Offensive Strengths
Although Western Michigan graduated much of their receivers last year, the Broncos will be very strong in this area. WMU has been stockpiling quality wideouts since Gary Darnell arrived in 1997. The big addition to this unit is Jermaine Lewis who was a 2nd team All-MAC DB last fall. The talented 6?4?? 202-pound senior "is the third fastest player in this conference and I don?t know who the first are," according to Darnell. Other premium players at this position include Kendrick Mosley (6?3?? 185), Antonio Thomas (6?4?? 203), Brandon Johnson (6?3?? 201), Tony Scheffler (6?5?? 223) and Greg Jennings (6?1?? 190). All of these players have speed and the ability to catch the ball in a crowd. The Broncos have the luxury of having one of the top tight ends in the MAC. Mobolaji Afariogun (6?4?? 242) has the blocking skills to match his big play receiving skills and several MAC coaches feel he will be playing on Sundays after he graduates. There is talent though in Phillip Reed and Charles Woods. Both players are in the 5?11?? 200-pound range and are very similar in terms of speed and power. The coaching staff really like freshmen backs Trovon Riley and Daniel Marks and see them playing quite a bit this fall.
Offensive Concerns
Sophomore Jonathan Drach "is our quarterback right now if we had to play a game today," according to Darnell. Drach played in seven games last fall and averaged just 141-yards per game, matching his 7TD passes with 7 INTs. Two talented junior-college transfers will fight for the starting job before the season begins. Chad Munson threw for over 3,300 yards and 32 TDs last year at Compton College (CA) while Robbie Haas threw for nearly 2,500 yards and 30 TDs at Ricks College (ID). Last year the running backs did not do a very good job for Western in terms of production. As a team, the Broncos had only eight touchdowns on the ground and averaged 100-yards per game. Western has a lot of size and some experience returning in the trenches. Gary Darnell states, "Big doesn?t mean good at this position. It is the most developmental on any team. Linemen must learn our system and be ready to play." Darnell is hoping to find eight players who can go at full strength all year and push the offense to be more productive. Kevin Kramer (6?4?? 289), Jake Gasaway (6?3?? 278) and C.R. Moultry (6?6?? 332) are returning lettermen while Kyle Ras (6?6?? 281), Jon Garcia (6?5?? 334) and Fred McCants (6?6?? 345) are looking to make significant contributions. Other players in the mix include Mark Ottney (6?5?? 275), Mike Weaver (6?7?? 318) & Mike McCord (6?7?? 288).
Defensive Strengths
Western Michigan has one of the top defensive lines in the MAC. "You give me two great defensive ends and two good cover corners and I will play anyone," according to Darnell. The Broncos have these great ends in Anthony Allsbury (6?2?? 253), a returning 1st team All-MAC player, Jason Babin (6?4?? 255), the team?s best overall athlete, and Chris Browning (6?2?? 235). These three players produced 19 sacks alone last year.
Western Michigan led the MAC in producing quarterback sacks in 2001 with 31. Returning defensive players made up 28 of those 31. The interior line will be filled by veterans Ryan Iorillo (6?3?? 285), Jeff Westgate (6?5?? 267), Jack Gitler (6?2?? 246), and talented JUCO transfers Jonathan Jones (6?1?? 294) and Andy Endermann (6?2?? 283). The Broncos return a solid group of linebackers led by Jason Malloy (6?1?? 238), Brian Lape (6?3?? 220), and an Honorable Mention All-MAC performer in 2001, and Jo Jo Mesa (5?1?? 237). Lape forced a MAC-high 6 fumbles last fall and led the team with 122 tackles with three sacks.
Defensive Concerns
WMU uses five DBs per play in their defensive schemes and must replace six players from this area. Darnell hit the junior college circuit hard in this area to fill the immediate need bringing in three players he hopes to have an impact. Maurice Hart (6?0?? 204), Willie Pope (6?2?? 185) and Eugene Childs (6?0?? 193) are looking to assist Carlos Smith (6?4?? 220), Tony Carr (6?1?? 182), Mike Johnson (5?9?? 164), Sam Reynolds (6?2?? 187) and Jermaine Foreste (5?10?? 184) and keep the Broncos on top as the best defense against the pass in the MAC again (179-yards per game through the air). It was quite surprising that with such a talented defensive front that WMU gave up 186-yards per game on the ground in 2001. That needs to tighten up, especially considering the difficult schedule this year. The DBs need to due better than their 8 INTs output last fall.
Special Teams
Adam Anderson is looking to better his 38-yard per punt average and Matt Steffen is used as the "pooch" punter. Robert Menchinger is adequate as the returning place kicker but his job will be wide open right up to the begging of the season. Ron Rogers will be missed as he was one the MAC?s best last year at nearly 24-yards return. Greg Jennings is lightening-quick and looks to make a name for himself as the return specialist this year. Western Michigan has a lot of speed at the skilled positions to fill this area properly.
