Blue Raiders Vs N T - Scouting The Competition

MeanGreen61 · July 27, 2007

Offense should pick-up

where they left off

By Abel Prado

Intern

In his first year as Middle Tennessee State University's head coach, Sun Belt Coach of the Year Rick Stockstill led the Blue Raiders to a 7-6 record and a share of the Sun Belt title.

Though they lost 31-14 to Central Michigan University in the Motor City Bowl, that appearance also marked the Blue Raiders' first trip to a bowl game.

Five months removed from their last grid-iron appearance, Stockstill found answers to the most pressing issues facing the Blue Raiders' 2007 campaign: replacements for tailback Eugene Gross and quarterback Clint Marks, who graduated.

Together, Marks and Gross combined for a total of 2,799 offensive yards and 114 points, one of the most productive running and passing tandems in the Sun Belt.

In the spring, junior Joe Craddock won the starting quarterback position as he amassed 113 yards in eight completions during the spring game. A minor uncertainty is who will be the backup quarterback. Three players are in the race including Patrick Johnson from Macon, Ga., Duke transfer Gene Delle Donne from Wilmington, Del. and Salin Simpson of Lexington, Ky.

Sophomore running back Phillip Tanner produced during the spring game, rushing for 104 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries and seems to be the most likely candidate to replace Gross.

As voted on by the Sun Belt's eight head coaches during the Media Days held in New Orleans the last week, Middle Tennessee will head into September with a pre-season ranking of No. 2 behind Troy University. MTSU received no first place votes but received 44 points, 15 behind Troy's 59. North Texas received 22 points in the rankings, placing them seventh in the Sun Belt.

Defense hopes to repeat as best against rushing

By Clay Byington

Intern

The Middle Tennessee State football team has plenty to look forward to for the 2007 season as it returns six starters on defense from its 2006 Sun Belt Champion squad, including three preseason first team all-conference players.

The Blue Raiders return all four starters on a defensive line that led the Sun Belt Conference in rushing defense and accumulated 22 sacks. Defensive lineman Erik Walden, who set the school record for sacks in a single season in 2006 with 11.5, will return to lead the front four.

His neighbor on the line and fellow all conference honoree, Tavares Jones, finished with 5.5 sacks last season.

Damon Nickson, a defensive back, was honored with a first team all conference defensive back spot and top kick return specialist.

Nickson ended 2006 with five interceptions, leading the Sun Belt, and returned one of them for a touchdown. He also returned two kickoffs for touchdowns.

The Blue Raiders' Defensive Coordinator is Manny Diaz, who after graduating from Florida State in 1992, spent six years at North Carolina State before his first season with the Blue Raiders in 2006.

Diaz is also in charge of the secondary, which should help a great deal with the development of Nickson. Diaz has a wealth of talent at his disposal this season.

Diaz's crew had no problems with NT in 2006, steamrolling their way to a 35-0 victory-their first conference road shutout.

Edited July 27, 2007 by MeanGreen61

Charlie NT 73 · July 27, 2007

Phillip Tanner, from Kimball High School in Oak Cliff.

I believe RF tried to recruit this kid for NT.

Looks like Tanner will be a good RB for the muts.

The 35-zip game was a total let down! The muts were not that good.

That day NT helped the muts to look good. Now wonder

This year, North Texas will destroy the muts. Dodge Ball will be rolling

when this game comes around!

greenminer · July 27, 2007

J-mo will run for 300 yards against them on 3 touches.

Starting on Vizza's left, he'll take a hand-off from the Italian Stallion, play hopscotch for 10 seconds and then zip through them for the score...untouched.