Friday, July 24, 2009

Media days coach interviews

These are fascinating interviews with the MWC head coaches at the conference's media days in late July.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Hating the BCS, round 109

Lest a day go by without a thought about how despicable the BCS thieves are, here's a visual reminder.

Que puking sounds, and fresh awe of teams like Boise State and Utah who crashed the cartel's party, and won the hottest girls' hearts therein.

And while you're at it, cue fresh jeers for teams like Baylor, Mississippi State, Syracuse, Washington, who cannot convert every possible monetary advantage into a bowl berth or final ranking.

The title of this post links to the whole article.

MWC special teams

Lest anyone accuse the Wimple of forgetting special teams, or their importance, here's a rundown of the MWC's kicking and punting crews. Just don't remind the Wimple of Utah's margin of victory over TCU last season... and how many field goals the Frogs missed (aaaaaagh!)

TCU loses its all-conference kick returner, Aaron Brown, and reliable kicker Drew Combs. The Frogs return everybody else, including kicker Ross Evans, all-conference punter Anson Kelton, returners Jeremy Kerley and Ryan Christian. Look for another top-notch year for TCU special teams; and if Evans becomes reliable, look for even more.

New Mexico returns one of the nation's best kickers, sophomore James Aho, a freshman all-American last season, and very experienced punter Adam Miller. Former lobo-back Ian Clark returns kicks. The Lobos should have some of the special teams in the conference.

Colorado State loses a very reliable kicker in Jason Smith, but adds a good kicking recruit Pete Kontadiakos, whom high hopes attend. Ben DeLine, who played as a true freshman last year while Smith was injured, may be just as reliable. The Rams' kicking should be pretty good; John Mosure returns, returning kicks. CSU could have excellent special teams.

San Diego State returns starters at kicker and punter, Lane Yoshida and Brian Stahovich, and at kick returner: Davion Mauldin. Look for improvement (especially in kick returns) and a top-tier of the conference season for special teams.

BYU sends its thunder-legged punter Sorenson on a mission, but returns the very experienced kicker Mitch Payne. Returner Austin Collie jumped to the NFL, but O'Neill Chambers returns, and will excell. Tyler Holt will punt for his first time in college. Look for a dropoff in special teams in Provo.

Utah simply will not be able to replace Louie Sakoda's punting and kicking fully. Sakoda beat TCU for the Utes, and kept them ahead of Michigan. Senior Ben Vroman, and freshmen Nick Marsh and Christopher Hoyt will share duties in some order or another. One the bright side, all-conference kick returner David Reed returns. Look for decent, but no longer otherworldly special teams from Utah.

UNLV lost a part-time punter in Dack Ishii, and returner (and monstrous wideout) Casey Flair. Returning are JUCO transfer Brendon Lamers as punter, Ben Jaekle as kicker, and Kyle Watson as both. Returners Deanta Purvis and Michael Johnson return. Look for improved special teams play in Las Vegas.

Air Force loses its all-conference kicker and punter Ryan Harrison to graduation, and likely has lost its all-conference kick returner Reggie Rembert to indefinite suspension. Likely this will result in the Falcons' special teams play, which had been a strength, becoming a weakness. Rembert's replacement is a question; Zack Bell and Brandon Geyer take over kicking duties.

Wyoming's kicking last year was miserable. Kicker Jake Scott and punter Austin McCoy return, and should be better, if only for experience. David Leonard and Marcell Gipson return as returners, but neither are as speedy as graduated Devin Moore. Look for improvement in Wyoming's special teams, but that's not saying much.

Friday, July 10, 2009

MWC QBs

Truth is, the Wimple began this survey of MWC squads with a look at the conference's quarterbacks, in an attempt to rank them. That proved inadequate, and so the following four posts became the predicate to this one. The Mountain West has a tremendous cast of quarterbacks at the helm this season. What follows is an approximate ranking of the conference's big men on campus.

Leading the pack, in the Wimple's unhumble estimation, is UNLV's duo, junior Omar Clayton starting, and sophomore Mike Clausen ably backing him up. Clausen had a better spring game, but Clayton has that it factor that separates not only a starter from a backup, but first-ranked QB from the second. Working behind his best o-line yet, and with an improved defense to keep him on the field longer, look for Clayton to lead UNLV back into the post-season, and to win all-conference lauds.
UNLV is in the enviable position of having the heir apparent already experienced. Clauson had to start a few games last season, and is pushing Clayton. Coach Sanford refuses to say there's a QB battle, but any dropoff from the starter may result in a inversion of the two-deep.

