Big East: Brandon Mills
Cincinnati's Walter Stewart prepares to lead
March, 13, 2012
Mar 13
9:00
AM ET
By
Andrea Adelson | ESPN.com
You understand why Cincinnati defensive end Walter Stewart feels so comfortable during spring practice.
He no longer feels like a ping-pong ball.
Stewart bounced around linebacker positions when he first arrived in Cincinnati. But finally this spring, there is stability. For the first time in his career, Stewart will go into the season playing the same position for consecutive seasons. He has solidified himself as a defensive end, somebody who used his athleticism and quickness to make an impact on the line in 2011.
Now that both starting defensive tackles are gone, defensive end is a position of depth and strength going into 2012 and Stewart is a big reason why.
"I just feel like I'm light years ahead of where I was last year and the year before that," Stewart said in a recent phone interview. "It just makes playing football a lot easier when you know what you have to do instead of playing something different. It's a good feeling knowing I can come out here and not really worry about anything else."
Stewart finished last season second on the team with six sacks, and added five quarterback hurries and 11 tackles for loss in his first year playing defensive end, where he started all 13 games. But it was not until the second half of the season that Stewart really got the hang of playing his new spot, while also getting adjusted to the increased weight he had to put on to play end.
When he arrived on campus, Stewart weighed 216 pounds. Last season, he played at 245, and now hopes to add between 5-10 more pounds to his frame before 2012 begins, "so I can stay light on my feet and be able to cover."
Where can he get better? "I want to make more improvements in the run game, and be better at the point of attack," Stewart said.
Though Cincinnati has only had a handful of practices before pausing for spring break, Stewart already has caught the eye of coach Butch Jones. When asked about players who have stood out in the early going, Jones mentioned Stewart.
As for the intangibles, Stewart received the most improved leader award from his coaches this past season, and will be looked at to be an even stronger leader in 2012 with players like Derek Wolfe and JK Schaffer gone. He is more of a "lead by example" player, and will take some of the younger linemen aside and work with them one-on-one to help them improve.
He also realizes that as one of the veterans coming back, Stewart has a big role to play if the defensive line is going to be as good as it was last season. He has the most starting experience of any player returning to the front seven — having started 36 of the 38 games he has played in over the last three seasons.
"We have to set the tone," he said. "Me, Dan (Giordano) and Brandon (Mills), especially up front. We are the veterans of the group and have been here the longest, so we have to set the tone every day for the defensive line and the defense. We take pride in that."
He no longer feels like a ping-pong ball.
Stewart bounced around linebacker positions when he first arrived in Cincinnati. But finally this spring, there is stability. For the first time in his career, Stewart will go into the season playing the same position for consecutive seasons. He has solidified himself as a defensive end, somebody who used his athleticism and quickness to make an impact on the line in 2011.
[+] Enlarge
Tony Tribble/US PresswireCincinnati DE Walter Stewart has a big role to play if the line is going to be as good as it was last season.
Tony Tribble/US PresswireCincinnati DE Walter Stewart has a big role to play if the line is going to be as good as it was last season."I just feel like I'm light years ahead of where I was last year and the year before that," Stewart said in a recent phone interview. "It just makes playing football a lot easier when you know what you have to do instead of playing something different. It's a good feeling knowing I can come out here and not really worry about anything else."
Stewart finished last season second on the team with six sacks, and added five quarterback hurries and 11 tackles for loss in his first year playing defensive end, where he started all 13 games. But it was not until the second half of the season that Stewart really got the hang of playing his new spot, while also getting adjusted to the increased weight he had to put on to play end.
When he arrived on campus, Stewart weighed 216 pounds. Last season, he played at 245, and now hopes to add between 5-10 more pounds to his frame before 2012 begins, "so I can stay light on my feet and be able to cover."
Where can he get better? "I want to make more improvements in the run game, and be better at the point of attack," Stewart said.
Though Cincinnati has only had a handful of practices before pausing for spring break, Stewart already has caught the eye of coach Butch Jones. When asked about players who have stood out in the early going, Jones mentioned Stewart.
As for the intangibles, Stewart received the most improved leader award from his coaches this past season, and will be looked at to be an even stronger leader in 2012 with players like Derek Wolfe and JK Schaffer gone. He is more of a "lead by example" player, and will take some of the younger linemen aside and work with them one-on-one to help them improve.
He also realizes that as one of the veterans coming back, Stewart has a big role to play if the defensive line is going to be as good as it was last season. He has the most starting experience of any player returning to the front seven — having started 36 of the 38 games he has played in over the last three seasons.
"We have to set the tone," he said. "Me, Dan (Giordano) and Brandon (Mills), especially up front. We are the veterans of the group and have been here the longest, so we have to set the tone every day for the defensive line and the defense. We take pride in that."
One of the biggest reasons Cincinnati was able to win at least a share of its third Big East title last season was a rejuvenated defense that feasted on making tackles behind the line and forcing turnovers.
Although seven starters return to the group, the focus during spring practice is squarely on the four players missing -- and on who will replace them in the lineup.
Cincinnati loses co-Defensive Player of the Year Derek Wolfe, leading tackler J.K. Schaffer and huge inside presence John Hughes. Starting safety Wesley Richardson also is gone, putting recently promoted defensive coordinator John Jancek on the spot immediately.
"I told our defense those players have graduated and moved on, but the expectations haven't," Jancek said in a recent phone interview. "The expectations remain the same, and so it's just a matter of the players that we have on our team taking advantage of those opportunities and fulfilling those expectations. I'm very excited about some of the younger players that have been growing and developing in our program. We have some big shoes to fill, losing the amount of production we did through the middle of our defense. It's challenging and exciting and provides other people with a great opportunity."
Last season, Cincinnati ranked No. 1 in the nation in tackles for loss and No. 2 in sacks. Factor in several other key senior departures, and the Bearcats are losing players who accounted for 52 percent of those tackles behind the line and 55 percent of their sacks. The biggest menace was Wolfe, who had 21.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks alone. He was a huge reason Cincinnati finished tied for No. 6 in the nation in rush defense last year.
Wolfe and Hughes were space-eaters in the middle, each weighing more than 300 pounds. With them gone, Cincinnati will be smaller up front. Camaron Beard and Jordan Stepp are the front-runners to win the starting jobs, and neither weighs 300 pounds. Of all the defensive linemen listed on the current roster, only redshirt freshman Brandon Mitchell weighs 300 pounds or more.
Add in the loss of Schaffer, huge in run support and pass coverage and the surest tackler the Bearcats have had the past three seasons, and you see why there is so much interest in how the Bearcats fill the void.
"We're ready to go ahead and build our own identity," said defensive end Walter Stewart, who has the most tackles for loss (11) and sacks (six) of all returning players. "We have good coaches, and we're going to develop our younger players in the spring and summer during camp. There's a lot of opportunity on the field with big John gone, Wolfe, JK -- it opens the door for another person."
The philosophy won't change -- Cincinnati will continue to be aggressive, try to force turnovers and stay disciplined. Incredibly, the Bearcats had only one offside penalty all season on the line -- that belonged to departing senior Monte Taylor. Stewart, Dan Giordano and Brandon Mills return at defensive end, and all three are seniors -- putting them in charge of helping the younger players along.
At linebacker, Jancek said Solomon Tentman would go into the spring with the first unit, with junior college transfer Greg Blair also in the mix. But the Bearcats are training outside linebacker Nick Temple to play inside when they go to substitution packages and nickel defense. Temple played as a true freshman last season and shows the athleticism and versatility needed to play both.
"I don't know what his learning curve will be now that he'll be inside," Jancek said. "I have played him in the past at the inside linebacker spot. He showed signs of having some good instincts and some good vision and things that you need to have at the position."
The secondary does return three starters and cornerback Dominique Battle, but this is a group that is still in major need of improvement. Plus, it just lost defensive backs coach Kerry Coombs, so how many strides are made at this position will also be something to watch.
Jancek realizes that the team must take steps this spring. But he likes the group of players he has on his side.
"There's a lot of unknowns for us at this point," Jancek said. "We've lost some of the key players from this past season, and we're still trying to find out what the new guys can do. We know that we have a great group of individuals in regards to work ethic and character and guys who are committed. That's really exciting for us as coaches. We'll know more as we work through spring ball whose skill sets are going to be utilized for us this season."
Although seven starters return to the group, the focus during spring practice is squarely on the four players missing -- and on who will replace them in the lineup.
[+] Enlarge
Nelson Chenault-US PRESSWIRECincinnati Bearcats linebacker Nick Temple will be playing both inside and outside this season.
Nelson Chenault-US PRESSWIRECincinnati Bearcats linebacker Nick Temple will be playing both inside and outside this season."I told our defense those players have graduated and moved on, but the expectations haven't," Jancek said in a recent phone interview. "The expectations remain the same, and so it's just a matter of the players that we have on our team taking advantage of those opportunities and fulfilling those expectations. I'm very excited about some of the younger players that have been growing and developing in our program. We have some big shoes to fill, losing the amount of production we did through the middle of our defense. It's challenging and exciting and provides other people with a great opportunity."
Last season, Cincinnati ranked No. 1 in the nation in tackles for loss and No. 2 in sacks. Factor in several other key senior departures, and the Bearcats are losing players who accounted for 52 percent of those tackles behind the line and 55 percent of their sacks. The biggest menace was Wolfe, who had 21.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks alone. He was a huge reason Cincinnati finished tied for No. 6 in the nation in rush defense last year.
Wolfe and Hughes were space-eaters in the middle, each weighing more than 300 pounds. With them gone, Cincinnati will be smaller up front. Camaron Beard and Jordan Stepp are the front-runners to win the starting jobs, and neither weighs 300 pounds. Of all the defensive linemen listed on the current roster, only redshirt freshman Brandon Mitchell weighs 300 pounds or more.
Add in the loss of Schaffer, huge in run support and pass coverage and the surest tackler the Bearcats have had the past three seasons, and you see why there is so much interest in how the Bearcats fill the void.
"We're ready to go ahead and build our own identity," said defensive end Walter Stewart, who has the most tackles for loss (11) and sacks (six) of all returning players. "We have good coaches, and we're going to develop our younger players in the spring and summer during camp. There's a lot of opportunity on the field with big John gone, Wolfe, JK -- it opens the door for another person."
