Blueraiders.com Early Look at 2009 Sunbelt Football
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Wise Owl
Member since 2006
Early look at 2009 Sun Belt football
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Spring is over. Fall is still quite a while away. But Sun Belt football is beginning to come into focus.
The completion of spring practice, developments in a few key position competitions and injury updates have hinted at Sun Belt footballs direction this season. Heres some very, very early predictions for the 2009 Sun Belt football season and a roundup of each team:
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2009 SUN BELT FOOTBALL PREDICTIONS
1. Troy
2. Arkansas State
3. Middle Tennessee
4. Florida Atlantic
5. Florida International
6. Louisiana-Monroe
7. Louisiana-Lafayette
8. North Texas
9. Western Kentucky
TROY
Title chances/how: Very, very good Beat Arkansas State and MTSU in first two conference games to get in drivers seat
Best player(s): QB Jamie Hampton/Levi Brown, RB DuJuan Harris, WR Jerrel Jernigan, LBs Boris Lee, DE Brandon Lang
Strength(s): Passing game, running out of spread, speed on defense
Question mark(s): Inexperience on offensive line
ARKANSAS STATE
Title chances/how: Very good Beat Troy in first conference game and avoid letdowns on road
Best player(s): QB Corey Leonard, RB Reggie Arnold, DE Alex Carrington, K Josh Arauco
Strength(s): Offensive skill players, proven leadership
Question mark(s): 3 new starters on offensive line, replacing MLB Ben Owens
MTSU
Title chances/how: Better than most See above. Beat Troy in September, stay healthy
Best player(s): CB Alex Suber, S Jeremy Kellem, LB Danny Carmichael, OL Mark Fisher
Strength(s): Deep WR corps, athletic defense
Question mark(s): QB Dwight Dasher, offensive run game, thin at LB
Florida Atlantic
Title chances/how: Still OK Bring youngsters along quickly and win early rather than late
Best player(s): QB Rusty Smith, WR Cortez Gent, OL David Matlock, DB Tavious Polo
Strength(s): Passing offense with Smith, athletic defensive secondary
Question mark(s): Depth on defensive line; Smiths consistency
Florida International
Title chances/how: Not very good Must beat rival FAU first
Best player(s): OL Brad Serini, WR/Ret. T.Y. Hilton, LB Scott Bryant, CB Anthony Gaitor
Strength(s): Hilton, Hilton, Hilton (anywhere on field); also secondarys trend of forcing turnovers
Question mark(s): Repeating/sustaining improvement from 2008
Louisiana-Monroe
Title chances/how: Hit or miss Enough talent, but likely only a spoiler
Best player(s): RB Frank Goodin, LB Josh Thompson/Cardia Jackson, DB James Truxillo, DL Aaron Morgan
Strength(s): A lot of talent on defense
Question mark(s): New QB, direction of offense
Louisiana-Lafayette
Title chances/how: Bad Not a contender unless 2008 seniors QB Michael Desormeaux and RB Tyrell Fenroy return and play in disguise
Best player(s): OL Chris Fisher, OL Brad Bustle, LB Grant Fleming, DB Gerren Blount
Strength(s): Very deep linebacking corps
Question mark(s): Replacing Desormeaux, Fenroy, WR Jason Chery
North Texas
Title chances/how: Zero become college footballs best turnaround story
Best player(s): RB Cam Montgomery, OL Kelvin Drake (back from injury), LB Tobe Nwigwe, S/LB Kylie Hill
Strength(s): Deep at offensive line, running back
Question mark(s): Fixing broken defense, statistically worse in nation
Western Kentucky
Title chances/how: Zero Win low-scoring games, but its not going to happen every week
Best player(s): RB Tyrell Hayden, WR Jake Gaebler, LB Blake Boyd, S Mark Santoro
Strength(s): Strong linebackers, experience with 16 starters returning
Question mark(s): Finding playmakers, reliable quarterback
Adam Sparks, 615-278-5174
Well right away this guy has NO IDEA what he's talking about. Tavious Polo one of our best players? There's this kid I think he plays TE, I think he wears # 88 maybe he's heard of him his name is Jason Harmon. Rumor has it this kid once jumped over an MTSU player the first game of the year 2 season ago. I don't know if he's any good though lol, he may want to look into that.
MTSU got VERY VERY VERY VERY lucky last year, with Harmon back that won't happen again this year. This game is at Lockhart so we should beat them like we usually always do
My two favorite teams are FAU, and who ever is beating FIU!
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Wise Owl
Member since 2003
Re: Blueraiders.com Early Look at 2009 Sunbelt Football
Posted
VIP DONOR
Member since 2007
Re: Blueraiders.com Early Look at 2009 Sunbelt Football
Blueraiders.com Early Look at 2009 Sunbelt Football
Posted
Wise Owl
Member since 2008
Re: Blueraiders.com Early Look at 2009 Sunbelt Football
Posted
Wise Owl
Member since 2006
Re: Blueraiders.com Early Look at 2009 Sunbelt Football
The said
What a biased Joke! I refuse to believe that Middle Tennessee State Community College is in the running with ARK ST., Troy, FAU, and i would even put FIU above them. Here's a team that was a hail marry away from being 4-8 last year! Cannot wait for next Halloween!
Well with Troy's old offensive coordinator everyone expects their offense to pick up. There's no doubt that FAU probably has the best offense in the belt it's just a matter if our D can stop anyone else's O
My two favorite teams are FAU, and who ever is beating FIU!
Posted
Wise Owl
Member since 2007
Re: Blueraiders.com Early Look at 2009 Sunbelt Football
also i mean i wouldnt mention that kid Morris that ESPN has an eye on…..NAHHHH
lol, said it many times and ill say it again……please rank us low…..like WKU low before the season begins…..I think we play better trying to prove something….
The target is off our back for NOW
WHO'S NEXT! WERE PREYING ON THE BELT THIS YEAR!
Posted
Bytor
Member since 2004
Re: Blueraiders.com Early Look at 2009 Sunbelt Football
Troy seem to have good luck finding them and he did spend time there, then again Middle is no Troy.
Middle still has a good enough defense to win them games and if their offense can show some improvement from last year, then it should help out their D give them a chance to win a few more games this year.
Posted
Spread The Wings
Member since 2009
Re: Blueraiders.com Early Look at 2009 Sunbelt Football
Posted
Wise Owl
Member since 2006
Re: Blueraiders.com Early Look at 2009 Sunbelt Football
theblackmaria6 said
You have to put this whole thing into perspective though. I would have to say that almost every fan of their team would see themselves as better than the others. We talk about running the belt this year, but that is what every other team is talking about as well.
Yes I don't have a problem with that. If you're going to be doing a preview of the SunBelt at least get the key players on the team right. This isn't 2007 anymore, I like Polo but he's not a key player. In fact I'd put E-Mac in front of him as far a key defensive player
My two favorite teams are FAU, and who ever is beating FIU!
Posted
Wise Owl
Member since 2008
Re: Blueraiders.com Early Look at 2009 Sunbelt Football
- You say you have a deep WR corp, but none show up in your top players…
- Speaking of your top players, Jeremy Kellem's play last year was nothing for a corner to write home about. 2 ints, and 0 passes defended…..Suber wasn't much better with 2 ints and 26 tackles, but he did have 4 passes defended.
- You title hopes are better than most with an offensive general that has 3 ints vs 17 completions and 156 yrds?….Whatever you say, hoss…
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