SB Nation - Daniel Raudabaugh

Gettin' Familiar with: Miami (OH)

Rodger Sherman — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:05:32 -0000

Yeah, they're not so good.

Ahhh, time to preview the Miami RedHawks. That photo on the right is pretty much a summary of their season, but, hey, if you'd like to read a few thousand words of analysis of their football team, you're in the right place.

Oh, and if you don't feel like reading a few thousand words, but would still like analysis of their football team: "they're terrible." Carry on.

On the season: The RedHawks are one of four 0-5 teams in the country, and of those four, are arguably the worst. (Ball State is giving them a serious run for their money, though.) Miami started off the season being outscored 90-0 by Kentucky and Boise State, as quarterback Daniel Raudabaugh racked up a combined 34-69 passing with no touchdowns and four picks, which is absolutely tremendous. (Arguably more impressive: his replacement Zac Dysert's line vs. Kentucky: 2-4, one yard, no touchdowns, two picks. Persa-esque.) After that, Miami finally scored in a 48-26 loss to Western Michigan, a tolerable 29-19 loss to Kent State, and a 37-13 beatdown by No. 10 Cincinnati, but at least they kept it close through halftime. Long story short, the Redhawks are losing by an average of 29.2 points per game.

By the way, the RedHawks are the fifth team we're playing with a new head coach, Mike Haywood. Mike was the offensive coordinator at Notre Dame before coming to Miami, so, you already know he's absolutely terrible at his job. He also has a brand new staff of coordinators, Peter Vaas on offense and Carl Reese on defense. This makes Miami the fifth team we're playing with a new head coach, new offensive coordinator, and new defensive coordinator. (Towson technically doesn't have an offensive coordinator, but new head coach Rob Ambrose is doing that, basically.) Also, because Minnesota was replacing an offensive coordinator, every team we've played so far has been replacing at least one coordinator. Jesus. Be more faithful, people.

Us and them: As you probably know, historically, Miami owns us. They're 6-2, all six victories coming in Evanston, and gave NU their only regular season loss in the 1995 season, a heartbreaking 30-28 loss for the Rose- Bowl bound Cats that prevented that season from being even more historical. When the coach of that '95 Miami team, Randy Walker, came to NU, he matched up against Miami twice, in 1999 and 2003, and the Wildcats were blown out at home in both. They were scheduled to play a third time under Walker's guidance, but as practically all of you know, he passed shortly before the 2006 season opener, which Pat Fitzgerald won 21-3 in his first game as head coach. For what it's worth, Mike Kafka threw for 106 yards and a touchdown in that game and led the team rushing with 89 yards in his first game on the collegiate level, and essentially nobody else is still around for NU, on the Miami side of the field, Andre Bratton, Miami's current starting RB, was a kick returner, but nobody else who recorded stats is still there.

Offense: Miami isn't really a big fan of scoring. As noted earlier, they're in a QB controversy, as senior Daniel Raudabaugh has been replaced by redshirt freshman Zac Dysert. Dysert has been better - albeit against arguably weaker opponents - but is still 69-111 with three touchdowns and five picks. Unlike Raudabaugh, Dysert can run, as he is the team's leader in rushing with 135 yards... wait, that can't be true.

/checks statistics page to make sure this is true

/refreshes page to make sure this is still true

/makes solemn oath that if Northwestern loses to a team so bad that their leading rusher is a redshirt freshman quarterback who has only started two games, he will drop out of school and become a wandering vagrant

Anyway, Dysert, the redshirt freshman quarterback who has only started two games is the team's leader in rushing, with 135 yards, after five games. Part of this is because this team likes to throw - 100 of Dysert's 111 attempts have come in his two games as a starter, so maybe they're aggressive game plan is to blame for lack of rushing yar-oh, wait, apparently, Dysert was sacked nine times by Cincinnati for a loss of 62 yards in one of those games. Screw this, this team is just awful.

Normally I tell you about the opposition's running backs, but they're not worth mentioning, because they're being outgained by a quarterback who has only played two games, and has been sacked about 40 trillion times, and the team averages 2.8 yards per rush play. I normally mention the opposition's wide receivers, but this team has a 5-11 touchdown-to-interception ratio through the air. I normally mention the opposition's offensive line, but this o-line is responsible for more sackings than GM. I feel dirty just previewing this offense.

Defense: What to say about a unit that gives up 40.8 points per game? Well, let's start with a positive: the NYT Quad Blog says that Miami had the best linebacking corps in a non-BCS conference last year. Sadly, now their two all-MAC linebackers have graduated, and there are really no bright spots on this defense. The defensive line also lost their two best players, and those two combine to give Miami a run defense that allows 174.2 yards rushing per game. The RedHawks do have three picks on the year, two by cornerback Brendon Stephens, who appears to be decent from stats alone, but, quite frankly, I'm out of good things to say.

Think about how bad the offense I described up above is. Think. Think about it. Go. Do it.

