defensive tackle Calvin Smith. Smith should see the field immediately and make an impact from day one. It is still odd that he choose New Mexico over most SEC schools, Notre Dame, and Florida State. Guess this really shows the prowess that Locksley has in recruiting which was one of the reasons he was brought into New Mexico.
Mike Locksley is coming off of a 1-11 debut season at New Mexico. What did he do well last year and what does he need to work on most?
They really did nothing well last year, but if I have to choose one is that they somehow almost beat BYU and had their kicker been able to make a couple of kicks they would have pulled an upset over the Cougars. The offense needs the most work, they were at the bottom or near the bottom in every major offensive category. Locksley brought over with him his spread attack, but did not have the quarterback to run the system. Donovan Porterie was the starter and is athletic but was coming off of an ACL injury that limited his athletic ability.
Is Locksley the answer at Head Coach? If so, what kind of time table do you see for his turning this team around?
His recruiting is the reason he is in town, but the Lobos never had as bad a season as last year in a very long time. Under previous coach Rocky Long the team was always competitive and able to attend the occasional bowl game. He is on thin ice with the incident of slugging the wide receivers coach last season and the lawsuits about sexual harassment and ageism, so he needs to show drastic improvement in the win column and limit the beat downs. If his recruiting is alleged to be as good as advertised he will need another two years where he will have his players in his system before the Lobos will be in contention for a bowl game.
Gut feeling on the teams final record at the end of the regular season and what makes this a successful season in your eyes?
First off beating their rival New Mexico State is a must, getting to at least three wins, and not getting blown out. Their schedule is stacked at the beginning with games at Oregon, Texas Tech, and Utah at home, and then their tail end of the schedule is tough with games at Air Force, at BYU, and TCU at home. They realistically should be able to be competitive with UTEP, UNLV, and Colorado State and possibly win those games. A very early record prediction is 3-9 with wins over New Mexico State, UNLV, and UTEP.
Visit the SB Nation blog Mountain West Connection for news and views on the MWC. You can also follow them on twitter @JeremySBN.
Previous Mountain West Previews
Colorado State Rams
UNLV Rebels
Utah Utes
Next Up: Illinois Fighting Illini
2010 Previews
ACC- Boston College Eagles, Florida State Seminoles, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Maryland Terrapins
Big 12- Kansas State Wildcats, Missouri Tigers, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Big East- Cincinnati Bearcats, Pittsburgh Panthers, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, USF Bulls, West Virginia Mountaineers
Big Ten- Michigan Wolverines, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Northwestern Wildcats, Purdue Boilermakers
Conference USA- Houston Cougars, Tulane Green Wave, UTEP Miners
MAC- Ball State Cardinals, Bowling Green Falcons, Buffalo Bulls, Central Michigan Chippewas, Temple Owls, Toledo Rockets
Pac-10- Arizona State Sun Devils, Oregon Ducks, USC Trojans, Washington Huskies
SEC- Auburn Tigers, Kentucky Wildcats, Mississippi Rebels, South Carolina Gamecocks, Vanderbilt Commodores
Sun Belt- Troy Trojans
WAC- New Mexico State Aggies
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Pre-Season Preview: UNLV Rebels
2009 Record: 5-7 (3-5 in Mountain West)
2009 Bowl: None
Final 2009 AP Ranking: Not Ranked
Head Coach: Bobby Hauck (1st Year at UNLV, 80-17 at Montana)
Non-Conference Schedule: Wisconsin (9/4), at Idaho (9/18), Nevada (10/2), at West Virginia (10/9), at Hawaii (12/4)
2009 Offensive Statistics
