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With the season coming into view, let's take a look at what we learned in the Big East this spring.

1. Running backs have to prove themselves. Isaiah Pead is gone. Antwon Bailey is gone. Ray Graham is coming off a serious knee injury. There are some major question marks at virtually every Big East school at this position headed into the fall. Chief among them -- how does Graham do a year removed from ACL surgery? How do Cincinnati, Syracuse and Louisville spread the ball to their various running backs? How does Temple replace the production of Bernard Pierce? Does Savon Huggins improve on his injury-shortened freshman season at Rutgers? How is Lindsey Lamar used in the backfield at USF? Can Lyle McCombs repeat as a 1,000-yard rusher for UConn?

2. Next sack leader? The Big East generally has some of the top leaders in sacks in the country. Last year, it was Trevardo Williams and Aaron Donald who emerged to finish in the Top 10. The year before, it was first-year Big East player Bruce Irvin. So who is the next Big East player to lead the charge? USF defensive end Ryne Giddins, Cincinnati defensive end Walter Stewart and UConn tackle Ryan Wirth all had terrific springs so keep those names in mind as the season begins.

3. Earth to offense. We had an inkling that the Big East defenses would be way ahead of the offenses this spring, and that all came to fruition once the spring games were played. Defenses essentially dominated at nearly every school. Syracuse did not score a point on offense; UConn had two total offensive touchdowns; USF quarterback B.J. Daniels went 9-of-26 for 88 yards in the Bulls' spring game; Chris Coyer and his receivers struggled in the Temple spring game; and the Pitt passing game was just so-so in its final scrimmage. While it is true defenses are usually ahead of the offenses in the early going of practices, it is obvious most every offensive unit needs to get much better this offseason.

4. Bridgewater: Rising star. It was apparent that Louisville had a special player in Teddy Bridgewater last season. But worries about a potential "sophomore slump" have been temporarily put to rest after the spring he had. Bridgewater was stellar in the spring game, going 19-of-21 for 257 yards and three touchdowns. Afterward, offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said that Bridgewater completed about 70 percent of his passes in the spring. "I know he's been lights out," Watson said. "He's really played very well. I challenged him with the things he needed to get better with and use all the tools he has available to him. As a young player, he didn't quite get it. Now he's getting it. You're seeing a lot more completions now. He's worked hard. He's doing a lot of good things with his eyes and playing well."

5. Athletes (almost) everywhere. One trend to watch is the conversion of quarterbacks to running backs/receivers. Cincinnati moved Jordan Luallen to receiver, and he is expected to see time as a Wildcat quarterback as well. Ashton Broyld has been moved to running back, though he also played receiver in the spring game. Louisville converted quarterback Dominique Brown to running back last fall, and he is in contention to win the starting job. Temple running back Jalen Fitzpatrick was recruited as a quarterback out of high school. Those four players have the potential to be huge assets to their team. There were a few other notable position switches as well -- Lindsey Lamar is now at running back at USF; and Jeremy Deering is now a receiver at Rutgers.

2011 overall record: 7-6

2011 conference record: 5-2 (T-1)

Returning starters

Offense 8; Defense 10; Kicker/punter: 1.

Key returners

QB Teddy Bridgewater RB Dominique Brown, WR DeVante Parker, WR Eli Rogers, C Mario Benavides, CB Adrian Bushell, LB Preston Brown, S Hakeem Smith

Key losses

RB Victor Anderson, DE Greg Scruggs, LB Dexter Heyman, K Chris Philpott, TE Josh Chichester

2011 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Victor Anderson (539 yards)

Passing: Teddy Bridgewater* (191-of-296 for 2,129 yards, 14 TDs, 12 INTs)

Receiving: Michaelee Harris* (455 yards)

Tackles: Dexter Heyman (90)

Sacks: Marcus Smith* (5.5)

Interceptions: Heyman (three)

Spring answers

1. Strong secondary. Louisville should have one of the better secondaries in the Big East with the return of cornerbacks Adrian Bushell and Andrew Johnson, and safeties Hakeem Smith and Calvin Pryor. Highly heralded Gerod Holliman isn't even included in the bunch after sitting out spring with a shoulder injury. Coach Charlie Strong has to be happy with this core group.

