For four years All-MAC QB Dan LeFevour has been a headache for opposing teams, inside and outside the MAC. And why not? Dan LeFevour was recently named as one of 16 semifinalists for the Maxwell Award, given annually by the Maxwell Football Club to the national college player-of-the-year. That puts him in a pretty heady class of collegiate football players.
To date, “Dan the Man” has completed 176-of-257 passes (68.5 percent) for 1,848 yards and 16 touchdowns and just 5 INTs in 2009. He also has rushed for 548 yards (4.5 ypc) and nine TDs, leading CMU to a 7-2 (5-0) record. [For an overview of LeFevour’s career-to-date feats see box at end of article.]
It would seem the only threat to stopping Dan is another type of headache . . . migraines. In CMU’s last game against Boston College, he was far less than 100% due to a migraine headache. He was 20 of 34 (a terrible 58.8 %!) for 152 yards and one INT and did not play in the fourth quarter. I’m sure that if he plays against the Rockets it will be only after a thorough neurological evaluation.
The pain for the Chippewas does not stop there. All-MAC WR/returner Antonio Brown and CB Josh Gordy were both injured against the BC Eagles. Brown has a turf toe – often recovery from this injury can take three to four weeks depending on how bad the sprain. Gordy sustained a leg injury. Their statuses will not be announced until later.
Central Michigan is a well-balanced football team playing solid defense as well as offense.
Starting with the Defense
The Chips are 4th in the MAC in total defense compared to Toledo’s next to last standing. Their defensive strength is against the run ranking 40th in the nation and second in the MAC behind Temple.
A large amount of CMU’s defensive success goes to the DEs - DE Frank Zombo (6’4”, 269#), DE Sam Williams (6’3”, 241#) and Larry Knight (6’4”, 243#). They have combined for 14.5 TFL, 6.5 sacks, and a couple pass breakups and three QB hurries. They all have potential to be possible NFL draft picks. Sean Murnane (6’ 1, 266#), team leader in pass breakups (5) and QB hurries (4), completes the front four. Strong on the outside and strong in the middle makes this a tough unit to run against.
Junior LBs Nick Bellore (6’1”, 241#) and Matt Berning (6’0”, 232#) are 1,2 in team tackles with a combined total of 160 tackles, 14 TFL, 5 sacks, 6 pass breakups and 3 QB hurries.
The secondary, even with the possible loss of CB Josh Gordy, is good with depth. The Chips rotate Dannie Bolden, Eric Fraser and Bobby Seay at the safety positions. Bolden leads this group in tackles with 32.
At cornerback, CMU has been platooning Kriston Edwards, Josh Gordy and Tommy Mamma. Kriston leads this group in tackles (46) and TFL (3). Gordy has three of CMU’s INTs along with a team high of 8 pass breakups. His absence could be a big plus for Toledo.
Special Teams
Punter Brett Hartmann is averaging a routine 38.9 ypp, but the coverage team has been outstanding limiting opposition returns to a 5.1 yard average. On the flip side, Antonio Brown has been returning punts a tad more than 18 yards per return with two returned for TDs.
Andrew Agulia averages less than 60 yards per kick-off with Chips coverage allowing an average of a bit more than 18 yards per return. Brett Hartmann has kicked off just three times but is averaging more than 67 yards per kick. My guess is Agulia gets good height on his kicks allowing for better coverage.
Agulia also handles the field goals and PAT’s. His 69.2% doesn’t reflect his 75% success rate between 40 and 49 yards out. He has only attempted one field goal between the 20 and 29 yard lines.
On Offense
The reason CMU has attempted only one field goal inside the 29 yard line is their effectiveness in the red-zone. The Chips have scored TD’s on 76% of their visits to the red-zone. Add in field goals and their red-zone scoring is a remarkable 92%.
Equally impressive, the Chips, on average, are outscoring their opponents in all four quarters. Their first half advantage is an amazing 173 to 77.
Of course this offensive fire power begins with Dan LeFevour as he leads the team in rushing and total offense. Antonio Brown is the second leading rusher averaging nearly 10 yards per rush on just 29 carries. RBs Carl Volny (5’10”, 198#) and Paris Cotton (5’9”, 188#) have joined for 94 rushes and are averaging 5.4 and 3.6 ypc respectively.
