AIR FORCE
STRENGTHS: QB
Tim Jefferson was tabbed
the 2008 MWC Freshman
of the Year, and talented
tailback Asher Clark was
the team's top rusher
from the nation's No.
6 rushing attack. Both
return, although Jefferson
took time out from the
off-season to concentrate
on academics. Clark is
now being experimented
at QB, his former position.
Both give this ground
attack solid wheels. The
secondary appears to be
the strength of the defense.
Senior Chris Thomas, the
teams MVP last fall, returns
at safety, as do starting
corners Reggie Rembert
and Anthony Wright. All
three linebackers are
back in the fold, further
enhancing the back seven.
CONCERNS:
The biggest question is
up front on defense. Two
quality bookends have
departed in Ryan Kemp
and Jake Paulson. Getting
pressure on opposing QBs
won’t likely elicit
the same strong results.
The Falcons are also missing
an experienced receiver,
despite the fact that
the passing attack is
only a last ditch option.
As always in Colorado
Springs, expect the ground
game to continue to be
the play of choice eight
times out of ten. One
of the biggest tasks is
replacing Ryan Harrison
in the kicking/punting
game.
PROGNOSIS:
Air Force has nearly twice
as many starters back
as it did a year ago,
but the team is still
fairly young. Most of
the starters are freshmen
and sophomores. A steady
defense and methodical
use of the running game
is still the winning formula,
and so it should be no
surprise that head coach
Troy Calhoun makes a bowl
game for the third straight
season.
PROJECTED
RECORD: 7-5
BRIGHAM YOUNG
STRENGTHS: QB
Max Hall is a legitimate
Heisman contender, RB
Harvey Unga is a former
MWC Freshman of the Year
who is now healthy after
a lesser sophomore outing,
and TE Dennis Pitta may
be the best offensive
end across the national
landscape. As needed,
DE Jan Jorgensen is one
the best sack masters
in the conference while
operating in this unique
3-3-5 defensive scheme.
Also key is that all of
the linebackers return
to the fold. The defense
should be stiff.
CONCERNS:
Only four total starters
return to the offensive
side, which means there
are sure to be gaping
holes. The first area
of concern is the losses
at receiver. Any incumbents
are short on quality experience.
Also, the offensive line
has to replace four starters.
Replacing both starting
safeties becomes the priority
on the defensive side.
Projected secondary starters
Brandon Bradley and Scott
Johnson have been battling
through injuries, while
one of the projected starting
CBs, Brandon Howard, has
left the school for personal
reasons. Incoming JUCO
transfers will vital here.
PROGNOSIS:
An undefeated season is
(probably) out of the
question. The Cougars
open with Oklahoma and
get Florida State two
weeks later. With senior
Max Hall under center,
anything is possible as
Coach Mendenhall strives
to keep pace with Utah
and TCU in conference
(they get both at home).
Keep an eye on Dennis
Pitta as he could easily
wind up the top TE in
the 2009 NFL Draft. The
lack of playmakers at
receiver and a newly formed
OL could make the season
interesting at times against
teams BYU usually dominate.
The defense is good enough
to stuff the ground game
but keeping the passing
yards down is going to
be a difficult task with
this secondary.
PROJECTED
RECORD: 8-4
COLORADO STATE
STRENGTHS:
Four starters return to
bolster the offensive
line, all of them are
seniors. Receivers Rashaun
Greer and Dion Morton
are both playmakers that
can help a passing game
still searching for a
quality QB. The most experienced
unit on defense will be
in the secondary - all
four DB starters return.
CONCERNS:
The Rams will be breaking
in a new QB and a new
set of running backs.
Fifth year senior and
first time starter Grant
Tucker will handle the
job under center, but
coaches have yet to give
him the vote of confidence.
Replacing talented Gartrell
Johnson in the backfield
will have to be done “by
committee”. The
top defensive player,
LB Ricky Brewer, is out
for the season on a "team
rules" suspension,
and the inexperience up
front on the defensive
line is going to cause
problems.
PROGNOSIS:
While the Rams got an
important bowl victory
last season, they now
have to reload at some
of the most important
positions. A new QB, a
new set of running backs
and a completely rebuilt
defensive line are huge
areas of concern, and
they’ll keep CSU
out of the conference
race. The two aforementioned
offensive holes left coaches
scratching their heads
all spring. Luckily, the
blockers up front may
be the team's best unit.
Getting off to a rough
start won't help build
confidence as BYU, Utah,
TCU, Nevada and Colorado
dot the schedule before
mid-October arrives.
PROJECTED
RECORD: 4-8
NEW MEXICO
STRENGTHS:
Those 1,000-yard rushing
seasons of the past were
built around a strong
offensive line. Center
Erik Cook is an All-MWC
performer. and there is
enough talent around him
to keep the schemes sound.
The top three receivers
return - led by Chris
Hernandez -though none
put up big numbers last
season due to the QB inefficiencies.
