A look at the offense, defense and expectations for MTSU football. From Daily News Journal.
http://www.dnj.com/story/sports/col...-expect-mtsu-footballs-2017-season/606342001/
There was no shortage of offseason storylines: The star quarterback had to have offseason surgery, the defensive coordinator had to be supplanted, and MTSU had to replace five starters on both sides of the ball. But finally, the 2017 football season is here, and not without a significant amount of hype.
High-powered offense ... again
Will the offense be significantly improved from last year? Well, probably not, simply because of how historically good it was last year. MTSU averaged 39.7 points per game last season, the most in school history and 12th out of 128 FBS teams in the country, so to expect something much better than that is hardly realistic. . .
But other than junior right guard Chandler Brewer, questions still abound on an offensive line that graduated three of its five starters from a year ago. The Blue Raiders must replace running back I’Tavius Mathers, who last season became the first player in FBS history to have 1,500 rushing yards, 500 receiving yards and 60 catches. So far, none of MTSU’s running backs have distinguished themselves in training camp the way Mathers did last year, and MTSU coach Rick Stockstill has said he would be comfortable using a back-by-committee approach, at least until one running back separates himself when the season gets underway. . .
While it’d be hard for the offense to do much better than it did last season, it’d be hard for the defense to do much worse. MTSU allowed 35.8 points per game last year, which ranked 109th out of 128 teams in the nation.
. . . MTSU’s first-year defensive coordinator brings an aggressive, attacking brand of defense, and players seem to have responded to it well in training camp.
http://www.dnj.com/story/sports/col...-expect-mtsu-footballs-2017-season/606342001/
There was no shortage of offseason storylines: The star quarterback had to have offseason surgery, the defensive coordinator had to be supplanted, and MTSU had to replace five starters on both sides of the ball. But finally, the 2017 football season is here, and not without a significant amount of hype.
High-powered offense ... again
Will the offense be significantly improved from last year? Well, probably not, simply because of how historically good it was last year. MTSU averaged 39.7 points per game last season, the most in school history and 12th out of 128 FBS teams in the country, so to expect something much better than that is hardly realistic. . .
But other than junior right guard Chandler Brewer, questions still abound on an offensive line that graduated three of its five starters from a year ago. The Blue Raiders must replace running back I’Tavius Mathers, who last season became the first player in FBS history to have 1,500 rushing yards, 500 receiving yards and 60 catches. So far, none of MTSU’s running backs have distinguished themselves in training camp the way Mathers did last year, and MTSU coach Rick Stockstill has said he would be comfortable using a back-by-committee approach, at least until one running back separates himself when the season gets underway. . .
While it’d be hard for the offense to do much better than it did last season, it’d be hard for the defense to do much worse. MTSU allowed 35.8 points per game last year, which ranked 109th out of 128 teams in the nation.
. . . MTSU’s first-year defensive coordinator brings an aggressive, attacking brand of defense, and players seem to have responded to it well in training camp.
