COLUMN: Football beat writer explains his takeaways from CMU's scrimmage Saturday
O-Line must improve for CMU to be MAC West contender
The Central Michigan football team held its final preseason scrimmage Saturday in front of members of the 1100 Club in the Indoor Athletic Complex.
CMU has less than two weeks to prepare for its Sept. 1 season opener against Presbyterian at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
Before that 7 p.m. kickoff, the team still has some questions to answer.
Offensive line play
CMU's offensive line struggled to protect the quarterbacks or open up run lanes with consistency during Saturday's scrimmage — which could be an important storyline throughout the season.
The O-line allowed 28 sacks last season, landing CMU in a three-way tie for seventh in the Mid-American Conference. Toledo led the conference with 5 sacks allowed.
Despite the talents of Cooper Rush, the senior quarterback needs to be given time to let routes develop and push the ball downfield.
Without an offensive line able to give Rush time to survey the field, the Chippewas offense may be limited to short throws and screen plays.
In order for CMU's running game to get going, which was last in the MAC in 2015 with 1,317 yards, the offensive line will have to improve from Saturday's performance. CMU's front seven allowed a defense who ranked last in the conference in sacks in 2015 (14) set up camp in the backfield during the scrimmage.
Junior offensive lineman Austin Doan is learning a new position this year, sliding over to center after playing left guard last season.
The offensive line lost former center Nick Beamish to graduation.
Backup quarterback play
Rush is solidified in his position as an elite MAC quarterback.
But if the worst should happen, CMU needs a backup plan under center in the case Rush is unable to play.
At CMU media day, Head Coach John Bonamego said redshirt freshman Jake Johnson has done enough to separate himself from sophomore Tommy Lazzaro to earn the position of backup quarterback.
That decision was evident Saturday, as Johnson and Rush rotated on every other drive under center.
Johnson led multiple successful drives against the Chippewa defense, including multiple scrambles that were some of the longest runs of the day.
Johnson's role in the program will be important moving forward. Assuming he keeps up his level of play, he will be leading the Chippewas on the field following Rush's exit at the season's end.
Punting duties
Following practice on Aug. 19, Bonamego said the battle for punting duties was one of the most exciting storylines at this point in fall camp.
During the scrimmage, newcomer Jack Sheldon and sophomore Cooper Mosjiejenko split time punting the ball.
As a former NFL special teams coach, Bonamego has made a point to sure up his team's special teams.
Moving forward towards Sept.1, the battle for the punter position is very much up for grabs and will continue to be an important storyline. Both Sheldon and Mosjiejenko punted well Saturday. It was unclear which player had an advantage.
