NCAA Offensive Player of the Year:
Winner: QB Cameron Newton, Auburn
Newton took an 8-5 team and has them playing in the National Championship Game. He's the highest rated passer in all of College Football and he's 13th in rushing (including leading the SEC in rushing....as a QB).He has 20 TD running the football, 28 passing and he even caught a TD pass against Ole Miss. What more is there to say? He was amazing to watch. His stats were incredible and his highlights were even more jaw-dropping. He was a sensation.
Runner-Up: RB LaMichael James, Oregon
Honorable Mention: QB Andrew Luck (Stanford), QB Denard Robinson (Michigan), QB Dan Persa (Northwestern), QB Ryan Mallet (Arkansas), QB Kellen Moore (Boise St), QB Andy Dalton (TCU), WR Justin Blackmon (Oklahoma St)
NCAA Defensive Player of the Year:
Winner: DE Da'Quan Bowers, Clemson
He led the Nation in sacks with 15 averaging 1.15 per game. He was second in the Nation (to Ryan Kerrigan of Purdue) with 25 tackles for loss.
Runner-Up: DT Nick Fairley, Auburn
Honorable Mention: DE Ryan Kerrigan (Purdue), CB Patrick Peterson (LSU), CB Jaron Hosley (Virginia Tech), LB Von Miller (Texas A&M), LB Luke Kuechly (Boston College)
NCAA Coach of the Year:
Winner: Chip Kelly, Oregon
Kelly has really developed Oregon into an offensive juggernaut. They score the most points at 49.3 per game and also gain the most yards at 537 per game. But they aren't a one-dimensional football team as their defense also ranks 12th in points allowed at 18 per game. Kelly has this machine running and he just fills in the pieces as needed.
Runner-Up: Jim Harbaugh, Stanford
Honorable Mention: Randy Edsall (UConn), Bret Bielema (Wisconsin), Gene Chizik (Auburn), Michael Haywood (Miami/OH), Mark Dantonio (Michigan State), Dan Mullen (Mississippi State), Doug Marrone (Syracuse), Gary Patterson (TCU), Mike Gundy (Oklahoma State)
NCAA Coordinator of the Year:
Winner: Gus Malzahn, Auburn
Sure Malzahn has Cam Newton to thank but Malzahn did a great job this year molding his offense into an offense that best fits Cam Newton and his personnel. Malzahn would probably rather throw the ball all over the field but he saw what would help his team win and made some tweaks as the season went on.Without Malzahn, Auburn is not playing in the National Championship Game...it's that simple.
Runner-Up: Dana Holgorsen, Oklahoma State
Honorable Mention: Dick Bumpas (TCU), Mark Helfich (Oregon), Scott Shafer (Syracuse), John Chavis (LSU), Paul Chryst (Wisconsin), Bryan Harsin (Boise State), Kirby Smart (Alabama)
SEC Player of the Year:
Winner: QB Cam Newton, Auburn
Do we need to re-hash this? If he's the NCAA Offensive Player of the Year then we are also taking him for SEC Player of the Year.
Runner-Up: QB Ryan Mallett, Arkansas
Honorable Mention: DT Nick Fairley (Auburn), WR Alshon Jeffrey (South Carolina), RB Marcus Lattimore (South Carolina), CB Patrick Peterson (LSU), WR Julio Jones (Alabama)
Big Ten Player of the Year:
Winner: QB Denard Robinson, Michigan
This was a very tight race between Robinson and Persa but ultimately Robinson stats were just too good to ignore. As a QB Robinson rushed for 1702 yards (second to only Mikel Leshoure of Illinois who rushed for 4 more yards than Denard) averaging 6.6 yards per carry. Robinson also threw for 2570 yards. Without Robinson, Michigan doesn't go to a bowl game.
Runner-UP: QB Dan Persa, Northwestern
Honorable Mention: DE Ryan Kerrigan (Purdue), RB Mikel Leshoure (Illinois), QB Kirk Cousins (Michigan State), QB Scott Tolzien (Wisconsin), QB Terrelle Pryor (Ohio State), WR Dan Sanzenbacher (Ohio State), RB Montee Ball (Wisconsin), RB James White (Wisconsin)
Big 12 Player of the Year:
Co-Winner: WR Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State
Blackmon finished his freshman season with 20 receptions for 2 TD. This year he had 111 receptions for 1782 yards (and that's missing a game) and was a big reason for Oklahoma State exceeding everybody's expectations this year. Blackmon finished 3rd in the Nation in receptions, 2nd in receiving yards, 2nd in receptions per game and 1st in TD. He was a difference maker in the Big 12.
Co-Winner: QB Landry Jones, Oklahoma
What a difference a year makes. Landry really blossomed this year and helped the Sooners rebound from a disappointing 8-5 season to winning the Big 12 and playing in a BCS bowl game. Landry finished 2nd in the Nation in Passing Yards (only Bryant Moniz of Hawai'i had more) and passing TD with 38 (2nd again to Moniz).
Honorable Mention: WR Ryan Broyles (Oklahoma), QB Robert Griffin (Baylor), QB Brandon Weeden (Oklahoma State), RB Kendall Hunter (Oklahoma State), RB Daniel Thomas (Kansas State), LB Von Miller (Texas A&M)
ACC Player of the Year:
Winner: QB Tyrod Taylor, Virginia Tech
The season could not have started out worse for Virginia Tech as they lost to Boise State and then fell victim of an unfathomable upset at the hands of James Madison. Behind Tyrod's Senior Leadership the Hokies rebounded and won 11 straight regular season games and went undefeated in the ACC. Taylor passed for 2743 yards and had a great TD to INT ratio (24 TD and only 5 INT). He finished the year as the highest rated passer in the ACC (a conference that also includes Christian Ponder, Russell Wilson, Kyle Parker and T.J. Yates). Tyrod also placed in the Top 15 in the ACC in rushing as he finished with 659 yards and 5 TD running the football.
Runner-Up: DE Da'Quan Bowers, Clemson
Honorable Mention: QB Russell Wilson (NC State), QB T.J. Yates (UNC), CB Jayron Hosley (VT), RB Montel Harris (BC), WR Torrey Smith (Maryland)
Big East Player of the Year
Winner: RB Jordan Todman (UConn)
UConn rode Todman to their first BCS birth and Big East Championship. Todman had an incredible year and led the Big East in rushing and came in 3rd Nationally (only 11 yards behind Mikel Leshoure and 7 behind Denard Robinson) despite missing the game against Buffalo. Todman was a symbol of consistency as he rushed for over 100 yards in 10 of the 12 games he played and his lowest output of the year was 80 yards.
Runner-Up: QB Geno Smith (WVU)
Honorable Mention: RB Bilal Powell (Louisville), QB Ryan Nassib (Syracuse), WR Armon Binns (Cincy), DE Bruce Irvin (WVU), DT Jabaal Sheard (Pitt), CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson (UConn)
Pac-10 Player of the Year
Winner: RB LaMicheal James, Oregon
James finished 3rd in the Heisman voting behind Cam Newton and Andrew Luck but we picked James over Luck (by the narrowest of margins). James was a Tour de Force for Oregon running up 1682 yards at 5.99 yards per clip and also scoring 21 TDs. James did all of this while also missing a game against one of the weakest opponents on Oregon's schedule. Like Todman, James was a model of consistency gaining over 100 yards in 9 of Oregon's 11 games played (so far) and he also gained over 90 yards in every game he played.
Runner-Up: QB Andrew Luck, Stanford
Honorable Mention: QB Darron Thomas (Oregon), RB Jacquizz Rodgers (Oregon St), QB Nick Foles (Arizona), WR Juron Criner (Arizona), WR Jeff Maehl (Oregon)
Non-BCS Conference Player of the Year
Winner: QB Kellen Moore, Boise State
Moore has done everything that Boise State has asked him to do. He engineered a game winning drive in the season opening victory against Virginia Tech and put them in the same position against Nevada before a very make-able FG was missed. Moore was 2nd to only Cam Newton in Passer Rating and posted an incredible TD/INT ratio (35 to 6).
