2008 Miami (OH) RedHawks Preview

Miami fans can get more in-person looks than ever at their favorite team this season. The RedHawks are playing six home games for the first time in school history, and with 15 of 22 starters returning, they may have a lot to show off. The defense is particularly seasoned, with eight returning starters. The offense is a little more unsettled, with only seven returning starters and a quarterback competition that was expected to last up to the opener against Vanderbilt, the first SEC team to visit Oxford.

Two Minute Drill

A Quick Look at the RedHawks

With 15 returning starters, eight on defense, and six home games, conditions are favorable for Miami to post its second winning record in Shane Montgomery’s four seasons as head coach and contend for a second consecutive berth in the MAC Championship Game. The aggressive, experienced defense plays with a swagger and should be even better in 2008 than it was in ’07, when it was the MAC’s best in conference play. The line and linebackers seem to spend more time in opponents’ backfields than the quarterbacks and running backs. The RedHawks will need their defense to help offset an offense that remains a work in progress — frustrating to Montgomery, a former quarterback who also serves as Miami’s offensive coordinator. Junior quarterback Daniel Raudabaugh’s performance last season wasn’t strong enough to earn the job outright for this season, and whether he or redshirt freshman Clay Belton starts, don’t look for the RedHawks to put on an aerial display. New running backs coach Jay Graham must find a way to keep his backs healthy and overcome their lack of experience. Even with Vanderbilt as the home opener and trips to Michigan and Cincinnati, the schedule isn’t as imposing as in previous seasons, which is reason for optimism.

Quarterbacks

Daniel Raudabaugh took over as a third-year sophomore last year for the injured Mike Kokal, but the Texas native by no means put a stranglehold on the job. Head coach and offensive coordinator Shane Montgomery finds the potential in 6'5", 236-pound redshirt freshman Clay Belton too tantalizing to ignore. The two got equal reps with the No. 1 team in spring practice and will continue the battle in the fall. Consistency would help Raudabaugh, who threw an equal number of touchdowns and interceptions while starting seven games last season.

Running Backs

The RedHawks couldn’t keep their ball-carriers healthy last year, creating a revolving door at tailback. Sophomore Thomas Merriweather avoided the plague and worked more than any returning tailback, carrying the ball 40 times for 143 yards and four touchdowns. Explosive junior Andre Bratton led the RedHawks with 285 yards on 4.5 yards per carry two seasons ago, but he suffered a season-ending knee injury in the third game of last season that kept him out of spring practice.

Receivers

None of the youthful RedHawks receivers could crack the MAC’s top 10 in receptions or yardage last season. But nine wide receivers — including true freshmen Chris Givens and Jamal Rogers — reached double figures in catches last season. All but one are back, led by sophomore Eugene Harris and junior Dustin Woods, who missed spring practice for the second consecutive year after undergoing shoulder surgery. Fifth-year senior tight ends Tom Crabtree and Jake O’Connell also are targets.

Offensive linemen

Graduation hit this unit the hardest, with the loss of two starters, but experience remains more of a strength than a weakness. Fifth-year senior left guard Dave DiFranco is versatile and tested, with two years of starting at tackle and guard on his résumé after moving from tight end. Fifth-year senior tackle Steve Sutter will play next to DiFranco after starting at right tackle last season. Junior Zachary Marshall, a transfer from Maryland who’s dropped 23 pounds, should start at right tackle.

Defensive linemen

Fifth-year senior end Joe Coniglio leads an aggressive line that paced a Miami defense that led the MAC in sacks last season. Coniglio finished with a team-high 6.5 sacks. He is one of three returning starters, along with junior end Travis Craven and junior nosetackle Martin Channels. Pushing for playing time is end Morris Council, who had two sacks as a true freshman last season. Former tight end Sean Redwine, a sophomore, becomes the full-time starter at tackle.

Linebackers

This is the heart of Miami’s defense. Fifth-year senior Clayton Mullins was the MAC Defensive Player of the Year last season after leading the RedHawks and tying for 10th nationally with 143 tackles at his outside spot. Middle linebacker Joey Hudson hopes for a pain-free senior season after playing last year with knee problems. Junior outside linebacker Caleb Bostic missed spring practice after undergoing foot surgery. Fifth-year senior Chris Shula, son of former Bengals head coach Dave and grandson of Hall of Fame coach Don, is first off the bench.

Defensive backs

The pressure is on fourth-year junior Wendell Brunson, who replaces graduated cornerback Jerrid Gaines, the unit’s only missing starter. Fifth-year senior Robbie Wilson, a Jim Thorpe Award nominee, and junior Jordan Gafford are back at the safety spots. Gafford led the secondary and finished fourth on the team with 89 tackles last season. Junior Jeff Thompson is the second-year starter at the other corner. The top 10 players include only three seniors.

Specialists

Senior punter Jake Richardson can finish his career as Miami’s leader in average yards per punt. The Ray Guy Award nominee currently is averaging a program-best 41.98 yards. Nathan Parseghian is the returning starter at kicker, but Trevor Cook will push him. Rogers had a record 973 kick return yards last season.

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