Over the course of the next several weeks, the SoBros Network crew will be going around the landscape of Tennessee, previewing the upcoming American tackle football season. Up next, the 2019 Memphis preview!
2019 MEMPHIS PREVIEW
The 2018 Memphis Tigers set a school record for total yardage with 7,324 yards. Averaging 523.1 yards per game made for the 4th best offense in the country a year ago. Mike Norvell has created an offensive juggernaut down in Memphis, one that could even surpass those 2018 number in 2019. Things are pretty good for the Tigers right now, as 2019 figures to be a potentially special season. They’ll be favored in every game on the schedule this year.
Darrell Henderson and Tony Pollard are gone, leaving the offense with 3,214 total yards to account for (2,204 of those were Henderson’s alone). But, this creates an opportunity for senior running back Patrick Taylor to step up and be the bell cow. Taylor posted 1,122 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2018. Those numbers should only rise in 2019.
Between Arizona State transfer QB Brady White and WR Damonte Coxie, this vertical passing attack should be just as explosive as the rushing attack for the Tigers. In 2018, White had a passer rating of 150.7, completing 62.8% of his passes for 3,296 yards, 26 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Coxie caught 72 balls for 1,174 yards and seven touchdowns a season ago. This connection should prove explosive, but keep an eye on tight end Joey Magnifico (A+ name), who averaged 17.3 yards per catch a season ago.
Barring some questions along the offensive line (who has actually played well in recent scrimmages), this offense is loaded. Period.
The defense, on the other hand…..*groans*. Last year, this unit gave up 31.9 points per game (thankfully, their offense was scoring 42.9 per game), and 428.1 yards per game.
All three of the Tigers sack leaders are back (Joseph Dorceus, Bryce Huff, and Jonathan Wilson). That trio combined for 21.5 sacks a year ago, and with a little more experience, should be just as productive in 2019. Huff was even named to the Nagurski Trophy Watch List. If the Tigers can fortify their front seven and put less pressure on a young secondary, we could see marked improvement in 2019.
T.J. Carter has NFL-level talent and could be one of the best cover corners in all of college football this season. Chris Claybrooks, Jr. made a lot of noise in the spring. He could start opposite Carter, and adds an extra dynamic to the team with his ability to return kicks/punts as well.
As a unit, this defense could be a pleasant surprise for Tigers fans this year. They have the talent to do so.
2019 Tigers Schedule
8/31 vs. Ole Miss – The Tigers have the offense to score with Ole Miss, and the Rebels have the defense to allow it. This one should be a shootout, but the Tigers survive.
9/7 vs. Southern – The Tigers start 2019 2-0, bay-bay.
9/14 @ South Alabama – Last year’s team won three games and wasn’t competitive with Memphis at all (lost 52-25 at Memphis in 2018). I don’t expect much to change as the Jaguars figure to be one of the worst teams in college football in 2019.
9/26 vs. Navy – We’re in the midst of a down spell for the Midshipmen. This shouldn’t be much of a task for the Tigers to handle.
10/5 @ ULM – The Warhawks could be a bowl team and make some noise in the Sun Belt in 2019, but they ain’t hangin’ with the Tigers.
10/12 @ Temple – An experienced Owls team could be a surprise in the AAC East, but I don’t think they’re good enough to contend with the Tigers in 2019. This road game screams T R A P G A M E, but I say the Tigers survive.
10/19 vs. Tulane – Head coach Willie Fritz has successfully turned around the Green Wave program. They’re a bowl winner, but they simply don’t have the offense to hang with Memphis.
10/26 at Tulsa – 3-9 in 2018, Tulsa just doesn’t seem to have enough juice on offense to hang with the Tigers, and they aren’t quite ready on defense to stop ’em.
11/2 vs. SMU – The Mustangs should be competitive in the AAC West, but that figures to be tough sledding in 2019. Like a lot of the other middle of the road AAC teams, I just don’t think they’ll be ready to hang with Memphis this season.
11/16 @ Houston – It’s Dana Holgorsen time in Houston, and he could be just the guy to lift that program up to New Year’s Six contender. How do you weigh this match-up? If anyone has the offense to score with Memphis, it’s Houston. But, the Cougars defense looks much worse than the Tigers defense as it stands here in August. Having the game at home is huge for Houston, but I still like Memphis here.
11/23 @ South Florida – QB Blake Barnett could have the Bulls competing for an AAC East title. This could be a sneaky game for the Tigers if South Florida’s offense is as good as it could be. Thankfully for the Tigers, South Florida couldn’t stop anybody a season ago.
11/29 vs. Cincinnati – A good run game and what could be the conference’s best defense could mean the Bearcats can control the game and keep the Tigers offense off the field. This is a potentially tricky matchup and makes for the third straight *nervy nervy* game for the Tigers to wrap up their season.
Prediction
The back stretch of the schedule is all that has me a little concerned – namely, just that trip to Houston. South Florida makes me a little nervous, but the Tigers are poised to be vastly superior to both teams. They may have to face down UCF in the AAC Championship, and that doesn’t figure to be an easy task, but this Tigers team is Norvell’s best yet. If ever there was a year for a conference championship, this would be it.
If this team can go undefeated, it’ll be playing in a New Year’s Six bowl game. I think they end up with one loss – either that trip to Houston or the AAC Championship game.
Regardless, this should be a special season in Memphis.
Other college football previews
Alabama Crimson Tide
Auburn Tigers
Florida Gators
Georgia Bulldogs
Kentucky Wildcats
LSU Tigers
Mississippi State Bulldogs
Missouri Tigers
South Carolina Gamecocks
Texas A&M Aggies
Vanderbilt Commodores
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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