An Instant MAC Classic
I really don’t know if ESPN Classic tm will have this game on but they should as the MAC version of Tim Tebow showed why he as well as Ball State’s Nate Robinson will keep the MAC’s supply line to the NFL QB position moving. Though WMU’s Tim Hiller actually out-dueled him through the air Dan LeFevour showed poise as well as athletic ability as he ran and passed Central Michigan to a thrilling 34 to 31 nail biter over the Broncos of Western Michigan.
Both teams moved the ball extremely well with WMU actually out gaining Central 418 to 384 from scrimmage. In addition to the 2 QBs both offensive lines also were impressive, most pressure came either from blitzes or when downfield coverage forced the quarterback to hold the ball. Jamarko Simmons likely the best pro prospect for Western got himself ejected when he lost his temper during an altercation after the 2nd play of the game. Simmons has drawn comparisons to both Owens and Boston; he is a power WR who can get deep. His loss made what Hiller and the rest of the Bronco’s passing attack just that much more remarkable.
Both defenses gave up lots of plays both big and small, though mostly of the aerial variety, only Dan LeFevour who had 72 net yards on 18 carries and Western’s Brandon West who had 72 net yards on 12 carries did much damage on the ground. The defenses did have some playmakers, Western Michigan’s Boston McCornell was very active recording 5 solos 7 assists and a TFL and C.J Wilson posted 8 solo tackles, on the Central side Thomas “Red” Keith was clearly the leader on defense, he not only had 9 solo tackles and 5 assists but was the emotional and tactical leader, he is a real hitter and a couple of times he may have either given himself a ‘stinger’ or aggravated an existing arm or shoulder injury and after coming out for a play or 2 he would go right back to laying the lumber to people. Isaac Brown had 8 solo tackles and 2 helpers and Sophomore Safety Calvin Hissong had a key interception that was turned into a 21-yard field goal with 3:53 left that extended the CMU lead to 27-17.
Hiller then led an impressive comeback that gave the Broncos a 31-27 lead with less than 1/2 of the 4th quarter remaining. Dan LeFevour scored on a quarterback sneak with 12 seconds remaining, after a contested call of no score on the previous play, to cap a rousing final six minutes and lift Central Michigan University to a 34-31 win at Western Michigan last Tuesday night.
The win secures Central’s second consecutive Mid-American Conference West Division title and a repeat appearance in the MAC Championship Game. CMU (6-4 overall, 5-0 MAC, 4-0 MAC West) will face a to-be-determined opponent from the East Division.
CMU
OFFENSE
Note: Dan LeFevour is only a RS Sophomore but at 6’2.6 226 and possessing 4.73 [est] speed he is certainly in the #5 to 10 #range among ‘dual threat’ signal callers, he will certainly have to occasional misread, including one resulting in a pick, and he will throw the ball behind receivers also his follow through is not always text book, he reminds me of a more hard nosed version of Josh McCown though his arm is not quite as strong. He completed 23-of-38 passes for 235 yards 1 touchdown 1 INT and rushed for 72 yards and two scores.
JR TB Ontario Sneed 5’10.7” 213 4.52 [est] seems not to have fully recovered from a serious bone contusion to his foot earlier in the season, in a night where he produced 31 yards on 12 carries with a longest run of 6 yards! He reminds me of VPI’s Ore and like Ore he seems to have been robbed of his explosion and top gear.
RS JR OT Andrew Hartline’s build 6’5” 297 and speed 4.96 [est] have drawn many to compare him to Joe Staley, he is not quite Staley’s equal in technique or strength. The raw materials are there and if he truly dedicates himself to film study, the weight room and improving his hand placement and leverage he too might hear his name in the early rounds of a draft.
OG #69 Eric Tunney 6’2.5 291 5.23 [est] Tunney began his CMU career on defense and since coming over the “glamorous” world of offensive guard he has played on the left and right side. He did not always dominate his man is straight drive blocking but on screens and in pass protection he showed he has a good short set, he can redirect and make pass rushers take the long way he recognized twists and stunts pretty quickly and got downfield showing he could hit moving targets. He might be a late 2nd day selection he might be advised to learn to snap also, even if undrafted he has chance do to good feet and high football IQ he needs to get stronger in the lower body though.
DEFENSE
Notes- Sophomore safety #20 Calvin Hissong 6’3.6 196 4.63 [est] made a nice play on the ball on his pick and returned it 32 yards the lanky former walk-on who was a prep high jumper and cager looks like he could develop into a Vanilla Merton Hanks. He is fluid and has a good sense of routes as he was a receiver when he joined the team.
Sophomore CB #4 Chaz West 5’10.6 181 4.46 [est] shows the hips and quickness to play at the next level, he is not a great tackler but that might improve as he gets stronger. He has 3 solos and 4 assists on the game when get beaten it was do to size or strength rather than positioning.
SS #6 Ike Brown 5’10.3” 204 4.56 [est] still plays the game like the LB he once was, he is a violent tackler and a work-in-progress in coverage, he’s clearly more comfortable the closer he is to the line. Brown had 8 solo tackles, 2 assists 3 TFLs and 1 sack he is a little like Gus Scott. If he has a great pro day he could go as high as the 5th based on measurables.
# 41 ILB Red Keith 5’10.7” 242 4.83 [est] Thomas “Red” Keith is the type of prospect whose game film can wipe a way the doubts his measurable will raise. He showed anticipation, tackling and worked through the wash and trash to defeat blockers to set others up even when he did not make the play. He will be compared to London Fletcher and Sam Mills as well as Zach Thomas, he is not quite as athletic as they are but he is just a player and if he is a late round pick or even a UDFA I can’t see him not finding a home his 14 tackles, 9 solo with one tackle for a loss don’t give the full measure of what he brought to the defense. 7th round or UDFA just do to pedestrian triangle numbers.
WMU
OFFENSE
RS Sophomore QB #3 Tim Hiller 6’4.7” 219 5.06 [est] is a classic drop-back, pocket passer and though he lacks LeFevour’s mobility his arm strength might be second only to Robinson’s in the conference, he will overthrow receivers at times and he and his receivers occasionally misunderstand each other on option routes, however he has the mental and physical tools to be a pro he rather reminds me of Gibran Hamdan.
RS-JR WR #27Jamarko Simmons 6’1.6” 232 4.54 [est] has the physical tools to be a day 1 prospect, think Brandon Marshall, but there are question marks about his maturity and the ejection from this game will only exacerbate them. He had 22 yards on 2 catches to begin the game and was tossed when he would not calm down at the end of an initially minor dust-up. When he is playing focused his size strength and good speed is a difficult match up he can muscle DBs and run away from LBs and his hands are above average. He needs another year but it’s all too often those who need time to grow up who are convinced they are already prepared.
RSJR TE Brandon Ledbetter 6’4.5” 233 4.86 [est] had a very good game and largely filled the void left by Simmons he rang up 124 yards on 5 snags for 1 TD with a long of 65 yards. Even as an H-Back/Move TE he’ll need to put on 10-15 pounds, but he is deceptive, has very good hands and if he can improve his speed and strength he will be a late round sleeper next year.
RSJR CB#6 Londen Fryar 5’10.7” 192 4.47 [est] son of Irving, is not quite the sprinter his father was but is fast enough, a better than average tackler, unafraid to support the run and has excellent ball skills as on might expect from a converted Wideout. Fryar had 5 solos, 1 assist and 1 PBU and all the big plays in the passing game went against safeties.