Juniata Week
The following is from the D3Football.com Season Preview Kickoff Edition:
Juniata Eagles
Last playoff appearance: 1973
Last year: 2-8, 2-7 MAC
Last conference title: 1973
Wins increase from 05-06: Plus-2
Preseason ranking: 187 of 238
Head coach: Darrell Alt, 3rd season, 3-27
Starters returning: 14 (six offense, six defense, two special teams)
Position battle to watch: Running backs. The Eagles must replace Kiel Knisely and Duane Ehredt - a first-team All-Middle Atlantic Conference pick. The two accounted for 91 percent of Juniata's rushing yards a year ago. It may not be unreasonable to see a freshman earn the job: Head coach Darrell Alt is excited about two freshmen, Derek Kramer and Tyler Sasala, and knows what he has with sophomore Tommy Brisbane and junior Dan Hooper.
Pressure is on: The defensive line, which took heavy hits to graduation, losing six players in the offseason; among them were some big-bodied players who could stuff the middle. Despite all the experience, the unit still struggled last season; the Eagles finished last in the Middle Atlantic Conference in rush defense and sacks. "That group has to mature," Alt said. Seniors Zach Shatto and Tyler Payne - a converted linebacker - should form the nucleus of this year's line, which will emphasize speed over size.
Where did he come from? Senior wide receiver Chad Steiner is back for a fifth season with the Eagles, enduring some off-the-field health issues that cut into his time with the team. His 17 catches and 156 yards ranked fifth on the team in 2006 (and third among returners). Hopefully with the health problems behind him, Steiner is a projected starter this year and Alt credits his leadership abilities.
Their season will be defined by: The momentum gained from the first game, a non-conference matchup against old MAC rival FDU-Florham. That game could provide a boost heading into Juniata's first Centennial Conference game - against pre-season favorite Ursinus. "I think our confidence level would be so much higher," Alt said. "That first game, traveling to Madison, N.J., will be a big one for us."
Predicted record: 3-7, 1-7
Capsule: Juniata has just three wins in the past three seasons. But there's always room for optimism. There's a new conference: The Eagles are one of two programs - along with Moravian - to defect from the Middle Atlantic Conference into the Centennial as football-only members. The MAC schedule left precious little room for non-conference games, but Juniata's only non-conference game in 2006 was a 14-0 loss in Week 1 to eventual Centennial champ Dickinson. There's also a good dose of returners. Offensively, Juniata will stock the skill positions with experienced players, including quarterback Jay Leonard and wide receivers David Nicklaus, Lance Tippett and Chad Steiner. Questions remain for the running backs and the offensive line, which returns left guard Cody Fulton and center Dan Habig. The defense also returns six starters, to a unit that ranked 10th in the MAC in total defense a year ago. The upside is that five of the six returners should be back next year as well. Sophomore Tyler Hall, a second-team All-MAC selection as a return specialist is back. Three freshmen will battle for the placekicking job, a spot that produced some iffy results in 2006: Juniata kickers were 3 for 5 in field goals and 15 for 20 in PATs.
Juniata Eagles
Last playoff appearance: 1973
Last year: 2-8, 2-7 MAC
Last conference title: 1973
Wins increase from 05-06: Plus-2
Preseason ranking: 187 of 238
Head coach: Darrell Alt, 3rd season, 3-27
Starters returning: 14 (six offense, six defense, two special teams)
Position battle to watch: Running backs. The Eagles must replace Kiel Knisely and Duane Ehredt - a first-team All-Middle Atlantic Conference pick. The two accounted for 91 percent of Juniata's rushing yards a year ago. It may not be unreasonable to see a freshman earn the job: Head coach Darrell Alt is excited about two freshmen, Derek Kramer and Tyler Sasala, and knows what he has with sophomore Tommy Brisbane and junior Dan Hooper.
Pressure is on: The defensive line, which took heavy hits to graduation, losing six players in the offseason; among them were some big-bodied players who could stuff the middle. Despite all the experience, the unit still struggled last season; the Eagles finished last in the Middle Atlantic Conference in rush defense and sacks. "That group has to mature," Alt said. Seniors Zach Shatto and Tyler Payne - a converted linebacker - should form the nucleus of this year's line, which will emphasize speed over size.
Where did he come from? Senior wide receiver Chad Steiner is back for a fifth season with the Eagles, enduring some off-the-field health issues that cut into his time with the team. His 17 catches and 156 yards ranked fifth on the team in 2006 (and third among returners). Hopefully with the health problems behind him, Steiner is a projected starter this year and Alt credits his leadership abilities.
Their season will be defined by: The momentum gained from the first game, a non-conference matchup against old MAC rival FDU-Florham. That game could provide a boost heading into Juniata's first Centennial Conference game - against pre-season favorite Ursinus. "I think our confidence level would be so much higher," Alt said. "That first game, traveling to Madison, N.J., will be a big one for us."
Predicted record: 3-7, 1-7
Capsule: Juniata has just three wins in the past three seasons. But there's always room for optimism. There's a new conference: The Eagles are one of two programs - along with Moravian - to defect from the Middle Atlantic Conference into the Centennial as football-only members. The MAC schedule left precious little room for non-conference games, but Juniata's only non-conference game in 2006 was a 14-0 loss in Week 1 to eventual Centennial champ Dickinson. There's also a good dose of returners. Offensively, Juniata will stock the skill positions with experienced players, including quarterback Jay Leonard and wide receivers David Nicklaus, Lance Tippett and Chad Steiner. Questions remain for the running backs and the offensive line, which returns left guard Cody Fulton and center Dan Habig. The defense also returns six starters, to a unit that ranked 10th in the MAC in total defense a year ago. The upside is that five of the six returners should be back next year as well. Sophomore Tyler Hall, a second-team All-MAC selection as a return specialist is back. Three freshmen will battle for the placekicking job, a spot that produced some iffy results in 2006: Juniata kickers were 3 for 5 in field goals and 15 for 20 in PATs.
posted by Pat McConnell | 6:15 AM
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