BYU can go as far as Max Hall can take them. That may not be to the promised land of 12-0, considering Oklahoma returns its entire d-line and a top-notch team generally, and TCU's offense likely will keep BYU's off the field for long stretches, but Hall is capable of exploiting BYU's receivers, line, and runners to their full capacity. That probably means BYU racks up another double-digit win season, and at least ties for the conference crown. Hall says he wants to run more, and if that's more than bluster, it'd make Hall even more of a fright under center. Cougar fans will spend 2009 falling back in love with Max Hall. Next to Hall on the depth chart is, um . . . Brendon Gaskins. Riley Nelson is #3, but all eyes are fixed on BYU's gaudy new recruit Jake Heaps, who'll early enroll for '10. Because 2011 feels like an eternity, the Wimple says it's now or never for BYU. Hall can take them there.

TCU has one of the conferences two darkhorses at QB. Junior Andy Dalton did win an honorable mention last season, but his experience and performance indicate that greater production awaits. His dual-threat capacity no longer surprises: it's expected. Add the conference's best o-line, backfield, and receiving corps, and it appears Dalton is on the brink of a season unlike any a quarterback has seen in Fort Worth in generations. His backups, very experienced senior Marcus Jackson and redshirt freshman Yogi Gallegos are comfortable enough in the offense that highly touted (and early enrolled) Casey Pachall will redshirt. Look for an eye-popping year in Fort Worth.

Things have calmed down in Colorado Springs, where Air Force looks to return Tim Jefferson under center, eligibility scare notwithstanding. Asher Clark may take some snaps as well, particularly with the popular "Wild Frog" sweeping Division 1. These two sophomores came out of nowhere (it seemed) and took Air Force to bowl eligibility against high odds last season. They return as part of the most exciting cast in the academy's recent memory, to test if the MWC has room for a Big Four. If Jefferson can become more of a passing threat, he'll lead one of the best underdog attacks in the nation.

San Diego State has BYU-like passing potential in its returner, sophomore Ryan Lindley. Lindley is the other darkhorse for all-conference lauds at quarterback. If his line can give him time (and it'll certainly be able to give him more time than last season, but that's not necessarily high praise) and his receivers are up to the task, SDSU will boast a gaudy passing attack. Backup Drew Westling is a step down, but less so than last year.

Utah graduated a game-changer in Brian Johnson, the first-team all-conference QB and offensive player of the year. Johnson's poise probably made the difference between 13-0 and 9-4 last season, with terrific final drives at Oregon State and Michigan and against TCU, and a lights out Why Doesn't That Guy Have A Heisman? performance in the Sugar Bowl. Going into fall, it's a three-way battle (officially) between junior change-of-pace backeup Corbin Louks, JUCO five-star transfer Terrence Cain, and early enrolled true frosh Jordan Wynn. Look for Wynn to redshirt, and for a season-long debate over whether Louks or Cain should have won the starting job. Utah's returning cast is going to take a step back, and the place where it'll show the second-most is at QB. (Where will it show the most? Kicker!)

New Mexico is another team with a QB battle raging, although returning starter Donovan Porterie appears to have won it. Brad Gruner, who started eight games last season, might disagree. Because the Lobos are installing a new offense, look for mildly disappointing performance this season.

Colorado State really hopes something clicks this offseason with early enrolled JUCO transfer Jon Eastman. He challenged Grant Stucker and Klay Kubiak this spring at quarterback, and all three drew jeers from coach Fairchild. Pinning hopes on freshman Nico Ranieri is just unfair to Ram fans, who have the nation's #1 experienced returning offensive line this season, and good receivers too. Look for barely adequate QB performance this year in Fort Collins, and that mostly because the Rams' line and receivers are pretty good.

