College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Central Michigan Chippewas season with what you need to know.
CFN in 60 Podcast: 2020 Central Michigan Chippewas
Central Michigan preview in 60 seconds
– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak
– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Schedule Analysis
– CMU Previews 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015
2019 Record: 8-6 overall, 6-2 in MAC
Head Coach: Jim McElwain, 2nd year, 8-6
2019 CFN Final Opinion Ranking: 106
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 71
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 121
NOTE: Obviously, no one knows what’s going to happen to the 2020 college football season. We’ll take a general look at where each team stands – doing it without spring ball to go by – while crossing our fingers that we’ll all have some well-deserved fun this fall. Hoping you and yours are safe and healthy.
5. College Football News Preview 2020: Central Michigan Chippewas Offense 3 Things To Know
– Jim McElwain stepped in as the new head coach and the offense suddenly started to work. The offense wasn’t too dynamic, but it managed to come up with 437 yards and over 30 points per game thanks to a solid passing game and a decent balance with a good ground attack. But now a quarterback has to settle in after the graduation of Quinten Dormady.
CFN in 60 Video: Central Michigan Chippewas Preview
– Texas Tech transfer Jett Duffey was supposed to be the main man to run the attack, but his application was denied because of off-the-field issues while with the Red Raiders. Redshirt freshman Daniel Richardson has the athleticism and upside to take over the attack and make it his, but it’s going to be a fight.
Senior David Moore is back after throwing for 1,143 yards and five touchdowns with four picks – before being suspended early in the season – but the battle for the starting gig is relatively wide open with pro-style passer Ty Brock coming in from Sam Houston State to get in the mix with veteran former JUCO transfer David Moore.
Former Virginia Tech transfer and CMU’s 2019 leading receiver Kalil Pimpleton is back after coming up with 82 catches as a top mid-range receiver. In all, the top seven receivers – wideouts and tight ends – return.
– The offensive line that was so good at keeping defenses out of the backfield gets back three starters, but there isn’t a whole lot of bulk. It’s an active front five with everyone working between 280 and 295 pounds. The group will get the job done for Kobe Lewis, a quick back who ran for close to 1,100 yards with 12 touchdowns. 220-pound Lew Nichols brings a bit more thump.
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Central Michigan Chippewas Defense 3 Things To Know
4. College Football News Preview 2020: Central Michigan Chippewas Defense 3 Things To Know
– The defense might have struggled from time to time – allowing 43 points or more four times, all losses – but it was a killer at getting into the backfield and finished second overall in the MAC in total defense. With 19 of the top 22 tacklers expected back, the D should be even stronger.
– There’s decent size up front, and everyone can pop. 205-pound junior Troy Brown gets all over the field and gets in on everything – he led the way with 91 tackles – and 225-pound Chuck Jones brings a little bit of thump. Brown was great at getting behind the line, and so was LaQuan Johnson, a 260-pound pass rusher who finished second on the team in both sacks and tackles for loss. There are veterans at tackle, with a great rotation that should be able to hold up.
– The secondary that had to undergo a bit of an overhaul last year after losing some NFL talents now gets back three good starters who took their lumps last year as underclassmen.
The pass defense struggled to consistently come up with picks – six of the 13 came in two games – and allowed teams to hit 60% of their passes, but the corners are there with several good options, junior Devonni Reed was third on the team with 74 tackles, and Alonzo McCoy returns after tying for the team lead with three picks.
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Top Central Michigan Chippewas Players
College Football News Preview 2020: Top Central Michigan Chippewas Players
Best Central Michigan Chippewas Offensive Player
WR Kalil Pimpleton, Jr.
The 5-9, 175-pound Virginia Tech transfer sat out a year, and then hit the ground running with the Chippewas, coming up a team-leading 82 catches for 894 yards and six scores. He earned All-MAC honors as a receiver and a punt returner – he should be averaging more than 10.9 yards per catch. He’s got the home run-hitting ability to do far more damage with the ball in his hands.
2. WR JaCorey Sullivan, Sr.
3. TE Tony Poljan, Sr.
4. RB Kobe Lewis, Jr.
5. WR Tyrone Scott, Soph.
Best Central Michigan Chippewas Defensive Player
LB Troy Brown, Jr.
