Offensive Strengths
Ime Ikpan is returning after suffering through knee injuries throughout most of last year. A powerfully built 6?0?? 230-pounder is a big-time talent at RB with 4.35 speed. For once, EMU has good depth at the tailback position with Marcus Crosby and Justin Henry that he has moved C.R. Roberson (5?11?? 185), last year?s leading rusher, and Ashanti Watson, to WR. Coach Jeff Woodruff is really excited about Kaliym Hazel, a prop-48 prospect from New Jersey who had preferred walk-on offers from Miami (Fl.) & Syracuse before accepting a late offer from Eastern last year. Kaino Akina returns at QB after starting seven games last year as a true freshman, tossing 14 TDs. The Eagles have good depth at QB with experienced seniors Troy Edwards and Jeff Crooks. TE Kevin Zureki (6?3?? 251) & OG Dan Davis (6?5?? 270) return on the offensive line. WR Kevin Walter is talented enough to be an ?Offensive-Player-of-the-Year? candidate if he was playing on a winning team. The 6?3?? 220-pound wide-out is on NFL scout radar screens, received all-conference honorable mention honors after recording 748-yards and 6 TDs in 2001. Chris Talley is another WR who is very good and will make his mark for this team this fall.
Offensive Concerns
Eastern Michigan must replace four starters on the line and must put some serious punch in an offense that was the worst in the MAC last year. EMU averaged only 301-total yards per game as a team and a paltry 17-points per game. These stats are inflated considering they put up 62 points in the season finale at Akron with 503 total yards (EMU lost 65-62 in 3OT). The O-line does have some mammoths to insert this fall into the trenches. Take a look at some of these candidates: Mike Johnson (6?3?? 302); Scott Golem (6?5?? 282); Tom Kaleita (6?5?? 275); Mario Tucker (6?4?? 320); Sam Estes (6?5?? 342); Brian Booth (6?3?? 295) & Lloyd Wilson (6?3?? 293). This beef should push EMU to do better than their 108 rushing yards per game last year. The receiving corps took a big hit when the team?s 2nd leading receiver, Terrance Lloyd, decided not to return. Woodruff told me that he expects true freshmen Courtney Evans, Dan Fugate & LaGarian Houston to play this fall. The TE position produced only 13 receptions for 173 yards and 1 TD all year. That must improve.
Defensive Strengths
EMU returns three defensive linemen starters from a unit that gave up a respectable 375-total yards per game in 2001. DE matt Kuda was one of many true freshmen that played significant roles last year and is a real solid young talent at 6?3?? 272. DT Jari Brown (6?4?? 265) & C.J. Roberson (6?1?? 243) also return. For the first time in a long time, EMU will have some depth on the line with Eric Pettiway (6?2?? 270), Hammond Russell 6?3?? 279), Matt Lisek 6?2?? 245), Sean Simms (6?5?? 275), Jerry Barnes (6?6?? 248) & Brian Jenkins (6?1?? 240). Sophomore ILB John Wester (6?1?? 245) "is the most impressive player on this team," and Woodruff feels he will become a huge star in the MAC. The Eagles return three starting DBs and have some wonderful depth. Erick Middleton, Michael Woods & Jerry Gaines will be pushed hard for playing time by Nate Brooks, Steven Lewis, Gavin Gardner, Mark Carter & Manesse Zephir.
Defensive Concerns
The biggest concern is replacing two very talented LBs in Scott Russell and Kenny Philpot. These guys could flat out play, and both earned 2nd team all-MAC honors in 2001. The entire LB unit has graduated. John Wester is one of the replacements, and the others are David Lusky (6?2?? 230), the special teams captain, Kevin Harrison (6?1?? 225), Keyvon Barbee (5?10?? 225), Zach Harris (6?2?? 248) & Mike Salvatori (6?2?? 216). Although most of the defensive line returns, the Eagles recorded only 15 sacks last year. Also, the Eastern DBs could only muster 6 INTs all of last year, 2nd lowest in the MAC. Eastern was dead last in the turnover ratio with a pathetic ?8 difference margin. EMU gave up nearly 33-points per game in 2001, a stat that must be addressed if this program wants to compete in the near future.
Special Teams
Eric Klaban returns as the place-kicker and handled all kickoff duties in 2001. He will be pressed by true freshman Andrew Shafer, who played in the National High School All-Star game this year. David Rysko returns as the punter, but will need to improve on his punting average of just 36-yards per kick. Veteran Carson Dach will be the long snapper for the fourth consecutive year. Eastern will need to find some better play makers to return the kicks though as they averaged just 18-yards per kickoff return and 6 yards per punt return last year. Both of these outputs were near the bottom of the conference.
