Mountain West Preview

By Steve Herzog
Don Best Associate Editor

The Mountain West might be the best non-BCS conference in the nation this season. There is talent throughout the league and the top two teams, BYU and Utah may be Top 10 caliber. They will meet in their annual rivalry game on November 22nd at Utah and both teams could come into that game undefeated if everything falls their way. TCU has the talent to surprise while the rest of the conference looks to be pretty evenly matched save for San Diego State and Colorado State, two rebuilding programs.

BYU
Projected Record (10-2, 7-1)- BYU won their final 10 games in 2007 to finish 11-2. They return nine starters on offense including junior quarterback Max Hall, who was 1st team All-MWC in 2007. Hall completed 60% of his passes for 3848 yards and 26 touchdowns last season. The running game is also strong with sophomore Harvey Unga, who rushed for 1272 yards as a freshman. He heads a deep group of running backs with five of the six top carriers from last season back. Juniors wide out Austin Collie and tight end Dennis Pitta were the Cougars' top receivers last year and head a group that returns seven of their top eight from 2007. If that isn't enough firepower, the offensive line is probably the best in the conference with four seniors back who started last season. The defense has only three returning starters but tackle Jan Jorgensen and middle linebacker David Nixon are among the best in the conference and there are plenty of athletes around them. The Cougars are loaded on offense and should be solid on defense. The schedule isn't that difficult with their toughest non-conference games at Washington and at home against UCLA, two teams they can certainly beat. Their toughest conference games will be at TCU and the season-ender at Utah. BYU will reside in the Top 25 all season and could gain a surprise BCS Bowl bid if they can handle their conference road games.

Utah
Projected Record (10-2, 7-1)-With 14 total starters back, Utah has as much returning talent as any team in the conference, especially on offense. Senior Quarterback Brian Johnson, a 2nd team All-MWC choice in 2007, leads the way in the passing game while fellow senior and 2nd team All-MWC selection running back Darrell Mack heads a rushing unit that returns all six of last year's top gainers. The offensive line is also very strong with four starters back from last year including tackle Zane Beadles and guard Robert Conley, both All-MWC selections last season. On the other side of the ball, the Utes allowed just under 17 points per game last year and they should be just as stout this season. Ends Paul Kruger and Koa Misi lead a big, athletic defensive line. Stevenson Sylvester is the team's top returning tackler at linebacker and free safety Robert Johnson heads a deep secondary. The defense might not be as dominant as they were last year when they allowed just under 17 points per game, but they should be very good. Utah plays the marquee non-conference game of the season for the Mountain West when they open their season with a visit to Michigan. If they can win that game they may be undefeated heading into their final game against BYU.

TCU
Projected Record (8-4, 6-2)- TCU head coach Gary Patterson has had an amazing run in Fort Worth. Since taking the head spot in 2001, Patterson has led the Horned Frogs to a 62-25 record, including 11 wins a year in 2003, 2005 and 2006. TCU has 15 starters back from last year's 8-5 team and they certainly have the talent to challenge the conference heavyweights, although offensively they may be a step below BYU and Utah and they play a very tough schedule. The offense looked shaky in 2007 but there is reason to think they will be better this season. Two experienced quarterbacks return in Andy Dalton and Marcus Jackson and talented tight end Shae Reagan should play a bigger role around the goal line, which should lead to more points. Running back is the strength of the offense with all four of last season's top rushers back. Defensively, TCU allowed just 18.7 points per game last year, but that was six points worse than in 2006. Look for them to be nasty this season. Senior middle linebacker Jason Phillips was the team's leading tackler last season. He's been named All-MWC each of his three season and should have another outstanding campaign. The defensive line could be the best in the MWC with three senior starters back and the secondary will be led by cornerbacks Rafael Priest and Nick Sanders while strong safety Stephen Hodge is a versatile defender who had eight sacks and seven passes defended last year. TCU is a strong team and will certainly be bowling come the end of the season but the schedule is tough with trips to open the season at New Mexico, then later in the year to Oklahoma, SMU, UNLV and Utah.

UNLV
Projected Record (6-6, 4-4)-Without a doubt, when it comes to football, UNLV is a basketball school. The Rebels have gone 8-38 over their last four seasons, three of which have been under current head coach Mike Sanford, who has gone 6-29 in Sin City. This is probably Sanford last chance to show improvement and he does have some talent on hand. With nine offensive starters back, UNLV should improve their average of 19.4 points per game. Senior running back Frank Sanders was the Rebels' top offensive weapon last year and he returns as does sophomore quarterback Omar Clayton. Four starters return on a big offensive line but the real strength of the Rebels' offense will be their deep receiving corps. Casey Flair and Ryan Wolfe were All-MWC selections in 2007 and big Rodelin Anthony will be a matchup problem for defenses all season. On the other side of the ball the Rebels will be led by their two returning defensive tackles, Jacob Hales and Malo Taumua. Starr Fuimaono heads the linebackers and cornerback Quinton Porter is the headliner in the secondary. The Rebels should be better than they've been in some time and with seven winnable home games they could be bowl bound.

