Projected 2017 record and S&P+ ranking: 8-4 (61st)
Biggest strength: A dangerous offense returns virtually everyone but the coordinator, and the new OC knows the job well.
Biggest question mark: The secondary was the only thing keeping Memphis’ defense afloat, and it has to replace five of last year’s top seven.
Biggest 2017 game: Navy visits on October 14; Memphis’ AAC West title chances likely hinge on winning this one and splitting games at Houston (Oct. 19) and Tulsa (Nov. 3).
Summary: In Norvell’s first season succeeding turnaround artist Fuente, his Tigers improved on paper. A more experienced team heads into 2017 potentially favored in at least 10 games. They could have the best combination of experience and upside in the AAC.
As we found out last year, turnover ratio can change from one year to the next and Memphis is replacing a lot of their secondary.
“I thought the guys had great energy and came out understanding that today was a great start,” Memphis head coach Mike Norvell said. “It was a much better first day than we had this time last fall. It was good to see. It was fun to see a lot of newcomers and we split up practice as best we could to get as many reps as we could with the new guys. I thought it was a good day.”
Memphis football players to watch in 2017
It will take more than one or two players for the Tigers to meet those expectations, but which one or two players should you watch most carefully in 2017? Columnist Geoff Calkins and beat reporter Tom Schad make their picks:
Riley Ferguson, Memphis football not concerned about passing woes in opener
Ferguson said the Tigers knew they would likely be playing in the rain Thursday night and prepared accordingly. But the senior quarterback said they couldn’t have adequately prepared for the combination of heavy rain, which he likened to dipping a ball in a tub of water, and wind they encountered on the field.
“The wind, that’s what made it hard,” Ferguson said. “If it’s just raining and that’s it, you can kind of push the ball through the rain. But with the wind too, and it’s slippery, it’s really hard with both of those conditions together.”
Who was that @$$ mumphish player that tried to twist our WR’s ankle (Ayers?) after the tackle? Is he still on the team?
Reggis Ball…he was a senior on the '15 Memphis team.
Went on to get booted from the team after their Bowl loss to Auburn because he went on the field and stole the ball from the Auburn equipment manager at the end of the game, knocked him down, and flipped off the fans as he walked off the field. Class act.
Starting NT and rotation LB out for the season. Also have a starting OLB out for the UCF game this week. Right now, they have 2 freshmen battling it out for the NT spot.
They also have to worry about Hurricane Irma getting closer to Florida and may be playing in bad weather again. For the Coogs sake, we need UCF to win this one.
Memphis’ Jared Gentry, Darian Porter out for the season with injuries
Several other players left Thursday night’s game at various points with apparent injuries, or were limited. Wide receiver Roderick Proctor did not play, while starting running back Doroland Dorceus received only two carries because he “had a tweak,” according to Norvell. Starting linebacker and reigning first-team all-American Athletic Conference honoree Genard Avery also left the game.
“The rest of the guys are going to be (evaluated) as the week goes on,” Norvell said. “We’ll see exactly where they are in their rehabilitation. But definitely hate it for Darian and Jared, with the injuries that were sustained.”
Yep, another big one. Team seems snake-bitten this year:
https://twitter.com/BruceFeldmanCFB/status/905562084443734016
Memphis is about to play 4 games in 20 days.
at UCF Saturday
at UCONN Friday 10/6
vs Navy Saturday 10/14
at Houston Thursday 10/19
Glad we get them on the back end of that stretch.
UPDATE:
Memphis is about to play 4 games in 20 days.
at UCF Saturday L 40-13
at UCONN Friday 10/6 W 70-31
vs Navy Saturday 10/14
at Houston Thursday 10/19
I don’t see Memphis winning against Navy at home. If they lose to Navy our chances of winning increase as every team that Navy has faced this year has lost the following game as well.
I’m really hoping people don’t read into that UConn game too much. UConn isn’t good at anything they do football related this year. lol I think it helps that we play them right after Navy. I hope Navy’s running backs tire out Memphis’ front 7.
Memphis’ front 7 was hit early and hard with 3 of 7 starters already out for the season. They also have 3 DBs and a LB who all have missed recent action and are week to week, at best. Hopefully, like you already said, Navy wears them out and roughs them up a bit more.
Poor guys. I feel sorry for them, just not the week they play us! Lol