Now think about the fact that that offense has dominated the time of possession on the year. They held the ball for 40 minutes against Cincinnati, and only twice in those five losses has the other team held the ball for more of the game than Miami.

Normally, this would be a good indicator for your offense, or something. But I'm sensing here it means that oppositions are getting up and down the field against the RedHawks in about as much time as it takes for the Miami offense to go three-and-out.

By the way, I feel bad. I'm absolutely murdering this team, and I really hope we win just so I don't have to eat my words. Sorry to all the hard working Miami players who I'm absolutely crapping on.

Transitive property logic that leads me to believe we'll win this game by a lot:

Surprisingly, there are no transitive property loss strings connecting Miami (OH) to NU so far this year, so I was forced to dip into the 2008 bag a little bit. Hang on, it's a doozy.

9/19: Western Michigan, 48, Miami (OH) 26.

10/03: Northern Illinois, 38, Western Michigan, 3.

9/26: Idaho, 34, N Illinois, 31

9/12: Washington, 42, Idaho, 23

10/03: Notre Dame, 37, Washington, 30

9/12: Michigan, 38, Notre Dame, 34

11/15/08: Northwestern, 21, Michigan, 14

Transitive property score differential: 99.

Anyway, that's that, so, we'd better win.

Opponent preview: Can Fresno State's offense succeed on third down?

Kevan Lee — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:07:10 -0000

More photos » by Morry Gash - AP

3 months ago: Fresno State receiver Devon Wylie (7) catches a pass in front of Wisconsin cornerback Antonio Fenelus (26) during the first half of an NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Browse more photos »

Boise State rolled over Miami (OH) on Saturday, but the Broncos gave out charity third down conversions all game long. Meanwhile, Fresno hung tight with Wisconsin courtesy of a strong showing with its third down offense.

What will happen on third downs on Friday when the Bulldogs and Broncos meet? Which team will have the upper hand? And will this be the deciding factor in the game? Let's discuss.

1-1, (0-0)

No. 10 Boise State at Fresno State

Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. MT, TV: ESPN, Radio: 580 KIDO

Weather forecast: Sunny, high of 98

Spread: Boise State -7.5

2-0, (0-0)

Last week for Fresno State

L to Wisconsin, 34-31 2OT

The Bulldogs lost a tough one to Wisconsin in double overtime last week, but they looked good doing it. QB Ryan Colburn was solid for awhile before succumbing to Brandstaterness and throwing the game away with a 2OT interception.

What did we learn from the game? For starters, Fresno continues to be competitive against BCS teams. Also, the Fresno offense can put points on the board when facing average defenses and secondaries. The Fresno defense, meanwhile, can look good at times, but before you know it, they've given up 34 points.

Bottom line: Wisconsin barely got past ~~I-AA competition~~ a MAC school in Week One, so it's hard to tell how good the Badgers really are. Similarly, it's hard to tell how good the Bulldogs are. A win over UC Davis and a loss to Wisconsin tells us little. The outcome on Friday will tell us a lot.

Fresno State on offense

QB Ryan Colburn
RB Ryan Mathews
WR Chastin West
WR Seyi Ajirotutu
WR Devon Wylie
TE Vince Pascoe
LT Bryce Harris
LG Devan Cunningham
C Joe Bernardi
RG Andrew Jackson
RT Kenny Wiggins

As you are sure to hear about all week long, the Fresno State offense is as healthy as it has ever been, which apparently spells the end of the world for any team unlucky enough to cross its path. Except Wisconsin. And, actually, only UC Davis so far. But it's September! The leaves are just turning! A Madea movie is the No. 1 movie in the country! This type of thing is to be expected.

"Oh no you di'in't, Sorority Row." (via www.toplessrobot.com)

Seriously, though, there are a lot of good players on Fresno's offense - enough to make any defensive coordinator not blow off coordinating duties. From WRs Wylie, Moore, and West, to RBs Mathews, Lonyae Miller, and Robbie Rouse, Fresno is stacked at the skill positions. QB Colburn does well with his weapons, and mobile QB Ebahn Feathers provides the token wildcat option. The offensive line lost some beef up front over the summer, but it returns enough experience to manage.

Fresno State on defense

DE Chris Carter
DT Chase McEntee
DT Chris Lewis
RE Kenny Borg
LB Kyle Knox
MLB Ben Jacobs
LB Nico Herron
CB Desia Dunn
CB A.J. Jefferson
S Lorne Bell

The best player on the Fresno defense is MLB Jacobs. He's a hustler. The second best player might be DE Carter. He's sort of injured (but expected to play). The Bulldogs were awful at creating turnovers last season, and they'll have to find some playmakers to turn it around in 2009.

Fresno State special teams

K Kevin Goessling
P Robert Malone
KR A.J. Jefferson
PR Devon Wylie

We all remember Goessling's implosion versus Wisconsin last year. Or at least I do. It made my Christmas letter.

The sophomore rebounded nicely from his 1-for-4 against the Badgers to put together a solid season and go into 2009 as one of the best kickers in the conference. Jefferson and Wylie are dangerous on the return, meaning Kyle Brotzman and the coverage teams have their work cut out for them this week.