The philosophy won't change -- Cincinnati will continue to be aggressive, try to force turnovers and stay disciplined. Incredibly, the Bearcats had only one offside penalty all season on the line -- that belonged to departing senior Monte Taylor. Stewart, Dan Giordano and Brandon Mills return at defensive end, and all three are seniors -- putting them in charge of helping the younger players along.
At linebacker, Jancek said Solomon Tentman would go into the spring with the first unit, with junior college transfer Greg Blair also in the mix. But the Bearcats are training outside linebacker Nick Temple to play inside when they go to substitution packages and nickel defense. Temple played as a true freshman last season and shows the athleticism and versatility needed to play both.
"I don't know what his learning curve will be now that he'll be inside," Jancek said. "I have played him in the past at the inside linebacker spot. He showed signs of having some good instincts and some good vision and things that you need to have at the position."
The secondary does return three starters and cornerback Dominique Battle, but this is a group that is still in major need of improvement. Plus, it just lost defensive backs coach Kerry Coombs, so how many strides are made at this position will also be something to watch.
Jancek realizes that the team must take steps this spring. But he likes the group of players he has on his side.
"There's a lot of unknowns for us at this point," Jancek said. "We've lost some of the key players from this past season, and we're still trying to find out what the new guys can do. We know that we have a great group of individuals in regards to work ethic and character and guys who are committed. That's really exciting for us as coaches. We'll know more as we work through spring ball whose skill sets are going to be utilized for us this season."
National signing day is inching ever closer, so it is time to take a look at the biggest recruiting needs for every team in the Big East.
Cincinnati
Defensive line. Cincinnati loses a host of seniors from this position, including Co-Defensive Player of the Year Derek Wolfe, John Hughes, Monte Taylor, and Rob Trigg. Factor in the key contributors for 2012 will be seniors in Dan Giordano, Brandon Mills and Walter Stewart and it is time to reload at this position.
Receiver. There is some promising young talent on the roster, but several guys are going to be leaving in the next few years. The Bearcats really need a guy who can stretch the field and make some big plays to join Anthony McClung and Alex Chisum.
Secondary. The Bearcats are going to take a hit at this position after 2012, losing a ton of seniors-to-be, including Cam Cheatham, Drew Frey, Dominique Battle and Reuben Johnson. Senior safety Wesley Richardson is already gone. The lone four-star commitment the Bearcats have is from a safety, Marcus Foster.
UConn
Quarterback. This need has been addressed in this recruiting cycle, with junior college transfer Chandler Whitmer and Casey Cochran already enrolled in school.
Tight end. With the impending departure of Ryan Griffin and John Delahunt, the Huskies could use another young player to be groomed to take over. Tight end is a critical part of the UConn offense.
Offensive line. UConn is losing its two best linemen in Moe Petrus and Mike Ryan. Of the 16 linemen currently listed on the roster, seven are juniors or seniors. Linemen generally take a redshirt season, so it never hurts to sign more to be able to restock.
Louisville
Linebacker. The Cardinals are losing Dexter Heyman and have a lot of juniors and seniors on their roster at this position. It is no surprise, then, that three of the top players coming in are linebackers -- Keith Brown and James Burgess are already enrolled; four-star recruit Nick Dawson has given a commitment.
Offensive line. Louisville has young players here, but not much depth, as evidenced this season when several true freshmen were forced to play much earlier than anticipated. It never hurts to build depth here, and the Cardinals have gotten a huge commit from four-star guard Abraham Garcia out of Miami.
Running back. This was an area the Cardinals struggled in this season, having to move quarterback Dominique Brown to the position. Victor Anderson is gone, and this team could really used another back to carry the load.
Pitt
Quarterback. This one is pretty self explanatory if you watched Tino Sunseri play. Mark Myers and Trey Anderson are also on the roster, but the Panthers are in definite need here -- which is why so many fans are looking forward to commit Chad Voytik coming to town.
Linebacker. This has been an area of inconsistency for the Panthers, who lose their best player in Max Gruder. There are some young players with talent in Todd Thomas and Ejuan Price, but this position could definitely use an upgrade.
Receiver. The play of the offense was disappointing this season, and that includes the receivers. Pitt could use some players to stretch the field. Ronald Jones was a start this season. But when you consider that Cameron Saddler, Mike Shanahan and Devin Street will all be upperclassmen in 2012, this is a definite area of need.
Rutgers
Receiver. Mohamed Sanu is gone, and Mark Harrison is a senior to be. There is plenty of young talent, but there is a reason Rutgers has commitments from four athletes. This gives the Scarlet Knights the flexibility to try them at receiver or running back, another area of need.
Running back. Once Savon Huggins got hurt this year, Rutgers had Jawan Jamison and Jeremy Deering at running back and that was about it. Depth has to be developed here.
Offensive line. Strides have absolutely been made at this position, but coach Greg Schiano likes to reiterate that the Scarlet Knights aren't going to pull themselves out of the hole they were in overnight. They need another solid draft class at this position to keep building.
USF
Secondary. Injuries and inconsistent play this season showed the Bulls really lacked some depth and need some immediate help in this area, which is why they signed junior college cornerbacks Fidel Montgomery and Josh Brown. One of their top four-star commitments is cornerback Chris Bivins.
Quarterback. Beyond B.J. Daniels, a senior in 2012, the Bulls have Bobby Eveld and Matt Floyd as the two heirs to take over. Eveld has been less than impressive, and we don't know much about Floyd. The Bulls would be served to get another quarterback in as they prepare for the future.
Running back. Darrell Scott is gone, and the Bulls are really in need of a game breaker at this position. Demetris Murray is going to be a senior, and nobody else really has stepped up at the position. Depth has to be built here, because USF goes into spring practice with four running backs on the roster.
Syracuse
Defensive line. The Orange are losing Chandler Jones and Mikhail Marinovich and could really used some difference-makers up front who can help get after the quarterback. Depth is an issue here. One of their big commitments so far has been defensive end Josh Manley out of Georgia.
Secondary. This was one of the weakest parts of the team and now the Orange lose Phillip Thomas and Kevyn Scott, and there was a lack of depth when injuries hit this position in 2011. Brooklyn prep safety Wayne Morgan would be a huge get to add to this unit.
Receiver. Alec Lemon is a senior, Van Chew is gone and who knows what happens with Marcus Sales. The bottom line is the Orange are in major need of a game-changer to turn 15-yard passes into 40-yard receptions.
West Virginia
Quarterback. Geno Smith is a rising senior and after him it is crickets in the form of one player behind him in Paul Millard. So consider this need majorly filled with Ford Childress, ranked No. 139 on the ESPNU 150.
Offensive line. The most inconsistent part of the team in 2011, West Virginia has a major need here. The Mountaineers struggled so badly here they started converted defensive lineman Curtis Feigt late in the season. Don Barclay is gone, and Joe Madsen, Jeff Braun and Josh Jenkins are all upperclassmen.
Defensive line. Julian Miller, Josh Taylor and Bruce Irvin are gone, and there are depth concerns here. West Virginia has four commitments from defensive linemen already.
Cincinnati
Defensive line. Cincinnati loses a host of seniors from this position, including Co-Defensive Player of the Year Derek Wolfe, John Hughes, Monte Taylor, and Rob Trigg. Factor in the key contributors for 2012 will be seniors in Dan Giordano, Brandon Mills and Walter Stewart and it is time to reload at this position.
Receiver. There is some promising young talent on the roster, but several guys are going to be leaving in the next few years. The Bearcats really need a guy who can stretch the field and make some big plays to join Anthony McClung and Alex Chisum.
Secondary. The Bearcats are going to take a hit at this position after 2012, losing a ton of seniors-to-be, including Cam Cheatham, Drew Frey, Dominique Battle and Reuben Johnson. Senior safety Wesley Richardson is already gone. The lone four-star commitment the Bearcats have is from a safety, Marcus Foster.
UConn
Quarterback. This need has been addressed in this recruiting cycle, with junior college transfer Chandler Whitmer and Casey Cochran already enrolled in school.
Tight end. With the impending departure of Ryan Griffin and John Delahunt, the Huskies could use another young player to be groomed to take over. Tight end is a critical part of the UConn offense.
Offensive line. UConn is losing its two best linemen in Moe Petrus and Mike Ryan. Of the 16 linemen currently listed on the roster, seven are juniors or seniors. Linemen generally take a redshirt season, so it never hurts to sign more to be able to restock.
Louisville
Linebacker. The Cardinals are losing Dexter Heyman and have a lot of juniors and seniors on their roster at this position. It is no surprise, then, that three of the top players coming in are linebackers -- Keith Brown and James Burgess are already enrolled; four-star recruit Nick Dawson has given a commitment.
Offensive line. Louisville has young players here, but not much depth, as evidenced this season when several true freshmen were forced to play much earlier than anticipated. It never hurts to build depth here, and the Cardinals have gotten a huge commit from four-star guard Abraham Garcia out of Miami.
Running back. This was an area the Cardinals struggled in this season, having to move quarterback Dominique Brown to the position. Victor Anderson is gone, and this team could really used another back to carry the load.
Pitt
Quarterback. This one is pretty self explanatory if you watched Tino Sunseri play. Mark Myers and Trey Anderson are also on the roster, but the Panthers are in definite need here -- which is why so many fans are looking forward to commit Chad Voytik coming to town.
Linebacker. This has been an area of inconsistency for the Panthers, who lose their best player in Max Gruder. There are some young players with talent in Todd Thomas and Ejuan Price, but this position could definitely use an upgrade.
Receiver. The play of the offense was disappointing this season, and that includes the receivers. Pitt could use some players to stretch the field. Ronald Jones was a start this season. But when you consider that Cameron Saddler, Mike Shanahan and Devin Street will all be upperclassmen in 2012, this is a definite area of need.
Rutgers
Receiver. Mohamed Sanu is gone, and Mark Harrison is a senior to be. There is plenty of young talent, but there is a reason Rutgers has commitments from four athletes. This gives the Scarlet Knights the flexibility to try them at receiver or running back, another area of need.
Running back. Once Savon Huggins got hurt this year, Rutgers had Jawan Jamison and Jeremy Deering at running back and that was about it. Depth has to be developed here.
