|
TE
Darius Hill (Ball State Photo Services) |
|
|
2007
Statistics |
Coach:
Brady Hoke
22-37,
5 years |
2007
Record: 7-6 |
|
MIAMI
OH |
LOST
13-14 |
at
Eastern Michigan |
WON
38-16 |
at
Navy |
WON
34-31 (OT) |
at
Nebraska |
LOST
40-41 |
BUFFALO |
WON
49-14 |
CENTRAL
MICHIGAN |
LOST
38-58 |
WESTERN
KY |
WON
35-12 |
at
Western Michigan |
WON
27-23 |
at
Illinois |
LOST
17-28 |
at
Indiana |
LOST
20-38 |
TOLEDO |
WON
41-20 |
at
Northern Illinois |
WON
27-21 |
INTERNATIONAL
BOWL |
Rutgers |
LOST
30-52 |
|
2007
Final Rankings
AP-UR, Coaches-UR, BCS-UR
|
2008
Outlook |
When
Brady Hoke came home in ’03
to the team with which he helped
win the 1978 MAC title, it had
been six years (1996) since
either the last winning campaign
(8-4) or the last conference
crown (five overall). In his
fifth year as a head coach (at
any university), Hoke delivered
relief on the first drought
(7-6), reaching a bowl game
in the process. Not bad for
a program that is 0-41-1 vs.
BCL-level foes all-time and
has no bowl wins.
Signs
lately have shown a bigger breakthrough
is possible – the near
miss against Nebraska (41-40
in Lincoln, lost on a missed
FGA), coupled with the close
game in Ann Arbor two years
ago (34-26 loss), hint of how
Ball State’s level of
play is increasing. All but
one loss last year was to either
BCS-aligned opponents and/or
MAC champ Central Michigan,
so consistency is another newfound
quality that will reappear.
As the press knows, Hoke and
his staff want to win the league
as their first goal, a realistic
aim that would represent movement
in the needed direction. But
privately, knowing the pat hand
they’ve been dealt for
the upcoming season, finally
getting a win over a BCS foe
and a top 25 year-end ranking
have to be prominent on the
coaches’ minds.
The
hopes and dreams of Cardinal
fans everywhere rest in the
talents of dual-threat QB phenom
Nate Davis. He’s the reason
for the recent surge in offense,
leaving school records and would-be
tacklers in his wake. Getting
all of his weapons back, as
well as his entire front line,
has Davis as quietly excited
as Hoke, especially since Dante
Love is their top weapon. Love
set the all-time MAC single-season
record for all-purpose yards
(2,690) in rout to 100 catches.
Funny thing is, teams know he’s
going to get the ball, and the
Davis-Love connection is just
too strong - one of them inflicts
serious damage. This is the
bread-and-butter, the nuts-and-bolts,
the up-and-down, the end-all
of Ball State’s offense.
If the running game can lend
a hand, not even the BCS foes
will be able to stop Ball State’s
attack.
But
like so many smaller schools,
it’s on defense where
we see the biggest holes. The
middle (DTs, MLB) has capable
hats, but undersized, at that.
If run stopping is to be found,
it will be the outside elements
that have to step up. 32-year
old Brandon Crawford has the
leadership-by-example quality
to his efforts, as do Haines
and Hill. The big question that
only the season itself can answer
is whether the defense can stop
the big-time opponents, the
biggest problem last year.
The
only big foe this time is Indiana.
The run stopping has to step
up if Navy is to be thwarted,
but since they run outside so
much and lack a big inside push,
they are beatable. All eyes
are on mid-November –
payback for BSU’s two
’07 conference losses
can be dispensed in the two
games that coincidentally will
most help Ball State become
the MAC West champion. This
is the kind of schedule that
can be mastered, similar to
how Hawai’i only had to
beat Washington to run its table
into the BCS in ‘07. Are
we saying that we think Ball
State makes the BCS? No, we
don’t. But if the track
is greased for any smaller school
to make a go at the ultimate
prize, it’s that way for
Ball State. The Cardinals just
don’t have enough separation
from their MAC brethren to think
that they are the hands-down
best in their league, let alone
good enough to reach the big,
post-New Years stage. If you
like an underdog, jump on the
Ball State bandwagon for a wild
ride in 2008.
