Jacksonville Dolphins
Overall Rank: #40
#1 Pioneer
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The Dolphins are coming off a 2012 campaign that saw the Pioneer League team begin to turn things around for a young and historically struggling team. The Dolphins were still young, but Jacksonville received big contributions from some guys who are really early in their careers. The success should only build as the Dolphins return many starters from a year ago and face a favorable schedule in 2013 that shouldn’t see JU lose more than three games without a steep fall off in performance from key players a year ago.
2012 Record: (7-4, 5-3)
2012 Postseason: None
Coach: Kerwin Bell (43-25 at Jacksonville, 43-25 overall)
Offensive Coordinator: Kerwin Bell
Defensive Coordinator: Jerry Odom
Returning Leaders:
Rushing: Johnnie Hicks, RB, 329 yards
Passing: Kade Bell, QB, 1,401 yards
Receiving: Dorian Guy, WR, 465 yards
Tackles: Jordan Dewhirst, CB, 57
Sacks: Juan Pimienta, DL, 8
Interceptions: Antonio McRae, CB, 3
Other key returners: WR D’Andre Randle, CB Andre Addison, LB Tre Davis
Key losses: RB Keith Dawson,
Strengths:
Jacksonville, while young, has a somewhat veteran team as many of their statistical leaders from a year ago return. The Dolphins know how to handle success as they reeled off six wins in a row in 2012, yet should have learned how to face some adversity as the team crawled to the offseason going 1-3 in their final four games.
Weakness:
While Jacksonville does return numerous players who saw the field a lot a year ago, many of those players are still young and may not all be ready to lead a team making a turn in the program’s direction. Young QB Kade Bell jumped onto the scene a year ago but teams now have more film on him so defenses will be able to adjust. Plus, Bell himself is still young and not finished making mistakes.
The Bottom Line:
Jacksonville possibly faces their toughest two games right out of the gates to start the 2013 season as they travel to both Delaware and Jacksonville State. The Dolphins should feel good about taking a ‘W’ from one of those games as they move to their final nine games with a chance to run the table.
Projected Postseason: FCS Playoffs
2012 Team Stats:
Rushing Offense: 143.18 (67th in nation, 6th in conference)
Passing Offense: 217.00 (53, 8)
Total Offense: 360.18 (68, 7)
Scoring Offense: 25.00 (67, 5)
Rushing Defense: 129.91 (30, 40)
Pass Defense: 184.00 (26, 1)
Total Defense: 313.91 (14,1)
Scoring Defense: 21.73 (32, 5)
Turnover Margin: 0.09 (54, 4)
Sacks: 2.91 (14, 1)
Sacks Allowed: 3.09 (106, 9)
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