WIAC PREVIEW CAPSULE #3: UW-STOUT

UW-Stout (5-2 WIAC, 8-2 Overall)

Clayt Birmingham takes over as the UW-S head coach after three years as the defensive coordinator at the school. Birmingham's defense ranked 2nd in the WIAC a year ago in both total defense and scoring defense. The Blue Devils will have to find replacements in the defensive line for two stalwarts, DE Marcus Ball (First Team All WIAC, 9 1/2 sacks), and 2nd Team All WIAC selection Greg Towner. The UW-S defense does return their top two tacklers from a year ago, linebackers Ryan Pearcy and Trevor Fiege. However, the secondary will have to adjust to losing three seniors that anchored the unit in 09.

Offensively, RB Craig Warminski (1057 yds, 9 TD) returns after being 3rd in WIAC rushing totals a year ago. The Blue Devils had the 2nd leading rushing attack in the WIAC and ran the ball over 66% of the time last year. Sr. RB Carlos Concepcion showed enough last year that he may be more involved in the offense in 2010. QB Ross Carey returns to guide the Blue Devils running oriented, low risk offense which ranked last in WIAC passing yardage at 130 per game, but also yielded only 5 interceptions all year. Carey's leading receiver, tight end Patrick Mengelkoch also returns.

It will be interesting to see if Offensive Coordinator Sean Hoolihan opens up the offense a bit with Carey now entering his junior year. Last year's defense gave up merely 16.1 ppg. This year, the offense may need to hit a higher gear, especially early in the season as the defense develops. UW-Stout was one of the most physical teams in the WIAC last year. With Birmingham taking over the reigns of the program, that isn't likely to change in 2010. UW-Stout has the makings of an upper echelon WIAC team again this year. If the offense can crank up the production a bit, a run at the title is within the realm of possibility.