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09s Most Improved Teams
Can Bo Levi Mitchell lead the Mustangs to its first bowl since the death penalty?
Most Improved Teams For 2009
6.8.09
Last year we listed North Carolina as our most improved team nationally and Ole Miss as our second most improved team. UNC ended up improving by 4 wins in its win total and Ole Miss by 6 in their win total. This season their will be more surprises from some of college football's doormats from a season ago. To view last year's list click below.
1. Michigan(3-9 in 2008)- Year 1 for Rich Rodriguez didn't go as planned in Ann Arbor. The 2008 Wolverines became the first team at Michigan to finish with a losing record since the 1967 team and the 9 losses were the most in school history. There was certainly going to be some adjustment from a prostyle system to a spread option offense, but outside of Columbus, Ohio few saw a 3-9 record. Things will be better for Rich Rod in 2009. There are some questions at QB with Steven Threet transferring, but watch for freshman Tate Forcier to make an impact right away. Senior Brandon Minor could be looking at a breakout year as a senior running back, especially when you consider that Michigan returns all 5 offensive linemen from a year ago. Michigan isn't ready to take its place with the national elite yet, but a 7-8 win season should be expected.
2. SMU(1-11 in 2008)- This team let me down last year when I had them on my list of most improved teams. The Ponies only went 1-11, but June Jones will have SMU contending for CUSA titles soon. The Mustangs currently have a 17 game losing streak in CUSA, expect this streak to end on September 12 when they beat UAB in Birmingham. 4 games last year were loss by a TD or less, including a 6 point loss to CUSA West Champion Tulsa. Bo Levi Mitchell has did throw 23 INTs last season, but that stat will certainly improve in 09 as every WR that contributed in 2008 returns in 09 for SMU. 16 starters return for SMU in 2009 and this should help SMU become elgible for their first bowl game since the Death Penalty
3. San Diego State(2-10 in 2008)- One of the better hires this past season was SD State luring Brady Hoke away from Ball State. Hoke led the school he once lettered at to a 12-2 record last year, the most wins in Ball State history. Joining Hoke in San Diego will be former New Mexico coach Rocky Long, who coached the Lobos for 11 years and had 5 bowl teams in his final 7 years. Hoke made another great hire by getting former Auburn offensive coordinator Al Borges to bring his "Gulf Coast Offense" to San Diego. Borges' offenses led the SEC in scoring in 2004 and 2005. San Diego State has 15 returning starters, 2nd most in the Mountain West Conference. A bowl trip for the first time in 11 years isn't unrealistic
4. Arkansas(5-7 in 2008)- The 2009 version of the Hogs will certainly improve, but with a brutal schedule a run at the SEC Championship is likely a year away. The Hogs should be better at every position this year, with the exception of center where they lose 2007 Rimington Award winner Jonathan Luigs. 10 starters return on defense and 8 return on offense. Casey Dick has graduated, but there is no doubt the Hogs are better off at QB with Michigan transfer Ryan Mallett taking over. Mallett was ranked as the #2 QB in the nation coming out of high school and split time as a starter in his true freshman season at Michigan. Look out for the Hogs at WR. Joe Adams, Greg Childs, and Jarius Wright all had good freshman seasons and they are joined by 3 veteran pass catchers in D.J. Williams, Lucas Miller, and London Crawford. If Michael Smith can get some help from a couple of Petrino's bigger, younger backs this offense could be one of the nation's best in 09. The defense will be a much more experienced group in 09 after surrendering 31ppg in 08. The addition of Darius Winston, Rudell Crim, and Anthony Leon should help Willy Robinson's defense
5. UTEP(5-7 in 2008)- Add Mike Price's name to the coaching hot seat. After a great start to his career as a Miner, Price has now had 3 straight losing seasons. A 4th losing season won't come in 09. Trevor Vittatoe is one of college football's most underrated QBs(3,274 yds 33 TDs 9 INTs in 08). He is joined by his top 2 WRs from a year ago and 9 of his top 10 offensive lineman. On defense the Miners are certain to improve after the group allowed 37 PPG last season. UTEP gets the 2 best teams in CUSA West at home(Tulsa and Houston) and draw UAB and Marshall from the East. Price gets UTEP to a winning season in CUSA and gets the school to its 13th bowl game
6. UCLA(4-8 in 2008)- This is a program that for years has been somewhat of a sleeping giant. The Bruins play in a historic stadium, have tons of HS talent near campus, a large group of fans, wealthy university, and good tradition. Yet, for some reason this program has failed to become part of the nation's elite like its rival Southern California. Rick Neuheisel should be the man to put the Bruins on the map. Year 1 wasn't a great one, but it did include wins over Tennessee and an improving Stanford program. Freshman Kevin Prince takes over at QB a year after Kevin Prince had 20 INTs, but only 7 TDs! UCLA has had two straight top 15 classes under Neuheisel, so its only a matter of time before that talent starts making an impact on the field. 5 PAC 10 road games will keep the Bruins out of consideration for a championship run, but a bowl game should be a step up from last year's 4-8 record.
