2011-2012 Football Previews – MAC Conference – Miami (OH) Redhawks
The Miami Redhawks went 1-11 in 2009, but they made the single biggest turnaround of any team in the nation to finish 10-4 last season. Not only was it the biggest turnaround last season, but it also marked the biggest turnaround in the history of college football!
Mid American Conference 2011-2012 Football Previews: Miami Redhawks
Head Coach: Don Treadwell
2010 Record: 10-4
Miami (Ohio) Gambling Odds from JustBet to win BCS: +15,000 (Part of Field)
Miami Odds from BetOnline to win MAC Championship: +285
Miami (OH) Team Page – Players Stats – Roster – 2011 Schedule –>
**BETONLINE – THE BEST SPORTSBOOK FOR NCAA FOOTBALL BETTING! – CLICK HERE NOW + BET TODAY!**
Mike Haywood engineered the turnaround, but he is no longer a part of the picture. Don Treadwell, who has worked with Michigan State’s Mark Dantonio of late, takes over the top job.
Treadwell definitely inherits a program that has high expectations in 2011. After all, Miami returns 53 letterwinners and 20 starters from last year’s team. Can the Redhawks keep the momentum going in the season ahead?
Team Strengths:
The quarterback position is a big area of strength for the Redhawks. Zac Dysert will likely be the starter, but Austin Boucher has a chance to get some significant playing time as well. There isn’t a team in the MAC with two quarterbacks as good as these two.
Dysert has the edge in experience and arm strength, but Boucher makes better decisions with the ball.
No matter who is at quarterback for Miami, the Redhawks should be in good shape.
The linebackers should be phenomenal, and they are led by junior sensation Jerrell Wedge.
Wedge is just 5’9, but he is a big hitter who can cover all kinds of ground. Evan Harris was second on the team in tackles last year, and he will be a force to be reckoned with as well. Expect this unit to come up with a lot of big plays for Miami in 2011.
The Redhawks have a strong defensive front. Miami was 24th in the nation in sacks and 12th in the nation in tackles for loss in 2010. Austin Brown is a dominating force in the middle of the line. On the outside, Jason Semmes is a very good pass rusher.
This front four should be among the best in the league.
Team Weaknesses:
The offensive line was terrible in 2010. Four of the five starters from that line return in 2011, but they must improve a great deal. The Redhawks allowed 2.5 sacks per game, and the rushing game ranked 113th in the nation. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The running game was bad last year, and they lost Thomas Merriweather, who was the only guy making much of a contribution at all from the tailback spot. In the spring game this year, the leading rusher for Miami had nine yards.
The Miami front seven is good defensively, but only nine yards? This is definitely a big area of concern.
Miami lost two of their top starters in the secondary. The Redhawks had the 49th best pass defense in the country in 2010, but those numbers might slip a little in 2011.
2011-2012 Miami (OH) Football Prediction: 9-4
The Redhawks should still be one of the best teams in the MAC, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they take a small step back in 2011.
The running game is a huge area of concern, and the offensive line needs to protect the quarterback much better. The schedule doesn’t set up very well for the Redhawks either.
Miami must travel to Temple, Kent State, Toledo, and Ohio. None of those games will be easy at all. Remember, this team won six of their ten games in 2010 by a touchdown or less.
I think Miami will have a solid season, but I think they’ll fall just short of the ten win mark.
2011 Miami (Ohio) Red Hawks Schedule
9/3/11 12:00 PM ET @MISOU
9/17/11 12:00 PM ET @MINN
9/24/11 12:00 PM ET BGREN
10/1/11 12:00 PM ET CIN
10/8/11 12:00 PM ET ARMY
10/15/11 12:00 PM ET @KENST
10/22/11 12:00 PM ET @TOL
10/29/11 12:00 PM ET BUFF
11/3/11 7:30 PM ET AKR
11/9/11 8:00 PM ET @TEM
11/16/11 8:00 PM ET WMICH
11/22/11 7:00 PM ET @OHIO