Projected
2008 record: 9-3
|
|
|
LB
Bryant Haines (Ball State Photo Services) |
BALL
STATE
*POWER RATINGS |
Offense |
Defense |
QB
- 4 |
DL
- 2 |
RB
- 3.5 |
LB
- 2.5 |
WR
- 4.5 |
DB
- 3.5 |
OL
- 4 |
.. |
|
BALL
STATE
2007 Statistical Rankings |
OFFENSE |
|
National |
Conf. |
Rushing: |
61 |
6 |
Passing: |
22 |
1 |
Total
Off: |
31 |
3 |
Sacks
Allow: |
58 |
5 |
|
DEFENSE |
|
National |
Conf. |
Rushing: |
106 |
10 |
Passing: |
58 |
9 |
Total
Def: |
96 |
10 |
Sacks: |
84 |
9 |
|
|
RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
Nate Davis, 270-478-6, 3667
yds., 30 TD
Rushing: Frank Edmonds,
140 att., 531 yds., 6 TD
Receiving: Dante Love,
100 rec., 1398 yds., 10 TD
Scoring: Dante Love,
12 TD, 72 pts.
Punting: Chris Miller,
61 punts, 45.4 avg.
Kicking: Jake Hogue,
11-19 FG, 33-34 PAT, 66 pts.
Tackles: Bryant Haines,
125 tot., 60 solo
Sacks: Brandon Crawford,
8 sacks
Interceptions: B.J. Hill,
5 for 43 yds.; Trey Lewis, 5
for 86 yds., 1 TD
Kickoff Returns: Dante
Love, 48 ret., 22.9 avg., 1
TD
Punt Returns: B.J. Hill,
23 ret., 9.7 avg., 0 TD
|
|
|
|
|
BALL
STATE |
|
|
OFFENSE
- 8 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 9 |
|
KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Dan Dunford-WR, John Purdy-OT |
DEFENSE:
Amara
Koroma-NT, Jacob Jordan-DT, Cortlan
Booker-DE, Mike Dorulla-MLB, Chris
Allen-SS, Eddie Burk-FS |
|
|
2008
OFFENSE |
QUARTERBACK
How much better can this offense get
under the leadership of junior Nate
Davis? With a full cast of returning
starters, an eager nation will soon
watch Ball State’s production
machine turn itself loose after stating
its arrival in 2007. At a small school
like this, throwing 30 TD passes with
just six INTs doesn’t always
get you recognized, but if you’re
reading this, now you know who Davis
is. Like Grothe at USF and Zac Robinson
at Oklahoma State, Davis makes decisions
on the fly in an unteachable manner,
and the team knows how to follow his
lead(s). His slow 40 time (4.85) essentially
fibs about how quick Davis is once
he decides to make a move. Those first
few steps are killers - subtract his
sack yardage and you see Davis running
it at over seven yards per try. Only
two QBs had a lower INT percentage
than Davis’s 1.25%. Needless
to say, the all-MAC QB’s health
is everything if State wants to ride
his successes to the conference title
game. Tanner Justice looked pretty
bad in the spring game, and some blamed
the weather…seems last time
we checked, bad weather isn’t
going to cancel most games, so we
think greenie Kelly Page getting tutored
by Davis as the backup is the smartest
choice. Page is the top recruit in
this year’s Cardinal class (decommitted
from Oregon after the Ducks brought
in another QB, and he takes the place
of Indiana Mr. Football Paul McIntosh
after he suddenly changed his commitment
to Army), but his label as ‘pro-style’
seems off with his speed. The team’s
offensive approach changes the least
with Page as the backup.
RUNNING
BACK
Though much improved from its prior
showing, the running game’s
statistical advances don’t tell
the entire story. RB-by-committee
due to losing MiQuale Lewis against
Nebraska never looked so bad, but
without Lewis, ground production took
a hit. So did the passing game, since
he was a major target coming out of
the backfield. At 5’6, Lewis
classically slips under tacklers who
fail to realize he’s even near
them until it’s too late. But
since he bangs between the tackles
so well and he didn’t hold up
last year, his durability is in question.
Employing his replacements a bit more
might take the wear-and-tear and redistribute
it so all can remain healthy. Senior
Chris Clancey did the most in Lewis’s
absence, and his body seems much better
prepared to take the abuse. Frankie
Edmonds led the team in rushing as
a true freshman. With speed and a
similar stature to Lewis, Edmonds’
sophomore campaign will be even better
as he now knows the ropes and he won’t
be the primary anymore. The one problem
this spring seemed to be converting
for six – a first-and-goal in
the final scrimmage couldn’t
be punched in.
