Toledo Rockets Season Preview 2013

Head Coach: Matt Campbell (10-4 in one season)
2012 Record: 9-4 (6-2 in Mid-American Conference, second in the MAC West division)
Offensive Starters Returning: 9
Offensive Starters Lost: 2
Defensive Starters Returning: 4
Defensive Starters Lost: 7
Lost Leadership: LB Dan Molls, LB Rober
t Bell, S Mark Singer, S Jermaine Robinson
Key Returnees: QB Terrance Owens, RB David Fluellen, WR Bernard Reedy, WR Alonzo Russell, DB Cheatham Norrils, DB Junior Sylvestre, LB Trent Voss, DL Jayrone Elliott

What They're Saying: USA Today has ranked the Toledo Rockets as the 44th best team in the FBS in their 2013 preseason rankings.

The Toledo Rockets will have a difficult non-conference
schedule, opening at Florida and Missouri.
Picture Courtesy: UTRockets.com

Last Season's Summary: A 9-4 overall record last season was highlighted by a monumental victory on October 20 against the 21st-ranked Cincinnati Bearcats. Despite the prestigious victory, the Rockets still lost two of the bigger conference games on their schedule to Ball State and Northern Illinois, each by a touchdown. The Rockets would ultimately finish behind Northern Illinois for the third consecutive season as the Huskies headed to a BCS bowl game. Despite the two loses, the Rockets would still find themselves in the Idaho Potato Bowl against Utah State. Rarely will you see a Matt Campbell coached offense only put up fifteen points, but that's exactly what the Rockets did in the bowl game, losing 41-15 to the Aggies to finish the season.

Last Season's Team Statistics: (Source: NCAA.com)
Total Offense: 446 yards per game, 31st Nationally, 3rd in Mid-American Conference
Passing Yards: 252 per game, 48th Nationally, 5th in Mid-American Conference
Rushing Yards: 193 per game, 35th Nationally, 4th in Mid-American Conference
Red Zone Defense: Opponent Red Zone percentage: 69%, 11th Nationally, 2nd in Mid-American Conference

2013 Offensive Outlook:

You can't spell TOLEDO without the T and the O. Terrance
Owens should have a tremendous season for Rockets once
again.

Strengths: You can't look at the Toledo offense without noticing they'll have nine returning offensive players,  and bring back many skilled position players. Among those returning, are three seniors who all had breakout junior seasons. Quarterback Terrance Owens will return after a junior season which included passing for 2,700 yards and 14 touchdowns. Along with Owens, running back David Fluellen also returns. After rushing for nearly 1,500 yards and 13 touchdowns last season, he was named to the Doak Walker preseason watch list. As if those two returnees aren't enough, Toledo also brings back their number one wide receiver, Bernard Reedy. Reedy recorded 88 receptions for 1,100 yards and 6 touchdowns during his junior campaign, and you can
only expect that number to rise this season. Toledo head coach, Matt Campbell has been known for his explosive offenses during his time both as the Rockets offensive coordinator and his one season at the helm, and expect this season to be no different. Not many teams can say that they have three senior starters at all three offensive skilled positions, but it's something the Rockets can say. Look for Fluellen to be a huge factor in Campbell's spread offense once again, but Terrance Owens is also poised for a breakout season if Reedy can remain healthy and if the Rockets can find more weapons behind him at wide out.

Weakness: The Toledo Rockets struggled to find wide receiver depth behind Bernard Reedy and Alonzo Russell last season. Reedy and Russell combined for a bit over 2,000 receiving yards during the 2012 campaign, which is over two-thirds of the Rockets passing total. Other than Reedy and Russell, the Rockets tried several other receivers such as Justin Olack, Cassisus McDowell, and Dwight Macon, who all struggled to get consistent receptions. With the Toledo offense featuring four wide receivers in several offensive sets, the Rockets will need to find at least a third productive receiver, and Justin Olack could be that guy. Olack made nineteen catches for 260 yards last season, but needs to be more consistent this season. If the Rockets get Olack going, it will just add another weapon to Terrance Owens' disposal, which could be lethal to MAC defenses.

2013 Defensive Outlook:

Toledo defensive end, Christian Smith is
looking for a productive senior season.

Strengths: With only four returning starters, the Rockets need to fill some holes on defense. However, a lot of productivity will return on the defensive line. Among the returning players is defensive tackle, Elijah Jones. Jones was a consistent run stopper on the Toledo defense last season, recording 31 tackles in the thirteen games. Along with Jones on the defensive line, is one of the defensive leaders on the 2013 squad, Christian Smith. Despite the large expectations for Smith, he is coming off of a knee injury which kept him out during the final eight games of the 2012 season. However, if he can stay healthy this season, Smith can provide the pass rushing defensive end that the Rockets need. Despite Smith getting most of the attention at defensive end, opposing offenses won't be able to relax on the other side of the defensive line either. Despite a lackadaisical 2012 campaign, Jayrone Elliot will return on the other side of the defensive line. Elliot has a chance to be extremely productive in his senior season, a chance to improve off of the 18 tackles and six sacks that he recorded last season.

Weakness: Look at all of those question marks in the secondary and at linebacker. The Rockets are going to have some problems filling the experience and production need gfrom last season, specially at linebacker. Last season's Rocket linebacking core were led by Dan Molls and Robert Bell, who are both trying to make NFL rosters right now. This season, sophomore Trent Voss will be leaned upon. Voss had a productive freshman season at Toledo after recording 13 tackles against Coastal Carolina and 12 tackles against Akron. However, what about around Voss? Dawalyn Harper will be seeing the field a lot more this season, if he doesn't find himself in a starters role, despite not playing often last season. Inexperience could be an issue with the Rockets defense this upcoming season, especially with the added expectation and leadership placed on sophomore linebacker, Trent Voss.

Bottom Line: It should be a great year for the Toledo Rockets. The returning offensive lightning will be crucial due to the inexperienced defense. The object of the game: score more than the other team, and Toledo's offense will be great at doing that with Owens, Fluellen, and Reedy returning. On defense, look for Trent Voss to breakout and hope for a productive year from the seniors on the defensive line. The secondary will be under a lot of stress, as they typically are in the Mid-American Conference. Jordan Haden will also be leaned upon in the defensive backfield and we'll see his leadership grow throughout the season. Toledo is a serious MAC contender this season, and November 20th against the Northern Illinois Huskies may just decide the MAC West again this season, as it typically does. Also, I'm a serious believer in the Rockets against the Florida Gators in week one, it'll be a closer game than most expect.

Schedule/My Predictions:

August 31 - @ Florida - L 31-45

September 7 - @ Missouri - W 34-27

September 14 - Eastern Washington - W 48-21

September 21 - @ Central Michigan - W 38-31

September 28 - @ Ball State - W 31-24

October 5 - Western Michigan - W 38-24

October 19 - Navy - W 31-17

October 26 - @ Bowling Green - W 38-35

November 2 - Eastern Michigan - W 45-14

November 12 - Buffalo - W 38-20

November 20 - Northern Illinois - L 24-38

November 29 - @ Akron - W 35-24

Overall: 10-2 MAC: 7-1