Why each team should be excited, grouchy, and what each team needs to work on.
The numbers are the CFN pre-preseason national rankings.
55.
Southern Miss 2006 Record: 9-5 Why to get excited: The Golden Eagles should be the favorites for
the title with star RB Damion Fletcher and improving QB Jeremy Young
returning. TE Shawn Nelson is one of the best in America, while Chris
Johnson, the leading scorer among the receivers, will be a top deep
target. The defense should be at its typical high level with good
replacements ready to step in for the lost starters. Why to be grouchy: Southern Miss thrives on playing anyone,
anywhere, any time, but road trips to Tennessee, Penn State and LSU
aren't going to be fun. Three starters are gone off the offensive line,
while several great complementary receivers have to be replaced. Darren
McCaleb was one of the nation's best kickers for the last two years, and
now punter Britt Barefoot will likely have to pull double duty. The number one thing to work on is: Getting more from Young and
the passing game. Now that Young's an experienced veteran, there's no
reason USM should be last in the league in passing efficiency and
passing offense. The better the quarterback play is, the more room
Fletcher will have to run. Biggest offensive loss: OG George Batiste Biggest defensive loss: CB Caleb Hendrix
64.
Houston2006 Record: 10-4 Why to get excited: The defending Conference USA champion has a
slew of speed and talent returning and shouldn't drop off the map
offensively with Blake Joseph taking over for Kevin Kolb. Speedster
Anthony Alridge will get the ball more, while Jeron Harvey and Donnie
Avery will be dangerous targets. This will still be one of the favorites
for the title. Why to be grouchy: Kolb was the type of star who could carry an
entire team and make everyone around him better. The team still might be
good, but Kolb made it great. The defense was nothing special throughout
the year, and now it has to replace two key defensive backs in Will
Gulley and Willis Gaston along with DT Marquay Love, the anchor up
front. The number one thing to work on is: Punting. Justin Laird had a
big leg, but the Cougars were last in Conference USA, and 114th in the
nation, in net punting averaging just over 30 yards per game. Garrett
LeFevre, the likely new starter, can't do much worse, but he needs help
from a coverage unit that didn't do much last year. Biggest offensive loss: QB Kevin Kolb Biggest defensive loss: FS Will Gulley
67.
Marshall 2006 Record: 5-7 Why to get excited: The team showed it could crank out offensive
numbers against average teams last year, while the defense should be
solid with star-in-the-making DE Albert McClellan leading the way.
Bernard Morris has more than enough experience after splitting the
quarterback duties over the last two years, and now he should shine in
the full-time starting role. Why to be grouchy: RB Ahmad Bradshaw appeared to be coming back
for his senior year before deciding to turn pro at the last minute. Had
he returned, Marshall would've been one of the big favorites to win the
league title, but now it'll be up to Chubb Small to run effectively, and
Morris to become a consistent playmaker. Four key starters are gone off
the defensive back seven, while both offensive tackles need to be
replaced. The number one thing to work on is: Pass defense. The Thundering
Herd was 114th in the nation in pass defense allowing 252 yards per game
getting burned short, long, and everywhere in between. Blame the
problems on the young corners who now need to play like seasoned vets.
With McClellan and company sure to generate pressure up front, there's
no excuse to not be better. Biggest offensive loss: RB Ahmad Bradshaw Biggest defensive loss: SS Curtis Keyes
72.
Tulsa 2006 Record: 8-5 Why to get excited: Losing Steve Kragthorpe was expected, and
getting Todd Graham, who appears to be hitting the ground running, was a
major coup. QB Paul Smith is a seasoned veteran who's been through
everything possible and should shine under Graham. Courtney Tennial and
Tarrion Adams form a fantastic 1-2 rushing punch, while enough defensive
talent returns to keep things going after finishing the season No. 1 in
total D. Why to be grouchy: The offensive line has some rebuilding to do
losing four key players, but the biggest problem is in the receiving
corps with the three top targets needing to be replaced. While the
defense should be fine, Nick Bunting, Kedrick Alexander, Bobby
Blackshire and Nick Graham were important. The special teams needs a
total overhaul after a lousy year. The number one thing to work on is: Getting into the backfield.
