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"[The schedule] gives us more of a chance to reach the goals we all have here," said sixth-year UCF head coach Mike Kruczek. The biggest goal? To reach a bowl game for the first time in school history. The Knights have averaged 6.6 wins per year in the Kruczek era, but they are still waiting for that elusive bowl invitation. OFFENSIVE KEYS: The Knights should be able to go bowling if fifth-year senior quarterback Ryan Schneider enjoys yet another banner season. Although Schneider must find replacements for 1,000-yard receivers Doug Gabriel and Jimmy Fryzel, he already has 9,027 yards passing and 69 touchdowns and is on pace to break most of the records held by former UCF quarterback Daunte Culpepper.Kruczek has the deepest stable of running backs the school has seen. Junior Alex Haynes (1,038 yards in 2002) returns and is backed by Dontavius Wilcox, Keith Williams and junior college transfer P.J. Smith. A solid running game is a rarity in Orlando, and it comes as the Knights cope with their youngest receiving corps since 1995. Tavaris Capers is fast but small, sophomore Brandon Marshall is tall and athletic, and redshirt freshman Andre Sumpter is sleek and inexperienced. Michael Gaines, an NFL prospect, and Darcy Johnson figure to see more time than most tight ends in UCF's past. DEFENSIVE KEYS: Defensive coordinator Bill D'Ottavio would like to see his linebackers mesh quickly and produce a stubborn front as soon as possible. Antoine Poe returns from an ankle injury that kept him out all of 2002, and last year's leading tackler, Stanford Rhule, moves over to middle linebacker to replace Chad Mascoe, one of four projected UCF starters ruled academically ineligible.Historically, UCF's defensive makeup featured smaller, faster players. That changes some this year. UCF's defensive strength will be in the middle, from tackles DeMarcus Johnson, Larry Brown, Roy Williams and Frisner Nelson to safeties Atari Bigby and Peter Sands. Missing on this defense, at least at the start, are marquee pass rushers and cover corners. SPECIAL TEAMS: UCF has a full-time special teams coach (Joe Robinson) for the first time, making this more of an area of emphasis.Matt Prater made 14-of-21 field goals and 44-of-47 extra-points as a freshman, but the coaches would like to see more consistency. Kevin Beorlegui, Chris Kessler and Scott Sevin will battle in two-a-days to determine who punts. FINAL ANALYSIS: Possibly the biggest move UCF made from 2002 was an adjustment to its schedule. The Knights successfully moved a trip to West Virginia from September to November, giving them a chance to build some confidence heading into their MAC schedule. (Last year UCF finished 7-5 but started 0-3, including a key early-season loss at Marshall.) The move won't make Virginia Tech and Syracuse any easier to beat, but it should help in the long run.Quiet mouths also should help the Knights. Last year, MAC foes heard UCF make bold predictions about running the table in its new league; this year they won't hear a peep. The Knights would prefer to stay silent until they celebrate a bowl berth. • Click here for complete index of 2003 team previews
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