2006 College Football Preview
1. Texas Christian University (TCU)- A lethal combination of an explosive offense, headlined by running backs Lonta Hobbs, Robert Merrill, and Aaron Brown, and a strong returning defensive crew means that the Horned Frogs will repeat as Mountain West champions. Look for the running trio to dominate in most Mountain West games and the defense to step up and give them game-winning plays in two or three close contests.
2. Utah- While the Utes may be disappointed by this projection, their talented team just doesn’t have the same explosiveness as the TCU Horned Frogs. The running back corps is too questionable in the preseason to be considered effective in the offensive scheme and while Brett Ratliff and Tommy Grady are good quarterbacks, they will need a more balanced offense in order to keep the offensive running smoothly. The defense is efficient and effective, but TCU has more play makers on their squad.
3. New Mexico- New Mexico is my nominee for the Most Improved team in the Mountain West conference simply because they have veteran presences on all three units and play well as a team. New Mexico adds Bob Toledo’s extensive offensive knowledge to the mix and has considerable talent on the offensive side of the ball, with a great offensive line, good backs in Martelius Epps and Rodney Ferguson, and a strong-armed quarterback in Kole McKamey. The Lobos went with a young secondary last season and with a year’s experience under their belt, they will be much improved in 2006. Look for the defense to give the offensive unit good field position all year against Mountain West teams, holding opposing offenses deep in their own territory.
4. BYU- Quarterback John Beck needs to be a more consistent passer and a leader for the Cougars, who seem short on player leadership. Beck and running back Curtis Brown will rely on a talented offensive line to give them time to make plays, though the real question is whether they can fulfill their potential. The defense is low on talent though they have a solid linebacker in Cameron Jensen. They will need more than Jensen, however, to stop teams like Utah and TCU this upcoming Mountain West season.
5. Colorado State- The Rams are going to be a running team in 2006, with Kyle Bell and a big, strong offensive line working to drive the offense down field. This effort to run will be forced upon the Colorado State staff by the loss of Justin Holland at quarterback and Caleb Hanie taking over at the offensive helm. The defense is going to be fodder for any time in the Mountain West that can string together a running game, because of a bad defensive line and an underachieving line backing corps. Look for a defensive back like Ben Stratton to lead the team in tackles because of runs more than ten yards.
6. UNLV- USC transfer Rocky Hinds will beat out starter Shane Steichen by mid-season, if that long, and will flourish in the Rebels’ spread offense. Hinds will get help from a talented group of running backs including Erick Jackson and will need to get everything he can out of a young but athletic group of receivers. There is no excuse for the offense to bog down often in 2006, considering the talent they have on this side of the ball. The defense was average at best in 2005 but got better with several transfers from USC (Eric Wright), UCLA (Mil’Von James) and Oklahoma (Tony Cade) to help out in the secondary. This group will need to gel quickly if the Rebels have any hope of moving out of the bottom half of the Mountain West and by this projection, it is obvious that 2006 is not the year for UNLV to make their move.
7. San Diego State- Running back Lynell Hamilton is the one certainty on Chuck Long’s Aztecs, with a lot of questions on offense and defense. The offensive line is mediocre at best and the receivers are inexperienced and will need to get mature quickly to keep up in a spread offense. Look for Hamilton to get 25-30 carries per game, especially when the passing attack gets bogged down. Defensive end Antwan Applewhite and linebacker Andrew Shantz are solid leaders on defense but they are inconsistent and underachieving over the last few years. Long needs to get the most out of his offense this season, otherwise they are going to be on the wrong side of a lot of shootouts.
8. Air Force- Unless quarterback Shaun Carney can multiply to fill the receiver and running back positions at Air Force, the Falcons are going to have a tough season. Without a strong running back corps or an effective offensive line, Carney is going to have a tough go of it in the Mountain West this season. The defense is full of holes in terms of experience and talent, without the cohesiveness to stop more talented teams at the top of the Mountain West. Look for a lot of lopsided games against Air Force and Carney to get knocked out of a few games because he is trying to make all of the offensive plays.
9. Wyoming- The Cowboys are a far cry from the team that Joe Tiller lead to winning seasons in the 1990s and have little offense to speak of. The quarterback situation at Wyoming alone leaves them wondering if they will be able to stay competitive in most games this season, with Jacob Doss, Ian Hetrick, and several others not distinguishing themselves as signal callers. The defense is much better than the offense, which isn’t saying much, and they will be key to the few wins that the Cowboys will be able to string together in 2006.
Best NFL Prospect- Running back Lynell Hamilton, San Diego State- Hamilton is a pro level talent who can pass block, receive out of the backfield, and run between and outside of the tackles. Hamilton’s season depends entirely on his offensive line coming together, but expect him to get between 1400 and 1600 yards this season as he will be getting a lot of carries.
Most Improved Team- New Mexico- New Mexico adds Bob Toledo to its offensive staff and they have a solid quarterback in Kole McKamey to lead them down field. However, the reason they will be most improved is that while they gel as a unit, other teams will underestimate their abilities. More talented teams like TCU, Utah, and BYU are well advised to keep an eye in the rear view mirror for the Lobos. Look for McKamey to make a push for Conference Player of the Year and make a name for himself in a pass-oriented offense.