Fresno on third down against Wisconsin

Fresno State was 11-for-18 against Wisconsin on third downs, good enough for a 61 percent conversion rate. Here is a breakdown of what they did:

3rd and 6: Colburn incomplete
3rd and 4: Colburn to Moore, 15 yards
3rd and 4: Colburn to West, 7 yards
3rd and 9: Colburn incomplete
3rd and 5: Colburn to Wylie, 14 yards
3rd and 2: Feathers rush, 3 yards
3rd and 7: Colburn to Ajirotutu, 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN
3rd and 9: Colburn to Wylie, 21 yards
3rd and 12: Colburn incomplete
3rd and 3: Colburn INTERCEPTED
3rd and 6: Colburn to Ajirotutu, 12 yards
3rd and 3: Colburn rush, 4 yards
3rd and 8: Colburn to Ajirotutu, 25 yards
3rd and 8: Colburn to Mathews, 9 yards
3rd and 4: Colburn incomplete
3rd and 19: Colburn rush, 2 yards
3rd and 10: Colburn incomplete
3rd and 10: Colburn to Moore, 15 yards

The Bulldogs averaged third and seven for the game and threw the ball 16 times out of their 18 tries. The only two rushes came from quarterbacks Feathers and Colburn. No running backs touched the ball on Fresno's five shortest third downs, which went pass, pass, QB rush, interception, pass.

Up until the fourth quarter, Fresno managed to get into relatively workable third down situations. Before their 3rd and 19 midway through the fourth, the Bulldogs' worst third down was a third and 12 that they failed to convert (Fresno went 1-for-4 on third downs of 10 or more yards). Early in the game, FSU was able to earn positive plays on first and second downs to make third downs much more manageable.

Boise State on third down this season

vs. Oregon: 1-for-10, converting 10 percent

vs. Miami (OH): 7-for-15, converting 46 percent

The Oregon game was simply an incredible effort by the defense, which was at the top of its game all night long. The Miami (OH) game? Eh, not so much.

Granted, Boise State did manage to pitch the shutout over the RedHawks, but as the conversion percentages show, Miami probably took a moral victory away from scoring first downs nearly half of the time on third down.

The interesting part when you look at the stats is that Miami was able to convert third downs pretty much regardless of distance. Several times on 3rd and 10 or 3rd and 12, RedHawk QB Daniel Raudabaugh found an open man who would just inch past the first down sticks (this man was often WR Armand Robinson, that scourge). Those spaces simply weren't there against Oregon. Right, Jeremiah Masoli?

"Right!" (via media.idahostatesman.com)

Spotlight on: Fresno State QB Ryan Colburn

The offseason saw a fierce battle for Fresno's starting quarterback job between true freshman Derek Carr, Kaepernick-esque Ebahn Feathers, and junior Ryan Colburn. In the end, Colburn won the job (kind of?), thanks to his ability to complete shirtless passes.

Body by Jamaica Me Tan (via media.scout.com)

A highly-sought-after recruit (aren't they all at Fresno?), the QB was listed as one of California's top 100 prospects coming out of high school in 2006 and even attended Boise State's camp. His Fresno career has seen him redshirt, earn spot duty as a freshman, and ride the pine as a sophomore, backing up senior "Touchdown" Tom Brandstater.

What did Colburn learn under the tutelage of Brandstater? You mean besides how to live down to expectations? No doubt Colburn picked up a veteran's handle of the team, although offensive coordinator changes render his veteran command of the offense moot. He throws a pretty deep ball, runs the offense well, and can be one of the WAC's best when he gets on a hot streak.

Fresno coaches seem to have complete faith in him on third downs, too, judging by the insane number of times they put the ball in his hands with a first down on the line. Have they never heard of a draw play? I guess not.

How Fresno State manages third down

Distance

Like most teams, Fresno hopes to gain enough yards on first and second downs to make third down manageable. The Bulldogs' style seems to be more of a pounding, grinding team on first and second downs and an air-it-out group on third. Provided the running game is not held in check, the third down offense can usually be successful.

Playcalling

As noted in the Wisconsin game, the Bulldogs chose not to run at all on third down. What would possess an offensive coordinator to do that? Ryan Mathews was running the ball well, averaging over five yards per carry, and he could hardly sniff a touch on third down. Perhaps the playcalling is a result of a lack of faith in the offensive line (which replaced its tackles this season) and heaping amounts of faith in Ryan Colburn.

Personnel

The key players on Fresno's third downs are their wide receivers. With the quadruped of Ajirotutu, Wylie, Moore, and West, the Bulldogs have a ton of weapons to attack with on third down, and many different matchups to exploit. If you consider that most teams only carry three quality cornerbacks, then Fresno would have a big advantage with one of their wideouts on a linebacker or a safety.

