BOISE STATE
STRENGTHS:
The Broncos have plenty
of offensive weapons per
their usual, with quarterback
Kellen Moore, receivers
Austin Pettis and Titus
Young, tailbacks Jeremy
Avery and D.J. Harper
and tight ends Tommy Gallarda
and Kyle Efaw in the mix.
WAC Freshman of the Year
Moore set a school record
by completing 69.4% of
his passes. He makes sharp
reads and accurate throws.
All four DB starters will
return to a secondary
that finished 34th nationally
defending the pass. Star
cornerback Kyle Wilson
is also a top-rated return
man, and kicker/punter
Kyle Brotzman was nearly
spotless last fall, giving
BSU great special teams.
CONCERNS:
The offensive line could
do more by opening holes
for the ball carriers
(departed tailback Ian
Johnson fell off the Heisman
map last year due to this).
Coaches have been vocal
about getting better OL
production, but it will
be with players that remain
a work-in-progress. The
front seven on defense
goes through major turnover;
outside of leader Ryan
Winterswyk at defensive
end, new faces abound.
TCU rushed for 275 yards
against this group in
winning the Poinsettia
Bowl, and the Broncos
have not had an All-Conference
linebacker since 2006.
PROGNOSIS:
The home opener with Oregon
on Labor Day weekend will
determine whether or not
Boise State becomes another
mid-major contender in
the BCS Bowl race. Otherwise
they will simply be chasing
their seventh WAC title
in eight years. Chris
Petersen is proving to
be yet another amazing
head coach at this university,
going 35-4 in three seasons.
He has as much skill talent
on offense and in the
defensive backfield as
on any Bronco team he
has coached. Football
101: how well the line
of scrimmage holds up
will determine their fate.
Everything else is in
place to continue a 12-win
season (in a 13-game regular
season).
PROJECTED
RECORD: 12-1
FRESNO STATE
STRENGTHS:
Every single running back
and receiver is back.
Touted Ryan Mathews returns
from injury, while Lonyae
Miller and Anthony Harding,
who combined for 1,634
yards rushing last fall,
lead a very potent ground
game. The Bulldogs spread
the ball around quite
a bit. Upwards of six-to-seven
receivers can boast his
share of catches. The
defensive back seven returns
six of its starters. All-WAC
selections Ben Jacobs
at linebacker (113 tackles)
and safety Moses Harris
lead sturdy units. Dangerous
kick returner A.J. Jefferson
continues to be one of
the national leaders.
CONCERNS:
No quarterback on the
roster attempted a pass
last fall. Ergo, replacing
departed Tom Brandstater
will be a huge need. Both
full-time offensive tackles
are gone making life for
a new signal caller that
much more imposing. The
defensive line has a few
holes to fill after an
inconsistent year of breakdowns
and run stopping problems
that crippled efforts
last season.
PROGNOSIS:
Consistency was a sore
issue a year ago. But
there are upwards of 17
starters returning, and
this offensive backfield
is deeper than any other
conference opponent can
muster by a long shot.
The problem will be trying
to avoid a one-dimensional
attack as quarterbacks
without any playing experience
grow into the system,
and one is methodically
procured for the starter’s
role. The improvements
up front on defense should
be good enough to afford
more than a six win regular
season. And to no surprise,
Pat Hill has more than
enough talent (outside
of QB) to pull a few upsets.
PROJECTED
RECORD: 7-5
HAWAI'I
STRENGTHS:
Offense...JUCO quarterback
Greg Alexander finished
last fall on a roll, so
he should be one of the
top passers in the WAC.
Three of his top receivers
(Malcolm Lane, Greg Salas
and Kealoha Pilares) are
back, and a few newcomers
had solid spring outings.
John Estes is one of the
better centers in college
football while two other
experienced seniors line
up at the tackle spots.
CONCERNS:
Defense...Only two starters
are back. Replacing Solomon
Elimimian, the second-leading
tackler in WAC history,
won't help matters. It's
difficult to know exactly
what this defense will
look like until the season
progresses. Unfortunately,
such a statement also
holds water for the coaches.
This defense is the true
definition of a "rebuilding
effort". Both a new
kicker and punter will
have to be found.
PROGNOSIS:
The offense won't face
the same issues they did
heading into last season,
when both a new QB and
a new set of receivers
had to be located. Additionally,
they won’t have
to start fresh in the
coaching ranks. The nucleus
of the offense is back
to again start putting
points on the board, but
it will be a more balanced
approach (not all passing).
The defense, on the other
hand, is what keeps Hawai'i
from being a conference
contender. They will be
swallowing more points
than poi.
