2007
Preseason Rankings
The Bottom Ten - No. 110 to No. 119
These teams will have a hard time against just about everyone
There's
one very important distinction in the CFN preseason rankings: these
are based on how good the teams are going into the season and NOT
how they're going to finish. Some teams have easier
schedules than others, some get tougher road games and some will
need a little bit of time to jell meaning they might be better than
their final record might indicate. Going into the year, these are
how good the teams appear to be from No. 1 through 119.
CFN 2007 Preseason Rankings
1 to 10 |
11 to 20 |
21 to 29 |
30 to 39 |
40 to 49 |
50 to 59
60 to 69 |
70 to 79 |
80 to 89 |
90 to 99 |
100 to 109
110.
Florida Atlantic
-
Florida Atlantic
Preview |
Offense
|
Defense |
Depth Chart
The ranking is too low because ... the Owls should be
consistently decent with the quarterback situation settled, good players
in place at receiver and running back, and a loaded defense that should
be among the best in the Sun Belt. The linebacking corps should be
fantastic, while safeties Kris Bartels and Taheem Acevedo are terrific.
It'll be a shock if the Owls don't finish in the top two in the league
in pass defense.
The ranking is too high because ... the offense still needs to
find its stride. The offensive line is woefully undersized, sort of by
design, and it needs to be far better at running the ball. While the
defense should be fine against the pass, it'll be mediocre against the
run. Unfortunately, the Sun Belt is all about stopping the run since no
one throws it.
Relative Strengths: Linebacker, Secondary
Relative
Weaknesses: Offensive Line, Special Teams
111.
Idaho
-
Idaho Preview | Offense |
Defense
|
Depth Chart
The ranking is too low because ... with a little bit of tweaking,
new head coach Robb Akey could make the Vandals more than just
respectable right now. The defensive back seven has tremendous pieces to
work with, led by the linebacking duo of JoArtis Ratti and David Vobora.
Corner Stanley Franks is one of the WAC's best, while safety Shiloh Keo
is a big-time popping machine. Jayson Bird could be a star back if he
can stay healthy.
The ranking is too high because ... the defensive line couldn't
stop you and three friends from running the ball effectively. The
quarterback situation, while promising, is up in the air with redshirt
freshman Nathan Enderle, if he turns out to be the man, needing time.
He's not going to get much help from a shaky receiving corps.
Relative Strengths: Running Back, Linebacker
Relative
Weaknesses: Defensive Line, Wide Receiver
112.
UL Lafayette
-
UL Lafayette
Preview |
Offense
|
Defense
|
Depth Chart
The ranking is too low because ... no one will stop the ground
game. At least no one in the Sun Belt will. The trio of Tyrell Fenroy,
Deon Wallace, and quarterback Michael Desormeaux should run wild behind
a good enough offensive line to get the job done. The defense was one of
the best in the league last year and should be decent against the run.
The ranking is too high because ... there won't be much of a
passing game. While it might be effective from time to time, it's not
going to scare anyone. Everyone knows what the Ragin' Cajuns are going
to do, it's just a question of stopping it. The defense will be fine
against the lesser passing teams, but should get torched by anyone who
can throw consistently well.
Relative Strengths: Running Back, Quarterback
Relative
Weaknesses: Wide Receiver, Defensive Line
113. North
Texas
- North Texas
Preview |
Offense
| Defense |
Depth Chart
The ranking is too low because ... the defense should be good
enough to be competitive in Sun Belt play until the offense comes
around. The linebackers should be among the most productive in the
league, while there are just enough good players on the line and in the
secondary to hope for big things. The offense can't be any worse than
it's been over the last two years, and it won't be with RB Jamario
Thomas the centerpiece of the new spread attack.
The ranking is too high because ... the quarterback situation is
shaky at best, and there might not be any semblance of a passing attack
over the first half of the season. The receiving corps needs a lot of
time with the only real playmakers coming in from the freshman class,
while the line could be a nightmare early on. There's no established
pass rusher on the front four.
Relative Strengths: Running Back, Linebacker
Relative
Weaknesses: Offensive Line, Wide Receiver
114.
