Quarterback: C+

Junior quarterback Mike Kokal threw for 355 yards and four touchdowns in Miami-Ohio’s 38-31 overtime loss to Purdue in week two.

Kokal also leads the MAC with over 246 yards per game of total offense. NIU running back Garrett Wolfe is third with 236.2.

But since Purdue, Kokal has started in two more losses and relinquished his job to redshirt freshman Daniel Raudabaugh.

The first-year quarterback came in against Syracuse Sept. 23 and went 8-for-11 with 70 yards and one touchdown.

His performance was enough to earn a start in Miami’s 24-10 loss to Cincinnati Saturday. The Texas native completed 21 passes for 190 yards, but threw two picks.

Regardless of who starts at 7 p.m. Saturday, neither quarterback has led the Redhawks to a victory in their 0-5 start.

Running back: F

When your former starting quarterback leads the team in gained rushing yards, well, what do you think?

Kokal has gained 225 yards rushing, but has lost 109 yards largely due to the 27 sacks the offensive line has allowed this fall.

Junior running back Brandon Murphy leads the team with 176 net rushing yards on 40 carries. He’s also fourth on the team with 10 catches for 30 yards.

The duo has combined for the team’s lone rushing touchdown.

Receivers: C

At 5-foot-10, wide receiver Ryne Robinson leads the MAC with 37 catches and 490 yards receiving in 2006. His four touchdowns are second in the MAC to the six scored by Ball State’s Darius Hill.

Aside from Robinson, sophomore Sean McVay has returned from last fall’s season ending injury and is second on the team with 11 catches for 124 yards.

Senior receiver Ryan Busing sits five inches taller than Robinson and McVay. Busing was far down the depth chart to begin this fall, but is third on Miami with 10 grabs for 115 yards.

Receiver Dustin Woods and tight end Jake O’Connell have the teams’ only other receiving touchdowns with one apiece.

Offensive line: F

On pace to allow more than 60 sacks, Miami’s hogs up front have paved the way for all of 336 rushing yards in five games. Now, compare that to NIU’s Wolfe who posted 353 against Ball State Saturday.

Don’t forget to add in the fact Miami is on their second quarterback of the fall, and Raudabaugh was listed third on the school’s depth chart heading into 2006 before taking over for Kokal.

Granted, this unit doesn’t have the luxury of blocking for Ben Roethlisberger, but giving up 5.4 sacks a game can in no way help the worst scoring offense in the MAC.

Sean Connor is an NIU football beat reporter for the Northern Star.