7. North Carolina State(6-7 in 2008)- One of the hottest team at the end of the year last season was the Wolfpack. NC State won 4 straight games including a 10 point win over Miami and 31 point win in Chapel Hill over #25 North Carolina. The season ended with a loss to Rutgers in the Pack's bowl game, but QB Russell Wilson was injured early in the game. Wilson ended the season with 17 TD passes and only 1 interception. The 4 OOC games are all very winnable against South Carolina, Murray State, Gardner-Webb, and Pitt at home. All 4 conference home games are also possible wins. NC State is a darkhorse to win the ACC in 09, this is something that shouldn't surprise those who have followed the career of Tom O'Brien
8.Kansas State(5-7 in 2008)- When Bill Snyder took over the KSU program in 1989 he inherited the worst program in 1-A. 14 years later his Wildcats won the Big XII Championship and were a bowl game regular. The 2nd time around won't be as difficult for Snyder to turn around as he takes over a program that is in much better shape than it was 2 decades ago. Vic Koenning was a great hire as defensive coordinator. Koenning led some top defenses at Clemson. In his 4 years at Clemson Koenning's defenses allowed less than 19 ppg every season. Josh Freeman is now in the NFL, but the speedy Daniel Thomas should fit in to Snyder's system perfectly. The schedule isn't brutal at all. The Wildcats should win OOC games against UMass, Louisiana, and Tennessee Tech. This team should end up in the top 3 of the Big XII's North Division and make it to a bowl.
9. Baylor(4-8 in 2008)- Laugh all you want, but those that have followed Art Briles know that Baylor should no longer be treated as a joke. Briles turned a struggling Houston program into one of the nation's best Non BCS programs while with the Coogs. In year 1 the Bears only went 4-8 with Briles, but lost 3 games by a TD or less and had 10-1 Texas Tech worried late in the game during the last week of the season(TTU won 35-28). Baylor returns 16 starters in 2009 and this is including one of the Big XII's best QBs in Robert Griffin. Not only is Griffin a great passer(160-267 2091yds 15 TDs 3 INTs), but he's also a great scrambler(843 yds rushing with 13 TDs). The Bears have 4 winnable OOC games against Wake Forest, UConn, Northwestern State, and Kent State. The Bears also draw Iowa State from the Big XII North and get a game with A&M(a team they beat 41-21 in 08). There is no reason this team can't follow in the footsteps of academic powers like Northwestern, Vanderbilt, and Wake Forest and go bowling in 2009.
10. Notre Dame(7-6 in 2008)- The Irish have struggled the last 2 years due to youth and a lack of talent. In 2009 Notre Dame will have talent and experience. The 06, 07, and 08 recruiting classes for Charlie Weis all ended up as top 10 classes(according to Rivals). Jimmy Clausen is the obvious star of the team, but it will be the offensive line that will shine in 09. The OL has over 100 starts combined and returns 8 of its top 10. Manti Te'o joins a very good group of linebackers as a true freshman and could make an impact right away. The Irish have a great secondary, so if the defensive line can step up this could be a great defensive unit. The schedule isn't tough and ND could be undefeated when Southern California comes to South Bend on October 17.
Matt Barber
dixiefriedsports@gmail.com