PROJECTED
RECORD: 6-7
IDAHO
STRENGTHS:
The running back unit
is the strength of this
team. Deonte Jackson and
Princeton McCarty provide
a capable one-two punch.
Jackson is a former 1,000-yard
rusher from 2007 who got
fewer carries last season
because he shared time
with the rising McCarty.
Idaho will follow the
same run-first formula.
The secondary has some
experience; getting team
leading tackler Shiloh
Keo back from injury at
safety is a huge plus.
He is a true playmaker
on defense and special
teams.
CONCERNS:
There is never a shortage
of problems at Idaho.
The nation's 116th ranked
total defense has holes
to fill at linebacker.
The defensive line won't
help a team that has won
just 18 games since 2001.
Only two starters return
to the offensive line,
and quarterback Nathan
Enderle had to fight dearly
for his job this spring
after an up-and-down two
years (18 interceptions
continue to haunt his
stats). Gone is NFL draft
pick Eddie Williams at
tight end, who caught
twice as many touchdowns
as the next leading receiver.
PROGNOSIS:
The Vandals have question
marks everywhere. Their
saving grace will likely
be a ground game where
their two best players
line up at running back.
QB Nathan Enderle is at
least improving with each
campaign but has a long
ways to go in terms of
owning the job behind
center. Oh man, the defense
is not helping matters
and is full of holes.
Idaho will once again
be heavy underdogs in
the WAC cellar.
PROJECTED
RECORD: 1-11
LOUISIANA TECH
STRENGTHS:
This offense has a chance
to be one of the nation's
best rushing attacks.
First Team All-Conference
senior running back Daniel
Porter may be the WAC's
best rusher. A big reason
for his future success
is based on six returning
starters to this offensive
line, led by offensive
tackle Rob McGill. Electric
return man Phillip Livas
and his 2,105 all-purpose
yards is another name
to keep an eye on at receiver.
The defensive line is
extremely stout with big
D'Anthony "Boo"
Smith anchoring the middle.
CONCERNS:
Where the running game
is priority, the passing
game is abysmal. Ross
Jenkins will return under
center as a mere game
manager, but he won't
beat anyone with his arm.
Defending the pass is
also a weak point (second
last in the WAC) and two
new corners will take
starting roles, although
safety Antonio Baker is
a First Team All-WAC selection.
The linebackers, too,
go through a reconstruction
phase; they have to get
better results with such
a sturdy line in front
of them.
PROGNOSIS:
Louisiana Tech had six
players named to the All-WAC
team at the end of 2008.
Five of them are back.
Derek Dooley's ball club
got eight wins last fall
and an Independence Bowl
victory. They'll continue
this success if the pass
defense can secure some
form of consistency. Look
out when the Bulldogs
face off against poor
run defenses...other than
the nouveau spread formations
used at Nevada, this is
best traditional rushing
attack in the conference.
PROJECTED
RECORD: 7-5
NEVADA
STRENGTHS:
The nation’s No.
1 ranked offense returns
the WAC Offensive Player
of the Year in QB Colin
Kaepernick, the league's
top rusher in Vai Taua,
and two All-Conference
tackles in Alonzo Durham
and Mike Gallett. Also
in the backfield is 2007
star Luke Lippincott,
whose been granted another
year of eligibility after
an injury set him back
last fall. Nevada also
may possess the country's
best defensive end combo.
Dontay Mock is the league’s
top sack producer, and
Kevin Basped is just as
good.
CONCERNS:
The Wolf Pack lost six
games last year because
they just could not stop
anyone from throwing the
football. The secondary
is by far their Achilles’
Heel where this defense
ranked 119th nationally
trying to stop the pass.
The linebackers are still
young and continue to
suffer through growing
pains. The losses of Marko
Mitchell and Mike McCoy
will leave the receiving
duties in undeveloped
hands.
PROGNOSIS:
Wow, this offense is loaded.
Kaepernick is a special
dual-threat quarterback,
able to burn foes either
running or passing (as
he feigns LBs by convincingly
rolling out). In short,
this was the nation's
No. 1 ranked offense in
’08, and most of
its parts are back (reloading
at WR). The Wolf Pack
has a great chance at
being the top surprise
team in both the WAC and
the nation. If the porous
secondary can find some
relief with a bevy of
experienced players, returning
the defensive line in
a new 4-3 alignment has
the potential to make
this entire D better,
especially with these
two studs at defensive
end. While the opener
at Notre Dame has “big
time” upset special
already written all over
it, the final game at
Boise on Thanksgiving
weekend should be for
all the WAC marbles.