The 6-2, 205-pounder isn’t all that big, but he’s like another safety playing linebacker. The all-around disruptive force earned First Team All-MAC honors with a team-high 91 tackles, a sack, 16.5 tackles for loss, and he tied for a team-high three picks. What he lacks in bulk he makes up for in speed and athleticism.
2. DT Robi Stuart, Sr.
3. DE LaQuan Johnson, Soph.
4. S Devonni Reed, Jr.
5. LB Chuck Jones, Jr.
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Central Michigan Chippewas Keys To The Season
College Football News Preview 2020: Central Michigan Chippewas Keys To The Season
Biggest Key To The Central Michigan Chippewas Offense
Run well, don’t fumble, win. It wasn’t a hard formula for a CMU offense that had the second-worst fumbling problem in college football – giving it up 17 times – when it ran for over 112 yards, it won. When it didn’t, it lost.
The Chippewas didn’t have a blasting offensive line, but it was good enough and most of the key parts are back to open things up for veteran Kobe Lewis. 8-0 when they came up with more than 112, 0-5 when they didn’t. They averaged more than six yards per carry in seven of those eight wins.
Biggest Key To The Central Michigan Chippewas Defense
Force and recover more fumbles. The CMU defense was among the best in the MAC last season and it should be every bit as strong if not better. A little more help up the middle would be nice, and a few more pass rushers would be a help, but the veterans are there. Now they have to make more big plays.
The D started out the season with a fumble recovery in each of the first four games and came up with just two over the final ten games. -11 on the year in turnover margin, the defense might have to do even more to help out the offense.
Key Central Michigan Chippewas Player To A Successful Season
QB Daniel Richardson, RFr.
Is one of Jim McElwain’s better signings last year ready to be the main man? He’s 5-10 and built more like a running back, but he’s a potentially high-powered passer.
If he’s not the guy, then it has to be veteran David Moore, Cincinnati transfer John Keller, or Sam Houston State transfer Ty Brock who rises up and settles the gig. No matter who it is, consistency with a great receiving corps to work with – and fewer interceptions – is a must.
Key Game To The Central Michigan Chippewas Season
at Toledo, Nov. 11
The Chippewas appeared to be rolling on the way to a MAC title when they whacked around Toledo 49-7 at the end of the regular season. That didn’t quite happen with a loss to Miami in the MAC title game to follow, but the destruction of the Rockets showed just how good the team could be – and then it lost its final two games.
In the battle for the West, the Western Michigan game is at home – as are tough dates against Ohio and Miami University from the East – but the road date at Toledo will be a huge deal.
– Central Michigan Chippewas Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
2019 Central Michigan Fun Stats
– Field Goals: Opponents 18-of-20 – Central Michigan 13-of-21
– Fumbles: Central Michigan 26 (lost 17) – Opponents 13 (lost 6)
– Central Michigan 1st Quarter Scoring: 86 – Central Michigan 2nd Quarter Scoring 152
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Central Michigan Chippewas Win Total Prediction, What Will Happen
1. College Football News Preview 2020: Central Michigan Chippewas Win Total Prediction, What Will Happen
Is this when Central Michigan finishes the drill after coming up short last year?
Jim McElwain came up with a brilliant turnaround – taking a one-win program to eight victories and to the MAC title game – but the team that was so strong throughout last season crashed late. When the team scored 38 points or more, it went 8-0. It scored 21 or fewer in all five losses.
This year’s team has the firepower to do even more on a more consistent basis if the quarterback situation is settled right away. The defense should be even better.
In a year that should be totally up in the air in the MAC, Central Michigan should be the league’s biggest stars.
Set The Central Michigan Chippewas Regular Season Win Total At … 8
Bet at BetMGM Win Total Line: 7
Can the team play up to its experience and talent level?
Five of the first six games are against teams that didn’t go bowling. Going to Nebraska and Northwestern won’t be easy, but neither game is an obvious loss.
There will be a few clunkers, and going to Toledo and hosting Western Michigan and Miami University will be a fight, but anything less than another eight-win regular season will be a massive disappointment.
