The Toledo Rockets had a mediocre 7-5 season last year and did not receive a bowl invite at the end of the year. The Rockers have now failed to reach the MAC title game for 9 straight years, but with 16 starters back they do have a shot at ending the drought this year. Preview & schedule are below.
The Rockets have been a very good offensive team over the year and they should be once again, despite the fact that they lose their QB, Top RB and top WR from last year. The biggest strength for the Rockets this year will be an OL that has 5 senior starters on it and 4 returning starters. This line is rated 14th best in the nation and having a great OL is key when breaking in a new QB. That new QB looks to be Alabama transfer Phillip Ely, who was a #21 QB when he came out of HS a few years ago. Bernard Reedy is gone from the WR corps, but Alonzo Russell is back after racking up 728 receiving yards and 6 TDs last year, plus senior Justin Olack is back (18 catches last year), along with TE Alex Zmolick, plus they have signed a #53 TE in Davi’on Riley. This group should be very solid by year’s end. The running lost Fluellen, but Kareem Hunt does have good experience and he rumbled for 866 yards and 6 TDs last year, Defense has never been a strong suit of the Rockets, but this year they could have their best in a long time, as they have 9 starters back. The DL rates as the best in the league, with all 3 of 4 starters back, including Treyvon Hester, who had 3.5 sacks and another 4 TFL last year as a freshman. The LB corps is in very good shape with all 3 starters back, including the top two tacklers on the team in Junior Sylvestre and Chase Murdock, who combined for 227 tackles, 9 sacks and 9 more TFL last year. The secondary has 3 starters back and is loaded with depth, making them one of the best in the league.
The Rockets have not been to a MAC Title game in 9 years and if it weren’t for a road game at Northern Illinois then I feel they would have a chance to get there this year. The Rocket offense may take a few games to get going with all the new pieces in there, but they will be very explosive by season’s end, while the defense rates as one of the best in the league. Toledo is a team to watch this year. They do have that road game vs Northern Illinois, plus a road game vs Cincinnati and a home game vs Missouri, but they should breeze through the rest of their schedule, which should very well put them in the MAC Title game. KEY TREND: 7-0 ATS after playing Bowling Green.
2014 Toledo Rockets Football Schedule
Aug. 30 New Hampshire
Sep. 6 Missouri
Sep. 12 at Cincinnati
Sep. 20 Ball State
Sep. 27 Central Michigan
Oct. 4 at Western Michigan
Oct. 11 at Iowa State
Oct. 18 OPEN DATE
Oct. 25 UMass
Nov. 4 at Kent State
Nov. 11 at Northern Illinois
Nov. 19 Bowling Green
Nov. 28 at Eastern Michigan
Info gathered From Phil Steele's CFB Preview and Athlon Sports
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