#13 McNeese State FCS Football Preview


McNeese State Cowboys

Overall Rank: #13
#1 Southland
McNeese State LogoMcNeese State Team Page


2010 Record: (6-5, 5-2)
2010 Postseason: none
Coach: Matt Viator (39-15 at McNeese State, 39-15 overall)

Returning Leaders:
Rushing: Andre Anderson, RB, 855 yards
Passing: Cody Stoud, QB, 586 yards
Receiving: Damion Dixon, WR, 289 yards
Tackles: Darrel Jenkins, S, 78
Sacks: Desmund Lighten, DE, 4.0
Interceptions: Malcolm Bronson, S, 5

McNeese State finished with a 5-2 conference record last year and should have a better team this season. However, the record may not reflect that. The schedule is brutal with road trips to Central Arkansas and Stephen F. Austin, the other top competitors in the Southland. The week between those two games is a home date against Sam Houston State, who is projected to be the fourth best team in the conference. That is a tough stretch of games for Coach Matt Viator and his Cowboys.

Strengths:
The offense has some old faces to replace, but there is a nice group of talent head to Lake Charles, Louisiana. The offensive line will pave the way with a talented group that returns four players who started last season. Miguel Gauthreaux should earn first-team All-Southland Conference accolades again this year. Fellow guard Jonathan Landry and tackle Alec Savoie are back and so is Taylor Johnson, who was a starter two years ago, but missed most of 2010 with an injury. That is the line that paved the way for Andre Anderson to rush for 855 yards last year. The former Michigan State back leads a stable of very good backs that include Marcus Wiltz, Champlain Babin and Javaris Murray. The Cowboys will run first, but they can pass too. Cody Stroud started a couple games last year, but Riley Dodge, a transfer from North Texas is too good of a talent to leave on the bench. Dodge was a very sought after recruit coming out of high school. He opted to play for his father at North Texas. The Mean Green experience did not play out too well for either Dodge. The younger Dodge is used to passing up a storm and that is what he did at North Texas while the starter for the better part of two years. Dodge will have some nice weapons at his disposal as well with the return of receivers Will Briscoe and Diontae Spencer and the addition of Texas Tech transfer Ernest Celestie. Throw in tight end Harold Turnage and Dodge and this rushing team may turn into a dynamic and balanced offense.

Weaknesses:
The concern on defense is in the front six of McNeese State’s 4-2-5 scheme. Outside of Desmund Lighten, the front four and the linebackers from last year are gone. This is a program that can develop talent and replace last year’s starters with backups without too much of a drop off in production, but having to do it at so many crucial positions at the same time is going to cause some problems in the short term. Ligthen will hold this group together. He is making the move from tackle to end where his size and speed will give opposing quarterbacks even more nightmares than they had last year when he was at tackle. Filling in the holes around him will be extremely important or the opposition can concentrate on stopping Lighten. That puts a lot of pressure on probable new starting tackles Pat Williams and Michael Ware and even more pressure on end Chris Loveless. With only two linebackers, experience and leadership are needed. The Cowboys hope Kentrell Butler and Joe Narcisse can fill the void left behind by Deron Minor and Geremy Pilate.

The Bottom Line:
If Lighten can get to the quarterback, the secondary will be one of the best in the conference. That is a far cry from a team that gave up nearly 230 yards through the air per game. Malcolm Bronson and Darrell Jenkins are one of the best safety duos in the FCS. Ford Smensy is an experienced player as well who will join the two defensive stalwarts in the secondary. London Durham and Seth Thomas are both back to start on the corners. With those guys all returning, it will not be nearly as easy to throw on McNeese State this year. In fact, it will be McNeese State who puts the ball in the air in 2011 and by the time the new players come together it will be time for that difficult stretch of games that will make or break the Cowboys season. And if all goes well, it will make it a very memorable season.

Projected Postseason: FCS Playoffs

2010 Team Stats:
Rushing Offense: 153.82 (50th in nation, 2nd in conference)
Passing Offense: 188.73 (67, 6)
Total Offense: 342.55 (70, 4)
Scoring Offense: 21.91 (73, 5)
Rushing Defense: 113.18 (17, 2)
Pass Defense: 229.82 (90, 5)
Total Defense: 343.00 (44, 1)
Scoring Defense: 24.91 (59, 4)
Turnover Margin: -.27 (77, 5)
Sacks: 1.55 (75, 5)
Sacks Allowed: 1.73 (51, 4)

Madness 2011 FCS Football Recruit Rankings:
#135 Nick Smith