Ducks, can you fill me in on that.
The last thing I heard was that he lifted Brian Johnson up out of the pile and helped take Utah to #2. I'm getting some conflicting info here bro. This is a very touchy matter because Cal is whatever... maybe too much. I just don't want to come away with the wrong impression.
Do you remember what the issues were when he was fired? ...or let go nicely as it were. Even then, I'd like to know if "predictable" means anything in his role working for Tedford. Not sure exactly how deep he will be involved -- calling plays etc. But if he's their OC, I do know that Tedford doesn't want to call the plays. The last time he had that responsibility they tanked something awful.
Hey Conan, its good to be back and seeing that many of the regulars around.
You and UoweDucks have two of my favorite avatars at the rx.
It must say something about life on the left coast.
Ill be around for discussion, and daily after I see some win totals posted by the earlybird books.
@)
You and UoweDucks have two of my favorite avatars at the rx.
It must say something about life on the left coast.
Ill be around for discussion, and daily after I see some win totals posted by the earlybird books.
@)
Ten teams with something to prove up front
By Olin Buchanan, Rivals.com College Football Senior Writer May 13, 5:00 am EDT
Offensive lines are like electricity: They’re largely taken for granted and not fully appreciated until they’re not working well.
Running backs and quarterbacks may be described as electrifying, but it’s the line that empowers them.
Running backs have fast feet; linemen get fast food. Quarterbacks (Heath Shuler, J.C. Watts, Jack Kemp) run for Congress; linemen run out for pizza.
But coaches know their importance. That’s why Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops was concerned in March and criticized his linemen for a lack of effort in offseason conditioning.
“Those guys, at this point, just everything – whether it’s their work ethic, their attitude, those kinds of things – needs to improve,” Stoops said. “They haven’t had the winter everybody else has had. They, right now, are the weak link of the team.”
Of course, some of those linemen were able to redeem themselves in spring drills. But it’s what happens in the fall that counts. Last fall, Oklahoma’s offensive line arguably was the best in the nation. This season, with four new starters, it will be among the most scrutinized. With four new starters up front, Oklahoma’s is just one of several offensive lines that have something to prove this season.
1. Oklahoma: By now it’s common knowledge the Sooners lost four starting linemen who earned All-Big 12 recognition. That line protected Heisman-winning quarterback Sam Bradford and paved the way for two 1,000-yard running backs. Trent Williams is the lone returning starter, and he moves from right tackle to left tackle. Cory Brandon made a great impression this spring on the right side, but the Sooners still will be counting on guys that Stoops criticized in March. Bradford’s Heisman campaign and OU’s national championship hopes depend heavily on the line play.
2. Alabama: Three starters and two NFL picks – tackle Andre Smith (first round) and center Antoine Caldwell (third round) – are gone from a group that unquestionably was the Tide’s offensive strength last season. Without Smith, Alabama struggled offensively against Utah in the Sugar Bowl. Junior college transfer James Carpenter showed promise in replacing Smith this spring, but there are questions at center. Quarterback Greg McElroy will be a first-time starter, so solid line play is even more crucial.
3. Penn State: The Lions must replace three starters from one of the best lines in the country. Two of them were taken in the NFL draft. Stefen Wisniewski moves from guard to center to fill the void left by A.Q. Shipley, while sophomores DeOn’tae Pannell (tackle) and Matt Stankiewitch (guard) are expected to take over starting roles. The Lions also must replace their top three receivers, so a strong running game is vital.
4. Arizona State: The Sun Devils have allowed a combined 89 sacks in the past two seasons and could not establish a consistent running game last season – and that was with experienced Rudy Carpenter at quarterback. Seldom-used Danny Sullivan is the starter this season. An unproven quarterback and a leaky line sound like a disaster waiting to happen. Three starters are back, though Garth Gerhart is moving from guard to center.
5. Notre Dame: Four starters are back, but is that a good thing? Notre Dame averaged less than 110 rushing yards to rank 100th nationally in rushing offense – and that’s while facing nine opponents that ranked 50th or worse in rushing defense. The Irish lost three games in which they had the lead in the fourth quarter, partly because they couldn’t run to protect the advantage. Notre Dame has a good passing attack, but the Irish will struggle until the line shows it can man up and get a consistent push.
6. Oregon: The Ducks were among the nation’s leaders in rushing offense in each of the past two seasons – when they had a strong, proven line. NFL draft picks Max Unger and Fenuki Tupou are among four lost starters who may be replaced by freshmen and sophomores. Will quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and running back LeGarrette Blount be as explosive behind a new set of blockers?
7. West Virginia: Tackle Selvish Capers is the only fulltime returning starter from a line that helped pave the way for one of the country’s most dynamic offenses. The loss of All-Big East tackle Ryan Stanchek leaves a big hole, as does losing guard Greg Isdaner, a three-year starter. New starters, such as sophomore guard Josh Jenkins - who was a highly regarded recruit - have high standards to meet. In addition, the Mountaineers no longer have the elusive Pat White at quarterback, which puts more emphasis on the blockers up front.
8. Texas A&M: The Aggies are good at the skill positions, but they’ve been atrocious up front. Consider this: Last season, the Aggies ranked 114th nationally in rushing offense and 115th nationally in sacks allowed, and that was with mobile quarterbacks. Three fulltime starters are back and Matt Allen - a transfer from LSU - has taken over at one guard spot, so maybe the blocking will improve. If it doesn’t, the Aggies are facing another losing season.
9. Tennessee: Center Josh McNeil, guard Vladimir Richard and tackle Chris Scott are returning starters from a line that was average at best last season. Will it be any better this season? Volunteer quarterbacks were sacked 25 times and the running game was largely ineffective in ’08.
10. BYU: The offensive line was one of the strengths for the Cougars in ’08, but freshman All-America tackle Matt Reynolds is the only returning starter up front. Senior R.J. Willing, a career backup at tackle, moves into the starting lineup at center. The Cougars are strong at the skill positions with quarterback Max Hall, running back Harvey Unga and tight end Dennis Pitta, but somebody has to block for them.
By Olin Buchanan, Rivals.com College Football Senior Writer May 13, 5:00 am EDT
Offensive lines are like electricity: They’re largely taken for granted and not fully appreciated until they’re not working well.
Running backs and quarterbacks may be described as electrifying, but it’s the line that empowers them.
Running backs have fast feet; linemen get fast food. Quarterbacks (Heath Shuler, J.C. Watts, Jack Kemp) run for Congress; linemen run out for pizza.
But coaches know their importance. That’s why Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops was concerned in March and criticized his linemen for a lack of effort in offseason conditioning.
“Those guys, at this point, just everything – whether it’s their work ethic, their attitude, those kinds of things – needs to improve,” Stoops said. “They haven’t had the winter everybody else has had. They, right now, are the weak link of the team.”
Of course, some of those linemen were able to redeem themselves in spring drills. But it’s what happens in the fall that counts. Last fall, Oklahoma’s offensive line arguably was the best in the nation. This season, with four new starters, it will be among the most scrutinized. With four new starters up front, Oklahoma’s is just one of several offensive lines that have something to prove this season.
1. Oklahoma: By now it’s common knowledge the Sooners lost four starting linemen who earned All-Big 12 recognition. That line protected Heisman-winning quarterback Sam Bradford and paved the way for two 1,000-yard running backs. Trent Williams is the lone returning starter, and he moves from right tackle to left tackle. Cory Brandon made a great impression this spring on the right side, but the Sooners still will be counting on guys that Stoops criticized in March. Bradford’s Heisman campaign and OU’s national championship hopes depend heavily on the line play.
2. Alabama: Three starters and two NFL picks – tackle Andre Smith (first round) and center Antoine Caldwell (third round) – are gone from a group that unquestionably was the Tide’s offensive strength last season. Without Smith, Alabama struggled offensively against Utah in the Sugar Bowl. Junior college transfer James Carpenter showed promise in replacing Smith this spring, but there are questions at center. Quarterback Greg McElroy will be a first-time starter, so solid line play is even more crucial.
3. Penn State: The Lions must replace three starters from one of the best lines in the country. Two of them were taken in the NFL draft. Stefen Wisniewski moves from guard to center to fill the void left by A.Q. Shipley, while sophomores DeOn’tae Pannell (tackle) and Matt Stankiewitch (guard) are expected to take over starting roles. The Lions also must replace their top three receivers, so a strong running game is vital.
4. Arizona State: The Sun Devils have allowed a combined 89 sacks in the past two seasons and could not establish a consistent running game last season – and that was with experienced Rudy Carpenter at quarterback. Seldom-used Danny Sullivan is the starter this season. An unproven quarterback and a leaky line sound like a disaster waiting to happen. Three starters are back, though Garth Gerhart is moving from guard to center.
5. Notre Dame: Four starters are back, but is that a good thing? Notre Dame averaged less than 110 rushing yards to rank 100th nationally in rushing offense – and that’s while facing nine opponents that ranked 50th or worse in rushing defense. The Irish lost three games in which they had the lead in the fourth quarter, partly because they couldn’t run to protect the advantage. Notre Dame has a good passing attack, but the Irish will struggle until the line shows it can man up and get a consistent push.
6. Oregon: The Ducks were among the nation’s leaders in rushing offense in each of the past two seasons – when they had a strong, proven line. NFL draft picks Max Unger and Fenuki Tupou are among four lost starters who may be replaced by freshmen and sophomores. Will quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and running back LeGarrette Blount be as explosive behind a new set of blockers?
7. West Virginia: Tackle Selvish Capers is the only fulltime returning starter from a line that helped pave the way for one of the country’s most dynamic offenses. The loss of All-Big East tackle Ryan Stanchek leaves a big hole, as does losing guard Greg Isdaner, a three-year starter. New starters, such as sophomore guard Josh Jenkins - who was a highly regarded recruit - have high standards to meet. In addition, the Mountaineers no longer have the elusive Pat White at quarterback, which puts more emphasis on the blockers up front.
8. Texas A&M: The Aggies are good at the skill positions, but they’ve been atrocious up front. Consider this: Last season, the Aggies ranked 114th nationally in rushing offense and 115th nationally in sacks allowed, and that was with mobile quarterbacks. Three fulltime starters are back and Matt Allen - a transfer from LSU - has taken over at one guard spot, so maybe the blocking will improve. If it doesn’t, the Aggies are facing another losing season.
9. Tennessee: Center Josh McNeil, guard Vladimir Richard and tackle Chris Scott are returning starters from a line that was average at best last season. Will it be any better this season? Volunteer quarterbacks were sacked 25 times and the running game was largely ineffective in ’08.
10. BYU: The offensive line was one of the strengths for the Cougars in ’08, but freshman All-America tackle Matt Reynolds is the only returning starter up front. Senior R.J. Willing, a career backup at tackle, moves into the starting lineup at center. The Cougars are strong at the skill positions with quarterback Max Hall, running back Harvey Unga and tight end Dennis Pitta, but somebody has to block for them.
May 5, 2009
Tom Dienhart
Rivals.com College Football Senior Writer
The stars don't just come out in the fall. They also shine at this time of the year as players jockey for starting jobs during spring practices.
Some positions are settled, but in most instances key position battles will be continued during training camps in August.
