2003 Statistics

Quarterback
Stop your crying, please. Yes, Roethlisberger is gone now. The superlatives are many, so we will save you Ben's resume. What is important for this preview is to tell you about junior Josh Betts. This guy has close to the same arm strength as Roethlisberger, but no where near the fundamentals. Those days of effortless roll-outs that end with a quick-released precision strike are gone. Betts will assuredly pick up much of the slack here, but offensive schemes will have to be marginally changed for this pure passer. Ryan Busing is a diamond in the Roethlisberger-style rough - he runs and passes with pocket-presence that will have many impatient Red Hawks fans calling his number at the assured first signs of struggle for Betts. But he is slated to again be a receiver, too, so we will see who gets the nod if Josh goes down. Mike Kokal is another dual-threat possibility, but it is too early to tell you with any solidity how this will look on the final depth charts in August.

Running Back
Three seniors make up a running back crew that will keep defenses off balance and honest. Starter Mike Smith is a slasher who can dodge and weave, as proven by his 175 rushes in '03. His backups, Ciborowski and Clemens, will see the major duty Smith saw last time. Luke Clemens is an outstanding former walk-on who was a 1,000-yard rusher in 2002, but struggled after injury to barely contribute his junior year. Adam Ciborowski rushed for 2,000+ his senior year of prep, and was good for 4.8 yards per rush in '03, with many substantial yards coming after contact to pain would-be tacklers. Both backups compliment Smith's style as they grind while he darts. The receiving results of any and all will make the Red Hawks use of their one-back sets close to as effective as when Ben ran things.

Wide Receiver
This area is strong, so the new QB can ease into his confidence with little worries from WRs being in wrong places. Martin Nance is a huge target with sure enough hands to finish third in all of Division I-A for receiving yards. Yes, his output may decrease, but his impact will be as the leader of this solid crew. Larkin and Busing will also return in the three- and four-receiver sets Miami employs. Both are speedy, but Larkin is a fearless small man, while Busing uses his QB-senses and size to sneak underneath and avoid coverage. Another former QB with too much talent, Ryne Robinson, as well as other oft-used reserves, all saw revolving time last campaign. Robinson, like Nance, will stretch defenses to assure a quality running game.

Tight End
Junior Dan Tyler has proven hands and the size to positively affect blocking schemes. The TE position was good for 50 catches in 2003 Miami, so expect Tyler and his positional cohorts to again make LBs and safeties feel over-burdened.

Offensive Line
This area should rebound with strength, but the losses are gaping. Three of the five linemen that helped pave an average of 4.3 yards per carry are gone. The three players left with starting status, all juniors, are each capable and mobile. The slated fill-ins for those above-listed blank spots look to be well-placed. It is that whole deal with the unit having to gel that makes time a factor which could (with such a tough opening slate) work against the growing offensive dimensions, and ultimately team results.

OFFENSIVE BREAKDOWN
It's all uphill with such a huge offensive drop-off - we can assure you that Miami won't again have the nation's number one scoring offense and the number two overall offense. But they should improve their rushing impact, with both RBs and WRs that will make the trial-by-fire for Josh Betts a short duration. It is the line that will be the unbankable piece of this puzzle - if they don't fit together, and fast, then expect Miami to slip from the top tier of the MAC elite. The defense will improve with eight returning starters, so realize just how much the team's entire fate will rest upon the new offensive dimensions. The multi-receiver sets and Mike Smith will aid all in making opposing defenders respect the possibilities.

Defensive Line
This is a line that will have high expectations with the talent potential on its depth chart. Legendary end Phil Smith is easily replaced by ex-LB Tranaine Sills, a sophomore who has played over his head in his few chances. He and junior John Glavin are the Red Hawks best building blocks of talent. Glavin returns on the inside with Will Rueff to recreate the Miami 2003 interior line. Larry Burt is another penetrating producer we think will make this interior the MAC's best. The other outside position is important with all of the creative offenses this conference throws at them, but little proven talent means this unit will not rank 19th in the nation against the run again. But the middle push they constantly create should be solid enough that the LBs will be able to strategically compensate for the weaker outside.

Linebacker
The three returning LBs (two are starters) will make this entire defense better, period. With that said, we must point out the size mismatches often encountered by this corps when facing major I-A opponents. The big three, all juniors - Josh Busing and Terna Nande (20 TFLs) on the outside, with Derek Rehage ruling the middle - are bruising hitters and sharp in their reaction to the pass-coverage needs, too. But Miami must find better reserves. The backups are, too, small and not at the level of these starters by a long shot, so something could give here if injuries occur.

Defensive Back
The DBs all return for the nation's 73rd pass defense, but, more importantly, they were the 34th-ranked pass efficiency defense. That means they keep the play well in front of themselves. Impressively, they gave up 6.7 yards per opponent's pass and a modest 22 TDs through the air. The corners are both well-sized - they are practically Red Hawk LBs, as are the safeties, if size is the issue. Matt Pusateri, '03's leading tackler, is a ball-magnet. Ryan Redd is a capable reserve at CB behind Hodge and Hunter, but other backup CB, Marcus Tate, is only 146 pounds on the roster listings. And the safety reserves remind us of the ones at LB, weak in the time they have had to prove themselves. Talent exists, but there is a huge disparaging jump from first to second team.

DEFENSIVE BREAKDOWN
This side of the ball is much more likely to pick up right from where they left off in 2003, bending-but-not-breaking for the 22nd-ranked scoring defense nationally (allowed just under 20 per contest) and the best in the MAC this way (second in total defense next to Marshall). There are only two slots they need to refill, with Derek Rehage practically a starter as he commanded the field for the Red Hawk 'D' as MLB by season's end. He will be one of the literal and spiritual centers for a back-seven that will be the only saving grace should the offense sputter early against the tough non-cons. The line will be strong, too, and that is all-important for a small-to-medium sized overall unit.