The Central Michigan Chippewas had a brief run in the early part of the decade dominating the MAC championship. They won league championships in 2006, 2007, and 2009. Brian Kelly and Butch Jones were the leaders of those championship teams, but they have since departed for bigger jobs following their last title years. Dan Enos usurped the team in 2010, and he has only lead the school to two displeasing 3-9 records.
Enos will have another chance at turning the team around in 2012. He has 16 starters and 45 lettermen returning, and he'll field his top squad yet. The Chippewas will have one of the most experienced groups in the league and their 13 lettermen lost are the least in the conference.
Offense
Central Michigan produced 22.6 points and 390 total yards/game last year. They continue to shoot themselves in the foot with turning the ball over, as they'd a combined -23 in turnover differential during the last 2 years. The team desires to build on all areas of the ball, and they might possibly be able to do just that in 2012.
The Chippewas returns senior QB Ryan Radcliffe and he looks to have another robust season in front of him. Radcliffe is only the second CMU QB to throw for 3000 plus yards in consecutive years and he's primed to have a third consecutive 3000 yard year.
Although CMU loses its best runner in Paris Cotton, they do bring back their next two in sophomore Anthony Garland and junior Zurlon Tipton. The return of these 2 should help Central Michigan improve on their bad 2011 numbers.
With 4 of their top five pass catchers coming back, the receiving group look to be in excellent shape moving forward. That includes their best 2 in sophomore WR Titus Davis and senior WR Cody Wilson. Also coming back is senior WR Jerry Harris and sophomore WR Courtney Williams. This unit should put up its best stats since the '09 title team.
Coach Enos will have the best offensive line in his short lived tenure here in 2012. That's because nine of their top 10 linemen all return. They have 4 starters returning and they include 3rd-team All-MAC LT Eric Fisher, senior RT Jake Olson, senior LG Mike Repovz and senior RG Darren Keyton. This unit will be one of the best O-lines in the MAC.
Defense
The Chippewas allowed an abominable 33.3 points and 429 total yards/game. Very like their offense, their defense should be much improved this year. They have 8 starters returning on this side of the ball, including their best 2 tacklers.
With all four starters back, the defensive line has a excellent chance to build on last season's performance. The starters returning are senior DE Joe Kinville, senior NT Steve Winston, sophomore DT Matt Losiniecki and senior DE Darryll Stinson.
The linebacker group loses its best two tacklers in Armond Staten and Mike Petrucci. But they do welcome back its 6, 7, and 12 tacklers, so this roster should be fine. The three predicted starters are sophomore SLB Ryan Petro, junior MLB Shamari Benton and sophomore WLB Cody Lopez. Both Lopez and Petro have logged valuable time as freshmen last season.
The secondary loses CB John Carr, but other than that, this squad returns almost all of their players of importance. They bring back three starters at defensive back in first-team All-MAC SS Jahleel Addae, junior FS Avery Cunningham, and senior CB Lorenzo White. This can be one of the league's best secondaries and will be the power of the defense.
MAC West Prediction - 3rd Place
Central Michigan has a great opportunity to be one of the most improved teams in the conference. They have the second-most starters returning with 16 and lose the fewest lettermen in the conference with 13. They might have difficult road games against Northern Illinois and Toledo, but they do get Western Michigan at home. If they can win at least two of those contests, then they've got an excellent chance by season's end. Chippewas could fall to both NIU and WMU in conference play, which would then put them in third place in the West.
Enos will have another chance at turning the team around in 2012. He has 16 starters and 45 lettermen returning, and he'll field his top squad yet. The Chippewas will have one of the most experienced groups in the league and their 13 lettermen lost are the least in the conference.
Offense
Central Michigan produced 22.6 points and 390 total yards/game last year. They continue to shoot themselves in the foot with turning the ball over, as they'd a combined -23 in turnover differential during the last 2 years. The team desires to build on all areas of the ball, and they might possibly be able to do just that in 2012.
The Chippewas returns senior QB Ryan Radcliffe and he looks to have another robust season in front of him. Radcliffe is only the second CMU QB to throw for 3000 plus yards in consecutive years and he's primed to have a third consecutive 3000 yard year.
Although CMU loses its best runner in Paris Cotton, they do bring back their next two in sophomore Anthony Garland and junior Zurlon Tipton. The return of these 2 should help Central Michigan improve on their bad 2011 numbers.
With 4 of their top five pass catchers coming back, the receiving group look to be in excellent shape moving forward. That includes their best 2 in sophomore WR Titus Davis and senior WR Cody Wilson. Also coming back is senior WR Jerry Harris and sophomore WR Courtney Williams. This unit should put up its best stats since the '09 title team.
Coach Enos will have the best offensive line in his short lived tenure here in 2012. That's because nine of their top 10 linemen all return. They have 4 starters returning and they include 3rd-team All-MAC LT Eric Fisher, senior RT Jake Olson, senior LG Mike Repovz and senior RG Darren Keyton. This unit will be one of the best O-lines in the MAC.
Defense
The Chippewas allowed an abominable 33.3 points and 429 total yards/game. Very like their offense, their defense should be much improved this year. They have 8 starters returning on this side of the ball, including their best 2 tacklers.
With all four starters back, the defensive line has a excellent chance to build on last season's performance. The starters returning are senior DE Joe Kinville, senior NT Steve Winston, sophomore DT Matt Losiniecki and senior DE Darryll Stinson.
The linebacker group loses its best two tacklers in Armond Staten and Mike Petrucci. But they do welcome back its 6, 7, and 12 tacklers, so this roster should be fine. The three predicted starters are sophomore SLB Ryan Petro, junior MLB Shamari Benton and sophomore WLB Cody Lopez. Both Lopez and Petro have logged valuable time as freshmen last season.
The secondary loses CB John Carr, but other than that, this squad returns almost all of their players of importance. They bring back three starters at defensive back in first-team All-MAC SS Jahleel Addae, junior FS Avery Cunningham, and senior CB Lorenzo White. This can be one of the league's best secondaries and will be the power of the defense.
MAC West Prediction - 3rd Place
Central Michigan has a great opportunity to be one of the most improved teams in the conference. They have the second-most starters returning with 16 and lose the fewest lettermen in the conference with 13. They might have difficult road games against Northern Illinois and Toledo, but they do get Western Michigan at home. If they can win at least two of those contests, then they've got an excellent chance by season's end. Chippewas could fall to both NIU and WMU in conference play, which would then put them in third place in the West.