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Preview 2014 - CFN Sun Belt Team By Team Quick Looks and Predicted Finish



Note: This is based on how good each team is going into the season and NOT necessarily the predicted finish.

1. Louisiana-Lafayette

What You Need To Know About The Offense: The hope is for more of the same under offensive coordinator Jay Johnson, only more of it. The Ragin’ Cajuns have been balanced and explosive over the last few years, and they have the potential to be even more dangerous this year with eight starters returning including an all-star backfield trio of QB Terrance Broadway and RBs Alonzo Harris and Elijah McGuire. The offense took a wee step back in overall production last year, but everything should bounce back up again helped by a potentially dominant line and with veteran receiver Jamal Robinson stretching the field. Few attacks will be better on third downs and almost no one in the Sun Belt will be as efficient.

What You Need To Know About The Defense: Defensive coordinator James Willis improved things a little bit last season, but the defense still needs to be better in pass coverage and needs to be more consistent. With seven starters returning, including a great-looking front four, there should be more production against the run, but generating pressure is a must to help out a secondary that allowed 243 yards per game and allowed way too many midrange plays. Replacements at linebacker are needed, but this is an aggressive, good-hitting D that should be a bit better. As long as it’s not awful, and as long as it comes up with enough stops to let the offense do its thing, it’ll be fine.

2. Arkansas State

What You Need To Know About The Offense: Head coach Blake Anderson is a great offensive mind, and he’ll combine with offensive coordinator Walt Bell to try to crank up the passing game even more. The Red Wolves were balanced last season – averaging 206 rushing yards and 202 through the air – but it’s going to take a little luck to be more consistent. The line loses star Bryce Giddens to early retirement due to injury, meaning just one starter returns. Fredi Knighten needs to become a star as the top quarterback option, but he’s more of an all-around baller than a pure passer. Fortunately, there are a few stars to build around in RB Michael Gordon and WR J.D. McKissic, but they need the line to be terrific to give everyone time to work.

What You Need To Know About The Defense: After a mediocre year – allowing 30 points or more six times - the potential is there for the ASU defense to be fantastic. Defensive coordinator Joe Cauthen has a loaded hand, starting with a secondary with three likely all-stars in corners Rocky Hayes and Artez Brown along with safety Sterling Young. The linebacking corps in the 4-2-5 was already going to be strong, led by star tackler Qushaun Lee, but the addition of Arkansas transfer A.J. Turner should make it fantastic. The problem could be the line with just one returning starter, but there’s size to work with and hope with a good pass rusher in Chris Stone to rely on.

3. South Alabama

What You Need To Know About The Offense: The offense was consistent, cranking out 30 points or more in eight games, going 6-2 when it did. The running game was solid – helped by the running of former starting QB Ross Metheny – and the passing attack was efficient enough to get by. Now the big question mark is at quarterback, where Brandon Bridge appears to be the next man up unless USF transfer Matt Floyd comes in and shines right away. The receiving corps should be among the best in the Sun Belt, and tight end Wes Saxton should be an all-star. The ground game will still need the quarterback to get moving, but the running backs are in place to work behind a fantastic line led by all-star tackles Ucambre Williams and Chris May.

What You Need To Know About The Defense: It got better as last season went on, allowing 17 points or fewer in four of the final five games. One of the Sun Belt’s best defenses returns loaded with eight starters back highlighted by a terrific secondary. The pass rush will be the question mark after losing Romelle Jones and Alex Page, but the coaching staff knows how to get defenders to the quarterback. The run defense will be solid and the defensive backfield should be dominant at times with five starters returning, depending on the alignment.

4. ULM

What You Need To Know About The Offense: It wasn’t a dynamic attack and it wasn’t consistent, and now it has to try to rebuild and reload up front and without QB Kolton Browning. With the addition of NC State and Colorado State transfer Pete Thomas, the problem might be solved. There’s decent size up front, and there’s good potential with RB Centarius Donald and WR Rashon Ceaser likely to be among the Sun Belt’s best at their respective positions as long as Donald is fed the ball more. The line needs some retooling and reloading, but there’s size along with veterans with four seniors and a junior up front. It all has to lead to doing more down the field and being more efficient with the passing game, and the ground attack has to control games from time to time. It didn’t last year.

