2003 Statistics

Quarterback
Brad Gradkowski is only a junior and he is already as good as any other college QB. That's either good news for NFL scouts who see this phenom coming out early, or bad news for MAC opponents who realize he might be back for yet another incredible '05 season. Brad is one of those rare young men who has fully stepped into his potential. He ranked second in the nation in '03 for completion percentage, sixth in pass-efficiency, and eighth in total offense (but only fourth in the MAC!) while he led the team to a ranking of 11th in the ladder category. The result is a guy who averaged 5.5 yards per carry while throwing 29 TDs but only seven INTs as he fell victim to only nine sacks. The two red-shirted freshmen will compete for the honor of backing Gradkowski, so much rides on Brad staying healthy.

Running Back
The running back slot has one strong returning starter and quite a few want-to-bees. Trinity Dawson has adequate size, but his tandem quickness is what allows his low center of gravity and chugging legs to plow through tacklers. Dawson just missed the 1,000 yard mark, but more important was his 5.0 average per carry while only ever losing 27 yards in all of '03. Lance Johnson and Quinton Broussard are the eager backups most likely to play third-down roles. Both should provide an adequate change-of-pace compliment to Gradkowski and Dawson, with many carries for all in the Toledo one-back schemes. Toledo uses no FBs.

Wide Receiver
There is much reason for excitement in Toledo - their stellar QB has all of his favorite targets back. Lance Moore has proven the strongest of the three seniors, with numbers that prove he can stretch defenses. Really, the only problem will be rotating all of the talent in so no one feels discarded. The depth here is facilitated by the three- and four-receiver sets commonly used, so there is little chance for the above-stated problem to occur in '04. Coach Amstutz and OC Rob Spence have shown they will make WRs block downfield quite often, so this position's duality is important for team success.

Tight End
This position is often utilized in Toledo's schemes. First-team All- MAC senior Andrew Clarke had eight TDs, providing an omen for the havoc which he is due to wreak. He has soft-handed backups, too, so the Rockets will be distracting LBs and safeties with regularity, ultimately making life easier for all of the Rockets.

Offensive Line
Well, we finally hit a snag, but not really much of one. Three seniors leave, but all feel that the reload is going to work out by mid-season. Canadian Nick Kaczur is the senior building-block that will be the cornerstone of this unit. This three-year All-MAC left tackle is possibly the best lineman in the conference, while center David Odenthal is a plowing presence who picks up blitzes with keen awareness. There is reason to believe that Toledo will again be the balanced, driving force so many feared, and it will be up to this front line to make the multiple Rocket dimensions go. We expect few, but any offensive failures will be traceable back to this unit.

OFFENSIVE BREAKDOWN
Toledo had just two games that could be considered offensive failures in 2003. Syracuse and Ball State are not defensive buzz-saws, so we feel justified in claiming that the offensive inconsistencies in these two contests effectively kept Toledo's entire team fate in check. But the offense that took them to this brink last time will put this team over the top in 2004. Their multi-receiver split formations are often decoys - opposing coordinators have to remind their players that Toledo passes and runs pretty evenly, as well as using a TE with deadly precision. The X-factor Gradkowski provides will be again too much for foes. Look for a "conservative" approach to how all of the Rocket talent is utilized, that is until the line gets used to itself and the offense. The result should be another balanced attack that again scores over 50 TDs and ranks in the top ten.

Defensive Line
Toledo loses all four of its starters from a unit that only recorded ten sacks, allowed 3.9 yards per carry, and ranked 52nd against the run. Yes, we feel these losses are a blessing in disguise. Senior Phil Alexander will become the main cog for the Rocket's line. Alexander has speed and power off the end, with tackles for loss accounting for close to half of his '03 stops. His efforts on every down will be effective, as will newbie-sensation Tyree Pollard's. Andre Bouldin is a true freshman we foresee as making an impact early and often - he will rotate in more and more, just watch. The entire corps of reinforcements will pick this area up, but it may take a few weeks for each (including reserves) to learn his role and those of the fellows around him.

Linebacker
Three of the four starting LBs return, but, as pointed out in the line section above, is this good news? The heaviest of the starters is 230-lbs, with one of them even listed under 200. But, ironically, this wasn't a very svelte group, as evidenced through Toledo's poor ranking in pass defense. The positive change this campaign will be a more capable line making their jobs easier. Being freed up this way will allow for better pass coverage and more effective blitzes/stunts. They need to concentrate on taking out opponents underneath routes first and then look for game-changing plays - learn to run before you fly, eh. We will see improvements here as last year's battle scars wear well for this group and their maturing efforts.

Defensive Back
And, finally, the mixed-blessings of three returning members from last campaign's defensive backs. The talent is here, but the infamous "P" word - potential - has yet to be reached. Injuries have impacted the efforts of both senior Patrick Body and junior Antonio Malone, but each is now ready to go full-throttle. Bo Martin is a big, physical cover guy who has to get a good chuck to start, or he is often beat. But if potential can even be approached, this unit will improve its results. With the LBs sure to have more freedom outside the box, the secondary will, too, be sequentially affected for the good at some point, and from then on, once that's established.

DEFENSIVE BREAKDOWN
The inconsistencies on this side of the ball were what arguably kept Toledo from that upper-tier of 2003 mid-majors. This team lived the old adage that "a game is won or lost on the line". Well, the latest version of Toledo's defense will have solved this delinquent dimension. A sizeable, effective middle presence will re-bolster the line and what it can do as a building-block for this entire side of the ball. The empowerment carried over to other defensive dimensions will make the entire team better as they run their modified 4-4 scheme. All the Rockets need for improved results is to be marginally better on defense, so look out when this begins to come true. And it will in 2004.