Bowling Green 2014 Spring Football Wrap Up

Strengths & question marks coming out of spring

It was a very exciting Spring practice for the Falcons.  Being defending MAC Champions would be exciting enough, but then add in the electric personality and offensive philosophy of Dino Babers, the new coach, and you have a fan base that is really charged up.

BG lost 6 defensive starters from a unit that was #1 (15.9 PPG, best by 9 points) in the conference last year, and I think that was the biggest question mark coming forward. The true answer will come in the fall, but I would say that what we saw in the spring indicated that the Falcons will have a good defense once again.

The new players seem to be stepping right in…and this is a defense playing without its top returning player (Gabe Martin) and a top CB (Darrell Hunter), both of whom are injured.  Again, the new defense will need to be battle-tested, but I’d say that optimism is way up after the Spring.

On offense, BG lost only 4 players from the conference’s 3rd best offense.  Matt Johnson is back at QB and Travis Greene is back at RB after having the most yards gained in the program’s history for a single season.  To that mix they add transfer WR Gehrig Dieter (SMU), former OSU recruit WR Roger Lewis, and three WRs who did not finish the season due to injury.  The offense would have been expected to be very good.

Coach Babers is installing an uptempo Baylor-style spread.  If it works, BG has the skill players to score a ton of points.  However, there could also be an adjustment period and Coach Babers has been carefully managing expectations.  So, the offense is a question mark in that sense only.  Frankly, if the team can score the 35 per game they did last year, they will be tough to beat.

Name a few breakout players to keep an eye on in 2014

Gehrig Dieter, WR. SMU transfer. He’s tall (6’3″), athletic, strong (209 lbs) and a matchup nightmare in the MAC.

Roger Lewis, WR.  Lewis was headed to OSU a couple years ago, ran into some troubles and is now at BG.  He’s a speedster and in a spread format could be incredibly dangerous.

Ronnie Moore, WR.  Moore came into his own toward the end of last year (4-145 in MAC title game).  He’s incredibly shifty and athletic and should thrive in this offense.

Kendall Montgomery,  DE  Kendall is a super athletic former TE now playing rush DE.  Last year was his first at the position and he had 3 sacks and 4 hurries.  The spring game indicated that he might be ready to become a dominant force.  Has the ability to remind people of Diryal Briggs.

Nick Johnson, DB.  He’s a true FR and a sleeper breakout player.  Appears to be a ballhawk.

Grade each position group

QB:   A   Outstanding.  Matt Johnson moved into the lineup early last year as a SO and was the key element that turned 2013 into a championship season.  He’s 100% suited to the Babers offense, makes all the throws and should have a great season.  Not sure how good the depth is, so health is an issue.

RB:  A  Also good.  Greene is back, along with injured Fred Coppet who played as a true FR.  William Houston provides beef and is more athletic than you might guess.

Receivers: A+  BG is stacked.  BG has Chris Gallon, Jared Cohen, Herve Cobe back from injury.  Ronnie Moore was great toward the end of last year and Teo Redding appears ready to step up, Slot WR Ryan Burbrink is back and the team added Dieter and Lewis (see above).  This is as good a WR corps as BG has ever had.

OL:  B  The Falcons lost a G and their C.  Alex Huettel has moved from G to C, leaving the guard positions to be filled.  BG will probably start SO lineman at both tackles and one of the guards, so this unit is young, though both tackles started all year last year.

DL:  B  BG lost both of its leading D-tackles but returns quality and depth on the ends.  Mike Minns and Zach Colvin will be needed to contribute in the middle, and they looked good in the Spring game.  Depth is a question mark (you need a deep rotation) as there has been program attrition on the d-line.

LB:  B   Some graduations here, but if Gabe Martin returns to form at ROV, this unit has the potential to be very solid.  Looked excellent during spring game.

DB:  B?  4 of 8 players in two-deep graduated.  If Martin returns, it frees up two guys from the ROV position to return to secondary.  Also, Nick Johnson (mentioned above) appeared to be a playmaker in spring game. This is the biggest project on defense.

K:  B   PK Tyler Tate solidified the team’s previously woeful kicking.  Punter is new.

What can we expect from Bowling Green in 2014?

I think there is no reason for this team not to play for a championship again in 2014.  A big test will be a home game against Indiana.  A win there, and a 10 win season is not out of the realm of possibility.

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BJ Fisher of Orange and Brown provided the information for our Bowling Green Football 2014 Spring Wrap Up.  For more Bowling Green football information, commentary and analysis, you can follow BJ on Twitter @orangeandbrown.

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