Scoring: 24.8 points per game (5th in MWC)
Rushing Yards/Game: 126 (7th in MWC)
Passing Yards/Game: 224 (4th in MWC)
Total Yards/Game: 351 (5th in MWC)
2009 Defensive Statistics
Scoring: 32.4 points per game (8th in MWC, 103rd in Nation)
Rushing Yards/Game: 220 (last in MWC, 112th in Nation)
Passing Yards/Game: 235 (7th in MWC)
Total Yards/Game: 456 (last in MWC, 115th in Nation)
2009 Misc Stats
Turnover Margin: -0.25 per game (7th in MWC)
Penalties: 51 yards per game (3rd in MWC)
Returning Starters
Offense: 8
Defense: 7
Kicker/Punter: 0
Top Returning Statistical Leaders
Passing: QB Omar Clayton, Sr (196 of 326 for 2230 yds, 13 TD, 12 INT, 202 passing ypg)
Rushing: RB Channing Trotter, Sr (114 carries for 541 yds, 9 TD, 4.7 ypc, 45 ypg)
Receiving: WR Phillip Payne, Jr (58 rec, 661 yds, 7 TD, 4.8 rec/game)
Tackles: DB Quentin Pointer, Sr (72)
Sacks: DB Quentin Pointer, Sr (2)
Interceptions: 3 tied with 1
2010 Pre-Season Rankings
Athlon Sports: #103
2010 Pre-Season MWC Prediction:
Athlon Sports: #11
UNLV went 5-7 last year and posted the statistically worst defense in the Mountain West Conference. This year they have out of conference dates with Wisconsin and West Virginia and will be breaking in a new coach in former Montana Coach Bobby Hauck. We caught up with Jacob from the Mountain West Connection website to get his views going into the season. The last 5 coaches in Rebels history have left the school with a losing record, can Hauck change this?
What are the major strengths and biggest weaknesses of the team?
The major strengths of team are the QB option and the defensive line on defense. Weaknesses are probably our offensive line's pass protection and our pass coverage on defense. Our running game isn't very good because we don't have a great running back and we lost some talent to the NFL in our offensive line. We lost one of our all-time great Wide Receivers and our straight up passing game isn't very good. On offense, that leaves the option as our major strength. Our QB runs the option very well and we need to use that as an advantage. On defense our pass coverage is horrible and our cornerbacks and safeties aren't very good at covering the run. So that leaves our defensive line as our strength. We return a lot on the defensive line and they were stout when faced against the run last season. Their pass rush improved all of last year and hopefully that will carry over into this season. Our offensive weakness is our offensive line. Like I said, we lost some talent to the NFL on that line and at this year's spring game, they didn't look very good in their pass protection or run blocking. If we are going to play well this year that is definitely going to have to improve. On defense, our pass coverage is horrible when it comes to stopping a receiver from flying up the seams. We just can't seem to stay with him for some reason.
Looking at the schedule who will be the first major test and why?
Our first major test? Boy, we start the season off at home versus Wisconsin and then on the road at Utah. But I wouldn't consider those tests because those games will not test UNLV on what team they should be this year, they are not going to be a team defeating top 25 teams left and right. Their first test should probably come against Nevada. If they want to show that they're at least an Okay team, they're going to need to beat Nevada.
What team on the schedule do you fear the most?
Who is the best player on your team that nobody talks about?
Who is the best offensive player on the team?
Who is the most impactful defensive player on the team?
What player(s) needs to step up this year in order for the team to reach it's full capability?
Who is the top offensive newcomer that can make an impact this year?
Who is the top defensive newcomer that can make an impact this year?
Gut feeling on the teams final record at the end of the regular season and what makes this a successful season in your eyes?
