2008 CUSA WEST PREVIEW
July 14th, 2008 by Daniel Freer
Last season, Conference USA was the conference that produced the biggest fantasy RBs like UCF’s Kevin Smith and Tulane’s Matt Forte, each eclipsing 2000 yards and 20 TDs.
This season they move on – 2008 could be the year of the big fantasy QB from Conference USA, especially from the West Division like Rice’s Chase Clement who ONLY had 3900 yards of total offense in 2007 and returns for his third year as starter.
Will CUSA surprise the fantasy world again?
HOUSTON COUGARS
HEAD COACH: Kevin Sumlin (First Season, former OC at Oklahoma)
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Dana Holgorsen (First Season, former OC at Texas Tech). Jason Phillips (First season, former WR standout at UH)
MEDIA LINKS:
ESPN.com
SI.com
CFB News
SCHOOL WEBSITES/NEWSPAPERS/BLOGS:
Houston Cougars Official Site
Houston Chronicle
ANALYSIS/KEY PLAYERS: The Cougars lose a lot from their 2007 squad, mainly RB Anthony Aldridge, WR Donnie Avery, and Head Coach Art Briles moved up the road to Baylor. Enter new head coach Kevin Sumlin, who should keep the offense potent…especially with former Texas Tech OC Dana Holgorsen on board. Houston does have two good QBs on the roster in Case Keenum and Blake Joseph , who both shared time last season….but look for Keenum to get the nod over Joseph….and a lot more playing time. RB Terrance Gannaway , as backup to Anthony Aldridge last season, did rush for 550 yards and 6 TDs in 2007, and is a fantasy consideration at RB. The Cougars must replace their WR starters in 2008, so look for WR L.J. Castille , E.J. Smith , and Chris Gilbert to step up as key receivers. If the WRs pan out, the Houston offense could be as good in 2008 as it was in 2007…and good for fantasy owners.
RICE OWLS
HEAD COACH: David Bailiff (Second Season, former head coach at Texas State)
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Tom Herman (OC with Bailiff at Texas State)
MEDIA LINKS:
ESPN.com
SI.com
CFB News
SCHOOL WEBSITES/NEWSPAPERS/BLOGS:
RiceOwls.com
Houston Chronicle
ANALYSIS/KEY PLAYERS: The Owls started slow last season, then ripped it up offensively later in the year (albeit it did not show in the win column). The offense again will be led by QB Chase Clement , who threw for nearly 3400 yards and 26 TDs, while leading the Owls on the ground with 535 yards rushing and 8 TDs…and has “Draft Me” written all over him for fantasy owners. His top target, All-CUSA and All-American WR Jarrett Dillard , snagged 14 TD passes and 1057 yards in 2007…and that was down from his 2006 numbers…draft him, too. WR mates Tommy Henderson and Toren Dixon are also draft-worthy as well. RBs C.J. Ogowke and Justin Hill shared the backfield carries in 2007, but are not as productive as their WR teammates. Another reason the Owls are interesting in 2008 is that they have a non-conference home game vs North Texas, and a cross-division CUSA game at Memphis…add that with the CUSA West matchups and the Owls offense should be in a number of shoot-outs.
SMU MUSTANGS
HEAD COACH: June Jones (First Season, former head coach at Hawaii)
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Dan Morrison (First season, QB coach at Hawaii under Jones)
MEDIA LINKS:
ESPN.com
SI.com
CFB News
SCHOOL WEBSITES/NEWSPAPERS/BLOGS:
SMUMustangs.com
Dallas Morning News – SMU
ANALYSIS/KEY PLAYERS: In probably the biggest coaching move of the off-season, the Mustangs lured June Jones from Hawaii, with a higher salary and better athletic facilities. The success of the Ponies first season with Jones may rest with QB Justin Willis (right, Icon SMI), who was suspended for the spring and may not be playing for SMU this fall. If not, it could be rough for the Mustangs in 2008…especially early in the season.
If Willis does not return, you may see true freshmen QBs Braden Smith or Bo Levi Mitchell get the nod over returning QBs Zach Rhodes and Logan Turner , the latter two did not overly impress this spring.
The WR corps may still be very productive, especially with WR Emmanuel Sanders (889 yards, 9 TD catches) back, and he is joined by WRs Zach Zimmerman , Aldrick Robinson , and Jessie Henderson . The ground game has RBs DeMyron Martin and James Mapps , but I see neither really breaking out in 2008.