2. Preston Brown in the middle. Brown played on the outside last season but has shifted to middle linebacker to replace Dexter Heyman, the team's leading tackler from a year ago. Strong had nothing but praise for the spring Brown had in making the transition. Louisville feels good about having him in there.

3. Bridgewater on the rise. Any time true freshmen have good seasons, the phrase that gets thrown around is "sophomore slump." Therefore, some have wondered whether Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will be as effective in Year 2 as he was as a true freshman. If his spring is any indication, he will be much more effective. Bridgewater had complete command of the offense in the spring and grew as a leader as well. Louisville appears to be in good hands.

Fall questions

1. Running back rotation. Strong's preference is to have one workhorse back, but Louisville may not achieve that for the second straight season. Coming out of spring, Strong said his team would most likely work four running backs into some sort of a rotation -- Dominique Brown, Jeremy Wright, Senorise Perry and Corvin Lamb. Just how that rotation will work and how effective the run game will be remain big questions.

2. Maturity. Strong has talked extensively to his players about being more mature this season, especially with increased expectations for another Big East championship. Though his team is more experienced, it's laden with sophomores and juniors who are still learning as they go. This team has to prove it can handle higher expectations, and big wins. After every big win last year, a letdown followed.

3. Kicker. With the reliable Chris Philpott gone, Louisville now turns to redshirt freshman John Wallace, who leads the way after the spring. Most every Big East game comes down to the wire, which increases the value of having a good kicker. Wallace is going to have to prove he can do it in game action right out of the gate.

There are not too many surprises on the Louisville post-spring depth chart, but some definite highlights.

Here are a few:

• Running back. While Dominique Brown is listed on the top line, there is no clear-cut No. 1 at the position. Brown and Jeremy Wright appear to be the front-runners, with Senorise Perry close behind. Corvin Lamb, who had a good spring, also will get playing time. Bottom line: expect all four to play this fall.
• Receiver. Scott Radcliff appears ahead of Eli Rogers at the H-receiver spot, thanks to his terrific spring. The former walk-on has worked his way up the depth chart, thanks in part to his sure hands. In the spring game, he played with the first team and led all receivers with nine catches for 119 yards. Michaelee Harris and DeVante Parker are the other first-team receivers.
• Nate Nord is penciled in as the starter at tight end, replacing the departed Josh Chichester.
• There are not too many surprises on defense. Two of the most highly heralded early enrollees at linebacker, James Burgess and Keith Brown, are sure to see playing time this season. Burgess is listed second behind Daniel Brown on the weak side, while Keith Brown is listed behind Preston Brown in the middle. Try to keep track of all those Browns during the season!
• One notable player not on the depth chart is safety Gerod Holliman, who missed the spring with a shoulder injury. Holliman enrolled in January but since he was out during practice, he isn't listed.
• John Wallace is listed as the starting kicker in place of Chris Philpott. Wallace is a redshirt freshman and the backup punter to Ryan Johnson.
• Another name to watch is Dominique Dishman, a redshirt freshman listed behind Roy Philon at defensive tackle.

Louisville coach Charlie Strong held his pre-spring game news conference Thursday, and had a bit of explaining to do to the local media after closing down access last week.

Strong basically said he feels his team deserves coverage, regardless of what is happening with the other teams on campus. During March, when the men's basketball team was making its run to the Final Four, there was not as much coverage of the football team.

"We are a BCS program," Strong said. "We are an elite program, and I am passionate about this program, and that's what I want to see in this community."