2009 Bowl: None
Final 2009 AP Ranking: Not Ranked
Head Coach: Bobby Hauck (1st Year at UNLV, 80-17 at Montana)
Non-Conference Schedule: Wisconsin (9/4), at Idaho (9/18), Nevada (10/2), at West Virginia (10/9), at Hawaii (12/4)
2009 Offensive Statistics
Scoring: 24.8 points per game (5th in MWC)
Rushing Yards/Game: 126 (7th in MWC)
Passing Yards/Game: 224 (4th in MWC)
Total Yards/Game: 351 (5th in MWC)
2009 Defensive Statistics
Scoring: 32.4 points per game (8th in MWC, 103rd in Nation)
Rushing Yards/Game: 220 (last in MWC, 112th in Nation)
Passing Yards/Game: 235 (7th in MWC)
Total Yards/Game: 456 (last in MWC, 115th in Nation)
2009 Misc Stats
Turnover Margin: -0.25 per game (7th in MWC)
Penalties: 51 yards per game (3rd in MWC)
Returning Starters
Offense: 8
Defense: 7
Kicker/Punter: 0
Top Returning Statistical Leaders
Passing: QB Omar Clayton, Sr (196 of 326 for 2230 yds, 13 TD, 12 INT, 202 passing ypg)
Rushing: RB Channing Trotter, Sr (114 carries for 541 yds, 9 TD, 4.7 ypc, 45 ypg)
Receiving: WR Phillip Payne, Jr (58 rec, 661 yds, 7 TD, 4.8 rec/game)
Tackles: DB Quentin Pointer, Sr (72)
Sacks: DB Quentin Pointer, Sr (2)
Interceptions: 3 tied with 1
2010 Pre-Season Rankings
Athlon Sports: #103
2010 Pre-Season MWC Prediction:
Athlon Sports: #11
UNLV went 5-7 last year and posted the statistically worst defense in the Mountain West Conference. This year they have out of conference dates with Wisconsin and West Virginia and will be breaking in a new coach in former Montana Coach Bobby Hauck. We caught up with Jacob from the Mountain West Connection website to get his views going into the season. The last 5 coaches in Rebels history have left the school with a losing record, can Hauck change this?
What are the major strengths and biggest weaknesses of the team?
The major strengths of team are the QB option and the defensive line on defense. Weaknesses are probably our offensive line's pass protection and our pass coverage on defense. Our running game isn't very good because we don't have a great running back and we lost some talent to the NFL in our offensive line. We lost one of our all-time great Wide Receivers and our straight up passing game isn't very good. On offense, that leaves the option as our major strength. Our QB runs the option very well and we need to use that as an advantage. On defense our pass coverage is horrible and our cornerbacks and safeties aren't very good at covering the run. So that leaves our defensive line as our strength. We return a lot on the defensive line and they were stout when faced against the run last season. Their pass rush improved all of last year and hopefully that will carry over into this season. Our offensive weakness is our offensive line. Like I said, we lost some talent to the NFL on that line and at this year's spring game, they didn't look very good in their pass protection or run blocking. If we are going to play well this year that is definitely going to have to improve. On defense, our pass coverage is horrible when it comes to stopping a receiver from flying up the seams. We just can't seem to stay with him for some reason.
Looking at the schedule who will be the first major test and why?
What team on the schedule do you fear the most?
What team on the schedule do I fear the most? Probably Utah. Most would have picked Wisconsin and that makes a lot of sense, but I'm not expecting much good to come out of that game. Because of the schedule order, I fear Utah the most because if we do not beat them, we probably will be down 0-2 to start the season and that is not a very good start to the season.
Who is the best player on your team that nobody talks about?
The best player on the UNLV squad that nobody talks about is probably Michael Johnson. He is a Junior Wide Receiver that is second down on the depth chart. When people talk about UNLV, they barely ever mention this guy. He has great explosiveness and speed and can easily break away from man coverage, I see him possibly having a breakout season this year.
Who is the best offensive player on the team?
Our best offensive player on the team is Omar Clayton, our QB. He is very speedy and has good decision making skills. We run the option for most of the time, so that definitely comes in handy. He does have good vision in the passing game, but sometimes he can be inaccurate. Other than that he's great. If he's throwing accurately, UNLV can be very tough to stop on offense.
Who is the most impactful defensive player on the team?
Isaako Auitui impacts our defense the most. He is a Senior Defensive End that has highlighted our defensive line for a while. He has a good bull rush and a good swim move. If he is having success in getting to the QB, he can open up opportunities for the other defensive lineman by commanding a double team. Auitui also does well in getting off blocks and wrapping up the RB.
What player(s) needs to step up this year in order for the team to reach it's full capability?
