[joepa66]

CENTRAL MICHIGAN – The Chipps aren’t down or out --- they’ve got plenty of weaponry in the arsenal on offense and an adequate defense that must get better in order to challenge WMU and repeat as MAC Champions.
“Mr. Everything”, sophomore QB Dan LeFevour was the 1st frosh QB since 1982 to lead a team to the MAC Championship, and he set CMU records for most TD passes in a season (26), most yards in a season (3,031), and total offense in a season (3,552). He already ranks 7th on CMU’s career touchdown passes list and is 9th in career completions, and completed a MAC best 63.7% of his throws in 2006.
First-year coach Butch Jones promises a very up tempo game this year even though it’s been revealed that he plans to run the ball more to take the heat off of LeFevour. He’ll have to since the Chipps lost 2 of their top 3 receivers. WR Bryan Anderson (867yds/73 catches/11.9ypc/5TDs in back, along with playmaker Justin Gardner (471yrds/13.1ypc/5TDs) which means the cupboard is hardly bare. Leading rusher Ontario Sneed (836yds/5.7ypc) and LeFevour (735yds/521 net due to sacks) carry the load, but expect a 2-back shotgun attack with RB Marcel Archer who scored 7TDs but only carried 84 times for 356 yards to get lots of time in Jones’ self-proclaimed “punish the defense on every play” game plan. CMU must improve on their 7th ranked MAC rushing offense.
The Chipps will definitely contend, but must also improve on their 9th rated MAC pass defensive standing (78th nationally/215.6ypg). They were also 8th in the conference in run defense (140ypg) and 8th in total defense. A bright spot is that they do have their top tackler back, LD Red Keith, 127 tackles….but they lost Doug Kress and Daniel Baziun in the middle who combined for 178 tackles along with 117 TFL and 10.5 sacks. Their next top two tacklers were both DBs. It could be a sign of vulnerability.