Interestingly enough, the secondary came through with a fantastic year
despite the lack of a pass rush. Tulsa's front seven rarely made big
plays, almost never came up with a key sack, and didn't do nearly enough
behind the line. It would be nice of a killer pass rusher would emerge. Biggest offensive loss: OT Jeff Perrett Biggest defensive loss: S/LB Kedrick Alexander
79.
SMU 2006 Record: 6-6 Why to get excited: Justin Willis. One of the league's premier
players as a redshirt freshman, Willis is the type of quarterback who'll
be good enough to win games by himself. Along with backs DeMyron Martin
and Cedric Dorsey, the backfield should be the best in the league. Six
starters return to the defensive back seven. Junior-to-be Thomas
Morstead is a great all-around kicker and one of Conference USA's best
punters. Why to be grouchy: Three starters are gone off the league's
number one run defense. As good as Willis was, he got a lot of help from
a receiving corps that loses four of the top six receivers including key
safety valve TE Ryan Kennedy (although top target Emmanuel Sanders and
promising Columbus Givens are back). The secondary might be experienced,
but it has to be far, far better. The number one thing to work on is: Pass protection. Willis held
on to the ball too long at times and didn't force bad throws, but the
offensive line had issues protecting him giving up way too many big
shots. The franchise needs a little more time to operate and he can't
get knocked out. Give him a few extra ticks and he'll pick most
secondaries apart. Biggest offensive loss: TE Ryan Kennedy Biggest defensive loss: DE Justin Rogers
82.
UTEP 2006 Record: 5-7 Why to get excited: QB Jordan Palmer and WR Johnnie Lee Higgins
are gone, but everyone else of significance returns to the offense.
While Mike Price teams will always look to throw the ball (5th in the
nation in passing last year, 116th in rushing), this could quickly turn
into a running team with Marcus Thomas working behind a veteran
offensive line. Quintin Demps is one of the nation's premier safeties
and on the short list of Preseason Conference USA Defensive Player of
the Year, but ... Why to be grouchy: ... he can't play everywhere. UTEP loses nine
starters off the defense including a ton of quality depth, so don't
expect a big-time improvement from a D that allowed 395 yards and over
31 points per game. Palmer and Higgins were NFL-level talents; UTEP
won't easily replace them. The number one thing to work on is: Finding more offensive
balance. Thomas is the team's most talented offensive player, but will
Price be able to tweak the offense enough to early on to get the ground
game moving? The team became too reliant on Palmer over the last few
years, and now other players have to produce. Biggest offensive loss: QB Jordan Palmer and WR Johnnie Lee
Higgins Biggest defensive loss: LB Troy Collavo
83. East Carolina2006 Record: 7-6 Why to get excited: The program took a huge overall step last
year winning seven games and getting to a bowl game. The defense made
tremendous strides in Skip Holtz's second year, and now everyone on the
front seven returns. Towards the end of the year, the offensive line had
to use three freshmen in key roles, and now it should pay off with all
five starters back and experienced. Why to be grouchy: There are just enough key losses to cause a
little bit of a tumble. Three starters in the secondary are gone along
with QB James Pinkney, receivers Aundre Allison, Bobby Good and Kevin
Roach, and leading rusher Brandon Fractious. The number one thing to work on is: Getting into the backfield.
The amazing part about the ECU secondary last year was how it performed
despite the lack of pressure up front. The Pirates finished last in the
league in sacks with a mere 18 to go along with just 61 tackles for
loss. The new starting defensive backs could use some help. Biggest offensive loss: QB James Pinkney Biggest defensive loss: FS Jamar Flournoy
91. UCF 2006 Record: 4-8 Why to get excited: Let's try this again. After being the toast
of 2005, the team crashed with an ugly 2005 taking a big leap back
defensively while the offense struggled to put points on the board. This
was a young team last year, an infant team two years ago, and now it's
experienced and potentially solid with QB Kyle Israel and RB Kevin Smith
leading the way on offense with four starters returning up front.
Defensively, there are plenty of quality reserves to challenge the
starters. Why to be grouchy: After two years of having major problems,
maybe, just maybe, the once-promising defensive backs just aren't that
great. The production has to be there this year. Mike Walker was
everything to the passing game catching 90 of the team's 227 receptions
and scoring seven of the 14 passing touchdowns. The number one thing to work on is: Scoring off long drives.