In order for this team to reach its full capacity, Channing Trotter, Alex De Giacomo, and Travis Dixon are going to need to step up their game. Channing Trotter is a streaky running back that needs to perform well in order to stretch the field for the passing game. Alex De Giacomo and Travis Dixon are the 2 starting Defensive Backs and they need to provide good zone and man coverage in order for UNLV's pass coverage to reach its fullest extent.
Who is the top offensive newcomer that can make an impact this year?
I really haven't seen a offensive newcomer that could make a difference this season on offense for UNLV. Now in the coming years, that's a different story. I think in two years current Freshman Caleb Herring will be the starting QB and playing well. Herring looked great under Coach Hauck's new offense and seemed to have great vision.
Who is the top defensive newcomer that can make an impact this year?
I think Defensive End Desmond Tautofi can make the biggest difference as a freshman this year. When the Starting Defensive end behind Auitui went down, the depth chart put Tautofi at the starting position. Tautofi shows a great bull rush and great run stopping as a defensive end. Since he will be the starting freshman on the team, I think he will be the defensive newcomer that makes the biggest difference.
Gut feeling on the teams final record at the end of the regular season and what makes this a successful season in your eyes?
As a fan, you always want to see your team go undefeated. But I am realistic and know that won't happen this year. I see us either going 7-6 (4-4) or 6-7 (4-4) (we have 13 games this season). We should beat Colorado State, San Diego State, New Mexico and I think we will beat Air Force in an upset. In non-conference, I think we either beat Hawaii and Idaho or beat Hawaii, Idaho and Nevada. What makes this season successful to me is to get to a bowl game. The past two years, our head coach got us to 5-7 but couldn't quite get us over the hump to a bowl game. In Coach Hauck's first season, I think it would be successful if he finally got this team over the hump.
Next Up: USC Trojans
2010 Previews
Big East- Cincinnati Bearcats, Pittsburgh Panthers, West Virginia Mountaineers
Big Ten- Michigan Wolverines, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Northwestern Wildcats, Purdue Boilermakers
Conference USA- Houston Cougars
MAC- Temple Owls
Mountain West- Utah Utes
Next Up: USC Trojans
2010 Previews
Big East- Cincinnati Bearcats, Pittsburgh Panthers, West Virginia Mountaineers
Big Ten- Michigan Wolverines, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Northwestern Wildcats, Purdue Boilermakers
Conference USA- Houston Cougars
MAC- Temple Owls
Mountain West- Utah Utes
Sun Belt- Troy Trojans
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Pre-Season Preview: Utah Utes
2009 Record: 10-3 (6-2 in Mountain West)
2009 Bowl: Poinsettia Bowl (Beat California 37-27)
Final 2009 AP Ranking: #18
Head Coach: Kyle Whittingham (47-17 at Utah)
Non-Conference Schedule: Pittsburgh (9/2), San Jose State (9/25), at Iowa State (10/9), at Notre Dame (11/13)
2009 Offensive Statistics
Scoring: 29.8 points per game (3rd in MWC)
Rushing Yards/Game: 160 (3rd in MWC)
Passing Yards/Game: 229 (3rd in MWC)
Total Yards/Game: 389 (3rd in MWC)
2009 Defensive Statistics
Scoring: 20.2 points per game (3rd in MWC)
Rushing Yards/Game: 137 (4th in MWC)
Passing Yards/Game: 176 (3rd in MWC)
Total Yards/Game: 313 (3rd in MWC)
2009 Misc Stats
Turnover Margin: +0.38 per game (3rd in MWC)
Penalties: 69 yards per game (last in MWC, 110th in Nation)
Returning Starters
Offense: 7
Defense: 4
Kicker/Punter: 2
Top Returning Statistical Leaders
Passing: QB Terrance Cain, Sr (137 of 215 for 1624 yds, 11 TD, 5 INT, 135 passing ypg, 26.5 rushing ypg)
Passing: QB Jordan Wynn, Soph (104 for 179 for 1329 yds, 8 TD, 4 INT, 221 ypg)
Rushing: RB Eddie Wide, Sr (202 carries for 1070 yds, 12 TD, 5.3 ypc, 82 ypg)
Receiving: WR Jereme Brooks, Sr (56 rec, 696 yds, 7 TD, 4.3 rec/game)
Tackles: DL Sealver Siliga, Jr (50), DB Brandon Burton, Jr (47)
Sacks: DL Christian Cox, Sr (5.5)
Interceptions: DB Lamar Chapman, Sr (2)
2010 Pre-Season Rankings
Lindy's: #25
Mark Schlabach: Not Ranked
Rivals: #22
Scout: #23
Sports Illustrated: #25
Athlon Sports: #39
2010 Pre-Season Mountain West Prediction:
Athlon Sports: #2
Bowl Prediction:
Athlon Sports: Poinsettia (vs Navy)
Who is the best offensive player on the team?
