Quarterback

Daniel Raudabaugh was the guy to beat entering the fall.

The senior completed 58.6 percent of his passes last season for 1,960 yards. Raudabaugh also found the end zone eight times in 2008; however, he threw nine interceptions.

While the spot was Raudabuagh’s to keep, he didn’t make it hard for redshirt freshman Zac Dysert to take it. In his three starts, the senior completed 53.2 percent of his passes for 189.7 yards per game. Raudabuagh threw only two touchdown passes, while being picked off five times, in that period.

By game four, Dysert was handed the reins to the offense. Since then, the freshman has completed 60.2 percent of his passes for 241.3 yards a game. He also has rushed for 173 yards in those four games.

“Anytime you got a quarterback that can run and pass, it kind of adds to the stress level of the defense,” NIU linebacker Spencer Williamson said.

While Dysert has moved the ball, he’s only completed three touchdown passes while throwing nine interceptions.

Grade: C

Running backs

Just like NIU, Miami (Ohio) likes to run a two-back system.

But things haven’t gone to plan for Miami like they have for NIU, which might work in favor of the Huskies’ game plan.

“I always say you got to stop the run; you can’t give up the big play, and you have to cause turnovers,” NIU head coach Jerry Kill said. “We can’t give them big plays, and we’ve got to stop the run.”

Andre Bratton has missed almost four games this season. The 5-foot-11-inch, 185-pound back missed games against Boise State and Western Michigan near the beginning of the season. Against Northwestern, Bratton had to leave after the first quarter because of turf toe. The injury kept him out of last weekend’s game against Ohio, according to the Dayton Daily News.
The RedHawks are hopeful that Bratton will be able to return this week. That would be good news, as he has 146 yards with an average of 4.3 yards per carry in three games and a quarter this season.

Thomas Merriweather makes up the other half of the attack. In seven games this year the junior has 184 yards on 76 attempts.

Grade: D+

Receivers

There have been plenty of targets for Miami (Ohio) quarterback Zac Dysert to hit this season.
The RedHawks have seven wide receivers that have over 100 reception yards. But the equality of yards hasn’t been exactly a good sign.

Miami lost its best vertical jumper, Chris Givens, in the second game of the season. The 6-foot-2-inch wide receiver had 98 yards on 11 catches in two games.

And things have not improved since.

Senior Dustin Woods has missed two of the last three games due to a hamstring injury. Last weekend, wide receiver Eugene “Geno” Harris, Miami’s No. 2 receiver, hurt his hamstring too. The junior is listed as questionable this week. And junior Jamal Rogers has seen limited action due to an ankle injury, although the wide receiver did catch four passes last week.

One bright spot for the RedHawks has been redshirt junior Armand Robinson. The wideout leads Miami with 39 catches and 442 reception yards.

Grade: C+

Offensive line

With the most experience on the line, Brandon Brooks is starting at left tackle for the RedHawks.
And that’s not a bad decision since that’s the quarterback’s blind side. The only issue is he has only 19 career starts.

Miami (Ohio) has a young offensive line. After Brooks, left guard Bob Gully has 17 starts and right guard Nate Williams has 11.

At right tackle and center the RedHawks are playing freshman. This includes true freshman Brad Bednar at center.

This youth has shown, as Miami is allowing the second most sacks per game in the nation. The RedHawks also have the No. 113 rushing offense in the country.

Grade: D+

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