Front Page  sports

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Lobos Picked 4th in Preseason Poll



       MWC preseason poll breakdown:
    1. BRIGHAM YOUNG (11-2, 8-0 in MWC in 2007)
    Starters returning: 14 (offense 9, defense 3, special teams 2)
    Key players: QB Max Hall, RB Harvey Unga, DE Jan Jorgensen
    Date with Lobos: Oct. 11 in Provo, Utah
    Outlook: BYU's motto for 2008, "Quest for Perfection" indicates the Cougars' sights are set beyond winning a third consecutive conference title. The offense is loaded, meaning BYU's BCS-busting hopes rest on defense that has a lot of questions behind the line. The Cougars, however, had questions in 2007 and responded by sweeping the MWC for the second straight year.
    2. UTAH (9-4, 5-3)
    Starters returning: 16 (offense 8, defense 6, special teams 2)
    Key players: QB Brian Johnson, RB Darrell Mack, K/P Louie Sakoda
    Date with Lobos: Nov. 1 at University Stadium
    Outlook: The Utes have their most experienced team returning under fourth-year coach Kyle Whittingham. If they can avoid the injury bug that plagued them in 2007 and find a way to play 60 minutes against BYU, rather than 59 (the Cougars beat them in the final minute in both 2006 and 2007), they could steal the MWC crown. A season-opening date vs. Michigan is tempering BCS talk.
    3. TCU (8-5, 4-4)
    Starters returning: 14 (offense 8, defense 6)
    Key players: RB Aaron Brown, LB Jason Phillips, NT James Vess
    Date with Lobos: Aug. 30 at University Stadium
    Outlook: Expectations took their toll in the first half of 2007 on a Horned Frogs team projected to win the MWC. TCU righted its ship after its bye week, winning four of five that began with a 37-0 thrashing of UNM. The Frogs annually have talent as good as anyone in the conference. This season, that talent is less well-known, but that may help TCU sneak up on BYU and Utah.
    4. NEW MEXICO (9-4, 5-3)
    Starters returning: 10 (offense 5, defense 5)
    Key players: QB Donovan Porterie, RB Rodney Ferguson, CB DeAndre Wright
    Key game: Aug. 30 vs. TCU
    Outlook: The Lobos have questions, primarily at wide receiver, the offensive line and kicker. Despite losing marquee names on defense, the Lobos have the players to fill the void at most of the positions. Linebacker depth is a concern. If UNM can develop a reliable kicker and give Porterie and Ferguson time to do their thing, it could be a force, even amid one of its toughest schedules ever.
    5. WYOMING (5-7, 2-6)
    Starters returning: 15 (offense 8, defense 7)
    Key players: RB Devin Moore, DE John Fletcher, LB Ward Dobbs
    Date with Lobos: Oct. 4 in Laramie (Homecoming)
    Outlook: The Cowboys must figure out how to finish like they start. After going 4-1 out of the gate in 2007, Wyoming crashed and burned, like it did in 2005. The Cowboys must settle on a starting quarterback, but the winner should be helped by an offensive line that returns entirely intact. A more consistent offense will help keep a strong defense from wearing down as the season progresses.
    6. AIR FORCE (9-4, 5-3)
    Starters returning: 9 (offense 3, defense 5, special teams 1)
    Key players: WR Ty Paffett, DE Ryan Kemp, SS Chris Thomas
    Date with Lobos: Oct. 23 in Colorado Springs
    Outlook: The Falcons have the fewest starters returning in the league, which will make reigning MWC Coach of the Year Troy Calhoun's year-two job that much tougher. Air Force may have to rely on more freshmen than ever, and the players' offseason commitments that affect their summer workouts may keep them from settling in until the second half of the season.
    7. SAN DIEGO STATE (4-8, 3-5)
    Starters returning: 12 (offense 4, defense 8)
    Key players: WR Vincent Brown, LB Russell Allen, FS Corey Boudreaux
    Date with Lobos: Oct. 18 at University Stadium
    Outlook: The good news is that the defense should be vastly improved from the one that surrendered 241.5 rushing yards and 498.2 total yards per game in 2007. The bad news is the defense may be asked to carry the team, which may be too much to ask. The offense must figure out how to replace all-everything QB Kevin O'Connell and doesn't have much experience to compensate.
    8. COLORADO STATE (3-9, 2-6)
    Starters returning: 15 (offense 8, defense 6, special teams 1)
    Key players: RB Kyle Bell, TE Kory Sperry, LB Jeff Horinek
    Outlook: The Rams could the league darkhorse, even though they have to establish a new starting quarterback. CSU played much better in the second half of 2007, winning three of six games and finally finding a running game that should be even better this year. If new coach Steve Fairchild can get the defense going and get rid of the losing aura, the Rams have talent to contend for a bowl bid.
    9. UNLV (2-10, 1-7)
    Starters returning: 14 (offense 8, defense 5)
    Key players: WR Ryan Wolfe, WR Casey Flair, RB Frank Summers
    Date with Lobos: Nov. 15 in Las Vegas, Nev.
    Outlook: UNLV must establish a QB between Travis Dixon and Omar Clayton. If one steps forward and can stay in the lineup, the offense should be much improved over last season. The Rebels are loaded at skill positions. Defensively, UNLV has some holes to fill, most noticeably at middle linebacker for departed Beau Bell. On paper, the Rebels appear to be a reach to contend for a bowl berth.
    — Greg Archuleta