PROJECTED
RECORD: 8-4
NEW MEXICO STATE
STRENGTHS:
The group of returning
linebackers - all seniors
- is likely to be the
strength of the team.
Nick Paden is the glue.
The nation's No. 3 ranked
passing defense has a
chance to be more than
sufficient with three
starters back in the secondary.
New head coach/defensive
coordinator DeWayne Walker
comes here from UCLA with
an impressive resume.
Expect defense to be the
new order in Aggie Land.
CONCERNS:
The spread passing attack
(with record setting QB
Chase Holbrook and receivers
Chris Williams and A.J.
Harris, making sure high
scoring affairs transpired
every Saturday) is a thing
of the past. None of the
incumbents at quarterback
was very impressive this
spring, adding much concern
as to who will be pulling
the trigger under center.
The defensive line is
breaking in four new starters.
This aspect has absolutely
killed NMSU (to date),
and the DL will again
repeat its marginal performance
if the linebackers don't
take up some of the slack.
PROGNOSIS:
With a brand new coaching
staff and accompanying
playbook(s), this won't
be the same Aggie football
team. The schemes change,
as do the philosophies.
The excitement of having
one of the top passing
attacks under former coach
Hal Mumme quickly gives
way to reconstruction,
an attempt to sure up
the running game and overall
stopping power (105th
ranked scoring defense).
The transition(s) won't
be easy in the first year;
the line of scrimmage
is still highly questionable.
The road schedule isn't
trouble-free either. Outside
of the two openers, the
Aggies will struggle.
PROJECTED
RECORD: 3-10
SAN JOSE STATE
STRENGTHS:
Brothers Carl and Duke
Ihenacho lead an ever-improving
defense that is leaps
and bounds better than
when head coach Dick Tomey
took over in 2004. The
aggressive nature and
experience of the front
seven on defense is capable
of matching up with any
WAC opponent(s). The offensive
line returns five players
that have earned significant
starts, which can only
help their 115th-ranked
rushing attack. Getting
2007 All-WAC standout
Kevin Jurovich back healthy
at receiver will be a
big lift.
CONCERNS:
This offense is the worst
in the league at scoring
points. The Spartans need
to break out of their
conservative approach
and get something more
out of what has become
an anemic ground game.
This offense is lacking
playmakers across the
board, with an unknown
receivers corps. While
the defense looks to be
much better, they still
have to replace three
players that were selected
in last April’s
NFL Draft.
PROGNOSIS:
The 53 returning lettermen
and 30 seniors on the
roster represent the most
experience since coach
Tomey took over the program.
This will mostly be evident
on the defensive side,
where efforts/results
wore down after the offense
was so ineffective last
year. They have a senior
quarterback in Kyle Reed
but he still has a shaky
hold on the position.
They desperately need
more out of their hurler
(whoever it may be) and
from the ball carriers
behind him. An 0-3 start
won't help confidence
with heavy hitters USC,
Utah and Stanford being
the opponents. This team
is better than last year's
6-6 squad, but the record
probably won't show it.
PROJECTED
RECORD: 5-7
UTAH STATE
STRENGTHS:
Biondre Borel is the star
of this football team
from his quarterback spot.
A new coaching staff will
now use a no-huddle, shotgun
spread to maximize his
talents since Borel was
the team leader in both
rushing and passing. Nine
other starters are back
for the offense. The receiving
corps, while lacking experience,
appears deep. Senior linebacker
Paul Igboeli is a good
place to start over with
on defense. His 242 career
tackles will likely make
him the school's all-time
record holder by the time
2009 is done.
CONCERNS:
The school administration
wanted more than just
a coaching change, so
the Aggies have 15 players
who have switched position
in some form or another,
including several to the
opposite side of the ball.
Borel needs somebody to
help him carry the pigskin.
Only one time last year
did another ball carrier
rush for over 100 yards.
While the experience appears
good on paper with 19
starters back, Utah State
is severely lacking players
worthy of All-Conference
honors. Teamwork must
prevail.
PROGNOSIS:
The good news is that
Utah State showed some
progress last season while
also managing to steal
in-state rival Utah’s
defensive coordinator,
Gary Andersen, and make
him the new head coach.
The bad news is that the
Aggies have been woeful
since joining the WAC
in 2005. There seems to
be no avenue for this
team to get remotely close
to a .500 season, especially
considering eight bowl
teams rule the schedule.
The defensive minded Andersen
has his work cut out trying
to repair a leaking defense
that gave up over 34 points
a game. At least the best
playmaker is behind center.
PROJECTED
RECORD: 3-9 |
