College Football 2010: Independents

Yes, we're doing a College Football Preview again. Yes, you know I love Phil Steele's work. Order from his plethora of preview options here. I'm also armed with The Sporting News College Football 2010, and I picked up the Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook this year, too. I've also done research through local newspapers and school websites to try to get the most up-to-date information on the teams.

Stories to Watch Among the Independents

Will Brian Kelly's magic work in South Bend? Kelly has done great things at Grand Valley State, Central Michigan, and Cincinnati. Now, he gets his "dream job" with the Fighting Irish, and we'll see if he can bring this program back to the level it used to be at. He brings his spread offense in, and returning quarterback Dayne Crist -- Jimmy Clausen's backup last year -- is the new starter. Crist has star receiver Michael Floyd to throw to. Floyd was injured and missed five starts last year, but he's a definite game-breaker. Senior Armando Allen will key the run game, one that underachieved a bit last year. Kelly has work to do on the offensive line, where there is turnover from a unit that was only okay for most of last year. The defense -- which also had issues in 2009 -- returns plenty of starting experience, but we don't know what they will look like. Kelly's teams at CMU and Cincy weren't exactly known for strong defensive play, and he brought coordinator Bob Diaco with him from Cincinnati. The Bearcats had an up-and-down group, one that made some huge plays but also gave up a lot of points and big plays. Home games with Purdue and Michigan might look easy, but they won't be. That said, if Notre Dame can start well, they have a stretch of five games that should be largely easy for them before a season-ending game at USC.

Navy keeps on truckin'. An impressive win over Missouri in the Texas Bowl last year served notice. Navy is a strong program in college football. The Midshipmen will try to back up that message with another ten-win season this year. Senior quarterback Ricky Dobbs makes their triple-option offense go. He ran for over 1,200 yards and 27 touchdowns last year, and also chipped in 1,000 yards passing and five scoring tosses. With leading receiver Marcus Curry back, the Midshipmen might be able to throw the ball more this year ... if necessary. Curry and Vince Murray will key the ground game, with Murray getting a lot of looks as the fullback. There is the usual turnover on the offensive line, but tackles Matt Molloy and Jeff Battipaglia both return. On defense, the undersized line is led by nose tackle Chase Burge and safety Emmett Merchant. The Middies play three games at neutral sites, with Maryland in Baltimore, Notre Dame at Meadowlands Stadium, and Army in Philly. They only play four true road games, but Louisiana Tech, Air Force, Wake Forest, and East Carolina are all tough opponents. If Ken Niumatalolo can get ten wins out of this team, he'll earn the respect of virtually everyone who hasn't noticed Navy yet.

Army tries to get there. Last year, the Cadets missed a bowl by one win, losing their contracted spot in the EagleBank Bowl to UCLA because of their 5-7 season. Since they had two more wins than the previous year, and they have 16 starters back, it makes sense that Army would have a real chance at their first bowl since 1996 this year. Coach Rich Ellerson has the option installed, and sophomore quarterback Trent Steelman is back to run it. He has to improve his passing, but that will come with experience and improved receiver play. Slotbacks Patrick Mealy and Jameson Carter return, and so does fullback Jared Hassin. Four starters return on the offensive line. Career sack leader Josh McNary anchors the defensive line after a 12.5-sack season. Also back are linebackers Andrew Rodriguez and Stephen Anderson, both of whom could become stars on that side of the ball. Safeties Donnie Dixon and Donovan Travis both return, too. Ellerson's schedule is manageable, as the Cadets also play three neutral-site games (Rutgers at Meadowlands Stadium, Notre Dame at Yankee Stadium, and Navy in Philly) and five home games. If they take care of business, Army wins at least seven games and goes bowling at the Armed Forces Bowl.

College Football 2009: Independents

This year's College Football Preview uses information gathered from many sources. As usual, my full endorsement goes to Phil Steele and his College Football Preview, which is the most comprehensive publication of its kind available. I also used The Sporting News College Football Preview, along with school websites and local newspapers, in my research for these preview posts. Please contact me ASAP if you have updated information that can be used to make this work more accurate.

1. Notre Dame
2. Navy
3. Army

Top Storylines Among Independents

Notre Dame's revival. It didn't look good last year. They lost to Syracuse, and had to take a bid to the Hawai'i Bowl (no offense, but that's not a bowl you expect to see Notre Dame in). This year's team should be much better. Quarterback Jimmy Clausen appears to get it now, and he has a ton of talent around him. Receivers Golden Tate and Michael Floyd have NFL ability, and junior running back Armando Allen looks like a good one. Charlie Weis has loaded the offensive line with top players, and the only question is at left tackle, where Paul Duncan has to get settled in. There are a few more question marks on defense, but safety Kyle McCarthy and true freshman linebacker Manti Te'o should emerge as the top players. Redshirt freshman Kapron Lewis-Moore may get a chance to start on the line. Weis has a typical Notre Dame schedule, meaning there are landmines and cupcakes. The Irish only play four true road games, adding in a neutral site game (this year it's Washington State in San Antonio), so it's not ridiculous to suggest that Notre Dame will return to a BCS bowl after two years away.

Navy is nothing if not consistent. Fears were abound that Paul Johnson's departure would hurt the Midshipmen. Instead, first-year coach Ken Niumatalolo kept everything going quite well. Navy won eight games and got to a sixth straight bowl game. The Middies played great defense for much of the season, thanks to guys like linebacker Ross Pospisil and defensive end Matt Nechak, both of whom are among seven returning starters. Navy does have to find a new triggerman -- likely junior Ricky Dobbs -- for their option offense, along with new faces at two of the other three backfield positions. That work-in-progress offense opens at Ohio State and plays at Pittsburgh in their third game. However, Navy has always fielded a solid offensive unit, no matter how many starters they had to replace. It's an offense based on discipline and timing, not talent. Expect to see Navy again contending for a bowl bid, despite their tough schedule.

