VanDelaySports.com > MAC Football > 2008 MAC Football Pigskin Preview > Central Michigan Chippewas

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2008 Central Michigan Football Preview

CMU's Strengths:

• Dan LeFevour is just one of two D-IA (FBS) college QBs to ever rush for over 1,000 yards and pass for over 3,000 in one season. Perhaps that’s why the junior signal caller was voted the MAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2007. LeFevour is the architect to the MAC’s top scoring team last season and the ‘Chip scoreboard will be lighting up again this fall. Behind him is senior Brian Brunner, quite possibly the best backup QB in the league.
• Offensively Central Michigan is loaded everywhere at the skilled positions. Where to start? Perhaps at WR where CMU has the best one-two punch anywhere with Bryan Anderson (90 receptions and 10 TDs in ’07) and Antonio Brown (102 catches and 6 TDs). Each had 1,000-yard seasons. Or maybe it’s at the RB position where Notre Dame transfer Justin Hoskins or proven veteran Ontario Sneed continue to produce. Toss in Marcel Archer and Carl Volny and CMU is one of the MAC’s most productive rushing teams.
• An offensive machine starts up front and CMU returns four of five starters from an offense that ranked 20th nationally in scoring, 36th nationally rushing, 32nd in passing and 21st in total offense. Andrew Hartline and Jeff Maddux each will be looked at for post season honors.

Central Michigan's Weaknesses:

• A very weak defense last year (111th in scoring defense and 109th in total defense) graduated two outstanding LBs. Red Keith was a fixture for the ‘Chips and led the team in tackles four straight seasons including a career high of 148 last year. Also gone from the LB corps is Ike Brown who had a 106 tackles last season including 10 tackles for loss.
• Add to the defensive losses D-lineman Steven Friend, a 3rd team all-MAC pick a year ago. This year’s projected starting defensive line may be the smallest in DI-A (FBS) as they average just 6-2, 255 per man. That will not cut it against the SEC and Big Ten teams they will face this season.

CMU's Opportunities:

• In hosting both Ball State and Western Michigan, their two top contenders – the ‘Chips catch a huge break. Playing at Toledo shouldn’t be a problem either. After the Rockets beat CMU for ten straight seasons, Central Michigan has answered by winning three straight and the last two by an average of 21 points per game.
• The only loss along the O-line will be filled by Joe McMahon, a JUCO transfer who originally committed to Iowa State out of high school. LB Mike Petrucci and WR Jean Pitts all had outstanding spring sessions and will contend for starting roles in the role.

CMU's Threats:

• The biggest threat may be the pass defense. Ravaged by injuries last season which forced nine different DB players to start throughout the year, CMU ranked 118th, or second to last in the country in pass defense.
• Add this nugget above to the porous pass defense; opponents completed over 65% of their passes against the ‘Chips in 2007.

The Big Game(s) for Central Michigan in 2008:

The “big game(s)” are both at home, which is a huge plus for Central. October 18th Central Michigan hosts their most bitter rival – Western Michigan. CMU won in a nail-biter in Kalamazoo last year 34-31. The Chippewas will also host Ball State on November 19th in a game that will most likely determine the winner of the MAC's West Division.

CMU's Final 2008 Analysis:

Central Michigan is looking for the rare “MAC 3-peat,” something that hasn’t been done since Marshall turned the trick in the late 1990s. The ‘Chips return the MAC’s Offensive Player of the Year in Dan LeFevour along with eight starters from the league’s most high flying offense (average 35-points per game in 2207). Many preseason publications are picking Central to win the MAC again – but not this one. Central will once again be one of the leagues best teams but a look deeper causes some concern. First, the non-conference schedule is brutal with trips to Georgia, Purdue and Indiana. The Georgia Bulldogs are being picked by many publications as the preseason national champion for this season. Second, the ‘Chips defense is just not that good. How many games can you win when you constantly need to score 40 points or more to have a chance? Don’t get us wrong, this is an outstanding football team that will contend for both the MAC title and a bowl bid. In the end, Central Michigan will fall short of the MAC title but may earn a bowl bid.

By Nick Gerogosian
published 07.07.2008