By
Al Myatt
©2013 Bonesville.net
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DALLAS
— As the clock ticks down to the 2013 season, Conference USA's coaches
are studying film and identifying threats and vulnerabilities that might
be presented by their opponents. More importantly, however, they are
assessing the strengths and weaknesses of their own teams.
The following thumbnail previews provide preseason
snapshots of the league's 14 teams. Quotes and casual mughshots are
included for the coaches, each of whom was asked at C-USA's football
media day on Wednesday about the key for his program to reach its
potential.
(Teams presented in order of preseason poll)
[Photos by Al Myatt. ©Bonesville.net. All rights reserved.]
East Division
EAST CAROLINA
Coach: Ruffin McNeill, fourth season at ECU (19-19)
2012 Record: 8-5 overall, 7-1 C-USA
Returning starters: 8 on offense, 8 on defense
In a nutshell: ECU has extensive experience, continuity
in the coaching staff and Coach Ruff has the assurance of a contract
extension. There will be interest in what new coordinator Rick Smith can
do with the defense as the Pirates yielded 31 points per game in 2012.
Quarterback Shane Carden has a year under his belt and is surrounded by
talented skill players as well as a seasoned offensive line. This is the
last voyage in C-USA for the Pirates and their goal is to close out with
a championship.
Schedule: It looks friendly with three home games and a
week off before a matchup at North Carolina. There is another open date
after a home game with Southern Miss on Oct. 19 before the Pirates
travel to Florida International.
Relevance
to ECU: The program has as much depth and talent as any group dating
back to C-USA champions in 2008 and 2009. Expectations will match the
personnel's potential. There isn't a team on the schedule the Pirates
aren't capable of beating if factors such as turnovers and penalties are
avoided.
Ruffin McNeill quote: "Making sure our depth is there, to
keep the competition going. Being a smart football team is going to be a
key, understanding that. Don't beat ourselves. Taking care of the ball
and taking it away will be key. We need to understand that we need to
attack the process. That's the day-to-day work. Doing the little things
and doing everything in a championship manner from how we work, how we
practice and our mental preparation."
MARSHALL
Coach: Doc Holliday, fourth season at Marshall (17-20)
2012 Record: 5-7, 4-4 C-USA
Returning starters: 8 on offense, 7 on defense
In a nutshell: The Thundering Herd features Rakeem Cato
at quarterback. Cato passed for 4,201 yards and 37 touchdowns last
season. Marshall led the Football Bowl Subdivision in passing last
season and was sixth overall offensively. Marshall was 101st out of 124
teams defensively so it's obvious where improvement needs to be made.
Schedule: Nonconference dates with Miami (OH),
Gardner-Webb and Ohio provide a nice build into a Sept. 21 date at
Virginia Tech. The Herd has an open date before starting league play
with Texas-San Antonio. A Thursday night game at Tulsa on Nov. 14 will
be challenging after a Nov. 9 game at home against UAB.
Relevance
to ECU: Marshall hosts East Carolina on Friday, Nov. 29. That has been a
matchup that has had bowl implications the last two years. It could
determine the C-USA East Division champion this season, according to the
preseason predictions by the league coaches.
Doc Holliday quote:
"I think, No. 1, offensively, we can't take a step back. We've got to
continue to get better on offense. Defensively, we've got to start
playing some defense. Last year, we couldn't get off the field on third
down. We've hired a guy named Chuck Heater to come in and coordinate
that defense. He's done a tremendous job. We need to take a step forward
defensively in order to get where we want to go."