It’s the passing game, countered by LeFevour’s ability to run, that is the heart of the offense. The Chips OL has allowed only 10 QB sacks, doing a great job of pass protection.
LeFevour’s top five receivers, all with double-digit catches, are led by WR/RB Antonio Brown with 56 catches (10.8 ypc) followed by WRs Bryan Anderson (6’5”, 215#) with 39 grabs (12.8 ypc) and Kito Poblah (6’2”, 203#) tallying 33 receptions (11.2 ypc). Brown has 7 TD catches. Of note, Anderson is third on the MAC's career receptions list with 265 career catches.
If LeFevour is Mr. Everything for CMU’s offense, then Antonio Brown is Mr. Everything Else. He leads the team in scoring, yards per rush, and receptions. Also, he handles the punt and kick-off returns. Collectively, this puts him second in total offense.
What to Look For:
The Rockets passing game is better than the Chips pass defense. To counter this fact, CMU will bring heat often blitzing Kriston Edwards from the edge and dogging WLB Nick Bellore. Add in the relentless pursuit from the defensive front and the Rockets OL will have their hands full.
The play of Toledo’s OL. If they cannot provide time for whoever is at QB to be able to stretch the field, it will be a long evening in Mt. not-so-Pleasant.
The Rockets effort to stop or at least contain the rushing game. If successful, their goal will be to pressure the CMU QB, forcing pass plays in front of the Midnight Blue and Gold. This was Boston College’s successful defensive game plan. (Can the Rockets soar with the Eagles?)
The play of safety Eric Fraser, and how Rocket receivers react to his presence. Against BC, Fraser was putting on hits when he wasn’t breaking up passes. Just about every Eagle player who was greeted by Mr. Fraser got up tapping their helmet (a signal they would need to take the next play off).
If the Chips are able to run and pass, look for the Rockets to go for long drives, take time off the clock and keep LeFevour and company on the bench.
To beat the Chippewas, the Rocket will have to do something they have yet to do – stop the penalties and play mistake-free football.
If any of the three injured Chips – LeFevour, Brown, and Gordy – are out it will make a big difference.
LeFevour not at the QB position would be the biggest loss. Backup Ryan Radcliff is 10 for 19 including 4 for 8 with 1 INT against BC. The rushing game will be only slightly altered without Brown. The passing game and return games will surely miss his presence. The secondary will miss Gordy but has the depth to remain solid.
As was evident in Oxford, there are no easy MAC games for the Rockets. Only by playing to their potential can they be competitive. This Wednesday’s showing will tell a lot about the Rockets commitment to themselves and the remainder of their season.
Dan LeFevour
Taking a broader view of LeFevour’s accomplishments, he ranks fifth in the NCAA (FBC) record book with 14,098 career yards of total offense (11,315 passing, 2,783 rushing). He’s 567 yards behind Ty Detmer for fourth place and 642 yards shy of Colt Brennan who sits in third place. Dan is the only player in NCAA history to pass for 11,000 yards and rush for 2,500 yards in a career.
Dan LeFevour is now in 10th place on the NCAA’s career completion list. He has accounted for 132 career touchdowns (90 passing, 41 rushing, one receiving), the most of any active player. He holds MAC career records for total offense, pass completions (1,029) and pass attempts (1,564). Two more MAC records are within his reach: passing yards – he’s 588 yards behind Byron Leftwich - and TD passes – he’s 10 behind Chad Pennington.
LeFevour, who has 10 career 100-yard rushing games, has accounted for a touchdown either passing, rushing or receiving in 46 of his 48 career games played (95.8%). That’s an “A” in anybody’s football book.
Maxwell Award The field of 16 semifinalists will be trimmed to three finalists Nov. 23. The Maxwell Award winner will be announced on the ESPNU College Football Awards Show Dec. 10. The formal presentation of the award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club’s annual awards dinner March 5 in Atlantic City. On behalf of the MAC, good luck Dan.
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