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The Lowdown 2006 Schedule Coach: Bill Cubit (2nd season, 7-4) 2005 record: 7-4 MAC finish: 5-3 (t-3rd West) 2005 I-A offensive rankings: Rushing: 57th (145.9 ypg) Passing: 32nd (246.6 ypg) 2005 I-A defensive rankings: Rushing: 56th (147.4 ypg) Passing: 116th (303.2 ypg) Date Opponent Sept. 2 at Indiana Sept. 9 Toledo Sept. 16 at Virginia Sept. 23 Temple Oct. 7 at Ohio Oct. 14 Northern Illinois Oct. 21 at Ball State Oct. 28 Eastern Michigan Nov. 4 Miami (Ohio) Nov. 10 at Central Michigan Nov. 18 at Florida State Nov. 24 at Akron Depth Chart: Offense 6 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. WR 7 Herb Martin Jr. 89 Ben Bleck-Owens So. WR 10 Joe Chapple Sr. 88 Scooter McIntosh Jr. WR 86 Kelly Martin Jr. 11 Stephen Penn Jr. LT 67 Rob Johnson So. 55 Dezmond Gray Jr. LG 72 Dominic Moran Sr. 77 Matt Lochmann Fr. C 78 Robbie Krutilla Jr. 63 Paul Wasikowski Fr. RG 62 Matt Williams Jr. 76 Steve Ellingsen So. RT 75 James Blair Jr. 56 Andy Laue Fr. TE 82 Brandon Ledbetter So. 84 Matt Stevens Fr. QB 12 Ryan Cubit Sr. 14 Thomas Peregrin Jr. RB 40 Kirk Elsworth So. 27 Jamarko Simmons So. Depth Chart: Defense 9 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. DE 37 Anthony Belmonte Sr. 48 Justin Braska Fr. DT 99 Nick Varcadipane So. 93 John Russell So. NG 98 Cory Flom So. 64 Grant Nemeth So. DE 90 Zach Davidson So. 97 Matt Ludeman Jr. SLB 51 Paul Tithof Sr. 35 Austin Pritchard So. MLB 59 Dustin Duclo So. 54 Greg Marshall So. WLB 43 Ameer Ismail Sr. 19 Cornelius Robinson So. CB 1 E.J. Biggers So. 46 Desman Stephen So. CB 29 Londen Fryar So. 15 Andy Dorcely Fr. SS 9 Louis Delmas So. 5 Jimmie Vincent Sr. FS 26 C.J. Wilson So. 31 Robert Livingston Fr. Special Teams Ps. No. Player Yr. Ps. No. Player Yr. K 25 Nate Meyer Sr. P 39 Jim Laney Jr. KR 1 E. J. Biggers So. PR 9 Louis Delmas So.

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In his first year on the job, Bill Cubit turned the Broncos' struggling program around, leading Western Michigan to seven wins just one year removed from a 1-10 campaign.

On the downside, however, Cubit was blessed last season with some outstanding skill players, and nearly all of them have departed. This season, Western Michigan will rely heavily on the arm of senior quarterback Ryan Cubit (the coach's son) while hoping for significant improvement from a defense that allowed 450.6 yards and 31.1 points per game.

"We have got to be more physical defensively," Cubit says. "We are still probably a year away from being that type of team, but I do think we will be improved. We are really young on defense and can only get better."

OFFENSE

Quarterback Cubit was poised for a breakout season last year before breaking his leg in the fourth game of the season. He was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA and will be a major key for the Broncos this season.

"He's going to mean a lot for us this season," Coach Cubit says. "He's got great experience and is like another coach on the field because he knows this system so well. We are really young at wideout and there isn't going to be a lot of separation so the ball is going to have to fit through some tight windows. I know Ryan can do that."

The Broncos lost 1,000-yard rusher Trovon Riley to graduation, so there will be a new starter in the backfield. Junior Mark Bonds and sophomore Kirk Elsworth are both candidates to replace Riley, but Cubit says the wild card in the mix is Jamarko Simmons, a speedy sophomore who will likely be used in multiple roles this season.

The Broncos must make do without receiver Greg Jennings (the 2005 MAC Offensive Player of the Year) and speedy tight end Tony Scheffler. The top returning receiver is senior Joe Chapple, who caught 33 passes last season. Simmons, with 11 catches, is the second-leading returner.

The Broncos return three of five starters on the offensive line, a group that will be led by all-conference center Robbie Krutilla.

DEFENSE

The defensive line is an area of concern for the Broncos, mostly because the line isn't very big. Nose guard Cory Flom is the biggest at 285 pounds, but defensive tackle Nick Varcadipane was the most effective with 5.5 sacks last season.

With Ameer Ismail back, the linebacking corps is a point of strength. Ismail finished with 93 tackles last season and led the team with eight sacks. Paul Tithof and Dustin Duclo are the other starters in this unit, but the most talented player might be sophomore Greg Marshall.

All four starting defensive backs are sophomores. The headliner is safety Louis Delmas, who finished with three interceptions, eight deflections and was third on the team with 82 tackles. "Louis Delmas is an outstanding player and could be the best at his position this school has ever seen," Cubit says.

SPECIALISTS

Nate Meyer returns to handle the placekicking duties after connecting on 12-of-19 attempts, including 9-of-10 inside 40 yards. Cubit believes punter Jim Laney (40.8-yard average) is one of the best in the conference.

FINAL ANALYSIS

Cubit worked wonders in his first season back in Kalamazoo. Year two, however, figures to be far more challenging. The Broncos lost their top two receivers and a 1,000-yard rusher. The good news for Western is that quarterback Ryan Cubit was granted a medical redshirt by the NCAA and returns to lead an inexperienced WMU offense.

There will be plenty of pressure on Cubit the elder to enjoy a banner senior campaign, but the Broncos will be in trouble without significant improvement on defense. A repeat of last year's 5-3 conference record seems unlikely.