2013-14 Football Previews – (MAC) – Golden Flashes
Kent State had a special season last year, but they’ll have to do it in 2013 without Darell Hazell who is now the head coach at Purdue. Hazell did an amazing job turning around this Kent State program, and losing him will almost certainly hurt this team.
Mid-American Conference 2013 College Football Previews: Kent State Golden Flashes
Head Coach: Paul Haynes
2012 Record: 11-3
Kent State Gambling Odds from BetOnline to win BCS Championship: +2,000 (Part of Field)
Kent State Gambling Odds from BetOnline to win MAC: +600
Still, there is plenty of talent here and there is no reason to believe that the Golden Flashes will fall apart.
Kent State went 8-0 in the MAC last year, and they were very close to getting a BCS bowl invite. Kent State finished 11-3 on the year, and the Golden Flashes broke out of a long string of mediocrity that they had been stuck in for previous years.
Check out our in-house Handicapper!!! Buy Razor Ray’s College Picks in 2013!
The new coaching staff needs to make sure this team doesn’t slip back to its old 5-7 days. Let’s take a look at the talent on the roster for the 2013 campaign.
Team Strengths:
There is no doubt that when you talk about Kent State’s strengths you have to start with the running back position. Dri Archer is an all-purpose player and he is the most dangerous player in the MAC. He is truly the type of guy who can take it all the way at any time. It isn’t just him though. Kent State also has Trayion Durham, who is a hard-nosed runner who gets a lot of tough yardage for the team. No one in the league has a better tailback tandem. These guys will be great in 2013.
Roosevelt Nix is the leader of a strong defensive line for the Golden Flashes. Nix has a motor that just doesn’t stop, and there might not be a defensive tackle in the nation who is better at rushing the passer. Mark Fackler is developing into a very good defensive end as well, and the entire unit has a lot of depth.
Kent State’s special teams will be among the best in the nation. Archer will be awesome as a kick and punt returner, and the Golden Flashes have a terrific punter in Anthony Melchiori.[soliloquy id=”82219″]
Team Weaknesses:
What will Kent State get at the quarterback position this year? The Golden Flashes didn’t necessarily have a spectacular quarterback last year in Spencer Keith, but he knew the system well and was a very good leader for the offense. This year Kent State is going to have to trust a youngster to manage the game and allow the running game to do its thing.
Kent State’s secondary is terrible against the pass. Strangely enough, this is a group that has done a great job helping out in run defense. The problem with them is they have been beaten deep time and time again. There are several very good quarterbacks in the MAC, and if this secondary doesn’t improve, Kent State’s defense is going to give up a lot of points.
2013-2014 Kent State Football Prediction: 6-6
Kent State has a much more difficult schedule this year, and the team only returns 11 starters. There is virtually no way this team is going to match its run from a year ago. The secondary will likely be torched several times this season. Archer and Durham will be great in the running game, but I don’t think there will be enough balance to beat the best teams on their schedule. Kent State should finish around .500.
2013 Golden Flashes Schedule
8/29/13 6:00 PM ET LIB
9/7/13 12:00 PM ET BGREN
9/14/13 7:00 PM ET @LSU
9/21/13 TBD @PENST
9/28/13 7:00 PM ET @WMICH
10/5/13 3:30 PM ET NOILL
10/12/13 3:00 PM ET @BALST
10/19/13 TBD @SALB
10/26/13 TBD BUFF
11/2/13 3:30 PM ET @AKR
11/13/13 8:00 PM ET MIAOH
11/19/13 8:00 PM ET @OHIO