Runner-Up: QB Andy Dalton, TCU
Honorable Mention: QB Colin Kapaernick (Nevada), QB Bryant Moniz (Hawai'i), QB Dominique Davis (ECU), RB Vai Taua (Nevada), QB Ryan Lindley (SDSU), QB Chandler Harnish (NIU), WR Greg Salas (Hawai'i)
Showing posts with label UConn Huskies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label UConn Huskies. Show all posts
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
The Six Pack Games of the Week: September 2-6
Every week, I'll throw a spotlight on the six most interesting games of the weekend to tell you why these are the games you should try to catch, who's going to win (and why), and what ramifications they could have on the rest of the college football landscape.
Pittsburgh @ Utah (8:30pm EST, Versus)
While ESPN continues to torment us with a third-straight year of featuring South Carolina in the Thursday-night opener, Versus has stepped up to the plate with a game of actual intrigue. Unlike most opening week affairs, it pits two teams with a pulse against one another; in fact, these two teams are legitimate contenders to win their respective conferences. So it's got that going for it. It's also a rematch of the 2005 Fiesta Bowl, which would probably be more meaningful if it hadn't been, you know, one of the worst BCS bowl games in recent memory. You're probably going to watch just about anything on the first night of real college football in eight months, but here's a game that shouldn't just be empty calories.
THE PICK: Utah 27, Pitt 23
SATURDAY, SEP. 4
Purdue @ Notre Dame (3:30pm EST, NBC)
I wouldn't normally focus on a game featuring two unranked teams in this feature, but the pickings are slim on the opening weekend and this game should actually be fairly intriguing. On one side you've got Purdue entering Year 2 of the Danny Hope Era with hopes of new QB Robert Marve and stud DE Ryan Kerrigan spearheading a dark horse Big Ten challenge -- or at least a return to a bowl game for the first time in three years. On the other side you've got Notre Dame getting their first taste of life without Charlie Weis -- and life with Brian Kelly. Love or loathe Notre Dame, their first steps under Brian Kelly should be interesting -- and if you like high-scoring passing offenses, this game should have a couple good ones.
THE PICK: Notre Dame 34, Purdue 31
Connecticut @ Michigan (3:30pm EST, ABC/ESPN)
UConn's a slightly under the radar pick to win the Big East, and a win over Michigan (even Michigan in its current emaciated state) would be a hell of a way to jump-start that campaign. They have plenty of returning talent from a squad that was just a few plays away from being a 10-win team a year ago and they have a hard-nosed, underrated coach in Randy Edsall who's resisted overtures from bigger programs to try and do something special in Storrs; this year's team may be his best bet to do just that. Meanwhile, Michigan enters the season with a defensive secondary in shambles, uncertainty at quarterback, the lingering malaise of the last two bowl-less seasons, and a coach under intense fire to prove that his system can work in Ann Arbor. Oh, and Michigan's lost two of their last three season openers. So, you know, no pressure or anything.
THE PICK: UConn 35, Michigan 28
TCU vs. Oregon State (7:45pm EST, ESPN)
Boise State gets most of the preseason plaudits among the non-BCS crowd since they return twenty starters and are coming off a 14-0 season and a win over this same TCU team in the Fiesta Bowl. On the other hand, TCU returns a ton of talent in their own right (9 on offense, 7 on defense) and should be very, very good in their own right. This game is an early (and rare, given their normal presence on the TV ghetto that is The MTN) chance for them to state their case in front of a national audience, which should have them plenty fired up. Given their relative starting positions in the polls TCU is likely going to need Boise State to slip up somewhere to move ahead of them in the hunt for a guaranteed BCS slot -- or even a spot in the national title game, which is a realistic possibility with both teams starting in the top 10. But in Oregon State, TCU should have a solid test on their hands; the Beavers have to break in a new QB, but they do bring back both of the fabulous Rodgers brothers.
THE PICK: TCU 31, Oregon State 17
LSU vs. North Carolina (8:00pm EST, ABC)
To be fair, this game looked a hell of a lot more interesting before damn near the entire North Carolina starting defense was rumored to be suspended for various rules violations; back before that it looked like it was going to pit a pair of nasty defenses and two teams that are vaguely dark horse picks to win their respective conferences. Now you have a UNC team mired in scandal, likely to be missing multiple players off what was expected to be a very strong defense. LSU has question marks of their own, but nothing like what UNC is facing and they have the added benefit of not having to deal with distracting scandals and having a better offense. This game has turned into a de facto SEC-ACC Challenge; so far the SEC is 2-0, with Alabama picking up wins over Clemson and Virginia Tech. LSU should make it three in a row without too much difficulty.
THE PICK: LSU 27, UNC 14
MONDAY, SEP. 6
Boise State vs. Virginia Tech (8:00pm EST, ESPN)
These are the games where Boise has excelled in their rise to prominence over the past few years, splashy non-conference showdowns in which they have weeks to prepare for their opponent. And, as has been noted in just about every preview written about them, they return 20 of 22 starters from last year's 14-0 team. That's a good thing. On the other hand, they've never quite played a game like this one; the game is ostensibly at a "neutral site," but it's in FedEx Field at Washington, D.C., a few skips and jump away from the Hokies' home base in Blacksburg, VA -- and quite a few hops away from Boise. There should be no lack of motivation from the Hokies, either; they're ranked high enough to largely control their own national title destiny at this stage of the season and a win over a top-5 squad like Boise will only shoot them higher. Past BSU victims in high-profile games (Oklahoma in the '07 Fiesta or TCU in the '10 Fiesta) could point to the fact that the Fiesta Bowl was a consolation prize; Oklahoma had missed out on the national title game because of a pair of regular season losses (to Colorado and Texas Tech), while TCU had missed out on the national title game on account of Texas' last-second field goal in the Big XII Conference Championship Game. There won't be any such issues hampering Virginia Tech this year and there should be little reason for them to overlook Boise State after Boise's near-constant success over the past five years. There are some interesting match-ups to watch in the game, too; can Boise handle Virginia Tech's punishing running game (which should be even better with a healthy Darren Evans to spell Ryan Williams) and the athleticism of Tyrod Taylor? Conversely, can Virginia Tech's rebuilt defense handle the high-powered and experienced Boise offense, especially the pinpoint passing of Kellen Moore? It should be a fascinating battle.