Moving the ball wasn't a problem averaging 373 yards per game, but the
offense averaged an inexplicable 19 points per game settling for too
many field goals instead of scoring touchdowns. The attack has to
develop a killer instinct. Biggest offensive loss: WR Mike Walker Biggest defensive loss: DE Chris Welsh
93. Rice2006 Record:
7-6 Why to get excited: The team showed it has the talent and moxie
to win every close game possible and be more than just competitive in
Conference USA play, and now nine starters return on offense. Jarett
Dillard is one of the nation's best receivers and gets Chase Clement
throwing to him again, so expect more big plays and more passing
production. Of course ... Why to be grouchy: ... Todd Graham cranked out one good year at
Rice and jetted to Tulsa taking six assistants with him. Rice didn't do
much of anything defensively last year and now has to replace five
starters. If the offense isn't amazing, and the team doesn't get every
tight win, it'll be back to the ranks of the league also-rans. The number one thing to work on is: Getting in tune with a third
head coach in three seasons. Better offensive line play is a must after
allowing way too many sacks, while the return game could also use a ton
of help after averaging just 7.18 yards per punt return and 18.9 yards
per kickoff return. Biggest offensive loss: RB Quinton Smith Biggest defensive loss: Safeties Andray Downs and Chad Price
98. Memphis2006 Record: 2-10 Why to get excited: The defense can't be any worse with eight
starters returning. Last year's disaster won't happen twice in a row
under Tommy West, so if there can be just a little bit of improvement,
and the offense can use all of its experience (nine starters return) to
be more consistent and explosive, a big turnaround is possible. The
Tigers lost five games by a touchdown or less. Veteran teams tend to win
the close ones, however .... Why to be grouchy: ... the defense still has miles to go before
it's remotely productive, if last year was any indication. The secondary
hasn't stopped anyone in two years, and now it loses three starters
including all-everything star safety Wesley Smith. Punter Michael Gibson
was excellent last year and needs to be replaced. The number one thing to work on is: Getting into the backfield.
Nothing worked despite several attempts to change things up to generate
pressure. The defensive front only cranked out 17 tackles and 44 tackles
for loss, but that could be blamed on youth starting two freshman and
two sophomores for stretches. The secondary can't handle not getting a
little support. Biggest offensive loss: WR Ryan Scott Biggest defensive loss: SS Wesley Smith
100. UAB 2006 Record: 3-9 Why to get excited: New head man
Neil Callaway has just
enough coming back to be more competitive. This was one of the hard luck
teams of 2006 losing five games by a touchdown or less, and lost to UCF
31-22 in the season finale, so a few bounces the right way could do
wonders. Joseph Webb is an interesting quarterback prospect who showed
great flashes at the end of last year. He's a player to build the
offense around, and ... Why to be grouchy: ... he'll have to be with a lot of key
offensive parts gone. The three best backs are done, as are three
starters off the line. There's experience back at receiver, but the
jury's still out about how good this group is. Three very good starters
are gone off the defensive front led by the loss of Larry McSwain. The number one thing to work on is: Find something that works.
UAB didn't do any one thing particularly well last season, and it showed
as there wasn't any consistency and absolutely no clutch plays on either
side of the ball. Callaway has to give this team an identity right off
the bat. Biggest offensive loss: RBs Dan Burks and Corey White Biggest defensive loss: DE Larry McSwain
102. Tulane 2006 Record: 4-8 Why to get excited: New head coach Bob Toledo was far better than
he ever got credit for at UCLA and should get the offense humming like
Green Wave fans are used to. Scott Elliott has enough experience to hit
the ground running as the starting quarterback, while Matt Forte, once
he's back in the mix, is a big, talented back who can carry the offense.
The entire linebacking corps is back. Why to be grouchy: The defense still has light years to go before
it's even mediocre, and Toledo's teams haven't exactly been brick walls
on D. If the offense isn't throwing up 35 points per game, Tulane isn't
likely to win too often this year. The nation's 113th ranked pass
defense has to replace both its starting corners. The number one thing to work on is: Turnover margin. It's not
like the offense turned it over in bunches losing it 25 times, the
defense didn't provide any help with a mere 14 takeaways. Getting more
consistency out of the ground game would be nice. Biggest offensive loss: QB Lester Ricard Biggest defensive loss: CB Israel Route
