Post by FIUPantherFan on May 11, 2008 15:07:44 GMT -5
theredzonereport.com/2008/05/09/sun-belt-preview-part-one/
2008 Sun Belt Conference Preview Part I: Defending champion FAU locked and loaded for repeat
By Eddie Griffin ? May 9, 2008 ? Post a comment
Last season, Florida Atlantic and Troy were the class of the Sun Belt Conference, and fittingly, the conference title and a New Orleans Bowl berth came down to the final weekend of the season, when the Owls and Trojans met in Troy.
The Owls were down 9-7 at halftime, but outscored Troy 28-3 over the first 15:06 of the second half to take a commanding 35-12 lead. But, the Trojans weren’t finished, and closed within 38-32 with minutes left.
However, the Owls stepped up and closed the deal, making a defensive stop after the Trojans had driven into FAU territory, and became the youngest program to make a bowl game, in only their third year on the I-A level. Then, Howard Schnellenberger’s Owls routed Memphis 44-27 in the New Orleans Bowl to finish off a historic 8-5 season.
This year, FAU is primed for a repeat, as they return the reigning Sun Belt Player of the Year in Rusty Smith and most of their other key pieces on both sides of the ball, and are the hands-down favorites to repeat as Sun Belt champions. Schnellenberger brought two programs in Miami and Louisville into the national spotlight, and he’s well on his way to doing the same with FAU.
Can anyone stand in their way of repeating as Sun Belt champs?
Conference Favorite
As I just mentioned above, it’s Florida Atlantic, without a doubt. Besides returning Smith, the Owls return all but a handful of starters, and five all-Sun Belt first-team selections (Smith, WR Cortez Gent, TE Jason Harmon, LB Frantz Joseph, DB Tavious Polo). They also return three second-team selections (OL John Rizzo, DL Jevonte Jackson, DB Corey Small) and an honorable mention selection (RB Charles Pierre).
Smith (3,688 yards, 32 TD, 9 INT) is primed for another big year, as his top targets return in Gent (64-1,082-9 TD), Harmon (63-825-5), fullback Willie Rose (38 catches, 7 TD), Chris Bonner (25-420-3), and DiIvory Edgecomb (24-416-4). The junior put up big numbers and made few mistakes despite completing only 58.7% of his passes last season, so if he can get in the 60-65% range, he could easily top last year’s marks.
With Pierre (782 yards, 7 TD), Rose (333 yards, TD), and Edgecomb (190 yards, 4 TD) in the backfield, FAU shouldn’t be one-dimensional.
We know the offense will be good, but what about the defense? They allowed 33.2 points and 415.6 yards per game last season, but had one of the nation’s highest turnover margins at +18 - third behind Orange Bowl winner Kansas and national champion LSU.
With several starters returning on defense, a lot of plays will be made once again, and if less can be given up, the sky’s the limit for the Owls. Polo (53 tackles, 7 INT) was a star as a freshman, and he returns along with Small, who had 103 tackles, 5 INT, and 10 pass breakups last season.
They’re going to miss playmaker Cergile Sincere, but Joseph (131 tackles, 12 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 2 INT) should have another big year, and senior LB Andre Clark (68 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 3 sacks), senior DL Robert St. Clair (37 tackles, 7 TFL, 4 sacks), and 2007 first-team All-Sun Belt DL Jervonte Jackson will be counted on to wreak havoc as well.
The league is FAU’s to lose, and if they can pull off an upset or two in non-conference play (at Texas, Michigan St., and Minnesota), they could be staring at a 10-win season.
Who Can Challenge Them?
UL-Monroe does lose a 1,400 yard rusher in Calvin Dawson, but I think they can push FAU for the title. Why? There’s already a replacement for Dawson in sophomore Frank Goodin, who ran for 596 yards and four scores last season. Goodin will carry the load, but he won’t be all of the offense, as QB and fellow soph Kinsmon Lancaster (1,866 yards, 13 TD, 10 INT) is primed for a big year, with his top three targets returning.
The Warhawks’ defense was one of the better ones in the conference last year, coming in third in scoring and total defense. With eight primary starters returning, including linebacker Cardia Jackson (79 tackles, 7 TFL), corner Greg James (77 tackles, 5 INT), safety James Truxillo (68 tackles, 2 INT), and defensive end Aaron Morgan (34 tackles, 3 sacks, 10 QB hurries), ULM has enough on both sides of the ball to challenge the Owls.