THE PICK: Virginia Tech 28, Boise State 21
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Big East Preview
2009 Standings
Cincinnati 12-1 (7-0)
Pittsburgh 10-3 (5-2)
West Virginia 9-4 (5-2)
Rutgers 9-4 (3-4)
Connecticut 8-5 (3-4)
South Florida (8-5 (3-4)
Louisville 4-8 (1-6)
Syracuse 4-8 (1-6)
Returning Leaders: Passing
Tom Savage, Rutgers, Soph (149 of 285 for 2211 yds, 14 TD, 7 INT)
B.J. Daniels, USF, Soph (122 of 227 for 1983, 14 TD, 9 INT)
Zach Collaros, Cincy, Jr (93 of 124 for 1434, 10 TD, 2 INT)
Returning Leaders: Rushing
Dion Lewis, Pitt, Soph (325 carries for 1799 yds, 17 TD, 5.5 ypc)
Noel Devine, WVU, Sr (241 carries for 1465 yds, 13 TD, 6.0 ypc)
Jordan Todman, UConn, Jr (235 carries for 1188 yds, 14 TD, 5.0 ypc)
Delone Carter, Syracuse, Sr (236 carries for 1021 yds, 11 TD, 4.3 ypc)
Joe Martinek, Rutgers, Jr (206 carries for 967 yds, 4.6 ypc)
Returning Leaders: Receiving
Jock Sanders, WVU, Sr (72 rec for 688 yds, 3 TD, 5.5 rec/game)
Armon Binns, Cincy, Sr (61 rec for 888 yds, 11 TD, 4.7 rec/game)
Jonathan Baldwin, Pitt, Jr (57 rec for 1111 yds, 8 TD, 4.4 rec/game)
D.J. Woods, Cincy, Jr (51 rec for 640 yds, 4 TD, 4.3 rec/game)
Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers, Soph (51 Rec for 639 yds, 3 TD, 3.9 rec/game)
Returning Leaders: Tackles
Lawrence Wilson, UConn, Sr, LB (140 total, 10.77 tackles/game)
J.K. Schaffer, Cincy, Jr, LB (100 total, 7.69 tackles/game)
Max Gruder, Pitt, Jr, LB (91 total, 7.00 tackles/game)
Greg Lloyd, UConn, Sr, LB (91 total, 8.27 tackles/game)
Dom DeCicco, Pitt, Sr, DB (88 total, 6.7 tackles/game)
Returning Leaders: Sacks
Doug Hogue, Syracuse, Sr, LB (9.5 sacks)
Jonathan Freeny, Rutgers, Sr, DL (9.5)
Julian Miller, WVU, Jr, DL (8.0)
Greg Romeus, Pitt, Sr, DL (8.0)
Returning Leaders: Interceptions
Robert Sands, WVU, Jr, DB (5 interceptions)
Elijah Fields, Pitt, Sr, DB (3)
Michael Holmes, Syracuse, Sr, DB (3)
J.K. Schaffer, Cincy, Jr, LB (3)
Keith Tandy, WVU, Jr, DB (3)
Jarred Holley, Pitt, Soph, DB (3)
Dom DeCicco, Pitt, Sr, DB (3)
Around the Blogosphere
Who is your pick to win the Big East?
Brian Harrison of the Syracuse based blog Orange 44:
I’m picking Pittsburgh.
What could hurt Pitt is their losses on the offensive line. As much as Pitt likes to pound the ball, they will have to recover. They will have another solid offensive year, with new QB sophomore Tino Sunseri behind center. Pitt likes to run the ball more though and they have some great running backs in Dion Lewis, who despite not starting, earned 1,799 yards. Pitt’s fullback, Henry Hynoski, is a straight beast and will give defensive lines and linebackers some nightmares. He doesn’t carry the ball that often, but what he does do is plow the road for running backs. The defense meanwhile has a strong nuclease around Greg Romeus, Greg Williams and Dom Decicco, and should be just fine in stopping both the run and the pass fairly effectively this coming season. They are my pick to win the league.
USF Blogger The Bull Gator:
I'll go with Pitt for the 2010 conference title. This isn't an easy year to pick at all, but I have to go with the Panthers. Louisville and USF challenging for a title is a year or two away and Cincy could take a step back with a new coach. I think the Big East is Pitt's to lose in 2010.
West Virginia Blogger John Radcliff of Eers To You:
I really do think it's WVU's to lose. With 18/19 starters returning, there's no reason this shouldn't be a much more consistent team. Yes, the QB position is still an unknown. But I think this offensive line is going to be much improved and the running backs are going to have a field day with anyone that doesn't put 8 or nine in the box.
There are going to be a lot of good teams in the Big East this year. Good enough that one or two losses in conference might be good enough to win the conference. In my mind, the winner of the WVU-Pitt game will win the Big East.
What is the pivotal game this year?
Brian Harrison of the Syracuse based blog Orange 44:
West Virginia v. Pittsburgh
While UConn thinks they have a great chance to win the league this year, I just don’t see them doing better than really talented Pittsburgh and the always dangerous West Virginia. While Bill Stewart seems like a country buffoon (and he may be), he’s still winning games. He’s 19-8 at WVU and while they have a new QB in the works, they still have running back Noel Devine. For Pittsburgh they have a solid replacement coming out of spring in Tino Sunseri. He’s athletic and has a good arm. I think they have the most talent currently and this game, the “Backyard Brawl”, should decide the outcome of the season for the Big East.
USF Blogger The Bull Gator:
Any game Pitt plays. There are 4 or 5 teams that could win the Big East and if I'm going with Pitt then every game they play is the most pivotal. It's hard to predict the Big East any year. This year is no different. Pitt could lose it any weekend. A two-game losing streak and suddenly someone else is the favorite.
CFBZ Players of the Year
1. Noel Devine, Sr, RB, West Virgina
2. Dion Lewis, Soph, RB, Pittsburgh
3. Zach Collaros, Jr, QB, Cincinnati
4. BJ Daniels, Soph, QB, USF
5. Tom Savage, Soph, QB, Rutgers
Also receiving votes: Greg Romeus/Pitt, Jordan Todman/UConn, Delone Carter/Syracuse, Jonathan Baldwin/Pitt
Breaking Down The Big East
Cincinnati Bearcats
Chris (Prediction: #3): While only returning 12 starters, we're talking about returning 12 starters from a team that was an Alabama or Texas loss away from playing in the National Championship. This team is not just going to drop off of a cliff one year later. Brian Kelly did a fantastic job in his time there, and his players were so well coached that I don't expect it to just wear off under the new regime. With second and third leading receivers back (Armon Binns and D.J. Woods) from an ABSOLUTELY LOADED receiving core (how many 2nd wide receivers do you know that have an 888-yard 11-TD season?), and adding another difference maker in Vidal Hazelton, a USC transfer, to the mix, the Bearcats should be sufficiently reloaded to keep opponents from exploiting their defense. They will play in shootout games, but they will have the offensive firepower to win them. Isaiah Pead will surprise people at running back, and should definitely be considered another weapon on a stocked skill position team. Also, anyone who doesn't have complete faith in Zach Collaros, who calmly stepped in to replace Tony Pike for four games during the middle of an undefeated season, wasn't paying attention. This kid was so efficient that the coaches were forced to consider benching their 5th-year senior quarterback on an undefeated team for the sophomore. That's moxie. He didn't just win, he did so efficiently...while etching his name into the school annals for yards in a game...efficiently. Truth be told, this team is a true sleeper and could end up in a BCS bowl representing the Big East at the end of the year...they can be that good.
Ross (Prediction: #1): Sure, they lost Brian Kelly, Tony Pike, and Mardy Gilyard. Butch Jones already replaced Brian Kelly once -- and in a conference that's only marginally easier than the Big East (I kid, I kid...). Zach Collaros looked tremendous as Pike's fill-in a year ago -- and he's precisely the sort of mobile QB that Jones worked wonders with at Central Michigan (see: LeFevour, Dan). Gilyard will be tricky to replace, but still. The Big East is an utter crapshoot; there's no hugely compelling reason why Cincy couldn't win it for the third straight year.
Connecticut Huskies
Chris (Prediction: #5): Returning 16 starters from an 8-5 which won its last four games in convincing fashion should merit more than 5th place in a middle of the road conference, no? Despite their hot streak at the end of '09, I'm not sold on their QB Zach Frazer, especially with a completely new receiving core. My bet is that while they will be going bowling, the Huskies won't do anything to stand out from the pack in the Big East.
Ross (Prediction: #2): UConn's been on the cusp of Big East greatness for a few years, and as a team fairly loaded with returning starters and one of the most hard luck outfits around in 2009 (they lost five games by a combined 15 points), I figure they might just be due a good run here. Plus, I trust Randy Edsall a hell of a lot more than I do the Wannstache.
Louisville Cardinals
Chris (Prediction: #8): Oh how things have changed at Louisville since the days of defect-o-matic Bobby Petrino. The good news for the Cardinals is that there is always 2011!