Both of the returning
starters at safety are
seniors, and will be called
upon to keep the defense
grounded.
CONCERNS:
QB play was horrid a year
ago. Donovan Porterie
threw for over 3,000 yards
in 2007, and now returns
from the torn ACL that
sidelined him in ‘08.
The QB plight is still
unsettled however as eight-game
starter Brad Gruner is
in a heated battle with
Porterie. With roughly
three starters back on
defense, the Lobos will
switch to a 4-3 defensive
scheme, which puts pressure
on a DL that is extremely
short on experience/depth.
Two new corners get broken
in and will require a
ton of help from the veteran
safeties.
PROGNOSIS:
Dynamic offensive mind
Mike Locksley from Illinois
takes over in his first
stint as a head coach.
All schemes on both sides
of the ball will go through
a major reconstruction
schematically. The offense
will become a no-huddle
spread attack as the defense
also moves to a completely
new scheme. The days of
a power running game are
history, and this team
is lacking top rated talent
to guarantee a smooth
transition. It will probably
take a few seasons to
haul in the players Locksley
needs to run his sets
optimally. The key for
the present is finding
a QB, the proven downfall
of 2008.
PROJECTED
RECORD: 4-7
SAN DIEGO STATE
STRENGTHS:
These receivers may be
the deepest in the conference.
Leading catcher Vincent
Brown is back, as are
two other returning starters.
Still, senior DeMarco
Sampson was the surprise
standout of the spring.
Sophomore Ryan Lindley
has a bright future at
QB after showing plenty
of promise a year ago.
Combined with the talent
running routes, this could
be a formidable passing
attack. The new blitzing
defensive scheme should
benefit the linebacker.
Moreover, the LBs possess
the most talent on this
side, and Luke Laolagi
is primed to log over
100 tackles.
CONCERNS:
Appropriately, the Aztecs
cannot run the ball well,
nor can they effectively
stop the run. This is
not a physical ball club.
There are veterans returning
in the offensive backfield,
but they were all a part
of a group that managed
to average just 73 yards
per game last fall (nation's
third worst). The front
seven on defense returns
six starters. However,
much like the offense,
SDSU has never been known
for its physical defensive
prowess. Depth is extremely
thin across the board,
and everyone will be learning
a new scheme. Any/all
of these are serious concerns.
PROGNOSIS:
The Aztecs are in full
rebuilding mode. Hot Ball
State ex-coach Brady Hoke
takes over, and his assistants
now are a nice cross-section
of football minds - defensive
coordinator Rocky Long,
whose 11 years as head
coach at New Mexico featured
stellar defenses; offensive
coordinator Al Borges,
the former Auburn play
caller; and former Cleveland
Brown Brian Sipe, who
now coaches the quarterbacks.
There is enough talent
here to spread the ball
around via the air, and
the new 3-3-5 oft-blitzing
defense is going to help
improve a defense that
has been on the downside
for a long time. Improvements
should be evident rather
quickly. However, this
is the only school not
to attend a bowl in the
history of the MWC. That
won't change this season,
but Brady’ll have
‘em surprise a few
teams.
PROJECTED
RECORD: 5-7
TCU
STRENGTHS:
Everyone's All-American
at defensive end is Jerry
Hughes (15 sacks in 2008).
He, along with a pair
of three-year starting
corners in Nick Sanders
and Rafael Priest, have
the capability to wreak
havoc with opposing aerial
attacks on any level.
Dual-threat QB Andy Dalton
returns after winning
19 games the previous
two seasons, and he has
plenty of weapons at his
disposal with top rusher
Joseph Turner and leading
pass catcher Jimmy Young
returning. Two All-MWC
honorees at offensive
tackle (Newhouse and Cannon)
will provide plenty of
protection.
CONCERNS:
The loss of two All-Conference
players at linebacker
raises concerns. The newly
built interior of the
line, combined with the
losses at LB, will make
the (inside) run stopping
efforts a priority need.
Still, this was the nation's
No. 1 rush defense a year
ago. Repeating that sort
of effort will be a long
shot. Outside of Hughes,
the rest of the DL gets
filled with new faces.
PROGNOSIS:
Everyone will expect the
nation's No. 1 ranked
defense to take a step
back with seven seniors
departing. But Gary Patterson
knows how to coach, and
he’s very optimistic
about his chances in 2009.
No wonder, considering
the Frogs return a strong
nucleus from an offense
last fall that set single-season
school records for points
scored and touchdowns.
Only a loss to Utah kept
TCU from an elusive BCS
invite. If they can get
through road games against
Virginia and Clemson in
the first three games,
the Halloween home match
up against Utah could
be for all the mid-major
BCS marbles.
