Central Michigan offense has a lot of promise
When people talk about a football team, the focus generally is on the offense.
With Central Michigan in 2020, there’s plenty to talk about.
The Chippewas enjoyed an incredible turnaround a year ago, increasing their win total by seven games and earning the Mid-americanwest title for the first time in a decade. Therewas plenty of sizzle with the steak as CMU led the league in total offense and rolled up 424 points, the fourth-highest total in program history.
Two Chippewa running backs posted 1,000-yard rushing seasons in 2019, the first time ever that two Cmurunners had done that in a single season, and two 2020 returnees — receivers Kalil Pimpleton and Jacorey Sul
livan — earned First Team AllMAC honors.
Certainly, there are question marks entering 2020. There are in any given season. But with the weapons that return, there’s no reason to believe that thechippewaswon’t be every bit
as dangerous and explosive as they were a year ago.
Running back
Lewis, who rushed for 1,074 yards and 15 touchdowns a year ago, is CMU’S top threat in the backfield. His 2019 running mate, Jonathan Ward, is now with the Arizona Cardinals.
“He’s an explosive runner,” said Charlie Frye, CMU’S offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach, of Lewis. “He’s an every- down back. We ask him to ( block), we ask him to catch, we ask him to run. He can do all three things. He’s as good as you’re going to get.”
Lewis, a junior, proved his explosiveness, versatility and durability in 2019. He added 23 receptions for 163 yards while posting five 100-yard rushing games. Redshirt freshman Lew Nichols should also see a lot of playing time in spelling Lewis.
“Withme being theno. 1 back and Lew being a freshman, I’ll be depended on a lot this season,” Lewis said. “I know that my body has to be right. This whole quarantine and COVID thingmy focus has been getting