Jacksonville Dolphins
Overall Rank: #37
#1 Pioneer
Jacksonville Team Page
2010 Record: (10-1, 8-0)
2010 Postseason: none
Coach: Kerwin Bell (29-17 at Jacksonville, 29-17 overall)
Returning Leaders:
Rushing: J.J. Laster, RB, 810 yards
Passing: Josh McGregor, QB, 3,049 yards
Receiving: Joshua Philpart, WR, 800 yards
Tackles: Leonard Smith, DB, 66
Sacks: Rolando Fines, DE, 5.0
Interceptions: Andre Addison, DB, 2; Leonard Smith, DB, 2; Colby Walden, DB, 2
Jacksonville shared the Pioneer League title with Dayton after matching them with an 8-0 record. Coach Kerwin Bell’s squad lost just one game on the year, to Appalachian State. The Dolphins will battle it out with Dayton again this year for the conference crown, but this time around the teams actually play each other.
Strengths:
Jacksonville ranked first in the FCS with 486.27 total yards of offense and 42.18 points per game. There are some key pieces to replace, but this offense has all the tools to again be one of the best offenses around. It all starts with quarterback Josh McGregor. As a junior in 2010 he threw for 3,049 yards, 32 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Now that is efficiency at its finest and McGregor will take home plenty of awards after his senior season. His favorite target, Josh Philpart also returns. Philpart caught 48 passes for 800 yards and a dozen touchdowns last season. Receivers Rodney Sumter and Elliott Finkley are gone, but the little speedster, Tommie Rogers, is back after missing the entire 2010 campaign with an injury. The absence of left tackle Leonard Payton may be a cause for concern for a little while, but the line has enough experienced players to fill in the gap. Quarterbacks tend to get sacked quite a bit in the PFL, but this offense can make up the yardage and occasionally playing behind the chains is not the worst thing that can happen to the Dolphins.
Weaknesses:
It is hard to call a defense that gave up just 20.45 points per game and returns eight starters a weakness, but compared to the offense, it is a weakness. The lost starters are also important players. Defensive end Bradley Burns led the team with 8.0 sacks last season and a lot of pressure will be put on senior Rolando Fines and emerging sophomore Montaque Mack to get into the backfield. The linebackers also lose their two most productive players in Joseph Fennell and Will Perry. Again there are options, but Layne McCombs and Mike Klein will have to develop into leaders in the middle of the defense. The secondary was the weak point for Jacksonville last season, but the young group should be more productive with another year of experience under their belt. Darren Johnson, Leonard Smith and Colby Walden were all starters as sophomores and should be improved as upperclassmen.
The Bottom Line:
The rushing attack was dominated by the power one-two combination of Rudell Small and J.J. Laster. Small, who rushed for 1,095 yards and 12 touchdowns has graduated, but Laster is back and ready to carry the load. At 5-6 and 180 pounds, Laster is tough to bring down. However, he will likely need another running back to step up and help out with some carries here and there. Coach Bell has some options and the run game should be in good enough shape to at least open up the passing game. If the defense can find a new pass rusher and help out the secondary, Jacksonville will be looking at another undefeated conference season.
Projected Postseason: none
2010 Team Stats:
Rushing Offense: 193.36 (22nd in nation, 2nd in conference)
Passing Offense: 292.91 (6, 1)
Total Offense: 486.27 (1, 1)
Scoring Offense: 42.18 (1, 1)
Rushing Defense: 106.45 (13, 3)
Pass Defense: 222.00 (81, 6)
Total Defense: 328.45 (35, 4)
Scoring Defense: 20.45 (25, 2)
Turnover Margin: 1.27 (2, 1)
Sacks: 2.91 (10, 4)
Sacks Allowed: 2.27 (76, 4)