PROJECTED
RECORD: 11-1
UNLV
STRENGTHS:
UNLV finally has a quality
signal caller after five
straight years of different
QB starters. Omar Clayton
threw for 18 touchdowns
compared to just four
interceptions before going
down with knee injury
and missing the last three
games last season. He
is going to push Max Hall
for top conference QB
honors. Clayton has multiple
weapons to work the spread
offense including All-American
candidate Ryan Wolfe and
super soph Phillip Payne
at the receiver spots.
Tackles Malo Taumua and
Martin Tevaseu lead the
front seven on defense,
but it’s linebackers
Jason Beauchamp and Starr
Fuimaono who make this
the best front seven the
Rebels have employed since
its last bowl trip in
2000. The offensive line
also boasts two All-MWC
candidates in Joe Hawley
and Matt Murphy.
CONCERNS:
The only thing missing
from this offensive attack
is a replacement for back
Tank Summers. Finding
another RB will be a big
key. The biggest development
will be in the secondary,
which has been forced
to retool after losing
three key contributors,
including suspended starting
safety Daryl Forte. The
influx of talent here
has been crucial - the
Rebels landed eight defensive
backs in their recent
recruiting class, four
of them from the JUCO
level.
PROGNOSIS:
Seriously, watch out for
UNLV this season as a
surprise team. The Rebels
had a shot at a .500 season
and a bowl invitation
last year, only to get
torched in the finale
by San Diego State. The
Reb’s receiver-QB
combo is as good as the
Mountain West has to offer,
and the front seven on
defense is stout. They
will get home games with
Oregon State, Hawai'i,
BYU and Utah, and are
quite capable of beating
any of these teams in
Vegas.
PROJECTED
RECORD: 8-4
UTAH
STRENGTHS:
The best set of linebackers
in this league resides
here. Stevenson Sylvester,
Mike Wright and Kepa Gaison
all played huge roles
in the undefeated BCS
run of a year ago. The
defensive line, too, won't
see much drop off despite
the early departure of
DE Paul Kruger. Remaining
is Koa Misi, and many
feel his ability is on
par with Baltimore Raven
bound Kruger. Matt Asiata
is an underrated ball
carrier, and offensive
tackle Zane Beadles is
the Utes’ best bet
to make an All-American
team.
CONCERNS:
The main focus is finding
a replacement for MWC
Offensive POY Brian Johnson
at QB. Corbin Louks currently
holds the top honor after
being used primarily in
running situations last
fall. JUCO transfer Terrance
Cain came in and battled
well, as expected, but
the real surprise was
from true frosh Jordan
Wynn. Still, nothing is
settled under center.
Sean Smith bolted early,
which means the two new
corners are going to get
tested early and often.
The biggest loss of all
is at the kicker/punter
position; the stability
four-year all-world mainstay
Louie Sakoda afforded
coaches has moved on.
PROGNOSIS:
Not many (mid-major) teams
are in a position to overcome
the heavy graduation/early
departure losses that
Utah will endure. Plus,
the Utes obviously have
a huge target on their
chest after last year's
undefeated success. They
are also searching for
a new signal caller. Added
up, this does not bode
well for Utah to get back
to another BCS bid. But
make no mistake - this
program has a load of
talent waiting in the
wings, and the drop-offs
won't be as exaggerated
as some might predict.
Utah has built a strong
program with solid recruiting
foundations, and nothing
less than a conference
title will be sufficient.
They will continue to
be right in the thick
of the MWC race.
PROJECTED
RECORD: 9-3
WYOMING
STRENGTHS: On
defense, the entire front
line, led by DT John Fletcher,
remains intact. The conference's
second-rated pass defense
also returns three players
to the secondary. This
defense will likely finish
statistically in the top
half of both the conference
and the nation. There
is plenty of experience
at the receiver position,
which will bode well for
the new spread offense
head coach Dave Christensen
brings with him from Missouri.
Now, five receiver sets
are not out of the question.
CONCERNS:
Finding a QB that can
fully grasp this spread
offense will take a couple
of seasons. Last year,
three Cowboy hurlers combined
for 17 interceptions but
only seven touchdowns.
Senior Carsten Sween gets
the early nod but has
been plagued by the same
turnover bug. The running
backs will miss the 2,000
yards of offense that
departed members Devin
Moore and Wynel Seldon
provided, while the offensive
line has some rebuilding
to Throwing the ball first
may not be a bad idea.
PROGNOSIS:
The defense has the personnel
to make some noise, but
the offense will need
time to mature and grasp
a detailed new system.
There is no running game
to rely on, and big September
tilts with Texas and Colorado
could prove devastating
with such ominous limitations.
The Cowboys have to change
how the team values the
football; 36 turnovers
killed this program last
season. The hiring of
coach Christensen should
pay dividends in the long
run. His first year’s
prognosis however, does
not look good on paper
unless a quarterback can
quickly take charge. If
Sween is not the guy,
the answer will have to
come from one of the new
recruits.
PROJECTED
RECORD: 3-9 |