Wyoming is also installing a new offense: one returning starter Karsten Sween ran in high school. Maybe that means he'll have an inside edge on starting this season, over Dax Crum and Chris Stutzriem. But Sween is the kid who has twice lost, and twice re-gained the starting role over those same backups, so it's hard to get excited about Sween's return under center. Look for freshmen recruits Austyn Carta-Samuels and Robert Benjamin to press for PT as freshmen, and maybe win the starting role altogether, like Lindley did at SDSU last season.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

MWC receiving corps

TCU graduated TE Shae Reagan, who never seemed to match his enormous potential. Clutch receiver Walter Bryant also graduated. The Frogs' returning rollcall is long, and frightening. Andy Dalton's favorite TE target, Evan Frosch, starts, with rising stars Logan Brock and Corey Fuller pressing for reps. All-conference receiver Jimmy Young, returners Antoine Hicks, and Jeremy Kerley have impressed beyond their already-high expectations in practice. Bart Johnson, Ryan Christian, Curtis Clay, and Jonathan Jones all have starting experience. Alonzo Adams completes the 2-deep. With better coaching from the Frogs' new WR coach, and the conference's most experienced QB corps at the helm, expect TCU's pass-attack to headline the conference in 2008.

San Diego State lost Darren Mougey and Justin Shaw after the '08 season, but returns a long list of receivers and TEs, and may boast a surprisingly potent pass attack this season. Based on spring returns, DeMarco Sampson and Vincent Brown will keep a lot of secondaries very busy. Roberto Wallace is highly experienced, as are backups John Toledo, Mekell Wesley. Converted WR Matthew Kawulok is a big target (245 lbs). Expect good things from the Aztecs' new passing game.

BYU lost two good wide-outs to graduation and the draft: Michael Reed and all-conference Austin Collie. The Cougars return the first-team all-MWC tight end, Dennis Pitta, and his backup Andrew George. These TEs are fantastic; the receiving corps is unproven. McKay Jacobsen was very good pre-mission, and but Luke Ashworth and Chambers have seen very few snaps at wide-out. Granted, BYU has earned the benefit of the doubt, and likely will find a bevy of fine receivers in its 2-deep. Exactly who they are, however, remains to be seen.

UNLV sent all-MWC Casey Flair into the record books, as well as starting TE Ryan Worthen and experienced WR Gerold Rodriguez. It's returning cast is very good. Luke Plante starts as TE; all-MWC Ryan Wolfe, Jerriman Robinson, Phillip Payne, and Rodelin Anthony may be the best starting four in the conference. Their backups are not as brilliant, but that's not saying very much, because the starters are so good. If the Rebels don't need to depend too much on the 2s, they may pass their way to a bowl game.

Colorado State graduated its best TE in years, all-conference Kory Sperry. The Rams return 5 of their top seven receivers however, including the top two, all-MWC Rashaun Greer and Dion Morton. Starting TE Zac Pauga returns as well, giving the Rams' yet un-named QB a very good set of targets in what may be an improved pass attack.

Air Force graduated its best playmaking TE Travis Dekker, as well as three other experienced starters, Keith Madsen, Ty Paffett, and Spencer Armstrong. The Falcons return their top three receivers, Josh Cousins, Kyle Halderman, and converted TE Sean Quintana. Cousins' and Quintana's backups, Kevin Fogler and Daniel Pickett, are experienced as well. This group is Calhouns' most experienced set of receivers yet. Whether or not they'll pry open AFA's ground-heavy attack remains a secret; if so, the Falcons may muscle their way into the conference's top three for a second year in three.

Utah graduated three very good receivers, Bradon Godfrey, all-MWC Freddie Brown and Brent Casteel, last season. Who'll step up among the returners is one of the Utes' many burning questions this fall. Jereme Brooks and David Reed are poised for very big years. Aiona Key, Elijah Wesson, DeVonte Christopher, and Shaky Smithson are all in the mix to be the #3 target for... for whoever pins down the starting QB spot (see the coming MWC QBs post for profiles of the three Ute amigos under center).

New Mexico loses its #4 and #5 receivers, Jermain McQueen and TE Chris Mark. The returning top three, Chris Hernandez, Bryant Williams, and Roland Bruno, will get a lot more balls thrown their way in Mike Locksley's new spread. Look for TE Lucas Reed, Michael Scarlett, and Daryl Jones to see plenty of snaps as well. What one ought not expect from the Lobos in their first year of the spread is a brilliant pass attack. That's for subsequent years.

Wyoming lost its fourth most productive WR to graduation, Chris Johnson, and gained one of the nation's spread gurus for a coach. That probably means that Greg Bolling, Brandon Stewart, Jesson Salyards, David Leonard, and Donate Morgan (last year's receivers #1, 2, 3, and 5) will all have much bigger years than last year, when the leader (Bolling) only caught 26 balls for under 300 yards. Like New Mexico-- but worse-- the Cowboys begin Year One of the spread, and will probably feature the ugliest offense in the conference. This pass attack will be good in spurts, and gawd-awful in between.

