2003 Statistics

Quarterback
New head coach and offensive coordinator, Brian Kelly, brings a pass-happy, wide-open offense that fans will soon love to watch. It relies on good vision and quick thinking. This gets momentum going before the defense can get into position. Senior Grant Arnoldink showed good command of this offense in the spring. His newfound ability stems from confidence in both himself and the guys around him. He has decent mobility, which compliments a big arm. Kent Smith has better mobility, and while he provides an interesting alternative, the Chips are better off with Arnoldink.

Running Back
Jerry Seymour is the man, no doubt. Though small in stature, he brings a big game to this CMU offense. Seymour ostensibly has a low center of gravity and great leg strength. Along with that is a soft set of hands, making him a dual-threat. Kelly knows what a dynamo he is and hopes to use him effectively in this spread offense. Junior Spencer Lewis is a qualified backup who, despite not seeing much quality time last year, keeps the offense ticking in Seymour's absence. The revamping measures will assuredly prosper with either of these guys.

Receiver
We called upon Jovan Witherspoon to break out last year, and it appears we spoke too soon. Now, with a system set up to brandish his talents, he's ready to emerge and become an all-MAC receiver. He has great size, big play ability, and large hands to allow him to seize anything directed his way. He can't do it alone, though. Kelly's offenses have preached balance among receivers. It is imperative for this group to succeed as a unit. Scott Gibson has some of the best hands in the MAC. He's certainly not flashy, but very dependable. Justin Harper has been in the receiving corps the longest of the three and has built a sterling relationship with these QBs. He's a valuable receiver but needs to take his game to the next level and fill the big-play needs for this explosive offense.

Tight End and Offensive Line
Tight ends Tory Humphrey and Dave Kurzen had a slow spring as they adjusted to their increased responsibilities for the new offense. Humphrey is an NFL talent with solid hands but needs to establish consistency.

To fit his scheme, Kelly wants this line to be more athletic, and he has worked them accordingly this off-season. Part of that transformation includes moving Joe Staley from tight end to tackle. This will provide a more agile shield for the studying QB. The real gem of the front is all-MAC tackle Adam Kieft. Kieft is a four-year starter with exquisite power and remarkable mobility. New offensive line coach Jeff Quinn immediately hit it off with his players and brings much noise and enthusiasm. This is a talented collection, and playing for a coach they admire will only make them work harder. Any struggles here will be early on, with a strong second half of their campaign.

OFFENSIVE BREAKDOWN
It wasn't CMU's offensive productivity that was problematic as much as it was the play calling. Mike DeBord ran to the same (running) well far too often in his regime and the results (or lack thereof) prove that. Enter the spread offense, which will actually spread the ball around to, in turn, stretch a defense. Because of this, we see good things on the horizon for the Chips. This offense will evidently improve the passing game, which ranked 96th nationally. It will also justify their short time-of-possession statistic (only 27 minutes a game), as more points will come from these drives of shorter duration. The progress of this passing game will elevate this offense past mediocrity. As Arnoldink relies on his weapons downfield and plays within his own ability, they'll likely double their '03 mark of 17 passing TDs.

Defensive Line
The defensive line is loaded with players harboring unfulfilled expectations. The only exception is DE Dan Bazuin. He has a ceaseless motor that keeps him in every play and wears down opposing linemen. DT Tony Thompson is a stopgap against the run, but we believe he needs to carry his game to the next level. JUCO import Temirez Williams will provide immediate help at the other DT spot. The Chips need support from anybody and everybody against the run, and it has to start with this unit. CMU allowed 5.2 yards per carry last year as a result of these guys getting blown off the ball and allowing opponent's lead blockers to reach "level 2" (the linebackers), thus paving the way for big yardage.

Linebacker
Brian Kelly took his best player, James King, and moved him from safety to outside linebacker. This makes them into a quicker, better tackling unit. King is one of the best defenders in the country, finishing 10th nationally in tackles per game (12 TPG). The only question is will he be playing? At the time of press, King stands under an in-house suspension for violation of team rules. According to Kelly, he has not been re-instated yet. Quickness won't necessarily help them become stronger up the middle, though. Part of CMU's problems against the run (245 yards per game, dead last in the NCAA!) was that the middle of this defense was weak and therefore exposed. We don't see a drastic improvement coming, especially if King is out of the lineup.

Defensive Back
The Chippewas defended the pass almost as poorly as they did the run. Teams could have put up higher numbers through the air, but running against these guys was a greater assurance. Really, why take a risk throwing the ball when a ground attack against the nation's worst run-stoppers is so much more secure? When opponents did go to the air, they completed 64 percent of their passes, claiming 256 yards a game. Though they were a young group, so the trial-by-fire is now (has to be) over - it's time to start producing. Kelly went out and brought in JUCO standouts Mark Lewis and Pacino Horne to give this unit a boost in both experience and depth. Both areas equip the Chippewas with enough resources to get the job done.

DEFENSIVE BREAKDOWN
Defense wins championships, but even before that, it wins games. The Chippewas didn't win games simply because they could not play defense (115th for total defense in I-A). Spotting opponents 35 points per game really puts you behind the eight /football, regardless of how explosive your offense is. The Chippewas must knock at least 150 yards off their opponents' total offense mark (501 YPG) to even think about winning. They'll get better tutelage from defensive coordinator John Jancek and assistant Mike Elston. These guys bring experience in working with the front seven, and we foresee improvement in (at least) that domain. Through the spring, they've been a quicker, more aggressive squad at making the play. You'll see more stunting, and, while this move is risky, we feel it can only play to their advantage. These coaches preach confidence and persistence in their defense. As that prevails, this defense will begin to hold up. We hope this dimension will not lead CMU into a Prairie View or Northwestern situation of a long-term skid. The stage is set for such, so now is the time to nip this pervading defensive problem.