MIDDLE TENNESSEE
Coach: Rick Stockstill, eighth season at Middle Tennessee
(43-44)
2012 Record: 8-4, 6-2 Sun Belt
Returning starters: 9 on offense, 7 on defense
In a nutshell: Despite winning records in 2012, the Blue
Raiders were outscored overall (336-319) and in their former league, the
Sun Belt (198-206), an indication perhaps of another program looking for
defensive improvement. Offensively, quarterback Logan Kilgore returns
after throwing for 2,571 yards last season with 16 touchdowns and six
interceptions. There will be balance potential from the run game as
Jordan Parker is back after running for 851 yards last season. William
Pratcher, the leading rusher in 2011, also returns. There is a good deal
of experience on the offensive line and the defensive unit.
Schedule: Middle Tennessee plays three in-state teams,
starting with the season opener Aug. 29 with Western Carolina and a
visit to Chapel Hill on Sept. 7. The Blue Raiders have a bragging rights
battle with Memphis on Sept. 14. Open dates appear well-positioned,
before hosting Marshall (Oct. 19) and prior to a trip to Southern Miss
on Nov. 16.
Relevance
to ECU: The matchup in Murfreesboro, TN, on Oct. 5 has the makings of a
trap game for the Pirates, coming the week after ECU's game at UNC.
Stockstill was on the Pirates staff as offensive coordinator during a
1-11 season in 2003 and was a candidate for the ECU head coaching
position when Skip Holtz left after the 2009 season.
Rick Stockstill quote: "I think the big thing is, and
probably every coach in here, is saying it, but we did a great job last
year of protecting the ball (on offense) and creating turnovers on
defense. We were in the top 25 in the country last year. We've got to
get better than that. We've got to improve in that area. If we can do
that, we'll have a chance. Defensively, we've got to do a better job of
not giving up as many big plays. We've got to find a way of creating
more pressure on the quarterback, especially in this league, as many
dynamic quarterbacks as there are and with the explosiveness of the wide
receivers. We've got to do a good job of creating some pressure. Those
are some of the keys to reaching our potential this year."
UAB
Coach: Garrick McGee, second season at UAB, (3-9)
2012 Record: 3-9, 2-6 C-USA
Returning starters: 5 on offense, 7 on defense
In a nutshell: There are some pieces for McGee and staff
to work with -- experience and depth at quarterback with Jonathan Perry
and Austin Brown, who both got starts in 2012, returning. Darrin Reeves
is back after rushing for 1,037 yards and 13 TDs. Returning receiver
Jackie Williams had 52 receptions for 799 yards. There are some voids to
fill on the offensive line and the defense is going through some
personnel and scheme transitions after yielding 39 or more points eight
times last year. The Blazers apparently will play some three- and
four-front sets. Kicker Ty Long and punter Hunter Mullins are an
exceptional special teams tandem.
Schedule: The Blazers open with a pair of road games --
Troy and SEC power LSU -- before the home opener with Northwestern
State. There is a trip to Vanderbilt before the launch of C-USA play
against the new Florida schools, FAU (Oct. 5) and at FIU the following
week. There's a Thursday night game at Legion Field with Rice (Nov. 21)
before the regular season closes at home against Southern Miss (Nov.
30).
Relevance
to ECU: The Blazers will come to Greenville on Nov. 16 following a tough
assignment at Marshall the previous week. The Pirates hung 600 yards of
total offense on UAB last season without a turnover. ECU leads the
overall series, 8-4, and is 4-1 at home.
Garrick McGee quote: "Just mentality. It's not personnel.
We have very good players. We're a very fast ball club at this point. We
have a lot of depth. Very good coaches. That's a good start. Now what
you have to do is mentally and emotionally go out on the field and
produce. Make good decisions. Exceute on offense and defense and the
kicking game. Figure out a way to beat the teams you're playing."