Offensive line. Strides have absolutely been made at this position, but coach Greg Schiano likes to reiterate that the Scarlet Knights aren't going to pull themselves out of the hole they were in overnight. They need another solid draft class at this position to keep building.
USF
Secondary. Injuries and inconsistent play this season showed the Bulls really lacked some depth and need some immediate help in this area, which is why they signed junior college cornerbacks Fidel Montgomery and Josh Brown. One of their top four-star commitments is cornerback Chris Bivins.
Quarterback. Beyond B.J. Daniels, a senior in 2012, the Bulls have Bobby Eveld and Matt Floyd as the two heirs to take over. Eveld has been less than impressive, and we don't know much about Floyd. The Bulls would be served to get another quarterback in as they prepare for the future.
Running back. Darrell Scott is gone, and the Bulls are really in need of a game breaker at this position. Demetris Murray is going to be a senior, and nobody else really has stepped up at the position. Depth has to be built here, because USF goes into spring practice with four running backs on the roster.
Syracuse
Defensive line. The Orange are losing Chandler Jones and Mikhail Marinovich and could really used some difference-makers up front who can help get after the quarterback. Depth is an issue here. One of their big commitments so far has been defensive end Josh Manley out of Georgia.
Secondary. This was one of the weakest parts of the team and now the Orange lose Phillip Thomas and Kevyn Scott, and there was a lack of depth when injuries hit this position in 2011. Brooklyn prep safety Wayne Morgan would be a huge get to add to this unit.
Receiver. Alec Lemon is a senior, Van Chew is gone and who knows what happens with Marcus Sales. The bottom line is the Orange are in major need of a game-changer to turn 15-yard passes into 40-yard receptions.
West Virginia
Quarterback. Geno Smith is a rising senior and after him it is crickets in the form of one player behind him in Paul Millard. So consider this need majorly filled with Ford Childress, ranked No. 139 on the ESPNU 150.
Offensive line. The most inconsistent part of the team in 2011, West Virginia has a major need here. The Mountaineers struggled so badly here they started converted defensive lineman Curtis Feigt late in the season. Don Barclay is gone, and Joe Madsen, Jeff Braun and Josh Jenkins are all upperclassmen.
Defensive line. Julian Miller, Josh Taylor and Bruce Irvin are gone, and there are depth concerns here. West Virginia has four commitments from defensive linemen already.
Welcome to your midweek mailblog. Let's take a peek inside:
Rob in Morgantown, W.Va., writes: Here's a hypothetical question. Say WVU is forced to stay in the Big East next season, runs the table and is headed to the national championship game for the first time since 1988. Would the second-place Big East team also get a bid to a BCS bowl to fill the Big East slot, or would they need to have a one or two loss season? Hey the ACC got two bids so why not the Big East?
Adelson: I love hypotheticals in the offseason! I think you answered your own question here. If West Virginia is forced to stay in the Big East and runs the table, then the Mountaineers would be representing the Big East in the BCS. Future affiliation would mean nothing in this case. Just like Nebraska represented the Big 12 in 2010, even with its plans to join the Big Ten in 2011. The only way a second Big East team gets picked for the Big East is if it is in the eligible pool of candidates. That means a Top 14 finish in the BCS standings, having at least nine wins and getting picked ahead of eligible at-large candidates from conferences like the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12. I am not sure I see that happening.
Colin in Aldie, Va., writes: Andrea - Using the assumption that the way-too-early 2012 preseason rankings are within a spot or two of how the actual preseason rankings will appear (meaning WVU is Top 10), how much do you think WVU's placement in the B12 or Big East has an impact on its title hopes? Lot's of "what if" scenarios can be done of course, but let's say we have one loss in the B12 - would that carry more weight than going undefeated playing in the BE?
Adelson: Great question, Colin. I think it is safe to say that West Virginia has an easier road to an undefeated season playing a Big East schedule. But undefeated seasons in the Big East do not guarantee a place in the national championship game if there are multiple undefeated teams. I think it probably is too early to say whether a one-loss team from the Big 12 ranks higher than an undefeated team from the Big East. A lot really depends on preseason ranking, and the perception of the quality of schedule. Going back to 2007, for example, 11-2 Oklahoma finished No. 4 in the final BCS standings, while 10-2 West Virginia was No. 9. But in 2009, undefeated Cincinnati was ahead of a one-loss Florida team in the final BCS standings. There really is no way to predict. But you have to think an undefeated team like West Virginia out of the Big East -- with all the preseason hype it will get and a nonconference win over FSU -- would be ranked higher than a one-loss team from the Big 12.
Michael W. Holbrook in Syracuse writes: What happened to The Syracuse Orange this year after such a successful season last year!?!?!? What can we expect next year? How is The Orange's recruiting going? Thank you very much for your time and consideration!
Adelson: I think there were a few factors at play this season. First, Syracuse lost a lot of tremendous senior leadership from guys like Doug Hogue and Derrell Smith and ultimately, I think it was much harder for the Orange to find seniors to step up and take on that role. Secondly, Syracuse lost a good number of starters on defense. Combine that with injuries that hit early in the season, most especially in the secondary, and this group took a step back in 2011. Third, there was no real offensive consistency and Ryan Nassib seemed to play worse as the season progressed. Fourth, the West Virginia victory really did a number on this team. After getting to five wins, it seemed like a no-brainer that the Orange would make a bowl game. But after losing a couple, players pressed. They put pressure on themselves to get that sixth win, and they were basically playing like they were too worried about making a mistake. All of that combined for a 5-7 season. I had Syracuse eighth in my way too early predictions because I think the Orange lose some of their best players once again, in Antwon Bailey, Chandler Jones, Phillip Thomas and Nick Provo to name a few. This team has to show me something to inspire some confidence. As for recruiting, I think it is safe to say it has been a mixed bag. The Orange got a huge lift this weekend when three-star defensive end Josh Manley out of Georgia committed. They have lost out on some of the prospects they really wanted, but they also have commitments from 11 three-stars.
Eroc in The District writes: Do yourself a favor. Don't forget (Cincinnati's) Dan Giordano. He was often overlooked on the DL this season due to Walter Stewart getting most of the hype and Derek Wolfe beasting his opposition (which I called and you never game me a mention). Giordano is a blue collar, high motor DE. Yes, he will miss Wolfe and Hughes but the Bearcats DT rotation should be deeper, which will favor him.
Adelson: Does this count as a mention? I do believe I had Mr. Wolfe ranked in the preseason top 25, though very, very under-ranked at No. 21. I think what will help Cincinnati in 2012 without Wolfe and Hughes is the way this team was able to get its rotation going this season, getting guys like Giordano, Brandon Mills and Jordan Stepp valuable experience and playing time. That was something that was sorely lacking in 2010. Depth has to be built in spring practice and fall camp, but I will be absolutely interested to see whether this new configuration can keep up the production from 2011, without its co-Big East Defensive Player of the Year.
Rob in Morgantown, W.Va., writes: Here's a hypothetical question. Say WVU is forced to stay in the Big East next season, runs the table and is headed to the national championship game for the first time since 1988. Would the second-place Big East team also get a bid to a BCS bowl to fill the Big East slot, or would they need to have a one or two loss season? Hey the ACC got two bids so why not the Big East?
Adelson: I love hypotheticals in the offseason! I think you answered your own question here. If West Virginia is forced to stay in the Big East and runs the table, then the Mountaineers would be representing the Big East in the BCS. Future affiliation would mean nothing in this case. Just like Nebraska represented the Big 12 in 2010, even with its plans to join the Big Ten in 2011. The only way a second Big East team gets picked for the Big East is if it is in the eligible pool of candidates. That means a Top 14 finish in the BCS standings, having at least nine wins and getting picked ahead of eligible at-large candidates from conferences like the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12. I am not sure I see that happening.
Colin in Aldie, Va., writes: Andrea - Using the assumption that the way-too-early 2012 preseason rankings are within a spot or two of how the actual preseason rankings will appear (meaning WVU is Top 10), how much do you think WVU's placement in the B12 or Big East has an impact on its title hopes? Lot's of "what if" scenarios can be done of course, but let's say we have one loss in the B12 - would that carry more weight than going undefeated playing in the BE?
Adelson: Great question, Colin. I think it is safe to say that West Virginia has an easier road to an undefeated season playing a Big East schedule. But undefeated seasons in the Big East do not guarantee a place in the national championship game if there are multiple undefeated teams. I think it probably is too early to say whether a one-loss team from the Big 12 ranks higher than an undefeated team from the Big East. A lot really depends on preseason ranking, and the perception of the quality of schedule. Going back to 2007, for example, 11-2 Oklahoma finished No. 4 in the final BCS standings, while 10-2 West Virginia was No. 9. But in 2009, undefeated Cincinnati was ahead of a one-loss Florida team in the final BCS standings. There really is no way to predict. But you have to think an undefeated team like West Virginia out of the Big East -- with all the preseason hype it will get and a nonconference win over FSU -- would be ranked higher than a one-loss team from the Big 12.
Michael W. Holbrook in Syracuse writes: What happened to The Syracuse Orange this year after such a successful season last year!?!?!? What can we expect next year? How is The Orange's recruiting going? Thank you very much for your time and consideration!
Adelson: I think there were a few factors at play this season. First, Syracuse lost a lot of tremendous senior leadership from guys like Doug Hogue and Derrell Smith and ultimately, I think it was much harder for the Orange to find seniors to step up and take on that role. Secondly, Syracuse lost a good number of starters on defense. Combine that with injuries that hit early in the season, most especially in the secondary, and this group took a step back in 2011. Third, there was no real offensive consistency and Ryan Nassib seemed to play worse as the season progressed. Fourth, the West Virginia victory really did a number on this team. After getting to five wins, it seemed like a no-brainer that the Orange would make a bowl game. But after losing a couple, players pressed. They put pressure on themselves to get that sixth win, and they were basically playing like they were too worried about making a mistake. All of that combined for a 5-7 season. I had Syracuse eighth in my way too early predictions because I think the Orange lose some of their best players once again, in Antwon Bailey, Chandler Jones, Phillip Thomas and Nick Provo to name a few. This team has to show me something to inspire some confidence. As for recruiting, I think it is safe to say it has been a mixed bag. The Orange got a huge lift this weekend when three-star defensive end Josh Manley out of Georgia committed. They have lost out on some of the prospects they really wanted, but they also have commitments from 11 three-stars.