Schedule
A manageable schedule with two difficult OOC games in Michigan State and Maryland on the road, and two I-AA teams at home. Crossover games are Akron and @Ohio University. Within the West, EMU gets Toledo, CMU & NIU at home, but travel to WMU, BSU & BG.
Omar?s View = 3-9; wins against SE Missouri State, Southern Illinois & Akron; losses @MSU, Toledo, @Maryland, @Ohio, @BSU, CMU, @WMU, NIU & @BG.
Overview
Coach Jeff Woodriff took over this program at the end of the 1999 season and inherited a program full of junior college players that were not very competitive or very disciplined. He knew he had to get these players bigger, faster, and much stronger to compete in the MAC. In just two and a half years, Woodruff and his staff have developed quality pipelines to the high schools in Detroit and throughout the Midwest and is committed to staying with the path of building a foundation through prep players and not JUCOs like previous coach Rick Rasnick. The speed and strength of this team has increased dramatically in the past two years. Case and point is that last season not one player in this program could bench press 400 pounds, now there are fourteen doing that and more. Also, the average speed of every single defensive back in the forty-yard dash is 4.55, up nearly .12 seconds across the board. After taking their lumps in 2001 by starting ten true freshmen and playing more than a dozen throughout the season, the Eagles welcome back eleven starters and 29 lettermen as the coaching staff is hoping to see the fruits of their labors start to pay rewards. "We are going to be a different looking team this year, faster, stronger and more athletic. We are going to surprise some folks," stated Woodruff. A manageable schedule with six home games, including two I-AA contests, may provide EMU a chance for a winning record, something that has not been done in Ypsilanti since 1995. My thoughts are that 2003 is the year that Eastern makes there big move up the rankings.
BOLD PREDICTION Eastern Michigan will upset either Central Michigan or Northern Illinois at home this year.
Pivotal Game:
SE Missouri State (9/14/02): EMU struggled to beat the Indians last year 16-12, and lost to a very poor I-AA team in Indiana State 21-14. If Eastern has done the improvements that Woodruff states, they should have no problem with SEMO or SUI this fall.
Ime Ikpan is returning after suffering through knee injuries throughout most of last year. A powerfully built 6?0?? 230-pounder is a big-time talent at RB with 4.35 speed. For once, EMU has good depth at the tailback position with Marcus Crosby and Justin Henry that he has moved C.R. Roberson (5?11?? 185), last year?s leading rusher, and Ashanti Watson, to WR. Coach Jeff Woodruff is really excited about Kaliym Hazel, a prop-48 prospect from New Jersey who had preferred walk-on offers from Miami (Fl.) & Syracuse before accepting a late offer from Eastern last year. Kaino Akina returns at QB after starting seven games last year as a true freshman, tossing 14 TDs. The Eagles have good depth at QB with experienced seniors Troy Edwards and Jeff Crooks. TE Kevin Zureki (6?3?? 251) & OG Dan Davis (6?5?? 270) return on the offensive line. WR Kevin Walter is talented enough to be an ?Offensive-Player-of-the-Year? candidate if he was playing on a winning team. The 6?3?? 220-pound wide-out is on NFL scout radar screens, received all-conference honorable mention honors after recording 748-yards and 6 TDs in 2001. Chris Talley is another WR who is very good and will make his mark for this team this fall.
Offensive Concerns
Eastern Michigan must replace four starters on the line and must put some serious punch in an offense that was the worst in the MAC last year. EMU averaged only 301-total yards per game as a team and a paltry 17-points per game. These stats are inflated considering they put up 62 points in the season finale at Akron with 503 total yards (EMU lost 65-62 in 3OT). The O-line does have some mammoths to insert this fall into the trenches. Take a look at some of these candidates: Mike Johnson (6?3?? 302); Scott Golem (6?5?? 282); Tom Kaleita (6?5?? 275); Mario Tucker (6?4?? 320); Sam Estes (6?5?? 342); Brian Booth (6?3?? 295) & Lloyd Wilson (6?3?? 293). This beef should push EMU to do better than their 108 rushing yards per game last year. The receiving corps took a big hit when the team?s 2nd leading receiver, Terrance Lloyd, decided not to return. Woodruff told me that he expects true freshmen Courtney Evans, Dan Fugate & LaGarian Houston to play this fall. The TE position produced only 13 receptions for 173 yards and 1 TD all year. That must improve.
