Offensive Strengths
Marshall?s offense looks to break all sorts of records this fall. Led by QB Byron Leftwich (6?6?? 240), this year?s Herd squad looks to break the 1997 Marshall team for the most points per game average in conference history. That team averaged 37.8 points per game and this year?s team may top 40. Leftwich is the real deal and is arguably the best quarterback in college football right now. His size, arm strength, and ability to read defenses, makes him one of the top prospects in the 2003 NFL draft. Leftwich threw for over 3,700 during the 2001 regular season, 34 TDs and just 6 INTs. His performance in last year?s GMAC Mobile Bowl was amazing. He led Marshall from a 38-8 halftime deficit to a 64-61 overtime win against East Carolina. Leftwich has a lot of weapons around him, notably WRs Darius Watts (6?2?? 183), Curtis Jones (6?2?? 205), Josh Davis (6?1?? 195) and Denero Marriott (6?1?? 178). This unit is one of the best WR corps in America and Watts had 18 TDs during the regular season while Marriott may be the most underappreciated quality player in the league. Last year Marshall averaged 344-yards per game through the air and these guys can all do something with the ball after they make the catch. Depth is no problem with the likes of Brad Bates (5?1?? 172), Demetrius Doss (6?2?? 205) and Chris Ray (6?0?? 180) as backups. The offensive line is solid with potential all-conference players Nate McPeek (6?5?? 321) & Steve Sciullo (6?6?? 344). Other quality linemen include Steve Perretta (6?2?? 298), Jeff Edwards (6?4?? 278), Luke Salmons (6?3?? 295), Joey Stepp (6?2?? 285), Paul Hardy (6?5?? 300) & Ricardo Phillips (6?6?? 290). Although some may have concerns over senior TE Gregg Kellet graduating, Georgia transfer Jason Rader (6?4?? 261) will make you forget about him. Said Western Michigan head coach Gary Darnell during my Athlon interview, "that Rader kid Marshall is getting is a tremendous talent. He is going to help that team out a lot this year." Marshall lost only two starters from last year?s offense that averaged 37.5 points and 501-total yards per game.
Offensive Concerns
Let?s face facts; there are not too many concerns for this offense. This is an offense that turned the ball over only 15 times in all of last year, led the MAC in 3rd down conversions, scoring offense, passing offense, and total offense. Marshall?s biggest concern would be losing Byron Leftwich to an injury. If he goes down, there is no proven backup with much experience to carry this team like Leftwich. Stan Hill is the backup QB, but he only threw the ball five times last year while Andrew English has transferred to an I-AA school. It may be wise for Marshall?s future to play Hill more this year during a few blowout contests to give him experience for the future. Also, Marshall?s offensive line is excellent at pass blocking but does have some room for improvement for their run blocking. It is surprising that an offense this good has average RBs. Franklin Wallace (6?0?? 190), Brandon Carey (5?10?? 185) & Chanston Rodgers (5?10?? 205) look to team up for Marshall to average better than last year?s 158-yards per game. Rodgers is returning after knee surgery and WR Chris Ray (6?0?? 190) may be used as a tailback as well.
Defensive Strengths
Marshall has a good group of cover corners. Although small, Roberto Terrell (5?9?? 178) and Yancey Satterwhite can make plays either against the pass or against the run. Terrell had the game clinching TD last in the game against Youngstown State and Satterwhite is the teams 2nd leading returning tackler. Backups Willie Smith (6?0?? 190) and Renaldo Williams (5?9?? 178) give Marshall some athletes who can play the pass well. Chris Crocker (5?11?? 190) is back at safety and has all-conference abilities. Crocker is a big-time hitter who can also defend the pass well. Marshall has some very good outside LBs in veterans Terence Tarpley (5?10?? 185), Gladstone Coke (5?11?? 195) and Charles Tynes (6?1?? 210).
Defensive Concerns
It?s no secret where Marshall will be focusing their efforts on the defensive side of the ball this year. The Herd gave up 211-yards per game on the ground last fall, dead last in the MAC, and 106th overall (117 total I-A teams). New defensive coordinator Bill Wilt needs to get the defensive line working better to stop the bleeding. Marshall has wonderful size and athletic ability up front, especially at DT. Guys like Orlando Washington (6?2?? 265), Marlan Hicks (6?4?? 295), Josh Cordell (6?5?? 298) & Reggie Hayes (6?4?? 278) must play better. The defensive ends are all new starters, but have potential with the likes of Maurice McKinney (6?3?? 235), Jon Goddard (6?1?? 250), Paul Sinclair (6?4?? 250), Jamus Martin (6?3?? 235), Kingsley Clark (6?5?? 230) and Marcus Hairston. Marshall will have a very difficult time replacing all-conference LB Max Yates, who was a tackling machine. The new ILBs are Dionte Wilson (6?2?? 220), Duran Smith (6?0?? 225), Kevin Atkins (6?3?? 236) and Henry Moore (5?11?? 215). Marshall returns six starters from a defense that gave up 30-points per game (13 game average) and 412-yards per game (11 game average). Considering their best players from last year?s unit graduated, this will be a difficult task for coaches Bill Wilt and Bob Pruett to get a grip on.