Eroc in The District writes: Do yourself a favor. Don't forget (Cincinnati's) Dan Giordano. He was often overlooked on the DL this season due to Walter Stewart getting most of the hype and Derek Wolfe beasting his opposition (which I called and you never game me a mention). Giordano is a blue collar, high motor DE. Yes, he will miss Wolfe and Hughes but the Bearcats DT rotation should be deeper, which will favor him.
Adelson: Does this count as a mention? I do believe I had Mr. Wolfe ranked in the preseason top 25, though very, very under-ranked at No. 21. I think what will help Cincinnati in 2012 without Wolfe and Hughes is the way this team was able to get its rotation going this season, getting guys like Giordano, Brandon Mills and Jordan Stepp valuable experience and playing time. That was something that was sorely lacking in 2010. Depth has to be built in spring practice and fall camp, but I will be absolutely interested to see whether this new configuration can keep up the production from 2011, without its co-Big East Defensive Player of the Year.
Q&A: Cincinnati coach Butch Jones, Part II
January, 18, 2012
Jan 18
9:00
AM ET
By
Andrea Adelson | ESPN.com
If you missed it, here is Part I of my interview with Cincinnati coach Butch Jones. Today, Jones goes over some of the key questions headed into spring practice, which begins March 1.
Did you allow yourself any time to enjoy the season after the bowl win or did you rush into preparations for 2012?
BJ: We started working on 2012 during bowl prep. We wanted to finish, but were also were getting ready for the future. We stayed after in Memphis so we could enjoy the win, took a day and then we were full-fledged onto 2012. That's the thing in our profession -- you can never sit back. I thought we did some great things with bowl prep. We had our seniors meet with the junior class and talk about leadership and the things they learned.
So on to the future, what happens at the quarterback spot? Munchie Legaux and Jordan Luallen got playing time this year, so they have to be the leaders, right?
BJ: They're going to have to earn that position every day. The exciting thing is with all the youth that we have and the competition that we have, there's already a renewed spirit, there’s a renewed commitment, there's excitement and energy in our football program. That's not just with the quarterback spot. I can feel that excitement already. I think the experience that Munchie gained and Jordan gained will prove to be extremely beneficial as we move forward. But it’s also exciting because of Patrick Coyne, Brendon Kay. Throw in two youngsters who graduated high school early -- to have them here already is going to pay huge dividends as well.
What do you think when people think 2012 will be a rebuilding year? I’ve written it myself.
BJ: All we can control is ourselves -- continuing to build our football program, and not paying attention. You look at last year -- I have it sitting on my desk -- you look at preseason rankings in the Big East conference and you look at the positions. Every single one of our defensive positions was ranked 7 or 8 in our conference. The thing we have to do is focus on being a better football team. It's what you sign your name to -- it's that excellence we talk about. I don't get caught up in the outside world because I know what we have, our players know what we have. We talk about not building a team but a program, and I think we have proven across the country we are a football program. So we just have to control what we can control, our daily work ethic, how we go to class, every individual taking accountability. There's a lot of excitement here in the community and in our football program. I think change is good, change keeps people on their toes. There's a lot of competition, our junior class that are now seniors they understand the responsibility that it is in our football program. There's a great spirit right now.
Where do you think is your biggest area of strength going into 2012?
BJ: Well, we won a lot of games on special teams this year. You look at starting season with an unproven kicker, Tony (Miliano) has a lot of room for improvement, but he also made big kicks for us, Pat O’Donnell returns as well. In our secondary, those individuals have gained a ton of experience, Deven Drane continued to get better as the season progressed, along with Cam Cheatham. Now we have Trenier Orr, whom we’re high on, so we’re going to have a high level of competition. We get Dominique Battle back. You look at our defensive end position with Walter Stewart and Brandon Mills, Dan Giordano so that and then I expect our receiving corps to be much better with Anthony McClung, Kenbrell Thompkins, Alex Chisum and the experience they gained. Also, I thought our tight ends really made some big plays for us. We’re going to miss Adrien Robinson, but that's a position that could be pretty strong as well.
How about at running back? You seem to have a lot of depth there when it comes to trying to replace Isaiah Pead.
BJ: I don't know if you just replace a great back like Isaiah. He meant so much to us but that's probably one of the most competitive spots that we'll have in our football program. When you look at Ralph David Abernathy and what he brings to the table, that big kickoff return (against Vanderbilt), Jameel Poteat, Akise Teague, George Winn. And if we’re able to maintain a couple in the recruitment process, I think that's going to be a very, very competitive position as we move forward and we'll see how it goes. The mark of great coaches is they're able to adapt each and every year for their strengths and weaknesses so we have to do a great job of playing to our strength. Each team have a different personality. We just have to do a great job of putting our schemes in and allowing players to be successful in what they can do.
Did you allow yourself any time to enjoy the season after the bowl win or did you rush into preparations for 2012?
BJ: We started working on 2012 during bowl prep. We wanted to finish, but were also were getting ready for the future. We stayed after in Memphis so we could enjoy the win, took a day and then we were full-fledged onto 2012. That's the thing in our profession -- you can never sit back. I thought we did some great things with bowl prep. We had our seniors meet with the junior class and talk about leadership and the things they learned.
So on to the future, what happens at the quarterback spot? Munchie Legaux and Jordan Luallen got playing time this year, so they have to be the leaders, right?
BJ: They're going to have to earn that position every day. The exciting thing is with all the youth that we have and the competition that we have, there's already a renewed spirit, there’s a renewed commitment, there's excitement and energy in our football program. That's not just with the quarterback spot. I can feel that excitement already. I think the experience that Munchie gained and Jordan gained will prove to be extremely beneficial as we move forward. But it’s also exciting because of Patrick Coyne, Brendon Kay. Throw in two youngsters who graduated high school early -- to have them here already is going to pay huge dividends as well.
What do you think when people think 2012 will be a rebuilding year? I’ve written it myself.
BJ: All we can control is ourselves -- continuing to build our football program, and not paying attention. You look at last year -- I have it sitting on my desk -- you look at preseason rankings in the Big East conference and you look at the positions. Every single one of our defensive positions was ranked 7 or 8 in our conference. The thing we have to do is focus on being a better football team. It's what you sign your name to -- it's that excellence we talk about. I don't get caught up in the outside world because I know what we have, our players know what we have. We talk about not building a team but a program, and I think we have proven across the country we are a football program. So we just have to control what we can control, our daily work ethic, how we go to class, every individual taking accountability. There's a lot of excitement here in the community and in our football program. I think change is good, change keeps people on their toes. There's a lot of competition, our junior class that are now seniors they understand the responsibility that it is in our football program. There's a great spirit right now.
Where do you think is your biggest area of strength going into 2012?
BJ: Well, we won a lot of games on special teams this year. You look at starting season with an unproven kicker, Tony (Miliano) has a lot of room for improvement, but he also made big kicks for us, Pat O’Donnell returns as well. In our secondary, those individuals have gained a ton of experience, Deven Drane continued to get better as the season progressed, along with Cam Cheatham. Now we have Trenier Orr, whom we’re high on, so we’re going to have a high level of competition. We get Dominique Battle back. You look at our defensive end position with Walter Stewart and Brandon Mills, Dan Giordano so that and then I expect our receiving corps to be much better with Anthony McClung, Kenbrell Thompkins, Alex Chisum and the experience they gained. Also, I thought our tight ends really made some big plays for us. We’re going to miss Adrien Robinson, but that's a position that could be pretty strong as well.
How about at running back? You seem to have a lot of depth there when it comes to trying to replace Isaiah Pead.
BJ: I don't know if you just replace a great back like Isaiah. He meant so much to us but that's probably one of the most competitive spots that we'll have in our football program. When you look at Ralph David Abernathy and what he brings to the table, that big kickoff return (against Vanderbilt), Jameel Poteat, Akise Teague, George Winn. And if we’re able to maintain a couple in the recruitment process, I think that's going to be a very, very competitive position as we move forward and we'll see how it goes. The mark of great coaches is they're able to adapt each and every year for their strengths and weaknesses so we have to do a great job of playing to our strength. Each team have a different personality. We just have to do a great job of putting our schemes in and allowing players to be successful in what they can do.
Serving up your links for today ...
- Several Cincinnati players have changed their bodies for new roles this season. JK Schaffer and Brandon Mills talk defense. Alex Hoffman is at the heart of Cincinnati's offense.
- Desmond Conner of The Hartford Courant fills us in on UConn practice. Frank Guardi's dream is about to come true. The UConn defensive line is built on experience.
- Louisville coach Charlie Strong says his team's grades are improving. Victor Anderson is the new face of the program.
- Pitt quarterback Tino Sunseri took a deeper look at himself this summer. Milford Academy changed Todd Thomas' perspective. Tony Dorsett addressed Pitt on Tuesday.
- Joe Martinek has no reservations about moving from running back to fullback. A Bloomberg report cites growing tension between academics and athletics at Rutgers. Jamal Merrell has been promoted to first-team linebacker.
- Defensive coordinator Mark Snyder is now the highest-paid assistant at USF. Marcus Shaw made a big impression at USF's scrimmage.
- Syracuse nose tackle Ollie Haney has his coaches and teammates in his corner.
- West Virginia kicker Tyler Bitancurt is trying to improve his efficiency. Running back Dustin Garrison measures up. Assistant athletic director of football operations Mike Kerin is retiring. Former offensive line coach Dave Johnson is reportedly headed to Cincinnati to coach tight ends. Shaq Petteway makes a case for the Bandit position.
2010 overall record: 4-8
2010 conference record: 2-5, seventh in Big East
Returning starters:
Offense: 5. Defense: 11. Punter/kicker: 1.
