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 While the Broncos personnel losses are significant, veterans like senior safety Jamail Berry aren’t pressing the panic button. “Coming in, there’s a lot of new faces, but also we have talent coming back,” Berry said.

Broncos Head Coach Bill Cubit noted WMU has lost a number of good players – including some to the NFL – in recent years. He thinks this year’s returning crop of 35 lettermen (15 starters) can step up. “What we have now are guys that understand what it’s all about,” Cubit said. “I think there is a refocus. When you go 5-7 (as we did last year), you’re not happy, and you want to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

One of those who must step into the breach is quarterback Alex Carder. The 6-2, 225-pound redshirt sophomore from Shawnee Kansas played in eight games last year but threw just seven passes (completing five for 27 yards) in limited action. With Hiller moving on, it’s Carder’s opportunity to shine.

“He’s a quality kid. He’s the best athlete we’ve had back there,” Cubit said. “He’s going to be able to make some yardage out there with is scrambling ability He’s a pretty good runner.”

Cubit also likes Carder’s intangibles. “His personality is outstanding. He gets guys jacked up pretty well. He’s kind of a Brett Farvish-type guy. He runs around and gets excited. … With the experience we have on the offensive line and at the receiver position, I fully expect this kid to be one of the top quarterbacks in the conference.”

Among Carder’s targets are Jordan White, Robert Arnheim, Juan Nunez, Chleb Ravenell and Ansel Ponder. White had 53 receptions in 2009, while All-MAC Third Team members Arnheim (59 rec.) and Nunez (32 rec., 6 TDs) combined for over 90 catches. It’s a wealth of talent and experience for a relatively inexperienced quarterback “As older receivers now, we’re obligated to help the younger quarterback and communicate with him,” White said.

Protecting Carder, of course, is also important, and the Broncos have some experience in the trenches. Nick Clemens (6-4, 3-5) started all 12 games at offensive guard and Anthony Parker (6-5, 326, Jr./Sr) was likewise a season-long stalwart at tackle. Nick Mitchell (6-2, 295, Jr.) got 11 starts at center. Moving into the mix is Danny O’Neill (6-7, 309, so) at right tackle. “He has to play well for us,” Cubit said.

Western Michigan’s 112 yards per game on the ground was 10th among MAC schools last year. Although down the list, the Broncos did have a running threat to compliment the passing game. With West gone, somebody will have to move into that role. Junior Aaron Winchester figures into the running back picture. However, he had just 46 carries for 148 net yards in 2009.  Redshirt freshman Brian Fields had some good moments in the spring and will be among those looking for opportunities to carry the ball this fall.

While the offense will be looking to recapture much of its 2009 form, the Broncos defense has to improve. Western Michigan’s 27.5 ppg  defensive average was no small part of the 5-7 campaign. The Broncos ranked 10th (MAC) against both the run and the pass.

The departure of linebacker Austin Prichard won’t help. He had a whopping 102 tackles (7 tfl) in 2009. Also gone are defensive end Justin Braska (63 tackles, 13.0 tfl), defensive tackle Cody Cielenski (32 tackles, 8.5 tfl) and DBs Andy Dorcely and David Lewis.

Still, Cubit has designs on an improved defense, although the actual designing part will have a lot to do with new defensive coordinator Dave Cohen.

Cohen is a former I-AA Defensive Coordinator of the Year after helping Delaware win a Division I-AA championship in 2003. He comes to WMU via Hofstra, which dropped its 73-year-old football program in December.

“We’ve got to do a better job at being more physical and creating turnovers,” said Cubit, who believes the 2010 D-line can move the Broncos in that direction. “We’re a bit more athletic, and I think we’re bigger than we’ve ever been on the defensive line,” he said.

Defensive tackle  John Rice (6.0, 272, Jr) is a JUCO transfer who could help along the front line with T. J. Lynch, Paul Hazel and Weston Peiffer.

The linebacking corps is young, Sophomore Deauntay Legrier, who got his baptism as a middle linebacker in ’09, will be joined by classmates Dex Jones (a former Wisconsin redshirt) and Chris Prom. The latter appeared in all 12 WMU games last year with three starts.

Berry, MAC West Player of the Week twice in 2009, returns to anchor the secondary. He had a team-high five interceptions last year. Joining him at the other safety will be junior Doug Wiggins, who notched 47 tackles in 10 game appearances with nine starts.

The Broncos certainly have experience in place kicker John Potter. The junior made 10-of-15 field goals last year. With another year of growth and experience, Potter will look to improve on his long range boots. He hit just one beyond beyond 40 yards in 2009.

Junior punter Ben Armer is back to punt after averaging 39.0 yards per boot last year.

Ponder and White have experience in the return game and are credible threats to opposing special teams.

Western Michigan opens the new campaign on the road with a Sept. 4 date at Michigan State, but it will then enjoy the friendly (if you’re a Bronco) turf of Waldo Stadium for three straight weeks. The middle game in that stretch is the MAC opener against Toledo.

Another big date on the WMU schedule is Oct. 16 when Cubit’s crew becomes the first MAC team to play at Notre Dame.

“It does a couple things for us,” Cubit said. “Number one, financially, it’s a pretty good setup. But the other thing is it gives our kids an opportunity to enjoy something that may otherwise not be available to them. … We’ll be ready. … Sometimes we’ve been successful. We’ve beat the Iowa, the Illinois, the Virginia. Other times, we haven’t been as successful. But if you don’t do it, you don’t have any chance to win.”

To be sure, there are more questions for Cubit’s crew heading into 2010 than there were a year ago. The important thing, however, is that the Broncos come up with more answers – in the form of wins.