 Suffice it to say that MAC opponents rarely savored a game date with Central Michigan in recent years. More likely, opposing coaches relished the day quarterback Dan LeFevour and his classmates moved on. That day has come – finally – and not only is LeFevour’s band of merry winners gone, so is head coach Butch Jones. The question now is, can the Chippewas keep on winning?
Central Michigan did manage to keep winning after its last coaching change. When Brian Kelly left for Cincinnati, Jones stepped in and the Chippewas won eight games on the way to a MAC championship. It marked only the ninth time in MAC history that a first-year coach guided his team to a title.
Of course, Jones not only had a very special group of athletes to begin his time at the helm, he also joined a program with a very similar offense.
With the loss of 12 starters, including multi-record holder LeFevour and a pair of key receiving targets, new Head Coach Dan Enos (former player and assistant coach at Michigan State) will have his work cut out for him. “We’ve got a lot of holes,” said Enos, who is bringing a “multiple” offensive scheme to Mount Pleasant.
OFFENSE
Sophomore Ryan Radcliff gets the opening game nod at running that offense after emerging from a fall camp battle of five quarterbacks. Radcliff was the only member of the group to previously throw a game pass in a CMU uniform. He was 10-for-21 for 115 yards and two interceptions as a backup in 2009. He also ran for one TD.
Senior Cal Volny, meanwhile, is slated to start at running back after picking up 390 yards on 82 carries (4.8 ypc) with three touchdowns last year. Junior Paris Cotton (220 yards, 58 attempts, 3.8 ypc) will also see action. Tyler Reed (5-11, 217, Sr.) tops the fullback chart, which includes 6-1, 244-pound hammer Tyler Lombardo.
With receivers Antonio Brown (110 receptions, 1,198 yards, 9 TDs) and Bryan Anderson (64 receptions, 784 yards, 7 TDs) gone, the Chippewas will turn to other targets, such as 6-2, 213-pound wideout Kito Poblah. The senior has increased his production each year (14, 43, 53 catches), and his streak of catches in 24 consecutive games (dating back to 2008) is the seventh longest in the nation.
Classmate Matt Torres (6-2, 192) also has size and has worked his way up the chart. He could start at the other wideout when CMU opens at home against Hampton Thursday, Sept. 2. Sophomore Cody Wilson, meanwhile, recorded seven starts in 2009 and was impressive during spring play.
Junior David Blackburn (6-3, 242) has the nod at tight end after playing in all 14 games in his first season as starting tight end. He caught passes in 10 games, including two for touchdowns against Ball State.
Fortunately, there’s more experience along the offensive line. Four starters return from a line that led the Chippewas to 423.1 yards of total offense per game last year.
Eric Fisher figures to start Week 1 at the right guard spot vacated by Allen Ollenburger. Returning starters are sophomore left tackle Jeff Olsen (6-8, 290), junior right tackle Rocky Weaver (6-6, 290), senior left guard Jeff Maddux (6-5, 320) and senior center Colin Miller (6-3, 300).
DEFENSE
Six starters return on defense, with linebacker figuring as a particularly strong group. It doesn’t get much better than Nick Bellore. The 6-1, 250-pound senior begins 2009 with a streak of 41 consecutive starts and leads all returning NCAA Bowl Subdivision players in career tackles. A First Team All-MAC selection last year, he is currently seventh on CMU’s career tackles list with 382 hits. Brian Leigeb (1997-2000) holds the top spot with 490.
Bellore combined with linebacker Matt Berning (6-0, 246) for 240 tackles in 2009 and should once again serve as a wrecking crew loose in the middle of the CMU defense.
Standout defensive end Frank Zombo leaves after recording 45 tackles, including 10 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 1 interception, and 2 fumble recoveries. However, senior Sean Murnane (6-1, 275) and junior John Williams (6-0, 279) return to anchor Central Michigan’s defensive front. Murnane had 49 tackles (7.0 TFL, 3.5 sacks) in 2008.
Sophomores Joe Kinville 96-2, 248) and Caesar Rodriguez (6-2, 235) were in line for starts at the other D-Line spots. Redshirt freshman Darryl Stinson should also be in the mix.
Two corners – Kirkston Edwards and Josh Gordy – may be gone, but the Chippewas secondary nonetheless has some playmakers. Senior Vince Agnew drew two late-season starts in 2009 and impressed. Enos also likes what he has seen of Lorenzo White (6-0, 190). The redshirt sophomore is the son of former Michigan State running back Lorenzo White.
Senior Bobby Seay (5-11, 187) is at free safety, while the very physical sophomore Jahleel Addae (5-9, 193) gets the call at strong safety.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
The Chippewas will miss the contributions of Brown, who made First Team All-MAC as a punt return specialist and also returned kickoffs. Wilson is penciled in at punt return, while Taylor Bradley could open the year returning kickoffs.
Kicker Andrew Aguila ended his CMU career by connecting on 17-of-23 (long of 49) on field goals and 55-of-57 PATs. His game-winner against Michigan State last year was a shining example of his veteran value.
Freshman Paul Mudgett takes over placekicking duties, with senior Brett Hartman handling punts and kickoffs. Hartmann averaged 38.4 ypp last year, with 19 going inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.
SCHEDULE
The 2009 CMU schedule is loaded with challenges. After a home opener against Hampton Sept. 2, Central Michigan hits the road for three straight weeks. The road opener will be a toughie as CMU goes to MAC East power Temple. Enos’ crew will also be on the road against MAC West preseason favorite Northern Illinois Oct. 23.
Three other non-conference games scattered down the schedule will also offer significant challenges as the Chippewas travel to Northwestern, Virginia Tech and Navy.
|
