Preview 2019: Previewing and looking ahead to the Charlotte 49ers season with what you need to know.
– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak
– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Schedule Analysis
– Charlotte Previews 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015
2018 Record: 5-7 overall, 4-4 in Conference USA
Head Coach: Will Healy, 1st year
– CFN Preview 2019: All The Team Previews
5. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE CHARLOTTE OFFENSE
– Overall, the offense didn’t really work last season. The 49ers finished 115th in the nation in total O, averaged just 21.7 points per game, and didn’t come up with enough of a passing game. Enter new head coach Will Healy, whose Austin Peay team was outstanding at grinding out the running game last season and was among the best in the FCS in yards per completion.
– Five starters return, and the passing game gets its top quarterback back with Chris Reynolds returning from an ankle injury. Former Miami transfer Evan Shirreffs is a more than capable option, but if Reynolds is right, the passing game should bust out with top target Victor Tucker back after a 54 catch season along with speedy sophomore Rico Arnold. Adding grad transfer Christian Roberson from Mississippi State helps.
– The O line stood out on Healy’s Austin Peay offense, but he only gets back two starters from a line that was tissue paper against good pass rushes. Fortunately, returning is Cameron Clark, one of the best tackles in Conference USA.
– Working behind this group is all-star RB Benny LeMay, who’s coming off a 1,243-yard, 11 touchdown season along with top backup Aaron McAllister. The ground game will hit 2,000 yard this season and average over four yards per pop after coming up with just 1,951 yards averaging 3.7 yards.