Top returners:
QB Zach Collaros, RB Isaiah Pead, WR D.J. Woods, OT Alex Hoffman, DT Derek Wolfe, DE Walter Stewart, LB JK Schaffer
Key losses:
WR Armon Binns, C Jason Kelce
2010 statistical leaders (* returners)
Rushing: Isaiah Pead* (1,029 yards)
Passing: Zach Collaros* (2,902 yards)
Receiving: Armon Binns (1,101 yards)
Tackles: JK Schaffer* (111 tackles)
Sacks: Brandon Mills* (six sacks)
Interceptions: Drew Frey* and Wes Richardson* (2 interceptions)
Spring answers
1. Better up front: The Bearcats' defense was bad last season, with lots of holes all over. One of the problems stemmed from the lack of a consistent pass rush on a thin defensive line. Players like Derek Wolfe and Brandon Mills played far too many snaps along that defensive front. Head coach Butch Jones feels better about the depth this season, with the addition of young players like Camaron Beard and Brad Harrah, plus the continued development of veterans like Dan Giordano and John Hughes. Moving Walter Stewart from linebacker to full-time defensive end should help with speed off the edge, and Wolfe should be one of the best interior tackles in the league. It's not an all-world line, but it should be a lot better.
2. Locked and loaded: Cincinnati led the Big East in scoring a year ago, and even with the loss of the league's top receiver in Armon Binns, the offense has the weapons to be very dangerous again. Quarterback Zach Collaros is a senior who's now fully in charge of the offense, and running back Isaiah Pead is the league's leading returning rusher after producing a 1,000-yard season in 2010. Junior-college transfer Kenbrell Thompkins emerged as a potential No. 1 wideout, and Anthony McClung and O.J. Woodard made strides. Add in explosive slot man D.J. Woods and incoming players Dyjuan Lewis and Jameel Poteat, and the Bearcats should be hard for defenses to handle in 2011.
3. Early start successes: Cincinnati had five recruits from its 2011 class enroll early, and Jones said the team went 5-for-5 in getting good players and future contributors from that group. Look for receiver Shaq Washington and defensive back Malcolm Murray to push for major playing time. If nothing else, the early enrollees help build depth for a team that didn't have much of a bench a year ago.
Fall questions
1. The back seven on 'D': While the defensive front figures to be improved, there still are questions on the rest of the defense. JK Schaffer is a rock at linebacker, but the Bearcats don't have much depth elsewhere at that position. All the defensive backs return from last season, but they did not play well in 2010 and had some struggles this spring. They need to become better tacklers and more aggressive on balls in the air. The defense showed some improvement in the spring but still has a long way to go.
2. Kicker questions: Jake Rogers was as reliable a placekicker as there was in the Big East the past few years. Tony Miliano, Danny Milligan and punter Pat O'Donnell battled to replace him this spring, but none of them clinched the job. Jones has said he'll probably wait until the week before the season opener to name his field-goal specialist.
3. Zach's backup: Collaros is completely entrenched as the starter and as valuable as any Big East player. But who would the Bearcats turn to if something happened to him? Chazz Anderson, who backed up Collaros last season and started the Syracuse game, decided to transfer after spring practice. The options include Georgia Tech transfer Jordan Luallen, oft-injured junior Brendon Kay, sophomore Munchie Legaux and early enrollee Stephen Weatherford. The No. 2 spot will likely remain up for grabs into fall practice.
2010 conference record: 2-5, seventh in Big East
Returning starters:
Offense: 5. Defense: 11. Punter/kicker: 1.
Top returners:
QB Zach Collaros, RB Isaiah Pead, WR D.J. Woods, OT Alex Hoffman, DT Derek Wolfe, DE Walter Stewart, LB JK Schaffer
Key losses:
WR Armon Binns, C Jason Kelce
2010 statistical leaders (* returners)
Rushing: Isaiah Pead* (1,029 yards)
Passing: Zach Collaros* (2,902 yards)
Receiving: Armon Binns (1,101 yards)
Tackles: JK Schaffer* (111 tackles)
Sacks: Brandon Mills* (six sacks)
Interceptions: Drew Frey* and Wes Richardson* (2 interceptions)
Spring answers
1. Better up front: The Bearcats' defense was bad last season, with lots of holes all over. One of the problems stemmed from the lack of a consistent pass rush on a thin defensive line. Players like Derek Wolfe and Brandon Mills played far too many snaps along that defensive front. Head coach Butch Jones feels better about the depth this season, with the addition of young players like Camaron Beard and Brad Harrah, plus the continued development of veterans like Dan Giordano and John Hughes. Moving Walter Stewart from linebacker to full-time defensive end should help with speed off the edge, and Wolfe should be one of the best interior tackles in the league. It's not an all-world line, but it should be a lot better.
2. Locked and loaded: Cincinnati led the Big East in scoring a year ago, and even with the loss of the league's top receiver in Armon Binns, the offense has the weapons to be very dangerous again. Quarterback Zach Collaros is a senior who's now fully in charge of the offense, and running back Isaiah Pead is the league's leading returning rusher after producing a 1,000-yard season in 2010. Junior-college transfer Kenbrell Thompkins emerged as a potential No. 1 wideout, and Anthony McClung and O.J. Woodard made strides. Add in explosive slot man D.J. Woods and incoming players Dyjuan Lewis and Jameel Poteat, and the Bearcats should be hard for defenses to handle in 2011.
3. Early start successes: Cincinnati had five recruits from its 2011 class enroll early, and Jones said the team went 5-for-5 in getting good players and future contributors from that group. Look for receiver Shaq Washington and defensive back Malcolm Murray to push for major playing time. If nothing else, the early enrollees help build depth for a team that didn't have much of a bench a year ago.
Fall questions
1. The back seven on 'D': While the defensive front figures to be improved, there still are questions on the rest of the defense. JK Schaffer is a rock at linebacker, but the Bearcats don't have much depth elsewhere at that position. All the defensive backs return from last season, but they did not play well in 2010 and had some struggles this spring. They need to become better tacklers and more aggressive on balls in the air. The defense showed some improvement in the spring but still has a long way to go.
2. Kicker questions: Jake Rogers was as reliable a placekicker as there was in the Big East the past few years. Tony Miliano, Danny Milligan and punter Pat O'Donnell battled to replace him this spring, but none of them clinched the job. Jones has said he'll probably wait until the week before the season opener to name his field-goal specialist.
3. Zach's backup: Collaros is completely entrenched as the starter and as valuable as any Big East player. But who would the Bearcats turn to if something happened to him? Chazz Anderson, who backed up Collaros last season and started the Syracuse game, decided to transfer after spring practice. The options include Georgia Tech transfer Jordan Luallen, oft-injured junior Brendon Kay, sophomore Munchie Legaux and early enrollee Stephen Weatherford. The No. 2 spot will likely remain up for grabs into fall practice.
Q&A with Cincinnati's Butch Jones, Part I
March, 25, 2011
3/25/11
4:00
PM ET
By
Brian Bennett | ESPN.com
Jim Owens/Icon SMIButch Jones hopes a productive offseason will translate into victories on the field in 2011.After the rough year in 2010, how are the players' attitudes heading into the spring?
Butch Jones: I've been very pleased. I think we've had a very, very productive offseason. I've liked our leadership, and that's the biggest thing -- teaching our players about leadership and team unity. We've talked about each day is a different challenge. Each day you've got to win the day. We've talked about how before you can even be in contention to win a championship, your team has to be comprised of individual champions. Yesterday our winter quarter grades came out, and we have 83 players, scholarship and non-scholarship. We had a 2.9 GPA, which is very impressive. So they've answered that challenge, and they've answered the challenge in the strength and conditioning area. And now we need to answer the challenge for spring football.
It's the second year for your system now, and your entire coaching staff returns. How much positive impact will that have?
BJ: You win with continuity. At Central Michigan, we were very fortunate to keep our coaching staff intact. This year was extremely challenging, because we had four staff members be offered other BCS, high-caliber, high-profile jobs. And all four stayed. I think that speaks volumes about how they feel about the direction of our program and our players, loyalty, all that stuff. You look at what our defensive players have gone through, with three defensive coordinators in three years, and I'm just a firm believer you win with continuity. Everyone knows what's expected. That's been a huge benefit this offseason.
Looking at your defense, you have all 11 starters back. But the defense obviously struggled last year. So do you look at it as a good thing that every starter is back, or that there needs to be some major change there?
BJ: The key there is, we can't just be older; we must get better. We have to take major, major strides on that side of the ball. It comes first and foremost with a physicality and presence, and we've got to get much more tougher, much more physical. When I say tougher, it's both mental and physical. It's being able to handle sudden changes, it's creating turnovers, it's third down and getting off the field. So there's so much that goes into improving the defense and making us a better tackling team. This spring is going to be very, very physical. We're going to challenge them as we did in our winter conditioning.
With the holiday week, I'm moving this up a day from its usual spot. Safe to say I'll be stocking up on turkey and stuffing, while my physical fitness will see its stock go down.
Stock up
1. Kendall Reyes: UConn has moved Reyes between defensive tackle and defensive end this year. He was inside against Syracuse and was highly disruptive, coming up with an interception and knocking the ball out of quarterback Ryan Nassib's hands to lead a dominant effort by the Huskies' front four.
2. Bruce Irvin: Last week, I wrote that West Virginia's defensive end was mostly just a specialist. Well, Irvin is putting the special in specialist with 10 sacks on the year. And he's starting to play a bigger role; normally just a third-down guy, he appeared on several second-down situations last week at Louisville.
3. Brandon Mills: The Cincinnati defensive tackle had 10 tackles, three sacks, 5.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble against Rutgers to earn Big East defensive player of the week honors. Of course, going up against the Scarlet Knights' spotty offensive line when they were forced to pass every down in a 69-38 loss could make a lot of defensive players look good. But Butch Jones says Mills "is playing with a lot of energy right now."
4. West Virginia's third-down defense: The Mountaineers' last two opponents, Louisville and Cincinnati, have gone a combined 2-for-25 on third downs. West Virginia leads the FBS in third-down defense. Safety Robert Sands described third down thusly: "It's like a race to the quarterback."
5. Dontavia Bogan: The USF receiver had only four catches against Pitt, but he drew four pass interference or holding calls as Panthers cornerbacks -- especially Antwuan Reed -- struggled to contain him on the deep ball.
Stock down
1. Rutgers' defense: Remember when defense was the Scarlet Knights' calling card? Not so much after surrendering 661 yards and 69 points to Cincinnati. Rutgers has allowed more points in conference games than any Big East team. And it's not like their offense can pick up the slack.