Special Teams
Marshall has one of the better special teams units in the MAC this year. Curtis Head is a proven weapon as a punter, averaged over 44-yards per boot in 2001. Head also handles much of the placekicking duties and was 8 for 9 in FGs, with a long of 41-yards. The Herd can do better than their 6-yards per punt return average and 18-yards per kickoff return average. When you look at the WRs and DBs listed above, there are more than enough playmakers to find who can do better for the Herd this year in returns.
Overview
Right now it?s safe to say that Marshall?s biggest obstacle will be themselves. With the exception of the Virginia Tech game, there is not a team on this schedule that has the talent that this Herd squad has. What does this mean? If Marshall takes one of the other ten teams lightly, it may get interesting, but if they come out with their "A" game, the majority of these contests should be ?blowout city.? Offensively this team is going to score points, and lots of them. Defensively, there are some major challenges, but it?s safe to ay that Marshall will be addressing these concerns and getting the right players into the right areas and cut down on the points scored. Overall, Marshall has the talent to run the table, get a top-15 national ranking, and make a little noise for a possible BCS game. What is more likely is a 10-1 regular season record, a top-20 national ranking, another GMAC Mobile Bowl win, and a third Heisman finalist in five years. Anything less than this would have to be considered a disappointing season.
Schedule
Marshall has by far the most favorable schedule in the MAC this year. Only a road trip to Virginia Tech offers much of a serious threat to this talented team for their OOC games. Others include home games with Tory State and Appalachian State. A fourth OOC game does not look viable for Marshall unless it is other I-AA team. It is currently marked at ?tba.? Crossover games are at Central Michigan and hosting Ball State. With in East Division, Marshall have there two toughest test at home, Miami & UCF. The Herd travels to Ohio University and Akron.
Omar?s View = 11-0; wins everyone and will be ranked Top 10 like they were in 99...they were ranked 8th in 99
BOLD PREDICTION Marshall will beat the Hokies if they can control the running game. Leftwich will pass for his yards and the Herd will score points, but Marshall must stop Tech?s rushing attack and have their own running game in synch for a mild upset to occur.
Pivotal Game:
@Virginia Tech (9/12/02): Marshall will have a nation wide audience for this game. A win puts Marshall possibly into a Top-10 ranking and most certainly pedestals Byron Leftwich as one of the top Heisman candidates in the country.
Marshall?s offense looks to break all sorts of records this fall. Led by QB Byron Leftwich (6?6?? 240), this year?s Herd squad looks to break the 1997 Marshall team for the most points per game average in conference history. That team averaged 37.8 points per game and this year?s team may top 40. Leftwich is the real deal and is arguably the best quarterback in college football right now. His size, arm strength, and ability to read defenses, makes him one of the top prospects in the 2003 NFL draft. Leftwich threw for over 3,700 during the 2001 regular season, 34 TDs and just 6 INTs. His performance in last year?s GMAC Mobile Bowl was amazing. He led Marshall from a 38-8 halftime deficit to a 64-61 overtime win against East Carolina. Leftwich has a lot of weapons around him, notably WRs Darius Watts (6?2?? 183), Curtis Jones (6?2?? 205), Josh Davis (6?1?? 195) and Denero Marriott (6?1?? 178). This unit is one of the best WR corps in America and Watts had 18 TDs during the regular season while Marriott may be the most underappreciated quality player in the league. Last year Marshall averaged 344-yards per game through the air and these guys can all do something with the ball after they make the catch. Depth is no problem with the likes of Brad Bates (5?1?? 172), Demetrius Doss (6?2?? 205) and Chris Ray (6?0?? 180) as backups. The offensive line is solid with potential all-conference players Nate McPeek (6?5?? 321) & Steve Sciullo (6?6?? 344). Other quality linemen include Steve Perretta (6?2?? 298), Jeff Edwards (6?4?? 278), Luke Salmons (6?3?? 295), Joey Stepp (6?2?? 285), Paul Hardy (6?5?? 300) & Ricardo Phillips (6?6?? 290). Although some may have concerns over senior TE Gregg Kellet graduating, Georgia transfer Jason Rader (6?4?? 261) will make you forget about him. Said Western Michigan head coach Gary Darnell during my Athlon interview, "that Rader kid Marshall is getting is a tremendous talent. He is going to help that team out a lot this year." Marshall lost only two starters from last year?s offense that averaged 37.5 points and 501-total yards per game.
