AAC Preview: Ranking American Offenses

Dec 1, 2012; Tulsa, Ok, USA; University of Central Florida Knights quarterback Blake Bortles (5) runs the ball for a touchdown during a game against the Tulsa Hurricanes at Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium. Bortles leads one of the top American offenses. Mandatory Credit: Beth Hall-USA TODAY Sports

1. Louisville Cardinals

No opponent had more success against the Florida Gators defense last season than the Louisville Cardinals. In UL’s Sugar Bowl win, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater led the Cardinals to 33 points: three touchdowns more than the Gators’ regular season yield, and the most any opponent scored against them all season.

Bridgewater is back of course, and joining him is a talented receiving corps. Big target DeVante Parker caught 10 touchdowns in 2012. Damian Copeland emerged as Bridgewater’s go-to guy with 50 receptions, and Eli Rogers hauled in 46. Add standout freshman James Quick, and the Cardinals boast one of the most dangerous vertical attacks in the nation.

The major question mark is establishing the rush. Offensive coordinator Shawn Watson has used Bridgewater as a pocket passer, and last year relied on Jeremy Wright and Senorise Perry to shoulder the rushing load. Wright, the team’s leading rusher and third leading receiver, is gone.

2. Houston Cougars
October 27, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Cougars quarterback David Piland leads a unit capable of being one of the best American offenses in 2013. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Sumlin, Case Keenum and Kliff Kingsbury all exiting simultaneously took the punch out of a UH offense that finished 2011 tops in college football.

Still, the Cougars averaged a respectable 32.4 points per game. Not bad for a team that scored just 13 points against newly minted FBS member Texas State in the season opener in a performance so anemic, the team’s offensive coordinator resigned two days later. Mike Nesbitt’s departure opened the door for Travis Bush, and later Doug Meachem. The two will co-coordinate the offense.

Quarterback David Piland is back in his fourth year in the program, and third as starting quarterback. Piland is trying to shake the dubious distinction of captaining UH’s last two bowl-less teams. He has a deep receiving corps with which to work, returning 2012 leaders like Larry McDuffey and Daniel Spencer. Four-star 2012 signee Deontay Greenberry has breakout star potential in his second year at UH.

The loss of running back Charles Sims leaves a huge question mark. Sims was a vital cog in the Cougar offense throughout his tenure, both as a ball carrier and receiver. He joins his former UH offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen with the West Virginia Mountaineers. Kenneth Farrow has a lofty benchmark to meet as Houston’s go-to running back.

3. UCF Knights

Quarterback Blake Bortles quietly had one of the most impressive statistical seasons of any quarterback in the nation, throwing for 3059 yards and 25 touchdowns, and rushing for another 285 and eight. Bortles’ rushing statistics are not necessarily eye-popping, but he did most of his damage against the Golden Knights’ best competition (60 yards against Tulsa, 65 against East Carolina and 80 against Ball State). Bortles also went 147 passes and six weeks without throwing an interceptions.

The receiving corps returns 2012 leaders Rennell Hall, J.J. Worton and converted quarterback Jeff Godfrey.

Replacing productive running back Latavius Murray is no easy task, but former Miami Hurricanes running back Storm Johnson could settle into the featured role. The Orlando Sentinel writes that UCF head coach George O’Leary believes Johnson must hit seams more effectively. Opening up holes for him to do so are returning offensive linemen Jordan and Justin McCray (6-foot-4, 310-pound twins) and All-Conference USA selection Torrian Wilson.

Should Johnson become the effective rusher Murray was, the Knights could certainly match last year’s impressive 35 point per game average, and perhaps surpass it with Bortles gaining confidence as a pocket passer.

4. Cincinnati Bearcats

Tommy Tuberville retained the air raid spread in his tenure at Texas Tech, but the hire of former Florida State running backs coach Eddie Gran as Cincinnati’s offensive coordinator suggests a return to the more traditional offense Tuberville’s Auburn teams ran. Tuberville said the look will be “50-50” run and pass.

Lightning bug running back Ralph David Abernathy IV provided a nice complement to George Winn, but Winn’s more-than-1300 yards must be replaced. At 5-foot-7 and under 170 pounds, Abernathy might be too small to take on a 200-carry workload. Sophomore Ti’on Green, who appeared in seven games last season, could be the guy who steps up in Winn’s role.

Abernathy may not necessarily be the every-down rushing option, but he is an outstanding receiver for either Munchie Legaux or Brendon Kay. Both took numerous snaps in 2012, but settling on a clear No. 1 is important, particularly with the Bearcats replacing several of last year’s leading receivers.

The Bearcats have a solid foundation on the offensive line, returning 1^st Team All-Big East Eric Lefeld and Austen Bujnoch.

5. SMU Mustangs

How can I, in good conscience, rank an offense coordinated by Hal Mumme and overseen by June Jones this low? Surely SMU will try to force the tempo, and the Mustangs could surely score points in bunches if the game is properly executed. But do these innovators of offense have the personnel to see their plan executed?

The Mustangs lose workhorse fullback Zach Line and touchdown reception leader Darius Johnson. Also gone is All-Conference USA offensive lineman Bryan Collins. And returning starting quarterback Garrett Gilbert? He threw as many interceptions (15) as touchdowns.

