| From MOP Squad Sports Utah State Aggies Say this about Utah State football over the last few seasons — it's been consistent. Three straight three-win seasons isn't anything to do jumping jacks about, but last year was different. It was the debut of head coach Brent Guy, who wasn't afraid right off the bat to get fresh faces in key spots. The lumps taken should pay off with as many as 12 sophomores looking to play prominent roles. The second big change was the conference. After two years of doing nothing in the Sun Belt, the Aggies did nothing in the WAC, only beating San Jose State and New Mexico State to go along with a non-conference shocker over UNLV. There's not going to be a major turnaround in year two and there won't be much hope of competing for the conference title, but the team should be better and it proved it could be competitive by the end of last year playing Nevada and Louisiana Tech tough before beating New Mexico State. First and foremost, the offense needs a running game from someone other than the quarterbacks. JUCO transfer Marcus Cross needs to be a key cog in the attack right off the bat and big Lynwood Johnson has to wear out defenses in games. The passing game should be better with the return of All-WAC candidates Kevin Robinson and Tony Pennyman at receiver and Leon Jackson III at quarterback. Robinson and Pennyman are two of the nation's better return men. The defense returns enough experience to be a little bit better than last year, but it has some mile-wide holes to fill losing pass rushing terror John Chick and corner Jarrett Bush, who was one of the nation's leaders in broken up passes. Finding a steady kicking game and improving the coverage units would be a big help. With only one winning season since 1993, the Aggies don't have to do too much to have one of its best seasons in recent years. But with only a few seniors in the two-deep depth chart, this might be a stepping stone to 2007. The Schedule: It's not awful. You could do worse with a non-conference slate than play at Wyoming, at Arkansas, Utah and at BYU. The Aggies probably aren't good enough to hang around with Nevada or Boise State, so it's not the worst thing in the world to have those two games on the road. Home games against Idaho and New Mexico State have to be must wins, while coming away with a victory at San Jose State will be necessary to have any prayer of a winning season. What you need to know on offense ... Seven starters return to an attack that needs an identity after being consistently average all of last year scoring between 21 and 24 points six times. The key is the ground game, which needs far more production from the running backs. JUCO transfer Marcus Cross has to star right away to keep QB Leon Jackson III from having to run 136 times again. The offensive line is big and promising, but it needs work with only two starters returning. The receiving corps is the team's strength with Tony Pennyman and Kevin Robinson two of the WAC's best targets and need to be used more. Best Offensive Player: Junior WR Kevin Robinson and Senior WR Tony Pennyman. Robinson is big and fast, Pennyman is short and quick, and both are good enough to be in the hunt for All-WAC honors. They've combined to be the stars of the passing game over the last two seasons and will also be on the All-America short lists as kick returners. What you need to know on defense ... The Aggies struggled through a lot of youth playing key roles and a lot of mistakes. A lot. Despite the possibility of eight sophomore starters, this is an experienced group that should be a little better in all phases after allowing 406 yards and almost 33 points per game. The biggest improvement is needed in the secondary where Terrence Washington will look to get back his all-star form and sophomore brothers Josh and Caleb Taylor need to perform like veterans. Finding a replacement up front for pass rushing terror John Chick will be a problem, but the front seven should be solid up the middle with tackles Brian Soi and E.J. Reid and linebacker Jake Hutton. Best Defensive Player: Senior FS Terrence Washington. A ball-hawking all-star before a knee injury knocked him out in 2004, Washington wasn't quite right last season. If he gets his range back this year, he'll be one of the league's better all-around defenders. Key player to a successful season: Junior RB Marcus Cross. Ryan Bohm led the Aggies in rushing last season with 340 yards and four touchdowns. The number two running back was Chris Forbes, who ran for 137 yards and two scores. Cross, a JUCO transfer, has to be a 150-carry back and needs to average over four yards a pop. The season will be a success if ... Utah State wins five games. It'll likely only be favored against Idaho and New Mexico State, so it should take a few upsets to be within range of a winning season. Having not won five or more games in five years, it would be a good turnaround season to go into late November with an outside chance of pulling off six victories. Key game: November 4th vs. Hawaii. The Warriors are notoriously average away from home, and Utah State has to take advantage. Hawaii is the far better team, but the Aggies need this win as the only home oasis sandwiched between four road trips. 2005 Fun Stats: |