Florida International
-
FIU Preview |
Offense
|
Defense |
Depth Chart
The ranking is too low because ... last year's defense might have
been the best ever for a winless squad, and now seven starters are back.
This was a team that should've turned a corner, lost a slew of tough
early games, had the brawl against Miami, and then went totally into the
tank. Eight starters are back on an offense that should get a breath of
new life with the new coaching staff.
The ranking is too high because ... the two leaders of last
year's team, LB Keyonvis Bouie and QB Josh Padrick, are gone. The
passing game is all but starting from scratch, while the defense has to
replace all three linebackers. The top four tacklers, along with the
best pass rushers, need to be replaced.
Relative Strengths: Secondary, Defensive Line
Relative
Weaknesses: Quarterback, Wide Receiver
115.
Eastern Michigan
- Eastern Michigan
Preview |
Offense |
Defense
|
Depth Chart
The ranking is too low because ... head coach Jeff Genyk has his
best defense yet (which isn't saying much) with ten returning starters
and an All-MAC caliber playmaker in linebacker Daniel Holtzclaw. The
team wasn't all that far off from winning several games last year, and
now with an improved team, the results should be better.
The ranking is too high because ... the skill positions are
hardly settled. Andy Schmitt is a decent quarterback and Tyler Jones
will find a spot somewhere, but the receiving corps needs an overhaul
and there's no sure-thing back to carry the workload. It'll all be on
the quarterback to carry the attack. The run defense has been
non-existent over the last few years, and despite all the returning
experience, the numbers probably won't improve drastically.
Relative Strengths: Special Teams, Quarterback
Relative
Weaknesses: Wide Receiver, Running Back
116. Utah
State
-
Utah State Preview
|
Offense |
Defense
|
Depth Chart
The ranking is too low because ... the Aggies have one of the
most experienced teams in the WAC led by a quick defense with all 11
starters back. The offensive line should be just good enough to hope for
more overall production from the skill players, with receiver Kevin
Robinson a potential game-breaker to utilize.
The ranking is too high because ... the team still needs a lot of
work. There was no offense last year, and the quarterback situation
hasn't gotten much better. The defense might be full of veterans, but
it's way too small all the way around. It'll be a shock if the Aggies
are favored in any game.
Relative Strengths: Special Teams, Wide Receiver
Relative
Weaknesses: Defense, Quarterback
117.
Buffalo
Buffalo Preview
|
Offense |
Defense
|
Depth Chart
The ranking is too low because ... Turner Gill and his staff had
the team playing hard throughout another down UB season, and now there
are real, live offensive playmakers to win with, and the O line, while
not all that talented, is at least full of big veterans. The defense
isn't big, but it's extremely quick by MAC standards. The Bulls should
be among the league leaders in tackles for loss and sacks.
The ranking is too high because ... big running teams should be
able to pound away on the smallish UB front. While the offense should be
better, the line is still in need of sure-thing producers to give
everyone time to operate. The overall will and heart is there on both
sides of the ball, but there are miles and miles to go before there's
any dream of being a player in the MAC.
Relative Strengths: Offensive Backfield, Defensive Line
Relative
Weaknesses: Offensive Line, Wide Receiver
118.
Temple
-
Temple Preview |
Offense
|
Defense
|
Depth
Chart
The ranking is too low because ... the Owls are loaded with
experience to fill the gaps, while a major infusion of talent from the
latest recruiting class has upgrades the overall potential. The coaching
staff isn't going to work miracles, but the first year in the MAC might
be filled with several upsets if the mistakes are kept to a minimum.
The ranking is too high because ... if the true freshmen aren't
stars right away, the production might not be all that much better. This
was the worst offensive team in America and 117th in defense; there's
still a lot of work to be done just to become respectable.
Relative Strengths: Quarterback, Wide Receiver
Relative
Weaknesses: Linebacker, Lines
119. Army
-
Army Preview |
Offense |
Defense
|
Depth Chart
The ranking is too low because ... Carson Williams is a great
quarterback prospect to build around, and he has a nice receiving corps
to work with. There's just enough experience and size up front to not be
a total pushover. Caleb Campbell will be one of the nation's best
tackling safeties.
Relative Strengths: Special Teams, Offensive Backfield
Relative
Weaknesses: Offensive Line, Linebacker