SOUTHERN MISS
Coach: Todd Monken, first year at Southern Miss
2012 Record: 0-12, 0-8 C-USA
Returning starters: 4 on offense, 9 on defense
In a nutshell: The first and only season in the Ellis
Johnson coaching era produced a 0-12 record, ending a string of 18
straight winning campaigns for the Golden Eagles. The program is in
recovery mode under Monken, a former Oklahoma State offensive
coordinator, like Larry Fedora, who got 12 wins at USM in 2011 before
heading to North Carolina. Monken is working without a great deal of
experience at quarterback where Chad Campbell played occasionally in the
2012 rotation but junior Cole Weeks came out of spring practice atop the
depth chart. There are some question marks on the offensive line. The
defense will be coordinated by Dave Duggan, who returned to Hattiesburg
after a season with Fedora at UNC.
Schedule: The nonconference portion of the schedule will
be challenging under the rebuilding circumstances. After the season
opener at home with Texas State, the Golden Eagles face a road stretch
that will take them to Nebraska, Arkansas and Boise State.
Relevance
to ECU: Southern Miss has an open date after its C-USA opener at home
against Florida International on Oct. 5 before visiting ECU on Oct. 19.
The Golden Eagles have gotten the best of the series by a decisive 15-3
margin in games played in Greenville. The Pirates' 24-14 win last season
at USM put ECU at 8-12 in games played in Hattiesburg. This will be the
last C-USA matchup for the two former independents, who first met in
1951. ECU has never won four of the last five in the series, which will
be the Pirates' objective in 2013. ECU turnovers and special teams
breakdowns led to a 48-28 win for the Golden Eagles on their last
venture to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in 2011.
Todd Monken quote: (Golden Eagles senior linebacker Alan
Howze was seated across the table.) "Well, if Alan plays great, you
know, I think we'll play a lot better. ... You try like heck to avoid
injuries. That's probably the No. 1 thing. I think the biggest thing for
our guys is how do we find ways to do it better than they do it? That's
the whole thing -- great attitude, energy, body language, put a smile on
your face, come to work, enjoy playing for each other, coaches, the
school. There's a number of ways to win games. The fast way to lose them
is to not play with energy, enthusiasm, body language for each other,
don't enjoy coming to the building, don't enjoy the process of it. ...
When I first took the job I said 'I want them to feel like we're doing
everything in our power for them.' ... If we do that we have a chance
because it's recruit, develop and coach better."
FLORIDA ATLANTIC
Coach: Carl Pelini
2012 Record: 3-9, 2-6 Sun Belt
Returning starters: 7 offense, 8 defense
In a nutshell: FAU is similar to the Pirates last season
in that there is a quarterback competition going into preseason camp.
Junior college transfers Melvin German and Quez Johnson as well as
returner Stephen Curtis are vying for the position. There is a proven
target, William Dukes, who had 63 catches for 979 yards a year ago.
Jonathan Wallace, who netted 648 yards rushing last season and a fleet
of running backs will be dependent on how well the loss of several
starters on the offensive line is filled. Run defense may be an issue on
the other side of the ball.
Schedule: The Owls have nonconference challenges that
include trips to Miami (Fla.) in the season opener (Aug. 30), South
Florida (Sept. 14) and Auburn (Oct. 26). A home date with New Mexico
State (Nov. 23) may be the best shot at a win outside C-USA.
Relevance
to ECU: FAU will play its first C-USA game at East Carolina on Thursday,
Sept. 5, five nights after their first game at Miami. It will be the
last meeting for the foreseeable future between the two programs.
Carl Pelini quote: "Our defense has to play to its
ability. Our defensive coaches have to do a good job of keeping the
learning curve going. We've made huge strides through the spring and
just continue that improvement through the fall. We should be pretty
salty on defense. We're going to be pretty inexperienced on the
offensive line in the beginning and at quarterback. It's a lot easier to
bring those guys along when you're playing good defense. I think we're
extremely talented at the skill positions on offense but, again, I think
it's going to come down to our offensive line. Can we protect the
quarterback? Can we run the football? Regardless of which quarterback
wins (the job), can he buy us some time back there. They're both very
talented athletes with their feet as well as their arms but
inexperienced as well. The better defense you play, the better you are
on special teams, the more you're able to help those guys and kind of
protect them a little bit early in the season."