How Boise State manages third down

Distance

How far teams have to go on third down doesn't seem to make much difference in the Broncos' conversion stats. Obviously, they would want offenses to face third and long, but practically, BSU has shown an ability to shut down teams no matter the distance.

Playcalling

It's really anyone's guess what Justin Wilcox will do with the defense. I expected him to bring pressure with only the front four against Miami (OH), and he blitzed constantly instead. One thing that I did notice was that Wilcox was much more likely to use the new 3-3-5 in obvious passing downs, as it puts a premium on quarterback pressure. Expect the Broncos to use this formation early and often against Fresno.

The Broncos have shown little straight-up man-to-man this season, so it will be interesting to see if this changes.

Keys to third down

Cover the man, not the grass

As ESPN's Chris Spielman is likely to outside-voice yell into his microphone at any given time on a Saturday, "Cover the man, not the grass." This is a tenet of zone coverage where defenders are taught to pick up the players trailing through their zone, rather than standing around waiting for a receiver to drop by.

I wouldn't say that the Broncos were guilty of covering grass on Saturday against Miami (OH), but they did leave RedHawk receivers with a lot of extra space on their short receiving routes - enough space that the receivers could catch the ball and turn upfield for the first down.

My take is that Boise State purposefully played a lot more soft zone than normal against Miami (OH), since the Broncos weren't too concerned about shutting down that low-powered RedHawk offense. Against Oregon, the coverage was suffocating. I would think that Boise State would return to Oregon-like intensity against Fresno.

Consecutive third downs

Miami (OH) may have converted nearly half of its third down opportunities, but it rarely converted third downs consecutively. Boise State was able to hold the RedHawks in check because Miami rarely went on long drives. If the field position is right and if the Broncos don't allow big plays on first or second downs, then opposing teams' converting a third down each drive won't kill them. But it might give me an ulcer.

Colburn's accuracy

The Broncos can have the best coverage in the world, but it won't matter if Colburn is on his game. A perfect pass can beat tight coverage any day, and it can make a big difference in the all-important yards after the catch statistic that plays a big part in third down conversions.

Tackling

Can Fresno receivers make Bronco defenders miss? Will Boise State corners, safeties, and linebackers keep the Bulldogs from gaining extra yards?

The Fresno running game

The wild card in this discussion might just be the Fresno ground game. Since it had little to do with third down conversions against Wisconsin, the Fresno coaches might surprise the Broncos with some timely runs on third down. Any of you have faith in Pat Hill to figure that out?

Other factors for Friday night

Third downs are just one of many factors that could determine the outcome of the game. What are some that you'll be watching? Which ones stand out the most? Here are a couple that crossed my mind:

How will Boise State play on the road? The Broncos typically have more margin for error at home.
Will the Boise State running game revert to "2007 vs. Fresno"? Or will the ground game be an afterthought to Kellen Moore's passing?
When will Kyle Wilson break a punt return? How will Kyle Brotzman handle pressure kicks from the left hash?
Will the center-QB exchanges be fixed? Can Fresno find enough turnovers to keep the game close?

Conclusion

Boise State fans should be happy that the Broncos are facing a Fresno team that still resembles a quality opponent. Typically, the Broncos get Fresno when they're injured, beat up, and much worse than expected. Not this season.

As such, we could actually be in for a game on Friday. Anyone think this game will be close?

Third downs will be a huge factor in deciding who wins and who loses on Friday night. If the Boise State defense versus Oregon shows up, it could be a long night for the Bulldogs. If the Boise State defense versus Miami (OH) shows up, it could still be a long night, but it might also be a more interesting night.

I believe that Boise State will shore up its third down defense for Fresno and return to the stifling unit we saw against the Ducks. I believe this because I believe anything is possible with the Boise State defense. Full disclosure: I am gullible.

What do you think? Share your thoughts about third downs, defense, and other factors in the comments.

Game balls and player ratings for Boise State vs. Miami (OH)

Kevan Lee — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:00:02 -0000

As much as Boise State fans wanted the Oregon game to get here, I got the sense that they wanted the Miami (OH) game to leave just as quickly. Is there such a thing as reverse hype? Is that what David Augusto's Sunday Sports Extra had?

Before we move on to Fresno State (and we will move on), game balls are back by popular demand. And with them is a new feature, ripped straight from performance reviews: player ratings. Take a look after the jump.

Player Ratings for Boise State vs. Miami (OH)

Ratings on a scale of 1-10 with 1 being Nathan Enderle and 10 being Billy Winn vs. Oregon.

Boise State offense

Austin Pettis - 8 - What didn't Pettis do? He blocked a punt, threw some nasty blocks, and led the team in receiving yards. Apart from getting caught from behind on his long first quarter catch, Pettis could do no wrong.

Titus Young - 8 - Flashed the speed we've come to know and love and didn't turn the ball over. He added a very dangerous option to the Bronco offense.

Tyler Shoemaker - 7 - Saw more balls be thrown his way, and came through with some clutch plays. His long grab over a defender looked easy but definitely wasn't.