The triple option returns for real. Last year, Stan Brock tried to commit to the option offense at Army. It didn't go well, as the Black Knights had no threat through the passing game. A more modern version of the option should be on display at West Point this season. Former Cal Poly coach Rich Ellerson took over for the fired Brock. Ellerson's offense is based on the option, but there is a serious passing component to it. The Mustangs threw the ball all over the place last year, so much so that receiver Ramses Barden got enough attention to be a third-round pick in the NFL Draft. It shouldn't take long for Ellerson to get things going his way at Army. His first experiment involves six-foot-ten Ali Villanueva, who is now a receiver. If junior quarterback Chip Bowden can figure out a way to get him the ball down the field, Army's offense could create a real positive buzz for the first time in years.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL '08: INDEPENDENTS

Welcome to The Ciskie Blog's 2008 College Football Preview. As usual, you can expect a rundown of every Division I-A (or "Football Bowl Subdivision", if you prefer) conference, as well as a brief look at the independents. Some of the information used to compile these previews came from various football preview publications that I took the time to review this summer. I give a full endorsement to Phil Steele's College Football Preview (the national edition, as well as his various regional magazines). I also have looked at Sporting News, Athlon Sports, and Blue Ribbon (via ESPN Insider). Information was also gathered from local newspapers and school websites. Please use the comments section or e-mail for feedback, questions, and any corrections you feel need to be noted.

1. Notre Dame
2. Navy
3. Western Kentucky
4. Army

TOP FOUR STORYLINES AMONG INDEPENDENTS
Weis leads a turnaround. It wasn't meant to be easy for Charlie Weis (pictured yelling), but he should see some rewards from last year as soon as, well, right now. The Irish went 3-9 a year ago. They lost eight of those nine games by double-digits, including home losses of 33-3, 31-14, 38-0, and 41-24. Weis smartly went with true freshman Jimmy Clausen at QB for nine starts. While the highly-touted Clausen did virtually nothing for most of the season, the experience he got should help him be a much better player this year. It'll also help that the offensive line is likely to yield fewer than 58 sacks this year, and the Irish are likely to gain more than 75 rushing yards per game. Look out for junior RB James Aldridge, who can't possibly be held out of the end zone again this year. Notre Dame was fairly competitive on defense for most of the season, especially when you consider how much time they spent on the field. New coordinator Jon Tenuta has some quality talent to work with this year.

Navy's coaching change. With Paul Johnson gone for Georgia Tech, Navy grabbed one of his offensive assistants. Ken Niumatalolo is the first Polynesian coach in Division I-A, and the former Navy offensive assistant plans to keep the option offense intact. The Midshipmen are lucky to return starting QB Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada (right) for a third season at the helm. He accounted for over 1,700 yards of total offense and 20 touchdowns, but is recovering from offseason knee surgery and didn't do much in the spring. Shouldn't be a problem for the experienced starter. Of more concern is the work Niumatalolo has to do on the offensive line. Three starters are gone, and the Midshipmen are - as usual - badly undersized at the position. A bright spot on a defense that was terrible against the pass last year (opponents completed almost 70 percent of passes) is that all four starters return in the secondary, and there is plenty of experienced depth after an injury-riddled season.

Western Kentucky continues the transition. The Hilltoppers were a perennial power in Division I-AA, winning national titles in 2000 and 2002. Western Kentucky moved up to I-A beginning last year, and they will join the Sun Belt officially next year. WKU plays five games against Sun Belt teams this year, but they won't count in the league standings. This is a program that will probably take a step back this year, as they have stepped up the schedule from what they had a year ago, and they will miss four of their top six tacklers on defense. With trips to Indiana and Alabama in the season's first three weeks, coach and former WKU defensive coordinator David Elson can't waste much time building that defense back up. Elson gets his starting skill players back on offense. QB David Wolke, RB Tyrell Hayden (pictured), and WR Jake Gaebler should all improve their 2007 numbers.

Army returns to tradition. Coach Stan Brock closed down spring practice. No fans. No media. Why? Because it was time to overhaul the stagnant Black Knight offense. The old tradition of the option is back. It's a good thing for Army, as they have a ton of talented running backs, and now they have an offense that will utilize the depth at the position. Word is that freshman Paul McIntosh may have the upper hand on the QB job, beating out experienced junior Carson Williams (right), who worked in Army's pro-set offense a year ago. Small senior Carlo Sandiego may also have a shot at the job. Army averaged just 88 yards per game on the ground last year. Don't be surprised if that number comes close to tripling this year. Having Temple, New Hampshire, and Akron all at home to start the season will ease the transition. Army has worked hard to soften the schedule since their days in Conference USA. Texas A&M and Rutgers are the only teams from BCS conferences on this year's slate.

PRESEASON AWARDS AND NOTABLES
Offensive Player of the Year: Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada, QB, Navy
Defensive Player of the Year: David Bruton, S, Notre Dame
Coach of the Year: Charlie Weis, Notre Dame
Coach on the Hot Seat: Charlie Weis, Notre Dame
Best Non-Conference Game: Notre Dame at USC, November 29
Worst Non-Conference Game: Towson at Navy, August 30