TULANE GREEN WAVE
HEAD COACH: Bob Toledo (Second Season, had a great run as UCLA head coach a few years ago)
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Dan Dodd (Second Season, former OC at New Mexico)
MEDIA LINKS:
ESPN.com
SI.com
CFB News
SCHOOL WEBSITES/NEWSPAPERS/BLOGS:
Tulane Green Wave
New Orleans Times-Picayune
ANALYSIS/KEY PLAYERS: Tulane’s best fantasy player, RB Matt Forte, has departed, and took about 60% of the Green Wave 2007 offense with him. Looking to replace Forte are RBs Andre Anderson , Andre Angers , and J. T. McDonald , but none are expected to match Forte’s big numers. The QB position may be an issue, as QBs Kevin Moore , Anthony Scelfo , and Scott Elliott threw a combined 10 TD passes last season. Do not be surprised if true freshman Ryan Griffin , a highly-recruited QB from the West Coast, gets a shot to start in 2008. At WR, Jeremy Williams is a late draft consideration as he put up 773 receiving yards, 5 TDs, and nearly 17 yards per catch in 2007
TULSA GOLDEN HURRICANE
HEAD COACH: Todd Graham (Second Season as head coach, former Rice head coach)
OFFENSIVE COORDINATORS: Gus Malzahn (Second Season, famous HS coach in Arkansas), Herb Hand (former TE coach at West Virginia)
MEDIA LINKS:
ESPN.com
SI.com
CFB News
SCHOOL WEBSITES/NEWSPAPERS/BLOGS:
Tulsa Official Athletic Site
Tulsa World
ANALYSIS/KEY PLAYERS: The Golden Hurricane led the nation in total offense last season, and may match those numbers even with QB Paul Smith deaprting with his 5000+ passing yards and 60 (!) total TDs from 2007. The reason for the continued success will be the return of every key skill-position star, and some new arrivals who will contribute. Key candidates replacing Smith at QB will be David Johnson (the favorite), JUCO transfer Jacob Bower , and Clark Harrell (his brother, Graham, is the QB at Texas Tech). Draft Johnson, and handcuff him later with Bower and Harrell if your draft is deep enough. At RB, 1200+ yard rusher Tarrion Adams returns, while 1000+ yard receiver FB Charles Clay joins him and add Courtney Tennial into the mix, as he returns from injury for his sixth year. Adams and Clay are a must-draft.
However, the crown jewels of the TU offense is the WR corps, led Brennan Marion (1244 receiving yards, 11 TDs, 31.9 yards per catch!), Trae Johnson (1088 yards receiving, 13 TDs), and Dion Tolliver . Highly-regarded Tennessee transfer Slick Shelley and Arkansas transfer Andrew Norman (who played under OC Malzahn while at Arkansas) join the already-stacked WR group. Additionally, Tulsa returns most of its offensive line, and, plays a much easier schedule in 2008 all adding up to more explosiveness from the Golden Hurricane in 2008.
UTEP MINERS
HEAD COACH: Mike Price (Fifth Season, formerly head coach at Washington State)
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Aaron Price (First Season, son of the head coach), Bob Connelly (also offensive line coach at UTEP)
MEDIA LINKS:
ESPN.com UTEP
SI.com UTEP
CFB News UTEP
SCHOOL WEBSITES/NEWSPAPERS/BLOGS:
UTEPAthletics.com
El Paso Times Miners Mania
ANALYSIS/KEY PLAYERS: The Miners have some key losses in the skill positions, but do have some good fantasy candidates back for 2008. QB Trevor Vittatoe threw for 3101 yards and 25 TDs as a freshman last season, and noticeably improved as the 2007 season went along….expect him to match his 2007 numbers this season. The WR corps was decimated with graduation and suspension, but Miners top WR Jeff Moturi is back after leading the Miners with nearly 900 yards receiving and 13 TDs (and a TD catch in 10 consecutive games)…with the WR losses look for the Vittatoe-Moturi combo to really flourish. Other WRs to consider are Russell Carr and Tufick Shadrawy . At RB, Terrell Jackson will be the featured back, and should take up the slack left by the departed Marcus Thomas. If the Miners get inside the opponents 40 yard line, PK Jose Martinez has the leg to hit long FGs, and just may be the best PK in the nation.
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