Michael Ames - 6 - Gave way to Garrett Pendergast early and often, but Ames was solid during his time on the field. Cut down on missed blocking assignments from last week.

Kevin Sapien - 6 - Take away a false start penalty, and Sapien had a solid day. Inside pressure caused Kellen Moore to move around in the pocket a little more than he would have probably liked.

Thomas Byrd - 5 - Loses points for several low shotgun snaps and got pushed off the line on a couple of occasions.

Will Lawrence - 6 - Had his hands full with Martin Channels at times, but never gave too much ground. Looked strong in the running game.

Matt Slater - 7 - Rather anonymous, which is what you want in a left tackle.

Kellen Moore - 7 - Erratic early, Moore benefited a lot from yards after the catch from his receivers. Still, he put the ball in the right place for his receivers to make plays, and he avoided pocket pressure expertly.

D.J. Harper - 8 - Showed incredible speed motoring around the end on his long run. Looked the better of the Broncos' two running backs.

Jeremy Avery - 5 - Tough sledding for the first half and was pretty much a non-factor.

Boise State Defense

Jarrell Root - 7 - Put his strength on display with some intense pass rushing and run defense. Looked better than I'd ever seen him.

Billy Winn - 8 - A rock in the middle, Winn's tip led to a Boise State interception in the fourth.

Chase Baker - 7 - Stuffed up the running game and showed great pursuit by chasing down the ball.

Ryan Winterswyk - 6 - Never got his pass rush moves working but still provided stellar support in the running game.

Derrell Acrey - 5 - A TFL in the first quarter but not much after that.

Aaron Tevis - 7 - In on a lot of tackles and picked off his second pass in as many games.

J.C. Percy - 7 - Really made his presence known on defense. Definitely deserved the start and made the most of it.

Daron Mackey - 8 - Mackey was everywhere in the first half and showed a knack for being in the right place at the right time.

Kyle Wilson - 6 - Rarely tested deep, Wilson's night was rather quiet. Picked up a personal foul for a post-whistle shove.

Brandyn Thompson - 7 - Totally framed on that pass interference penalty, Thompson was in the right position all night. Gave up a couple catches, but not due to bad coverage.

Winston Venable - 7 - Made an early impact with his sure-tackling then gave way to Doug Martin and Jason Robinson for long stretches.

George Iloka - 8 - Great athletic play on his interception and good support in the running and passing game. His injury did not look to be serious.

Jeron Johnson - 8 - Had one pick and could have had another. Johnson didn't have much to do at his safety position on Saturday.

Boise State special teams

Kyle Brotzman - 6 - Kickoff out of bounds was no good, but he can't really be blamed for his missed PAT. Would have liked to see him try a field goal from the left hash to see how he would do.

Game Balls for Boise State vs. Miami (OH)

Shoemaker scores on the road against Miami (OH). (via media.idahostatesman.com)

Receiver most likely to have passes thrown his way just because

Tyler Shoemaker

"Shoe" as he is affectionately known by fans in Bronco Stadium and people with foot fetishes was largely absent from Boise State's win over Oregon on opening night. And the Bronco coaching staff was willing to change that even if it killed them.

Kellen Moore looked Shoemaker's way all the time in the first half, even when he wasn't open, and maybe once when he wasn't even in the game. Shoemaker responded with his first touchdown catch in over a year and 55 yards total on the night.

Next week's predestined receiving target? I think it has to be Jarvis Hodge.

Worst defensive nickname

Blu-nami

There are bad nicknames and then there are nicknames that probably originated on a message board. "Blu-nami," a Scout.com pronouncement of epic confusing proportions, conjurs images of bad anime movies or hokey infomercial products. I think I bought a Blu-nami once to clean my toilet.

Worst fashion faux paus

Belly-sweat patch

Chuck Hayes, wearing Belly Sweat by Nike (via media.idahostatesman.com)

No matter your feelings on Boise State's new uniforms, you had to notice the creeping sweat that overtook several of the players on Saturday evening. I thought I had stumbled upon a PGA tournament. The new uniforms only make matters worse as the jerseys are made with a composite of two fabrics - light and breathable cordura material on the top and around the numbers, a Brawny paper towel around the midsection.

Player most likely to replicate Ian Johnson's season from last year

Jeremy Avery

Someone had to say it. Doesn't Jeremy Avery 2009 look a little like Ian Johnson 2008? And doesn't D.J. Harper 2009 look like Jeremy Avery 2008?

Avery's slow start to the season could be due to a million different factors. There are no big holes for him. He sat out portions of fall camp. Defenses are keying him. Avery seems to have taken on the role of Johnson from last year - pounding out tough yards to keep the chains moving and seeing his average suffer. Is that simply the job of the No. 1 Boise State running back? Only time will tell.

Best impersonation of a locomotive

Chase Baker

Get off the tracks, Daniel Raudabaugh! Save yourself! (via media.idahostatesman.com)

Most obvious redshirt burning

Kirby Moore

The Broncos made it official on Saturday when Moore took the field late in the second quarter. Kirby's older brother Kellen threw a pick on Kirby's first play, which Kellen probably deserved for not throwing Kirby's way the first chance he got.

