On this episode, Nick and Drew talk with Randy Lieberman, the Assistant Director of Communications of the Sun Belt Conference. These two love the Sun Belt, so conversing with Randy about the prospects for the year was an entertaining time for them, and Randy as well.
After the interview concluded, the duo talked about the Sun Belt teams, specifically Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Georgia Southern, Georgia State and Idaho.
Team: Appalachian State
Rankings:
Passing Offense– 74
Rushing Offense – 18
Overall Offense – 27
Passing Defense – 22
Rushing Defense – 45
Overall Defense – 25
Points Scored – 35.7
Points Allowed – 27.3
Offense:
QB – For a team that just moved into the FBS, App State did very well in 2014. Taylor Lamb led this team to a great year. He will be back in 2015. If he can work on his turnovers a bit, this unit could improve. I still think this team is going to primarily a running team, so that does hold Lambs overall potential down. Still, I look for slight improvement.
RB /OL– The OL returns 4 players who started the last 7 so that’s a plus. App State returns their top 3 rushers, but that list does include Lamb. Marcus Cox was a monster in 2014, going over 1400 yards and 19 scores. I think he is certainly capable of achieving a similar level of success this year. Terrence Upshaw provides a solid #2 in this offense.
WR/TE – The top 3 receivers in Malachi Jones, Simms McElfresh and Montez McGuire all return this year. McElfresh is a great short range player who will likely lead in receptions again in 2015. Jones is my favorite of the bunch, as he is a much bigger deep threat. I think production can be up a bit in 2015.
Defense: This was not a bad defense in the SunBelt last year. This year, the DL returns 5 of 6, and the LBs bring a ton back as well, so it is conceivable that this front 7 can improve. The DBs return a fair amount and will be a good unit in 2015. This is also their 2nd year in the FBS, so they are getting used to the competition. I look for better production in 2015.
Players to Watch: Marcus Cox is the best place to start, but I would not shy away from either Jones or McElfresh either, as this team will score points and they will be involved.
Team: Arkansas State
Rankings:
Passing Offense– 40
Rushing Offense – 27
Overall Offense – 20
Passing Defense – 45
Rushing Defense – 105
Overall Defense – 85
Points Scored – 36.7
Points Allowed – 30.5
Offense:
QB – Fredi Knighten comes back in 2015 after a very solid 2014 campaign. Knighten is definitely one of the most exciting athletes in all of college football, and I think he is poised for an even bigger year. Expecting Knighten to be featured more prominently and I can’t wait to see wait he is capable of doing in the 2015 season.
RB /OL– The OL returns 3 starters, plus 2 JC transfers, so I think it will be good this year. Michael Gordon had a very strong year in 2014, averaging almost 7 yards a carry, while totaling 1100 yards and 13 TDs on the ground. This offense is very potent and I expect without any question for Gordon to be a big part again. Backup Johnston White returns as well, giving this unit depth.
WR/TE – The top three receivers return in Tres Houston, Dijon Paschal and JD McKissic return, giving Knighten any choice of weapn he wants. Paschal is the biggest deep threat of the group, but all of the guys are overly talented and production should increase in 2015.
Defense: The DL was weak in 2014, but hope to turn that around with 2 2nd team SBC players returning and a 300lb stop gap transfer from UAB. Jury is still out until gameplay takes place, but it appear it should trend up. The LBs lose 2 of their top 3, so I think the front 7 as a whole is likely to be about the same. The DBs are less experienced as a whole, so I can see this squad being more susceptible to the pass in 2015.
Players to Watch: Knighten is my first choice, but I think Gordon and all the receivers will have merit to be payed as well.
Team: Georgia Southern
Rankings:
Passing Offense– 125 [4th worst]
Rushing Offense – 1
Overall Offense – 16
Passing Defense – 82
Rushing Defense – 49
Overall Defense – 57
Points Scored – 39.1 [10th most]
Points Allowed – 23.4
Offense:
QB – You would think that a team ranked so low would have poor QB play, but it couldn’t be further from the truth for Georgia Southern. Kevin Ellison is a great QB in a triple option system. With most of his weapons returning, he should have a great year this year. He will be suspended the first two games, so Favian Upshaw could be worth a look.
