PASSING OFFENSE: A
This is an easy A. Not only does Ball State have the best passing attack in the Mid-American Conference, complete with two all-MAC first team mentions in Darius Hill and Dante Love and a second-team honoree in Nate Davis, it quite possibly is one of the most potent units in the nation. It's certainly the best trio the Cardinals' program has had in years, if not ever.
Davis, only a sophomore, is in the top 15 nationally in passing yards and touchdowns, all while throwing just six interceptions. Hill is one of eight John Mackey Award semifinalists and ranks in the top five tight ends nationally in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns.
Love leads Ball State in receptions, yards and touchdowns and is the fourth Cardinals' receiver to record more than 1,000 yards receiving in its 83-year history. He also ranks in the top 10 nationally in all three categories.
RUNNING OFFENSE: B-
When you're forced to forfeit a player's entire year of eligibility in the last game of the season because there aren't enough healthy bodies, you know it's been a rough year for that particular position. Such was the case last Saturday at Northern Illinois, when Ball State put freshman walk-on Ray Winkler into the game at running back, even though it was the plan to redshirt Winkler in his freshman season.
Winkler, who began the season seventh on the Cardinals' running back depth chart, is the only Cardinals' player that hasn't been affected by a nagging injury. Ball State lost its original starter, sophomore MiQuale Lewis, to a season-ending knee injury at Nebraska in the fourth week of the season. Frank Edmonds inherited that role after Lewis' injury, but has been plagued with a twisted ankle and broken wrist.
Forced to work with spare parts, coach Brady Hoke transferred Koreen Burch and Chris Clancy from the defensive side of the ball to the offensive backfield. The duo began the year as a fifth-string cornerback and backup linebacker, respectively. By the 12th game of the season, Burch had been lost for the year with a shoulder injury and Clancy was dealing with bruised ribs that kept him out of the second half against Northern Illinois.
Through Ball State's adversity in its backfield, the team has continued to produce with its running game. The Cardinals' 1,767 rushing yards are sixth-most in the conference and 664 more than last year. Ball State has also scored 18 rushing touchdowns, tied for fifth in the MAC.
PASSING DEFENSE: B+
Easily the most improved unit on Ball State's team is its secondary, a feat even more impressive when considering last year's defensive leader, safety Erik Keys, was lost to graduation. However, the combination of B.J. Hill's successful transition from running back to corner back and the emergence of sophomore safety Alex Knipp have led to success throughout the Cardinals' secondary.
In his first year with the defense, Hill led Ball State with five interceptions, which was the fourth-most in the Mid-American Conference. Knipp led the secondary with 75 tackles, which was third-most on the team. Hill earned a spot on the all-MAC Second Team, and Knipp was selected to the all-MAC third team, even though he didn't become a regular starter until the fifth game of the season.
As much as Ball State's secondary improved last season, next season might produce even more success. Of the four starters in the Cardinals' secondary, senior Eddie Burk is the only one who will be playing his final collegiate game Jan. 5 in the International Bowl. Junior nickle back Trey Buice, who is the third-string cornerback for Ball State, will also be back next season.
RUNNING DEFENSE: D
Ball State's Achilles heel defensively throughout this season has been its poor play against the run, a trend that goes back a couple years.
The Cardinals allowed 2,364 rushing yards, 10th-most in the MAC, which is the same place they ranked last year. However, Ball State has allowed 256 more rushing yards this year than in 2006, including 521 yards at the Naval Academy in the third game of the season.
Ball State didn't allow a 353-yard performance, as it did to former Northern Illinois and current Chicago Bears running back Garrett Wolfe. However, eight opposing players reached the 100-yard mark against Ball State throughout the season, two more than did last year.
The defenses' biggest struggle has been against mobile quarterbacks. Both Central Michigan's Dan LeFevour (146) and Navy's Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada (117) have rushed for more than 100 yards against Ball State, while Western Kentucky's Tyrell Hayden compiled 91 yards against the Cardinals.
COACHING: B
The knock on Brady Hoke during his five-year tenure at Ball State has been game management. Few can forget last year's Indiana game, when Hoke accepted a holding call on the Hoosiers after a failed third down attempt inside the red zone, only to be burnt by a touchdown on the next play.
Certainly, Hoke has had his moments this year. One of the unforgettable ones were at the end of Ball State's first half of the season, when the Cardinals went for a fourth and five from Miami's seven-yard line instead of kicking an easy field goal. Ball State lost that game 14-13. Hoke also blamed himself for not preparing his team adequately after a 58-38 home loss to Central Michigan, which effectively kept Ball State from playing this Saturday in the MAC Championship Game.
Despite those faults, fans need to remember one thing - Ball State's football team is 7-5! Sure the Cardinals should probably be 9-3, especially after factoring in their loss to the RedHawks and a one-point defeat at Nebraska in a game Ball State led by nine points early in the fourth quarter. Regardless, the last time the Cardinals finished the season with a winning record Bill Clinton wasn't synonymous with the word scandal and O.J. Simpson was in a different court trial.
Hoke gets a B grade for Ball State's winning record, and for two more reasons. First, his decisions with player personnel have been tremendous. Second, the only reason Ball State is even in the position it is in now is because of Hoke's genius in recruiting. At the end of this season, it's safe to say Collins' decision to grant Hoke a four-year contract extension last season was a good one.
OVERALL GRADE: B
Perhaps the most amazing part of Ball State's 2007 football season is that the Cardinals are still a year away from reaching their potential. This season has certainly been a charm for Ball State fans, but Hoke will be the first to say his team could've been 9-3 this season, after factoring in one-point losses to Miami University and Nebraska. A year from now, fans will look back and realize that this season was above average, but far from excellent.
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