2. Syracuse's offense: The Orange defense has been great most of the year, but it is not getting much help from the offense lately. Syracuse is averaging just 16.6 points per game in conference play and managed just one touchdown in its last two games combined.
3. Louisville's passing game: West Virginia blitzed to stop the run and dared the Cardinals to beat it with the passing game. They couldn't. Louisville hasn't had more than 146 yards passing in its last four games, and its offense has become far too one-dimensional.
4. South Florida's two-minute drill: The Bulls looked terrible earlier this year in trying to move the ball late in the first halves against West Virginia and Florida, leading to game-killing turnovers. Against Pitt, USF got the ball back with 1:31 left, needing to go 74 yards to tie the score. Quarterback B.J. Daniels didn't seem to have any idea how to manage the clock in that situation as valuable seconds drained away before a final heave was intercepted.
5. West Virginia's second-half offense: The Mountaineers have strangely scored just one touchdown after halftime in their five Big East games, and it came against Cincinnati's easily-punctured defense. Sometimes they seem more content with running out the clock than adding on points. Combine that with Pitt's first-half slow starts -- the Panthers have managed just 30 total points in their last four first halves -- and there could be some major momentum changes in this week's Backyard Brawl.
Stock up
1. Kendall Reyes: UConn has moved Reyes between defensive tackle and defensive end this year. He was inside against Syracuse and was highly disruptive, coming up with an interception and knocking the ball out of quarterback Ryan Nassib's hands to lead a dominant effort by the Huskies' front four.
2. Bruce Irvin: Last week, I wrote that West Virginia's defensive end was mostly just a specialist. Well, Irvin is putting the special in specialist with 10 sacks on the year. And he's starting to play a bigger role; normally just a third-down guy, he appeared on several second-down situations last week at Louisville.
3. Brandon Mills: The Cincinnati defensive tackle had 10 tackles, three sacks, 5.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble against Rutgers to earn Big East defensive player of the week honors. Of course, going up against the Scarlet Knights' spotty offensive line when they were forced to pass every down in a 69-38 loss could make a lot of defensive players look good. But Butch Jones says Mills "is playing with a lot of energy right now."
4. West Virginia's third-down defense: The Mountaineers' last two opponents, Louisville and Cincinnati, have gone a combined 2-for-25 on third downs. West Virginia leads the FBS in third-down defense. Safety Robert Sands described third down thusly: "It's like a race to the quarterback."
5. Dontavia Bogan: The USF receiver had only four catches against Pitt, but he drew four pass interference or holding calls as Panthers cornerbacks -- especially Antwuan Reed -- struggled to contain him on the deep ball.
Stock down
1. Rutgers' defense: Remember when defense was the Scarlet Knights' calling card? Not so much after surrendering 661 yards and 69 points to Cincinnati. Rutgers has allowed more points in conference games than any Big East team. And it's not like their offense can pick up the slack.
2. Syracuse's offense: The Orange defense has been great most of the year, but it is not getting much help from the offense lately. Syracuse is averaging just 16.6 points per game in conference play and managed just one touchdown in its last two games combined.
3. Louisville's passing game: West Virginia blitzed to stop the run and dared the Cardinals to beat it with the passing game. They couldn't. Louisville hasn't had more than 146 yards passing in its last four games, and its offense has become far too one-dimensional.
4. South Florida's two-minute drill: The Bulls looked terrible earlier this year in trying to move the ball late in the first halves against West Virginia and Florida, leading to game-killing turnovers. Against Pitt, USF got the ball back with 1:31 left, needing to go 74 yards to tie the score. Quarterback B.J. Daniels didn't seem to have any idea how to manage the clock in that situation as valuable seconds drained away before a final heave was intercepted.
5. West Virginia's second-half offense: The Mountaineers have strangely scored just one touchdown after halftime in their five Big East games, and it came against Cincinnati's easily-punctured defense. Sometimes they seem more content with running out the clock than adding on points. Combine that with Pitt's first-half slow starts -- the Panthers have managed just 30 total points in their last four first halves -- and there could be some major momentum changes in this week's Backyard Brawl.
Rolling on with our post-spring position rankings in the Big East. We turn to the defense now and start up front with the linemen. Remember that depth matters as well as star power:
1. Pittsburgh: The Panthers had the best defensive line in the league a year ago, and that remains the case even without defensive tackle, and Big East co-defensive player of the year, Mick Williams. Greg Romeus and Jabaal Sheard are the best pair of defensive ends in the league, while tackles Myles Caragein and Chas Alecxih are solid at tackle. There's depth, too, with emerging young players like Tyrone Ezell and Shayne Hale.
2. West Virginia: What was a thin position at times last year has become an area of strength for the Mountaineers. Chris Neild is a beast at nose tackle, while Scooter Berry and Julian Miller (nine sacks in '09) bring experience to the defensive end spots in the 3-3-5 scheme. Will Clarke looks like a future star, while junior college import Bruce Irvin is expected to add depth this summer.
3. Rutgers: Three of the four starters return, including senior Alex Silvestro and sophomore Scott Vallone. Jonathan Freeny should be ready for a starting role after recording nine sacks as a rush specialist a year ago, while Eric LeGrand, Justin Francis and redshirt freshmen Andre Civil and Isaac Holmes are around to provide excellent depth.
4. South Florida: Yes, George Selvie and Jason Pierre-Paul are gone. Still, new Bulls defensive coordinator Mark Snyder said the line had SEC-caliber depth this spring. Tackles Terrell McClain and Keith McCaskill and end Craig Marshall are the veterans of the group. If Ryne Giddins, Julius Forte and junior college star Claude Davis develop as expected, this line could be among the most feared in the league.
5. Connecticut: Kendall Reyes and Twyon Martin are moving into their third year as starters at tackle (though Martin found himself in the doghouse this spring). Promising sophomores Jesse Joseph and Trevardo Williams return at end along with Marcus Campbell, who missed last year because of academics. Getting converted linebacker Greg Lloyd back from knee surgery this summer would help provide depth, and UConn lacks some size on the edge.
6. Cincinnati: Derek Wolfe is an elite run-stopper in the middle, but the Bearcats will need improved production from Dan Giordano, John Hughes and Brandon Mills. Depth is a serious concern behind the starting unit.
7. Syracuse: Replacing Arthur Jones in the middle is no easy task. His younger brother, Chandler, could be ready to break out as a star defensive end after recording 10.5 tackles for loss as a sophomore. Mikhail Marinovich could join him in opposing backfields from the other end spot. This line held its own last year but lacks proven stars.
8. Louisville: The Cardinals' defensive line looked like a mess this spring, with no standout ends and lacked size and strength on the interior. Greg Scruggs was moved from end to tackle despite weighing just 270 pounds. It's been a couple of years since the Louisville defensive line truly could pressure opposing quarterbacks with any consistency; at least head coach Charlie Strong knows how to build a good defense.
1. Pittsburgh: The Panthers had the best defensive line in the league a year ago, and that remains the case even without defensive tackle, and Big East co-defensive player of the year, Mick Williams. Greg Romeus and Jabaal Sheard are the best pair of defensive ends in the league, while tackles Myles Caragein and Chas Alecxih are solid at tackle. There's depth, too, with emerging young players like Tyrone Ezell and Shayne Hale.
2. West Virginia: What was a thin position at times last year has become an area of strength for the Mountaineers. Chris Neild is a beast at nose tackle, while Scooter Berry and Julian Miller (nine sacks in '09) bring experience to the defensive end spots in the 3-3-5 scheme. Will Clarke looks like a future star, while junior college import Bruce Irvin is expected to add depth this summer.
3. Rutgers: Three of the four starters return, including senior Alex Silvestro and sophomore Scott Vallone. Jonathan Freeny should be ready for a starting role after recording nine sacks as a rush specialist a year ago, while Eric LeGrand, Justin Francis and redshirt freshmen Andre Civil and Isaac Holmes are around to provide excellent depth.
4. South Florida: Yes, George Selvie and Jason Pierre-Paul are gone. Still, new Bulls defensive coordinator Mark Snyder said the line had SEC-caliber depth this spring. Tackles Terrell McClain and Keith McCaskill and end Craig Marshall are the veterans of the group. If Ryne Giddins, Julius Forte and junior college star Claude Davis develop as expected, this line could be among the most feared in the league.
5. Connecticut: Kendall Reyes and Twyon Martin are moving into their third year as starters at tackle (though Martin found himself in the doghouse this spring). Promising sophomores Jesse Joseph and Trevardo Williams return at end along with Marcus Campbell, who missed last year because of academics. Getting converted linebacker Greg Lloyd back from knee surgery this summer would help provide depth, and UConn lacks some size on the edge.
6. Cincinnati: Derek Wolfe is an elite run-stopper in the middle, but the Bearcats will need improved production from Dan Giordano, John Hughes and Brandon Mills. Depth is a serious concern behind the starting unit.
7. Syracuse: Replacing Arthur Jones in the middle is no easy task. His younger brother, Chandler, could be ready to break out as a star defensive end after recording 10.5 tackles for loss as a sophomore. Mikhail Marinovich could join him in opposing backfields from the other end spot. This line held its own last year but lacks proven stars.
8. Louisville: The Cardinals' defensive line looked like a mess this spring, with no standout ends and lacked size and strength on the interior. Greg Scruggs was moved from end to tackle despite weighing just 270 pounds. It's been a couple of years since the Louisville defensive line truly could pressure opposing quarterbacks with any consistency; at least head coach Charlie Strong knows how to build a good defense.
CINCINNATI -- Some thoughts and observations from today's Cincinnati Bearcats practice:
- The one word I would use to describe a Butch Jones practice is: Fast. Now, I've seen some up-tempo practices in my time. Bobby Petrino used to run his guys hard at Louisville. Heck, Brian Kelly's practices were up-tempo, so much so that Notre Dame is having to adjust to the new pace.
Still, I'm not sure I've seen a practice move as quickly, especially in the spring, as the one I saw today. The team took only one short break for water during the nearly 2 1/2 hour workout which covered 24 periods. When the offense was doing pass skeleton drills, the players had to absolutely sprint to the line of scrimmage after each throw. It's also a loud practice, as several coaches are yelling throughout. Usually, there's one or two extremely vocal, super-intense assistants on the field. At Nippert Stadium today, you would see several coaches sprinting and screaming all over the field.
