2010 NCAA football preview: UTEP
After the debacle that led to Mike Price being dismissed from the head coaching position at Alabama, it had to be hard to find a team that wanted to take on the negative publicity that would inevitably come with someone that is caught in an embarrassing scandal like Price was.
He found one team that was willing to in the Miners of the University of Texas in El Paso, a team conveniently located far away from most major news hubs. Price quickly made the university glad that they had hired him by leading the team to back to back 8-4 records (in 2004 and 2005) as well as two bowl berths.
However, since then, the Miners have lingered around mediocrity winning just five games in 2006, four in 2007, five in 2008, and four once again in 2009. The two successful seasons to start his tenure with the Miners has likely bought him some good will with the university, but four consecutive losing seasons has probably eaten up most of it.
Going into 2010, Price may very well be coaching for his job. Lucky for him he does have some talent on offense returning to the team. The problem however will be the lack of subsequent talent on defense.
Offense
With the caliber of skill players that the Miners have they should easily be winning more than four or five games a season.
Quarterback Trevor Vittatoe can throw the ball. Last season saw him clear 3300 yards, the most of his three seasons as a starter. As good as his yardage was last season, it was still a down year for him; his touchdown total was cut almost in half from 33 in 2008 to just 17; he also threw four more interceptions (13). By time he is done he will own most of the significant passing records at the school; in three years he has thrown for almost 10,000 yards and 75 touchdowns.
Vittatoe will have a solid receiving corps to work with. Kris Adams is the standout of the bunch; he had 42 catches for 580 yards last season and should approach the 75 catch mark this season. Donald Kemp and Evan Davis did not do much last season, but should see a bump in production in 2010.
The running game last season was a pleasant surprise. Donald Buckram had less than 100 career yards going into last season and finished with the fourth best total in the nation with 1594. He will be back this year, and will have three of his offensive linemen return to open holes for him; they will be joined by tackle Will Osolinsky who has made a dozen starts since coming to UTEP. If the senior can stay healthy he will be a solid addition to the front five.
Defense
The problem for the Miners is not in scoring points, but in stopping opponents from scoring. Last season they were among the worst in pretty much every major defensive category ranking 110th in total defense, 106th in rushing, 104th in scoring, and 98th against the pass.
Going forward in 2010 they will have to figure out how to get more out of what they have. The team really does not have a player that stands out from the rest; someone will have to step up. Strong safety Braxton Amy could be the man. He will have his work cut out for him as the only starter returning in the secondary.
Switching to the 4-3 from a 3-3-5 should help. While many of the players they have fit the type for a 3-3-5, but the team lacks sufficient size up front to pull it off. Using the 4-3, the team will look to line up Jamie Fehoko and Germard Reed at the tackle positions; both players have size, but are still mobile enough to move well. Ends Bernard Obi and Robert Soleyjacks should be a force when it comes to rushing the passer, but may be too small to be of much use against the run.
The key to Mike Price keeping his job could very well be in the hands of his offense. If he can use a ball control style of offense that will keep his defense from having to do much then the Miners will have a decent shot at winning more than they lose.
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