Preview #1 - Sacramento State

Well folks, here we go with my weekly preview series, starting today with Sacramento State:

Sacramento State
'05 Record (2-9, 1-6)
'05 Rating - F
Starters returning: 6 off, 10 def, 2 spec
Letterwinners returning/lost: 41/18

2005 Review:
To say last year was a dissapointment for the Hornets would be a gross understatement. A very young Sac squad would find minimal sucess in 2005, winning only two games, oddly enough back to back. They defeated NAU at home, then followed it up by soundly beating NAIA Azusa Pacific, another home game. Those would be the only two bright spots on an incredibly dismal year for the young Hornets. The offense was anemic. Want some stats? Try 3010 yards of TOTAL offense for the entire year, gaining less than 280 yards per game (105th in IAA). That would be a good year for a Big Sky quarterback, let alone an entire offense. They only managed 192 points, 79 of those coming from their two wins. They gave up 45 TDs, worst in the Big Sky. They turned the ball over 30 times, nearly three per game. Folks, this was not a good Hornet team. They were a young team at many positions, but one that will be hard to replace will be quarterback, where they lost their two contributing quarterbacks, Chris Hurd and Brad Tredway. Ryan Mole, who had a breakout freshman season, missed 2 games due to injury, and started in only 6 (3 Big Sky games), played injured for a good deal of the year, and still racked up 783 yards, about 89 yards per game.

Key Losses: QB Brad Tredway, QB Chris Hurd, OLB Matt Logue (1st team defense)
Key Players Returning: RB Ryan Mole (2nd team offense), RS Kris Daniels (2nd team offense), S Brett Shelton (2nd team defense), WR Ryan Coogler, WR Bobby Mooshagian, OL Tyrone Davis, SS Brent Webber, LB Tyson Butler, P Mitch Lively
Transfers: OL Kyle Tasher (Solano JC), FB John Alanis (Glendale CC), QB Tim Brockwell (Glendale CC), OL Kyle Leitzke (Palomar JC), DL Dallas Mauga (Grossmont JC), OL Matt Russell (Missouri)

2006 Outlook:

Offense:
The Hornets biggest position to fill is not at QB, but rather along the offensive line. Only one starter returns, and he only started four games at the end of last year. You can see that they brought in three offensive lineman from junior colleges and IA Missouri (although Russel played two years at a JC, transferred to Missouri, and then back to Cali for his senior season). The Hornets have a talented backfield with Ryan Mole and Kris Daniels, but the running battle is won in the trenches. Replacing four starters will be tough, but none of the starters being replaced were all-conference. QB transfver Tim Brockwell was not all that impressive in spring, but we will most likely be starting under center August when the Hornets travel to Boise State for the season opener. Brockwell did lead his JC squad to the national title and a 11-0 season last year. The Hornets also return their two leading receivers, Ryan Coogler and Bobby Mooshagian. Together they combined for 69 receptions and 686 yards and a score. John Alanis was impressive in spring, the transfer from Glendale CC, and looks to make holes for Mole and do some rumbling himself. Also WR Torrell Baker played running back in spring, and had a team high 89 yards on 17 carries in the final spring scrimmage. Overall, the Hornets should be improved in the backfield and wideout spots, but the QB and OL are big question marks.
Grade - C

Defense:
The defense returns 10 of the starting 11 from a year ago on a defense that gave up a lot of points, but not necessarily yards. This was a defense that was on the field a lot more than any defense should have to be. With the Hornets averaging nearly 3 turnovers a game and scoring just 17 points per game, it is no wonder that the defense gave up 35 per contest. Although Co-BSC defensive MVP Matt Logue is gone, there is plenty to be optimistic about for the Hornet defense. Sac was 42nd in IAA last year in pass efficiency defense, and return their entire secondary, including a talented pair of safeties in Brett Shelton and Brent Webber, who had 147 total tackles between them and a pair of INTs each. Also back is CB Brandon Smith, who lead the team in interceptions last year with 3. Mike Brannon returns on the DL, and is one of the more talented pass rushers in the conference, earning honorable mention last year with 3 sacks. Overall a talented defense that should be top 5 in most categories come seasons end.
Grade - B-

Overall Grade - C

Final Thoughts:
Sac, as usual, has plenty of talent on both sides of the ball, but can never seem to make it work. A healthy Mole, and a talented defense won't be enough to challenge for the crown, but might keep the Hornets out of the bottom this year. They will surprise a team or two, causing some chaos to one of the front-running squads.