2008 Statistics

QUARTERBACK

Dan LeFevour enters his senior season with 11,702 yards of total offense, 14th-most in NCAA FBS (formerly Div. I-A) history. He will likely surpass Marshall QB Byron Leftwich for the MAC career record. His total yards are currently the highest of any active FBS player. After three solid years as the starter, LeFevour has to be considered one of the best dual-threat senior signal callers at any college level. He continues to be the team's leading rusher and is just as dangerous when it comes to locating and hitting receivers. While the numbers and performances were still noteworthy in 2008, his career averages took a dip after LeFevour dealt with injuries to both ankles at the midway point. He just lost that comfort zone in the pocket, and then his mobility was cut short. Coaches kept his reps this spring to a minimum; the more important job of locating a back up to replace the departed Brian Brunner was top priority. Ryan Radcliff appears to have a leg up on his competitor Derek Rifenbury at this preseason juncture. The two-time All-Ohio First Teamer (prep) has demonstrated better throwing command. If LeFevour is required to sit a few games as he did last fall, coaches should have enough confidence in Radcliff possessing the passing tools needed to operate this scheme. He is just short on experience and does not “remotely” offer the same running dimension as when LeFevour takes the snaps. But hey, not many do.

RUNNING BACK

The Chippewa rushing attack needs better production from the running backs to save their signal caller from taking excessive limps. Regardless, QB Dan LeFevour has been the team's leading rusher in two of the previous three seasons. Last spring coach Jones felt he had all the firepower needed. That was before injuries took their toll. The departed Ontario Sneed and Justin Hoskins had their moments, but never found any form of consistency. Through all of the injuries, several young backs were game tested to now provide quality youth in the line up. Sophomores Paris Cotton and Bryan Shroeder lead the way after seeing most of the carries this spring. Each brings something different: Bryan is the power back while Paris is the smaller "shake and bake" scat type. A Miami prepster, true soph Shroeder in the flat will also help to open the field up. The speed of Cotton caught the eye of coaches during his limited '08 opportunities. The wild card of the group appears to be redshirt freshman Jahleel Addae, the highlight of the 2007 recruiting class out of Tampa Bay area’s East Bay-Riverview HS. As proven this spring, the younger brother of former WVU star running back Jahmile is going to be a big time contributor either in the backfield or at receiver (slot). Where he lines up is anyone’s guess. Carl Volny is another option that has seen time in this backfield, while incoming recruit Malek Redd (River Hill HS, Columbia, MD) runs a sonic 4.38 40-yard dash. He is the second new recruit out of the Crab State to bring his skills to Mount Pleasant (CB DJ Scott is the other). Plenty of ground options are certainly available, but CMU needs someone they can count on to take the running game to another level. This will likely continue to be done in “committee” fashion.

RECEIVER

The two favorite targets for LeFevour are still Antonio Brown and Bryan Anderson. Brown is racking up an ungodly amount of awards with each successive season. He is one of just two players in NCAA history to earn all-conference first team honors at three different positions in the same season (WR/KR/PR). Moreover, he’s accounted for touchdowns receiving, rushing, passing and on both a punt return and kick return during his career. Not only is he the 2008 MAC Special Teams Player of the Year...he is just plain special. He is a leading candidate for the NationalChamps.net Underdog Award, which is presented to the nation's best mid-major player. He is not the only impact player at wide out. Bryan Anderson is a two-time All-MAC First Team receiver and currently has gone 40 consecutive games with a reception, the longest active streak in the country. As mentioned, rising star Jahleel Addae was seen in the slot this spring, which means sending him in motion will often mess up any defensive assignments. Canadian Kito Poblah is a former basketball MVP that has started for two solid years in this highflying attack. Jean Pitts has also seen plenty of starts; Pitts started each of the ’08 season’s first five games before suffering an injury. There is concern Pitts may not be available this fall. But a ton of freshmen and sophomores are fighting to find a place on the Chippie’s receiver chart, which only tells how loaded this unit is for the upcoming season. All combined, this is the best set of pass catchers LeFevour has had to work with in his four years. It is only a matter of coaches finding a way to get the ball into these speedster’s hands, albeit reverses or the short passing game. Either way, this unit highlights the 2009 effort. Last year's tight end Rocky Weaver has been bumped to tackle, leaving David Blackburn to replace him. Blackburn is not likely going to be considered an integral part of this passing scheme as this offense is not set up for the TE to fit that mold. When he is in the game, expect to see a hand-off to one of the backs.