At one point when a receiver failed to keep running down the field after a catch, Mike Bajakian chased him back to the huddle and then made him sprint with him for yards.
"Get the mentality!" Bajakian yelled.
So that was interesting.
- Some other differences included music over the loudspeakers at the start of practice, though it was turned off after assistant Kerry Coombs voiced his displeasure with Metallica's "One." Team managers wore referee shirts so players would know where to throw the ball after a drill. The team just bought six-foot screens on wheels that stood in for the pass rush on pass drills, as managers would push the screens toward the quarterbacks. And the players line up and shake hands like a postgame hockey scene once practice ends.
- Today was the first day in pads for the Bearcats, but they mostly avoided contact. So it was hard to draw large conclusions about the team as a whole. I would definitely say the receivers are impressive; the starting trio of Armon Binns, Vidal Hazelton and D.J. Woods all look great and it has to be the best group in the Big East. Jamar Howard looks bigger, and Kenbrell Thompkins looked like he could contribute down the line. Marcus Barnett, who has changed his number to 89, made some nice catches as well today.
- I thought Zach Collaros and Chazz Anderson looked sharp. Collaros is going to be the starter, of course, but this team can win with Anderson as well.
- Here was the starting unit on defense when the team went to 11-on-11 drills: Dan Giordano, Derek Wolfe, Brandon Mills and John Hughes up front, JK Schaffer, Dorian Davis and Walter Stewart at linebacker and Camerron Cheatham, Drew Frey, Wesley Richardson and Dominique Battle at defensive back. Cheatham made some nice plays, including an interception. Depth on the defensive line is a concern.
- The starting offensive line was C.J. Cobb, Sam Griffin, Alex Hoffman, Evan Davis and Jason Kelce.
- Jones has devised an interesting way to deal with Cincinnati's lack of practice space (Nippert Stadium is the team's only field). While at most other places punters do their thing on another field somewhere, they stood on the sidelines near the end zone Tuesday and punted the ball into the bleachers as a manager retrieved the balls.
Our look at where each Big East team is strongest and weakest concludes with Cincinnati, which coincidentally opens spring practice today.
Strongest position: Wide receiver
Key returnees: Armon Binns (61 catches, 888 yards, 11 touchdowns), D.J. Woods (51 catches, 640 yards, four touchdowns), Marcus Barnett (10 catches, 95 yards, touchdown).
Key departures: Mardy Gilyard
The skinny: Even without the incredibly productive Gilyard, the Bearcats are still loaded at wideout. Not only are Binns and Woods top-flight starting receivers, but the team now blends in USC transfer Vidal Hazelton, a 6-foot-2, 210-pounder who could become the new No. 1 target. First-year coach Butch Jones may also find a way to get more out of Barnett, who was a star his freshman year before falling into the shadows the last two years, and/or Jamar Howard, who disappointed after transferring in from junior college last year. Zach Collaros should have plenty of options in the passing game this spring.
Weakest position: Defensive line
Key returnees: DT Derek Wolfe (20 tackles, five sacks), DT Brandon Mills (25 tackles, 3.5 sacks), DE John Hughes (23 tackles, two sacks), OLB/DE Walter Stewart (59 tackles, 4.5 sacks, interception), DE Dan Giordano (42 tackles, two sacks).
Key departures: DE Ricardo Mathews, DE Alex Daniels, DE/OLB Curtis Young.
The skinny: As the end of last season showed, Cincinnati's defensive line could be overpowered by strong offenses. Now the Bearcats must make do without three of their top pass-rushers in Mathews, Daniels and Young. And the defense will need more linemen as it transitions back to a 4-3 scheme. Wolfe is solid at nose tackle, and Stewart could be a good speed rusher if he's moved to the end (though he was listed at just 226 pounds last season). Cincinnati will need guys like Hughes and Giordano to raise their game, and more depth must be found this spring to make this a championship-caliber D-line.
Strongest position: Wide receiver
Key returnees: Armon Binns (61 catches, 888 yards, 11 touchdowns), D.J. Woods (51 catches, 640 yards, four touchdowns), Marcus Barnett (10 catches, 95 yards, touchdown).
Key departures: Mardy Gilyard
The skinny: Even without the incredibly productive Gilyard, the Bearcats are still loaded at wideout. Not only are Binns and Woods top-flight starting receivers, but the team now blends in USC transfer Vidal Hazelton, a 6-foot-2, 210-pounder who could become the new No. 1 target. First-year coach Butch Jones may also find a way to get more out of Barnett, who was a star his freshman year before falling into the shadows the last two years, and/or Jamar Howard, who disappointed after transferring in from junior college last year. Zach Collaros should have plenty of options in the passing game this spring.
Weakest position: Defensive line
Key returnees: DT Derek Wolfe (20 tackles, five sacks), DT Brandon Mills (25 tackles, 3.5 sacks), DE John Hughes (23 tackles, two sacks), OLB/DE Walter Stewart (59 tackles, 4.5 sacks, interception), DE Dan Giordano (42 tackles, two sacks).
Key departures: DE Ricardo Mathews, DE Alex Daniels, DE/OLB Curtis Young.
The skinny: As the end of last season showed, Cincinnati's defensive line could be overpowered by strong offenses. Now the Bearcats must make do without three of their top pass-rushers in Mathews, Daniels and Young. And the defense will need more linemen as it transitions back to a 4-3 scheme. Wolfe is solid at nose tackle, and Stewart could be a good speed rusher if he's moved to the end (though he was listed at just 226 pounds last season). Cincinnati will need guys like Hughes and Giordano to raise their game, and more depth must be found this spring to make this a championship-caliber D-line.
Q&A with Cincinnati coach Butch Jones, Part II
February, 25, 2010
2/25/10
10:15
AM ET
By
Brian Bennett | ESPN.com
This is the second part of my interview with new Cincinnati coach Butch Jones. You can read Part I here.
The conventional wisdom says a championship-level team will take a step back right after a coaching transition. What would you say to that idea?
Butch Jones: Each situation is different in its own regards. I'm excited about our players, and we have tremendous support here. I don't expect us to take a step back. It's pretty hard to build off a 12-0 season but ... I think there's a lot of hunger there. We haven't reached anywhere close to our potential here with this football program. I think the Sugar Bowl loss left kind of a bitter taste in our players' mouths, and I think it's been kind of a rallying theme all offseason. I think they were very disappointed in their performance and expected much more out of it. I think that's helped us have a great offseason in our strength and conditioning program.
You've worked in this conference before. Does having some familiarity with the Big East help you?
BJ: No question. I spent two years at West Virginia and also spent two years at Rutgers. I was actually part of the first Big East conference game ever when it was Rutgers-Boston College in 1991, and we won 20-13. I remember that like it was yesterday. I think having been in this conference and competed in this conference will be beneficial as well.
How exciting is it for you now to be a head coach in this league?
BJ: It's very exciting. I enjoyed my time at West Virginia, I enjoyed this conference and the bowl opportunities it presented. To be a part of this conference again is obviously very exciting, and over the years I've gotten a chance to know most of the coaches in this conference. I have great respect for it.
You must be pretty happy about the amount of talent you bring back on offense.
BJ: Yeah, you know I think the big thing for us in spring practice is going to be developing depth. We still need to find a couple receivers out on the perimeter. You just don't go and replace a Mardy Gilyard and what he was able to do, but I think the addition of Vidal Hazelton will help ease that process a little bit. But from a kick return, punt return standpoint, and even up front with the offensive line and also at the running back position, there's some individuals who need to step up. And then defensively, obviously it's going to stem from up front with the defensive line, and the to the second level with our linebacking corps.
You will be going back to the 4-3, right?
BJ: Our base will return to a four-man front, but we'll be real multiple within our scheme. We'll be able to maintain the same principles with a three-down front as well, but our base will be a four-down front.
It looks like it will be a young defense after losing several seniors. How much of a concern is that for you?
BJ: It will be a young defense, but I'm excited because we have some very strong personalities and strong leaders up front when you look at Dan Giordano or John Hughes, a Brandon Mills and Walter Stewart. I'm really excited about Derek Wolfe, and we've got some good leaders in JK Schaffer and Drew Frey. They've done a great job. But I think the theme all over the place is building depth. That's going to be our whole key.
How difficult was it watching that Sugar Bowl and not being able to do anything about it?
BJ: It was tough because I pride myself on being a hands-on coach. I was sitting up with Mike Thomas in the AD box, and finally I said, "Let's walk down to the field." And when it ends, now you're thinking this finally your team. And a million thoughts start racing through your mind.
Is everybody healthy and ready to go? Any position changes on the horizon?
BJ: We're pretty healthy. We'll start spring practice March 17, then we'll break for spring break. The first two practices will be geared toward evaluating personnel and making sure we have players in the right places to succeed and help us win. Those first two practices will be beneficial for us because we'll be able to step back as a staff and collect our thoughts and make any adjustments that we have. And I think it will be beneficial to our players, too, because they'll have two practices to understand our standards and expectations in a practice setting. Then they go to spring break, and when they come back they'll understand more of what's expected of them.
The conventional wisdom says a championship-level team will take a step back right after a coaching transition. What would you say to that idea?
Butch Jones: Each situation is different in its own regards. I'm excited about our players, and we have tremendous support here. I don't expect us to take a step back. It's pretty hard to build off a 12-0 season but ... I think there's a lot of hunger there. We haven't reached anywhere close to our potential here with this football program. I think the Sugar Bowl loss left kind of a bitter taste in our players' mouths, and I think it's been kind of a rallying theme all offseason. I think they were very disappointed in their performance and expected much more out of it. I think that's helped us have a great offseason in our strength and conditioning program.
You've worked in this conference before. Does having some familiarity with the Big East help you?
BJ: No question. I spent two years at West Virginia and also spent two years at Rutgers. I was actually part of the first Big East conference game ever when it was Rutgers-Boston College in 1991, and we won 20-13. I remember that like it was yesterday. I think having been in this conference and competed in this conference will be beneficial as well.
How exciting is it for you now to be a head coach in this league?