Louisville (Prediction: #7): Charlie Strong can't be any worse than Steve Kragthorpe... but it's going to take some time to get some talent in that program.
Pittsburgh Panthers
Chris (Prediction: #2): Despite the fact that the Panthers return one of the nation's leading rushers and budding receivers in Dion Lewis and Jonathan Baldwin, nothing about the rest of this team resembles championship (and I meant Big East). So why am I not buying the Panthers' Kool-Aid? First off Dave Wannstedt is one of the most underwhelming coaches I have ever seen. I have never seen a coach closer to a Butch Davis clone. Secondly, Dion Lewis is vastly overrated. Despite the fact he walked over some pretty bad defenses last year, pundits went gaga over the diminutive back, proclaiming him the best freshman back in the county. I've got news for you guys...Lewis would be lucky to be the fourth best in that group (comfortably behind Trent Richardson, Ryan Williams and LaMichael James in that order). And I'm not sold on a quarterback who as a rising sophomore has thrown only 17 passes. You don't hand championship teams to sophomores with that kind of experience and have it stay that way. I may be wrong, but Pitt could end up as far down as 5 if things turn south with the QB situation, or if the upperclassmen slated to replace big holes on defense don't live up.
Ross (Prediction: #3): there's talent here; as always, the biggest question is whether or not their continued exposure to the Wannstache will doom them yet again. They had the Big East title in their grasp against Cincinnati a year ago, only to collapse in spectacular fashion. That sort of thing just seems to happen to Wannstedt-coached teams, which is why it's difficult to put much faith in them. Also, I'm half-convinced that Wannstedt is going to kill Dion Lewis with his workload this year.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Chris (Prediction: #4): The Scarlet Knights should not be taken lightly in 2010. Greg Schiano has built a VERY solid program at Rutgers, and despite falling a little in the last couple of years in the national limelight, Schiano's team is another team capable of capturing the Big East crown. It is unlikely however that it will be this year, but with a playmaker like Mohamed Sanu at the dispense of QB Tom Savage (Both sophomores...so yeah, watch out Big East) it is impossible to count them out. Also, Rutgers returns one of the nations' top defenses pretty well intact. The Scarlet Knights are probably a year away, but you have been given notice Big East...sweat them.
Ross (Prediction: #5): Keep chopping that wood, Rutgers. They feel like a team that's about a year away.
South Florida Bulls
Chris (Prediction: #6): This was a hard call, because between spots 1-6 in the Big East, there is not going to be much separation. It will be a competitive league until the very end of the season. I love what B.J. Daniels brings, but talk to me in a year or two before I really start to sing the Bulls' praises.
Ross (Prediction: #6): Skip Holtz will be successful there... just not right away. The Leavitt mess is going to need some time to settle.
Syracuse Orange
Chris (Prediction: #7): The only reason that I am able to separate the degrees of bad between the 'Cuse and the Cardinals is that the Orange return 10 starters on an experienced defense. The D will have to be really good to make up for the 2 starters that return on O. If not, they will be the Big East cellar dweller.
Ross (Prediction: #8): Someone send Doug Marrone a life preserver.
West Virginia Mountaineers
Chris (Prediction: #1): Despite my obvious objections (hello, I'm a Virginia Tech fan and the Tech-WVU rivalry is still VERY much alive no matter what any school official will lead you to believe), the Mountaineers have a veteran defense that will keep them in every game this season. Then the Mountaineers will just be content to hand the ball off to Noel Devine, college football's closest Dexter McCluster this season (although Devine is actually a more talented running back than McCluster strictly speaking). It doesn't matter that the Mountaineers find themselves in the same quarterback quandary as do the Panthers, because for him the pressure is off. Good defense, and the guy who will be the best playmaker every time they take the field this season. Just hand the ball to him as much as you can and things should take care of themselves. But, if for some reason Devine goes down, I'd expect to see Cincy or Rutgers to be hoisting the Big East trophy in the Mountaineers stead. I have nothing personally against Pitt, but they are a solid team and no more. Cincy and Rutgers both have the ability to be Big East middle-of-the-road and something special.
Ross (Prediction: #4): They have the most electrifying player in the Big East (Noel Devine), but they also have one of its most baffling head coaches (Bill Stewart). That's not often a recipe for success.
CFBZ Predicted Big East Finish
1. Pittsburgh Panthers
2. West Virginia Mountaineers
3 (tie). Cincinnati Bearcats
3 (tie). UConn Huskies
5. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
6. South Florida Bulls
7. Louisville Cardinals
8. Syracuse Orange
note: out of 5 people voting West Virginia received the most first place votes (2) but they also received 2 4th place votes. Cincy, UConn and Pitt all received 1 first place vote. The Big East should be wide open and fun this year.
Cincinnati 12-1 (7-0)
Pittsburgh 10-3 (5-2)
West Virginia 9-4 (5-2)
Rutgers 9-4 (3-4)
Connecticut 8-5 (3-4)
South Florida (8-5 (3-4)
Louisville 4-8 (1-6)
Syracuse 4-8 (1-6)
Returning Leaders: Passing
Tom Savage, Rutgers, Soph (149 of 285 for 2211 yds, 14 TD, 7 INT)
B.J. Daniels, USF, Soph (122 of 227 for 1983, 14 TD, 9 INT)
Zach Collaros, Cincy, Jr (93 of 124 for 1434, 10 TD, 2 INT)
Returning Leaders: Rushing
Dion Lewis, Pitt, Soph (325 carries for 1799 yds, 17 TD, 5.5 ypc)
Noel Devine, WVU, Sr (241 carries for 1465 yds, 13 TD, 6.0 ypc)
Jordan Todman, UConn, Jr (235 carries for 1188 yds, 14 TD, 5.0 ypc)
Delone Carter, Syracuse, Sr (236 carries for 1021 yds, 11 TD, 4.3 ypc)
Joe Martinek, Rutgers, Jr (206 carries for 967 yds, 4.6 ypc)
Returning Leaders: Receiving
Jock Sanders, WVU, Sr (72 rec for 688 yds, 3 TD, 5.5 rec/game)
Armon Binns, Cincy, Sr (61 rec for 888 yds, 11 TD, 4.7 rec/game)
Jonathan Baldwin, Pitt, Jr (57 rec for 1111 yds, 8 TD, 4.4 rec/game)
D.J. Woods, Cincy, Jr (51 rec for 640 yds, 4 TD, 4.3 rec/game)
Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers, Soph (51 Rec for 639 yds, 3 TD, 3.9 rec/game)
Returning Leaders: Tackles
Lawrence Wilson, UConn, Sr, LB (140 total, 10.77 tackles/game)
J.K. Schaffer, Cincy, Jr, LB (100 total, 7.69 tackles/game)
Max Gruder, Pitt, Jr, LB (91 total, 7.00 tackles/game)
Greg Lloyd, UConn, Sr, LB (91 total, 8.27 tackles/game)
Dom DeCicco, Pitt, Sr, DB (88 total, 6.7 tackles/game)
Returning Leaders: Sacks
Doug Hogue, Syracuse, Sr, LB (9.5 sacks)
Jonathan Freeny, Rutgers, Sr, DL (9.5)
Julian Miller, WVU, Jr, DL (8.0)
Greg Romeus, Pitt, Sr, DL (8.0)
Returning Leaders: Interceptions
Robert Sands, WVU, Jr, DB (5 interceptions)
Elijah Fields, Pitt, Sr, DB (3)
Michael Holmes, Syracuse, Sr, DB (3)
J.K. Schaffer, Cincy, Jr, LB (3)
Keith Tandy, WVU, Jr, DB (3)
Jarred Holley, Pitt, Soph, DB (3)
Dom DeCicco, Pitt, Sr, DB (3)
Around the Blogosphere
Who is your pick to win the Big East?