That's a tough one. I'd like to think Jordan Wynn, but Matt Asiata is a beast. He'll be returning this season after missing most of last season due to an injury. As a running back, he positioned himself as one of Utah's biggest offensive threats. Of course, you can't go wrong with the guy who replaced him last season. That was Eddie Wide and he had a stretch of six consecutive games where he rushed for 100 or more yards, a school record. On the year, he finished with 1,069- that's without starting the first four games.
Who is the most impactful defensive player on the team?
I'd say Dave Kruger. But that's because I'm in love with the Kruger boys (his brother Paul was big during our 2008 undefeated, BCS busting season).
What player(s) needs to step up this year in order for the team to reach it's full capability?
I think the young defense needs to step up and live up to Utah defenses of the past. Wynn will have big shoes to fill because of how he ended last year (leading us to a win in our bowl game). Overall, the team is talented and has a nice balance needed to play at that full capacity.
Who is the top offensive newcomer that can make an impact this year?
I think I've got to go with Griffin McNabb again. Maybe I'm overselling him, but he seems like the type of guy that could step in and become an instant impact player.
2009 Bowl: Poinsettia Bowl (Beat California 37-27)
Final 2009 AP Ranking: #18
Head Coach: Kyle Whittingham (47-17 at Utah)
Non-Conference Schedule: Pittsburgh (9/2), San Jose State (9/25), at Iowa State (10/9), at Notre Dame (11/13)
2009 Offensive Statistics
Scoring: 29.8 points per game (3rd in MWC)
Rushing Yards/Game: 160 (3rd in MWC)
Passing Yards/Game: 229 (3rd in MWC)
Total Yards/Game: 389 (3rd in MWC)
2009 Defensive Statistics
Scoring: 20.2 points per game (3rd in MWC)
Rushing Yards/Game: 137 (4th in MWC)
Passing Yards/Game: 176 (3rd in MWC)
Total Yards/Game: 313 (3rd in MWC)
2009 Misc Stats
Turnover Margin: +0.38 per game (3rd in MWC)
Penalties: 69 yards per game (last in MWC, 110th in Nation)
Returning Starters
Offense: 7
Defense: 4
Kicker/Punter: 2
Top Returning Statistical Leaders
Passing: QB Terrance Cain, Sr (137 of 215 for 1624 yds, 11 TD, 5 INT, 135 passing ypg, 26.5 rushing ypg)
Passing: QB Jordan Wynn, Soph (104 for 179 for 1329 yds, 8 TD, 4 INT, 221 ypg)
Rushing: RB Eddie Wide, Sr (202 carries for 1070 yds, 12 TD, 5.3 ypc, 82 ypg)
Receiving: WR Jereme Brooks, Sr (56 rec, 696 yds, 7 TD, 4.3 rec/game)
Tackles: DL Sealver Siliga, Jr (50), DB Brandon Burton, Jr (47)
Sacks: DL Christian Cox, Sr (5.5)
Interceptions: DB Lamar Chapman, Sr (2)
2010 Pre-Season Rankings
Lindy's: #25
Mark Schlabach: Not Ranked
Rivals: #22
Scout: #23
Sports Illustrated: #25
Athlon Sports: #39
2010 Pre-Season Mountain West Prediction:
Athlon Sports: #2
Bowl Prediction:
Athlon Sports: Poinsettia (vs Navy)
Utah was perfect in 2008. They went 13-0 and finished their season with a decisive win over SEC Runner-Up Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. There really wasn't anywhere to go from there but down. Utah posted a 10-3 record with two narrow defeats at the hands of Oregon and BYU. In their other loss they were thumped by TCU 55 to 28. Can Utah take back the Mountain West Conference from TCU this year and also hold off BYU and Air Force? The Utah Blog Block U weighs in on if they can repeat the magic from the 2008 season.
