2015 Independent Preview

By Pete Fiutak | @PeteFiutak

Army West Point

What You Need To Know About The Offense: You know what you’re getting. The Army triple option attack will once again average around 300 rushing yards per game, but can the O work with all new running backs? The entire backfield has to be replaced, but the same types of players are ready to keep the production going. Can there be a sharper passing game? Horribly inefficient, the Black Knights have to come up with a few big plays down the field. Fortunately, the running game will pick up the slack behind a good line that should be stellar for what the offense does.

What You Need To Know About The Defense: There’s no size up front, so the linebackers have to do even more – they will. Jeremy Timpf and Andrew King are two good ones to start with. The secondary that was lit up time and again should be improved with Josh Jenkins a terrific all-around corner and a good rotation at each spot. More of a pass rush has to come from the front four, and there needs to be more swarming around the ball considering most teams should be able to power run its way to long drives, but there’s experience and depth.

BYU

What You Need To Know About The Offense: Despite the loss of QB Taysom Hill to a broken leg in the first half of the season, the offense kept on rolling. Hill is back, and so is RB Jamaal Williams to what should be one of college football’s most productive backfields – if everyone can stay healthy. WR Mitch Mathews is always looking to come back healthy, but overall the receiving corps is big with terrific upside. Four starters are back to a line that struggled in pass protection, but has an excellent combination of size and depth. It all revolves around Hill, though. He has to stay in one piece to have any shot at surviving the nasty schedule.

What You Need To Know About The Defense: Awful at times against the pass, and allowing too many points, the defense has to be stronger after giving up 30 points or more seven times in the last ten games. Injuries were part of the problem, but now the D returns with a ton of depth. The line should be one of the team’s biggest strengths with Bronson Kaufusi a strong pass rusher for a big and deep front four. BYU uses end-sized players at linebacker at times, but this year there’s a good group back for a strong rotation around Austin Heder and Manoa Pikula. The secondary that needs to tighten up has the most work to do at safety, while Michael Davis has to secure a shaky corner situation.

Notre Dame

What You Need To Know About The Offense: Everett Golson is at Florida State and Malik Zaire steps in and has to be fantastic. Everything else is in place around him to shine with a loaded and deep line with plenty of options to tinker with. Tight end is the one concern with Ben Koyack gone, but Will Fuller leads a scary-good receiving corps. The rushing punch of Tarean Folston and Greg Bryant will be outstanding behind the veteran line, but Zaire might turn out to be the most dangerous runner at times. As long as the O can stop turning the ball over like it did when Golson was at the helm, and if Zaire can be solid, look out.

What You Need To Know About The Defense: The Irish defense went through a laughably absurd array of problems last season from suspensions to injuries to major inconsistencies. It all leads to what should be a phenomenal season with ridiculous depth and experience returning ten starters and plenty of key players who need a home. Jaylon Smith leads a terrific linebacking corps that should be able to roam free behind Sheldon Day and a line overloaded with option. The only missing starter is at corner with Cody Riggs gone, but in steps KeiVarae Russell, who spent last year suspended. Unlike last season, there’s no excuse not to be outstanding.