Top 10 Way-Too-Early Favorites To Win The 2019 FCS National

[elonpride]

Thoughts?

herosports.com/fcs/football-favorites-win-2019-fcs-national-title-bzbz


8. ELON
The Phoenix have a new-look coaching staff after former head coach Curt Cignetti brought a number of assistants with him to James Madison. But strong pieces remain for defensive coordinator turned HC Tony Trisciani.

Quarterback Davis Cheek was the 2017 CAA Rookie of the Year and missed half of last year with an injury. Elon's standout running back Malcolm Summers missed a large chunk as well as a senior, but the Phoenix get Jaylan Thomas back, who was the conference's Offensive Rookie of the Year. The top two receiving targets in Cole Taylor and Kortez Weeks also return while Elon will need to replace two First Team All-CAA offensive linemen.

Defensive, the Phoenix will miss standout linebacker Warren Messer, but the next four leading tacklers are back.

[hoidOfYolen]

I think the summary is spot on, but the conclusion is not. He's right about our strengths and weaknesses but saying that we are #8 in the country favored to win the championship is misguided. We are somewhere closer to 15th, with a very strong possibility for growth. We have too many unknowns about our team to claim we are anything better...yet.

[phightingphoenix1]

Jan 11, 2019 18:56:13 GMT -5 hoidOfYolen said:

I think the summary is spot on, but the conclusion is not. He's right about our strengths and weaknesses but saying that we are #8 in the country favored to win the championship is misguided. We are somewhere closer to 15th, with a very strong possibility for growth. We have too many unknowns about our team to claim we are anything better...yet.

"We have too many unknowns about our team to claim we are anything better...yet."


That can be said for most every other team...

[hoidOfYolen]

JMU doesn't have too many unknowns. Their only real unknown is how good their Quarterback situation will pan out. At almost every other position they are loaded. NDSU has the same situation: unknown at Quarterback but pretty good in every other position. EWU has their Quarterback figured out, and he's really good, but their pass defense and run game are questions.

In contrast, we have questions at whether we can replace Messer, whether we can improve our pass defense, whether we will have an even acceptable OLine, whether our young players that were just recruited will step up (because we will need it), and whether our offensive scheme will open up to allow Cheek to do his thing. Not to mention the coaching situation, but that's an unknown for a lot of other top teams right now too (JMU, NDSU, Maine, etc.).

[phightingphoenix1]

Those are three of the top 4 teams in their prognostication. That's part of the reasoning, I suppose. Elon was an absolute unknown entity a couple of years ago and they start the season 8-1. They did that with a true freshman and a VERY young team. A healthy Cheek will make a significant difference. Elon has many returning players with experience. As I mentioned, most teams have holes (some more significant than others) to fill. The recruiting for Elon has ratcheted up quite a bit, as well.

[fc4life]

Let’s lock down a quality back up QB.

[Pedro]

Joey Baughman should be a stud at QB...