Aaron Burks made huge strides in fall camp and was considered by some to have an edge over Kirby in the true freshman WR race. The good news is that as good as Burks looked and as much time as Kirby missed in fall camp with an injury, Kellen's little brother was still good enough for coaches to play him as a true freshman.

Now if only Kellen would throw him the ball ...

Mr. Cellophane

Boise State tight ends

A go-to position against Oregon, the Broncos rarely looked the TEs' way on Saturday, choosing instead to eat up yards with the wideouts. Kyle Efaw had one catch for seven yards. Tommy Gallarda had none for zero. My college football fantasy team was super bummed.

The most amazing defensive philosophy change since the 4-2-5

The 3-3-5

I cannot do this formation justice in this space, so expect another post about it later today. Let's just say that it was awesome to watch, and Justin Wilcox is a genius. I would give him a thousand game balls if I could.

Poll

Who was the Broncos' player of the game?

Austin Pettis

93 votes

Kellen Moore

49 votes

Daron Mackey

4 votes

Chase Baker

7 votes

Jeron Johnson

17 votes

170 votes | Poll has closed

Game Preview: Miami (OH) vs. Kentucky

Truzenzuzex — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 04:06:43 -0000

by Al Behrman - AP

8 months ago: Miami (Ohio) head football coach Michael Haywood, left, shakes hands with Kentucky head football coach Rich Brooks at the end of a news conference, Tuesday, April 14, 2009, at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati. The two teams will play a game at the stadium Sept. 5, 2009. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

View full size photo »

Well, here we are at the first football game of the season, and it's time to do a bit of a preview of the Miami vs. Kentucky game. Since we have no real meaningful stats to pull out, we'll just look at the Redhawks' season last year:

2008 Record: (2-10, 1-7)

2008 Bowl: none

Coach: Michael Haywood (First year at Miami, 0-0 overall)

Offensive Coordinator: Peter Vaas

Defensive Coordinator: Carl Reese

Returning Leaders

Rushing: Thomas Merriweather, RB, 547 yards
Passing: Daniel Raudabaugh, QB, 1,960 yards
Receiving: Chris Givens, WR, 513 yards
Tackles: Caleb Bostic, LB, 40
Sacks: Morris Council, DE, 2.5
Interceptions: Ben Bennett, S, 1
Returning starters: 12

Offense:

Senior quarterback Daniel Raudabaugh returns to Miami, as does junior running back Thomas Merriweather. Raudabaugh did not have a great year last year, throwing only 8 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. Four receivers return from last year, though, and the Miami offense should be somewhat improved, assuming that the line, which returns only two starters from last year, can open holes for Merriweather or protect Raudabagh long enough for him to get off some good throws. Sophomores Jay Taylor and Wisconsin transfer Quincy Landingham could make an impact from the running back spot, as well.

Defense:

The defense loses its top four tacklers from last year and returns only five starters. Both starters at defensive end graduated, as well as all three linebackers. Three starters do return to the secondary, and this group held Vanderbilt to 91 yards and Michigan to 103 yards through the air the first two games of last year, though both were in losing efforts.

Analysis:

Kentucky will have an opportunity to exploit a young offensive line, and they must do so in order to have an effective game on defense. The Redhawks have some fairly decent skill players, and allowing them to get loose in the secondary would not be something Steve Brown wants to see. UK must find ways to get pressure on Raudabaugh to keep him from finding his targets. Miami was most effective through the air last year, although they managed 300+ yards only once. But with the additional years for the QB and receivers, you can expect the Redhawks to throw it early and often.

The Redhawk running game was not exactly a strength last year, with Miami managing only one game in which it gained over 200 yards on the ground. But the infusion of the two sophomores, Taylor and Landingham, could make them a bit more potent if the line can hold their own against Kentucky.

Kentucky has one of the most mature offensive lines in the SEC, and they must exploit the young d-line and linebacking corps of Miami. Look for Smith, Allen, and Locke to have big days, and don't be surprised if you see quite a bit of CoShick Williams. An effective ground game will open up the passing game, and Miami doesn't have the size in the secondary to handle Chris Matthews. If Matthews is as good as advertised, he could run wild, eventually forcing double-teams that leave the dangerous Randall Cobb in single coverage all day.

Bottom line -- the Redhawks will be significantly better this year than last, but as bad as they were last year, that isn't saying too much. Kentucky should have their way with Miami in almost all phases of the game. The biggest thing UK has to watch out for are the small, speedy running backs -- they could give our young defensive ends some trouble at the edges, and with Micah Johnson questionable, I do worry a bit about our young d-line. UK should be vastly superior on the lines, but the defensive line has too many question marks for me to dismiss an issue there. The secondary should be fine as long as UK can get some semblance of a pass rush.

I see Kentucky winning this game, 28-7.