With that out of the way, Strong discussed his team and the way his players came together this spring. Among the highlights:

• While the Cardinals have not settled on a starter at running back, Strong likes what his top four players bring to the table. Dominique Brown, Jeremy Wright, Senorise Perry and Corvin Lamb all bring their unique styles, which Strong hopes to be able to use to his advantage this season.
• Preston Brown has done very well in his move to middle linebacker, replacing Dexter Heyman. Deiontrez Mount will also play linebacker.
• The strength of the defense could very well be in the secondary, where Andrew Johnson, Adrian Bushell, Hakeem Smith and Calvin Pryor all return. Strong said the experience back there will make him more comfortable playing man coverage.
• As for the defensive line, there might not be one standout, but there are some good players returning. He mentioned Brandon Dunn as having had a "special spring." But there is concern on both the offensive and defensive lines about depth. The starting units are looking good, but having quality guys to go in separates champions. "It's all about taking a puzzle and making sure you have each piece and putting it where it needs to be fitted," Strong said.
• There are two more areas that need development -- who is going to be the playmaker at wide receiver? That would presumably be DeVante Parker, but Strong said nobody has separated himself in that category. Kicker is another area that has to be addressed, with Chris Philpott moving on.
• As for the Arkansas speculation, Strong says he has not been contacted about the open job, and reiterated once again that he is happy at Louisville.

To have a workhorse back or to split reps? That is the question.

And it certainly is a question on the minds of Big East coaches around the league. With five starters gone headed into 2012, and Ray Graham coming off ACL surgery, this is a position of intrigue during the spring. The ultimate decision has to be made about whether to rely on one back a lion's share of the time, or whether to get a nice rotation going to provide yourself some depth and versatility.

Two league coaches offered their opinions recently on the matter, and both are in favor of finding a workhorse back. Louisville offensive coordinator Shawn Watson pointed to 2010, when Bilal Powell had 229 carries and 1,405 yards. Victor Anderson had the next-highest carries total with 64. Last season, the Cardinals distributed the ball more evenly among its backs -- Anderson and Dominique Brown each had over 100 carries -- and did not fare as well in the ground game.

But it is important to keep in mind the offensive line had its share of struggles as well.

Still, Watson said he wants to find a go-to guy among the four players competing for the starting running back position. “We need someone to be the war daddy at that position, like Bilal Powell was in (Charlie) Strong’s first season,” said Watson. “Biggest thing we look back at is not having a go-to guy. We have to find a go-to-guy. That creates competition in the room and makes everyone better.”

At UConn, Lyle McCombs returns after putting up 1,000 yards his freshman season, but there is some nice competition at the position this spring with D.J. Shoemate returning from injury, in addition to Joe Williams, Martin Hyppolite and Max DeLorenzo. But coach Paul Pasqualoni wants one go-to guy as well.

“I don’t want a guy that’s got to come out of the game," Pasqualoni told reporters in Connecticut. "I don’t want a guy that’s saying I’m tired, take me out. I don’t want a Jaguar. Do you know what a Jaguar is? The Jaguar is always in the shop, always breaking down so I don’t want a Jaguar. I want a durable guy and if we put him in the game he stays in the game and he stays in the game. We’re trying to develop the depth we have but I’m all for one guy staying out there. Now we’re going to use the talents and ability we have but I want them all to be able to do it if you know what I mean.”

Last season, four running backs had over 200 carries. Had Graham been healthy, that number would have been five. Rutgers and Cincinnati also went with one back primarily. This season, that may not be the case. Rutgers coach Kyle Flood already has talked about the value of having more than one back consistently produce, while coach Butch Jones has talked about trying to get more backs involved to make up for the loss of Big East Offensive Player of the Year Isaiah Pead.

USF had three players with over 100 carries last season. The last time USF had a back with over 200 carries was Andre Hall in 2005, but even then the Bulls had another player with over 100 carries as well.

Pitt coach Paul Chryst has shown a proclivity to get multiple backs involved as well, but some of his offenses at Wisconsin did rely on one workhorse. If Graham returns on schedule, one would expect him to get the majority of the carries, but Isaac Bennett has had a nice spring game, and freshman Rushell Shell arrives in the summer.

As for Temple, the Owls relied on Bernard Pierce in recent years, though Matt Brown got his share of the carries. That load falls to him this season, with the hope that other backs can get involved as well.

Dominique Brown showed glimpses of his talent last season, when he made the move from quarterback to running back at Louisville.

It is a true testament to his talent, and toughness, that he finished second on the team with 533 yards rushing when you consider the following:

• He was playing on pure athleticism, having only a rudimentary idea of how to play the running back position.
• He absorbed hit after hit with quarterback shoulder pads, opting not to put on the bulkier running back pads for fear he would feel uncomfortable.
• He specialized in the Wild Card formation, gaining tough yards even when teams expected to see him get the ball.

