Special Athlon offer for SI.com readers

The Lowdown 2006 Schedule Coach: Brian Kelly (3rd season, 10-12) 2005 record: 6-5 MAC finish: 5-3 (t-3rd West) 2005 I-A offensive rankings: Rushing: 46th (158.8 ypg) Passing: 26th (260.1 ypg) 2005 I-A defensive rankings: Rushing: 20th (113.7 ypg) Passing: 108th (280.7 ypg) Date Opponent Aug. 31 Boston College Sept. 9 at Michigan Sept. 16 Akron Sept. 23 at Eastern Michigan Sept. 30 at Kentucky Oct. 7 at Toledo Oct. 14 Ball State Oct. 19 Bowling Green Nov. 4 at Temple Nov. 10 Western Michigan Nov. 17 at Northern Illinois Nov. 24 at Buffalo Depth Chart: Offense 7 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. WR 3 Damien Linson Sr. 16 Jean Pitts Fr. WR 88 Obed Cetoute Sr. 80 Justin Gardner Jr. WR 87 Bryan Anderson Fr. 2 Jemmy Jasmin Jr. LT 73 Joe Staley Sr. 68 Mark Barbaglia So. LG 60 Adam Benke So. 57 Adam Antonides Fr. C 78 Drew Mormino Sr. 65 Mike Decker Jr. RG 69 Eric Tunney Jr. 56 Andrew Cribbs So. RT 74 Andrew Hartline So. 70 Jeff Gilbert Fr. TE 83 Andre Moore So. 84 Dave Condeni Sr. QB 18 Brian Brunner So. 13 Dan LeFevour Fr. RB 34 Ontario Sneed So. - Carl Volny Fr. Depth Chart: Defense 7 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. DE 93 Dan Bazuin Sr. 52 Mike Ogle Sr. DT 94 Steven Friend Jr. 90 Philip Telfer So. NG 92 Ronnie Ekdahl So. 91 Chris Boss So. DE 58 De’Onte Burnam Jr. 95 Larry Knight Fr. LB 6 Isaac Brown Sr. 26 Jonathan Lapsley So. LB 41 Thomas Keith Jr. 99 Leython Williams Sr. LB 46 Doug Kress Sr. 55 Chris Wohlgamuth So. CB 7 Pacino Horne Sr. - Tommy Mama Fr. CB 19 Josh Gordy Fr. 36 Terrance Robinson Sr. SS 10 Curtis Cutts Jr. 25 Jason Ruger So. FS 22 Aaron Carr Fr. 12 Eric Fraser Fr. Special Teams Ps. No. Player Yr. Ps. No. Player Yr. K 28 Rick Albreski So. P 35 Tony Mikulec Jr. KR 2 Jemmy Jasmin Jr. PR 2 Jemmy Jasmin Jr.

To order your 2006 Athlon Sports annual and receive $1 off plus free shipping courtesy of SI.com, click here.

After recording the school's first winning season since 1998, Central Michigan is looking to take the next step in head coach Brian Kelly's third season.

"Now we have to play smarter football, we have to play championship level football," Kelly says. "We have pushed the bar higher each year and now we have to get over the bar. In year three we are looking to win a conference championship."

The Chippewas face a tough schedule to open the season with a home game against Boston College, a road game against Michigan and then a home contest against defending MAC champion Akron.

"I don't think there is anything physically different between us and the top teams in this league," Kelly says. "Mentally we have to develop that championship mentality."

OFFENSE

Quite possibly, the key to the 2006 season will be the Chippewas' ability to replace record-setting quarterback Kent Smith.

Redshirt sophomore Brian Brunner threw only three passes last season as Smith's backup but did complete all three. He will enter fall as the likely candidate to replace Smith, but redshirt freshmen Dan LeFevour and Duane Brooks will both push for playing time and are both very athletic.

"I think we've got more than one quarterback on this team, and I am very confident in whoever comes out as the starter," Kelly says.

Kelly's confidence likely stems from the fact that the Chippewa signal-caller will be taking snaps behind a line that returns four starters, including standout left tackle Joe Staley.

The new quarterback will also have the luxury of sophomore tailback Ontario Sneed, who ran for over 1,000 yards last season as a true freshman. "Ontario has developed so much as a player and as a person. He is so much more confident with his ability," Kelly says. "He is a true blue-chip player."

Maybe the most improved position on the CMU team is at wideout, where the Chippewas return two starters in Obed Cetoute and Damien Linson, while the speedy Jemmy Jasmin is a capable receiver. Freshman Bryan Anderson has broken into the starting lineup, and with his 6'4" frame and speed he adds a dimension the Chippewas haven't had in years.

DEFENSE

Reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Year Dan Bazuin is a force at defensive end and anchors a front four that returns three starters. Bazuin set the school record for tackles for a loss and sacks last season. "I'd say the defensive line is the strength of our football team," Kelly says. "We are really deep at defensive end, and we have players like (redshirt freshman) Larry Knight that we can't keep off the field."

The only question on the line is at the nose tackle spot, where Ronnie Ekdahl moves in as the starter.

The Chippewas also return all three starters at linebacker, including Thomas 'Red' Keith, but the unsung hero is Doug Kress, who took over as the starter early last season and stayed there the rest of the year. Isaac Brown is a physical player who Kelly says is as intimidating a defensive player as he has ever had.

The key to the defense will be in the secondary, where the Chippewas will start two new cornerbacks this season as Pacino Horne moves from safety to corner; redshirt freshman Josh Gordy will play the other corner.

SPECIALISTS

Sophomore Rick Albreski appears to be stronger this season and will handle the kicking duties, while Tony Mikulec returns as the punter. Jasmin will return kicks and punts.

FINAL ANALYSIS

In his second season, Kelly delivered CMU's first winning season since 1998. However, Kelly lost the triggerman to his high-octane spread offense. The graduation of Smith leaves the Chippewas with a giant hole to fill.

Brunner is solid but not flashy, while Brooks and LeFevour seem to have Kelly's interest with their athletic ability. The good news is that the rest of the offense returns intact, led by four returning starters on the offensive line and some explosive receivers on the outside.

On defense, the Chippewas have a new coordinator, Joe Tresey, and return six starters from a front seven that led the MAC in run defense.

However, the Chippewas ranked 10th in the league in pass defense, allowing opponents 280.7 yards through the air. The top three cornerbacks from last year have left the team, which means the Chippewas will be starting over in the defensive backfield. It's an area that must improve if CMU wants to contend for the MAC title.