VanDelaySports.com > MAC Football > 2009 MAC Football Pigskin Preview > Central Michigan Chippewas

2009 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

2009 Central Michigan Football Preview

CMU Offense:

There is no question who is the leader of the CMU offense and that is Dan LeFevour. The two-time first team all-MAC signal caller and MAC poster boy had another solid season completing 66.8 percent of his passes for 2,784 yards and 21 touchdowns with just eight interceptions. In addition he is the ‘Chips leading returning rusher (592 yards in ’08) and this dual treat is clearly and All-American candidate. On the receiving front, there may not be anyone better than Antonio Brown who had 93 catches for 998 yards with seven touchdowns last fall. Brown is also a dangerous kick returner who led the MAC last season in both punt and kickoff returns. Two other teammates are just as lethal within the receiving corps - Kito Poblah and Brian Anderson. CMU will be breaking in some RBs but the line will once again be solid behind Jeff Maddux & Colin Weaver. Central does need to replace both starting OTs.

Central Michigan Defense:

With ten starters returning on defense, Central Michigan should be much improved on this side of the ball. The D-line is led by first team all MAC Frank Zombo who had 51 tackles and nine sacks a season ago. The linebackers will have three returning starters with first team all-MAC Nick Bellore as the bell cow. He led CMU in tackles last season with 148. The secondary returns intact behind Bobby Seay who had 90 tackles, six breakups and an interception a season ago.

CMU's Intangibles:

Central has played in three straight Motor City Bowls. Last season six of CMU’s games were decided by three points or less with the Chippewas winning five of them. Only ten teams in DI-A history, including the 1991 Central Michigan team, have had that many close calls. Both of Central’s kickers, PK Andrew Aguila and P Brett Hartmann, return. Central has three very difficult non-conference road games in 2009; Arizona, Michigan State and Boston College. The ‘Chips draw Akron, Buffalo and BGSU in their cross-over games.

2009 Outlook for the CMU Chippewas:

It’s hard to pick against the team that has the MAC’s best QB, best overall group of receivers and returns ten starters on defense. For Central Michigan, just winning the MAC this fall won’t be enough. This program needs to take the next step forward and not only win the league, but win a notable non-conference game (Arizona, MSU or BC) and then win their bowl game over a ‘name’ team and not lose to someone like Florida Atlantic. The 2009 ‘Chips have the ability to win ten or eleven games. Anything short of that has to be considered a disappointment.

The Big Game for Central Michigan in 2009:

October 17 at Western Michigan; as always, this fierce rivalry is the most intense game of the season but this year it takes on even more meaning as Western and Central are expected to be the two best teams in the league. Central has won three straight in this series and the last time these two faced off in Kalamazoo (Central winning 34-31) the officiating crew received death threats when the game concluded.

Team Article by Evan Meyer of Sports Vault - Especially for VanDelaySports.com
Predictions, Stats, Key Game & Outlook by Nick Gerogosian of VanDelaySports.com

> Back to the 2009 MAC football preview