RECEIVER
/ TIGHT END
We now introduce the other major weapon,
for if we are breaking down the running
game, Dante Love’s name has
to come up. Good for three carries
a game (and being under center, which
we will see more of in ’08),
getting the ball into the Cincinnati
product’s hands those few extra
times offers game-changing implications.
Only seven other WRs in the nation
had more catches, and only three had
more receiving yards…and none
of those guys are like Love with his
hybrid role. An amazing high jumper
and hurdler, Louis Johnson’s
deep threat role is what opens it
all up for Love. So does Joe Everett’s
presence, but he dropped so many passes
this spring that Dan Ifft has slid
into the role of extra receiver for
times when multiples are needed. Still,
no one causes more mismatches in coverage
than Darius Hill. The No.2 aerial
weapon, Hill is tied for the most
TD receptions (24) in school history,
and at 6’6, you can see why
we feel this bulked-up ex-WR deserves
All-American consideration. Grant
is just as dangerous, so the two-TE
sets that force safeties to come up
and LBs to feel out of position will
again be a key for opening things
up.
OFFENSIVE
LINE
The line has five starters back, and
four seniors amongst them mean improvements
should be forthcoming. But the anecdote
told above (of how that first-and-goal
in the spring game couldn’t
be converted) tells a lot. Getting
a healthy Andre Ramsey at left tackle
(ankle injury meant six missed games)
will go a long way toward sealing
the outside. Robert Brewster also
comes in over 300lbs, and he’s
been part of the growth as a permanent
starter since 2006. Senior backup
Adam Cole is a step slower. The inside
has lighter, quicker bodies. Mike
Switzer wasn’t even on the radar
before the Miami opener; he then started
every game at left guard and played
like a vet. A year wiser, the Indianapolis
native is that mobile type who will
still be on par with the seniors surrounding
him. Ex-TE Cornwell can move to the
outside just as quickly. Dan Gerberry
is the steadiest performer of them
all. A starter for 36 consecutive
games, Gerberry’s comments last
year indict the OL as the main element
holding back the team. "If we
want to win the MAC as a team, it's
going to come down to the offensive
line.” He knows best, besides
maybe fourth-year OC Stan Parrish.
Parrish has brought Davis to his ever-improving
level of play, and there is little
more Parrish can do now with any of
the talent position Cardinals…it’s
the line that has to gain consistency
for the next steps to be taken.
|
|
WR
Dante Love (Ball State Photo
Services)
|
|
|
BALL
STATE 2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Nate
Davis-Jr (6-2, 217) |
Tanner
Justice-Jr (6-3, 196) |
HB |
MiQuale
Lewis-Jr (5-6, 184) |
Frank
Edmonds-So (5-8, 181)
Chris Clancy-Sr (6-2,
231) |
WR |
Dante
Love-Sr (5-10, 179) |
Joe
Everett-So (6-0, 170)
Myles
Trempe-So (6-4, 202) |
WR |
Louis
Johnson-Sr (6-1, 177) |
Daniel
Ifft-So (6-3, 181)
Wade Overton-Sr (6-3, 200) |
TE |
Darius
Hill-Sr (6-6, 236) |
Drew
Sharick-Fr (6-6, 230) |
TE |
Madaris
Grant-Jr (6-5, 222) |
Brendan
Choy-Fr (6-4, 247) |
OT |
Andre
Ramsey-Sr (6-5, 304) |
Adam
Cole-Sr (6-6, 278) |
OG |
Michael
Switzer-So (6-5, 277) |
Lance
Helton-So (6-5, 296) |
C |
Dan
Gerberry-Sr (6-3, 292) |
Ben
JacobyFr (6-2, 263) |
OG |
Kyle
Cornwell-Sr (6-4, 272) |
Kreg
Hunter-Fr (6-3, 284) |
OT |
Robert
Brewster-Sr (6-5, 310) |
Travis
Arnold-So (6-8, 284) |
K |
Jake
Hogue-So (5-9, 195) |
Ian
McGarvey-So (5-9, 210) |
|
|
2008
DEFENSE |
There
can be little argument that the proceedings
on this side of the ball are more
responsible for the losses. But in
examining the results, it was the
MAC champion Chippewas and the four
BCS-level opponents that damaged the
Card’s D the worst. Like Navy
(whom they beat but who earned 521
rushing yards) did to them, the five
teams that beat BSU (other loss was
to Miami, but BSU only allowed 14
points) each ran the ball pretty effortlessly.