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL
Coach: Ron Turner, first season at FIU
2012 Record: 3-9, 2-6 Sun Belt
Returning starters: 3 on offense, 3 on defense
In a nutshell: There will be a lot of new factors for the
Golden Panthers to deal with as in new coach, new starters and a new
conference. Unfortunately, the news over the summer did not put the
program under a good light as FIU players changed clothes in public
after a conditioning workout at the beach. Five starters are gone from
the offensive line. Defensive tackles Isame Faciane and Greg Hickman
lead a solid front that will be a team strength, relatively speaking.
Turner has the ability to move a program in the winning direction having
guided Illinois to a 10-2 record and the Big Ten title in 2001 but
similar results in Miami will take time.
Schedule: The Panthers' nonconference games include trips
to Maryland (Aug. 31) and Louisville (Sept. 21).
Relevance
to ECU: The Panthers will have seven games to get new schemes and
personnel in place before hosting the Pirates on Nov. 2. At this point,
FIU is a program you'd rather play early -- before things have a chance
to come together.
Ron Turner quote: "The key thing, I think is, some of our
young players, who are going to have an opportunity to play, step up. We
lost 30 seniors off last year's team so we're extremely young, extremely
inexperienced. Some of those younger guys step up and do a good job of
protecting Jake (Medlock) and giving him a chance to do the things that
he can do. I like the offensive line, some of the young guys that we
have, but we're very inexperienced. It's just a matter of how quickly
they can step in and do the job."
West Division
TULSA
Coach: Bill Blankenship,, third season at Tulsa (19-8)
2012 Record: 11-3, 7-1 C-USA
Returning starters: 7 on offense, 3 on defense
In a nutshell: The Golden Hurricane was unanimously
picked to win the C-USA West Division by all 14 head coaches in the
league. Quarterback Cody Green returns along with running backs Trey
Watts and Ja'Terian Douglas although there is some retooling to do on
the offensive front. There are some capable receivers if Green has time
to throw. The entire defensive front is gone.
Schedule: The matchup that leaps of the schedule is a
junket to Oklahoma on Sept. 14. That in-state battle is sandwiched
between home games with Colorado State and Iowa State so there is the
potential to gain some credibility with strength of schedule for the
defending C-USA champions.
Relevance
to ECU: The last time Tulsa played at ECU was that 51-49 thriller in
Ruffin McNeill's first game as head coach of the Pirates when Dominique
Davis hit then-freshman Justin Jones on a Hail Mary as time expired. The
two programs haven't clashed since then but they will meet on Nov. 9 in
Greenville before both head to the American Athletic Conference in 2014.
Based on the preseason poll, there also is the possibility of a showdown
for the C-USA championship on Dec. 7.
Bill Blankenship quote: "To reach potential, the big
thing for us is staying hungry. We've certainly got momentum coming off
a season ago but not a bit of that is going to help us win a game this
year. One of the things that really helped us was that we were able to
keep a group of players a year ago that just kept growing the program,
getting a little more hungry -- I keep using that same phrase. I think
the work ethic has been really good. There's a confidence among our
staff and players but every game has to be earned. If we go back and
look, there's not a lot of difference in winning and losing. I mean a
few plays either way you can count four or five losses that we had as
wins last year."
RICE
Coach: David Bailiff, seventh season at Rice (30-44)
2012 Record: 7-6, 4-4 C-USA
Returning starters: 9 on offense, 10 on defense
In a nutshell: Taylor McHargue returns at quarterback
with Driphus Jackson, who was instrumental in a bowl win over Air Force,
expected to provide strong backup. Running back Charles Ross, who rushed
for 800 yards, will operate behind an offensive line that returns
intact. The defense also is loaded with experience. The Owls have an
opportunity to strike a blow against the program's lack of a winning
tradition.
