Rockets Ready To Take Flight In MAC

 There's a horse racing term for an animal that's supremely talented yet never quite crosses the finish line first -- seconditis.

 That's a malady the Toledo Rockets are hoping to shed this season, and with Western Michigan coach P.J. Fleck gone to the Big Ten and Northern Illinois working to climb back up the standings after an uncharacteristically poor season, this might be Toledo's best opportunity to break the tape ahead of the field.

 Toledo has finished runner-up in the Mid-American Conference West in 2010, 2012 and 2016, third in 2013 and tied for first -- in 2011, 2014 and 2015 -- unofficially, anyway. The Rockets have zero appearances in the MAC championship game, so no matter how you slice it, the Rockets have yet to truly break through and make their mark on the MAC.

 "The talent is certainly there for us to compete for a championship," second year coach Jason Candle said. "We have a great group of senior leaders but do have some growing up to do in some key positions."

 If the Rockets indeed conquer those growing pains -- especially in the secondary, and in the backfield, where tailback Kareem Hunt blazed his way to 1,475 yards and 10 scores -- they are the favorites to finally make the league's championship game.

Logan Woodside

Even without Hunt, the Rockets (9-4, 6-2) are dangerous on offense, thanks to quarterback Logan Woodside. The senior, who tossed for over 4.100 yards with 45 TDs a year ago, has a big-enough arm and can do damage outside the pocket, but most importantly he brings an air of calm to a fast-paced Rockets attack. Things never seem to go askew when the Rockets have the ball, and Woodside is a big reason for that. Defensively, Ja'Wuan Woodley lead the way, and he's a sideline to sideline presence. Woodley made 79 stops last year, including 9.5 TFL.

 Western Michigan (13-1, 8-0) may have lost Fleck, but return someone nearly as important in running back Jarvion Franklin. A hit since bursting onto the scene as a freshman, Franklin is the school leader in career touchdowns (41) and amassed 1.353 yards last year. Jamauri Bogan (923 yards, 8 TDs) is the understudy, and he's the league best in that role. The Broncos need to find a replacement for first-round draftee Corey Davis at receiver - maybe tight end Donnie Ernsberger -- and a quarterback, as favorite Tom Flacco mysteriously transferred just before camp opened. Corner Darius Phillips is one of the nation's overlooked stars, making 40 stops and picking off four passes a year ago, and changing games with his return abilities (touchdowns on both kickoff and punt returns).

  A six-year period of dominance ended with a resounding thud for Northern Illinois, which went missed a bowl game for the first time since 2008 after a 5-7 season. Everything that could wrong last year did for the Huskies, who started off 0-4 and never truly recovered after an injury to QB Drew Hare in the second game of the year. A remade offense will be led by quarterback Ryan Graham and wideouts Christian Blake and Jauan Wesley, an Iowa State transfer. Opportunistic corner Shawun Lurry (12 INTs the last two seasons) leads a pretty good Huskies secondary. The schedule is no picnic, with road games against Nebraska and San Diego State.

 Eastern Michigan engineered a remarkable turnaround in coach Chris Creighton's third year, going from 1-11 to 7-6 and a bowl appearance, the first since 1987. The Eagles have one of the more experienced teams in the conference and return the three-headed rushing attack of Ian Eriksen (771 yards), Breck Turner (417) and Shaq Vann (170 yards, injured early in the year). Trips to Rutgers and Kentucky will show if the Eagles can handle prosperity.

 Central Michigan is about as consistent as they come, going winning six or seven games in each of the last five seasons. The Chippewas want to take that next step, and to do that it will need the best defensive line in the conference to play up to par. Defensive end Joe Ostman (69 tackles, 9 sacks, 4.5 TFL) is a beast, and linebacker Malik Fountain (92 tackles, 9 TFL) is a big-time hitter. Quarterback Shane Morris takes over after transferring in from Michigan.

 Mike Neu had a rough first season in charge at Ball State (4-8, 1-7), watching the Cardinals drop their last five games -- and allowing 31 or more points in four of those contests. The defense will once again be a concern, but the offensive returns seven starters, including running back James Gilbert (1,332 yards, 12 TDs), who will vie with WMU's Franklin for top back in the MAC honors.

Gus Ragland

 In the East, it might finally be time for the Miami RedHawks (6-7, 6-2) to shine under Chuck Martin. Incremental improvement, from two wins to three to six (and a one point bowl game loss to Mississippi State), have fans in Oxford giddy with the prospect of a big season, which hasn't happened since the 2010 squad went 10-4. Martin has a solid offense, led by quarterback Gus Ragland (1,537 yards, 17 TD, 1 INT), who was largely responsible for Miami's season-ending six-game winning streak. There's also a nice one-two punch in the backfield with Alonzo Smith (709 yards) and Kenny Young (557), and receiver James Gardner (45 catches, 16.7 ypc) could be ready for a breakout campaign. The secondary is good, but Miami will need to find people to rush the passer.