Still, spring practice was the time for players to make a statement to coaches before heading into summer workouts.
Here are some of the brightest stars this spring.
ALL-SPRING TEAM
OFFENSE
QB Taylor Potts, Texas Tech, Jr. His numbers in the spring scrimmage weren't off the charts – 20-of-27 for 211 yards with a TD – but Potts showed consistency and leadership in his first step to take over for Graham Harrell.
RB Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech, R-Fr. Time and again, he ripped off big gains with a shifting, spinning and churning style.
RB Chris Scott, Florida, Jr. A walk-on, Scott nonetheless pushed Emmanuel Moody, running 14 times for 80 yards in the spring game. Scott could be a nice surprise this fall.
Adron Tennell looked ready to step up and be Sam Bradford's top target.
WR Adron Tennell, Oklahoma, Sr. He grabbed a TD pass in the spring game and impressed coach Bob Stoops, whose team needs a big-time target with the top two wide receivers from 2008 gone.
WR Mike Williams, Syracuse, Sr. He returned to school in January with a vengeance after missing last season for academic reasons. Williams displayed sticky hands and improved blocking, topping it all off with an acrobatic TD catch in the spring game.
TE Rob Gronkowski, Arizona, Jr. He keeps improving, catching eight passes for 67 yards and a score in the spring game. He's a devastating blocker, too.
OL Ryan Blaszczyk, Rutgers, Sr. The center was relentless in scrimmages, setting the hard-edge tone Greg Schiano loves by consistently knocking his man off the ball. Blaszczyk will be one of the nation's top centers.
OL Clint Boling, Georgia, Jr. After earning AP All-SEC honors last fall as a sophomore, the tackle didn't let up this spring, when he earned the team's most outstanding offensive player honor.
OL Justin Boren, Ohio State, Jr. He made headlines with his noisy transfer from Michigan last year. Now, Boren has grabbed attention because of his strong play at guard and center in Columbus.
OL James Brewer, Indiana, Jr. He helped the running game shine in the spring game, gaining 281 yards on 65 carries with four TDs. The 6-8, 339-pound tackle will be a big key to the Hoosiers' new "Pistol" formation.
OL Nate Solder, Colorado, Jr. A former 240-pound tight end has turned into a 6-9, 300-pound road-grading tackle; he showed this spring he's ready to be one of the Big 12's top linemen.
DEFENSE
DE DaQuan Bowers, Clemson, Soph. He registered two sacks in the spring game and notched four more in two other scrimmages.
DT Brian Price, UCLA, Jr. He recorded two sacks in the final scrimmage and was a general all-around nuisance this spring.
DT Phil Taylor, Baylor, Jr. He's a transfer from Penn State. Coach Art Briles says Taylor is a rare blend of size and quickness, and he says he will be disappointed if Taylor isn't a first-team All-Big 12 performer.
DE Cliff Matthews, South Carolina, Jr. He showed great pass-rushing skills and was in such top shape that he also was used at tight end – which may continue in the fall.
LB Chris Galippo, USC, Soph. He was all over the field, showing a nose for the ball and instincts as the leader of an overhauled Trojans linebacking corps that also will include Malcolm Smith and Michael Morgan.
LB Keaton Kristick, Oregon State, Sr. He made plays from sideline to sideline and showed why many say he's the most underrated linebacker in the Pac-10. He will play in the NFL.
LB Quan Sturdivant, North Carolina, Jr. He was the nation's leader in solo stops last season at outside linebacker. This spring, he moved to the middle so Zach Brown can get on the field to give UNC a quicker linebacking corps.
DB Aaron Henry, Wisconsin, Soph. After missing the 2008 season with an ACL injury, the cornerback shined in the spring going head-to-head with wide receiver Nick Toon, who also was a spring star in Madison.
DB Josh Pinkard, USC, Sr. His transition from cornerback back to his more natural spot at strong safety went well. Pinkard will be a star on a rebuilt Trojans defense.
DB Trevard Lindley, Kentucky, Sr. The cornerback will be a Thorpe Award candidate after staying in school for his senior season. In the first scrimmage, he came from nowhere to pick off a pass. He wasn't challenged again.
DB Walter Thurmond, Oregon, Sr. With Patrick Chung and Jarius Byrd off to the NFL, Thurmond emerged this spring as a leader. He solidified the playmaking skills at cornerback that have made him a three-time All-Pac-10 choice.
SPECIALISTS
K Josh Czajkowski, N.C. State, Jr. He took the proverbial next step, going 7-for-9 on field-goal attempts with a long of 52.
P Bryan Anger, California, Soph. He burst on the scene last fall as one of the country's top punters. Anger continued to display a big leg in the spring while also working on developing touch.
HONORABLE MENTION
QB: Jarrett Brown, West Virginia; Andrew Luck, Stanford; Ryan Mallett, Arkansas; Greg McElroy, Alabama; Kyle Parker, Clemson.
RB: Antwan Cobb, Texas; Jeravin Matthews, Northwestern; Curtis McNeal, USC; Jamal Womble, North Carolina; Marcus Wright, Georgia Tech.
WR: Adrian Cannon, Maryland; Jamere Holland, Oregon; Wes Lyons, West Virginia; Denarius Moore, Tennessee.
TE: Michael Palmer, Clemson; Nick Tow-Arnett, Minnesota.
OL: Anthony Davis, Rutgers; Ben Habern, Oklahoma; Sam Robey, Florida; Jared Zwilling, Purdue.
DL: Stephen Paea, Oregon State.
LB: Kyle Bosworth, UCLA; Mark Herzlich, Boston College; Alex Hrebec, Kansas State; Marcus Washington, Georgia; Reed Williams, West Virginia.
DB: Johnny Patrick, Louisville; Patrick Peterson, LSU.
Tom Dienhart
Rivals.com College Football Senior Writer
The stars don't just come out in the fall. They also shine at this time of the year as players jockey for starting jobs during spring practices.
Some positions are settled, but in most instances key position battles will be continued during training camps in August.
Still, spring practice was the time for players to make a statement to coaches before heading into summer workouts.
Here are some of the brightest stars this spring.
ALL-SPRING TEAM
OFFENSE
QB Taylor Potts, Texas Tech, Jr. His numbers in the spring scrimmage weren't off the charts – 20-of-27 for 211 yards with a TD – but Potts showed consistency and leadership in his first step to take over for Graham Harrell.
RB Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech, R-Fr. Time and again, he ripped off big gains with a shifting, spinning and churning style.
RB Chris Scott, Florida, Jr. A walk-on, Scott nonetheless pushed Emmanuel Moody, running 14 times for 80 yards in the spring game. Scott could be a nice surprise this fall.
Adron Tennell looked ready to step up and be Sam Bradford's top target.
WR Adron Tennell, Oklahoma, Sr. He grabbed a TD pass in the spring game and impressed coach Bob Stoops, whose team needs a big-time target with the top two wide receivers from 2008 gone.
WR Mike Williams, Syracuse, Sr. He returned to school in January with a vengeance after missing last season for academic reasons. Williams displayed sticky hands and improved blocking, topping it all off with an acrobatic TD catch in the spring game.
TE Rob Gronkowski, Arizona, Jr. He keeps improving, catching eight passes for 67 yards and a score in the spring game. He's a devastating blocker, too.
OL Ryan Blaszczyk, Rutgers, Sr. The center was relentless in scrimmages, setting the hard-edge tone Greg Schiano loves by consistently knocking his man off the ball. Blaszczyk will be one of the nation's top centers.
OL Clint Boling, Georgia, Jr. After earning AP All-SEC honors last fall as a sophomore, the tackle didn't let up this spring, when he earned the team's most outstanding offensive player honor.
OL Justin Boren, Ohio State, Jr. He made headlines with his noisy transfer from Michigan last year. Now, Boren has grabbed attention because of his strong play at guard and center in Columbus.
OL James Brewer, Indiana, Jr. He helped the running game shine in the spring game, gaining 281 yards on 65 carries with four TDs. The 6-8, 339-pound tackle will be a big key to the Hoosiers' new "Pistol" formation.
OL Nate Solder, Colorado, Jr. A former 240-pound tight end has turned into a 6-9, 300-pound road-grading tackle; he showed this spring he's ready to be one of the Big 12's top linemen.
DEFENSE
DE DaQuan Bowers, Clemson, Soph. He registered two sacks in the spring game and notched four more in two other scrimmages.
DT Brian Price, UCLA, Jr. He recorded two sacks in the final scrimmage and was a general all-around nuisance this spring.
DT Phil Taylor, Baylor, Jr. He's a transfer from Penn State. Coach Art Briles says Taylor is a rare blend of size and quickness, and he says he will be disappointed if Taylor isn't a first-team All-Big 12 performer.
DE Cliff Matthews, South Carolina, Jr. He showed great pass-rushing skills and was in such top shape that he also was used at tight end – which may continue in the fall.
LB Chris Galippo, USC, Soph. He was all over the field, showing a nose for the ball and instincts as the leader of an overhauled Trojans linebacking corps that also will include Malcolm Smith and Michael Morgan.
LB Keaton Kristick, Oregon State, Sr. He made plays from sideline to sideline and showed why many say he's the most underrated linebacker in the Pac-10. He will play in the NFL.
LB Quan Sturdivant, North Carolina, Jr. He was the nation's leader in solo stops last season at outside linebacker. This spring, he moved to the middle so Zach Brown can get on the field to give UNC a quicker linebacking corps.
DB Aaron Henry, Wisconsin, Soph. After missing the 2008 season with an ACL injury, the cornerback shined in the spring going head-to-head with wide receiver Nick Toon, who also was a spring star in Madison.
DB Josh Pinkard, USC, Sr. His transition from cornerback back to his more natural spot at strong safety went well. Pinkard will be a star on a rebuilt Trojans defense.
DB Trevard Lindley, Kentucky, Sr. The cornerback will be a Thorpe Award candidate after staying in school for his senior season. In the first scrimmage, he came from nowhere to pick off a pass. He wasn't challenged again.
DB Walter Thurmond, Oregon, Sr. With Patrick Chung and Jarius Byrd off to the NFL, Thurmond emerged this spring as a leader. He solidified the playmaking skills at cornerback that have made him a three-time All-Pac-10 choice.
SPECIALISTS
K Josh Czajkowski, N.C. State, Jr. He took the proverbial next step, going 7-for-9 on field-goal attempts with a long of 52.
P Bryan Anger, California, Soph. He burst on the scene last fall as one of the country's top punters. Anger continued to display a big leg in the spring while also working on developing touch.
HONORABLE MENTION
QB: Jarrett Brown, West Virginia; Andrew Luck, Stanford; Ryan Mallett, Arkansas; Greg McElroy, Alabama; Kyle Parker, Clemson.
RB: Antwan Cobb, Texas; Jeravin Matthews, Northwestern; Curtis McNeal, USC; Jamal Womble, North Carolina; Marcus Wright, Georgia Tech.
WR: Adrian Cannon, Maryland; Jamere Holland, Oregon; Wes Lyons, West Virginia; Denarius Moore, Tennessee.
TE: Michael Palmer, Clemson; Nick Tow-Arnett, Minnesota.
