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2008 Buffalo Football Preview

Buffalo's Strengths:

• While both Western Michigan and BGSU will each have solid DB units, Buffalo could very well be the deepest and best overall secondary in the MAC. As a true freshman, Davonte Shannon became Buffalo’s 1st all-conference first-team selection ever. Shannon had 123 tackles, more than any other freshman in the country last season.
• Drew Willy is the best QB to ever wear a UB uniform. He has quietly gotten better each and every year and if there was a “most improved player of the year award” in the MAC, he would have won it 2007. Willy completed 68% of his passes and had 15 TDs with just 6 INTs. His favorite target is Naaman Roosevelt, a 3rd team All-MAC selection a year ago.
• RB James Starks had a break out season for UB last fall rushing for 1,103 yards and 12 TDs. Brandon Thermilus and Mario Henry add to make this a very efficient and effective rushing team. Look for Thermilus to have more of a role in the offense this year.

Buffalo's Weaknesses:

• The LB corps took a serious hit with the graduation of Kareen Byrom and Larry Hutchinson. They were the team’s #2 & #3 tacklers a year ago. The entire two-deep lineup listed is unproven freshmen or sophomores. Coach Gill added seven freshmen LBs in this year’s class to fill that immediate need.
• Losing all-league defensive end Trevor Scott to the NFL will certainly hurt. Scott had 15 tackles for loss and 10 QB sacks last season. To put that in better perspective, Scott had more QB sacks then the entire Toledo defense did (nine) in 2007. The returning defensive ends, Mike Thompson and Chris Callahan, will have big shoes to fill.

Buffalo's Opportunities:

• While the Bulls lost steady center Jamey Richard to graduation, the offensive line returns four starters who each started all 12 games a year ago. Guard Jeff Niedermier is the leader of the unit as there is good depth up front with eight of the top ten linemen returning.
• While UB set a school record scoring 291 points in a season, that 24-point per game output average ranked 82nd nationally. If Drew Willy stays healthy there is far too much talent on offense with 10 returning starters not to average close to 30 points per contest in 2008.

UB's Threats:

• There is absolutely no experience behind QB Drew Willy so if he goes down with an injury, so may the season. No other QB listed on the spring roster has ever thrown a pass in a game let alone completed one. WR Naaman Roosevelt was a local Buffalo prep star who could step in right away if needed, but that would immediately deplete the receiving unit of the teams best big play wideout.
• The schedule is difficult with non-conference games at Pitt and at Missouri. With the Missouri game right before two straight MAC cross-over games against Central & Western Michigan, a three game losing streak is probable. Divisional road games at Ohio and BGSU will be must-wins for UB to contend for a league title.

The Big Game(s) for Buffalo in 2008:

Buffalo received no help from the MAC office by drawing both Central and Western Michigan on its 2008 slate. Still ‘the big game’ will be hosting Miami on November 4th. The nation will get a rare look at a home game for UB as they will host the RedHawks on ESPN2. This game just may determine the MAC East Championship.

Final 2008 UB Analysis:

Eighteen starters return from a 5-7 team that finished 5-3 in MAC play and owned a share of the divisional title. Among the returning starters are four all-conference selections. To truly understand the mountain of that accomplishment is to look at UB’s football past. Prior to last season the Bulls were just 9-56 in MAC games since joining the league in 1999. This year's team is by far the best the program has ever produced. Coach Turner Gill has this team believing in themselves and also has them focused on winning a MAC title and Buffalo will contend for both the East Divisional title along with the MAC title in 2008. Look for UB to fall just short of both of those goals but still earn their first bowl birth in its programs history.

By Nick Gerogosian
published 07.07.2008