ULM ended the 2007 season on a high, winning five of their last six games to finish 6-6 after a 1-5 start, and that finish, which included a win at Alabama, should have Charlie Weatherbie and Co. feeling good about their chances in 2008.
Darkhorse
With the likes of Troy (Omar Haugabrook, Kenny Cattouse, first-round pick Leodis McKelvin), Arkansas St. (three of their top four leading tackles, including second-round pick Tyrell Johnson), and Middle Tennessee St. (DeMarco McNair, several key defensive players), UL-Lafayette could jump past them to challenge FAU and ULM.
The Ragin’ Cajuns return two 1,000 yard rushers in senior RB Tyrell Fenroy (three straight 1,000 yard seasons) and senior QB Michael Desormeaux (1,405 yards, 10 TD passing, 1,141 yards, 7 TD rushing), and should have an improved defense, led by linebacker Antwyne Zanders (93 tackles, 7 TFL).
Conference Predictions
1. Florida Atlantic - The Owls have the most returning talent in the conference, and should repeat as champions, barring a rash of injuries (knock on wood).
2. ULM - The Warhawks could be FAU’s biggest challenger. The offense should put up some points, and with many of their key defensive players returning from one of the league’s better defenses, ULM has the pieces in place for a title run.
3. ULL - The Ragin’ Cajuns could be the real darkhorse, with a lot of talent returning on both sides of the ball.
4. Arkansas St. - The defense takes a big hit (though LB Ben Owens - 96 tackles - returns), but with QB Corey Leonard and RB Reggie Arnold returning, the Indians should have a pretty potent offense.
5. Troy - They have to replace several key players on both sides of the ball, but don’t count them out, as key pieces return on defense (Sherrod Martin, Kenny Mainor, Boris Lee).
6. Middle Tennessee St. - They’re set at QB, with either Dwight Dasher or Joe Craddock, and also return all-purpose star Desmond Gee, but defense is a big question mark.
7. North Texas - There’ll be improvement in Todd Dodge’s second year, but the defense will be key to just how much it translates in the win column. The offense will be fun to watch, that’s for sure.
8. Florida International - With a lot of returning talent, they’ll also make strides in Mario Cristobal’s second year, but there’s still a ways to go. They could be a surprise team though, and starting out the season against Kansas, Iowa, and South Florida should help them when they hit SBC play.
Part II of the Sun Belt preview will come tomorrow, and it will include the preseason all-conference team and more
2008 Sun Belt Conference Preview Part I: Defending champion FAU locked and loaded for repeat
By Eddie Griffin ? May 9, 2008 ? Post a comment
Last season, Florida Atlantic and Troy were the class of the Sun Belt Conference, and fittingly, the conference title and a New Orleans Bowl berth came down to the final weekend of the season, when the Owls and Trojans met in Troy.
The Owls were down 9-7 at halftime, but outscored Troy 28-3 over the first 15:06 of the second half to take a commanding 35-12 lead. But, the Trojans weren’t finished, and closed within 38-32 with minutes left.
However, the Owls stepped up and closed the deal, making a defensive stop after the Trojans had driven into FAU territory, and became the youngest program to make a bowl game, in only their third year on the I-A level. Then, Howard Schnellenberger’s Owls routed Memphis 44-27 in the New Orleans Bowl to finish off a historic 8-5 season.
This year, FAU is primed for a repeat, as they return the reigning Sun Belt Player of the Year in Rusty Smith and most of their other key pieces on both sides of the ball, and are the hands-down favorites to repeat as Sun Belt champions. Schnellenberger brought two programs in Miami and Louisville into the national spotlight, and he’s well on his way to doing the same with FAU.
Can anyone stand in their way of repeating as Sun Belt champs?
Conference Favorite
As I just mentioned above, it’s Florida Atlantic, without a doubt. Besides returning Smith, the Owls return all but a handful of starters, and five all-Sun Belt first-team selections (Smith, WR Cortez Gent, TE Jason Harmon, LB Frantz Joseph, DB Tavious Polo). They also return three second-team selections (OL John Rizzo, DL Jevonte Jackson, DB Corey Small) and an honorable mention selection (RB Charles Pierre).
Smith (3,688 yards, 32 TD, 9 INT) is primed for another big year, as his top targets return in Gent (64-1,082-9 TD), Harmon (63-825-5), fullback Willie Rose (38 catches, 7 TD), Chris Bonner (25-420-3), and DiIvory Edgecomb (24-416-4). The junior put up big numbers and made few mistakes despite completing only 58.7% of his passes last season, so if he can get in the 60-65% range, he could easily top last year’s marks.
