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| | Sunday, September 3 MTSU has experience, but is that enough? | |||||
| By Scott Brown Special to ESPN. com Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders 1999 record: 3-8 Coach: Andy McCollum Returning starters: 18 (10 offense, 8 defense) Outlook It looks like another long season for the Blue Raiders, who are playing their last one as an independent. Before moving to the Sun Belt Conference , Middle Tennessee State must negotiate a schedule that has three I-AA opponents, but also sends the Blue Raiders to Illinois, Florida and Maryland in the first month of the season. Yikes. The good news for McCollum is the offense returns 10 starters and has a wealth of skill players. Quarterback Wes Counts threw for 2,604 yards in 1999, and his principal targets -- Tyrone Calico, Kendall Newson and Hansford Johnson -- return. All five starters are back on the offensive line, but that might not necessarily be a good thing after MTSU averaged just 133 rushing yards per game last season. McCollum's biggest concerns are on the other side of the ball. The Blue Raiders defense was one was one of the most porous in I-A last season. The Blue Raiders surrendered 446 yards and 34.5 points per game. It won't bode well for the defense if returning safeties Delvin Pikes and Mario Kelso lead the team in tackles again this season. Keep an eye on ... The quarterback situation. Counts may be the incumbent but he doesn't have nimble feet or a big-time arm. He could be pressed by Mississippi transfer Lance Phillips and JUCO transfer Jason Johnson. It's a good season if ... If MTSU can improve on last season's win total. The road schedule is a killer and the defense is too much of a concern to expect a winning season. Scott Brown covers UCF for Florida Today |
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