OFFENSIVE LINE

On a positive note, the first team personnel on this front have the potential to be more than average blockers. On a negative note, there is no depth whatsoever outside of unproven freshmen, and injuries have already limited the available bodies this spring. Veterans Andrew Hartline and Greg Wojt anchored the ever-so-important tackle spots that protected LeFevour; both have moved on. Former TE Rocky Weaver has moved over to right tackle. Eight catches last fall have quickly segued into Weaver putting on some off-season pounds in anticipation of taking over for Wojt. Redshirt freshman newcomer Jake Olson takes over on the blind side. Size certainly comes into question since both linger around the 260-pound range, a lighter weight not just in the MAC but by any FBS standard. The biggest concern is that after these two, a ton of young players with no college experience provide the depth. In fact, trying to dig up info from coaches regarding the backups at tackle has been impossible. No one quite knows who/what that reality could be. Unfortunately, the same can be said for every position on this front wall. It did not help matters that full-timer Joe McMahon, a starting guard last season who could also play center, dropped out of school. Jeff Maddux and Allen Ollenburger take over at guard with 27 starts between them, making the gut of this unit its most experienced. Colin Miller returns to center after making brief starts at left guard in 2008. Coaches have kept a positive attitude concerning this offensive line, but truth be told, the back ups at every single position are, well, question marks, at best. Further bouts with the injury bug would cost this team dearly.

DEFENSIVE LINE

The Chippewas of 2008 were tops in the conference at both stuffing the run and the quarterback (14th nationally in sack totals). Much of that had to do with the fact two of the MAC's better pass rushers, Sam Williams and Frank Zombo, combined for 15.5 sacks and helped make the entire defense better with their playmaking skills. Another positive contribution on the outside comes from Larry Knight. He has a knack for getting after quarterbacks after recording four sacks a year ago. One of the biggest position switches this off-season is the move of All-MAC First Team honoree Frank Zombo to defensive tackle. His weight is now pushing 280 pounds which makes the move seem logical considering both Williams and Knight appear to have secured his former position. The only loss up front is nose guard Casey Droscha, which makes the Zombo move almost seem inevitable. Zombo led the conference in tackles for loss, a fact that can only help the much-needed inside push. Additionally, the elevated play of Kashawn Fraser has earned the praise of coaches and fans this spring. Sean Murnane returns inside after finishing fourth on the team in tackles, a great achievement for a man at this mauling position. Murnane has the potential to be a monstrous player on this unit. However, much like their front line counterparts, depth is a big problem on the inside, which again substantiates the move of Zombo.

LINEBACKER

All three starters on this unit return from a year ago. The leader of this defense both emotionally and by production is co-captain Nick Bellore. Through two seasons of play, Bellore has piled up over 100 tackles on both occasions and has started all 27 games since his freshman debut. He ranks fourth nationally in career tackles per game (11.2) and still has plenty of room to grow. He moved from the middle to the outside during spring ball, and if anyone is capable of playing anywhere in addition to the secondary, Bellore would be that person. With the move, Matt Berning will likely slide into the middle after starting nine games last season on the weakside. The native German (played prep ball in Missouri as a 2003 foreign exchange student) is among the hardest workers on the squad. The corps’ lone senior, Tim Brazzel, has been a major contributor for three straight seasons. As with many positions, experienced depth is thin; four different freshmen/sophomores are trying to fill any gaps. The entire front seven helped CMU finish first in the MAC for rushing defense, but it would be better now if these LBs focus on helping the shaky secondary overcome their troubles.

DEFENSIVE BACK

OK, so how bad was this secondary in ‘08? The Chippewas pass defense ranked 118th out of 120 FBS teams. Defensive coordinator Tim Banks, a 1995 alum, enters his third season as the secondary coach, too. He has to get drastic improvement from his backfield before this team can truly compete with the non-conference big boys on the schedule. Many injuries have obviously equaled the many problems. The only good news is that the spring showcased a good many position battles. Upward of six different players are vying for time at cornerback. Josh Gordy leads the race after battling through injuries last year. Former receiver Taylor Bradley has only been playing corner for one season but looks likely to cement the other side. He is still rough around the edges after having to learn the position through trial-and-error methods a year ago. Early enrollee D.J. Scott had an excellent spring and could see plenty of time playing the nickel spot. LaVarus Williams started to show some signs of breaking through last fall before injury cut short his ascension. Two of the better DBs on this unit that could change the fortunes of production are at safety. Eric Fraser returns after missing the final four games of 2008 because of an ankle injury. SS Chaz West missed the entire year with a foot injury after starting 13 games at CB the previous year. He was back to participating at full tilt in spring practice. This summer will be crucial for his further rehab and development, and therefore the group’s cohesion. No wonder this pass defense struggled so badly – injuries of some sort get loosely tossed around with the mention of every position. Too many DBs saw time on the field in '08. Names like Tommy Mama, Vince Agnew and Bobby Seay all earned at least three starts. Depth is not the problem right now; talent and every down personnel are the bigger issues. Coaches have said this backfield likely will not get sorted out until the first game. That's a kind estimate, but stranger things than a rag-tag bunch of hungry DBs quickly gelling have occurred.