Friday, July 3, 2009

MWC o-lines & runningbacks

TCU sent the first-team all-conference center to the NFL this spring, and graduated a two-year starter at guard. With Schlueter and Montgomery gone, the Horned Frogs will line up all-MWC Marshall Newhouse, Kyle Dooley, new starter Jake Kirkpatrick, Josh Vernon or JUCO transfer Zach Roth, and all-MWC Marcus Cannon in front. Monstrous returning starter Nic Richmond probably will rotate with Cannon (who tips the scales at a clean 350 lbs!). This line will be the conference's most potent: only Kirkpatrick and Roth have never started; Roth redshirted last season; both have impressed in practice. Dooley and Vernon pushed their way ahead of more experienced starters into the first team last season.
The Frogs' weakest link last season was at tailback; a lack of power running made the difference between the Frogs and Utes in SLC; it would have made the OU game more interesting. Coach Gary Patterson clearly made power running a priority since, and has perhaps the most audacious transfer- and redshirting backfield in the nation under his wing. Assuming this four-headed beast does redshirt, and sit out as required, the Frogs replace Aaron Brown and Justin Watts with returning starter Joseph Turner, senior Chris Smith, sophemore speedsters Jai Cavness and Jercell Fort, fullback Luke Shivers, and redshirt freshman phenom Edward Wesley. Reports put Turner splitting snaps with Wesley, who apparently became unstoppable after signing with the Frogs. Behind this group lurks the menacing quartet of James, Tucker, Smith, and Dean, who'll press the returners like no other group on the roster. Look for dominance on the ground from TCU for years to come.

For the first time in Air Force coach Troy Calhoun's tenure, he has an experienced offensive line to work with. Starters at LT (Williams) and C (Pipes) graduate, but the replacements are experienced. LT A.J. Wallerstein is one of Calhoun's fabulous freshmen who worked into the 2-deep last year. The Academy returns multi-year all-conference guard Nick Charles at LG. Experienced senior Michael Hampton finally gets to start at center. To his right are returning starters Peter Lusk and all-conference tackle Chris Campbell. Every bit as much as the flashy skill players working behind it, this o-line has Falcon fans' expectations for a third consecutive bowl season sky high.
Speaking of skill players, Asher Clark's recovery from a torn meniscus in the spring is perhaps the #1 issue for the Falcons' backfield this fall. Clark-- or perhaps Tim Jefferson-- will share touches with Kyle Lumpkin, Savier Stephens, and Jared Tew, running AFA's ground-eating option. Clark is said to have returned in form, (and Tim Jefferson is eligible, says the coach, see coming post about MWC qbs), the Falcons should have their most potent offense in recent memory on the field.

Utah must rebuild the right half of its offensive line, losing all-conference guard Robert Conleyand two-year starter Dustin Hensel. Tony Bergstrom returns from an LDS mission to play RT, and D-lineman turned o-lineman, now with a year's game experience at RG starts Neli A'asa. Returning on the line are all-conference LT Zane Beadles, LG- Caleb Schlauderaff, and all-MWC center Zane Taylor. Don't look for much dropoff in Utah's push up front, which won them 4.1 ypc last year.
Behind the line, RB Darrell Mack graduated, leaving Matt Asiata the clear go-to guy on the ground. Asiata led the team in yards and carries last season, and will be backed up by Eddie Wide and Sausan Shakerin. Look for this backfield to match last year's production.

BYU loses four starting linemen, three of them all-conference performers: Ray Feinga and Dallas Reynolds first-teamers, and Travis Bright on the second team. These four excelled in all but a handful of games in the last three or more years. The only starter returning is Matt Reynolds, who will play LT, with experienced uperclassmen Jason Speredon, R.J. Willing lining up at LG and C. Sophomore Terence Brown and experienced junior Nick Alletto complete the line. This front five has plenty of experience, just not starts in spades. Last year's line had only the third-best YPC in four years, so don't expect much dropoff; it isn't beyond reasonable possibility that this line wil exceed last year's.
These big guys will be blocking for returning starter Harvey Unga, and for J.J. DiLuigi and Manase Tonga. This group loses only Fui Vakapuna, now in the NFL. This is one of the conference's best backfields, running behind a good line. BYU's ability to move the ball on the ground is underestimated this season; look for the Cougars' ground game to excel, complimenting what will be a wicked pass attack.