Michigan Football Opponent #2: A Maize n Preview of Miami (Ohio)

Maize n Brew Dave — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:09:25 -0000

Due to a number of reasons, the usual Maize n Preview failed to make its appearance for the Utah game. I personally take the blame for the loss. I simply did not know my power. A mistake I will not duplicate.

Maize n Preview! A Misinformed 2008 Preview of Miami (Ohio) at The University of Michigan

University: Miami University
Location: Oxford, OH
Founded: 1809
All Time Football Record: 648-374-44
Team Name: Red Hawks
Conference: MAC
Number of National Championships: 0
Number of MAC Championships: 21
Last League Championship: 2003
First Season of Football: 1881 (0-1)
Last Season: 2007 (6-7)
Head Coach: Shane Montgomery
Stadium: Fred C. Yager (30,012)

via perfectperspectivesaerial.com

Fine Miami Blogs: Miami Hawk Talk

A (Very) Little Insight Into The Miami Redhawks

Since the departure for Indiana of the now deceased Terry Hoeppner (R.I.P) in 2004, Miami’s been through a rough ride. 2005 saw a 7-5 season which was followed by a 2-10 disaster in 2006. But last year saw Miami reach the MAC championship game, and this year Miami returns 17 starters and looks to be one of the best teams in the MAC.

Coaching

Shane Montgomery ran Terry Hoeppner’s offense from ‘01-’04, including the magical 2003 season when the Redhawks put up an obscene 602 points over 14 games (averaging out to 43 points a game)! Their lowest output that season was 3 points versus Iowa then 33 against Bowling Green. The guy can coach offense. To aid him on the defensive side he brought in Jay Hood from basic obscurity as his defensive coordinator. Overall the stats were actually worse than 2006 on defense, but Miami led the MAC in scoring defense, sacks, yards per carry, yards per catch, and was second in total yards per game. Once he got his feet wet and hit the conference schedule, Hood turned out to be a decent coordinator. At least that’s what his stats say. Hood plays an aggressive defense that stacks the line and leaves a lot of man coverage available.

Miami's Offense

Numbers wise, this should be a relatively good Miami offense. While last year wasn’t pretty, the Redhawks offense put up enough points to win six games before falling in the MAC championship. This year the Redhawks have the advantage of 3 returning starters on the line and its two new starters played in 11 and 12 games, respectively last year. It’s a upperclassmen laden bunch with the only youngster being Bob Gulley, who oh-by-the-way started 3 games last year and played in all 12.

On the wings the Redhawks sport some decent receivers, though none of them are considered burners. Even so, the fastest and most dangerous of the group is Dustin Woods, a 5’11 junior who led the team in receiving yards and was second in receptions despite missing time due to injury. The other two options are Eugene Harris and Armand Robinson, both of whom hauled in 35+ passes last year. Miami likes to put a slew of receivers on the field and spread out the defense in their own little modified spread offense. Tight end Tom Crabtree is an option, but not one Miami looks too that often.

The big questions are at running back and quarterback. Daniel Raudabaugh remains the starter for Miami despite throwing three picks against Vandy. He’s tall, lanky, and slow. Hey. Wait a second. Shouldn’t he be starting for us? (I keed, I keed). Last year Raudabaugh passed for almost 2500 yards and rushed for an amazing 27 net yards. Didn’t help that he got popped for at least 22 sacks last year. He’s adequate, but throwing into Michigan’s secondary will probably be just as treacherous as throwing into Vandy’s. And if he’s anything like the 19 for 41 performance he had against Vandy, I get the feeling he could get the hook early. If he goes down, or gets yanked, another statute takes his place.

Even though there are no major injuries at any position on the offense, the Miami running game hasn’t come around. Miami lost its two top rushers to graduation and this has forced sophomore Tom Merriweather into the starting position. Merriweather only touched the ball 10 times against Vandy, but still managed a 5.9 a carry average. He’s got a little bit of speed, but won’t make you turn your head in awe. Merriweather should have a decent year in conference, but will probably fair about the same or a little bit worse against Michigan’s run defense.

Miami's Defense

Despite the heathly number of yards surrendered to an appently legit Vandy team, defense will be this year's calling card for Miami. The RedHawks possess a veteran and substantial defensive line, arguably the best linebacking corps in the MAC, and a good secondary. This group is going to make it difficult on Michigan's young offense.

The Miami defensive line returns three starters, and most critically for this game, mamoth 330 pound DT Martin Channels. If he plays anything like Utah's DT, Michigan's run game is in trouble, I just have visions of David Molk being picked up a thrown into the stands by this guy. While he's no superstar in the making, he's competent as are the rest of his line mates. The Miami D line held MAC foes to the lowest YPC in conference, and returns most of its 2 deep. Miami also has the ability to bring some pressure off the wings with two returning starters in Joe Coniglio (6.5 sacks) and Travis Craven (3.5 sacks). Sure they had trouble containing Nickson in the Vandy game, but so have a lot of teams. A less mobile target in Threet will make them look a lot more competent. They're big enough and veteran enoug to get some penetration, so control of the line of scrimage is not a definite in Michigan's favor.

