2010 Kent State Golden Flashes Football Preview

2009 Results: 5-7, No Bowl

Head Coach: Doug Martin (7th year @ Kent State, 24-46 Overall)

Home Venue: Dix Stadium (25,000), Kent, Ohio

The heat is on for Kent State’s 7th year head coach, Doug Martin. His entire career as the man in charge has gone without a bowl berth and if he doesn’t deliver this season then I think he will be looking for work. After struggling through a season marred by injury in 2009, can Martin finally break through and take talented Kent State to their first bowl berth since 1972?

OFFENSE

The heart and soul of last season’s offense was supposed to be diminutive tailback Eugene Jarvis. However, he fell victim to a kidney laceration in the early going and was eventually awarded a medical redshirt. Without Jarvis, the Golden Flashes fell to a disappointing 19 points of offense per game.

Things look a lot better this season. In Jarvis’ absence, junior Jacquise Terry (649 rush yards, 205 receiving yards, 4 TDs in ‘09) did a good job running the football and sophomore Dri Archer (246 rush yards, 231 receiving yards, 4 total TDs) provided solid depth, giving the Golden Flashes three solid tailbacks to carry the load. Kent State also returns four starters on the offensive line, but they look likely to start three underclassmen, including two sophomores at tackle. That is never a great sign because linemen generally need a few seasons to get big enough to hold their ground in the trenches. Considering the worries up front, it is a good thing that the Flashes have such a variety of runners and they all will see a lot of carries this fall.

2009 was also a good learning campaign for the Kent passing game, as they managed their best results in the last four years through the air. Sophomore quarterback Spencer Keith (2,147 yards, 14 TDs, 11 INT) played well in seven starts as a true freshman and looks primed to be one of the best quarterbacks in the league this fall. With a legitimate #1 receiver in classmate Tyshon Goode (53 catches, 755 yards, 5 TDs), I think that the Golden Flashes are going to be solid through the air.

Overall, this offense should be much improved from last season despite my concerns about their young line. Kent State has great depth at tailback, an impressive young quarterback and a rising #1 option at wide receiver. The Flashes should also have fewer turnovers this season and that should be a big help on the scoreboard. I definitely think that the Kent State offense will be a lot more productive in 2010.

DEFENSE

One great outcome from the 2009 campaign was the performance of the Kent State defense, which finished 4th in the conference in scoring defense. The Flashes improved across the board with a strong run defense and a great showing in against pass, allowing the league’s 2nd lowest completion percentage. The majority of that unit returns this fall, leaving high hopes for a repeat showing.

Up front, there is not one single returning starter on the three man line. However, senior Zach Williams (21 tackles, 3.5 sacks) looks to be a solid player stepping into one of the DE positions on the line. While I am concerned about the nose tackle position as senior Quinton Rainey (29 tackles, 2 sacks) is rather undersized, I think that this line could end up being fairly productive.

The linebackers will also more than make up for any of the line’s shortcomings. Senior Monte Simmons (58 tackles, 8 sacks) was a 2nd Team All-MAC player in his role as a hybrid end and I could also have mentioned him as a lineman as well because he lines up with his hand on the ground a lot. Senior linebacker Cobrani Mixon (108 tackles, 3 sacks) was a 1st Team All-MAC choice as well in 2009 and classmate Dorian Wood (72 tackles, 1.5 sacks) is also a productive player. In fact, I think that this group is the most talented set of linebackers in the MAC Conference.

Kent State is also quite strong in the secondary as three starters return. Senior Brian Lainhart (87 tackles, 7 INT) is a two time 1st Team All-MAC selection and he led the conference in interceptions last season. Fellow senior safety Dan Hartman (72 tackles, 4 INT) is also a great player and the Golden Flashes should have one of the league’s best secondaries this fall.

Overall, the only potential weakness with this defense is up front, where they will be inexperienced. However, Simmons will help out with the pass rush and the overall quality of the linebackers is going to help offset any worries in the running game. Meanwhile, the secondary is loaded with ball hawks and I think they will be great against the pass. I like the talent on this defense so much that if they had more experience up front, I wouldn’t hesitate to call them the best in the league. Despite my worries about this line, I think that this will be one of the MAC’s best units.

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SCHEDULE

Kent State also has a very reasonable schedule. Their non-conference portion includes games at Penn State and Boston College but the other two are home games against lowly Murray State and Army. In conference play, the Golden Flashes don’t play Buffalo but their draw from the West won’t be easy with trips to WMU and Toledo. On the other side of the coin, they host fellow East Division contenders Ohio and Temple at home this season. In general, I think that Kent State has a reasonable schedule that should be a boon to their postseason aspirations.

OUTLOOK

It is put up or shut up time for the Golden Flashes this season under Martin. Their offense should be a multi-dimensional attack that will be powered by a deep set of skill players. Furthermore, it is going to be led by an up and coming young quarterback and I think that they’ll be much better at scoring points.

To continue the good news, the defense looks like one of the top units in the entire conference. They have great linebackers and a secondary loaded with playmakers. Finally, their schedule is very reasonable and won’t act as an impediment to at winning season. In the end, I think that Kent State finally breaks through and earns a bowl berth this fall. However, I think that their draw from the West, which is tougher than the other contenders in their division, will hold them back from winning the East. The Golden Flashes are my pick to finish 3rd in the MAC East Division.

PREDICTED RESULT: 7-5 (5-3 MAC)