Offensive Concerns
Let?s face facts; there are not too many concerns for this offense. This is an offense that turned the ball over only 15 times in all of last year, led the MAC in 3rd down conversions, scoring offense, passing offense, and total offense. Marshall?s biggest concern would be losing Byron Leftwich to an injury. If he goes down, there is no proven backup with much experience to carry this team like Leftwich. Stan Hill is the backup QB, but he only threw the ball five times last year while Andrew English has transferred to an I-AA school. It may be wise for Marshall?s future to play Hill more this year during a few blowout contests to give him experience for the future. Also, Marshall?s offensive line is excellent at pass blocking but does have some room for improvement for their run blocking. It is surprising that an offense this good has average RBs. Franklin Wallace (6?0?? 190), Brandon Carey (5?10?? 185) & Chanston Rodgers (5?10?? 205) look to team up for Marshall to average better than last year?s 158-yards per game. Rodgers is returning after knee surgery and WR Chris Ray (6?0?? 190) may be used as a tailback as well.
Defensive Strengths
Marshall has a good group of cover corners. Although small, Roberto Terrell (5?9?? 178) and Yancey Satterwhite can make plays either against the pass or against the run. Terrell had the game clinching TD last in the game against Youngstown State and Satterwhite is the teams 2nd leading returning tackler. Backups Willie Smith (6?0?? 190) and Renaldo Williams (5?9?? 178) give Marshall some athletes who can play the pass well. Chris Crocker (5?11?? 190) is back at safety and has all-conference abilities. Crocker is a big-time hitter who can also defend the pass well. Marshall has some very good outside LBs in veterans Terence Tarpley (5?10?? 185), Gladstone Coke (5?11?? 195) and Charles Tynes (6?1?? 210).
Defensive Concerns
It?s no secret where Marshall will be focusing their efforts on the defensive side of the ball this year. The Herd gave up 211-yards per game on the ground last fall, dead last in the MAC, and 106th overall (117 total I-A teams). New defensive coordinator Bill Wilt needs to get the defensive line working better to stop the bleeding. Marshall has wonderful size and athletic ability up front, especially at DT. Guys like Orlando Washington (6?2?? 265), Marlan Hicks (6?4?? 295), Josh Cordell (6?5?? 298) & Reggie Hayes (6?4?? 278) must play better. The defensive ends are all new starters, but have potential with the likes of Maurice McKinney (6?3?? 235), Jon Goddard (6?1?? 250), Paul Sinclair (6?4?? 250), Jamus Martin (6?3?? 235), Kingsley Clark (6?5?? 230) and Marcus Hairston. Marshall will have a very difficult time replacing all-conference LB Max Yates, who was a tackling machine. The new ILBs are Dionte Wilson (6?2?? 220), Duran Smith (6?0?? 225), Kevin Atkins (6?3?? 236) and Henry Moore (5?11?? 215). Marshall returns six starters from a defense that gave up 30-points per game (13 game average) and 412-yards per game (11 game average). Considering their best players from last year?s unit graduated, this will be a difficult task for coaches Bill Wilt and Bob Pruett to get a grip on.
Special Teams
Marshall has one of the better special teams units in the MAC this year. Curtis Head is a proven weapon as a punter, averaged over 44-yards per boot in 2001. Head also handles much of the placekicking duties and was 8 for 9 in FGs, with a long of 41-yards. The Herd can do better than their 6-yards per punt return average and 18-yards per kickoff return average. When you look at the WRs and DBs listed above, there are more than enough playmakers to find who can do better for the Herd this year in returns.
Overview
Right now it?s safe to say that Marshall?s biggest obstacle will be themselves. With the exception of the Virginia Tech game, there is not a team on this schedule that has the talent that this Herd squad has. What does this mean? If Marshall takes one of the other ten teams lightly, it may get interesting, but if they come out with their "A" game, the majority of these contests should be ?blowout city.? Offensively this team is going to score points, and lots of them. Defensively, there are some major challenges, but it?s safe to ay that Marshall will be addressing these concerns and getting the right players into the right areas and cut down on the points scored. Overall, Marshall has the talent to run the table, get a top-15 national ranking, and make a little noise for a possible BCS game. What is more likely is a 10-1 regular season record, a top-20 national ranking, another GMAC Mobile Bowl win, and a third Heisman finalist in five years. Anything less than this would have to be considered a disappointing season.
Schedule
Marshall has by far the most favorable schedule in the MAC this year. Only a road trip to Virginia Tech offers much of a serious threat to this talented team for their OOC games. Others include home games with Tory State and Appalachian State. A fourth OOC game does not look viable for Marshall unless it is other I-AA team. It is currently marked at ?tba.? Crossover games are at Central Michigan and hosting Ball State. With in East Division, Marshall have there two toughest test at home, Miami & UCF. The Herd travels to Ohio University and Akron.
Omar?s View = 11-0; wins everyone and will be ranked Top 10 like they were in 99...they were ranked 8th in 99
BOLD PREDICTION Marshall will beat the Hokies if they can control the running game. Leftwich will pass for his yards and the Herd will score points, but Marshall must stop Tech?s rushing attack and have their own running game in synch for a mild upset to occur.
Pivotal Game:
@Virginia Tech (9/12/02): Marshall will have a nation wide audience for this game. A win puts Marshall possibly into a Top-10 ranking and most certainly pedestals Byron Leftwich as one of the top Heisman candidates in the country.