OL: Anthony Davis, Rutgers; Ben Habern, Oklahoma; Sam Robey, Florida; Jared Zwilling, Purdue.
DL: Stephen Paea, Oregon State.
LB: Kyle Bosworth, UCLA; Mark Herzlich, Boston College; Alex Hrebec, Kansas State; Marcus Washington, Georgia; Reed Williams, West Virginia.
DB: Johnny Patrick, Louisville; Patrick Peterson, LSU.
Monday with Mike: Ten QB situations to watch
By Mike Huguenin, Rivals.com College Football Editor May 11, 6:55 am EDT
Spring practice is over everywhere and players are now hunkered down and ready to continue their offseason training programs.
But that won’t stop us from looking back at some intriguing quarterback situations that played out during spring ball.
At some places, the presumed new starter stepped in and did what was expected. At other places, there still is some angst about who will start this fall.
Here’s a look at 10 of the most interesting situations.
Alabama: John Parker Wilson did a fine job as the Tide’s starter last season – for what he didn’t do. The Tide went 12-2 because Wilson didn’t make mistakes. The flipside, of course, is that he didn’t make many big plays, either. Still, he did what he was asked by the coaching staff, and he and the Tide were successful. The new guy is Greg McElroy, who will be asked to be a game manager and, like Wilson, to avoid mistakes. Alabama’s defense will be one of the best five or so in the nation, so as long as the offense doesn’t mess things up, the Tide will be fine. But McElroy won’t have it as easy as Wilson because the offensive line won’t be as good as it was last season. Still, expect the Tide to run the ball and win with defense. If McElroy struggles, the offense could become a mess.
Arkansas: Hogs fans last season patiently waited for this spring, when Michigan transfer Ryan Mallett would become eligible. Mallett, a pocket passer, is a much better fit for coach Bobby Petrino’s offense than the Dick brothers last season. Mallett lacks mobility but has a strong arm, and if he plays as well as coaches expect, Arkansas will be a bowl team this season. If Mallett struggles, the Hogs are looking at another 5-7 season.
Clemson: Cullen Harper had a mediocre senior season in 2008, following up a great junior campaign with a thud. The assumption was Willy Korn would wrap up the starting job this spring, but that didn’t happen. Instead, Kyle Parker – more highly touted as a baseball player than a football player – will go into fall drills atop the depth chart. Parker might not have the same “wow” factor as Korn, but he was more consistent this spring and made fewer mistakes. Clemson finished 7-6 last season after a bunch of summer hype. The Tigers aren’t getting hyped this offseason, but if Parker (or Korn) comes through, an eight-victory season is possible.
Michigan State: Brian Hoyer was a steady game manager last season; he seemingly spent most of his time handing off to Javon Ringer. Now that both players are gone, you can expect the Spartans to air it out a bit more this season. Kirk Cousins, last season’s backup, will head into fall drills a bit ahead of Oklahoma transfer Keith Nichol. While it seems unlikely, Michigan State could challenge for the Big Ten crown if one of the quarterbacks jumps up and has a huge season. At the least, this should be a seven-win team.
Tennessee: The Vols were dreadful offensively last season, and it cost Phil Fulmer his job. The defense was excellent in ’08 and should be stout again. But the offense looks as if it will struggle again because there is not a top-level quarterback on campus. The new Vols staff didn’t sign any quarterbacks in February, and Jonathan Crompton – who was so bad he was benched last season – will go into fall drills as the starter. As poorly as Crompton played last season, he appears to be head and shoulders better than anybody else on the roster. That means if the Vols want to go bowling, the defense better bear down and the running game better come through.
Texas Tech: Another season, another 5,000-yard quarterback. Graham Harrell might be gone, but Taylor Potts can be expected to approximate Harrell’s numbers. As good as Harrell was in Mike Leach’s offense, history has shown that no matter who is lined up in the shotgun, he has success. It will be much tougher replacing wide receiver Michael Crabtree than replacing Harrell. Tech is going to win at least eight games; for the Red Raiders to get to 10, it will depend more on the defense and a revamped receiving corps coming through than Potts.
Utah: Brian Johnson was a great fit for the Utes’ spread attack, but he’s gone. Corbin Louks, a better runner than Johnson, emerged from spring ball as the starter, as expected. But he didn’t lock down the job. Junior college transfer Terrance Cain and true freshman Jordan Wynn remain in the mix, so the first 10 or so days of fall practice will be quite interesting. As befitting most football-playing freshman who enroll early, Wynn has some bulking up to do. Still, he has some folks in Salt Lake City saying the magic words – “Hey, he reminds me of Alex Smith” – and his upside is greater than that of the other two. Utah has to rebuild its receiving corps and its secondary and needs to replace pass-rushing defensive end Paul Kruger. But if the Utes get top-notch quarterback play, they could win the Mountain West again. And when you’ve finished unbeaten twice in five seasons, there’s no reason you shouldn’t dream big.
USC: The Trojans’ quarterback derby was probably the most-watched spring position battle in the nation. Sophomore Aaron Corp went into the spring with a slight edge, but he emerged from drills as the clear-cut No. 1. He is the most athletic USC quarterback in a while, and his mobility should allow the offensive coaches to do a few different things this season. Perhaps more interesting was the battle for the No. 2 job, where highly touted freshman Matt Barkley – who enrolled early – beat out former highly touted prep star Mitch Mustain. (We’d say Mustain’s mom is probably disappointed, but that would be a cheap shot, so we’ll refrain.) Hmm. What if Mustain were still at Arkansas, running Bobby Petrino’s offense – which is a perfect fit for him, by the way.
Virginia: The Cavs struggled last season after Jameel Sewell, who played well in 2007, was suspended for the year because of academic reasons. Well, Sewell is back, but the quarterback battle will go on into fall drills among Sewell, incumbent starter Marc Verica and converted cornerback Vic Hall. Verica is the best passer of the three, but his athleticism lags far behind the other two. This is a huge season for Cavs coach Al Groh, so given the Cavs’ paucity of talent at wide receiver – where you’d think a former cornerback could have made a big impact – he must either really like Hall or think he can’t trust Sewell. Unless one of that trio has a huge season, the Cavs likely will be bowl-less for the second season in a row. In that scenario, you wonder if Groh can survive.
West Virginia: The Mountaineers lost Pat White, who will go down as one of the two or three best players in school history. White – the only starting quarterback in NCAA history to go 4-0 in bowls – was an electrifying performer, and there’s no way anyone can match his feats. Enter fifth-year senior Jarrett Brown, who has won both of his starts in his career when White was hurt. Brown can’t be expected to do the same things as White, but he has some skills and WVU likely will pass more often this season. Despite White’s departure, WVU likely will go into the season as the Big East favorite. As long as Brown doesn’t implode, WVU should win the league.
By Mike Huguenin, Rivals.com College Football Editor May 11, 6:55 am EDT
Spring practice is over everywhere and players are now hunkered down and ready to continue their offseason training programs.
But that won’t stop us from looking back at some intriguing quarterback situations that played out during spring ball.
At some places, the presumed new starter stepped in and did what was expected. At other places, there still is some angst about who will start this fall.
Here’s a look at 10 of the most interesting situations.
Alabama: John Parker Wilson did a fine job as the Tide’s starter last season – for what he didn’t do. The Tide went 12-2 because Wilson didn’t make mistakes. The flipside, of course, is that he didn’t make many big plays, either. Still, he did what he was asked by the coaching staff, and he and the Tide were successful. The new guy is Greg McElroy, who will be asked to be a game manager and, like Wilson, to avoid mistakes. Alabama’s defense will be one of the best five or so in the nation, so as long as the offense doesn’t mess things up, the Tide will be fine. But McElroy won’t have it as easy as Wilson because the offensive line won’t be as good as it was last season. Still, expect the Tide to run the ball and win with defense. If McElroy struggles, the offense could become a mess.
Arkansas: Hogs fans last season patiently waited for this spring, when Michigan transfer Ryan Mallett would become eligible. Mallett, a pocket passer, is a much better fit for coach Bobby Petrino’s offense than the Dick brothers last season. Mallett lacks mobility but has a strong arm, and if he plays as well as coaches expect, Arkansas will be a bowl team this season. If Mallett struggles, the Hogs are looking at another 5-7 season.
Clemson: Cullen Harper had a mediocre senior season in 2008, following up a great junior campaign with a thud. The assumption was Willy Korn would wrap up the starting job this spring, but that didn’t happen. Instead, Kyle Parker – more highly touted as a baseball player than a football player – will go into fall drills atop the depth chart. Parker might not have the same “wow” factor as Korn, but he was more consistent this spring and made fewer mistakes. Clemson finished 7-6 last season after a bunch of summer hype. The Tigers aren’t getting hyped this offseason, but if Parker (or Korn) comes through, an eight-victory season is possible.
Michigan State: Brian Hoyer was a steady game manager last season; he seemingly spent most of his time handing off to Javon Ringer. Now that both players are gone, you can expect the Spartans to air it out a bit more this season. Kirk Cousins, last season’s backup, will head into fall drills a bit ahead of Oklahoma transfer Keith Nichol. While it seems unlikely, Michigan State could challenge for the Big Ten crown if one of the quarterbacks jumps up and has a huge season. At the least, this should be a seven-win team.
Tennessee: The Vols were dreadful offensively last season, and it cost Phil Fulmer his job. The defense was excellent in ’08 and should be stout again. But the offense looks as if it will struggle again because there is not a top-level quarterback on campus. The new Vols staff didn’t sign any quarterbacks in February, and Jonathan Crompton – who was so bad he was benched last season – will go into fall drills as the starter. As poorly as Crompton played last season, he appears to be head and shoulders better than anybody else on the roster. That means if the Vols want to go bowling, the defense better bear down and the running game better come through.
Texas Tech: Another season, another 5,000-yard quarterback. Graham Harrell might be gone, but Taylor Potts can be expected to approximate Harrell’s numbers. As good as Harrell was in Mike Leach’s offense, history has shown that no matter who is lined up in the shotgun, he has success. It will be much tougher replacing wide receiver Michael Crabtree than replacing Harrell. Tech is going to win at least eight games; for the Red Raiders to get to 10, it will depend more on the defense and a revamped receiving corps coming through than Potts.
Utah: Brian Johnson was a great fit for the Utes’ spread attack, but he’s gone. Corbin Louks, a better runner than Johnson, emerged from spring ball as the starter, as expected. But he didn’t lock down the job. Junior college transfer Terrance Cain and true freshman Jordan Wynn remain in the mix, so the first 10 or so days of fall practice will be quite interesting. As befitting most football-playing freshman who enroll early, Wynn has some bulking up to do. Still, he has some folks in Salt Lake City saying the magic words – “Hey, he reminds me of Alex Smith” – and his upside is greater than that of the other two. Utah has to rebuild its receiving corps and its secondary and needs to replace pass-rushing defensive end Paul Kruger. But if the Utes get top-notch quarterback play, they could win the Mountain West again. And when you’ve finished unbeaten twice in five seasons, there’s no reason you shouldn’t dream big.
