MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE 2009 PREVIEW
August 3rd, 2009 by Daniel Freer
Last season, the Mountain West Conference demonstrated that they were, indeed, one of the top conferences in Dvision I-FBS college football (regardless of the what the BCS thought).
MWC champion Utah finished #2 in the final AP Poll, after they slapped Alabama silly in the Sugar Bowl. TCU, with its two losses coming to Utah and Oklahoma, used their dominating defense to shut down Boise State in the Poinsettia Bowl…and was worthy of a BCS bowl bid in its own right.
Even the bottom of the MWC got into the action….Wyoming won at Tennessee, while UNLV beat two BCS-conference teams (yet finishing only 2-6 in the MWC).
For the fantasy manager, the MWC will have plenty of fantasy-worthy players available in 2009…even with some key personnel losses at many of the member programs. Players like UNLV QB Omar Clayton (photo, above, thanks daylife.com) demonstrate that there still is plenty of talent around the MWC
For our in-depth preview of BYU…click the link below
AIR FORCE FALCONS
Strengths: QB Tim Jefferson took over duties in the fifth game last season, and finished with 387 yards rushing and 3 rushing TDs….while throwing for 5 TDs in the option-based offense. Asher Clark played at a RB/SB position last season, but played QB this spring…so he could see action at either position. WR Kyle Halderman led the team with 13 catches and 3 TD grabs…while rushing for 350 yards and 1 TD.
Weaknesses: AFA runs the ball quite well, but many different players get carries, limiting the individual fantasy production. Jefferson, and possibly Clark, are the best fantasy considerations for the Falcons, but only late-draft or free-agent/supplemental.
COLORADO STATE RAMS
Strengths: The Rams return their two top WRs in Dion Morton (859 rec yards, 12 total TDs) and Rashaun Greer (1114 rec yards, 3 TDs)….Morton is definitely on your draft list. Also, the majority of the offensive line returns, which could be a big boost for CSU head coach Steve Fairchild as he enters his second season.
Weaknesses: The Rams lose some key personnel, including RBs Gartrell Johnson and Kyle Bell, along with QB Billy Farris. If Grant Stucker can replace Farris at QB, Morton and Greer make nice fantasy players….if Stucker cannot…oh well.
NEW MEXICO LOBOS
Strengths: Look for new HC Mike Locksley to throw the ball a little bit more, and he does have a good QB in Donovan Porterie (photo, thanks golobos.com) to build an offense around. Along with Porterie, 
another late fantasy consideration is WR Chris Hernandez, who could thrive in the new offense.
Weaknesses: It may take awhile for the new offense to gel…also, the Lobos defense, once the strong-suit of the entire program, may struggle this season as they must replace 8 starters.
SAN DIEGO STATE AZTECS
Strengths: New HC Brady Hoke may not have moved to a winning program, but does have experience on both sides of the ball. QB Ryan Lindley is steady (2653 yards, 16 TD passes) and has his top WR Vincent Brown (5 TD catches) back. Our FCB President, Vince Mullins, is high on the Aztec defense…their non-conference schedule is very light…and toughest non-conf matchup is with offense-challenged UCLA. Plus…former New Mexico HC Rocky Long comes in as defensive coordinator…dude knows defense.
Weaknesses: The Aztecs return the same group of people who struggled to move the ball for three seasons under Chuck Long…who was the stellar OC at Oklahoma before coming to San Diego State.
TCU HORNED FROGS
Strengths: QB Andy Dalton only threw for 11 TDs last season, but rushed for over 400 yards and 8 TDs. He is a late-draft consideration as Dalton leads a very balanced offense. RB Joseph Turner rushed for 577 yards and 11 TDs last season, and will be the main ball-carrier in the backfield. WR Jimmy Young is also a fantasy consideration…as he had nearly 1000 yards receiving and 5 TD catches last season. And, do not forget the defense….one of the nation’s best last season. Although they replace a few starters, they return consensus All-American DE Jerry Hughes (photo, Scott Winterton/Deseret News)…making this a defense you take on draft day.
Weaknesses: Not many…although TCU runs the ball quite well, they tend to split carries among many backs, which could limit Turner’s production.
UNLV REBELS
Strengths: If he could just stay healthy, QB Omar Clayton would be one of the top fantasy QBs in America. He threw only 258 passes in 2008, but had 18 TD tosses and nearly 1900 yards. His backup, Mike Clausen, is just as productive….if your fantasy league has a large draft…it may be worth it to take both Clayton and Clausen (on handcuff). The reason you might want to take both is because the Rebels have one of the best WR corps in the nation (yes, nation). WR Ryan Wolfe is a steady player who went over 1000 yards and scored 6 TDs in 2008. WR Phillip Payne is a long-ball hitter, scoring 7 TDs on 29 catches last season….he is a good fantasy pick even with the injury risk.
Weaknesses: UNLV will face some good defenses in their MWC contests, which could limit production in some games…especially against the Utah schools and TCU.
UTAH UTES
Strengths: RB Matt Asiata rushed for over 700 yards and 12 TDs in 2008, and he will be the feature back in 2009…so draft him. WR David Reed averaged over 17 yards per catch on 25 receptions last season, 6 of those catches were for TDs. The Utes defense returns 7 starters from last season, and could be one of the top fantasy defenses in 2009. If you do not believe me, call someone in Tuscaloosa….
Weaknesses: The Utes lose a lot of key people on offense from last season, and it will not be easy replacing QB Brian Johnson, WR Freddie Brown, PK Louie Sakoda, and others. Look for the Utes passing game to be less productive in 2009.
WYOMING COWBOYS
Strengths: New head coach Dave Christensen was the former OC at Missouri, so he knows a few things about offense. He does have a big-play WR in Brandon Stewart, and, a steady WR in Greg Bolling to work with. Also, QB Karsten Sween, once a highly-touted prep QB, could make a comeback of sorts in this new offense.
Weaknesses: The Cowboys have struggled on offense the past three years, and even with Christensen at the helm, there may not be a lot of offensive improvement in 2009. Losing the speedy RB duo of Devin Moore and Wynel Seldon to graduation hurts, for they would have thrived in the new offense.
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