2007 MAC Preview - Unit Rankings

2007 CFN Preview - MAC Unit Rankings from top to bottom

2007 CFN MAC Preview

Unit Rankings

Team Previews
East Akron | Bowling Green | Buffalo | Kent State
Miami Univ. | Ohio | Temple

West Ball State | Central Michigan | Eastern Michigan
Northern Illinois | Toledo | Western Michigan

- 2007 CFN MAC Preview
- CFN All-MAC Team & Top 30 Players
- MAC Team-by-Team Capsules
- MAC Schedules & Predictions

Offenses
1. Central Michigan
Thanks to the emergence of quarterback Dan LeFevour, the offense went from decent to ultra-efficient, leading the MAC in yards and scoring. The passing game became fantastic, and the ground game, while not always getting enough from the backs, hit home run after home run. Now there will be more running from the backs, especially Ontario Sneed and Notre Dame transfer Justin Hoskins, and less running from LeFevour. The receiving corps is good enough for LeFevour to spread the ball around to several different targets. The line won't be as good as last year, after losing two key starters, but it'll be fine.

2. Western Michigan
3. Toledo
4. Bowling Green
5. Northern Illinois
6. Ball State
7. Miami University
8. Ohio
9. Kent State
10. Akron
11. Temple
12. Eastern Michigan
13. Buffalo

Quarterbacks  
1. Central Michigan
Dan LeFevour is only going to get better now that he's able to throw the ball more and has a good receiving corps to throw to. With Brian Brunner only a junior, the situation will be strong for the next few years.

2. Ball State
3. Western Michigan
4. Bowling Green
5. Toledo
6. Kent State
7. Miami University
8. Northern Illinois
9. Eastern Michigan
10. Akron
11. Buffalo
12. Temple
13. Ohio

Running Backs
1. Ohio
The only issue is the depth. Kalvin McRae will be the centerpiece of the offense again and should be a lock for a third straight 1,000-yard season, but someone else has to come in to help out the cause. The fullbacks are unsung but sensational, and they might be used more to carry the workload. Essentially, as long as McRae is healthy, everything is fine. The rating would be far higher if there was a backup worthy of note.

2. Central Michigan
3. Toledo
4. Bowling Green
5. Western Michigan
6. Miami University
7. Northern Illinois
8. Kent State
9. Akron
10. Buffalo
11. Ball State
12. Temple
13. Eastern Michigan

Receivers
1. Central Michigan
The passing game will be the bread-and-butter of an attack that finished 22nd in the nation last year, and this corps will get the job done. The emergence of Jemmy Jasmin and Joe Bockheim this spring upgrades a corps that was already going to be good with the 1-2 punch of Bryan Anderson and Justin Gardner.

2. Western Michigan
3. Ball State
4. Northern Illinois
5. Akron
6. Bowling Green
7. Toledo
8. Miami University
9. Temple
10. Kent State
11. Buffalo
12. Eastern Michigan
13. Ohio

Offensive Line
1. Western Michigan
The line allowed a mere 17 sacks and did a good job paving the way for the running game when it had to. With all the returning experience, and all the size, there's no reason there can't be even more production as long as everyone stays healthy. This has been a line almost two years in the making with several tweaks and changes, and now it should shine.

2. Toledo
3. Ohio
4. Northern Illinois
5. Central Michigan
6. Bowling Green
7. Miami University
8. Ball State
9. Kent State
10. Akron
11. Temple
12. Eastern Michigan
13. Buffalo

Defenses
1. Western Michigan
It's not a big D, but it's very quick, very disruptive, and very good. After a big year, the MAC's number one defense gets eight starters back. The line will get in the backfield early and often with the return of Zach Davidson and big-play tackles Nick Varcadipane and Cory Flom. The secondary is loaded with speed and experience with all four starters returning after helping the D pick off 24 passes. The big concern is at outside linebacker after losing Ameer Ismail and Paul Tithof, but Austin Pritchard is a rising star and Dustin Duclo is good in the middle.

2. Central Michigan
3. Kent State
4. Akron
5. Northern Illinois
6. Bowling Green
7. Toledo
8. Ohio
9. Miami University
10.Ball State
11. Eastern Michigan
12. Buffalo
13. Temple

Defensive Lines
1. Western Michigan
This will be one of the best WMU lines in recent history with three great producers who'll now be the stars of the defense with the replacements needed at linebacker. Zach Davidson will be in the quarterback's face all season long, while Nick Varcadipane is quickly growing into one of the league's all-time great tackles.

2. Central Michigan
3. Ohio
4. Kent State
5. Northern Illinois
6. Akron
7. Toledo
8. Bowling Green
9. Miami University
10. Ball State
11. Buffalo
12. Temple
13. Eastern Michigan

Linebackers
1. Central Michigan
While not the team's greatest strength, this is hardly a weakness. Ike Brown's injury last year turned out to be a positive for this year since it allowed him to redshirt and gave Jonathan Lapsley time to show he could be a productive player with an increased role. This will be among the MAC's steadiest corps.

2. Kent State
3. Akron
4. Northern Illinois
5. Western Michigan
6. Bowling Green
7. Toledo
8. Miami University
9. Ball State
10. Ohio
11. Eastern Michigan
12. Buffalo
13. Temple

Defensive Backs
1. Western Michigan
It's been a work in progress over the last two seasons, throwing freshmen to the wolves in 2005, allowing over 300 yards per game, sticking through the inconsistencies as sophomores last year, and now hoping for everyone to be tremendous as juniors. There's depth, speed, experience, and enough talent to be great.

2. Central Michigan
3. Kent State
4. Miami University
5. Bowling Green
6. Akron
7. Toledo
8. Ohio
9. Northern Illinois
10. Eastern Michigan
11. Temple
12. Buffalo
13. Ball State

Special Teams
1. Toledo
The Rockets will be good here. The kicking game is reliable, the return game potentially explosive, and the coverage units, as always, will be fine. The special teams should be the difference in at least one game.

2. Ohio
3. Miami University
4. Western Michigan
5. Ball State
6. Northern Illinois
7. Eastern Michigan
8. Central Michigan
9. Bowling Green
10. Temple
11. Bowling Green
12. Buffalo
13. Kent State