VanDelaySports.com > MAC Football > 2008 MAC Football Pigskin Preview > Toledo Rockets

2008 MAC Football Preview:
Akron preview | BGSU preview | UB preview | Kent preview | Miami preview | OU preview | Temple preview
Ball St. preview | CMU preview | EMU preview | NIU preview | Toledo preview | WMU preview

2008 Toledo Rockets Football Preview

Toledo's Strengths:

• Barry Church is one of the top safeties in the country. With the size of an outside linebacker and speed of a DB, Church is the backbone of the entire defense and has 163 career tackles and 7 INTs on his resume as a two-year starter (started as a true freshman).
• The receiving corps led by Stephen Williams and Nick Moore have the potential to be two of the MAC’s best receivers this year. Williams had six 100-yard receiving games in ’07 while Moore added 60 receptions and 8 TDs.
• When healthy, QB Aaron Opelt is one of the top signal callers in the league. Opelt has the knack to run when the pocket breaks down and has improved as a passer over the past two seasons.

Toledo's Weaknesses:

• Where to start along the defensive line? Toledo gave up 215 yards per game on the ground in which ranked 112th nationally in 2007. Toledo produced just nine quarterback sacks all season (less than one per game) which ranked dead last nationally – 119th.
• While nearly all of the defensive starters return including several former starters who were lost to injuries, this is still a unit that gave up 444 yards and 39 points per game. There is not much size along the defensive line either, causing the UT defensive front to get pushed around a lot.
• Toledo must replace three outstanding football players who are now in NFL training camps. OT John Greco will go down as one of the Rockets all-time greats while RB Jalen Parmele was tremendously productive as both a RB and a kick-returner. Punter Bret Kern was the MAC’s best last year and ranked #2 nationally in punting average.

Toledo's Opportunities:

• Chris Hedden has significantly improved every unit he has been a part of since joining Amstutz’s staff in 2001. Now promoted to offensive coordinator, look for the Rocket offensive arsenal to be even more potent than last year’s 33 point per game output.
• Morgan Williams was rated as the #29 RB in the nation by Rivals.com two years ago. He rushed for nearly 5,200 yards during his prep career and accounted for 68 TDs at powerhouse Canton McKinley HS. If eligible this season, Williams will dominate the MAC.
• Incoming freshmen receivers Phil Barnett, Kenny Stafford and Sam Gaymon bring more size, speed and ability to an already solid receiving corps.

Toledo's Threats:

• The Rockets have several players returning from injuries, notably, QB Aaron Opelt; DE Doug Westbrook; DL Sean Williamson, CB Desmond Marrow and FS Tyrell Herbert. These players will need to stay healthy and provide immediate impact at their respected positions for the Rockets to have a chance this year.
• Toledo’s defense has gotten worse each of the last three years under DC Tim Rose. In 2005 UT gave up 22 points per game, in 2006 it was 28 and last season it jumped to 39 points per contest. Have the MAC coach’s figured out his schemes and will there be significant improvement on that side of the ball in 2008?

The Big Game(s) for the Rocets in 2008:

September 13th at Eastern Michigan is a must win for the Rockets. Tom Amstutz was 14-0 against the Michigan MAC schools until the 2005 loss at Central Michigan. ‘Toledo Tom’ is now just 1-6 versus the the combination of CMU, EMU & WMU since that game. Hosting Ball State on October 4 will be huge before the Michigan contest as well. A loss to the Cardinals at home could mean a 1-4 start to the season with a probable thumping coming the following week at "The Big House."

Final Analysis of Toledo for 2008:

Toledo is a difficult team to pick in 2008. There is no doubt a lot of talent on this team, especially on offense, but after two straight 5-7 seasons, has the bottom fallen out of this once solid football program? Last year’s 5-7 team featured three home wins that easily could have been losses (36-35 over Iowa State; 35-34 over Liberty and 43-40 over Ohio) as Toledo was just eight points away from being 2-10. A disturbing trend worth noting during the past four seasons is that UT has lost 13 games by 20 points or more. The mental toughness of the program will be tested this year as UT could finish anywhere from 8-4 to 3-9.

By Nick Gerogosian
published 07.07.2008