One of 12 teams last year to allow
five yards per carry and one of only
17 to allow over 200 per game, State
needs to make foes throw it more.
DEFENSIVE
LINE
Brandon Crawford is the jumping off
point for improvements. This 31-year
old ex-Marine is truly a man amongst
boys, playing above the mid-major
level of his foes and on a level with
any BCS lineman. As a testimonial,
the Fort Wayne product is bigger than
most of the tackles with whom he plays.
Woodard is a rare three-star prospect,
and he looks like he could be more
of a contain type (instead of a free
spirit who leaves his rush lane and
then gets burned by delayed hand-offs,
like Booker did.) Eddins appears to
have a hold of the first substitute
spot, but JUCO-product Houston has
more girth to possibly handle those
BCS foes better. Renee Perry seems
the focal point for improvements inside,
as does the return of walk-on Troy
Davis to starting prominence. Barinaga
has gone from ILB to OLB to DE to
(now) DT; he’s undersized, but
a relentless engine and possibly the
strongest Cardinal (1200lb hip press).
With so many great superlatives, how
this line doesn’t improve seems
hard to fathom.
LINEBACKER
Bryant Haines brings his ex-safety
mentality to matching up with extra
receivers on the weakside. Kenny Meeks
is the odd man out when extra DBs
are needed; given a full workload,
he will deliver. The trouble in the
middle is size – Davyd Jones
barely tips 200lbs, so major-sized
foes that run between the tackles
will be tough to control (especially
with the sub-300 tackles). Like at
most smaller schools, the reserves
offer little help in adding girth.
DEFENSIVE
BACK
B.J. Hill makes up for his modest
size with big play – six TFLs
go with his five INTs like he’s
a safety, not a smother corner. Trey
Lewis is the same thieving bandit,
so opposing QBs have to choose on
which side to risk their attempts.
Buice is a good utility player (three
starts in ’07), doing it all
when put in as the nickel. The corners
are the strongest unit on the defense.
All-MAC SS Alex Knipp proved much
in his first year as a full-time starter;
a year wiser, his junior year will
mean even more improvements for his
hawking style. Dane Cook has speed
to spare, but his technique isn’t
as consistent as Derrick Henry’s,
thus Henry’s status. Like most
positions on D, the second string
is a definitive step down from the
starters.
The
best chance the Cards have of making
an impact with defense is by staying
healthy. Watch the third-down conversion
rate of foes – if BSU can knock
it under 40%, they can expect wins
to follow.
|
|
DB
B.J. Hill (Ball State Photo
Services)
|
|
|
BALL
STATE 2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Brandon
Crawford-Jr (6-3, 260) |
Jermaine
Houston-Sr (6-4, 241) |
NT |
Rene
Perry-So (5-11, 271) |
Troy
Davis-Jr (5-11, 256) |
DT |
Gonzalo
Barinaga-Sr (6-2, 256) |
Drew
Duffin-Jr (6-3, 255) |
DE |
Justin
Woodard-So (6-3, 222) |
Robert
Eddins-Jr (6-3, 224) |
SLB |
Kenny
Meeks-Sr (6-2, 230) |
Antonio
Beasley-Sr (6-0, 219) |
MLB |
Davyd
Jones-So (6-1, 200) |
Wendell
Brown-Sr (6-0, 214) |
WLB |
Bryant
Haines-Sr (6-5, 223) |
Lorren
Womack-Fr (6-0, 221) |
CB |
B.J.
Hill-Sr (5-7, 236) |
Koreen
Burch-So (5-9, 162) |
CB |
Trey
Lewis-Sr (6-0, 190) |
Trey
Buice-Sr (5-10, 175) |
SS |
Alex
Knipp-Jr (6-0, 194) |
Sean
Baker-Fr (6-1, 205) |
FS |
Derrick
Henry-So (6-1, 189) |
Dane
Cook-So (6-0, 186) |
P |
Chris
Miller-Sr (6-2, 211) |
.. |
|
|
|
2008
SPECIAL TEAMS |
All-American
Chris Miller does a decent job, getting
distance and good hang time. But nearly
half of his punts were returned, and at
a clip of over 11 yards per try. The nation’s
third-best punter (distance) got the 29th-ranked
results, not a good sign for winning field
position battles. Hogue and McGarvey went
a combined 1-for-6 from the 30-39-yard range.
Again, tightening up these little items
will go a long way toward getting more wins.
B.J. Hill (punts) and Dante Love (kickoffs)
balance the special team results to some
degree with their superior abilities.
|
|