Brian Harrison of the Syracuse based blog Orange 44:
I’m picking Pittsburgh.
What could hurt Pitt is their losses on the offensive line. As much as Pitt likes to pound the ball, they will have to recover. They will have another solid offensive year, with new QB sophomore Tino Sunseri behind center. Pitt likes to run the ball more though and they have some great running backs in Dion Lewis, who despite not starting, earned 1,799 yards. Pitt’s fullback, Henry Hynoski, is a straight beast and will give defensive lines and linebackers some nightmares. He doesn’t carry the ball that often, but what he does do is plow the road for running backs. The defense meanwhile has a strong nuclease around Greg Romeus, Greg Williams and Dom Decicco, and should be just fine in stopping both the run and the pass fairly effectively this coming season. They are my pick to win the league.
USF Blogger The Bull Gator:
I'll go with Pitt for the 2010 conference title. This isn't an easy year to pick at all, but I have to go with the Panthers. Louisville and USF challenging for a title is a year or two away and Cincy could take a step back with a new coach. I think the Big East is Pitt's to lose in 2010.
West Virginia Blogger John Radcliff of Eers To You:
I really do think it's WVU's to lose. With 18/19 starters returning, there's no reason this shouldn't be a much more consistent team. Yes, the QB position is still an unknown. But I think this offensive line is going to be much improved and the running backs are going to have a field day with anyone that doesn't put 8 or nine in the box.
There are going to be a lot of good teams in the Big East this year. Good enough that one or two losses in conference might be good enough to win the conference. In my mind, the winner of the WVU-Pitt game will win the Big East.
What is the pivotal game this year?
Brian Harrison of the Syracuse based blog Orange 44:
West Virginia v. Pittsburgh
While UConn thinks they have a great chance to win the league this year, I just don’t see them doing better than really talented Pittsburgh and the always dangerous West Virginia. While Bill Stewart seems like a country buffoon (and he may be), he’s still winning games. He’s 19-8 at WVU and while they have a new QB in the works, they still have running back Noel Devine. For Pittsburgh they have a solid replacement coming out of spring in Tino Sunseri. He’s athletic and has a good arm. I think they have the most talent currently and this game, the “Backyard Brawl”, should decide the outcome of the season for the Big East.
USF Blogger The Bull Gator:
Any game Pitt plays. There are 4 or 5 teams that could win the Big East and if I'm going with Pitt then every game they play is the most pivotal. It's hard to predict the Big East any year. This year is no different. Pitt could lose it any weekend. A two-game losing streak and suddenly someone else is the favorite.
CFBZ Players of the Year
1. Noel Devine, Sr, RB, West Virgina
2. Dion Lewis, Soph, RB, Pittsburgh
3. Zach Collaros, Jr, QB, Cincinnati
4. BJ Daniels, Soph, QB, USF
5. Tom Savage, Soph, QB, Rutgers
Also receiving votes: Greg Romeus/Pitt, Jordan Todman/UConn, Delone Carter/Syracuse, Jonathan Baldwin/Pitt
Breaking Down The Big East
Cincinnati Bearcats
Chris (Prediction: #3): While only returning 12 starters, we're talking about returning 12 starters from a team that was an Alabama or Texas loss away from playing in the National Championship. This team is not just going to drop off of a cliff one year later. Brian Kelly did a fantastic job in his time there, and his players were so well coached that I don't expect it to just wear off under the new regime. With second and third leading receivers back (Armon Binns and D.J. Woods) from an ABSOLUTELY LOADED receiving core (how many 2nd wide receivers do you know that have an 888-yard 11-TD season?), and adding another difference maker in Vidal Hazelton, a USC transfer, to the mix, the Bearcats should be sufficiently reloaded to keep opponents from exploiting their defense. They will play in shootout games, but they will have the offensive firepower to win them. Isaiah Pead will surprise people at running back, and should definitely be considered another weapon on a stocked skill position team. Also, anyone who doesn't have complete faith in Zach Collaros, who calmly stepped in to replace Tony Pike for four games during the middle of an undefeated season, wasn't paying attention. This kid was so efficient that the coaches were forced to consider benching their 5th-year senior quarterback on an undefeated team for the sophomore. That's moxie. He didn't just win, he did so efficiently...while etching his name into the school annals for yards in a game...efficiently. Truth be told, this team is a true sleeper and could end up in a BCS bowl representing the Big East at the end of the year...they can be that good.
Ross (Prediction: #1): Sure, they lost Brian Kelly, Tony Pike, and Mardy Gilyard. Butch Jones already replaced Brian Kelly once -- and in a conference that's only marginally easier than the Big East (I kid, I kid...). Zach Collaros looked tremendous as Pike's fill-in a year ago -- and he's precisely the sort of mobile QB that Jones worked wonders with at Central Michigan (see: LeFevour, Dan). Gilyard will be tricky to replace, but still. The Big East is an utter crapshoot; there's no hugely compelling reason why Cincy couldn't win it for the third straight year.
Connecticut Huskies
Chris (Prediction: #5): Returning 16 starters from an 8-5 which won its last four games in convincing fashion should merit more than 5th place in a middle of the road conference, no? Despite their hot streak at the end of '09, I'm not sold on their QB Zach Frazer, especially with a completely new receiving core. My bet is that while they will be going bowling, the Huskies won't do anything to stand out from the pack in the Big East.
Ross (Prediction: #2): UConn's been on the cusp of Big East greatness for a few years, and as a team fairly loaded with returning starters and one of the most hard luck outfits around in 2009 (they lost five games by a combined 15 points), I figure they might just be due a good run here. Plus, I trust Randy Edsall a hell of a lot more than I do the Wannstache.
Louisville Cardinals
Chris (Prediction: #8): Oh how things have changed at Louisville since the days of defect-o-matic Bobby Petrino. The good news for the Cardinals is that there is always 2011!
Louisville (Prediction: #7): Charlie Strong can't be any worse than Steve Kragthorpe... but it's going to take some time to get some talent in that program.
Pittsburgh Panthers
Chris (Prediction: #2): Despite the fact that the Panthers return one of the nation's leading rushers and budding receivers in Dion Lewis and Jonathan Baldwin, nothing about the rest of this team resembles championship (and I meant Big East). So why am I not buying the Panthers' Kool-Aid? First off Dave Wannstedt is one of the most underwhelming coaches I have ever seen. I have never seen a coach closer to a Butch Davis clone. Secondly, Dion Lewis is vastly overrated. Despite the fact he walked over some pretty bad defenses last year, pundits went gaga over the diminutive back, proclaiming him the best freshman back in the county. I've got news for you guys...Lewis would be lucky to be the fourth best in that group (comfortably behind Trent Richardson, Ryan Williams and LaMichael James in that order). And I'm not sold on a quarterback who as a rising sophomore has thrown only 17 passes. You don't hand championship teams to sophomores with that kind of experience and have it stay that way. I may be wrong, but Pitt could end up as far down as 5 if things turn south with the QB situation, or if the upperclassmen slated to replace big holes on defense don't live up.
Ross (Prediction: #3): there's talent here; as always, the biggest question is whether or not their continued exposure to the Wannstache will doom them yet again. They had the Big East title in their grasp against Cincinnati a year ago, only to collapse in spectacular fashion. That sort of thing just seems to happen to Wannstedt-coached teams, which is why it's difficult to put much faith in them. Also, I'm half-convinced that Wannstedt is going to kill Dion Lewis with his workload this year.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Chris (Prediction: #4): The Scarlet Knights should not be taken lightly in 2010. Greg Schiano has built a VERY solid program at Rutgers, and despite falling a little in the last couple of years in the national limelight, Schiano's team is another team capable of capturing the Big East crown. It is unlikely however that it will be this year, but with a playmaker like Mohamed Sanu at the dispense of QB Tom Savage (Both sophomores...so yeah, watch out Big East) it is impossible to count them out. Also, Rutgers returns one of the nations' top defenses pretty well intact. The Scarlet Knights are probably a year away, but you have been given notice Big East...sweat them.
