2011-2012 Football Previews – MAC Conference – Toledo Rockets
Tim Beckman has successfully turned this Toledo football program around. This is a team that was at the bottom a few years ago.
Mid American Conference 2011-2012 Football Previews: Toledo Rockets
Head Coach: Tim Beckman
2010 Record: 8-5
Toledo Gambling Odds from JustBet to win BCS: +15,000 (Part of Field)
Toledo Odds from Bodog to win MAC Championship: +375
Toledo Team Page – Players Stats – Roster – 2011 Schedule –>
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Last year’s season ended in a heartbreaking loss to Florida International in the Little Ceasers Bowl, but the Rockets showed they are once again for real. Turning the program around isn’t good enough anymore.
Now, Toledo wants to show that they can get to the top and stay at the top of the MAC like they did in the early 2000’s.
Toledo returns nine starters on offense and nine starters on defense. The Rockets were extremely opportunistic on defense in 2010, but they did give up a lot of yards through the air. They might not be able to force 34 turnovers in 2011, so they need to become more of a shutdown defense.
The MAC is as weak as ever this year, and Toledo certainly has its sights set on winning the conference.
Team Strengths:
Adonis Thomas gives the Rockets a terrific running back that is capable of doing a little bit of everything. Thomas ran for more than 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns last season. He has good hands out of the backfield, and he is capable of carrying the ball quite a few times each game.
Thomas is one of the best runners in the MAC.
Toledo’s defensive front seven is tremendous. The line is full of veterans who know their role, and they simply get the job done every single game. Malcolm Riley and Johnnie Roberts form a terrific defensive tackle tandem. Dan Molls is the leader of the defense from his linebacker spot. Molls racked up 143 tackles a year ago.
Expect Toledo’s front seven to do a solid job pressuring the quarterback, and they should be one of the best in the MAC at stuffing the run.
The Rockets have a lot of talent at the skill positions on offense. Eric Page may be the MAC’s best play maker on the outside. Page is capable of turning a quick screen into a touchdown at any time. Page is also a terrific kick returner, and he will help Toledo win the field position battle a lot this season. Austin Dantin and Terrance Owens are both high quality quarterbacks, so whoever wins the starting job will give Toledo a good chance to win.
Team Weaknesses:
The Toledo offensive line was pretty good in 2010, but they lost a couple key contributors from that group. Kevin Kowalski was a leader at the center spot, and Nate Cole was a productive guard. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The Rockets do return the other three starters on the line, but I’m not sure this unit will be quite as good as they were last season.
Toledo’s secondary picked off 20 passes a year ago, but they allowed more passing yards than any other team in the conference. Desmond Marrow should a very good corner for this team, but other than Marrow I see this unit as a weakness.
Toledo can’t afford to give up as many yards through the air as they did last year.
2011-2012 Toledo Football Prediction: 9-4
Toledo should continue its upward trajectory in 2011.
Dantin is the better athlete and as long as he is healthy he will probably win the quarterback battle. Page and Thomas give the Rockets two great play makers on offense. The front seven will force the opposition to throw the football, but the secondary must improve. A tough non-conference schedule should help them be ready for the MAC.
Toledo gets Northern Illinois and Miami at home this year.
This team could definitely win the MAC West.
2011 Toledo Rockets Schedule
9/1/11 12:00 PM ET NHAMP
9/10/11 12:00 PM ET @OHIST
9/16/11 8:00 PM ET BOIST
9/24/11 12:00 PM ET @SYR
10/1/11 12:00 PM ET @TEM
10/8/11 12:00 PM ET EMICH
10/15/11 12:00 PM ET @BGREN
10/22/11 12:00 PM ET MIAOH
11/1/11 7:00 PM ET NOILL
11/8/11 8:00 PM ET WMICH
11/18/11 12:00 PM ET @CMICH
11/25/11 12:00 PM ET @BALST
