Last year appeared to be a step back to take a big step forward.
It was a big year of change for the Marshall program with the beginning of the Mark Snyder era as well as the first season in Conference USA. While the league was there for the taking, Marshall couldn't find enough offense and had way too many problems with its consistency to make much of a dent on the way to the program's first losing season since the move up to D-I in 1997.
Known for offensive fireworks with players like Randy Moss, Byron Leftwich and Chad Pennington, Marshall had problems putting points on the board averaging a league low 18.55 per game with the best output of the season coming against D-IAA William & Mary.
The optimist looks at 2005 and notices the team was this close to finishing 7-4 losing to Kansas State late on an all-time bonehead play, lost to Southern Miss in overtime, and lost to East Carolina by five. The pessimist looks at last year and notices that the the Herd was five points away from going winless against D-I teams and finishing 1-10.
So which is it? Is Marshall on the verge of being a contender in Conference USA, or is it still a few years away from getting the talent to where Snyder and his staff need it to be? Most likely it'll be a contender.
21 starters return with the biggest boost in production likely to be on offense with quarterback Bernie Skinner and Jimmy Morris a year older and wiser after their first seasons in the new system, four returning starters to the offensive line, a receiving corps loaded with experience, and all-star back Ahmad Bradshaw to do everything to carry the attack when needed. Top linebacker recruit Josh Johnson and receiver Darius Passmore provide an instant upgrade to the overall talent level.
The defense should be better against the run with a good linebacking corps coming back led by Matt Couch and Dennis Thornton (though they might be combining to play one spot), a big, deep line, and a secondary that likely won't be too bad if a second corner emerges to help out J.J. Johnson.
If UCF and Tulsa can rise up and be stars in Conference USA, then a team with the experience, potential, and coaching staff at Marshall can certainly play for the title. The program has been too good for too long to be lousy two seasons in a row.
The Schedule: Seven games are on the road starting out with the one Herd fans really want at West Virginia. Yes, Marshall played well against Kansas State last season, but the team has to expect losses at Kansas State and at Tennessee before the Conference USA opener, and most likely, the team's make-or-break game in the East race against UCF. The Herd misses Tulsa and Houston from the West, but gets UTEP at home. The final three games are nasty going away to play East Carolina and Southern Miss from the East, and both are better, to go along with the game against the Miners.
What you need to know on offense ... Could that really have been the Marshall offense? It was the worst scoring attack in Conference USA averaging a mere 18.55 points per game getting inconsistent quarterback production and no push for the running game from the offensive line. There's hope for a big improvement with four starters returning up front, Bernie Morris and Jimmy Skinner back at quarterback, the top three wide receivers returning along with speedster Emanuel Spann, and running back Ahmad Bradshaw good enough to be in the mix for all-star honors.
Best Offensive Player: Junior RB Ahmad Bradshaw. He not only led the team in rushing, he also led the Herd in receiving as a one-man show at times for the attack. Most importantly this season, he has to stay healthy with little in the way of developed depth behind him. He could be the type of difference maker who finishes as the Conference USA Player of the Year while carrying the Herd to the title.
What you need to know on defense ... Head coach Mark Snyder is a defensive coach and should have things in shape soon. It might take a little while more with three new starters needed in the secondary and a run defense needing to improve after a lousy 2005. The line has the potential to be far better with 300-pounders Juan Underwood and Chris Terrell able to clog up the middle, and rising star Albert McClellan on the outside. The linebacking corps should be a strength if Brandon Souder shines in the middle allowing last year's top two tacklers, Matt Couch and Dennis Thornton, to combine on the weakside.
Best Defensive Player: Senior SS Curtis Keyes. Back for yet another year as an all-star, the senior has to be even better as the only returning starter to the nation's 12th best pass defense. He's a huge hitting safety with 233 career tackles, but his production against the pass has dipped a bit as he has been needed more against the run.
Key player to a successful season: Junior QB Bernie Morris and/or senior QB Jimmy Skinner. Throw senior Derek Devine in the mix, too. The Herd can't be in the Conference USA title race if it's another year of musical quarterbacks. Morris needs to be the star of the show with his running ability and overall potential to make big things happen, but Skinner and Devine are better passers. The starter has to crank out more production than the Herd got last year.
The season will be a success if ... Marshall wins the East. The league is better, but it's not all that great with a good team able to rise up in a hurry. Marshall has way too much experienced to be as bad as last year and needs to make winning the East the main goal.
Key game: Sept. 2 at West Virginia. Of course the divisional showdowns with UCF, East Carolina and Southern Miss are more important, but a win over the Mountaineers would probably mean even more to Herd fans than a Conference USA title. In any event, beating the Sugar Bowl champions and ruining their national title dreams would be the type of win that could spark a good Herd team to really big things.
2005 Fun Stats:
- Fourth quarter scoring: Marshall 75 - Opponents 39
- Penalties: Opponents 70 for 541 yards - Marshall 58 for 426 yards
- Rushing yards per game: Opponents 161.8 - Marshall 127.2
