ESPN Independents and Others Blog

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

This week, I'll continue to break down the spring outlooks of the teams in the Independents and Others category. Today we look at the Mid-American Conference. The MAC has always been one of the most offensively prolific conferences, but its defense has left something to be desired. A lot of talent returns in the MAC, making it an exciting conference to watch as it heads into 2009.

Please note that all spring dates are subject to change.

WEST

Ball State Cardinals

Spring practice starts: March 19

Spring game: April 11

What to watch

• The Cardinals will have to replace star quarterback Nate Davis, but coach Stan Parrish said he thinks he has a gem in redshirt freshman Kelly Page, who ran the scout team this year. He will be the favorite heading into spring.
• The Cardinals return 13 starters, but just two on an offensive line that will have to protect a new quarterback.
• It will be interesting to see what type of changes Parrish implements, especially since he coached under former coach Brady Hoke and the system that was used during the 2008 season worked pretty well. But with a mostly new coaching staff, the Cardinals will spend the bulk of the spring adjusting.

Western Michigan Broncos

Spring practice starts: March 12

Spring game: April 11

What to watch

• WMU won nine games for the first time since the 2000 season, but suffered a brutal defeat to Rice in the Texas Bowl. The Broncos will have the whole spring to erase that memory.
• The Broncos return 10 starters on offense, but lose star receiver Jamarko Simmons, who tied as the team's second-leading scorer (non-kicker). The good news is quarterback Tim Hiller has matured into a strong quarterback, who became more comfortable with the other receivers on the team.
• The defense isn't as lucky with returning starters. Just four starters return and the Broncos lose its entire secondary. That might not be a terrible thing considering it was last (102nd nationally) in pass defense allowing 254.85 yards per game.

Central Michigan Chippewas

Spring practice starts: March 17

Spring game: April 18

What to watch

• The Chippewas had a tough stretch to end the season by losing their last three, and really, they didn't play as well as expected the last half of the season. But coach Butch Jones has the support of the university with a new contract extension and will use the spring to get things back on track.
• Defense will be a point of emphasis this spring after the Chippewas finished last season ranked last in the Mid-American Conference (104th nationally) in total defense allowing 423.77 yards per game. The entire 2008 defense return for 2009.
• Nine players return on the offense, including star quarterback Dan LeFevour and leading receivers Antonio Brown and Bryan Anderson. The key this spring will be developing a running game outside of LeFevour, who spent the bulk of the 2008 season nursing a sprained ankle. Both starting running back Ontario Sneed and backup Justin Hawkins are gone, so some younger players will have the spring to shine.

Northern Illinois Huskies

Spring practice starts: March 24

Spring game: April 25

What to watch

• This is coach Jerry Kill's second spring at NIU, but the first where he'll have most of his team with which to work. Kill had several players injured or coming back from injury last season. Now, he's building on last year's 6-7 campaign.
• Starting quarterback Chandler Harnish is back and healthy. Harnish missed part of the season with injury, returned in the last third of the season, but wasn't as mobile as he was to start the year. It will be his job to lose this spring.
• The Huskies will have to make up for all-everything defensive end Larry English, who's been the anchor of the defense for the past three seasons. His listed replacement is sophomore Jake Coffman, who had 20 tackles last year, including two tackles for loss.

Toledo Rockets

Spring practice starts: March 18

Spring game: April 17

What to watch

• New coach Tim Beckman inherits 19 players from a team that defeated Michigan in Ann Arbor, but still won just three games last year. It will take most of the spring for this team to adjust to Beckman, the new coaching staff and the new style of play.
• The Rockets return 10 players from a defense that was decent, but really struggled against the pass. They do lose corner Tyrrell Herbert, who led the team with four interceptions.
• The Toledo offense wasn't terrible. It did have a 1,000-yard back in Morgan Williams, a redshirt freshman, who wasn't listed as a starter, and quarterback Aaron Opelt, who threw for over 2,000 yards. The problem was execution. The Rockets were the second-worst scoring offense in the MAC.

Eastern Michigan Eagles

Spring practice starts: March 17

Spring game: April 19

What to watch

• New head coach Ron English inherits a team that ended its season with a thrilling win over Central Michigan, but had little else to cheer about during its 3-9 campaign. The Eagles return 13 players and most are on offense.
• The Eagles total offense was one of the most potent in the country, but it had a tough time keeping up with all the points allowed by the defense. English made his name defensive coordinator at Michigan (and Louisville) and should be able to change the defense with a new, young squad this spring.
• Quarterback Andy Schmitt broke all sorts of records last year and should have similar success in 2009. EMU does have to find a new rushing option with Terrence Blevins graduating, though second-leading rusher Dwayne Priest seems primed for the starting job.