USC: The Trojans’ quarterback derby was probably the most-watched spring position battle in the nation. Sophomore Aaron Corp went into the spring with a slight edge, but he emerged from drills as the clear-cut No. 1. He is the most athletic USC quarterback in a while, and his mobility should allow the offensive coaches to do a few different things this season. Perhaps more interesting was the battle for the No. 2 job, where highly touted freshman Matt Barkley – who enrolled early – beat out former highly touted prep star Mitch Mustain. (We’d say Mustain’s mom is probably disappointed, but that would be a cheap shot, so we’ll refrain.) Hmm. What if Mustain were still at Arkansas, running Bobby Petrino’s offense – which is a perfect fit for him, by the way.
Virginia: The Cavs struggled last season after Jameel Sewell, who played well in 2007, was suspended for the year because of academic reasons. Well, Sewell is back, but the quarterback battle will go on into fall drills among Sewell, incumbent starter Marc Verica and converted cornerback Vic Hall. Verica is the best passer of the three, but his athleticism lags far behind the other two. This is a huge season for Cavs coach Al Groh, so given the Cavs’ paucity of talent at wide receiver – where you’d think a former cornerback could have made a big impact – he must either really like Hall or think he can’t trust Sewell. Unless one of that trio has a huge season, the Cavs likely will be bowl-less for the second season in a row. In that scenario, you wonder if Groh can survive.
West Virginia: The Mountaineers lost Pat White, who will go down as one of the two or three best players in school history. White – the only starting quarterback in NCAA history to go 4-0 in bowls – was an electrifying performer, and there’s no way anyone can match his feats. Enter fifth-year senior Jarrett Brown, who has won both of his starts in his career when White was hurt. Brown can’t be expected to do the same things as White, but he has some skills and WVU likely will pass more often this season. Despite White’s departure, WVU likely will go into the season as the Big East favorite. As long as Brown doesn’t implode, WVU should win the league.
[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif]CFN 2009 Pre-Preseason Rankings
Top 10[/FONT]
These are the teams that'll be the leaders in the national title chase, and at the very least, will be in the mix for their respective conference titles. The ranking is based on how good the team should be in 2009, while the Final CFN Season Ranking is based on how good a season the team had in 2008.
Teams that should be better than last year, teams that should be worse, team that should be about the same.
<table id="table2" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="4" width="150"> <tbody><tr> <td bgcolor="#ffffcc">What was 2008's Pre-Preseason Top 10?
1. Ohio State
2. Georgia
3. Oklahoma
4. Florida
5. USC
6. LSU
7. Wisconsin
8. Missouri
9. West Virginia
10. Texas Tech</td> </tr> </tbody></table> 1. Florida 2008 Record: 13-1 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 1
The defending national champion was 2008’s most dominant team in the country in all phases, and now the pressure will be on to put together one of the greatest seasons in the history of college football. Want pressure? To be blunt, if Florida doesn’t win the national title for the third time in four years, the season will be a failure. Is that an unfair standard to set? Not for a team that gets back all 11 starters and all 11 backups to a defense that held the Oklahoma juggernaut to 14 points and finished ninth in the nation in total defense and fourth in scoring D. WR Percy Harvin left early for the NFL, and PK Jonathan Phillips was a steady weapon, but the special teams should still be among the best in the nation strong-legged Caleb Sturgis stepping into the placekicking job, P Chas Henry returning to the nation’s eighth best punting game, and Brandon James back as the nation’s best all-around returners. Oh yeah, and then there’s that beefy quarterback who wants a second Heisman and a third national championship. Tim Tebow needs to be steady early on with three starters on the offensive line gone along with his two top receivers, Harvin and Louis Murphy, also gone. The Gators are loaded at running back with Chris Rainey, Emmanuel Moody, and Jeff Demps forming a good rotation. Yes, there might be holes, but Florida is getting all the top recruits and Urban Meyer won’t be afraid to play his young prospects right away.
2. Oklahoma 2008 Record: 12-2 2008 Final CFN Season Rank:2
The Sooners are going to be a punchline, or will at least take the PR hit that Ohio State suffered over the last three years, but they’re going to be good … national title level good. This was going to be a good team no matter who was at the helm, but Sam Bradford’s shocking decision to return, and not be a top three pick, means the offense will have its moments when it resembles the juggernaut that ripped through the Big 12 over the second half of last season. However, don’t expect 60 points per game again with so much turnover on the O line that loses four starters. On the plus side, OT Trent Williams decided to come back for his senior year, as did TE Jermaine Gresham. A No. 1 wide receiver needs to be found, but the running tandem of Chris Brown and DeMarco Murray are back. The defense will carry the offense early on, and it should be fantastic, with nine starters returning including DT Gerald McCoy. The only losses are at safety with Nic Harris and Lendy Holmes gone.
3. Texas 2008 Record: 12-1 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 3
With Colt McCoy coming back for his final year, and with his top target, Jordan Shipley, getting a sixth year of eligibility, the offense has its identity. It also has an upgrade with the young players of last year ready to step up and play bigger roles, like Dan Buckner and Malcolm Williams. Fozzy Whittaker, Vondrell McGee, and thumping scorer Cody Johnson are back to run the ball behind a line that gets four starters back. The defense is the issue, even with some good prospects waiting to come through. All four starters are gone off the offensive front, and while LB Sergio Kindle decided to come back his senior year, his running mate, Rashad Bobino, is gone. Starting corner Ryan Palmer will be replaced by Curtis Brown, and the other three spots are set. There will be a battle to replace PK Ryan Bailey, but punters John Gold and Justin Tucker are back.
4. USC 2008 Record: 12-1 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 5
It’s USC, so there are always superstar prospects waiting in the wings, but the recruiting classes of the past few years will be put to the test with so much turnover from last season’s all-timer of a defense. S Taylor Mays is back, when he probably would’ve been a top ten pick, but nine starters are gone. Even USC can’t handle these many replacements. Meanwhile, the offense will be just fine, even with QB Mark Sanchez taking off early to the NFL. Mitch Mustain was a top-shelf QB recruit for Arkansas, while Aaron Corp is no slouch and will be in the mix. The defense will be fine in the secondary, loaded up front, and in trouble at linebacker with Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushing, and Kaluka Maiava gone. To make matters worse, both kickers are gone.
5. Oklahoma State 2008 Record: 9-4 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 30
Last year OSU had a breakthrough season with one of the nation’s most dynamic offenses and a defense that, well, the offense was fantastic. The struggles at the end of last season should only serve as motivation going into this year for a veteran squad that should be good enough to knock off either Texas or Oklahoma. TE Brandon Pettigrew is off to the NFL, but WR Dez Bryant is back along with QB Zac Robinson, RB Kendall Hunter, and in a shocker, OT Russell Okung, who might be the Big 12’s best blocker. The nation’s No. 6 offense gets back eight starters, and almost all the depth, with the one potential problem area up front with C David Washington gone. Defensively, the Cowboys weren’t horrific, at least compared to the rest of the Big 12, but only six starters are back with major changes needing to be made in the secondary. The team’s biggest loss could be P Matt Fodge, who helped OSU next over 39 yards per try.
6. LSU 2008 Record: 8-5 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 40
This isn’t the national title-caliber team of a few years ago, but it’s not all that far off from maturing into a possible SEC champion with the right breaks. Was the 38-3 Peach Bowl win over Georgia Tech an aberration, or was the mediocre season a proper indicator? Jordan Jefferson appears to be the answer at quarterback, and he gets a big break with WR Brandon LaFell changing his mind about leaving early. LG Herman Johnson and C Brett Helms are gone, but LT Ciron Black returns along with two other starters on the line to pave the way for RB Charles Scott and the great group of backs. The defensive back seven should be fantastic, even with the loss of LB Darry Beckwith, but the line is a problem with all the starters gone. And there’s the issue. LSU has been able to reload on the defensive front, but it’s asking a log to replace everyone.
7. Oregon 2008 Record: 10-3 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 24
Mike Bellotti has had some strong teams over the past few years, and his Ducks probably would’ve been playing for the national title in 2006 had Dennis Dixon not injured his knee, but this should be among his best teams yet. There will be a wee bit of a quarterback derby, but Jeremiah Masoli appears to be a burgeoning star to lead the way, while LeGarrette Blount will get more of the rushing workload with Jeremiah Johnson gone. Some key stars are gone off the defense, including S Patrick Chung and pass rushing terror Nick Reed, but six good starters return to a group that needs to be better against the run.
8. Ole Miss 2008 Record: 9-4 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 15
Ed Orgeron set ‘em up, and Houston Nutt knocked ‘em down. Orgeron had his faults, but he was a strong recruiter and last year’s team proved it with its fantastic lines. While OT Michael Oher and DT Peria Jerry will be tough to replace, the return of star pass rusher, Greg Hardy, and three starters on the offensive line will help. The big story will be QB Jevan Snead, who got better and better as last season went on. He has good players around him in WR Shay Hodge and RBs Cordera Eason and Dexter McCluster, but he’ll have to be the leader and star throughout. The defense was so strong against the run last year won’t be quite as good with Jerry gone, but it’ll still be nasty.
9. North Carolina 2008 Record: 8-5 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 26
Of the five losses last year, there was a sloppy 41-10 blasting from NC State while the other four losses were by a grand total of nine points. Those four close defeats were all by three points or fewer, and now the team is far more mature and should be even better as long as a receiver can be found. Hakeem Nicks left early and Brandon Tate hurt his knee and is off to try to make it in the NFL, so Greg Little and Kenton Thornton have to try to get the passing game going. The great recruiting classes of the last few years should start paying off with better depth, while six starters return on offense and nine starters are back on defense including strongside star, Bruce Carter.
10. Alabama 2008 Record: 12-2 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 7
This was supposed to be the season Alabama became a national power again as the great recruiting classes were due to mature. Obviously, the timetable moved up a year early and now there’s no turning back. A quarter away from playing for the national title in 2008, the Tide has to show it’s ready to be a consistent superpower again with stars like WR Julio Jones and NG Terrence Cody to work around. The defense was the star throughout last year, especially against the run, and it gets back nine starters. Offensively, QB John Parker Wilson will be sorely missed, and now it’ll be a battle this spring for the starting job with junior-to-be Greg McElroy getting the first look. All-Everything left tackle Andre Smith is gone, along with C Antoine Caldwell, but enough talent returns to the offense to be at least as good as last year.
Top 10[/FONT]
These are the teams that'll be the leaders in the national title chase, and at the very least, will be in the mix for their respective conference titles. The ranking is based on how good the team should be in 2009, while the Final CFN Season Ranking is based on how good a season the team had in 2008.
Teams that should be better than last year, teams that should be worse, team that should be about the same.
<table id="table2" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="4" width="150"> <tbody><tr> <td bgcolor="#ffffcc">What was 2008's Pre-Preseason Top 10?
