VanDelaySports.com > MAC Football > 2010 MAC Football Pigskin Preview > Western Michigan Broncos

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2010 Western Michigan Football Preview

WMU Overview:

The Broncos now must move forward without record-setting QB Tim Hiller who graduated and signed with the Indianapolis Colts. RB Brandon West had become a staple to the offense too over the past few seasons. Even with those standout players, something was missing. The Broncos finished 21st in the nation in passing offense last season and just 80th in scoring offense. Defensively the Broncos ended up 101st nationally in total defense and 77th in scoring defense. The net-net was a disappointing 5-7 season for a team that should have contended for a MAC championship. Former Hotstra head coach Dave Cohen was available after the school dropped football during the offseason; Cohen is the new defensive coordinator at Western.

The Team:

Alex Carder, Drew Burdi and Tyler Van Tubbergen will via for the open QB slot. Carder appeared in nine games last year but attempted only seven passes. Losing Brandon West and his 1,164 yards will hurt a rushing attack that wasn’t very good to begin with; Aaron Winchester looks to be the starter even though he averaged just 3.2 yards per carry last season. No matter who is throwing the ball, Western is loaded at WR as their top five pass catchers, namely Robert Arnheim, Jordan White and Chleb Ravenell. The offensive line will be a work in progress with only two starters returning. With three unproven sophomores listed as starters, it could be a rough early season for whoever wins the QB spot. The defensive line is led JUCO transfer John Rice, cousin of NFL hall-of-fame receiver Jerry Rice. Deauntay Legrier is a force at LB while safeties Jamail Berry and Doug Wiggins offer stability for defensive backfield. Ansel Ponder and Jordan White are splendid return specialists.

The Verdict:

During Bill Cubit’s tenure at Western, every time this publication has picked them to finish high, they finished 5-7; and every time we’ve picked them to be sub-.500, they’ve averaged eight wins for those three seasons. On the surface, this looks to be a rebuilding job for the Broncos due to so many graduated playmakers on both sides of the ball. However WMU has consistently recruited very well during the Cubit era and those young players will be deeply tested this season against teams like Michigan State and Notre Dame. If Western survives a brutal October schedule, they will once again prove this publication wrong and finish with a winning season.

2010 Schedule & Prediction

• Sept 4 - at Michigan State - L

• Sept 11 - Nichols State - W

• Sept 18 - Toledo - W

• Oct 2 - Idaho - W

• Oct 9 - at Ball State - L

• Oct 16 - at Notre Dame - L

• Oct 23 - at Akron - L

• Oct 30 - NIU - L

• Nov 5 - at Central Michigan - L

• Nov 13 - Eastern Michigan - W

• Nov 20 - Kent State - W

• Nov 26 - at BGSU - L

5-7 Overall; 3-5 MAC

by Nick Gerogosian of VanDelaySports.com

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