Colorado State returns the most experienced offensive line in the nation, with Cole Pemberton, Shelley Smith, Tim Walter, Adrian Martinez, and Mark Starr all returning. Mark Starr replaces Dane Stratton, and only Smith has been all-conference, but look for this group to make lots of room for somebody (more on that below) to fill in some of Gartrell Johnson's big shoes at runningback.
Johnson and Kyle Bell's graduation leaves only younger players who've never started to tote the rock for the Rams. JUCO transfer Leonard Mason early enrolled, but did not settle the matter. John Mosure, Michael Connor, and Jonathan Gaye are all competing for touches, as well. Without a playmaker behind them, CSU's great '09 o-line may be one of the more potent wastes in the conference.

UNLV loses two starters on the line, guards Johan Asiata and Sifi Moala. Long-time starter Joe Hawley settles in at RG, and the young Sean Tesoro has won praise for his performance at LG. Returners Matt Murphy, John Gianninoto, and Evan Marchal complete the line, making UNLV's starting five one of the conference's best. They'll top four ypc for the first time since TCU joined the conference.
Why does the Wimple rank this unit so low, then? Because no Rebel runner has yet shown the capacity to fill most, let alone all, of graduating Frank Summers's shoes. C.J. Cox probably has the inside track to starting, because he's been around Las Vegas two or three years longer than incoming freshman Bradley Randle, who will challenge Cox for the starting role. If UNLV's backfield can show some life, look for the Rebs' bowl-chase finally to bear fruit in 2009.

New Mexico replaces the left two starters on its o-line, Sylvester Hatten and Matt Streid. Joining the returning all-conference center Eric Cook, and the returning RG and RT Joshua Taufalele and Byron Bell will be experienced Ivan Hernandez and Maurice Mears, both JUCO transfers who played last season with the Lobos. This line, while experienced, won't have as much talent running behind it as last year, when the Lobos got 4.6 ypc.
Speaking of them running behind, New Mexico graduated Rodney Ferguson, it's second great runner the last few years. Paul Paker and Matt Quillen also do not return. The only Lobo runner returning who started a game is FB Josh Fussell, but the new offense doesn't use fullbacks much-- or at all. So experienced James Wright, Terrence Brown, and inexperienced A.J. Butler and Demond Dennis all are in the mix to become the Lobos' main back. Simply put, who'll emerge (if anyone) is an open question.

San Diego State graduated two starters on its line: LG Mike Schmidt and RT Lance Louis. Its cast of returning linemen is, like every other position, large, and like every other list for this year's time, large because of last year's incredible injury plague. Look for returners Peter Nelson, Ikaika Aken-Moeta, Trask Iosefa to play LT, LG, and center, each starting for a second year (Aken-Moeta moving from RG to LG). Redshirt freshman Jimmy Miller has moved ahead of Emillio Rivera at RG, and Mike Matamua finally gets to start at RT, where he redshirted in '07, and missed with injury in '08. This is one of the most experienced lines in the conference, but they're learning new schemes under Brady Hoke's spread, making their experience less valuable. They'll outperform their dismal '08 numbers, though. Depth is a concern.
Tyler Campbell graduated at RB, leaving Atiyyah Henderson and Brandon Sullivan with the inside track to start. This spring, Davon Brown pushed himself into contention as well. Like New Mexico, UNLV, CSU, and Wyoming, the Aztecs are waiting for a go-to runningback to emerge. Bowl eligibility may hang on it.

Wyoming must replace two starters on its o-line, both all-conference. C Tim Bond and RG Kyle Howard take 74 starts' experience with them. Only BYU loses more experience; the Cougars will replace it much more successfully, though. Wyoming is undergoing a complete personality revision, and will spend at least a year in complete discombobulation. That's start up front, where Ryan Otterson, Sam Sterner return at LT and LG, but return to something unlike they've ever played. Russ Arnold has played center at Wyoming a lot; on his right will be the young Jack Tennant. Clayton Kirven returns at RT. This group must recast itself as an up-tempo, ultra-spread offensive line, and likely will drop off from last year's 4.3 ypc significantly.
A big part of the reason for this dropoff is the graduation of runners Devin Moore and Wynel Seldon, who together accounted for something like 80% of the Cowboys' ground game. Their replacements are a complete tossup between returners Darius Terry, James Davis, James Caraway, and incoming freshman Anthony Smith. Look for regression before the new offense clicks (likely with increased infiltration of Dave Christiensen's recruits).