Ross (Prediction: #5): Keep chopping that wood, Rutgers. They feel like a team that's about a year away.
South Florida Bulls
Chris (Prediction: #6): This was a hard call, because between spots 1-6 in the Big East, there is not going to be much separation. It will be a competitive league until the very end of the season. I love what B.J. Daniels brings, but talk to me in a year or two before I really start to sing the Bulls' praises.
Ross (Prediction: #6): Skip Holtz will be successful there... just not right away. The Leavitt mess is going to need some time to settle.
Syracuse Orange
Chris (Prediction: #7): The only reason that I am able to separate the degrees of bad between the 'Cuse and the Cardinals is that the Orange return 10 starters on an experienced defense. The D will have to be really good to make up for the 2 starters that return on O. If not, they will be the Big East cellar dweller.
Ross (Prediction: #8): Someone send Doug Marrone a life preserver.
West Virginia Mountaineers
Chris (Prediction: #1): Despite my obvious objections (hello, I'm a Virginia Tech fan and the Tech-WVU rivalry is still VERY much alive no matter what any school official will lead you to believe), the Mountaineers have a veteran defense that will keep them in every game this season. Then the Mountaineers will just be content to hand the ball off to Noel Devine, college football's closest Dexter McCluster this season (although Devine is actually a more talented running back than McCluster strictly speaking). It doesn't matter that the Mountaineers find themselves in the same quarterback quandary as do the Panthers, because for him the pressure is off. Good defense, and the guy who will be the best playmaker every time they take the field this season. Just hand the ball to him as much as you can and things should take care of themselves. But, if for some reason Devine goes down, I'd expect to see Cincy or Rutgers to be hoisting the Big East trophy in the Mountaineers stead. I have nothing personally against Pitt, but they are a solid team and no more. Cincy and Rutgers both have the ability to be Big East middle-of-the-road and something special.
Ross (Prediction: #4): They have the most electrifying player in the Big East (Noel Devine), but they also have one of its most baffling head coaches (Bill Stewart). That's not often a recipe for success.
CFBZ Predicted Big East Finish
1. Pittsburgh Panthers
2. West Virginia Mountaineers
3 (tie). Cincinnati Bearcats
3 (tie). UConn Huskies
5. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
6. South Florida Bulls
7. Louisville Cardinals
8. Syracuse Orange
note: out of 5 people voting West Virginia received the most first place votes (2) but they also received 2 4th place votes. Cincy, UConn and Pitt all received 1 first place vote. The Big East should be wide open and fun this year.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Pre-Season Preview: Connecticut Huskies
2009 Record: 8-5 (3-4 in Big East)
2009 Bowl: Papajohns.com Bowl (beat South Carolina 20-7)
Final 2009 AP Ranking: Not Ranked (received 5 points which ranked 35th)
Head Coach: Randy Edsall (66-65 at UConn)
Non-Conference Schedule: at Michigan (9/4), Texas Southern (9/11), at Temple (9/18), Buffalo (9/25), Vanderbilt (10/2)
2009 Offensive Statistics
Scoring: 31.2 points per game (3rd in Big East)
Rushing Yards/Game: 170 (4th in Big East)
Passing Yards/Game: 216 (2nd in Big East)
Total Yards/Game: 387 (3rd in Big East)
2009 Defensive Statistics
Scoring: 23.6 points per game (6th in Big East)
Rushing Yards/Game: 132 (5th in Big East)
Passing Yards/Game: 235 (last in Big East)
Total Yards/Game: 368 (6th in Big East)
2009 Misc Stats
Turnover Margin: +0.23 per game (4th in Big East)
Penalties: 29 yards per game (1st in Big East, 2nd in Nation)
Returning Starters
Offense: 8
Defense: 8
Kicker/Punter: 1
Top Returning Statistical Leaders
Passing: QB Zach Fraser, Sr (116 of 218 for 1461 yds, 10 TD, 9 INT, 162 ypg)
Passing: QB Cody Endres, Jr (98 for 154 for 1354 yds, 6 TD, 4 INT, 193 ypg)
Rushing: RB Jordan Todman, Jr (235 carries for 1188 yds, 14 TD, 5.1 ypc, 91 ypg)
Receiving: WR Isiah Moore, Jr (24 rec, 286 yds, 1 TD, 1.8 rec/game)
Tackles: LB Lawrence Wilson, Sr (140)
Sacks: LB Lawrence Wilson, Sr (5); DT Twyon Martin, Sr (5)
Interceptions: 3 tied with 1
2010 Pre-Season Rankings
Athlon Sports: #20
Rivals: #19
Sporting News: #28
2010 Pre-Season Big East Prediction:
Athlon Sports: #2
Phil Steele: #5
Bowl Prediction:
Meineke Car Care Bowl (vs. Clemson)
UConn lost some tough close games last year as they lost all 5 of their games by 4 or less points (UNC 12-10, Pitt 24-21, West Virginia 28-24, Rutgers 28-24, Cincy 47-45). A break here and there and last season could have been very different. UConn returns the 3rd most starters in the conference (behind Syracuse and West Virginia) and could be a sleeper team to watch out for this year as they aren't getting much hype in the Big East. We talked to Kevin Meacham of SB Nation's The UConn Blog to find out more about the 2010 Huskies.
What are the major strengths of the Huskies?
UConn's offensive line has been criminally underrated, in my opinion. The Huskies have been primarily a run-based offense since 2004, and last year they continued to punish opposing defenses despite losing Donald Brown to the NFL. There was something of a drop-off from Brown's last season in 2008 (when UConn averaged 216 ypg and 5.1 ypc while abandoning the forward pass altogether), but the O-line really brutalized some teams down the stretch last year, notably Cincinnati and Notre Dame.
The OL is one of the few positions where Randy Edsall has built up some Division I-caliber depth. Three members of last year's two-deep (Mike Ryan, Dan Hicks, Alex LaMagdelaine) are gone, but the remaining talent (including a pair of first-team All-Big East players, center Moe Petrus and guard Zach Hurd) could be the best in the league this year.
Meanwhile, senior linebackers Scott Lutrus and Lawrence Wilson have been cornerstones of an excellent run defense for three years. They're both great tacklers, very athletic, and always seem to be in the right place. Wilson in particular I think will be a contributor on the next level.
Looking at the schedule who will be the first major test?
At Michigan on September 4. Not only is it UConn's only real out-of-conference test (Temple, Vanderbilt, Buffalo and Texas Southern are the other OOC games), but UConn fans are pointing to this game almost as much as they did for last year's game at Notre Dame. UConn isn't a football power by any means, and with its late start (I-A since 2000, Big East since 2003), the program has had relatively few measuring stick games against 'name' opponents.
UConn fans (myself included) are starting to harbor illusions of grandeur about this season. I think this is Edsall's best team ever, and a real contender to grab the Big East's BCS spot. So the Michigan game takes on a bit of importance from the fan perspective. If the Huskies win, they'll likely be 5-0 by the first Big East game and dreaming of big things. If they lose, it'll be utterly disappointing.
What team on the schedule do you fear the most?
West Virginia on October 29. The Mountaineers have UConn's number for whatever reason. WVU is 6-0 against UConn, and often those wins are perfectly timed to inflict maximum pain.
Two recent examples: in late November 2007, Pat White and Steve Slaton ran wild in a 66-13 victory in the de facto Big East championship game; last October, in UConn's first game after Jasper Howard's tragic murder, the Huskies led 24-21 until a 50-yard TD run by Noel Devine with 3:00 left broke everyone's heart.
The spread option (and mobile quarterbacks in general) has given UConn tremendous problems in recent years. I don't expect that to change this year, even with a new quarterback for WVU.