Schedule: Rice visits Tulsa on Oct. in a matchup of the
top two preseason picks in the C-USA West Division. The Owls will see
2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel in the season opener at Texas
A&M on Aug. 31.
Relevance
to ECU: None, unless both teams make it to the C-USA championship game.
David Bailiff quote: "At Rice, we've got to stay healthy.
In '08 when we won 10 and were so explosive offensively, we had the same
starters from September to December. Especially at the quarterback
position, the healthier we can stay, the better we're going to be. And
that's everywhere. You look at Driphus (Jackson) coming on, our backup
quarterback, when (Taylor) McHargue got hurt last season, we weren't
what we were offensively. These guys are working hard. Health and a lot
of hard work that leads to luck."
LOUISIANA TECH
Coach: Skip Holtz, first year at Louisiana Tech (87-71 at
UConn, ECU and South Florida)
2012 Record: 9-3, 4-2 Western Athletic Conference
Returning starters: 3 on offense, 4 on defense
In a nutshell: Sonny Dykes left the cupboard pretty bare
when he exited for California. The quarterback job will likely go to
Texas Tech transfer Scotty Young although he will operate behind a
rebuilt offensive line. Kenneth Dixon ran for 1,194 yards and set an
NCAA freshman record with 27 rushing touchdowns. The defensive front
four features three returning starters.
Schedule: Tech starts the Holtz era on Aug. 31 at N.C.
State, where his dad, Lou, guided the Wolfpack from 1972-75 with a
33-12-3 record. The Bulldogs open C-USA play on a Thursday night (Sept.
12) at home against Tulane. There are trips to Kansas (Sept. 21) and a
game with Army in Dallas before league battles resume.
Relevance
to ECU: None, unless Holtz can work miracles and get the depleted
Bulldogs into the league championship -- and the Pirates make it as
well.
Skip Holtz quote: "A lot of new faces. I mean, 31 seniors
walked out the door from last season. The question marks for us are
going to be a lot of the young guys that have to step up and play more
of a starting role than they have in the past. I think there's some
talent at Louisiana Tech. Coach (Sonny) Dykes and coach (Derek) Dooley
have laid a great foundation in place with the culture of the
student-athlete there in Ruston, at Louisiana Tech. I think we've just
got a lot of guys who have not had the opportunity to step up and prove
themselves on the field. That's going to be one of the keys to our
success is answering some of the question marks with so many new faces
in the lineup this year."
TEXAS-EL PASO
Coach: Sean Kugler, first season at UTEP
2012 Record: 3-9, 2-6 C-USA
Returning starters: 6 on offense, 5 on defense
In a nutshell: The return of Kugler, a former Miners
offensive lineman and assistant coach, from the staff of the Pittsburgh
Steelers, harkened memories of the program's lone 10-win season when he
was a senior in 1988. Soph Blaire Sullivan won the starting quarterback
assignment in the spring although Carson Meger, Garrett Simpson and
Texas A&M transfer Jameill Showers could step in if Sullivan falters.
The receiving corps features Jordan Leslie, who had 51 grabs for 973
yards in 2012. Nathan Jeffery is back after running for 897 yards last
season. The offense may be challenged to outscore opponents given the
degree of inexperience on defense.
Schedule: A trip to Texas A&M (Nov. 2) highlights the
nonconference matchups. League play starts at home against new member
Texas-San Antonio on Sept. 21.
Relevance
to ECU: The Pirates won't likely visit El Paso until basketball season.
Sean Kugler quote: "We're trying to establish with our
program, accountability and discipline, outstanding work ethic. We
really feel that that's they key for our program to be successful on the
field. We're holding our players to a high standard. We're working every
day to achieve that. We're changing our style of offense. That's a
drastic change. We're going from a spread to a two-back offense. They've
been handling it well. They're working at it. How that translates on the
field, that remains to be seen this fall. We're excited about it."
