(MAC) Toledo Preview
The Toledo program has been pretty good during the two years under Matt Campbell. Last year things were lookin very promising as they lined up rival Northern Illinois at home bu they couldn’t get the job done, ultimately falling to 7-5 and not being selected for a bowl game.
This season the bulk of that team returns minus the stating quarterback. If they can fill that void effectively they can be in the race in the MAC West.
Toledo Rockets
- Coach: Matt Campbell
- 2013 Record: 7-5
- Gambling Odds to win BCS championship: 75/1
- Gambling Odds to win (MAC) conference: 3/1
Strengths
The Rockets are usually pretty balances and they probably have the running part down with the return of 4 starting offensive linemen. The lone outlier is senior center Robert Lisowski, making for a line that is only seniors. Guards Jeff Myers and Greg Mancz are pre-season all conference selections.
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The defense also has a lot of experience up front with 3 linemen and 3 linebackers returning. The best among that group is LB Juniro Sylvestre but it is really encouraging that 5 of last years top 6 tacklers return.
DT Treyvon Hester is very disruptive in the middle and showed a lot durin his freshman campaign.
The schedule is favourable this season with winnable road games within the conference so this team should be able to be in the hunt. Campbell has proven he is a quality coach and there is every reason to think the Rockets can maintain their middle tier position with a chance to do even better.
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Weaknesses
Quarterback, quarterback, quarterback. This year they will be starting a QB with little experience. It could be sophomore Logan Woodside or it could be Alabama transfer Philip Ely.
It is rare that the Rockets get an elite level recruit so it is interesting to see what he can do in the MAC.
The weakspot of the defense last year was the secondary. Only two starters return and this unit will have to be better if they are going to surprise in the MAC. It would help if they could get a pass rush up front but based on last year that doesn’t seen likely. This defense has to be able to make some big plays.
The Rockets might get pummeled early with non-conference tilts against the likes of the Missouri andd Cincinnati. They have the offensive line to protect but this team might get battered pretty badly on defense which hopefully won’t have a lingering effect once they start MAC play
Prediction: 6-6
2014 Rockets Schedule:
- Aug 30 – New Hampshire
- Sep 6 – Missouri
- Sep 12 – @Cincinnati
- Sep 20 – Ball State
- Sep 27 – Central Michigan
- Oct 4 – @Western Michigan
- Oct 11 – @Iowa State
- Oct 25 – Massachussets
- Nov 4 – @Kent State
- Nov 11 – @Northern Illinois
- Nov 19 – Bowling Green
- Nov 28 – @Eastern Michigan
This season is all going to hinge on quarterback play, the all do. Look for this team to get better as the seaso progresses and whoever takes over at quarterback becomes more comfortable.
Being mid tier in the MAC this season means there will be enough wins to get bowl eligible and perhaps Toledo won’t be overlooked this time. Look to ride the Rockets on the last week of the season.
They are likely to be coming off back to back losses but they should be able to win at EMU to close the season.
Depending on how bad they get beat previously they might just be an underdog in that one.
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