What You Need To Know About The Defense: The 3-3-5 alignment started to work last season. There wasn’t much of a pass rush, and there were problems late in the season, especially against the run, but with nine starters returning there’s hope to do even more. The secondary is great against the run – partly because the front six isn’t always steady – with good hitters who know what they’re doing. Hunter Kissinger and Ray Stovall are solid veteran linebackers who can do a little bit of everything, and they’ll have to be more disruptive if DE Darius Lively and NT Gerrand Johnson aren’t generating a push behind the line.

T5. Texas State

What You Need To Know About The Offense: The Bobcat spread attack has the experience and has the potential to be far, far better after an awful season. Co-offensive coordinators Mike Schultz and Jeff Conway have to get more of a passing game out of Tyler Jones, a dangerous dual-threat quarterback who’s growing into the job and has the potential to be terrific as the season goes on – but he needs receivers to help him out. The bread will be buttered with the ground game, including Jones running the ball, with Robert Lowe leading a deep and quick group of backs who can crank out big yards in chunks. The line is very big with great experienced on the left side, and it should be able to blast away at times. It all has to result in better results after finishing 111th in the nation in offense with one of the nation’s least efficient passing games. That should change this year.

What You Need To Know About The Defense: Terrific last year until running out of gas late, now the defense needs to do a little bit of work having to replace seven starters and hoping for a smallish line to hold up. Fortunately, the linebackers in the 4-2-5 alignment are fantastic with Michael Orakpo and David Mayo two of the best in the Sun Belt. These two will do a little of everything, while the veteran secondary should be fine if the line can get into the backfield once in a while. All four starters are gone up front, but there’s promise on the inside with sophomore tackles Darius Hood and Dallas McClarty two quick options to build around. The Bobcats are great at keeping the big plays to a minimum, but now the defense has to come up with more game-changing moments of its own.

T5. Troy

What You Need To Know About The Offense: After a huge season for the passing game – finishing 13th in the nation averaging 322 yards per game - some replacements are needed losing quarterbacks Corey Robinson and Deon Anthony along with leading receiver Eric Thomas, there’s a little bit of tweaking to be done. However, the line is fantastic and should be among the best in the Sun Belt, and the backfield is deep and talented with several different options to play around with. But Troy is about the passing game, and it has two good prospects in JUCO superstar Dontreal Pruitt and last year’s star recruit Brandon Silvers in the hunt for the gig. Bryan Holmes, Chandler Worthy, and JUCO transfer Jarvis Bentley form an excellent receiving corps to make up for the loss of Thomas.

What You Need To Know About The Defense: The Troy defense has been among the worst in the nation over the last few seasons, and defensive coordinator Wayne Bolt wasn’t able to change things up much in his 4-2-5 alignment finishing 112th in the nation and getting torched through the air. Fortunately, four starters are back in the secondary with several promising defensive backs who need to start coming up with more picks. Both starting linebackers – Wayland Coleman-Dancer and Mark Wilson – are back, but the problem is up front with three of the four starters gone along with most of the key backups. Tyler Roberts is a terrific pass rushing end, but he needs some support from the new starters in the mix – the Trojans need more than Roberts to get to the quarterback.

7. Georgia Southern

What You Need To Know About The Offense: The offense that boasted the most dangerous and productive ground attack in college football – averaging 360 yards per game – will undergo a bit of a tweak under the new coaching staff. The zone-read/option will still be the main mode of transportation, only with more of a pistol alignment to allow the magnificent Kevin Ellison to be used a bit more of a passer as well as a runner. Replacing Minnesota Viking Jerick McKinnon in the backfield is going to be a problem, but there’s speed and flash to help out the dangerous Ellison. Led by center Manrey Saint-Amour and LT Garrett Frye, the line should be among the most effective in the Sun Belt, and the receivers are there to make the passing game go with B.J. Johnson and Tray Butler ready to do far more with the ball coming their way.

What You Need To Know About The Defense: The defense was okay, but it didn’t come up with enough takeaways and it needs to do far more to get to the quarterback and be disruptive with just two recovered fumbles and 12 sacks. Defensive coordinator Jack Curtis is still around from the old coaching staff, and his 4-3 alignment has a good linebacking corps led by big-hitter Edwin Jackson in the middle. More often than not, though, the Eagles utilize a 4-2-5 and keeps a nickel defender on the field while allowing the safeties to roam. The problem and concern when three true linebackers aren’t in is a front four that has to replace three starters and needs more explosiveness from the ends. Fortunately, the secondary is where the experience is.