Who is the best player on your team that nobody talks about?
WR Kashif Moore. For a few years even UConn fans couldn't name more than one or two wide receivers (usually because said WR dropped a ball), and fullbacks and tight ends were the only beneficiaries of the passing game. That changed a little bit under new offensive coordinator Joe Moorehead last year.
Moore has the best numbers of any returner from last year (just 22 catches, 370 yards, 3 TD), but he showed a flair for the big play, notably in this spectacular catch in the bowl game. I think Moore has the potential to put up some relatively big receiving numbers in a run-dominant offense.
Who is the best offensive player on the team?
RB Jordan Todman. He rushed for 1,200 yards as a sophomore (despite sharing the carries almost 50-50 with senior Andre Dixon), and showed great instincts to go with some very quick feet. He's not the power runner Dixon was (Dixon ran for 1,115 and is on the UFL's Hartford team now), nor is he as complete as Donald Brown was, but I think Todman is ready to take over as a feature back.
Who is the most impactful defensive player on the team?
UConn has a recent history of small, athletic defensive ends (Cody Brown, Lindsey Witten) who are beastly while rushing the quarterback. I like Greg Lloyd to follow in those footsteps. Lloyd (6'2, 234 pounds) played middle linebacker his first three years before switching to DE.
If my EA Sports NCAA Football position translator is right, that means he goes from a 78 overall to a 91. All kidding aside, Lloyd is a strong, driven kid who has a nose for the ball, and if he's healthy, he should rack up the sacks. That might be a significant question mark, though, as Lloyd tore his ACL late last year and missed spring practice.
What player(s) needs to step up this year in order for the team to reach it's full capability?
QB Zach Frazer. Ever since Dan Orlovsky graduated in 2004, the QB position has been an adventure for UConn. Tyler Lorenzen reached utter competence in 2007 (not turning the ball over, completing 56 percent of his passes). It was the only season between 2005 and 2008 that UConn averaged more than 149 pass yards per game.
Now, for the first time in five years, UConn has a legitimate passing game. Frazer and Cody Endres combined to look decent in 2009 (57.1%, 217 ypg, 16-13 TD-INT) under Moorhead's more balanced attack.
UConn is probably going to have to win some shootouts this year, so they will need Frazer to be on point. I personally like Endres better (throws a more accurate, catchable ball / seems to make better decisions), but Edsall loves Frazer's leadership, experience (he was the No. 2 guy in 2008, playing in six games) and his cannon arm.
Who is the top offensive newcomer that can make an impact this year?
The two-deep will be filled with veterans, and Edsall prefers to redshirt his freshmen, so that sort of limits my options. So I'll pick Malik Generett, a 6-4 redshirt freshman wide receiver who caught seven balls for 60 yards in the spring game. In 2009, WR Marcus Easley's huge spring game kickstarted his leap from "unknown former walk-on" to "fourth-round NFL Draft pick". Perhaps Generett will make a similar leap as a freshman in 2010.
Who is the top defensive newcomer that can make an impact this year?
One of the cornerbacks or safeties. UConn is extremely thin in the defensive secondary, so there will be plenty of opportunities for newcomers to make a name for themselves. I'll tab speedy Pennsylvania cornerback Tevrin Brandon as a possible impact player - he's the backup after spring practice - although I do like Connecticut-born safety Marcus Aiken.
The Big East looks tough this year. What is your early prediction for the Top 3 in the Conference?
I think six teams could win the league, theoretically. I think it's more likely that one of three teams will end up winning it. Since I'm a homer, yes, one of those teams is UConn.
My heart says 1) UConn, 2) Pittsburgh, 3) West Virginia, with the Huskies pulling off back-to-back home wins over the Panthers and Mountaineers. My head says 1) Pittsburgh, 2) UConn, 3) West Virginia.
Gut feeling on the teams final record at the end of the regular season and what makes this a successful season in your eyes?
With 16 starters back, Frazer in his second full season, veterans up and down the lineup, and a schedule where the biggest league games are at Rentschler Field, expectations are high. The secondary is terrifying, but I think the rest of the team is much improved. Finishing better than last year's 8-5 is a must.
Right now, nine wins is probably the minimum expectation, and 10 or 11 wins isn't unreachable. (Phil Steele even had one set of power ratings that had UConn finish 12-0! Dare to dream...)
Gut feeling: UConn goes 10-2, 5-2 in the Big East, and comes agonizingly close to a Big East title.
Visit SB Nation's The UConn Blog to keep up to date on the Connecticut Huskies and the Big East. You can also follow them on twitter @theuconnblog.
Previous Big East Previews
Cincinnati Bearcats
Pittsburgh Panthers
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
USF Bulls
West Virginia Mountaineers
Next Preview: Syracuse Orange
Previous Pre-Season Previews
ACC- Boston College Eagles, Duke Blue Devils, Florida State Seminoles, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Maryland Terrapins, Virginia Cavaliers, Virginia Tech Hokies, Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Big 12- Kansas State Wildcats, Missouri Tigers, Oklahoma Sooners, Texas Longhorns, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Big Ten- Illinois Fighting Illini, Michigan Wolverines, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Northwestern Wildcats, Ohio State Buckeyes, Purdue Boilermakers
C-USA- Houston Cougars, SMU Mustangs, Southern Miss Golden Eagles, Tulane Green Wave, UTEP Miners
Independent- Navy Midshipmen
MAC- Ball State Cardinals, Bowling Green Falcons, Buffalo Bulls, Central Michigan Chippewas, Temple Owls, Toledo Rockets
MWC- BYU Cougars, Colorado State Rams, UNLV Rebels, Utah Utes
Pac-10- Arizona State Sun Devils, Oregon Ducks, Stanford Cardinal, USC Trojans, Washington Huskies
SEC- Auburn Tigers, Georgia Bulldogs, Kentucky Wildcats, LSU Tigers, Mississippi Rebels, South Carolina Gamecocks, Vanderbilt Commodores
Sun Belt- FIU Golden Panthers, North Texas Mean Green, Troy Trojans
WAC- Boise State Broncos, Fresno State Bulldogs, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, New Mexico State Aggies
2009 Bowl: Papajohns.com Bowl (beat South Carolina 20-7)
Final 2009 AP Ranking: Not Ranked (received 5 points which ranked 35th)
Head Coach: Randy Edsall (66-65 at UConn)
Non-Conference Schedule: at Michigan (9/4), Texas Southern (9/11), at Temple (9/18), Buffalo (9/25), Vanderbilt (10/2)
2009 Offensive Statistics
Scoring: 31.2 points per game (3rd in Big East)
Rushing Yards/Game: 170 (4th in Big East)
Passing Yards/Game: 216 (2nd in Big East)
Total Yards/Game: 387 (3rd in Big East)
2009 Defensive Statistics
Scoring: 23.6 points per game (6th in Big East)
Rushing Yards/Game: 132 (5th in Big East)
Passing Yards/Game: 235 (last in Big East)
Total Yards/Game: 368 (6th in Big East)
2009 Misc Stats
Turnover Margin: +0.23 per game (4th in Big East)
Penalties: 29 yards per game (1st in Big East, 2nd in Nation)
Returning Starters
Offense: 8
Defense: 8
Kicker/Punter: 1
Top Returning Statistical Leaders
Passing: QB Zach Fraser, Sr (116 of 218 for 1461 yds, 10 TD, 9 INT, 162 ypg)
Passing: QB Cody Endres, Jr (98 for 154 for 1354 yds, 6 TD, 4 INT, 193 ypg)
Rushing: RB Jordan Todman, Jr (235 carries for 1188 yds, 14 TD, 5.1 ypc, 91 ypg)
Receiving: WR Isiah Moore, Jr (24 rec, 286 yds, 1 TD, 1.8 rec/game)
Tackles: LB Lawrence Wilson, Sr (140)
Sacks: LB Lawrence Wilson, Sr (5); DT Twyon Martin, Sr (5)
Interceptions: 3 tied with 1
2010 Pre-Season Rankings
Athlon Sports: #20
Rivals: #19
Sporting News: #28
2010 Pre-Season Big East Prediction:
Athlon Sports: #2
Phil Steele: #5
Bowl Prediction:
Meineke Car Care Bowl (vs. Clemson)
UConn lost some tough close games last year as they lost all 5 of their games by 4 or less points (UNC 12-10, Pitt 24-21, West Virginia 28-24, Rutgers 28-24, Cincy 47-45). A break here and there and last season could have been very different. UConn returns the 3rd most starters in the conference (behind Syracuse and West Virginia) and could be a sleeper team to watch out for this year as they aren't getting much hype in the Big East. We talked to Kevin Meacham of SB Nation's The UConn Blog to find out more about the 2010 Huskies.