What are the major strengths and biggest weaknesses of the team?
Well I think Utah's biggest strength will be their consistency on offense this go around. In 2009, the Utes had to start the season with a new quarterback and generally, when you're going in with an untested guy under center, there are some concerns. That was Terrance Cain and he did a fairly decent job throughout most of the season, however, lost his starting job to Jordan Wynn eight games into the season. Cain was fairly productive as a quarterback in his first eight starts and had an exceptional record (7-1). Unfortunately, the offense wasn't living up to its level of expectations and often stagnated during games. In that eighth game against the Wyoming Cowboys on Halloween, the coaching staff made the switch at the half and Wynn has played ever since. Wynn's biggest win, of course, came in the Poinsettia Bowl against Cal. He was named the offensive MVP and, unless injury becomes an issue, should be Utah's starting quarterback when the 2010 season rolls around later this summer. Of course, even if he doesn't start, they'll have a quarterback in Cain who started in eight games- so the experience factor heavily benefits the offense.
The weakness might be the defense due to talent turnover. With that said, Utah's head coach is Kyle Whittingham and the defense has been his baby since 1994 here at Utah. The growing pains the Utes' defense generally sees is minimal and I've got to think, even with some big-time losses, that will be the case again this season. What could help ease the transition is the fact that Kalani Sitake, Utah's defensive coordinator, is no longer a rookie assistant. 2009 was his first season as a coordinator and there were obvious growing pains. That won't be the case in 2010.
Looking at the schedule who will be the first major test and why?
The first test is the first game against Pitt. I don't think I really need to explain why that game will be tough for Utah, since the Panthers probably will enter ranked even higher than the Utes. This is a statement game. If Utah can win, they'll be in good position to make some noise the remainder of the season. Any time you open up the year against a ranked team in your house and have a realistic shot of winning (if not being favored), it automatically becomes a huge game. The fans have it circled. The players have it circled. And it certainly will drive up the anticipation the closer we get to the start of the season.
What team on the schedule do you fear the most?
Probably TCU. The Frogs manhandled Utah last year and just a change of venue (the game was played in Fort Worth then) isn't going to fix the blatant talent discrepancies between each team. If the Frogs are every bit as good as they were last year and Utah is only marginally better, they potentially could still be facing a blowout loss- even at home.
Who is the best player on your team that nobody talks about?
Griffin McNabb. He's a freshman, but had a great spring game and is in position to make a lot of noise as a wide receiver in a young offense. Since he's a freshman, though, not much has been mentioned of him lately. He did have a great spring game and Ute fans are hoping that carries over into the season.
Well I think Utah's biggest strength will be their consistency on offense this go around. In 2009, the Utes had to start the season with a new quarterback and generally, when you're going in with an untested guy under center, there are some concerns. That was Terrance Cain and he did a fairly decent job throughout most of the season, however, lost his starting job to Jordan Wynn eight games into the season. Cain was fairly productive as a quarterback in his first eight starts and had an exceptional record (7-1). Unfortunately, the offense wasn't living up to its level of expectations and often stagnated during games. In that eighth game against the Wyoming Cowboys on Halloween, the coaching staff made the switch at the half and Wynn has played ever since. Wynn's biggest win, of course, came in the Poinsettia Bowl against Cal. He was named the offensive MVP and, unless injury becomes an issue, should be Utah's starting quarterback when the 2010 season rolls around later this summer. Of course, even if he doesn't start, they'll have a quarterback in Cain who started in eight games- so the experience factor heavily benefits the offense.
