Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
Overall Rank: #18
#1 Big South
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Coastal Carolina won their first ever playoff game in 2012 and the momentum has just started. Coach Joe Moglia inherited a good team, but he has already turned them into a threat to do even more damage come playoff time. Last year the Chanticleers tied Liberty and Stony Brook atop the conference standings, but now Stony Brook is off in the CAA and it should be a two horse race in the Big South.
2012 Record: 8-5, 5-1
2012 Postseason: FCS Playoffs
Coach: Joe Moglia (8-5 at Coastal Carolina, 8-5 overall)
Offensive Coordinator: Dave Patenaude
Defensive Coordinator: Clayton Carlin
Returning Leaders:
Rushing: Lorenzo Taliaferro, RB, 357 yards
Passing: Alex Ross, QB, 427 yards
Receiving: Matt Hazel, WR, 799 yards
Tackles: Quinn Backus, LB, 139
Sacks: Quinn Backus, LB, 2.5; Mike McClure, LB, 2.5
Interceptions: LaDarius Hawthorne, S, 3
Other Key Returnees: G Mo Ashley, WR DeMario Bennett, WR Tyrell Blanks, G Jamey Cheatwood, G Chad Hamilton, OT Drew Herring, S Johnnie Houston, WR Niccolo Mastomatteo, DT Jeffery Salley, S Pernell Williams
Key Losses: DE Quinton Davis, DE Jamel Davis, TE David Duran, DT Johnny Hartsfield, RB Jeremy Height, QB Aramis Hillary, CB Dontavais Johnson, S Tyler McCarty, C Pat Williams
Strengths:
The Aramis Hillary era is over and nobody seems too worried about it. The quarterback completed 64.2 percent of his passes and threw for 21 touchdowns during his senior season. More importantly, he led CCU to their first ever playoff win. He also rushed for 567 yards and four scores. Hillary should not be easy to replace, but Coach Moglia has his guy in Alex Ross. Ross, who is not a bad scrambler himself, has already turned into the leader of the offense. He has a nice arm and just needs a little more accuracy than what he showed during his limited action last season. Having Matt Hazel on his side will help ease the transition for Ross. Hazel, a 6-3 receiver, caught 61 passes for 799 yards and eight scores. Ross will also have the next three top targets returning. DeMario Bennett, Niccolo Mastromatteo and Tyrell Blanks are all capable playmakers. Mastromatteo is also a fine return man. Running back Jeremy Height needs to be replaced too and that could prove more difficult than replacing Hillary. Coastal Carolina wants a balanced attack and for that to happen somebody like Lorenzo Taliaferro needs to step up and carry the load. A deep and talented offensive line will make just about anybody Coach Moglia throws in the backfield a decent rusher. Jamey Cheatwood, Chad Hamilton, Drew Herring and Mo Ashley can pave the way.
Weaknesses:
The defense will again be led by Quinn Backus. The linebacker tallied an impressive 139 tackles as a sophomore. He also forced three fumbles and picked off two passes. Mike McClure will join Backus in the middle of the defense after totaling 92 tackles a season ago. The secondary is young, but can build around Johnnie Houston and LaDarius Hawthorne. The bigger concern is on the line where Jeffery Salley is the lone returning starter. Salley is a small nose tackle, but he is tough. Dominique Whiteside has experience too, yet he has been moved back and forth between defensive end and tight end and the sixth year senior will need to at least be a threat to get into the backfield every once in a while.
The Bottom Line:
A trip to the playoffs could very well ride on the October 19th contest against Liberty. There is nobody else in the conference that should be able to give the Flames or the Chanticleers a serious run for their money over the long haul of the season. Unfortunately for Coastal Carolina, they play Liberty on the road.
Projected Postseason: FCS Playoffs
2012 Team Stats:
Rushing Offense: 199.23 (25th in nation, 3rd in conference)
Passing Offense: 238.54 (34, 1)
Total Offense: 437.77 (18, 1)
Scoring Offense: 34.31 (13, 2)
Rushing Defense: 183.38 (84, 3)
Pass Defense: 241.00 (88, 6)
Total Defense: 424.38 (98, 5)
Scoring Defense: 28.38 (71, 4)
Turnover Margin: 0.23 (44, 1)
Sacks: 1.92 (61, 2)
Sacks Allowed: 1.85 (47, 3)
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