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2008 Miami RedHawks Football Preview

Miami's Strengths:

• Miami has arguably the best defense in the MAC and it’s led by a trio of LBs, Clayton Mullins, Joey Hudson and Caleb Bostic. Together they form the MAC’s best LB unit and this group is as good as almost any in college football. Mullins is the reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Year, ranked 10th nationally in total tackles at 143.
• Overall nine starters return on defense. DE Joe Coniglio leads an aggressive D-line that led the MAC in QB sacks last year. Look for NT Martin Channels (6-0, 333) to have a break out season. SS Robbie Wilson is a preseason Jim Thorpe Award nominee.

Miami's Weaknesses:

• The offensive line may not be a weakness per say, but this area took a big hit with the graduation of two good starters. Zachary Marshall, a transfer from Maryland, will need to contribute right away along with two 5th year seniors up front, Steve Sutter and Dave DiFranco.
• Miami was decimated with injuries at running back last year and this fall they must replace their top three rushers from a year ago. For an offense that ranked 85th nationally in rushing, that’s not good. There is a lot of potential with guys like Thomas Merriweather, Jamel Miller and Andre Bratton, but none are proven.

Miami's Opportunities:

• For once, Miami is not playing a killer non-conference schedule. Last year MU played Minnesota, Cincinnati, Colorado, Syracuse and Vanderbilt. In the nearly 60-years of the MAC, no conference team has ever played five BCS schools during a single season. This year Miami gets Michigan, Vanderbilt and Cincinnati, but their final OOC game is I-AA (FCS) Charleston Southern. Charleston Southern?
• Miami has a terrific punter in senior Jake Richardson, a Ray Guy nominee, who has gotten better each and ever year. Miami is historically one of the least-penalized teams too, evident by last seasons #2 ranking in the MAC with just 47 yards per game in penalty yardage. If the placekickers (Nathan Parseghian or Trevor Cook) can get their acts together after combining for 18-30 in FGs, the RedHawks' special teams should be quite solid.
• While none of the Miami receivers cracked the MAC’s top-ten list in receptions or yards, there is a lot of budding talent in Chris Givens, Jamal Rogers and Dustin Woods.

Miami's Threats:

• Who will be the starting quarterback, Daniel Raudabaugh or Clay Benton? Miami ranked 108th nationally in scoring offense in part because of inconsistent play at QB. Benton was this publications #1 MAC recruit two years ago and was a true steal for the RedHawk program. He has all the physical tools to succeed. Raudabaugh had a disastrous first career start at Colorado last season (11-32 for 95 yards) but ended the season as the starter. It is this publication's belief that Clay Benton will emerge as the starting QB on August 28th for the home opener against Vanderbilt.

The Big Game(s) for Miami in 2008:

In non-conference games, the annual contest against Cincinnati on September 20th is huge, especially after Cincy has won three of the last four meetings, including last seasons 47-10 trouncing. The big game within the MAC will be October 18th at BGSU. This game could be for the divisional title.

Final Analysis of the 2008 Miami RedHawks:

After going from ‘worst to first’ (2-10 in 2006 to MAC East Division champs in 2007), Miami is the team to beat in East Division in 2008. While the RedHawks did get to the MAC Championship Game, there is still the sting of not earning a bowl bid and finishing the season at 6-7. This season MU will once again feature a solid defense but the difference is the offense should be much better than last year. In 2007 Miami averaged just 19 points per game, ranking 109th nationally. That will change, especially if Clay Benton wins the starting QB role and gets the ball to the playmakers like Dustin Woods and Chris Givens. Expect Miami to win the East and earn their first bowl birth since the 2004 Independence Bowl.

By Nick Gerogosian
published 07.07.2008