So that’s admittedly a lot of negative to rattle off for a team in the top half of the conference rankings. But the aforementioned combination of Mumme and Jones should have some tricks up their sleeve. Mumme has overseen numerous prolific passers with his version of the air raid spread. Combine that with Gilbert’s ability to run the ball, and there are some intriguing possibilities.

Gilbert also returns receptions leader Jeremy Johnson, as well as Der’rikk Thompson. He’s not without weapons in the passing game. Gilbert’s most important cohort is not one of his receivers, however. JUCO All-American running back Traylon Shead is a JUCO All-American transfer and former Texas Longhorns commit. His powerful running style adds an extra dimension to the high tempo style Jones and Mumme are sure to employ.

6. Memphis Tigers

The win streak Memphis closed its 2012 campaign on built some momentum for its debut season in the American. Helping to carry over some of that positive movement is an offense returning four ball carriers who rushed for at least 175 yards: running backs Brandon Hayes (576 yards, six touchdowns), Jai Steib (427 yards, six touchdowns) and Carl Harris (175 yards, one touchdown); and quarterback Jacob Karam (221 yards, one touchdown).

Karam limited turnovers, throwing just three interceptions. He will need to take more risks this season though, as he concluded 2012 without reaching 2000 yards passing. Wideout Keiwone Malone and tight end Marcus Cross are Karam’s top returning targets with a combined 777 yards and eight touchdowns.

7. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

The Rutgers offensive line was the nation’s worst in 2010, allowing more than 60 sacks. Porous protection led to the pulling and eventual transfer of Tom Savage, who ended up at Pittsburgh. Savage was effective in his true freshman season of 2009. Chas Dodd rotated in during 2010, but was pulled in favor of Gary Nova the following season. Nova took the reins last year and became the first Scarlet Knight quarterback to have the full vote of confidence since Savage in 2009.

Nova needs to improve his consistency. He threw 16 interceptions, and at least one in every game from Oct. 20 onward. Six came in the loss to Kent State. He’ll need to do so while also finding replacements for two of his top targets, Tim Wright and Mark Harrison. Big man Brandon Coleman is back though, and he was the most dangerous weapon in the Rutgers passing attack

A more consistent running game Rutgers loses leading rusher Jawan Jamison, who left early for the NFL. That leaves celebrated 2011 signee Savon Huggins to shoulder the load in the run game. Huggins was a four-star recruit and huge get from the local pipeline, but has yet to breakout.

8. Temple Owls

Matt Rhule returns to Temple after a one-year layoff in the NFL. He was the Owls’ offensive coordinator under both Al Golden and Steve Addazio, during the programs breakthrough 2009 and nine-win campaign in 2011. He no longer has stud running back Bernard Pierce with whom to work, and also lost excellent change-of-pace back Matt Brown.

Boston College transfer Montel Harris gave the Owls a 1000-yard back in 2012, but he too is gone. That leaves Rhule to reestablish the run game without a proven ball carrier — which might explain the conversion of two more quarterbacks.

Rhule was at Temple when Chris Coyer was moved into the starting quarterback role in 2011. Coyer thrived that season, but struggled last year. He’s since been converted to an H-back; as has Kevin Newsome, which leaves the play calling duties in the hands of Connor Reilly. Reilly wowed the new staff in spring practices.

9. USF Bulls
November 3, 2011; Tampa, FL, USA; Are the USF Bulls destined to have one of the worst American offenses? Not if Andre Davis has any say. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Griffith-USA TODAY Sports
Willie Taggart takes over a team that last year, averaged fewer than 21 points per game. It loses its starting quarterback of the past four seasons. The Bulls are also replacing their three leading rushers. Yikes. Change-of-pace back Marcus Shaw rushed for 252 yards last season, but never saw the end zone. He’s the most tenured ball carrier the Bulls have.

USF’s best hope is that unproven Penn State transfer Steven Bench comes on gangbusters. Bench did spend time under the tutelage of quarterback guru Bill O’Brien, a coach whose acumen for the position was evident in the tremendous strides Matt McGloin made. The Bulls need Bench to bring some of that NFL savvy, and perhaps establish an immediate rapport with wide receiver Andre Davis. Davis was one of only two Bulls to catch multiple scoring passes, hauling in six. He is a genuine star and breakout potential player.

This ranking becomes null-and-void with one variable, however. Former Auburn Tigers standout Michael Dyer is reportedly considering USF. Dyer would give the Bulls a building block offensively that they currently lack.

10. Connecticut Huskies

Inconsistency at quarterback and a dramatic sophomore slump for running back Lyle McCombs made the 2012 Connecticut offense one of the most ineffectual in the nation. In fact, only Illinois, Idaho and UMass averaged fewer points per game than the Huskies’ 17.8.

Chandler Whitmer struggled mightily at quarterback, completing fewer than 58 percent of his attempts and throwing away 16 turnovers. He scored just nine times. To make matters worse, the Huskies lose tight end Ryan Griffin. Griffin caught six of the team’s 10 total passing touchdown.

As anemic as the Huskies were in the passing game, the run was arguably worse. Connecticut barely surpassed 1000 yards as a team (1055). McCombs carried for 860 yards in 2012, but was down nearly 300 from his 2011 pace. The Connecticut teams of the late 2000s that contended in the Big East built their offenses around highly productive backs. The same must be true for this group.