Schedule
Most certainly Western Michigan has one of the most difficult schedules in the MAC this year, and most likely, in school history. After feasting on Indiana State in week #1, the next three games are @Michigan, @ Purdue and at home against Virginia Tech. Crossover games are interesting as the Broncos host UCF, and travel to Buffalo for the first time. Within the West, WMU gets a break with hosting NIU & Toledo, but must travel to BG & archrival CMU. The Broncos have not won at Mount Pleasant since 1973, 15 games ago. To put this into perspective, Richard Nixon was President and the top rated TV shows were ?All in the Family? and ?Sanford & Son.?
Omar's View = 8-4; wins against ISU, @Buffalo, NIU, EMU, UCF, @BSU, @CMU & Toledo; losses @Michigan, @Purdue, V-Tech, @BG.
Overview
Western Michigan suffered their first losing season under sixth-year Coach Gary Darnell, posting a 5-6 record during a difficult year that featured thirteen players being lost to injury. Within that record includes two late season heartbreaking losses to divisional rivals Toledo and Ball State that cost the Broncos a chance to play in a third straight MAC Championship game. "This was a season where we never quite caught up, we never got ahead," Darnell stated. Still, by the end of the 2001 season, 12 school records were either tied or broken and the 18 seniors left the as the 2nd best class in school history in terms of wins. This season Darnell and his staff have will their work cut out as they must replace a talented quarterback and nearly all of their receiving corp. Adding to this challenge is a daunting schedule that is one of the MAC?s most difficult. My slightly pessimistic record for WMU is due entirely to this difficult schedule. I don?t know how you can survive it? Without any question, this Western team is one of the most talented teams in the MAC this year. Unfortunately, this brutal schedule will most likely not show how good they really are.
Pivotal Game:
UCF (10/12/02): This is a statement game. Most likely both teams will be entering this game with sub-.500 records, but quality talent. Since all conference games count in the standings this year, this game will mean the difference between playing for divisional championship or being out of the race at mid-season. This will be a treat to watch!
BOLD PREDICTION Western Michigan will break the MAC?s home attendance record when they host Virginia Tech. Look for a crowd around 38K. This record will last five weeks when UCF hosts Syracuse and breaks this game?s attendance record.
Although Western Michigan graduated much of their receivers last year, the Broncos will be very strong in this area. WMU has been stockpiling quality wideouts since Gary Darnell arrived in 1997. The big addition to this unit is Jermaine Lewis who was a 2nd team All-MAC DB last fall. The talented 6?4?? 202-pound senior "is the third fastest player in this conference and I don?t know who the first are," according to Darnell. Other premium players at this position include Kendrick Mosley (6?3?? 185), Antonio Thomas (6?4?? 203), Brandon Johnson (6?3?? 201), Tony Scheffler (6?5?? 223) and Greg Jennings (6?1?? 190). All of these players have speed and the ability to catch the ball in a crowd. The Broncos have the luxury of having one of the top tight ends in the MAC. Mobolaji Afariogun (6?4?? 242) has the blocking skills to match his big play receiving skills and several MAC coaches feel he will be playing on Sundays after he graduates. There is talent though in Phillip Reed and Charles Woods. Both players are in the 5?11?? 200-pound range and are very similar in terms of speed and power. The coaching staff really like freshmen backs Trovon Riley and Daniel Marks and see them playing quite a bit this fall.
Offensive Concerns
Sophomore Jonathan Drach "is our quarterback right now if we had to play a game today," according to Darnell. Drach played in seven games last fall and averaged just 141-yards per game, matching his 7TD passes with 7 INTs. Two talented junior-college transfers will fight for the starting job before the season begins. Chad Munson threw for over 3,300 yards and 32 TDs last year at Compton College (CA) while Robbie Haas threw for nearly 2,500 yards and 30 TDs at Ricks College (ID). Last year the running backs did not do a very good job for Western in terms of production. As a team, the Broncos had only eight touchdowns on the ground and averaged 100-yards per game. Western has a lot of size and some experience returning in the trenches. Gary Darnell states, "Big doesn?t mean good at this position. It is the most developmental on any team. Linemen must learn our system and be ready to play." Darnell is hoping to find eight players who can go at full strength all year and push the offense to be more productive. Kevin Kramer (6?4?? 289), Jake Gasaway (6?3?? 278) and C.R. Moultry (6?6?? 332) are returning lettermen while Kyle Ras (6?6?? 281), Jon Garcia (6?5?? 334) and Fred McCants (6?6?? 345) are looking to make significant contributions. Other players in the mix include Mark Ottney (6?5?? 275), Mike Weaver (6?7?? 318) & Mike McCord (6?7?? 288).