1. Ohio State
2. Georgia
3. Oklahoma
4. Florida
5. USC
6. LSU
7. Wisconsin
8. Missouri
9. West Virginia
10. Texas Tech</td> </tr> </tbody></table> 1. Florida 2008 Record: 13-1 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 1
The defending national champion was 2008’s most dominant team in the country in all phases, and now the pressure will be on to put together one of the greatest seasons in the history of college football. Want pressure? To be blunt, if Florida doesn’t win the national title for the third time in four years, the season will be a failure. Is that an unfair standard to set? Not for a team that gets back all 11 starters and all 11 backups to a defense that held the Oklahoma juggernaut to 14 points and finished ninth in the nation in total defense and fourth in scoring D. WR Percy Harvin left early for the NFL, and PK Jonathan Phillips was a steady weapon, but the special teams should still be among the best in the nation strong-legged Caleb Sturgis stepping into the placekicking job, P Chas Henry returning to the nation’s eighth best punting game, and Brandon James back as the nation’s best all-around returners. Oh yeah, and then there’s that beefy quarterback who wants a second Heisman and a third national championship. Tim Tebow needs to be steady early on with three starters on the offensive line gone along with his two top receivers, Harvin and Louis Murphy, also gone. The Gators are loaded at running back with Chris Rainey, Emmanuel Moody, and Jeff Demps forming a good rotation. Yes, there might be holes, but Florida is getting all the top recruits and Urban Meyer won’t be afraid to play his young prospects right away.
2. Oklahoma 2008 Record: 12-2 2008 Final CFN Season Rank:2
The Sooners are going to be a punchline, or will at least take the PR hit that Ohio State suffered over the last three years, but they’re going to be good … national title level good. This was going to be a good team no matter who was at the helm, but Sam Bradford’s shocking decision to return, and not be a top three pick, means the offense will have its moments when it resembles the juggernaut that ripped through the Big 12 over the second half of last season. However, don’t expect 60 points per game again with so much turnover on the O line that loses four starters. On the plus side, OT Trent Williams decided to come back for his senior year, as did TE Jermaine Gresham. A No. 1 wide receiver needs to be found, but the running tandem of Chris Brown and DeMarco Murray are back. The defense will carry the offense early on, and it should be fantastic, with nine starters returning including DT Gerald McCoy. The only losses are at safety with Nic Harris and Lendy Holmes gone.
3. Texas 2008 Record: 12-1 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 3
With Colt McCoy coming back for his final year, and with his top target, Jordan Shipley, getting a sixth year of eligibility, the offense has its identity. It also has an upgrade with the young players of last year ready to step up and play bigger roles, like Dan Buckner and Malcolm Williams. Fozzy Whittaker, Vondrell McGee, and thumping scorer Cody Johnson are back to run the ball behind a line that gets four starters back. The defense is the issue, even with some good prospects waiting to come through. All four starters are gone off the offensive front, and while LB Sergio Kindle decided to come back his senior year, his running mate, Rashad Bobino, is gone. Starting corner Ryan Palmer will be replaced by Curtis Brown, and the other three spots are set. There will be a battle to replace PK Ryan Bailey, but punters John Gold and Justin Tucker are back.
4. USC 2008 Record: 12-1 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 5
It’s USC, so there are always superstar prospects waiting in the wings, but the recruiting classes of the past few years will be put to the test with so much turnover from last season’s all-timer of a defense. S Taylor Mays is back, when he probably would’ve been a top ten pick, but nine starters are gone. Even USC can’t handle these many replacements. Meanwhile, the offense will be just fine, even with QB Mark Sanchez taking off early to the NFL. Mitch Mustain was a top-shelf QB recruit for Arkansas, while Aaron Corp is no slouch and will be in the mix. The defense will be fine in the secondary, loaded up front, and in trouble at linebacker with Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushing, and Kaluka Maiava gone. To make matters worse, both kickers are gone.
5. Oklahoma State 2008 Record: 9-4 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 30
Last year OSU had a breakthrough season with one of the nation’s most dynamic offenses and a defense that, well, the offense was fantastic. The struggles at the end of last season should only serve as motivation going into this year for a veteran squad that should be good enough to knock off either Texas or Oklahoma. TE Brandon Pettigrew is off to the NFL, but WR Dez Bryant is back along with QB Zac Robinson, RB Kendall Hunter, and in a shocker, OT Russell Okung, who might be the Big 12’s best blocker. The nation’s No. 6 offense gets back eight starters, and almost all the depth, with the one potential problem area up front with C David Washington gone. Defensively, the Cowboys weren’t horrific, at least compared to the rest of the Big 12, but only six starters are back with major changes needing to be made in the secondary. The team’s biggest loss could be P Matt Fodge, who helped OSU next over 39 yards per try.
6. LSU 2008 Record: 8-5 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 40
This isn’t the national title-caliber team of a few years ago, but it’s not all that far off from maturing into a possible SEC champion with the right breaks. Was the 38-3 Peach Bowl win over Georgia Tech an aberration, or was the mediocre season a proper indicator? Jordan Jefferson appears to be the answer at quarterback, and he gets a big break with WR Brandon LaFell changing his mind about leaving early. LG Herman Johnson and C Brett Helms are gone, but LT Ciron Black returns along with two other starters on the line to pave the way for RB Charles Scott and the great group of backs. The defensive back seven should be fantastic, even with the loss of LB Darry Beckwith, but the line is a problem with all the starters gone. And there’s the issue. LSU has been able to reload on the defensive front, but it’s asking a log to replace everyone.
7. Oregon 2008 Record: 10-3 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 24
Mike Bellotti has had some strong teams over the past few years, and his Ducks probably would’ve been playing for the national title in 2006 had Dennis Dixon not injured his knee, but this should be among his best teams yet. There will be a wee bit of a quarterback derby, but Jeremiah Masoli appears to be a burgeoning star to lead the way, while LeGarrette Blount will get more of the rushing workload with Jeremiah Johnson gone. Some key stars are gone off the defense, including S Patrick Chung and pass rushing terror Nick Reed, but six good starters return to a group that needs to be better against the run.
8. Ole Miss 2008 Record: 9-4 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 15
Ed Orgeron set ‘em up, and Houston Nutt knocked ‘em down. Orgeron had his faults, but he was a strong recruiter and last year’s team proved it with its fantastic lines. While OT Michael Oher and DT Peria Jerry will be tough to replace, the return of star pass rusher, Greg Hardy, and three starters on the offensive line will help. The big story will be QB Jevan Snead, who got better and better as last season went on. He has good players around him in WR Shay Hodge and RBs Cordera Eason and Dexter McCluster, but he’ll have to be the leader and star throughout. The defense was so strong against the run last year won’t be quite as good with Jerry gone, but it’ll still be nasty.
9. North Carolina 2008 Record: 8-5 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 26
Of the five losses last year, there was a sloppy 41-10 blasting from NC State while the other four losses were by a grand total of nine points. Those four close defeats were all by three points or fewer, and now the team is far more mature and should be even better as long as a receiver can be found. Hakeem Nicks left early and Brandon Tate hurt his knee and is off to try to make it in the NFL, so Greg Little and Kenton Thornton have to try to get the passing game going. The great recruiting classes of the last few years should start paying off with better depth, while six starters return on offense and nine starters are back on defense including strongside star, Bruce Carter.
10. Alabama 2008 Record: 12-2 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 7
This was supposed to be the season Alabama became a national power again as the great recruiting classes were due to mature. Obviously, the timetable moved up a year early and now there’s no turning back. A quarter away from playing for the national title in 2008, the Tide has to show it’s ready to be a consistent superpower again with stars like WR Julio Jones and NG Terrence Cody to work around. The defense was the star throughout last year, especially against the run, and it gets back nine starters. Offensively, QB John Parker Wilson will be sorely missed, and now it’ll be a battle this spring for the starting job with junior-to-be Greg McElroy getting the first look. All-Everything left tackle Andre Smith is gone, along with C Antoine Caldwell, but enough talent returns to the offense to be at least as good as last year.
CFN 2009 Pre-Preseason Rankings
No. 11 to 25
These are the teams that'll be deep in the heart of the BCS race, but should be flawed just enough to be outside of the national title hunt. The ranking is based on how good the team should be in 2009, while the Final CFN Season Ranking is based on how good a season the team had in 2008.
Teams that should be better than last year, teams that should be worse, team that should be about the same.
11. Georgia Tech 2008 Record: 9-4 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 22
Paul Johnson’s first year might have ended in a disaster with the Peach Bowl blowout against LSU, but it’s easy to forget just how many square pegs had to fit into round holes to make the offense work. The defensive line will be the early concern losing top NFL prospects Michael Johnson and Vance Walker, but the back seven returns intact. Of course, it’s all about the offense, and QB Josh Nesbitt and RB Jonathan Dwyer are a year more experienced after playing so well late. All 11 starters return to an offense that should be even more dynamic.
12. Penn State 2008 Record: 11-2 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 10
While this won’t be the tight Rose Bowl team of last year that was an Iowa field goal away from playing for the national title, it’ll still be the class of a mediocre Big Ten. QB Daryll Clark is back for his sixth year, but the biggest boost is the return of LB Sean Lee to the defense after suffering a preseason knee injury in 2008. The receiving corps has to start from scratch, but the running game should be nasty even with just two linemen returning to pave the way. Lee and Navorro Bowman should be the nation’s best linebacking tandem, but the defense has to replace the entire starting secondary. PK Kevin Kelly was a weapon who’ll be missed.
13. Ohio State 2008 Record: 10-3 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 12
It’s the Terrelle Pryor show now. Ohio State is a factory that reloads, but even a program as big as this suffers some down time once in a while. There won’t be that much of a slip on defense with seven starters returning, even if there aren’t many major James Laurinaitis-like stars. Pryor will be the leader of an offense that loses RB Beanie Wells and WR Brian Hartline to the NFL early, but three starters return on the line and there are just enough decent offensive prospects to hope for more scoring consistency.
14. California 2008 Record: 9-4 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 27
Where have you heard this before? Cal is loaded, USC has to rebuild a bit, blah, blah, blah. The Bears have the team able to win the Pac 10, led by Heisman candidate RB Jahvid Best, who’ll get to run behind a good line with three returning starters. QB Kevin Riley will be the man now that Nate Longshore gone, and he gets his top receivers back. The defense loses star LB Zack Follett and running mate Worrell Williams, but the secondary returns intact. Bryan Anger will be among the nation’s best punters before his career is over.
15. Clemson 2008 Record: 7-6 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 45
The team showed tremendous heart to finish up well after all the turmoil. Head coach Dabo Swinney should have a piece of cake to deal with after having to turn things around in a hurry to earn the full-time gig. Getting RB C.J. Spiller back, when he should be in the NFL, is a major win, but all eyes will be on one-time super-recruit Willy Korn to see if he can be the quarterback Tiger fans were hoping for a few years ago. The O line that struggled so much at times last year will at least be more experienced with four starters returning, while nine starters are back from a defense that was loaded up by a few good recruiting classes.
16. Georgia 2008 Record: 10-3 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 14
Georgia has the brand and reputation worthy of being considered for the preseason top ten every year on name alone, but there’s work to be done here. You don’t get better by losing QB Matthew Stafford and RB Knowshon Moreno, but WR A.J. Green is special and RBs Caleb King and Richard Samuel are fantastic. The key is the line with all five starters returning, and that doesn’t include superstar OT Trinton Sturdivant, who’s trying to work his way back from a devastating knee injury. The defense has work to do on the line, and loses CB Asher Allen to the NFL a year early, but Georgia always reloads. The linebacking corps will be among the best in the SEC.