The linebacking corps is pretty damn good. Two of their starters notched more than 100 tackles including Clayton Mullins's good-holy-god-are-you-kidding-me 144 tackles. Usually you're going to see numbers like this when a team's offense isn't very good, and Miami in 2007 was no exception. But still. Jeebus. That's a lot of tackles. Another reason for the high numbers is the style of Miami's D. The linebackers play close to the line and are very adept a flowing to the gaps. While they're not athletic freaks of nature like Crable was, they are effective and worth watching. One thing worth noting is the linebackers are all big dudes. As a result, though they're not slow, they're not fast or quick either. They have trouble keeping up with speedier Tight Ends and if they get out of their lanes or have to get to a corner quickly, it just ain't going to happen.

Miami's secondary is veteran as well and no stranger to man coverage. because the defense generally and agrressively plays the line of scrimage, the Redhawk's corners tend to find themselves on an island often. And to their credit they are usually up to the challenge. Where they tend to get beat is against burners and taller receivers. They're not to good at the whole PBU thing either. Corner Jeff thompson had 3 picks last year but really isn't a shutdown corner, even though that's what he has to be in this defense. The quality drops off considerably after him, even though the top three corners return. The safeties are good, but more along the lines of additional linebackers and run supporters than ball hawkers. One thing that's also apparent is the secondary's difficulty with containing shifty runners, as Nickson who's got some move's but ain't Pat White bounced around for 166. It's hard to get a read on how this group will fare against Michigan simply because there's not enough data this season. Nickson only threw 16 passes, completing 9 of them for 91 yards. How thesecondary will match up on Saturday is somewhat of a crap shoot but one that seems to favor Michigan.

Miami Special Teams

They exist. Just barely. Place kicker Nate Parseghian was 13 for 20 last year. Not a particularly strong or accurate leg. Why, God, couldn't he have played for Utah? Punting? Jacob Richardson's got a decent leg, but doesn't strike fear into the masses they way the Zoltan does (from his space throne, of course).

Predictions

After re-watching the Utah game and going through Brian's UFR, I am less convinced today than I was on Tuesday that the line will be sufficient to keep Michigan afloat this year. One of the main reasons is the interior of the offensive line. Some of the push Utah got was downright scary. What also makes me a tad nervous is the fact Miami ran up almost as many yards as Vandy did (340 to 360) and managed as many first downs. Just like Utah, Miami's primary means of moving the football was through the air (244 yards in the air). If the Redhawks don't toss three interceptions or waste their downs recovering their own footballs, it might have been a different game.

That said, Michigan should wins this game by two touchdowns. Quarterback play makes or breaks a football team (see: Carolina, South). What's important to realize is Michigan's pass defense is far better than Vanderbilt's (first half against Utah be damned), and Utah's offensive line and running backs aren't nearly as good as Utah's either. So defensively, Michigan has a tremendous edge over Miami's skill position players on offense, and frankly a big advantage on the line.

When Michigan's offense is on the field, I have to admit I'm nervous about the running game. The interior line was adequate from time to time, but there were some glaring problems with maintaining the interior of the line during running plays. And honestly its not like Ortmann or Schilling set the world on fire either. Michigan has to get a better push or the running game isn't going anywhere.

What will help this, surprisingly, is the retun of Kevin Grady. A skull crunching fullback was one of the more practical and entertaining elements of Rodriguez' offense in West Virginia. Grady possesses both the size and the speed to be a big factor in Michigan's running game. While I'm sure he'll be used to kill incoming linebackers, an up the gut hand off or two is certainly in the play book this weekend. Grady's presence should help provide some blocking and easy some of the pressure the line is facing.

Strangely, I feel pretty good about the passing game this week. Even though Michigan is missing its traditional Gazel bounding down the sidelines toward the endzone, Michigan's receivers are better than Miami's corners and safeties. Look for Rodriguez to spread the catches around and get Threet and/or Sheridan some easy throws early to settle them down. Threet is slated to start. If he struggles, on comes Sheridan. But if Threet remains master of his domain, I think rodriguez has to let him complete the game simply for the experience with a rested Notre Dame team waiting a week away.

I think Threet grabs the QB position by the throat this week and doesn't let go. Grady and Brandon Minor get on Track. Junior Hemmingway pulls in another sweet TD and Toney Clemons emerges. The defense breaks someone in half, then doles out pieces of a beaten an broken Raudabaugh to fans as party favors.

Michigan wins 31 - 13.

Poll

Who will make the biggest impact for Michigan against Miami?

Obi Ezeh - LB

19 votes

Steven Threet - QB

25 votes

Terrance Taylor - DT

8 votes

Kevin Grady - RB

11 votes

Brandon Minor - RB

6 votes

Junior Hemmingway - WR

4 votes

Sam McGuffie - RB

26 votes

Morgan Trent/Donovan Warren - DBs

7 votes

Other

2 votes

108 votes | Poll has closed