Central Michigan tries to intercept Rockets on Veterans Day

[IE]

I will never forget the day in 2005. After a decade of losing to Toledo, CMU finally killed Goliath. Ten years of misery finally broken.

CMU is now on a streak of it's own. A win on Wednesday makes it five consecutive wins, and though I would like to leave everybody in suspense, I think win number five will be the easiest in the streak.

toledo colorado.jpgAP File PhotoToledo got a signature win this year when they defeated Big 12 team Colorado. If the news trickling out of the "Glass City" has been correct, Toledo should be without stellar QB Aaron Opelt, and reliant upon true freshman QB Austin Dantin.

I believe Dantin will be hard pressed to keep pace with Central Michigan's high scoring offense. It would be a tall task for a veteran like Opelt, let alone a true freshman.
Injuries

The x-factor remains CMU's injuries. I don't think CB Josh Gordy will play for CMU, leaving the field wide open for Toledo's NFL caliber receivers. Unless of course, our 2nd and 3rd string guys have gotten a lot better since the Boston College game.

Injuries at running back could force Dan LeFevour to carry the ball more than the coaches would like. If Dan get's hurt, CMU would be in trouble if they expect Freshman QB Ryan Radcliff to do anything beyond managing the game with a lead.

I still think that if both teams had their full rosters at their disposal CMU would win, and given the projected dynamic listed above -- Opelt being injured -- CMU wins big.

I also base my prediction heavily on Toledo's defense. Toledo is hovering around 90th in every defensive category in the nation, and will need to score 35 + points on offense to keep pace with CMU. I suspect the defense is the main reason Las Vegas has Toledo as a two touchdown underdog in the game.

--MichiganLive

 

[IE]

UT hopes rest revives injured QBs


In the midst of a two-game losing streak and with its top two quarterbacks battling injuries, the University of Toledo got a bit of a reprieve by way of an off week last week.

The Rockets used the time away to rest and recover, but that layoff ends tonight with a nationally televised game at highly regarded Central Michigan (7-2, 5-0 Mid-American Conference).

UT (4-5, 2-3) hasn't played since a 31-24 loss at Miami on Oct. 31, and coach Tim Beckman said his team's bye week couldn't have come at a better time.

The time off was especially beneficial for quarterbacks Aaron Opelt and Austin Dantin, who have been hampered by injuries since the middle of October.

"We've used these last 11 days to get ourselves better, to heal up and to do a little bit of scrimmaging with our younger kids," Beckman said Monday during the MAC coaches weekly teleconference. "This off week has definitely paid off at the quarterback position to get Austin healed and Aaron healed. No question the 11 days have helped them, but are they at that 100 percent mark? No, neither one of them is. It's still a daily thing and a process to see how healthy they can be Wednesday. We don't have a starting quarterback named yet."Opelt returned to action against the RedHawks after missing two games with a right shoulder bruise. He was 7-of-14 passing for 79 yards and a touchdown, along with throwing an early interception that was returned for a touchdown, before exiting in the fourth quarter with soreness in his shoulder.

"It might have set me back a little bit," Opelt said. "[But] I still think I have a very good chance to be ready for this week with a couple extra days."

Dantin missed one game with a high right ankle sprain before also returning against Miami. He played in just two series, though, after it became apparent he was not fit for duty.

If Opelt and Dantin aren't cleared to play tonight, the Rockets will again turn to junior Alex Pettee, who entered in the final offensive series against Miami and completed 6 of 8 passes for a team-high 87 yards.

"The three quarterbacks all have their different strengths," Central Michigan coach Butch Jones said. "All of the them bring their own little dimensions to the game. It makes it extremely difficult [to prepare for].

Central Michigan, conversely, has had no quarterback worries this season. Senior quarterback Dan LeFevour, whom Bowling Green coach Dave Clawson labeled the "Tim Tebow of the MAC" earlier in the season, has torched his competition all year long and through his career.

LeFevour - the conference's career leader in total offense, pass attempts and pass completions - leads the MAC this season with a 145.5 efficiency rating while completing a league-best 68.5 percent of his passes.

If that's not enough, LeFevour is ninth in the conference with 60.9 yards per game on the ground.

So will the Rockets try to knock LeFevour out of rhythm will a plethora of blitz packages, or will they use a few extra defensive backs to slow down the Chippewas passing attack?

"When you're facing a quarterback like him, you can't just settle for one or the other," Beckman said. "It has to be a combination of a bunch of different looks that he and the offensive coaches have to figure out. It can't be full-out pressure and it can't be drop-eight because he can beat you with his feet, too."

Any way you slice it, UT will have its hands full with the Chippewas.

"They're a well-rounded football team, and I think that's why they're winning so many football games right now," Beckman said. "Offensively, they have so many weapons. They're the team in the Mid-American Conference right now that's hitting on all cylinders and playing very well."

