Central Michigan University Athletics
CMU Football 2016: The Offense
8/29/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Third in a series previewing the 2016 Central Michigan football team. Tuesday, a game-by-game look at each of CMU's regular-season opponents.
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Quick refresher: Cooper Rush is good. Really good.
Now, on to part II, and it's a multi-faceted question:
• Who will Central Michigan's senior quarterback throw to?
• Who will protect him?
• Who will run the ball in order to open things up for the passing game?
The Chippewas open the 2016 season on Thursday, Sept. 1 (7 p.m.) against Presbyterian at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Rush is the triggerman, and the man who garners most of the attention and headlines in CMU's offense.
"He's on an ascending path, and he's been on that path since he walked in the door," CMU coach John Bonamego said of Rush, who is on the preseason watch list for every award a college quarterback can be. "He wants to get better every day."
Last season, Rush was named Second Team All-Mid-American Conference was awarded the Herb Deromedi Most Valuable Player Award. He led the Chippewas to a share of the MAC West title, a 7-6 record, and a berth in the Quick Lane Bowl.
He ranks second in CMU history in touchdown passes (67) and third in passing yards (9,354), passes completed (744) and passing attempts (1,183). He threw for a school record 3,848 yards.
More than 3,000 of those passing yards went to receivers who return in 2016, including Jesse Kroll, who led the Chippewas in receptions (61) and receiving yards (866) a year ago.
Among the other receivers who return are Anthony Rice, Mark Chapman and Corey Willis, along with running backs such as Devon Spalding and Joe Bacci.
"I think we'll have six guys who can play and give us a chance to win, make plays for us," offensive coordinator Morris Watts said. "And maybe even seven the way it looks."
There are also a bevy of youngsters, such as Jamil Sabbagh, Bailey Edwards and Brandon Childress, who very well could contribute along with 6-foot-6 senior Austin Stewart, who completed his CMU basketball eligibility last winter and is playing football for the first time since high school.
"Some of the freshmen or redshirt freshmen are going to play," Watts said. "They've got to refine a few things and I'm telling them they're not ready right now, but they're close."
The tight ends - juniors Tyler Conklin and Zach Crouch and sophomore Clay Walderzk - are also quite capable.
"The big thing is our tight ends have got to stay healthy because we like to do a lot of things with them," Watts said. "Conklin is something special, he really is. He's got size, he's got speed, he's tough.
"He affords us a lot of things and people are going to have to account for him and that's going to be the best thing that's ever happened to those wideouts too. (Defenses) can't just center on those guys and leave a safety to cover (Conklin)."
The five projected starters on the interior line have a combined 53 career starts, led by right guard Kenny Rogers, senior.
Austin Doan, a junior who started at guard a year ago, moves to center, where he takes over for the graduated Nick Beamish, who started every game over the past four years.
Junior Derek Edwards returns to his starting spot at right tackle.
The left side of the line is less experienced with J.P. Quinn and Joe Austin at guard and tackle, respectively. They have a combined three career starts.
Junior Jack Ford also will figure in the mix at tackle, Watts said.
The Chippewas' only major injury of preseason practice came in the backfield, where sophomore Romello Ross suffered an ACL tear and is out for the year.
"We are fortunate that we're not real thin there," Watts said.
Junior Devon Spalding returns after missing much of last season with an injury, as does senior Jahray Hayes. Martez Walker, the leading rusher a year ago with 373 yards, has transferred. Hayes was second on the team with 324 yards, Ross finished with 247 and Spalding had 183. Spalding also had 14 catches including 10 in one game.
"Spalding, he's got all the tools," Watts said. "He's just got to be a leader back there. And he inspires the whole team because he's demanding of himself, he's demanding of the guys that are around him and he does a lot for our football team."
Also in the mix are Jerrod Davis, a redshirt freshman who was injured a year ago, along with true freshmen Kumehnnu Gwilly and Jonathan Ward. The fullback is Joe Bacci, a senior captain who has proven himself an effective weapon, particularly as a pass-catcher in goal-line situations.
