VanDelaySports.com > MAC Football > 2009 MAC Football Pigskin Preview > Western Michigan Broncos

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2009 Western Michigan Football Preview

WMU Offense:

Tim Hiller returns for his senior season after producing 3,725 yards passing and 36 TDs with just 10 INTs last year. He should be one of the finalists for the 2009 MAC Offensive MVP Award. He is highly accurate too completing 65% of his passes in ’08. The rushing attack returns Brandon West who rushed for 1,026 yards and eight scores. The receivers lost a lot of talent to graduation but Hiller still has Juan Nunez to count on, who was a 3 rd team all-conference choice last year. WMU returns five players who each had at least eight starts last season so this will be pillar of strength up front. Leading the way is Phillip Swanson.

WMU Defense:

The D-line is relatively young but there are two seniors listed in the two-deep roster up front. Cody Cielenski recorded 9.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage in 2008. LB Austin Prichard now becomes the anchor of the defense after recording 86 total tackles a season ago. The defensive backfield is certainly a concern with only two returning lettermen and no full times starters coming back. Doug Wiggins, a transfer from Miami (Fl.) moves from receiver to DB to bring immediate skills to this area of need.

Western Michigan's Intangibles:

Western Michigan ’s kicking game is young but do have experience in sophomores in PK John Potter and P Ben Armer. Head Coach Bill Cubit is building a strong program in Kalamazoo after going 9-4 a season ago and a berth in the Texas Bowl. WMU begins the season with two straight Big Ten road games. Here’s an amazing stat, Western graduated 208 receptions from their receiving corps last year.

2009 WMU Football Outlook:

Western Michigan ’s run of prosperity continued last year with a second bowl appearance in the last three seasons and just the third nine-win campaign in school history. With eight returning starters on offense the high-flying Broncos will score points in bunches. Defensively there could be some concerns as only one starter returns. Still, there is some budding talent on that side of the ball and Western has recruited very well over the past few seasons. If Western does well during their three-game mid-season stretch of NIU, Toledo and Central, the Broncos will be on their way to their first MAC title since 1988. Realistically, they will be a bridesmaid once again.

The Big Game for WMU in 2009:

October 17 hosting Central 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

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