Defensive Strengths
EMU returns three defensive linemen starters from a unit that gave up a respectable 375-total yards per game in 2001. DE matt Kuda was one of many true freshmen that played significant roles last year and is a real solid young talent at 6?3?? 272. DT Jari Brown (6?4?? 265) & C.J. Roberson (6?1?? 243) also return. For the first time in a long time, EMU will have some depth on the line with Eric Pettiway (6?2?? 270), Hammond Russell 6?3?? 279), Matt Lisek 6?2?? 245), Sean Simms (6?5?? 275), Jerry Barnes (6?6?? 248) & Brian Jenkins (6?1?? 240). Sophomore ILB John Wester (6?1?? 245) "is the most impressive player on this team," and Woodruff feels he will become a huge star in the MAC. The Eagles return three starting DBs and have some wonderful depth. Erick Middleton, Michael Woods & Jerry Gaines will be pushed hard for playing time by Nate Brooks, Steven Lewis, Gavin Gardner, Mark Carter & Manesse Zephir.
Defensive Concerns
The biggest concern is replacing two very talented LBs in Scott Russell and Kenny Philpot. These guys could flat out play, and both earned 2nd team all-MAC honors in 2001. The entire LB unit has graduated. John Wester is one of the replacements, and the others are David Lusky (6?2?? 230), the special teams captain, Kevin Harrison (6?1?? 225), Keyvon Barbee (5?10?? 225), Zach Harris (6?2?? 248) & Mike Salvatori (6?2?? 216). Although most of the defensive line returns, the Eagles recorded only 15 sacks last year. Also, the Eastern DBs could only muster 6 INTs all of last year, 2nd lowest in the MAC. Eastern was dead last in the turnover ratio with a pathetic ?8 difference margin. EMU gave up nearly 33-points per game in 2001, a stat that must be addressed if this program wants to compete in the near future.
Special Teams
Eric Klaban returns as the place-kicker and handled all kickoff duties in 2001. He will be pressed by true freshman Andrew Shafer, who played in the National High School All-Star game this year. David Rysko returns as the punter, but will need to improve on his punting average of just 36-yards per kick. Veteran Carson Dach will be the long snapper for the fourth consecutive year. Eastern will need to find some better play makers to return the kicks though as they averaged just 18-yards per kickoff return and 6 yards per punt return last year. Both of these outputs were near the bottom of the conference.
Schedule
A manageable schedule with two difficult OOC games in Michigan State and Maryland on the road, and two I-AA teams at home. Crossover games are Akron and @Ohio University. Within the West, EMU gets Toledo, CMU & NIU at home, but travel to WMU, BSU & BG.
Omar?s View = 3-9; wins against SE Missouri State, Southern Illinois & Akron; losses @MSU, Toledo, @Maryland, @Ohio, @BSU, CMU, @WMU, NIU & @BG.
Overview
Coach Jeff Woodriff took over this program at the end of the 1999 season and inherited a program full of junior college players that were not very competitive or very disciplined. He knew he had to get these players bigger, faster, and much stronger to compete in the MAC. In just two and a half years, Woodruff and his staff have developed quality pipelines to the high schools in Detroit and throughout the Midwest and is committed to staying with the path of building a foundation through prep players and not JUCOs like previous coach Rick Rasnick. The speed and strength of this team has increased dramatically in the past two years. Case and point is that last season not one player in this program could bench press 400 pounds, now there are fourteen doing that and more. Also, the average speed of every single defensive back in the forty-yard dash is 4.55, up nearly .12 seconds across the board. After taking their lumps in 2001 by starting ten true freshmen and playing more than a dozen throughout the season, the Eagles welcome back eleven starters and 29 lettermen as the coaching staff is hoping to see the fruits of their labors start to pay rewards. "We are going to be a different looking team this year, faster, stronger and more athletic. We are going to surprise some folks," stated Woodruff. A manageable schedule with six home games, including two I-AA contests, may provide EMU a chance for a winning record, something that has not been done in Ypsilanti since 1995. My thoughts are that 2003 is the year that Eastern makes there big move up the rankings.
BOLD PREDICTION Eastern Michigan will upset either Central Michigan or Northern Illinois at home this year.
Pivotal Game:
SE Missouri State (9/14/02): EMU struggled to beat the Indians last year 16-12, and lost to a very poor I-AA team in Indiana State 21-14. If Eastern has done the improvements that Woodruff states, they should have no problem with SEMO or SUI this fall.
