Preview 2019: Previewing and looking ahead to the Ball State Cardinals season with what you need to know.
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– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Schedule Analysis
– Ball State Previews 2018 | 2017
2018 Record: 4-8 overall, 3-5 in the MAC
Head Coach: Mike Neu, 4th year, 10-26
5. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE BALL STATE OFFENSE
– The offense was interesting. It was able to move the ball well, but it couldn’t count on a steady passing game and the ground attack didn’t work too well against the decent defenses, but the O averaged 409 yards per game. Now, with eight starters back, it has to score.
– Two of those lost starters, though, are a big deal. QB Riley Neal is now at Vanderbilt, and RB James Gilbert will be the starter at Kansas State. Fortunately, the quarterback situation looks solid with junior Drew Plitt and redshirt freshman John Paddock each playing well this spring. Plitt stepped in when Neal got hurt and hit 65% of his passes for 1,008 yards and six scores, but he threw eight picks.
– The receiving corps is among the best in the MAC. Justin Hall and Riley Miller are excellent veterans who should combine for around 130 catches again, and 6-3 sophomore Yo’Heinz Tyler is about to turn into a player after averaging 16 yards per catch. Throw in the potential of Dunner spending most of his time as a receiver, and the return of 13-catch Kyle Schrank at tight end, and look out.
– Gilbert was banged up, but he ran for 659 yards and seven scores, and Neal took off enough to be second on the team rushing. Do-it-all guy Malik Dunner will be a receiver, but along with his kick return ability he’ll run a bit – he finished third on the team – with 222-pound junior Caleb Huntley turning into the main man after leading the way with 1,003 yards two years ago and only playing half of last year. They’ll all work behind a line that gets back all five starters, but has to be a wee bit stronger in pass protection.
NEXT: What You Need To Know About the Defense, Top Players, Keys to the Season, What Will Happen
4. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE BALL STATE DEFENSE
– The defense returns nine starters, and now it has to be a whole lot better after finishing 11th in the conference allowing 450 yards and 32 points per game. The improvement starts with a great linebacking corps that’s deep, experienced, and productive with all the starters back and a few good other options.
Everything will work around the all-star combination of Ray Wilborn and Christian Albright on the outside, but there will be a good rotation of parts including 230-pounders Jacob White and Jaylin Thomas on the inside.
– The defensive front didn’t do enough to get behind the line – the linebackers did too much pass rushing heavy lifting. Two starters are back with Shannon Hall at one end and 274-pound Chris Crumb back at tackle. There isn’t a ton of bulk on the inside, but there’s enough to hold up a bit better.
– Considering there wasn’t much of a pass rush, the secondary wasn’t all that bad. Antonio Phillips is a decent-tackling corner who came up with two picks, and the safety combination of Bryce Cosby and Brett Anderson can make a ton of tackles. Now the whole group has to come up with a few more broken up passes.
NEXT: Top Players, Keys To the Season, What Will Happen
3. TOP BALL STATE PLAYERS
Best Ball State Offensive Player
WR Riley Miller, Sr.
The veteran 6-1, 196-pounder led the team with 878 yards and seven touchdowns on 61 catches as he grew into the team’s go-to target. He hit Kent State for 208 yards and a score on 11 grabs, but his worth was as a steady downfield producer who hovered around five catches a game.
2. RB/WR/KR Malik Dunner, Jr.
3. RB Caleb Huntley, Jr.
4. WR Justin Hall, Jr.
5. QB Drew Plitt, Jr.
Best Ball State Defensive Player
LB Ray Wilborn, Sr.
The 6-4, 224-pound former JUCO transfer stepped up on the strongside combined with Christian Albright and Jaylin Thomas to give the Cardinals a decent season from the linebacking corps. Wilborn was the leader of the pack, tying for a team-high 83 tackles, three sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss, two picks and four broken up passes.
2. LB Christian Albright, Jr.
3. S Bryce Cosby, Jr.
4. LB Brandon Martin, Jr.
5. S Brett Anderson, Jr.
NEXT: Keys to the Season, Prediction & What Will Happen
2. KEYS TO THE SEASON
Biggest Key To The Ball State Offense
Get the downfield passing game going. The rushing attack needs to hit the five-yard-per-carry mark a bit more often after averaging just 4.17 per game, but the team was at its best when the big plays were coming from the passing attack. The Cardinals went 4-0 when averaging 7.5 yards or more per pass, and was 0-8 when they didn’t. The pieces are there at receiver, and with a few good quarterback options to start putting more pressure on.
Biggest Key To The Ball State Defense
The run defense has to be a whole lot better. The experience is in place, and the linebackers are great, but none of it matters if the Cardinals allow over five yards per carry and 36 touchdowns again. The run D – stunningly – held Notre Dame in check, but over the last ten games it got hit for 190 yards or more eight times, and was destroyed for 360 or more in three of the last four. To get better, the Cardinals need more out of …
Key Player To A Successful Season
NT Tuni Ropati, Sr.
The 6-2, 280-pound nose tackle came up with 15 tackles, 299-pound sophomore Kyle Williams, and 314-pound Emeka Jillani bring some decent size on the inside, but they have to be a whole lot stronger against the run. Getting into the backfield would be nice, but the ends have to do their jobs and the linebackers will do their part. Hold up on the inside – the tackles have to be better.
Key Game To The Ball State Season
at Northern Illinois, Oct. 5
With all of the experience coming back and with all of the potential from what should be a stronger offense, it’s time to take down the big boy in the West.
To dream big, the Western Michigan game is on the road, and dealing with Ohio from the East isn’t easy, but the Toledo game is in Muncie. With a week off to prepare, beat Northern Illinois on the road in the MAC opener, break the ten-game losing streak, beat the defending conference champs, become a player.
– Ball State Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
2018 Ball State Fun Stats
– Time of Possession: Opponents 32:06 – Ball State 27:54
– Fumbles: Ball State 17 (lost 10) – Opponents 14 (lost 6)
– Touchdowns Scored: Opponents 51 – Ball State 37
NEXT: What Will Happen
1. BALL STATE WIN TOTAL PREDICTION: WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN
You know how every once in a while a MAC team comes from out of left field and shocks the college football world?
Ball State was that team in 2008, and it’s been able to come up with a few good seasons since then. After five straight losing campaigns, now it’s time to come up with something special.
In all, 19 starters return – including both of the kickers – from a team that went 4-8 and was only close in one of the losses. This is when it all has to start to come together in the fourth year under head coach Mike Neu.
Set The Regular Season Win Total At … 6
The Cardinals won’t beat Indiana or NC State. They have to go to Northern Illinois and Western Michigan, and they have to host Toledo, Ohio and Florida Atlantic. The Cardinals should be good enough to win at least one of those MAC games and at least push FAU.
For this to be a good year, BSU has to beat Central Michigan and Miami University at home, take down Fordham without sweating hard, and then be strong enough to come up with a few upsets on the road.
There’s enough in place to be two wins better.
– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– Schedule Analysis