New Mexico
Projected Record (5-7, 4-4)-Under head coach Rocky Long, New Mexico is one of the most solid programs in the Mountain West. The Lobos have been to bowl games five of the last six seasons, beating Nevada in the New Mexico Bowl last season to finish 9-4. Long has a lot to replace this season, with only 10 total starters back from last year and they also have a difficult schedule which features no bye weeks and non- conference trips to Tulsa and New Mexico State as well as a conference visit to BYU. Normally teams can consider home games wins but the Lobos home schedule is even tougher. They open their season with home games against TCU, Texas A&M and Arizona and will also play Utah at home later in the season. The Lobos will rely heavily on junior quarterback Donovan Porterie and senior running back Rodney Ferguson, who was 1st Team All-MWC in 2006 and 2007. While those two are very good players, there is a lot of inexperience around them. Defensively, cornerback is the team's early strength with returning senior starters DeAndre Wright and Clover Quin back. Defensive tackle Wesley Beck is a solid run stopper up front, but the rest of the defensive unit is a big question mark. The Lobos have a great coach who should have them playing well by the end of the season. If they can weather their difficult early schedule they could have another solid season.

Wyoming
Projected Record (6-6, 3-5)-Wyoming could be a surprise team in the Mountain West this season. The Cowboys have eight starters back on offense and six on defense. The most important of these returners is junior quarterback Karsten Sween. The Cowboys will be employing a new spread offense and this will lay the burden of winning games squarely at Sween's feet. He has started 18 games over the last two seasons, completing 60% of his passes and throwing for over 3000 yards but he has thrown 25 interceptions against 21 touchdowns in his career and most improve those numbers if the Cowboys are to have a winning season. All five starters from last year's offensive line return as does 1000 yard rusher Devin Moore, so the Cowboys should be able to score. The defense will need big seasons from seniors Ward Dobbs, a linebacker and Quincy Rogers at free safety. The schedule should help them with seven home games and all are very winnable, although they should be solid underdogs in each of their road games, at BYU, New Mexico, TCU, UNLV and Tennessee.

Air Force
Projected Record (5-7, 3-5)-Few teams overachieved like Air Force did last season. After consecutive four win seasons, the Falcons followed quarterback Shaun Carney and running back Chad Hall to a 9-4 record. Both of those players are gone, as are 23 other lettermen from last year's squad. Only three starters return on offense and five on defense. Offensively, senior quarterback Shea Smith will probably start as he is the only returning player with any experience. He threw 12 passes last year. Fullback Todd Newell and tailback Savier Stephens will see the bulk of carries and tight end Travis Dekker is the leading returning receiver, after catching 25 passes for 382 yards last season. The defense will be strong up front with Jared Marvin and Ryan Kemp manning the tackle positions. Strong safety Chris Thomas was an All-MWC selection last season and is back for his junior season. Air Force is a solid team that won't hurt themselves but they don't have enough talent to compete with the top teams in the Mountain West.

San Diego State
Projected Record (4-8, 2-6)- For most coaches their third year at a program is a big one. When things are going well, the coach has gotten his kind of players into his system and they are primed for a big season. For San Diego State head coach Chuck Long, a 6-6 record would be a big season and despite a pretty easy schedule, the Aztecs don't seem to have the talent to reach .500 this season. Only three starters return to an offense that averaged 15 points per game for a team that went 4-8 in 2007. The quarterback position looks up for grabs as fall approaches although the Aztecs should be deep at running back with Brandon Sullivan and Atiyyah Henderson back. Senior Darren Mougey is the leading returning receiver and even completed two passes last season. Defensively the Aztecs allowed over 34 points per game last season and have eight starters back, as well as junior defensive end Ryan Williams, a transfer from Ohio State. Ten of last year's top 12 tackles return, so the defense should be better but will they be good enough to make up for the brutal offense and keep Long off the hot seat? It says here they won't.

Colorado State
Projected Record (3-9, 2-6)-First year head coach Steve Fairchild steps into a difficult situation at Colorado State. He replaces Sonny Lubick, a legendary figure in Fort Collins, and Lubick didn't exactly leave the cupboard stocked. The Rams finished just 3-9 in 2007 and lost their first six games of the season on the way to that record. Fairchild, an offensive coordinator with the Bills and Rams in the NFL, figures to rely heavily on the running game in his first season, with two very good senior running backs in the fold. Both Gartrell Johnson and Kyle Bell have been the featured back for the Rams at some point in their respective careers. Last season Johnson rushed for 991 yards and Bell added 713, so both can carry the mail. Colorado State has four starters back on the offensive line and a bunch of inexperienced quarterbacks and receivers on the roster, so look for the Rams to run the ball a lot this season. The strength of the defense will be the linebackers, including last year's top tackler, senior middle linebacker Jeff Horinek. . The defensive line and the secondary, aside from free safety Klint Kubiak, look to be very young and inexperienced. The Rams have some talent, but their weaknesses will be too glaring to overcome this season.

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