8. Appalachian State

What You Need To Know About The Offense: It was a disappointing season for a program known for its explosive offense, but there’s hope for a quick turnaround if some new receivers emerge. QB Kameron Bryant was ultra-efficient and effective, but there weren’t enough big plays down the field to make up for a mediocre ground game. Andrew Peacock and Tony Washington combined for 144 catches, and now it’s up to Malachi Jones and others to keep the passing game going to take the heat off of RB Marcus Cox. The sophomore back was the workhorse as a runner and a receiver, but he needs more help from the other backs so he doesn’t wear down with the schedule getting tougher late. The line should turn into a plus with five starters returning and promising depth ready to provide a few battles for starting jobs.

What You Need To Know About The Defense: The 3-4 defense has the potential to be far stronger after struggling against the run a bit too often, allowing 4.9 yards per carry and not doing nearly enough to get behind the line. There’s quickness at linebacker, and the front three could be more dangerous with end Ronald Blair back after missing most of last year. The combination of Deuce Robinson and Olawale Dada could potentially be solid if one of them can start hitting the quarterback. The lack of a pass rush hurt the secondary that needs to be better at coming up with stops after allowing opposing quarterbacks to connect on 64% of his tries. Three starters are back in the secondary, and as long as the front seven does its job a little bit better, and there’s more attacking and aggressiveness up front, the results should come.

T9. Idaho

What You Need To Know About The Offense: The offense couldn’t keep up the pace, struggling up front to keep the quarterbacks from getting popped, and not generating enough for a running game that had to be abandoned too early thanks to a defense that couldn’t come up with a stop. The line has the potential to be stronger with several key parts back and good size at tackle. The running back situation is okay with a few different options and body types to play around with, and quarterbacks Chad Chalich and Matt Linehan can play if they get time to work. Dezmon Epps will be one of the Sun Belt’s best receiving weapons, and there’s enough help around him to take some of the heat off.

What You Need To Know About The Defense: The D can’t be any worse, and it could make some big strides forward. Absolutely abysmal, the Vandals finished dead last in the nation in scoring defense, second-to-last in total defense and couldn’t seem to find anything that worked. There’s experience returning with the strength potentially up front with QuayShawne Buckley working inside and Maxx Forde getting into the backfield on the end. The secondary that was lite up has the potential to be far stronger with some good athletes, while the undersized linebacking corps is quick.

T9. Georgia State

What You Need To Know About The Offense: Former Boston College head coach and hot head coaching prospect Jeff Jagodzinski landed at Georgia State, where his offense sputtered last season when WR Albert Wilson wasn’t making huge plays. Wilson is gone, but No. 2 target Robert Davis is back, and there’s the potential for more downfield passing with JUCO transfer Nick Arbuckle coming in to challenge incumbent quarterback Ronnie Bell. The running game needs to be stronger after coming up with just 1,227 yards and nine scores, and there have to be more points early on after getting outscored 231-88 in the first half, but with just four starters back, and with concerns up front, it’s going to take more work.

What You Need To Know About The Defense: The Panther defense showed promise at times, and showed better potential than the stats might indicate. But defensive coordinator Jesse Minter has to do a ton of tweaking for a defensive front that only came up with 11 sacks. The secondary, hurt by the lack of pressure up front, and the defensive back seven only generated six picks. There isn’t a ton of size up front in the 3-4 alignment, but there’s enough to be stronger against the run, and then the hope is for the promising linebacking corps to be more disruptive. Joseph Peterson should be one of the Sun Belt’s top interior linebackers, while JUCO transfer Marcus Caffey should help the secondary.

11. New Mexico State

What You Need To Know About The Offense: It was a rough first season as the new coaching staff tried to change up things up a bit, going away from the deep ball passing game and more to a Pistol formation balanced attack. There wasn’t a lot of pop and explosion, but the passing game worked. The line has to be the strength with the most experience returning, but finding new top skill players could be a problem losing the top runners, WR Austin Franklin, and moving two of the key quarterback options – King Davis III and Travaughn Colwell – to the secondary. The rushing game should work as long as the team doesn’t get down early, and JUCO transfer Tyler Rogers is a decent quarterback prospect who needs to push the ball down the field a bit.

What You Need To Know About The Defense: After a complete and utter disaster of a season, the Aggies brought in Larry Coyer to take over as defensive coordinator. It’ll be tough to crank things up right away with most of the key parts gone and just four starters returning, but that might not be such a bad thing for a defense that finished dead last in the nation last season in total yards allowed and was last in run defense. The key will be to start generating more pressure after struggling to get into the backfield, but that means finding the right combination up front while hoping the revamped secondary can start making more big plays.