MAC Football Media Day this Wednesday

[Dr Z]

MAC Football Media Day will be shown on ESPN3. The broadcast will highlight the league's annual kickoff event from 1-3 pm this Wednesday, July 29th at Ford Field. Reghi and Dustin Fox will anchor ESPN3's coverage that will include interviews with commissioner Jon Steinbrecher and each of the conference's 13 head football coaches. Select students from around the league will also be interviewed. More info here.

Coach Bowden, Jatavis Brown and Cody Grice will attend. Will Cody speak more about scoring or defending?

[K92]

Interesting choice of players to attend.

[K92]

From the 2015 Media Guide that was released today:

[Hilltopper]

No Bickley or Traylor-Bennett.

[Balsy]

No Bickley or Traylor-Bennett.

That is very interesting, what's going on with them?

[johnnyzip84]

Here are a few tidbits I picked up on after reviewing the pre-season depth chart:

1. Bullard and Gauthney both moved from D-Line to O-Line.
2. MTB and Bickley are still listed on the roster. My suspicion for them being left of the depth chart is the staff isn’t too pleased with the effort.
3. Newman Williams is the starting FB. I expect his emergence to keep Cody focusing on defense and I believe that will be a big benefit to a front 7 that is talented, but not too deep.
4. I’m a little surprised to see Jerome Lane at Rover. I suspect he’ll be playing closer to the line of scrimmage much of the time regardless.
5. Troy Jones listed as 3rd string QB.
6. The biggest news I saw - Former Alabama/LSU 4-star recruit Josh McNeil is the starter at TE!!

[Dr Z]

The biggest news I saw - Former Alabama/LSU 4-star recruit Josh McNeil is the starter at TE

Do any of the offensive depth chart "surprises" suggest the type of offense that may, or may not be installed?

[Dave in Green]

... The biggest news I saw - Former Alabama/LSU 4-star recruit Josh McNeil is the starter at TE!!

Still shaking my head over that one. He was only offered by the following P5 schools:

Alabama

LSU

California

Clemson

Florida

Georgia

Maryland

Miami (FL)

North Carolina State

Notre Dame

Ohio State

Ole Miss

South Carolina

Syracuse

Tennessee

Virginia

Wake Forest

I wonder how many players in the country had more P5 offers?

[johnnyzip84]

Do any of the offensive depth chart "surprises" give a clue to the type of offense that may be tried?

I would say that's an emphatic affirmative. As suspected, this is shaping up to be a run-oriented attack - perhaps the 1st here since Gerry's "Pass-n-Pitch" version of the flex-bone.

[K92]

Josh McNeil gets a mention in this unflattering piece.

Let's hope he breaks the streak & overachieves here.

[LZIp]

Josh McNeil gets a mention in this unflattering piece.

Let's hope he breaks the streak & overachieves here.

The name doesn't sound familiar to me. Was he mentioned on here prior to the thread?

[Dave in Green]

Last mention of McNeil was here.

[UA1987]

I would think Bullard and Gauthney are projects like Williams was and that Casimos and Ritz will play a lot (either side) at guard and tackle respectively. Looks like we have Brumbaugh lite for his Senior year.

[ZippyRulz]

MTB and Bickley are still listed on the roster. My suspicion for them being left of the depth chart is the staff isn’t too pleased with the effort.

Their names are listed in the pronunciation guide as well

Only 5 players from PA and 29 from FL.

[Dr Z]

....version of the flex-bone.

I think you may be on to something. Who else effectively runs the flex-bone in college football?

[K92]

I think you may be on to something. Who else effectively runs the flex-bone in college football?

Georgia Tech & Navy?

[Dr Z]

Georgia Tech

Breaking down this offense may be good homework for some.

[LZIp]

Georgia Tech & Navy?

id probably throw in Air Force as well. At least a variation of it if I recall correctly.

[Blue & Gold]

The coaching staff must really be high on Tra'von Chapman if they're willing to build the offense around him. Quite the departure from the 5-wideout gunslinging air raid offense Dalton Williams operated a few years ago.

[LZIp]

The coaching staff must really be high on Tra'von Chapman if they're willing to build the offense around him. Quite the departure from the 5-wideout gunslinging air raid offense Dalton Williams operated a few years ago.

well for one (maybe it's just a formality), Tra'von isn't pencilled in as the starter. Two- we would need actual running back talent. Dr.Z may or may not know more than I do on the situation, but I'm a little skeptical of it. I'd picture more of an Auburn-type of spread as has been mentioned on here previously.

[Dave in Green]

If the Zips really are going to be running the flexbone, maybe the first thing we fans should get familiar with are the flexbone myths.

[Dr Z]

If the Zips really are going to be running the flexbone

Don't study Paul Johnson too much.

[tpsjugglerdude]

When Scarborough said "think like Georgia Tech", I didn't realize he meant their offensive strategy.

[johnnyzip84]

Maybe it’ll be like that run by Willie Fritz’ Georgia Southern squad, who had quite the introduction to FBS/Sunbelt play last fall. This included a wild 42-38 loss to none other than Ga Tech.

[Dr Z]

Possibly it could be a little of our "own." I think it would be safe to say the playbook is not set until they get into camp and start seeing exactly what works for this team.