 

[IE]

Notes: The playing statuses of UT quarterbacks Aaron Opelt (shoulder) and Austin Dantin (ankle) will be a game-time decision.

If neither can play, the Rockets will again turn to junior Alex Pettee. ? CMU quarterback Dan LeFevour (migraines) and top receiver Antonio Brown (turf toe) were sidelined during the team's 31-10 loss at Boston College on Oct. 31, but both will play against UT. ? With a win, CMU moves one step closer to clinching a berth in the MAC championship game for the third time in the last four years. ? UT is 21-23 on national TV, 9-9 on ESPN2 and 0-2 on Wednesday nights. ? The Rockets are 4-0 this season when they are the first to score, and they are 0-5 when their opponent scores first. ? UT hasn't beaten the Chippewas since 2004 and hasn't won in Mount Pleasant since 2003. ? UT freshman receiver and Springfi eld grad Eric Page leads all freshmen nationally with 65 catches and 909 receiving yards.

 

[GOAT]

yes sir I am old but like you i do the work thank you sir.

 

[IE]

Chippewas host Toledo following three-game road trip


It seems like a lifetime ago that the Central Michigan football team was defeated by Boston College 31-10.

Now, after a much-needed week off, the Chippewas return to the field tonight against Toledo at 8 p.m. at Kelly/Shorts Stadium, looking to remain unbeaten in the Mid-American Conference.

"I am curious to see how our guys are going to respond," CMU head coach Butch Jones said. "We have had great senior leadership all year and I think our guys know all that is still at stake for us. We were beaten by a good football team in Boston College, but we have all of our goals still in front of us."

The Chippewas (7-2, 5-0 MAC) had plenty of injuries play into the loss to the Eagles, with Josh Gordy, Antonio Brown, and Dan LeFevour all missing time.

LeFevour is back to 100 percent after battling migraine headaches against Boston College while Brown will also be back against the Rockets tonight after missing time with turf toe.

Gordy is unfortunately not in the same boat, as he will not play tonight, which puts Vince Agnew into the starting lineup.

"Vince has to step up and we have faith in him," Jones said of Agnew. "Injuries are a part of football and the next man in has to be ready and we know Vince will be ready."

CMU will also be without defensive end Sam Williams, whose career is now over after suffering a bruised spinal cord against Western Michigan. The loss of Williams means Frank Zombo and Larry Knight will see more snaps and be backed up by Kashawn Fraser and true freshman Cesar Rodrgiuez.

Defensive tackle Sean Murnane is also questionable for tonight's game as he is dealing with nagging injuries. Murnane has been a vital part to a thin defensive line.

"We have a lot of guys that are taking more snaps than they should be," Jones said of the defensive line. "That is just the way the situation is, but we are trying to get guys healthy and I think the extra time off helped us to do that."

On offense, the Chippewas will be up against the second-worst defense in the Mid-American Conference.

The Rockets (4-5, 2-3) are currently giving up 37 points and over 400 yards per-game this season, which should open some holes for LeFevour.

This season, LeFevour leads the Chippewas in passing and rushing. Through nine games, LeFevour is 176-for-257 passing for 1,848 yards with 16 touchdowns and five interceptions. LeFevour has also run for 548 yards on 123 carries with nine touchdowns.

"I think when attacking LeFevour you have to mix it up a lot," Toledo coach Tim Beckman said. "You can't settle one way or another. Sometimes you have to blitz and sometimes you have to put eight guys in coverage. You have to give multiple looks for him. That is just the way college football is today."

Second to LeFevour in rushing is Brown, who has 285 yards on 29 carries. CMU has had to shuffle the running back position a lot this year due to injuries, but Carl Volny leads all running backs with 264 yards on 49 carries.

Brown is leading the Chippewas in receiving with 56 catches for 605 yards with seven touchdowns while Bryan Anderson has added 39 receptions for 501 yards and two scores.

"There are so many weapons that they have to use and it makes them so difficult to defend," Beckman said of the CMU offense. "Right now when you look at the MAC, they are the team in this conference that is just clicking on all cylinders, especially on offense."

On defense, CMU gave up 412 yards to Boston College, which was one of the worst outings of the season for the Chippewas.

CMU still has one of the top defenses in the MAC, giving up just 16.9 points and 339.6 yards per-game on the year.

"The defense has been great this year and that is because of what Tim Banks has done," Beckman said of the Chippewa defense. "They are very aggressive on defense and the front seven really gets to the football and the secondary has played very well. They are really a tough defense and that is what makes them a complete team right now."

The Chippewas have won four straight over the Rockets with two of the games being decided by four points or less.

"Toledo is always a tough team to face and this game will be a great challenge for us," Jones said. "They have a great balance in every area and they have a lot to play for."