Middle Tennessee Football Predictions 2009

Written July 29, 2009 by InfoPlays

2009 Middle Tennessee Football Predictions Several factors will determine whether or not the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders can improve on their 5-7 campaign from 2008. It starts with QB Dwight Dasher and his ability to run the spread offense and make good decisions along the way. The Blue Raiders are finally near the full 85 scholarship limit, but almost 50 of those players are freshmen and sophomores. Injuries doomed MTSU two seasons ago, but if the Blue Raiders can avoid a rash of them, they’ll have the opportunity to be in the mix in the Sun Belt. The league schedule will prove to be difficult with road trips to defending champion Troy, Motor City Bowl champion Florida Atlantic and Louisiana-Monroe. Sportsbook.com offers 10% sign-up bonuses and reduced Friday juice! This reduced juice on their NCAA football lines will save you a lot of money over the course of a season if you bet many games.

Offense: 10 starters return on offense, but there remains a question at quarterback following the graduation of Joe Craddock, who passed for 2,677 yards and 15 touchdowns a year ago. Junior Dwight Dasher beat out redshirt freshman Brent Burnette in the spring. Dasher had an outstanding freshman year, but he struggled playing behind Craddock as a sophomore. Dasher will be operating an offense under new coordinator Tony Franklin, who was fired after seven games as Auburn’s offensive general last year. Franklin will try to install his spread offense at MTSU, which is loaded at wide receiver. Five players with the likes of Eldred King, Patrick Honeycutt, Malcolm Beyah, Wes Caldwell and Sancho McDonald combined for 188 catches and 16 touchdowns last season.

Senior tailback Phillip Tanner gives the Blue Raiders a solid back after rushing for 714 yards and 15 scores a year ago. The team will turn to freshmen to provide backup help after last year’s second-stringer in Desmond Gee has moved back to wideout. The line was young last season and struggled because of their inexperience. It should be a strength this season with all five starters returning. Center Mark Thompson, tackle Mark Fisher and guard Jamal Lewis anchor this group. Alex Stuart, Mike Williams and Brandon McLeroy all started at times as true freshmen a year ago and gained valuable experience. A wildcard could be Jake Padrick, a sophomore center who missed all of last season with injuries.

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Defense: The Blue Raiders welcome back seven starters from a defense that allowed a respectable 24.9 points/game last season. Middle Tennessee operates out of a 4-3 scheme but often changes things up and blitzes from everywhere on the field. Defensive end will be a strength this season with Chris McCoy, Majari Lattimore and Emmanuel Perez who all have solid experience and are poised for big years. Inside, Brandon Perry, Dwight Smith qnd Gary Tucker have good experience as well.

The linebacker position is a bit of a concern with the exception of Danny Carmichael. The Blue Raiders lose two starters whose spots will be filled by a combination of Cam Robinson, Corby Loreus and Antwan Davis. Another strength should be the secondary, led by senior corner Alex Suber and junior corner Rod Issac. There is good depth at the position. Ball-hawking Jeremy Kellum and Kevin Brown both return as junior safeties.

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