17. Nebraska 2008 Record: 9-4 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 35
After a nice turnaround in Bo Pelini’s first season, the Huskers will be hoping to take a big step forward as one of the favorites to win the North. The defensive back seven should be better, but the big key was the return of DT Ndamukong Suh, who should probably be off to the NFL instead of dominating the Big 12. The offensive line will be fine and Roy Helu is a good back, but the passing game will be a concern early on with Patrick Witt and Zac Lee battling to replace QB Joe Ganz, while receivers Nate Swift and Todd Peterson have to be replaced.
18. Virginia Tech 2008 Record: 10-4 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 11
If the Hokies could win the ACC title and get over the BCS game hump with the 2008 team, they have a chance to be truly special this year. Tyrod Taylor will be the unquestioned starting quarterback, while Darren Evans will be one of the nation’s top backs. The offense that was so awful at times throughout last year gets eight starters back, while the defense should be fantastic despite the loss of CB Macho Harris and inside linebackers Purnell Sturdivant and Brett Warren.
19. Miami 2008 Record: 7-6 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 53
Is Miami ready to be this year’s Alabama? The star recruiting classes should be ready to mature and be special, but the season will ride on the skinny frame of QB Jacory Harris now that Robert Marve has transferred. Seven starters return to an ultra-athletic defense that should be among the best in the ACC, while the offense gets nine starters back and should have a stronger passing game led by Aldarius Johnson and Sam Shields. Matt Bosher returns to handle most of the kicking duties.
20. Utah 2008 Record: 13-0 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 4
The Utes won’t be anywhere near the powerhouse that was in the national title discussion at the end of last year, but they’ll still be really, really good. The loss of DE Paul Kruger early to the NFL is painful, but the big hole to fill is at quarterback where steady star Brian Johnson is gone; Corbin Louks will get the first look. The three starting receivers and RB Darrell Mack are gone, but there are good players waiting to step up. Nine starters return on defense, led by Sylvester Stevenson and a strong linebacking corps. Louie Sakoda was an all-timer of a kicker who won’t be easily replaced.
21. Tennessee 2008 Record: 5-7 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 66
Vol fans won’t have Phil Fulmer to kick around anymore. Lane Kiffin has to prove he can actually coach, at least be a head coach, with his first job to spark the offense that was so woeful under offensive coordinator Dave Clawson, who left to take over the Bowling Green head coaching job. Eight offensive starters return with the biggest question at quarterback. Will it be Jonathan Crompton or B.J. Coleman or Nick Stephens? The defense was great last year, but the performance was lost on the college football world because of the offense. If Eric Berry isn’t the best safety in America, and maybe the best defensive player, if it’s not USC’s Taylor Mays, and five other strong starters return. The big issue could be on the defensive line with DE Robert Ayers and DT Demonte Bolden gone.
22. Pitt 2008 Record: 9-4 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 13
Another year, another season when Pitt is supposed to be really, really good. The team was actually strong last year, even with the weird 3-0 Sun Bowl loss to Oregon State, and now it loses its best player on offense (RB LeSean McCoy) and defense (LB Scott McKillop). However, QB Bill Stull should be decent and he has a strong receiving corps to throw to. Three starters return to the offensive line, while seven starters are back on what should be one of the Big East’s best defenses. Replacing PK Conor Lee and P Dave Brytus won’t be easy.
23. West Virginia 2008 Record: 9-4 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 29
Last season really wasn’t that bad. It wasn’t a BCS year, but it was still a decent campaign under Bill Stewart. Now the big question will be whether or not Jarrett Brown is really ready for the full-time job now that Pat White is gone. The offensive line is the other issue with four starters gone including LB Greg Isdaner, who took off a year early. Fortunately, the defense that was so good throughout last season should pick up the slack for any problems on offense. LB Mortty Ivy is gone, but eight starters return. The Mountaineers were second in the nation in net punting, but Pat McAfee is gone.
24. Boise State 2008 Record: 12-1 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 6
The Broncos will end up ranked much higher than this based on record, but talent-wise, they’re just on the edge of the to 25 … that’s not a rip. This is a team worthy of playing with the big boys on a regular basis with QB Kellen Moore and RB Jeremy Avery returning to the backfield, working behind three starters on the line. The receiving corps needs work, but should be fine. The defense that never gets enough credit has to replace linebackers Kyle Gingg and Tim Brady, but gets almost everyone else back including all-stars DE Ryan Winterswyk and CB Kyle Wilson.
25. TCU 2008 Record: 11-2 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 8
All-America DE Jerry Hughes is back, but most of the stars on the tremendous defense of last year are gone. Just four starters return on defense, but there were some decent backups ready to step in and the secondary should be among the best in the Mountain West. The offense might not be a steamroller, but QB Andy Dalton leads a good group with a solid backfield and Jimmy Young back as the best receiver.
No. 11 to 25
These are the teams that'll be deep in the heart of the BCS race, but should be flawed just enough to be outside of the national title hunt. The ranking is based on how good the team should be in 2009, while the Final CFN Season Ranking is based on how good a season the team had in 2008.
Teams that should be better than last year, teams that should be worse, team that should be about the same.
11. Georgia Tech 2008 Record: 9-4 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 22
Paul Johnson’s first year might have ended in a disaster with the Peach Bowl blowout against LSU, but it’s easy to forget just how many square pegs had to fit into round holes to make the offense work. The defensive line will be the early concern losing top NFL prospects Michael Johnson and Vance Walker, but the back seven returns intact. Of course, it’s all about the offense, and QB Josh Nesbitt and RB Jonathan Dwyer are a year more experienced after playing so well late. All 11 starters return to an offense that should be even more dynamic.
12. Penn State 2008 Record: 11-2 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 10
While this won’t be the tight Rose Bowl team of last year that was an Iowa field goal away from playing for the national title, it’ll still be the class of a mediocre Big Ten. QB Daryll Clark is back for his sixth year, but the biggest boost is the return of LB Sean Lee to the defense after suffering a preseason knee injury in 2008. The receiving corps has to start from scratch, but the running game should be nasty even with just two linemen returning to pave the way. Lee and Navorro Bowman should be the nation’s best linebacking tandem, but the defense has to replace the entire starting secondary. PK Kevin Kelly was a weapon who’ll be missed.
13. Ohio State 2008 Record: 10-3 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 12
It’s the Terrelle Pryor show now. Ohio State is a factory that reloads, but even a program as big as this suffers some down time once in a while. There won’t be that much of a slip on defense with seven starters returning, even if there aren’t many major James Laurinaitis-like stars. Pryor will be the leader of an offense that loses RB Beanie Wells and WR Brian Hartline to the NFL early, but three starters return on the line and there are just enough decent offensive prospects to hope for more scoring consistency.
14. California 2008 Record: 9-4 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 27
Where have you heard this before? Cal is loaded, USC has to rebuild a bit, blah, blah, blah. The Bears have the team able to win the Pac 10, led by Heisman candidate RB Jahvid Best, who’ll get to run behind a good line with three returning starters. QB Kevin Riley will be the man now that Nate Longshore gone, and he gets his top receivers back. The defense loses star LB Zack Follett and running mate Worrell Williams, but the secondary returns intact. Bryan Anger will be among the nation’s best punters before his career is over.
15. Clemson 2008 Record: 7-6 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 45
The team showed tremendous heart to finish up well after all the turmoil. Head coach Dabo Swinney should have a piece of cake to deal with after having to turn things around in a hurry to earn the full-time gig. Getting RB C.J. Spiller back, when he should be in the NFL, is a major win, but all eyes will be on one-time super-recruit Willy Korn to see if he can be the quarterback Tiger fans were hoping for a few years ago. The O line that struggled so much at times last year will at least be more experienced with four starters returning, while nine starters are back from a defense that was loaded up by a few good recruiting classes.
16. Georgia 2008 Record: 10-3 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 14
Georgia has the brand and reputation worthy of being considered for the preseason top ten every year on name alone, but there’s work to be done here. You don’t get better by losing QB Matthew Stafford and RB Knowshon Moreno, but WR A.J. Green is special and RBs Caleb King and Richard Samuel are fantastic. The key is the line with all five starters returning, and that doesn’t include superstar OT Trinton Sturdivant, who’s trying to work his way back from a devastating knee injury. The defense has work to do on the line, and loses CB Asher Allen to the NFL a year early, but Georgia always reloads. The linebacking corps will be among the best in the SEC.
17. Nebraska 2008 Record: 9-4 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 35
After a nice turnaround in Bo Pelini’s first season, the Huskers will be hoping to take a big step forward as one of the favorites to win the North. The defensive back seven should be better, but the big key was the return of DT Ndamukong Suh, who should probably be off to the NFL instead of dominating the Big 12. The offensive line will be fine and Roy Helu is a good back, but the passing game will be a concern early on with Patrick Witt and Zac Lee battling to replace QB Joe Ganz, while receivers Nate Swift and Todd Peterson have to be replaced.
18. Virginia Tech 2008 Record: 10-4 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 11
If the Hokies could win the ACC title and get over the BCS game hump with the 2008 team, they have a chance to be truly special this year. Tyrod Taylor will be the unquestioned starting quarterback, while Darren Evans will be one of the nation’s top backs. The offense that was so awful at times throughout last year gets eight starters back, while the defense should be fantastic despite the loss of CB Macho Harris and inside linebackers Purnell Sturdivant and Brett Warren.
19. Miami 2008 Record: 7-6 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 53
Is Miami ready to be this year’s Alabama? The star recruiting classes should be ready to mature and be special, but the season will ride on the skinny frame of QB Jacory Harris now that Robert Marve has transferred. Seven starters return to an ultra-athletic defense that should be among the best in the ACC, while the offense gets nine starters back and should have a stronger passing game led by Aldarius Johnson and Sam Shields. Matt Bosher returns to handle most of the kicking duties.
20. Utah 2008 Record: 13-0 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 4
The Utes won’t be anywhere near the powerhouse that was in the national title discussion at the end of last year, but they’ll still be really, really good. The loss of DE Paul Kruger early to the NFL is painful, but the big hole to fill is at quarterback where steady star Brian Johnson is gone; Corbin Louks will get the first look. The three starting receivers and RB Darrell Mack are gone, but there are good players waiting to step up. Nine starters return on defense, led by Sylvester Stevenson and a strong linebacking corps. Louie Sakoda was an all-timer of a kicker who won’t be easily replaced.
21. Tennessee 2008 Record: 5-7 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 66
Vol fans won’t have Phil Fulmer to kick around anymore. Lane Kiffin has to prove he can actually coach, at least be a head coach, with his first job to spark the offense that was so woeful under offensive coordinator Dave Clawson, who left to take over the Bowling Green head coaching job. Eight offensive starters return with the biggest question at quarterback. Will it be Jonathan Crompton or B.J. Coleman or Nick Stephens? The defense was great last year, but the performance was lost on the college football world because of the offense. If Eric Berry isn’t the best safety in America, and maybe the best defensive player, if it’s not USC’s Taylor Mays, and five other strong starters return. The big issue could be on the defensive line with DE Robert Ayers and DT Demonte Bolden gone.