RB /OL– The OL loses a ton of starts, but the hope is that recruiting will keep this unit strong. This was the top rushing unit in the FBS in 2014, and it returns all the main players, so it could be just as strong in 2015. Matt Breida and his 8.7 yards per carry is just a monster, and could be used even more after the team saw what he could do in 2015. Alfred Ramsby is a suitable #2 in this unit, so I look for strong production again in 2015.
WR/TE – This unit just doesn’t pass the ball, and I am not expecting them to start now. BJ Johnson is the top returning receiver, but none of the guys are really worth looking at when talking about the daily fantasy aspect of things. BJ Johnson is the most likely beneficiary, but won’t see enough work to be relevant.
Defense: The DL returns 7 of the top 9, so experience is a plus. The LBs lose their top tackler by a large margin, and though it has recruited well, I think the front 7 are a step down. The DBs are about a wash in terms of loses, but experience wise I think they take a step up in 2015, which they need to for this team to be successful.
Players to Watch: For me, the number one is definitely Matt Breida. He will be in my lineups most every week. If anything were to happen, Ramsby and Ellison would both move up on my list as well.
Team: Georgia State
Rankings:
Passing Offense– 26
Rushing Offense – 123 [6th worst]
Overall Offense – 88
Passing Defense – 19
Rushing Defense – 127 [2nd worst]
Overall Defense – 119 [10th worst]
Points Scored – 22.7
Points Allowed – 43.3 [most]
Offense:
QB – Nick Arbuckle is coming back to man this offense in 2015 after having a fairly solid 2014 campaign. The biggest issue with Arbuckle is his turnovers. If he is able to get that under control, he should be in good shape. He returns a ¾ of his top targets from 2014. With an increase in experience, we think he could have an even better year in 2015.
RB /OL– The OL to me is what is going to keep this unit from success. The top 2 backs in Marcus Caffey and Kyler Neal return this year but overall this was a poorly performing unit in 2014. If they plan on being in the thick of things in the Sun-Belt, this is the area they will absolutely need to improve on. We will see.
WR/TE – 3 of the 4 top receivers return in Donovan Harden, Robert Davis and TE Joel Ruiz. Lynquez Blair is the sole departing player on this team. I think there is enough talent present to allow Arbuckle to improve on his 2014 campaign. Could be even a top 20 passing offense.
Defense: The DL returns all their players. They finished 2nd worst in the country against the run. Is returning those guys a good or bad thing? I think they will see some improvement, but not a lot. The LB unit seems like it should be in good position. The DBs are in a better spot as well, but this defense as a whole is highly questionable.
Players to Watch: Arbuckle doesn’t run, so I don’t have much of an interest here. I think Joel Ruiz at TE is a guy that I am looking at.
Team: Idaho
Rankings:
Passing Offense– 31
Rushing Offense – 96
Overall Offense – 56
Passing Defense – 47
Rushing Defense – 122 [7th worst]
Overall Defense – 115
Points Scored – 25
Points Allowed – 37.3
Offense:
QB – Matt Linehan is back at the helm for the Vandals in 2015, after a poor showing in 2014. He completed the year with a 58.5% completion percentage, as well as a 11:18 TD to INT ratio. For this offense to improve, that is where it needs to start. There is a lot of hope in Idaho that by running a more up tempo offense, they can improve. We’ll see.
RB /OL– The OL loses a lot, but brings in some big JCs, so expectations are up. Idaho split production between two backs in 2014. Elijhaa Penny did the most with the carries, scoring 12 TDs and he will be returning. Jerrel Brown had a better yard per carry, but it didn’t translate to points. Brown is gone, leaving Penny to man the backfield. The hope would be for production to increase, as 1500 rushing yards won’t cut it.
WR/TE – Joshua McCain and Richard Montgomery, the top two receivers from 2014, are gone, and there is a lot of production that will need to be made up for. Dezmon Epps, their leading receiver from 2013, was dismissed from the program in 2014, but is coming back, and the hopes are that his attitude has changed and he can take the lead role.
Defense: The DL loses 4, but signs three very big JCs, but I’m still not sold. Its going to be tough for them to play the run again. The LBs return 2 starters and move a S in, so that will help. The DBs have about the same level of talent as 2014, so it’s fair to say it should be the same type of year for this defense.
Players to Watch: I think Linehan could be good in situations, but I’m really liking Epps with the production that will need to be replaced.
Comentarios