College football’s preseason bottom 10 of 2010: #3 Eastern Michigan

In most of the lists I’ve seen that try to rank every team in the FBS, Eastern Michigan has been the squad most frequently tabbed to be last.  Yup, 120th out of 120 teams. To make matters worse, the program’s coach recently got in some hot water for something that didn’t involve anything on the field.  Larry Lage of the AP provides the details:

Eastern Michigan’s football team has always had a hard time creating buzz because its program gets lost in the shadow of college football’s winningest program in Ann Arbor.

Eagles coach Ron English unwittingly pulled it off this summer at the Mid-American Conference’s media day, saying he wanted recruits with a father in their background because they didn’t need to learn how to be taught by a man.

“I regret that some people thought I was attacking single moms,” English said Wednesday in his office that looks over Rynearson Stadium. “I was raised by my grandmother. My father wasn’t really a part of my life until I was a teenager. So, I have all the respect in the world for women raising kids on their own.  (Associated Press)

While single moms in and around Ypsilanti try to unwad their panties in the wake of English’s harmless comment, the Eagles are busily preparing for a season in which they’ll seek to prove that they’re not the worst of the worst.

How ugly did it get last year?  Try an 0-12 record on for size.  On five different occasions a monumentally bad EMU defense yielded 45 or more points.  That defense gave up…brace yourself…a whopping 6.3 yards a carry to the opposition.

Teams were so successful running the ball against them that the Eagles ended up finishing first nationally in pass defense.  You got it, opponents didn’t even bother to take to the air against them because things were so easy on the ground.

So why don’t I agree with the rest of the pundits who have this team looking up at every single other program in America?  First off, I think that EMU can be a little better at stopping the run, which will go a long way toward making this team competitive.

Defensive tackle Brandon Slater will probably show some improvement as he transitions into his junior year while junior college transfer Jasper Grimes will provide some instant help at tackle as well.  Also, junior linebacker Marcus English showed promise last season, recording 41 tackles in six games.  It would help immensely if he can maintain that type of production for all of 2010.

Keep an eye on redshirt freshman linebacker Darius Moffett, who looks like a very intriguing prospect.  He’s a Big 10-caliber player who fell into EMU’s lap after having some grade issues.  If the coaches throw him into the rotation, his athleticism will greatly enhance the defense’s ability to get to the point of attack.

The other reason I think Eastern Michigan can jump into the win column is the schedule.  While other bottom feeder teams are faced with multiple confidence crushing road trips, the Eagles’ slate is a little less demanding.  Sure, the trip to Ohio State will sting, but road dates against Vanderbilt and Virginia aren’t necessarily terrifying.

Why EMU is in the bottom 10: While I feel things can get a little better, they won’t improve dramatically. More often than not, teams will expose the Eagle defense. On offense, quarterback Alex Gillett is a true sophomore who still lacks the confidence to make enough plays.

How EMU can avoid the bottom 10: Frankly, I don’t see that happening.  EMU can at best hope for two or three wins on the season, which still puts them pretty damn low in college football’s pecking order.  But hey, it’s an upward trend, and any ray of hope would be fantastic for a program that’s pretty much bottomed out.

Preseason bottom 10 of 2010: #4 Miami (Ohio)

Preseason bottom 10 of 2010: #5 New Mexico State

Preseason bottom 10 of 2010: #6 Tulane

Preseason bottom 10 of 2010: #7 North Texas

Preseason bottom 10 of 2010: #8 New Mexico

Preseason bottom 10 of 2010: #9 Washington State

Preseason bottom 10 of 2010: #10 UL Monroe