22. Pitt 2008 Record: 9-4 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 13
Another year, another season when Pitt is supposed to be really, really good. The team was actually strong last year, even with the weird 3-0 Sun Bowl loss to Oregon State, and now it loses its best player on offense (RB LeSean McCoy) and defense (LB Scott McKillop). However, QB Bill Stull should be decent and he has a strong receiving corps to throw to. Three starters return to the offensive line, while seven starters are back on what should be one of the Big East’s best defenses. Replacing PK Conor Lee and P Dave Brytus won’t be easy.
23. West Virginia 2008 Record: 9-4 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 29
Last season really wasn’t that bad. It wasn’t a BCS year, but it was still a decent campaign under Bill Stewart. Now the big question will be whether or not Jarrett Brown is really ready for the full-time job now that Pat White is gone. The offensive line is the other issue with four starters gone including LB Greg Isdaner, who took off a year early. Fortunately, the defense that was so good throughout last season should pick up the slack for any problems on offense. LB Mortty Ivy is gone, but eight starters return. The Mountaineers were second in the nation in net punting, but Pat McAfee is gone.
24. Boise State 2008 Record: 12-1 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 6
The Broncos will end up ranked much higher than this based on record, but talent-wise, they’re just on the edge of the to 25 … that’s not a rip. This is a team worthy of playing with the big boys on a regular basis with QB Kellen Moore and RB Jeremy Avery returning to the backfield, working behind three starters on the line. The receiving corps needs work, but should be fine. The defense that never gets enough credit has to replace linebackers Kyle Gingg and Tim Brady, but gets almost everyone else back including all-stars DE Ryan Winterswyk and CB Kyle Wilson.
25. TCU 2008 Record: 11-2 2008 Final CFN Season Rank: 8
All-America DE Jerry Hughes is back, but most of the stars on the tremendous defense of last year are gone. Just four starters return on defense, but there were some decent backups ready to step in and the secondary should be among the best in the Mountain West. The offense might not be a steamroller, but QB Andy Dalton leads a good group with a solid backfield and Jimmy Young back as the best receiver.
Who won't be there at seasons end
Last year 10 of the preseason top 25 were not there at seasons end. If that happens again who might not be there when all is said and done.
Maybe: Ohio St, Utah, Oregon, Nebraska, Maimi Fl, Utah, Pitt, Clemson, Neb, and Georgia. Who knows maybe they all stick this year. But if say ten disappear again who will replace them. Maybe: Kansas, Oregon St, Iowa, Arkansas, S. Flor, N.Dame, Texas Tech, B.Y.U., Florida State, surely not Arizona.
Preseason rankings are predicated on analyzing schedules and predicting wins and losses and usually there is not as much thought put into it as we might think. I put very little thought into what I said above if you get my drift.
I guess the word of caution is always the same, do not let these preseason polls make you lose your focus. When all is said and done no one pulls these back out and sees how they actually turned out. Ok, I do.
Last year 10 of the preseason top 25 were not there at seasons end. If that happens again who might not be there when all is said and done.
Maybe: Ohio St, Utah, Oregon, Nebraska, Maimi Fl, Utah, Pitt, Clemson, Neb, and Georgia. Who knows maybe they all stick this year. But if say ten disappear again who will replace them. Maybe: Kansas, Oregon St, Iowa, Arkansas, S. Flor, N.Dame, Texas Tech, B.Y.U., Florida State, surely not Arizona.
Preseason rankings are predicated on analyzing schedules and predicting wins and losses and usually there is not as much thought put into it as we might think. I put very little thought into what I said above if you get my drift.
I guess the word of caution is always the same, do not let these preseason polls make you lose your focus. When all is said and done no one pulls these back out and sees how they actually turned out. Ok, I do.
2008 clock changes shortened game
May 14, 2009 10:30 AM
Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich
AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. -- There was a bit of concern when two new clock changes were implemented last season, but after further review, they shortened the game without negative results.
Last year the play clock was changed to 40 seconds. The moment a play ended, the official put his hand up, 40 seconds went on the clock and the offense could snap it. In the past, the referee designated when it was ready for play and there was a 25 second clock. There were different paces. The change eliminated that. The teams determined the pace, but made it a consistent play clock. It sped the game up because teams weren't waiting on officials.
The second change made last year was to the clock when the ball went out of bounds. In years past, the clock didn't start until the next snap. Now, when the offical inbounds the ball and puts it on the hashmark, the clock starts immediately (other than the last two minutes). It eliminated more dead time. The fear from the coaches, though, was that it would eliminate plays, too. ACC coordinator of officials Doug Rhoads said the games were shortened by an average of 12 minutes and only lost an average of nine offensive plays. That's about one play per team per quarter.
"It didn't impact the loss of plays, it did speed the game up so I think it did what we wanted," Rhoads said. "It didn't alter what the game looked like but it sure made it quicker, and that was the goal."
May 14, 2009 10:30 AM
Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich
AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. -- There was a bit of concern when two new clock changes were implemented last season, but after further review, they shortened the game without negative results.
Last year the play clock was changed to 40 seconds. The moment a play ended, the official put his hand up, 40 seconds went on the clock and the offense could snap it. In the past, the referee designated when it was ready for play and there was a 25 second clock. There were different paces. The change eliminated that. The teams determined the pace, but made it a consistent play clock. It sped the game up because teams weren't waiting on officials.
The second change made last year was to the clock when the ball went out of bounds. In years past, the clock didn't start until the next snap. Now, when the offical inbounds the ball and puts it on the hashmark, the clock starts immediately (other than the last two minutes). It eliminated more dead time. The fear from the coaches, though, was that it would eliminate plays, too. ACC coordinator of officials Doug Rhoads said the games were shortened by an average of 12 minutes and only lost an average of nine offensive plays. That's about one play per team per quarter.
"It didn't impact the loss of plays, it did speed the game up so I think it did what we wanted," Rhoads said. "It didn't alter what the game looked like but it sure made it quicker, and that was the goal."
:think2: Cannon won't start and isn't even one of the top 2-3 best receivers on the team. I fail to see how he's going to possibly break out this season. Don't get me wrong, he's talented, but the Terps have a logjam at wideout and I don't see him averaging more than 20 yards per game receiving.
Big East power rankings, post-spring edition
May 15, 2009 10:26 AM
Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
Here it is, the day I've been dreading. It's time to roll out our post-spring Big East power rankings.
I saw five of the eight teams in person this spring, which you think would give me a good handle on revising my pre-spring rankings. Instead, I only grew more confused by seeing a bunch of flawed teams.
I'm going to approach this not as an evaluation of whom I think will win the conference, because a lot of that will have to do with the schedule and which teams figure things out the fastest. I'm going to rank these teams based simply on where they are right now. I'm even going to cop out with some ties, because it's just too hard to filter (and really, with a seven-game schedule, there will be ties in the standings).
Deep breath. OK, let's give it a shot:
1. Cincinnati: Almost by default, I'm giving the top spot to last year's champs. The Bearcats should field an explosive offense with senior quarterback Tony Pike and receiver Mardy Gilyard leading the way. The big question of course was the almost entirely new defense, but I saw enough this spring to have faith that Cincinnati will be at least competent on that side of the ball.
2. Rutgers: I wrote before the spring that the Scarlet Knights may be a year away from being the best team in this league. And they still need to settle the quarterback situation and locate some help for Tim Brown at receiver. But everything else looks solid, including an offensive line that returns intact. Perhaps the timetable will be accelerated.
3. Pittsburgh: The offense looked putrid in the spring game, failing to score a single touchdown. Dan Marino isn't walking through that door at quarterback. Still, this may be the most overall talented team in the league, especially on the defensive side. Assuming Jonathan Baldwin doesn't miss serious time after his misdemeanor arrest, Pitt will find ways to score points.
T-4. West Virginia: Surprised to see the Mountaineers this low? Yes, they have playmakers on offense in Jarrett Brown, Noel Devine and some improving receivers. Yes, they have proven, veteran standouts on defense. But that offensive line scares me right now. So I'm curbing my enthusiasm.
T-4. South Florida: Matt Grothe and George Selvie give the Bulls the best returning duo in the league, but the team is young elsewhere. The offensive line is a huge question mark. The influx of talent coming to campus this summer should help. For once, South Florida might be better in November than September.
T-4. Connecticut: I ranked the Huskies sixth in my pre-spring poll before realizing that it's always a bad idea to underestimate Randy Edsall's team. I sense a quiet confidence in Storrs about this year, even with the loss of four first- and second-round NFL draft picks. I think the defense will be sound and deep. It will come down to how well Zach Frazer and the offense manage the new no-huddle attack.
7. Syracuse: Greg Paulus isn't enough to lift the Orange any higher from before the spring. There are still lots of holes on this roster from an overall talent standpoint, but I like the Orange to at least double their Big East win total this year. Of course, just two wins would accomplish that goal.
8. Louisville: I didn't see very much this spring to change my mind that it's going to be a long year for the Cardinals. They do have some impressive skill players at receiver and in the backfield, led by Victor Anderson. But they lack the necessary horses in the trenches right now.
May 15, 2009 10:26 AM
Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
Here it is, the day I've been dreading. It's time to roll out our post-spring Big East power rankings.
I saw five of the eight teams in person this spring, which you think would give me a good handle on revising my pre-spring rankings. Instead, I only grew more confused by seeing a bunch of flawed teams.
I'm going to approach this not as an evaluation of whom I think will win the conference, because a lot of that will have to do with the schedule and which teams figure things out the fastest. I'm going to rank these teams based simply on where they are right now. I'm even going to cop out with some ties, because it's just too hard to filter (and really, with a seven-game schedule, there will be ties in the standings).
Deep breath. OK, let's give it a shot:
1. Cincinnati: Almost by default, I'm giving the top spot to last year's champs. The Bearcats should field an explosive offense with senior quarterback Tony Pike and receiver Mardy Gilyard leading the way. The big question of course was the almost entirely new defense, but I saw enough this spring to have faith that Cincinnati will be at least competent on that side of the ball.
2. Rutgers: I wrote before the spring that the Scarlet Knights may be a year away from being the best team in this league. And they still need to settle the quarterback situation and locate some help for Tim Brown at receiver. But everything else looks solid, including an offensive line that returns intact. Perhaps the timetable will be accelerated.
3. Pittsburgh: The offense looked putrid in the spring game, failing to score a single touchdown. Dan Marino isn't walking through that door at quarterback. Still, this may be the most overall talented team in the league, especially on the defensive side. Assuming Jonathan Baldwin doesn't miss serious time after his misdemeanor arrest, Pitt will find ways to score points.
T-4. West Virginia: Surprised to see the Mountaineers this low? Yes, they have playmakers on offense in Jarrett Brown, Noel Devine and some improving receivers. Yes, they have proven, veteran standouts on defense. But that offensive line scares me right now. So I'm curbing my enthusiasm.
T-4. South Florida: Matt Grothe and George Selvie give the Bulls the best returning duo in the league, but the team is young elsewhere. The offensive line is a huge question mark. The influx of talent coming to campus this summer should help. For once, South Florida might be better in November than September.
T-4. Connecticut: I ranked the Huskies sixth in my pre-spring poll before realizing that it's always a bad idea to underestimate Randy Edsall's team. I sense a quiet confidence in Storrs about this year, even with the loss of four first- and second-round NFL draft picks. I think the defense will be sound and deep. It will come down to how well Zach Frazer and the offense manage the new no-huddle attack.
