Post by Aggie One on Jul 25, 2014 12:01:39 GMT -5
(SportsNetwork.com) - Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference offenses were offensive last season, just not in the good sense.
Bethune-Cookman and South Carolina State were co-champions again, and they both qualified for the FCS playoffs, but MEAC teams had a hard enough time moving the ball against each other, let alone when they went outside conference play.
The 2014 season brings a fresh start, and there is an excellent chance the MEAC title race will widen, although Bethune-Cookman and South Carolina State were still ranked 1-2 in the preseason coaches poll at Friday's media day in Norfolk, Virginia. North Carolina A&T was picked third and Howard, led by preseason offensive player of the year Greg McGhee, fourth.
Last season, many of the best players in the MEAC were on the defensive side of the ball, and some of the better running backs were only freshmen, but the lack of offense was permeating. No team averaged at least 30 points per game - unusual in any college football conference today - and all 11 squads combined on the lowest per-game average in the FCS in total yards (313.3), points (21.3), rushing yards (146.8) and passing yards (166.5). They also were the only conference to throw more interceptions (149) than touchdowns (136).
"So much rides on one guy when you talk about offense," N.C. A&T coach Rod Broadway said. "If you have a good quarterback, and if you have some guys that can catch not just the easy ones but the tough ones, too, then you can do some things. It makes your whole offense look better. I think the quarterback play is getting better in this league, so I'm anxious to see how some of these young guys develop."
For the rest of the story:
www.mynews3.com/content/news/story/In-the-FCS-Huddle-MEAC-offenses-seek-turnaround/n1b2yaNz0ES9TcxfQNk6hw.cspx
Bethune-Cookman and South Carolina State were co-champions again, and they both qualified for the FCS playoffs, but MEAC teams had a hard enough time moving the ball against each other, let alone when they went outside conference play.
The 2014 season brings a fresh start, and there is an excellent chance the MEAC title race will widen, although Bethune-Cookman and South Carolina State were still ranked 1-2 in the preseason coaches poll at Friday's media day in Norfolk, Virginia. North Carolina A&T was picked third and Howard, led by preseason offensive player of the year Greg McGhee, fourth.
Last season, many of the best players in the MEAC were on the defensive side of the ball, and some of the better running backs were only freshmen, but the lack of offense was permeating. No team averaged at least 30 points per game - unusual in any college football conference today - and all 11 squads combined on the lowest per-game average in the FCS in total yards (313.3), points (21.3), rushing yards (146.8) and passing yards (166.5). They also were the only conference to throw more interceptions (149) than touchdowns (136).
"So much rides on one guy when you talk about offense," N.C. A&T coach Rod Broadway said. "If you have a good quarterback, and if you have some guys that can catch not just the easy ones but the tough ones, too, then you can do some things. It makes your whole offense look better. I think the quarterback play is getting better in this league, so I'm anxious to see how some of these young guys develop."
For the rest of the story:
www.mynews3.com/content/news/story/In-the-FCS-Huddle-MEAC-offenses-seek-turnaround/n1b2yaNz0ES9TcxfQNk6hw.cspx