NORTH TEXAS
Coach: Dan McCarney, third season at North Texas (9-15),
(56-85 in 12 seasons at Iowa State)
2012 Record: 4-8, 3-5 Sun Belt
Returning starters: 8 on offense, 8 on defense
In a nutshell: The Mean Green likes to establish the run
and backs Brandin Byrd (875 yards last season) and Antoinne Jimmerson
(544 yards) return. There is stability at quarterback where senior Derek
Thompson delivered 2,629 passing yards and 14 touchdowns in 2012. Groups
that appear lacking are the receivers and defensive front.
Schedule: The Mean Green plays at Georgia (Sept. 21)
before starting its C-USA slate at Tulane (Oct. 5) after an open date.
Relevance
to ECU: It doesn't appear that Purple and Green will match this season.
Dan McCarney quote: "We've got to follow the plan to win.
That's play great defense. We showed a lot of improvement with that last
year. We need to get more turnovers. We didn't force many fumbles last
year. Offensively, we were horrible on third down, ridiculous in the red
zone. Those are things we've got to make dramatic improvement on. If we
do that -- we have experience at every position coming back other than
center and punter. Those guys have at least been on the field and
played. So if they develop, we develop, we grow, we improve, we mature
then I think we've got a chance to have a real competitive team this
year."
TULANE
Coach: Curtis Johnson, second season at Tulane (2-10)
2012 Record: 2-10, 2-6 C-USA
Returning starters: 8 on offense, 7 on defense
In a nutshell: There is excitement about the arrival of
transfer Nick Montana, son of Joe Montana, at quarterback. Receivers are
capable but the running game is questionable. The defense isn't overly
talented.
Schedule: The nonconference schedule -- Jackson State
(Aug. 29), South Alabama (Sept. 7), at Syracuse (Sept. 21) and
Louisiana-Monroe (Sept. 28) -- has a nice build and isn't overwhelming.
The Wave gets West Division favorite Tulsa at the Superdome on Oct. 26
after an open date.
Relevance
to ECU: The Pirates make their third trip to the Dome in two seasons on
Oct. 12. Tulane plans to be playing in a campus stadium in 2014 when
both programs have moved to the American Athletic Conference.
Curtis Johnson quote: "I think our improvement. We played
13 freshmen last year. One thing we've got to do, we've got to grow up.
We've got to grow up from being young, to being old and mature. We know
how to practice now. Within the game, we need to run the football. We've
got to run the football and it starts with the line. We've got to stop
the run and run the ball. If we can do those two things, I think we'll
have a successful season."
TEXAS-SAN ANTONIO
Coach: Larry Coker, third season at UTSA (12-10), (60-15
in six seasons at Miami)
2012 Record: 8-4
Returning starters: 10 on offense, 8 on defense
In a nutshell: The Roadrunners have been moving fast
since their first season on the gridiron in 2011. Coker, who won a
national championship at Miami in 2001, has a run/throw threat in
quarterback Eric Soza, who can sync with an array of returning
receivers. The base defense is a 4-2-5, which will step up competitively
as USTA moves into C-USA.
Schedule: There are nonconference road games with New
Mexico (Aug. 31) and Arizona (Sept. 14) to balance with visits from
Oklahoma State (Sept.7) and Houston (Sept. 28). A trip to Texas-El Paso
for a Sept. 21 contest starts the C-USA era.
Relevance
to ECU: None, foreseeably.
Larry Coker quote: "This season, I think the big key is
to stay healthy. I think we have some good football players but we're
probably like most people. We don't have a lot of depth. I think to stay
healthy is really going to be key for us. We've got a lot of players
coming back. They have to perform at that level or better. They should
be better and we've got to be better because we've got another year of
experience. We've been in the weight room for another year and our
competition level steps up. I think the big thing, too, is we've got to
be ourselves. It's not like we're playing Oklahoma State and now we've
got to pull some magic out of the hat. We've got to be as good as we can
be and that'll be good enough."
