ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett

Welcome to Week 2 Eve. Gee, I wonder what the big topic will be in the mailbag this week? OK, OK, I deserve it. Let 'er rip:

T.K. from Pittsburgh writes: That's why you don't pick Rutgers to win the conference based on an offensive line. You have to have a QB or at least a great defense. Rutgers has neither. Nice pick, Brian. Can't wait to see Cincy lose to see who you want to flip-flop to next.

Jason from Charleston, W. Va., writes: "They just seem due." Sound familiar? That was your technical analysis of why you thought Rutgers would win the Big East. OK, I am just messing with you. Still, though, it is tough always being right, and I take it you saw Bradford laying on the turf the other night, right? Remember me saying "Bradford can't throw if he is on his back." Well, maybe I should have said shoulder.I guess you are picking Cincy's as your Big East champ now, eh?

Chris from Wallingford, Conn., writes: I know it's one game and I'm fully aware of Rutgers' turnaround last season. However, it was ugly out there on Monday. The Big East writers (the guys who actually cover the league) picked Rutgers to finish fifth, while virtually every ESPN "expert" picked them to win the league. It seemed picking Rutgers as the Big East champ was the "thing to do" over at ESPN. Myself, along with many other fans have been saying that RU has the fourth or fifth best 'D' in the league, a marginal running game, and virtually no experience at the QB or WR spots. And it's not like RU has dominated the league. What did most of these national guys see that the beat writers in the league didn't?

Brian Bennett: How can I put this: I'm dumb.

To be fair, I didn't just pick Rutgers based on the offensive line or the fact that they seemed due. I've been writing all along that I thought the Scarlet Knights defense would be really strong and the schedule was just so favorable that I thought they could get it done. And let's be clear: the season is not over. It's not outside the realm of possibility that Rutgers could back into this race, especially if Tom Savage develops and gives them a strong passing game.

As for criticisms of the Rutgers defense, well, that was a pretty ferocious unit at the end of last year, several of the key players came back and Greg Schiano always puts together a solid 'D.' The most surprising thing to me on Monday was how easily Cincinnati carved it up.

But as of today, yeah, I look pretty dumb. How does the crow taste? Actually, with the right marinade, it's not too bad. Tastes like chicken.

---

Brad from Pittsburgh writes: I would like to comment on your declaration on the Bearcats making a statement. Personally, I feel this is more of a showcase of how awful Rutgers is. ... Any true college football fan could see that Cincy was going to score points, they had no questions, it just amazes me that after they do what the majority of sane fans knew would happen, people automatically jump on them, You are forgetting that Cincy has to travel not only to WVU, not only to USF, but also PITT. You claimed that your main reason for picking Rutgers was their schedule; well, if you follow the same logic you can't possibly pick Cincy.

Brian Bennett: Brad, I wrote that Cincinnati made a huge statement and is now the team to beat in the league. I don't see how anybody can argue against those two assertions. If you go on the road in a conference game for the opener and win 47-15, that's a tremendous statement. And given that Cincinnati is the defending champ and is now 1-0 in the league while nobody else will play a conference game until October, then, yes the Bearcats are the team to beat right now. I didn't and I haven't picked them to win the league, by the way. That's a different thing entirely.

---

Eric from Tampa, Fla., writes: Brian, you were very quick to buy into the preseason hype and dismiss every Big East team on the national scene. After watching us thoroughly handle Rutgers at their place, are you now prepared to retract that sentiment and consider the Cincinnati Bearcats as national title contenders?

Brian Bennett: No, sorry. First of all, I don't think Cincinnati is going undefeated this year. And I just believe it will be too difficult for the Big East to get a team into the national title discussion because of the schedules and the overwhelming respect for the SEC, Big 12 and USC. Just about all the big boys would have to fall on their faces for a Big East team to get a shot. Now, that has happened before; remember it was just two years ago that a one-loss Big East team (West Virginia) was on the cusp of the BCS title game.

But even if the Bearcats go 12-0, their best nonconference win would be over an Oregon State team that may or not be Top 25 worthy. I just don't think that would be enough to convince the voters.

---

Jim from Highland Park, N.J., writes: I hope you enjoyed your trip to Piscataway. Now that I have stepped back from the ledge and regrouped a bit I have some questions that I hope you can help answer. It looked to me like Brian Kelly had a great game plan and make great in-game adjustments. Was he that great or was Greg Schiano and staff that bad? The RU defensive game plan didn't work and RU didn't seem to adjust well. The blitzes were so obvious that Kelly adjusted the play and Tony Pike dumped throws to open men right over the middle. Its like Kelly knew what the D was going to run on every play. With three non-conference games coming up, is it a no brainer that Tom Savage is the starter so that he can be ready for the bulk of conference play?