With Pierre (782 yards, 7 TD), Rose (333 yards, TD), and Edgecomb (190 yards, 4 TD) in the backfield, FAU shouldn’t be one-dimensional.
We know the offense will be good, but what about the defense? They allowed 33.2 points and 415.6 yards per game last season, but had one of the nation’s highest turnover margins at +18 - third behind Orange Bowl winner Kansas and national champion LSU.
With several starters returning on defense, a lot of plays will be made once again, and if less can be given up, the sky’s the limit for the Owls. Polo (53 tackles, 7 INT) was a star as a freshman, and he returns along with Small, who had 103 tackles, 5 INT, and 10 pass breakups last season.
They’re going to miss playmaker Cergile Sincere, but Joseph (131 tackles, 12 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 2 INT) should have another big year, and senior LB Andre Clark (68 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 3 sacks), senior DL Robert St. Clair (37 tackles, 7 TFL, 4 sacks), and 2007 first-team All-Sun Belt DL Jervonte Jackson will be counted on to wreak havoc as well.
The league is FAU’s to lose, and if they can pull off an upset or two in non-conference play (at Texas, Michigan St., and Minnesota), they could be staring at a 10-win season.
Who Can Challenge Them?
UL-Monroe does lose a 1,400 yard rusher in Calvin Dawson, but I think they can push FAU for the title. Why? There’s already a replacement for Dawson in sophomore Frank Goodin, who ran for 596 yards and four scores last season. Goodin will carry the load, but he won’t be all of the offense, as QB and fellow soph Kinsmon Lancaster (1,866 yards, 13 TD, 10 INT) is primed for a big year, with his top three targets returning.
The Warhawks’ defense was one of the better ones in the conference last year, coming in third in scoring and total defense. With eight primary starters returning, including linebacker Cardia Jackson (79 tackles, 7 TFL), corner Greg James (77 tackles, 5 INT), safety James Truxillo (68 tackles, 2 INT), and defensive end Aaron Morgan (34 tackles, 3 sacks, 10 QB hurries), ULM has enough on both sides of the ball to challenge the Owls.
ULM ended the 2007 season on a high, winning five of their last six games to finish 6-6 after a 1-5 start, and that finish, which included a win at Alabama, should have Charlie Weatherbie and Co. feeling good about their chances in 2008.
Darkhorse
With the likes of Troy (Omar Haugabrook, Kenny Cattouse, first-round pick Leodis McKelvin), Arkansas St. (three of their top four leading tackles, including second-round pick Tyrell Johnson), and Middle Tennessee St. (DeMarco McNair, several key defensive players), UL-Lafayette could jump past them to challenge FAU and ULM.
The Ragin’ Cajuns return two 1,000 yard rushers in senior RB Tyrell Fenroy (three straight 1,000 yard seasons) and senior QB Michael Desormeaux (1,405 yards, 10 TD passing, 1,141 yards, 7 TD rushing), and should have an improved defense, led by linebacker Antwyne Zanders (93 tackles, 7 TFL).
Conference Predictions
1. Florida Atlantic - The Owls have the most returning talent in the conference, and should repeat as champions, barring a rash of injuries (knock on wood).
2. ULM - The Warhawks could be FAU’s biggest challenger. The offense should put up some points, and with many of their key defensive players returning from one of the league’s better defenses, ULM has the pieces in place for a title run.
3. ULL - The Ragin’ Cajuns could be the real darkhorse, with a lot of talent returning on both sides of the ball.
4. Arkansas St. - The defense takes a big hit (though LB Ben Owens - 96 tackles - returns), but with QB Corey Leonard and RB Reggie Arnold returning, the Indians should have a pretty potent offense.
5. Troy - They have to replace several key players on both sides of the ball, but don’t count them out, as key pieces return on defense (Sherrod Martin, Kenny Mainor, Boris Lee).
6. Middle Tennessee St. - They’re set at QB, with either Dwight Dasher or Joe Craddock, and also return all-purpose star Desmond Gee, but defense is a big question mark.
7. North Texas - There’ll be improvement in Todd Dodge’s second year, but the defense will be key to just how much it translates in the win column. The offense will be fun to watch, that’s for sure.
8. Florida International - With a lot of returning talent, they’ll also make strides in Mario Cristobal’s second year, but there’s still a ways to go. They could be a surprise team though, and starting out the season against Kansas, Iowa, and South Florida should help them when they hit SBC play.
Part II of the Sun Belt preview will come tomorrow, and it will include the preseason all-conference team and more