7. Syracuse: Greg Paulus isn't enough to lift the Orange any higher from before the spring. There are still lots of holes on this roster from an overall talent standpoint, but I like the Orange to at least double their Big East win total this year. Of course, just two wins would accomplish that goal.
8. Louisville: I didn't see very much this spring to change my mind that it's going to be a long year for the Cardinals. They do have some impressive skill players at receiver and in the backfield, led by Victor Anderson. But they lack the necessary horses in the trenches right now.
Post-spring Pac-10 power rankings
May 15, 2009 10:57 AM
Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller
Spring practices are over and the long, hot summer has begun, which means teams are doing as much now to set the course for the 2009 season as anytime during the year -- either positively or negatively.
So where does everybody stand, and how do their positions compare to before spring?
See below.
1. USC: The gap between the Trojans and the other nine actually grew. Spring questions at quarterback and along the defensive front seven were more than adequately answered. This is a top-five team and national title contender.
2. California: The only real question with the Bears -- other than whether they can keep running back Jahvid Best healthy -- is quarterback. Lots of observers believe incumbent starter Kevin Riley did enough during the spring to take a decisive lead. But the question remains whether one of those observers is coach Jeff Tedford.
3. Oregon: The Ducks entered spring with issues at receiver and both lines. Receiver and the defensive line get checks. The offensive line got an incomplete due to injuries. But if Chip Kelly's Greatest Show on Two-Toned Turf is going to fly again, it's going to need some quality big uglies.
4. Oregon State: The Beavers have a lot of question marks -- even at quarterback, where they've got two quality starters. Injuries left some of those questions incomplete, though the receivers and defensive line stepped up during the spring. This is a top-25 team -- again -- if quality answers are found at cornerback and on the offensive line.
5. Arizona: The quarterback competition was encouraging, with Adam Scott appearing to earn a lead over Nick Foles. Coach Mike Stoops gushed about his defense. Things might be a little iffy on the offensive line, but the Wildcats don't appear headed for a slide after their first bowl appearance in a decade.
6. Stanford: Stanford is the only real mover in the power rankings, jumping UCLA and Arizona State for one reason: offensive line (are you noticing a theme here?). With 17 starters back, and redshirt freshman Andrew Luck being mostly spectacular all spring, the Cardinal appear very close to a breakthrough. And our hunch is running back Toby Gerhart will be back next fall, instead of signing a baseball contract.
7. UCLA: UCLA could be the surprise team in the Pac-10 this year. There are a lot of reasons to like the Bruins, particularly on defense. But the offense is, charitably, a work in progress. Quarterback Kevin Prince played poorly in three scrimmages, and the problems on the offensive line went unsolved.
8. Arizona State: The Sun Devils are much like the Bruins. Good defense, questions on offense, particularly on the line. And, much like the Bruins, if things fall into place -- namely the injured offensive linemen get healthy and play to expectations -- this should be a bowl team. The feeling here is there's little separation between Nos. 5, 6, 7 and 8.
9. Washington: It's been a tough run up in Seattle, but the most substantial whiffs of optimism in years are wafting into the (moist) Puget Sound air. Jake Locker looked comfortable running a pro-style offense, and the Huskies as a whole played faster and with more intensity. Still, they were 0-12 last year. Got to wait and see on how much fairy dust Steve Sarkisian will sprinkle on the 2009 season.
10. Washington State: Injuries across the board made it hard to measure where the Cougars are at the end of spring practices, starting with quarterback Marshall Lobbestael. Depth is an issue at just about every position other than running back. Youngsters with little or no experience are going to have to play immediately at a number of spots, most notably on the defensive line. If the Cougars are going to move up in the Pac-10 in 2009, they need to stay healthy.
May 15, 2009 10:57 AM
Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller
Spring practices are over and the long, hot summer has begun, which means teams are doing as much now to set the course for the 2009 season as anytime during the year -- either positively or negatively.
So where does everybody stand, and how do their positions compare to before spring?
See below.
1. USC: The gap between the Trojans and the other nine actually grew. Spring questions at quarterback and along the defensive front seven were more than adequately answered. This is a top-five team and national title contender.
2. California: The only real question with the Bears -- other than whether they can keep running back Jahvid Best healthy -- is quarterback. Lots of observers believe incumbent starter Kevin Riley did enough during the spring to take a decisive lead. But the question remains whether one of those observers is coach Jeff Tedford.
3. Oregon: The Ducks entered spring with issues at receiver and both lines. Receiver and the defensive line get checks. The offensive line got an incomplete due to injuries. But if Chip Kelly's Greatest Show on Two-Toned Turf is going to fly again, it's going to need some quality big uglies.
4. Oregon State: The Beavers have a lot of question marks -- even at quarterback, where they've got two quality starters. Injuries left some of those questions incomplete, though the receivers and defensive line stepped up during the spring. This is a top-25 team -- again -- if quality answers are found at cornerback and on the offensive line.
5. Arizona: The quarterback competition was encouraging, with Adam Scott appearing to earn a lead over Nick Foles. Coach Mike Stoops gushed about his defense. Things might be a little iffy on the offensive line, but the Wildcats don't appear headed for a slide after their first bowl appearance in a decade.
6. Stanford: Stanford is the only real mover in the power rankings, jumping UCLA and Arizona State for one reason: offensive line (are you noticing a theme here?). With 17 starters back, and redshirt freshman Andrew Luck being mostly spectacular all spring, the Cardinal appear very close to a breakthrough. And our hunch is running back Toby Gerhart will be back next fall, instead of signing a baseball contract.
7. UCLA: UCLA could be the surprise team in the Pac-10 this year. There are a lot of reasons to like the Bruins, particularly on defense. But the offense is, charitably, a work in progress. Quarterback Kevin Prince played poorly in three scrimmages, and the problems on the offensive line went unsolved.
8. Arizona State: The Sun Devils are much like the Bruins. Good defense, questions on offense, particularly on the line. And, much like the Bruins, if things fall into place -- namely the injured offensive linemen get healthy and play to expectations -- this should be a bowl team. The feeling here is there's little separation between Nos. 5, 6, 7 and 8.
9. Washington: It's been a tough run up in Seattle, but the most substantial whiffs of optimism in years are wafting into the (moist) Puget Sound air. Jake Locker looked comfortable running a pro-style offense, and the Huskies as a whole played faster and with more intensity. Still, they were 0-12 last year. Got to wait and see on how much fairy dust Steve Sarkisian will sprinkle on the 2009 season.
10. Washington State: Injuries across the board made it hard to measure where the Cougars are at the end of spring practices, starting with quarterback Marshall Lobbestael. Depth is an issue at just about every position other than running back. Youngsters with little or no experience are going to have to play immediately at a number of spots, most notably on the defensive line. If the Cougars are going to move up in the Pac-10 in 2009, they need to stay healthy.
Non-BCS post-spring rankings
May 15, 2009 10:57 AM
Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson
Spring practice is over, and it's now up to the players to determine what type of team they want to be a part of. These rankings are different than my last set because they reflect the teams having gone through spring football and filling major needs. These rankings are probably closer to what the rankings will look like at the start of the season, but a couple teams still have big questions to answer and holes to fill.
1. TCU -- This spring the Horned Frogs made up for their losses on defense and developed some good depth on both sides of the ball. The Horned Frogs have a favorable schedule and should be the frontrunner as a BCS buster when the season begins.
2. Boise State -- The Broncos have just five seniors on the team, but the young guys got it done last year and can do so again. An early win against Oregon sets the tone for the entire season.
3. Notre Dame -- It's hard not to like the Irish, especially with lots of talent returning on offense and an incredibly favorable schedule. The Irish also bring in some high-level recruits who should be able to provide immediate help.
4. BYU -- The Cougars changed their attitude this spring and decided to detach themselves from the expectations of fans and media and start focusing on the fun aspects of football. Whether that will translate into wins, especially with a tough nonconference schedule, is to be determined.
5. Utah -- The Utes still have questions on offense, mostly at quarterback, and there's a lot of young, unproven talent at the skill positions. The defensive front will be the strength, while the question is whether the secondary can be as strong as in the past.
6. East Carolina -- The reigning Conference USA champs will again be favored with almost the entire team returning. Players said they were more confident this spring and are ready to take the next step toward changing the program.
7. Nevada -- The Wolf Pack might have the best running game in the country this year with quarterback Colin Kaepernick and running backs Vai Taua and Luke Lippincott. But if Kaepernick can throw, this team could be every bit as dangerous as Boise State.
8. Houston -- The offense is going to be strong, but the defense suffered some major losses to graduation. The Cougars had a good spring, though, and developed some of the depth waiting in the wings.
9. Troy -- I know the Sun Belt isn't one of the higher-level conferences, but the Trojans are for real. They're offense will give its opponents fits and their defense is littered with potential draft picks.
10. Navy -- The Midshipmen lost their entire backfield, but quarterback Ricky Dobbs had a great spring and the rest of the team came along as spring progressed. I even think we'll see a passing game in the Navy offense this year.
May 15, 2009 10:57 AM
Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson
Spring practice is over, and it's now up to the players to determine what type of team they want to be a part of. These rankings are different than my last set because they reflect the teams having gone through spring football and filling major needs. These rankings are probably closer to what the rankings will look like at the start of the season, but a couple teams still have big questions to answer and holes to fill.
1. TCU -- This spring the Horned Frogs made up for their losses on defense and developed some good depth on both sides of the ball. The Horned Frogs have a favorable schedule and should be the frontrunner as a BCS buster when the season begins.
2. Boise State -- The Broncos have just five seniors on the team, but the young guys got it done last year and can do so again. An early win against Oregon sets the tone for the entire season.
3. Notre Dame -- It's hard not to like the Irish, especially with lots of talent returning on offense and an incredibly favorable schedule. The Irish also bring in some high-level recruits who should be able to provide immediate help.
4. BYU -- The Cougars changed their attitude this spring and decided to detach themselves from the expectations of fans and media and start focusing on the fun aspects of football. Whether that will translate into wins, especially with a tough nonconference schedule, is to be determined.
5. Utah -- The Utes still have questions on offense, mostly at quarterback, and there's a lot of young, unproven talent at the skill positions. The defensive front will be the strength, while the question is whether the secondary can be as strong as in the past.
6. East Carolina -- The reigning Conference USA champs will again be favored with almost the entire team returning. Players said they were more confident this spring and are ready to take the next step toward changing the program.
7. Nevada -- The Wolf Pack might have the best running game in the country this year with quarterback Colin Kaepernick and running backs Vai Taua and Luke Lippincott. But if Kaepernick can throw, this team could be every bit as dangerous as Boise State.
8. Houston -- The offense is going to be strong, but the defense suffered some major losses to graduation. The Cougars had a good spring, though, and developed some of the depth waiting in the wings.
9. Troy -- I know the Sun Belt isn't one of the higher-level conferences, but the Trojans are for real. They're offense will give its opponents fits and their defense is littered with potential draft picks.
10. Navy -- The Midshipmen lost their entire backfield, but quarterback Ricky Dobbs had a great spring and the rest of the team came along as spring progressed. I even think we'll see a passing game in the Navy offense this year.