Brian Bennett: You're absolutely right, Jim. There's no doubt that Kelly is a great coach, and it seems like with every week his reputation grows. I don't think Schiano is a bad coach in any way, but I was stunned that the Scarlet Knights seemingly never made any significant adjustments, like going to a dime or quarters package and rushing only three, to stop that Cincinnati spread. If you're not going to get pressure, and Rutgers didn't most of the day against Pike, then you've got to drop back in coverage, right?

And I know you wrote this question before Savage was named the starter on Wednesday night, but I think he's the starter now, next week and the next four years. He could have one heck of a career before it's over.

---

Kevin J Herrera from Tampa writes: For all your fear of the Big East not playing so great, the Big 10 and the ACC did not do so hot either. I mean you write how West Virginia needs to step it up against ECU and Colorado, but last I checked ECU almost lost to an FCS team and Colorado lost to Colorado State! I mean the list goes on, but it's the first week of the season. There are bound to be mistakes. Syracuse set the tone for the Big East, playing their hearts out against Minnesota, a team, on paper, should not have been a close game. Decker is one the best WR in the nation. Anyways, Go Bulls.

Brian Bennett: Fear? I have no fear. Except for cockroaches. They scare the bejeesus out of me.

The point, Kevin, is that the Big East had only two nonconference games in Week 1 against an FBS opponent (Syracuse vs. Minnesota, UConn at Ohio). While Syracuse was an underdog, the Big East could not afford to have one of its teams lose to an FCS school or have UConn lose to a MAC school, just because of the perception problem the league came into the season with. Luckily, everybody took care of business, while the ACC had two teams lose to FCS opponents and others, as you say, had their own embarrassments.

I'm not sure I understand your other logic, though; if East Carolina and Colorado both struggled, then shouldn't it be imperative that West Virginia beat both of them at home?

---

Brandon from Pittsburgh writes: During the Youngstown State game, it was clear that the fan favorite at quarterback was Tino Sunseri. Stull didn't have a spectacular game... a concerning fact considering the game was against an FCS team. Tino wasn't stunningly amazing either, but he did have a touchdown and no big mistakes (Stull threw an interception). He also showed vertical passing ability with the 44-yard pass to Baldwin. Stull never tried a pass that far, even with Baldwin in most plays going deep. If Stull doesn't turn it around this week against Buffalo, what do you think the odds are that Pitt turns the keys over to Tino?

Brian Bennett: I still think Dave Wannstedt would rather have his veteran succeed, but this is an important game for Stull. If the offense stalls early and the Panthers fall behind on the road, Wannstedt may have little choice but to see if Sunseri can provide a spark. That may be all the crack he needs. But if Stull plays well or even competently, there's every reason to believe he'll be starting against Navy.

---

Will from Harrisonburg,Va., writes: I know Louisville is a team no one is talking about and I'm sure I am the only one who cares, but since I used to go to Louisville and am an eternal optimist, what can Louisville achieve this season? I will do anything to watch Louisville football and basketball and I watched lots of the game this past weekend on ESPN 360 and I couldn't help but be disheartened by Justin Burke's performance. I know some of the starters were not playing, but what is going on in Louisville? As a fan I am embarassed by the sudden drop-off in wins, but I'm also embarassed by the fact that the only thing anyone in Louisville talks about is how bad Steve Kragthorpe is and who the replacement should be and when he will leave. So I guess my final question from this rant is how many wins do you think Louisville will win and how many do you think they can win in a perfect situation?

Brian Bennett: You're right. The Louisville situation is just kind of depressing. I rarely answer questions about the Cardinals in the mailbag, because the only ones I get are along the lines of, "When will Kragthorpe be fired?" And that's a tired subject. Louisville fans seem apathetic and defeated, just a couple of years after they were so fired up for their program.

If you've read my previous musings on Louisville this offseason, you know that I've been highly skeptical of the quarterback talent on hand. Burke and Adam Froman seem like smart kids, but neither has shown the arm strength to be a major Division I quarterback, at least from what I've seen. I've watched Louisville up close a lot, and I just don't see the necessary players. Perhaps the Cardinals will surprise a few teams, and I hope for Kragthorpe's sake I am because he is a nice guy who has taken a lot of abuse. But I'm sticking with my original predictions of a three- or four-win season.