COACH: Matt Campbell — At Toledo and overall: 1st year
OFFENSIVE COORDINATORS: Louis Ayeni, Jason Candle
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Tom Matukewicz
LAST LEAGUE TITLE: 2004
LAST TIME DIDN’T GO BOWLING: 2009
RETURNING STARTERS: 10; 4 offense, 4 defense, kicker, punter
PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Austin Dantin, QB Terrance Owens, RB David Fluellen, WR Bernard Reedy, WR Dwight Macon, LB Dan Molls, DL T.J. Fatinikun, S Jermaine Robinson
PRIMARY STRENGTHS: The Rockets have the benefit of momentum and the comfort of continuity; Campbell, who was the team’s popular offensive coordinator, almost immediately moved into the head coach role after Tim Beckman left for Illinois. Toledo has multiple playmakers on offense and on all three levels of defense.
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Toledo cannot afford an injury at running back and receiver, where depth is thin. The Rockets gave up more than 400 yards per game and nearly 32 points an outing in 2011, and can’t continue putting their offense in a position where it has to score on nearly every possession.