 Defending East Division champ Ohio (8-6, 6-2) won't just cede the crown to Miami, especially with an experienced bunch on offense. Quinton Maxwell (1,247 yards, 8 TD) is back after taking the starting job midway through the season, and he has an embarrassing stable of backs to turn to -- Dorian Brown (825), Maleek Irons (439), Papi White (206) and A.J. Ouellette, the team's leading rusher in 2015 who was out for the season early in the opener. The Bobcats will be stout up front on defense, the best being nose tackle Cleon Aloese (36 tackles, 8 TFL). Purdue and Kansas will be non-conference measuring stick contests for Frank Solich's squad, which hasn't won a MAC title since 1968.

 Bowling Green (4-8, 3-5) could be on the rise, but only if the defense takes a quantum leap. The stop troops made then first-year coach Mike Jinks wince far too often, allowing 38.3 points per contest, last in the league. Safety Jamari Bozeman is one of the best in the league, but he will need his cohorts to step up. The Falcons have far fewer questions on offense, and have a rising star in quarterback James Morgan, who threw for over 2,000 yards in eight starts, and his big arm allows BG to challenge teams vertically. Scott Miller (74 catches, 968 yards, 10 TD) is a good one at receiver.

 Terry Bowden has somehow stayed employed at Akron, despite having just one winning campaign in the last five years. The Zips (5-7. 3-5) are unsettled at quarterback, which isn't usually a good thing, but running back Warren Ball (7.2 ypc) was granted a sixth year after missing nearly all of 2016 with an ankle injury. He should bring life to Akron's ground attack. Defense will be the calling card, led by linebacker Ulysses Gilbert (122 tackles, 7.5 TFL), a big candidate for league defensive player of the year. Transfers from Pitt, Miami (Fla.), Rutgers will help defensively.

 It's win now or else for Kent State coach Paul Haynes, in the final year of a five-year deal and in possession of a 12-35 mark as the leader of the Golden Flashes. The defense needs playmakers, but gets back corner Demetrius Monday, who missed three games last year but was an all-MAC choice in 2015. The Flashes registered just 21 sacks a year ago, a number that will need to increase if ascension is to happen. Quarterback Nick Holley ran for 920 yards and 10 scores but was erratic with his arm (49.3 completion percentage). Not helping Haynes' job security are non-league trips to Clemson and Louisville.

 Buffalo thought it was getting a rising coaching star when it plucked Lance Leopold from Division III powerhouse Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he went 109-6 in eight seasons, but, like Haynes, he could also be in peril after the Bulls (2-10, 1-7) put up a second straight losing campaign. The defense should be pretty good, thanks to linebackers Khalil Hodges (123 tackles) and Ishmael Hargrove  (103). An anemic offense (16.5 ppg) is young, but has some talent in quarterback Tyree Jackson, who threw for 1,772 yards and ran for another 399 and five scores.

MID-AMERICAN PREDICTIONS
EAST
 1. Miami (Ohio)
 2. Ohio
 3. Bowling Green
 4. Akron
 5. Kent State
 6. Buffalo

WEST
 1. Toledo
 2. Western Michigan
 3. Northern Illinois
 4. Eastern Michigan
 5. Central Michigan
 6. Ball State

ALL-MID AMERICAN CONFERENCE
OFFENSE
QB Logan Woodside/Toledo
RB Jarvion Franklin/Western Michigan
RB James Gilbert/Ball State
WR Cody Thompson/Toledo
WR James Gardner/Miami (Ohio)
WR Scott Miller/Bowling Green
TE  Donnie Ernsberger/Western Michigan
OT Max Scharping/Northern Illinois
OT Jordan Rigg/Miami (Ohio)
OG Luke Juriga/Western Michigan
OG Durrell Wood/Ohio
  C  Tim McAuliffe/Bowling Green

DEFENSE
DE Joe Ostman/Central Michigan
DE Olasunkanmi Adeniyi/Toledo
DT Jon Cunningham/Kent State
DT Gus Schwieterman/Bowling Green
LB Ja'Wuan Woodley/Toledo
LB Ulysses Gilbert/Akron
LB Malik Fountain/Central Michigan
CB Heath Harding/Miami (Ohio)
CB Darius Phillips/Western Michigan
  S  Jamari Bozeman/Bowling Green
  S  Javon Hagan/Ohio

SPECIALISTS
  K Louie Zervos/Ohio
  P  Joseph Davidson/Bowling Green
KR Darius Phillips/Western Michigan
PR  Jamarl Eiland/Buffalo

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME -- Toledo over Miami (Ohio)
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR -- Logan Woodside
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR -- Ja'wuan Woodley
COACH OF THE YEAR -- Rod Carey/Northern Illinois
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR -- QB Shane Morris/Central Michigan