EAST

Buffalo Bulls

Spring practice starts: March 19

Spring game: April 18

What to watch

• After a breakout season last year, the Bulls will use this spring to retool and try to win the Mid-American Conference for the second time in the program's history. Coach Turner Gill, who was courted by nearly every major job opening, will be eager to finish the turnaround he's started with the Bulls.
• Star quarterback Drew Willy is gone and sophomore-to-be Zach Maynard will be called upon to replace him. Maynard saw limited time last season, completing 1-of-3 passes for seven yards, but he also had eight carries for 56 yards. Maynard is a dual-threat and brings needed diversity to the quarterback position.
• Buffalo's offense carried it most of the season and this spring will give the defense time to catch up. Nine starters return on defense and six of those players were sophomores during the 2008 season.

Bowling Green Falcons

Spring practice starts: March 27

Spring game: April 25

What to watch

• Dave Clawson, the new head coach of Bowling Green, is known for his offensive strategy, which will come in handy since offense is where the Falcons struggled most last season. Although they averaged 359.75 yards per game and 27.67 points per game, that didn't even crack the top two-thirds of the MAC in scoring.
• The Bowling Green ranked second in the MAC in total defense and in sacks. But the Falcons lose seven off last year's squad, including three players off its defensive line. The Falcons will need to find a replacement for Diyral Briggs, who led the team in sacks and tackles for loss.
• Clawson has a lot to work with this spring, including starting quarterback Tyler Sheehan, who is considered one of the top MAC quarterbacks. The Falcons won six games this year and in a weak East Division and should have another shot at the divisional title.

Temple Owls

Spring practice starts: March 17

Spring game: April 18

What to watch

• Temple won five games for the first time since 1990 and have improved every year under fourth-year head coach Al Golden. The Owls finished the season on a two-game winning streak and will look to continue that momentum through spring drills.
• Sophomore-to-be quarterback Chester Stewart is the incumbent heading into spring with Adam DiMichele graduating. Stewart played in 10 games in 2008, completed 50 percent of his passes for 524 yards and four touchdowns. Stewart also can scramble, giving the Owls some diversity at quarterback.
• The Owls were the nation's best team in kickoff returns, but must replace star returner Travis Shelton. Sophomore Jamal Schulters returns as the team's second-best kick return threat.

Akron Zips

Spring practice starts: March 3

Spring game: April 4

What to watch

• The biggest task for Akron this spring will be finding a replacement for running back Dennis Kennedy. Kennedy rushed for 930 yards in just seven Mid-American Conference games. He averaged 132.9 yards per conference game, which ranked second in the MAC. Alex Allen, who missed most of the season with a hip injury, should be the top candidate to fill the role if he's healthy.
• Akron struggled to get into the defensive backfield last season, which was part of the reason it lost a couple close games. All but defensive tackle Eric Lively return, but the Zips have to replace all of their linebackers.
• Akron was a pretty balanced offense last season led by quarterback Chris Jacquemain, who returns for his senior season. Most of his offensive line stays intact, and top receiver Deryn Bowser also returns.

Ohio Bobcats

Spring practice starts: March 30

Spring game: April 25

What to watch

• The major point of emphasis for the Bobcats this spring will be maintaining possession of the ball. Ohio ranked 110th in the country in turnover margin (-1.00) which placed it 12th in the conference.
• The Bobcats net punting was 115th nationally at 30.80 yards per game. That obviously affected the Bobcats' opponent field position and contributed to them being outscored by an average of five points per game.
• Quarterback Boo Jackson was decent in his first season with the Bobcats, but he has to make the team more efficient in the red zone. Ohio ranked last in the MAC with a 66.7 percent success rate inside the 20.

Kent State

Spring practice starts: April 3

Spring game: April 25

What to watch

• The Kent State rushing offense was the best in the MAC and 11th in the country (230.58 yards per game), but loses quarterback Julian Edelman, who was the team's leading rusher with over 1,000 yards. His replacement Anthony Magazu has some experience, but isn't a dual threat.
• The Golden Flashes will need to work on special teams this spring since they were one of the worst teams in the country in kickoff and punt returns. New players will try to fill those roles as Edelman finished the season returning punts and receiver Shawn Bayes, who returned kicks, graduates.
• Running back Eugene Jarvis, who was one of the best running backs in the MAC coming into the season, was hampered with injuries early and never regained his 2007 form. He returns for his senior season healthy. With Edelman gone, Jarvis is poised to lead the Kent State rushing attack.

Miami

Spring practice starts: March 21

Spring game: April 18

What to watch

• New coach Mike Haywood has a lot to work on during his first spring as Miami was one of the worst teams in the nation in nearly every defensive category, and was last in the Mid-American Conference in scoring defense and rushing defense.
• All three of the Redhawks starting linebackers -- all preseason Butkus Award candidates -- are gone, leaving the Redhawks with an even bigger challenge on defense, especially since the returning players listed behind them on the depth managed just a few tackles between them.
• Haywood will have a quarterback controversy on his hands with Daniel Raudabaugh and Clay Belton, who both played last season and put up similar numbers. Two seasons ago, Raudabaugh led the Redhawks to the MAC championship game and was considered one of the best quarterbacks in the conference.