Defensive Strengths
Western Michigan has one of the top defensive lines in the MAC. "You give me two great defensive ends and two good cover corners and I will play anyone," according to Darnell. The Broncos have these great ends in Anthony Allsbury (6?2?? 253), a returning 1st team All-MAC player, Jason Babin (6?4?? 255), the team?s best overall athlete, and Chris Browning (6?2?? 235). These three players produced 19 sacks alone last year.
Western Michigan led the MAC in producing quarterback sacks in 2001 with 31. Returning defensive players made up 28 of those 31. The interior line will be filled by veterans Ryan Iorillo (6?3?? 285), Jeff Westgate (6?5?? 267), Jack Gitler (6?2?? 246), and talented JUCO transfers Jonathan Jones (6?1?? 294) and Andy Endermann (6?2?? 283). The Broncos return a solid group of linebackers led by Jason Malloy (6?1?? 238), Brian Lape (6?3?? 220), and an Honorable Mention All-MAC performer in 2001, and Jo Jo Mesa (5?1?? 237). Lape forced a MAC-high 6 fumbles last fall and led the team with 122 tackles with three sacks.
Defensive Concerns
WMU uses five DBs per play in their defensive schemes and must replace six players from this area. Darnell hit the junior college circuit hard in this area to fill the immediate need bringing in three players he hopes to have an impact. Maurice Hart (6?0?? 204), Willie Pope (6?2?? 185) and Eugene Childs (6?0?? 193) are looking to assist Carlos Smith (6?4?? 220), Tony Carr (6?1?? 182), Mike Johnson (5?9?? 164), Sam Reynolds (6?2?? 187) and Jermaine Foreste (5?10?? 184) and keep the Broncos on top as the best defense against the pass in the MAC again (179-yards per game through the air). It was quite surprising that with such a talented defensive front that WMU gave up 186-yards per game on the ground in 2001. That needs to tighten up, especially considering the difficult schedule this year. The DBs need to due better than their 8 INTs output last fall.
Special Teams
Adam Anderson is looking to better his 38-yard per punt average and Matt Steffen is used as the "pooch" punter. Robert Menchinger is adequate as the returning place kicker but his job will be wide open right up to the begging of the season. Ron Rogers will be missed as he was one the MAC?s best last year at nearly 24-yards return. Greg Jennings is lightening-quick and looks to make a name for himself as the return specialist this year. Western Michigan has a lot of speed at the skilled positions to fill this area properly.
Schedule
Most certainly Western Michigan has one of the most difficult schedules in the MAC this year, and most likely, in school history. After feasting on Indiana State in week #1, the next three games are @Michigan, @ Purdue and at home against Virginia Tech. Crossover games are interesting as the Broncos host UCF, and travel to Buffalo for the first time. Within the West, WMU gets a break with hosting NIU & Toledo, but must travel to BG & archrival CMU. The Broncos have not won at Mount Pleasant since 1973, 15 games ago. To put this into perspective, Richard Nixon was President and the top rated TV shows were ?All in the Family? and ?Sanford & Son.?
Omar's View = 8-4; wins against ISU, @Buffalo, NIU, EMU, UCF, @BSU, @CMU & Toledo; losses @Michigan, @Purdue, V-Tech, @BG.
Overview
Western Michigan suffered their first losing season under sixth-year Coach Gary Darnell, posting a 5-6 record during a difficult year that featured thirteen players being lost to injury. Within that record includes two late season heartbreaking losses to divisional rivals Toledo and Ball State that cost the Broncos a chance to play in a third straight MAC Championship game. "This was a season where we never quite caught up, we never got ahead," Darnell stated. Still, by the end of the 2001 season, 12 school records were either tied or broken and the 18 seniors left the as the 2nd best class in school history in terms of wins. This season Darnell and his staff have will their work cut out as they must replace a talented quarterback and nearly all of their receiving corp. Adding to this challenge is a daunting schedule that is one of the MAC?s most difficult. My slightly pessimistic record for WMU is due entirely to this difficult schedule. I don?t know how you can survive it? Without any question, this Western team is one of the most talented teams in the MAC this year. Unfortunately, this brutal schedule will most likely not show how good they really are.
Pivotal Game:
UCF (10/12/02): This is a statement game. Most likely both teams will be entering this game with sub-.500 records, but quality talent. Since all conference games count in the standings this year, this game will mean the difference between playing for divisional championship or being out of the race at mid-season. This will be a treat to watch!
BOLD PREDICTION Western Michigan will break the MAC?s home attendance record when they host Virginia Tech. Look for a crowd around 38K. This record will last five weeks when UCF hosts Syracuse and breaks this game?s attendance record.
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