The weakness might be the defense due to talent turnover. With that said, Utah's head coach is Kyle Whittingham and the defense has been his baby since 1994 here at Utah. The growing pains the Utes' defense generally sees is minimal and I've got to think, even with some big-time losses, that will be the case again this season. What could help ease the transition is the fact that Kalani Sitake, Utah's defensive coordinator, is no longer a rookie assistant. 2009 was his first season as a coordinator and there were obvious growing pains. That won't be the case in 2010.
Looking at the schedule who will be the first major test and why?
The first test is the first game against Pitt. I don't think I really need to explain why that game will be tough for Utah, since the Panthers probably will enter ranked even higher than the Utes. This is a statement game. If Utah can win, they'll be in good position to make some noise the remainder of the season. Any time you open up the year against a ranked team in your house and have a realistic shot of winning (if not being favored), it automatically becomes a huge game. The fans have it circled. The players have it circled. And it certainly will drive up the anticipation the closer we get to the start of the season.
What team on the schedule do you fear the most?
Probably TCU. The Frogs manhandled Utah last year and just a change of venue (the game was played in Fort Worth then) isn't going to fix the blatant talent discrepancies between each team. If the Frogs are every bit as good as they were last year and Utah is only marginally better, they potentially could still be facing a blowout loss- even at home.
Who is the best player on your team that nobody talks about?
Griffin McNabb. He's a freshman, but had a great spring game and is in position to make a lot of noise as a wide receiver in a young offense. Since he's a freshman, though, not much has been mentioned of him lately. He did have a great spring game and Ute fans are hoping that carries over into the season.
Who is the best offensive player on the team?
That's a tough one. I'd like to think Jordan Wynn, but Matt Asiata is a beast. He'll be returning this season after missing most of last season due to an injury. As a running back, he positioned himself as one of Utah's biggest offensive threats. Of course, you can't go wrong with the guy who replaced him last season. That was Eddie Wide and he had a stretch of six consecutive games where he rushed for 100 or more yards, a school record. On the year, he finished with 1,069- that's without starting the first four games.
Who is the most impactful defensive player on the team?
I'd say Dave Kruger. But that's because I'm in love with the Kruger boys (his brother Paul was big during our 2008 undefeated, BCS busting season).
What player(s) needs to step up this year in order for the team to reach it's full capability?
I think the young defense needs to step up and live up to Utah defenses of the past. Wynn will have big shoes to fill because of how he ended last year (leading us to a win in our bowl game). Overall, the team is talented and has a nice balance needed to play at that full capacity.
Who is the top offensive newcomer that can make an impact this year?
I think I've got to go with Griffin McNabb again. Maybe I'm overselling him, but he seems like the type of guy that could step in and become an instant impact player.
Gut feeling on the teams final record at the end of the regular season and what makes this a successful season in your eyes?
Utah really has a tough schedule. Pitt, Iowa State, Notre Dame, TCU and BYU all could be losses if they're not careful. With that said, I expect at least ten regular season wins (which means no more than two losses) and potentially- this is just potentially -an undefeated season. So I'll pick 11-1 as a compromise. If it's 10-2, it depends on who they lose to and whether or not they win a conference championship. Anything less and I guess we'll have to take it on a game by game basis. 12-0, well damn, I'll be in heaven!
Next Up: UNLV Rebels
2010 Previews
Big East- Cincinnati Bearcats, Pittsburgh Panthers, West Virginia Mountaineers
Big Ten- Michigan Wolverines, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Northwestern Wildcats, Purdue Boilermakers
Conference USA- Houston Cougars
MAC- Temple Owls
Next Up: UNLV Rebels
2010 Previews
Big East- Cincinnati Bearcats, Pittsburgh Panthers, West Virginia Mountaineers
Big Ten- Michigan Wolverines, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Northwestern Wildcats, Purdue Boilermakers
Conference USA- Houston Cougars
MAC- Temple Owls
Sun Belt- Troy Trojans
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