BJ: It's very exciting. I enjoyed my time at West Virginia, I enjoyed this conference and the bowl opportunities it presented. To be a part of this conference again is obviously very exciting, and over the years I've gotten a chance to know most of the coaches in this conference. I have great respect for it.
You must be pretty happy about the amount of talent you bring back on offense.
BJ: Yeah, you know I think the big thing for us in spring practice is going to be developing depth. We still need to find a couple receivers out on the perimeter. You just don't go and replace a Mardy Gilyard and what he was able to do, but I think the addition of Vidal Hazelton will help ease that process a little bit. But from a kick return, punt return standpoint, and even up front with the offensive line and also at the running back position, there's some individuals who need to step up. And then defensively, obviously it's going to stem from up front with the defensive line, and the to the second level with our linebacking corps.
You will be going back to the 4-3, right?
BJ: Our base will return to a four-man front, but we'll be real multiple within our scheme. We'll be able to maintain the same principles with a three-down front as well, but our base will be a four-down front.
It looks like it will be a young defense after losing several seniors. How much of a concern is that for you?
BJ: It will be a young defense, but I'm excited because we have some very strong personalities and strong leaders up front when you look at Dan Giordano or John Hughes, a Brandon Mills and Walter Stewart. I'm really excited about Derek Wolfe, and we've got some good leaders in JK Schaffer and Drew Frey. They've done a great job. But I think the theme all over the place is building depth. That's going to be our whole key.
How difficult was it watching that Sugar Bowl and not being able to do anything about it?
BJ: It was tough because I pride myself on being a hands-on coach. I was sitting up with Mike Thomas in the AD box, and finally I said, "Let's walk down to the field." And when it ends, now you're thinking this finally your team. And a million thoughts start racing through your mind.
Is everybody healthy and ready to go? Any position changes on the horizon?
BJ: We're pretty healthy. We'll start spring practice March 17, then we'll break for spring break. The first two practices will be geared toward evaluating personnel and making sure we have players in the right places to succeed and help us win. Those first two practices will be beneficial for us because we'll be able to step back as a staff and collect our thoughts and make any adjustments that we have. And I think it will be beneficial to our players, too, because they'll have two practices to understand our standards and expectations in a practice setting. Then they go to spring break, and when they come back they'll understand more of what's expected of them.
What to watch in the Big East this spring
February, 24, 2010
2/24/10
11:00
AM ET
By
Brian Bennett | ESPN.com
Spring football in the Big East kicks off March 16. Here's a breakdown of three issues facing each program heading into the spring:
CINCINNATI
Spring practice starts: March 17
Spring game: April 24
What to watch:CONNECTICUT
Spring practice starts: March 16
Spring game: April 17
What to watch:LOUISVILLE
Spring practice starts: March 24
Spring game: April 16
What to watch:
CINCINNATI
Spring practice starts: March 17
Spring game: April 24
What to watch:
- Building depth: New coach Butch Jones said this is the biggest key for the spring. The Bearcats have a lot of top-flight players with starting experience back, like Zach Collaros, Armon Binns, Isaiah Pead and JK Schaffer. But there's a lot of youth and inexperience in potential backup roles, especially at positions like offensive line, linebacker and receiver. All slates are clean with the new coaching staff, and the spring will be a time when new names can emerge in key roles.
- Defensive line retooling: Jones will switch back to the 4-3 after a year in the 3-4 scheme. Both starting defensive ends from last year are gone, but the smallish line was overpowered at times near the end of the season anyway. Derek Wolfe should be a fixture inside, Dan Giordano, Brandon Mills and John Hughes step into more prominent roles. Jones will have to decide whether to make Walter Stewart a defensive end or keep him at outside linebacker. The Bearcats could use a little more strength and bulk up front against the bigger Big East offensive lines.
- Vidal's arrival: USC transfer Vidal Hazelton is eligible after sitting out last year. He reputedly dominated practices last season, and now he'll get to go full time with the first string. A lot of people will be watching closely to see how he and Collaros connect during the spring. A big year by Hazelton will lessen the loss of star wideout Mardy Gilyard and could keep Cincinnati as the Big East's best offense.
CONNECTICUT
Spring practice starts: March 16
Spring game: April 17
What to watch:
- Secondary matters: UConn returns a truckload of starters and looks rock solid in most areas. But the defensive backfield will be an area of emphasis starting in the spring. Gone are stalwarts Robert McClain and Robert Vaughn from a secondary that got picked apart much of the season by opposing passing games. Dwayne Gratz and Blidi Wreh-Wilson showed progress by the end of their redshirt freshmen seasons and should be the starting corners. The Huskies need someone to replace Vaughn at safety and overall better performance from the unit.
- Frazer vs. Endres: Zach Frazer and Cody Endres have been splitting starts since the second half of the 2008 season at quarterback. Endres took over early last year and played well until he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. Frazer picked things up late after a slow start. The competition should be back on this spring, with Frazer probably holding the edge given his late-season improvement.
- Catch as catch can: Receiver was a major question for UConn going into last spring, when walk-on senior Marcus Easley surprised everybody with his giant leap forward. He became the go-to guy in 2009, but now he's gone, along with starter Brad Kanuch. So the Huskies are basically back in the same position as this time a year ago, needing to find some reliable pass catchers. Kashif Moore may be the next to break out after some good, late-year performances. And perhaps former highly-touted recruit Dwayne Difton will emerge. UConn hopes to catch lightning in a bottle again like it did with Easley.
LOUISVILLE
Spring practice starts: March 24
Spring game: April 16
What to watch:
- Switching to Strong: The Cardinals will have their first practices under new coach Charlie Strong, who promises to bring a much different style than former coach Steve Kragthorpe. Strong is known as being an intense guy on the field, and as a former top-flight defensive coordinator, he will likely be particularly demanding of players on that side of the ball. There will be new terminology to learn, new assistants and new standards to which the Cardinals must adjust in a hurry.
- The quarterback shuffle: Louisville had three quarterbacks -- Adam Froman, Justin Burke and Will Stein -- start games last year. All three will be given the chance to win the job in the spring, and mid-year enrollee Luke Woodley might see some snaps as well. Don't be surprised if this competition goes into the fall and if other newcomers like Dominique Brown get a look. Offensive coordinator Mike Sanford wants to run a Florida-style spread offense, which might favor the more mobile Froman if he chooses to go with a veteran under center.
- Line play: The trenches have not been a particularly strong suit for Louisville the past couple of seasons, one of the reasons why the program has fallen out of annual postseason play. The Cardinals have gotten very little pass rush from the defensive line and not enough of a consistent push from the offensive line. Strong asked the offensive linemen to rework their bodies to prepare for the spread, and he'll need replacements for two senior defensive tackles. Junior-college imports Randy Salmon and Tyler Harrell will have a chance to impress on the defensive line. If the holdovers don't step up, we could see more newcomers in key spots by the summer.
ESPN.com's All-Big East freshman team
December, 10, 2009
12/10/09
11:30
AM ET
By
Brian Bennett | ESPN.com
One of the more positive developments for the Big East was the emergence of so many talented young players who will be making their mark on the league for a long time.
With that in mind, I wanted to single out the top freshmen -- of the true or redshirt variety -- and compile an all-freshman team for both sides of the ball and special teams. Here, then are my picks (and if the Big East coaches can put 14 players on its first-team defense, then I can go higher than 11 on my teams, too):
Offense
QB: B.J. Daniels, South Florida
QB: Tom Savage, Rutgers
RB: Dion Lewis, Pitt
RB: Darius Ashley, Louisville
FB: Ryan Clarke, West Virginia
WR: Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers
WR: Alec Lemon, Syracuse
TE: Ryan Griffin, Connecticut
OL: Mario Benavides, Louisville
OL: Mark Popek, South Florida
OL: Erik Kuraczea, Connecticut
OL: Joe Madsen, West Virginia
Defense
DL: Scott Vallone, Rutgers
DL: Jesse Joseph, Connecticut
DL: Trevardo Williams, Connecticut
DL: Brandon Mills, Cincinnati
LB: Walter Stewart, Cincinnati
LB: Steve Beauharnais, Rutgers
LB: E.J. Carter, Syracuse
LB: Sam Barrington, South Florida
CB: Blidi Wreh-Wilson, Connecticut
CB: Phillip Thomas, Syracuse
S: Jarred Holley, Pittsburgh
S: Kayvon Webster, South Florida
S: Drew Frey, Cincinnati
S: Shamarko Thomas, Syracuse
Specialists
K: Tyler Bitancurt, West Virginia
KR: Tavon Austin, West Virginia
KR: Cam Saddler, Pittsburgh
With that in mind, I wanted to single out the top freshmen -- of the true or redshirt variety -- and compile an all-freshman team for both sides of the ball and special teams. Here, then are my picks (and if the Big East coaches can put 14 players on its first-team defense, then I can go higher than 11 on my teams, too):
Offense
QB: B.J. Daniels, South Florida
QB: Tom Savage, Rutgers
RB: Dion Lewis, Pitt
RB: Darius Ashley, Louisville
FB: Ryan Clarke, West Virginia
WR: Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers
WR: Alec Lemon, Syracuse
TE: Ryan Griffin, Connecticut
OL: Mario Benavides, Louisville
OL: Mark Popek, South Florida
OL: Erik Kuraczea, Connecticut
OL: Joe Madsen, West Virginia
Defense
DL: Scott Vallone, Rutgers
DL: Jesse Joseph, Connecticut
DL: Trevardo Williams, Connecticut
DL: Brandon Mills, Cincinnati
LB: Walter Stewart, Cincinnati
LB: Steve Beauharnais, Rutgers
LB: E.J. Carter, Syracuse
LB: Sam Barrington, South Florida
CB: Blidi Wreh-Wilson, Connecticut
CB: Phillip Thomas, Syracuse
S: Jarred Holley, Pittsburgh
S: Kayvon Webster, South Florida
S: Drew Frey, Cincinnati
S: Shamarko Thomas, Syracuse
Specialists
K: Tyler Bitancurt, West Virginia
KR: Tavon Austin, West Virginia
KR: Cam Saddler, Pittsburgh
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Andrea Adelson
Adelson joined ESPN.com in 2010 after spending time as a college football columnist at The Orlando Sentinel. She has covered college football since her days as a University of Florida student, and lives in Orlando, Fla.