What are the major strengths of the Huskies?
UConn's offensive line has been criminally underrated, in my opinion. The Huskies have been primarily a run-based offense since 2004, and last year they continued to punish opposing defenses despite losing Donald Brown to the NFL. There was something of a drop-off from Brown's last season in 2008 (when UConn averaged 216 ypg and 5.1 ypc while abandoning the forward pass altogether), but the O-line really brutalized some teams down the stretch last year, notably Cincinnati and Notre Dame.
The OL is one of the few positions where Randy Edsall has built up some Division I-caliber depth. Three members of last year's two-deep (Mike Ryan, Dan Hicks, Alex LaMagdelaine) are gone, but the remaining talent (including a pair of first-team All-Big East players, center Moe Petrus and guard Zach Hurd) could be the best in the league this year.
Meanwhile, senior linebackers Scott Lutrus and Lawrence Wilson have been cornerstones of an excellent run defense for three years. They're both great tacklers, very athletic, and always seem to be in the right place. Wilson in particular I think will be a contributor on the next level.
Looking at the schedule who will be the first major test?
At Michigan on September 4. Not only is it UConn's only real out-of-conference test (Temple, Vanderbilt, Buffalo and Texas Southern are the other OOC games), but UConn fans are pointing to this game almost as much as they did for last year's game at Notre Dame. UConn isn't a football power by any means, and with its late start (I-A since 2000, Big East since 2003), the program has had relatively few measuring stick games against 'name' opponents.
UConn fans (myself included) are starting to harbor illusions of grandeur about this season. I think this is Edsall's best team ever, and a real contender to grab the Big East's BCS spot. So the Michigan game takes on a bit of importance from the fan perspective. If the Huskies win, they'll likely be 5-0 by the first Big East game and dreaming of big things. If they lose, it'll be utterly disappointing.
What team on the schedule do you fear the most?
West Virginia on October 29. The Mountaineers have UConn's number for whatever reason. WVU is 6-0 against UConn, and often those wins are perfectly timed to inflict maximum pain.
Two recent examples: in late November 2007, Pat White and Steve Slaton ran wild in a 66-13 victory in the de facto Big East championship game; last October, in UConn's first game after Jasper Howard's tragic murder, the Huskies led 24-21 until a 50-yard TD run by Noel Devine with 3:00 left broke everyone's heart.
The spread option (and mobile quarterbacks in general) has given UConn tremendous problems in recent years. I don't expect that to change this year, even with a new quarterback for WVU.
Who is the best player on your team that nobody talks about?
WR Kashif Moore. For a few years even UConn fans couldn't name more than one or two wide receivers (usually because said WR dropped a ball), and fullbacks and tight ends were the only beneficiaries of the passing game. That changed a little bit under new offensive coordinator Joe Moorehead last year.
Moore has the best numbers of any returner from last year (just 22 catches, 370 yards, 3 TD), but he showed a flair for the big play, notably in this spectacular catch in the bowl game. I think Moore has the potential to put up some relatively big receiving numbers in a run-dominant offense.
Who is the best offensive player on the team?
RB Jordan Todman. He rushed for 1,200 yards as a sophomore (despite sharing the carries almost 50-50 with senior Andre Dixon), and showed great instincts to go with some very quick feet. He's not the power runner Dixon was (Dixon ran for 1,115 and is on the UFL's Hartford team now), nor is he as complete as Donald Brown was, but I think Todman is ready to take over as a feature back.
Who is the most impactful defensive player on the team?
UConn has a recent history of small, athletic defensive ends (Cody Brown, Lindsey Witten) who are beastly while rushing the quarterback. I like Greg Lloyd to follow in those footsteps. Lloyd (6'2, 234 pounds) played middle linebacker his first three years before switching to DE.
If my EA Sports NCAA Football position translator is right, that means he goes from a 78 overall to a 91. All kidding aside, Lloyd is a strong, driven kid who has a nose for the ball, and if he's healthy, he should rack up the sacks. That might be a significant question mark, though, as Lloyd tore his ACL late last year and missed spring practice.
What player(s) needs to step up this year in order for the team to reach it's full capability?
QB Zach Frazer. Ever since Dan Orlovsky graduated in 2004, the QB position has been an adventure for UConn. Tyler Lorenzen reached utter competence in 2007 (not turning the ball over, completing 56 percent of his passes). It was the only season between 2005 and 2008 that UConn averaged more than 149 pass yards per game.
Now, for the first time in five years, UConn has a legitimate passing game. Frazer and Cody Endres combined to look decent in 2009 (57.1%, 217 ypg, 16-13 TD-INT) under Moorhead's more balanced attack.
UConn is probably going to have to win some shootouts this year, so they will need Frazer to be on point. I personally like Endres better (throws a more accurate, catchable ball / seems to make better decisions), but Edsall loves Frazer's leadership, experience (he was the No. 2 guy in 2008, playing in six games) and his cannon arm.
Who is the top offensive newcomer that can make an impact this year?
The two-deep will be filled with veterans, and Edsall prefers to redshirt his freshmen, so that sort of limits my options. So I'll pick Malik Generett, a 6-4 redshirt freshman wide receiver who caught seven balls for 60 yards in the spring game. In 2009, WR Marcus Easley's huge spring game kickstarted his leap from "unknown former walk-on" to "fourth-round NFL Draft pick". Perhaps Generett will make a similar leap as a freshman in 2010.
Who is the top defensive newcomer that can make an impact this year?
One of the cornerbacks or safeties. UConn is extremely thin in the defensive secondary, so there will be plenty of opportunities for newcomers to make a name for themselves. I'll tab speedy Pennsylvania cornerback Tevrin Brandon as a possible impact player - he's the backup after spring practice - although I do like Connecticut-born safety Marcus Aiken.
The Big East looks tough this year. What is your early prediction for the Top 3 in the Conference?
I think six teams could win the league, theoretically. I think it's more likely that one of three teams will end up winning it. Since I'm a homer, yes, one of those teams is UConn.
My heart says 1) UConn, 2) Pittsburgh, 3) West Virginia, with the Huskies pulling off back-to-back home wins over the Panthers and Mountaineers. My head says 1) Pittsburgh, 2) UConn, 3) West Virginia.
Gut feeling on the teams final record at the end of the regular season and what makes this a successful season in your eyes?
With 16 starters back, Frazer in his second full season, veterans up and down the lineup, and a schedule where the biggest league games are at Rentschler Field, expectations are high. The secondary is terrifying, but I think the rest of the team is much improved. Finishing better than last year's 8-5 is a must.
Right now, nine wins is probably the minimum expectation, and 10 or 11 wins isn't unreachable. (Phil Steele even had one set of power ratings that had UConn finish 12-0! Dare to dream...)
Gut feeling: UConn goes 10-2, 5-2 in the Big East, and comes agonizingly close to a Big East title.
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