This spring, Brown is making the complete transition to running back, and will no longer specialize in the Wild Card. He, Corvin Lamb, Jeremy Wright and Senorise Perry are all competing to win the starting running back job. But whether he is the starter or not, Brown is sure to see plenty of playing time because he is too good to keep on the bench.

There are a few things he has to work through. For one, this is the first spring in which Brown is taking hits. Quarterbacks always wear yellow non-contact jerseys during practice. Running backs do not. "Physically, it is hard," Brown said in a recent phone interview. "It took me a few practices to really get back into things." At least he does have running back pads now, complete with a back protector, so that has helped ease how much he feels each hit.

For another, Brown has to work on his technique and film study, so he can understand the blocking schemes in front of him and the defenses he will see as well.

"Coach [Dave] Borbely did a lot of Wild Card designed runs for me, telling me where to go, how the linemen are going to pull," Brown said. "Now with me being at running back, I have to know what the offensive line is doing, so I can't just play off one guy pulling. I have to read all four defensive linemen and all five offensive linemen and stuff like that. It's not a big adjustment, but it's more film time study for me, more time in the playbook, learning who's supposed to be on the mike (linebacker), sam (linebacker), and defensive linemen."

Brown already is a pretty big back, at 6-foot-2 and 227 pounds, so there are no immediate plans for him to bulk up. But he really wants to work on making defenders miss on the third level.

"I know I'm not going to be able to run other D-I athletes over, so learning how to add a little something else, more elusiveness in my repertoire," Brown said.

He also has worked with a yoga instructor to improve his flexibility and hips to be better able to make jump cuts. Watching film with former Louisville backs Bilal Powell and Victor Anderson also helped, and they gave him some tips on what makes a truly standout running back.

Their advice was the same.

"Just to listen to my coach, Kenny Carter, trust the scheme, study the playbook, know the run game like offensive line knows the run game and use it to my advantage," Brown said. "Know the ins and outs and do what I've been doing. I will be a better running back once I trust the scheme and know the scheme."

Nearly every Big East team practiced this past weekend. Here are a few notes from each:

UConn: The Huskies had their first practice in pads Saturday, but did not scrimmage; that is planned for this upcoming Saturday. Early reports indicate that both Casey Cochran and Chandler Whitmer have looked good at quarterback. Coach Paul Pasqualoni also commented on the dismissal of backup cornerback Tevrin Brandon.

Louisville: The Cardinals also held their first practice in pads Saturday. One player who already is standing out is redshirt freshman running back Corvin Lamb. Running back Dominique Brown has added 10 pounds and looks much more physical.

Pitt: The Panthers scrimmaged Saturday, and running back Isaac Bennett delivered the highlight -- a 70-yard touchdown run. Bennett has had a nice spring camp, building off the momentum from the end of last season. Bennett will be relied upon to be a contributor this season with Ray Graham coming off a knee injury. Sophomore transfer Ray Vinopal forced a fumble, which Lloyd Carrington returned 60 yards for a score. The Panthers also practiced Sunday and got a visit from former West Virginia coach Bill Stewart.

USF: Coach Skip Holtz told reporters after the first day in pads Saturday that Lindsey Lamar had moved back to running back to help shore up depth at that position. Holtz also talked about the emerging leadership on the team after a few days of practice.

Syracuse: The Orange began practice last week, but practices have been closed until further notice.

Temple: The Owls have already completed seven practices and held their second scrimmage Saturday. There have been a few standouts, but best of all, no major injuries of note. Temple will hold its Cherry and White Spring Game at Lincoln Financial Field, a first for the school. The practice facility -- where the game is usually played -- is currently undergoing a $10 million expansion.

Louisville opens spring camp this afternoon. Here is a quick primer on what to expect:

Spring changes: Of all eight Big East teams, the Cardinals have undergone the fewest changes during the offseason. The coaching staff has remained intact, as Shawn Watson was officially promoted to offensive coordinator. Only a handful of senior starters are gone, including Dexter Heyman, Greg Scruggs, Josh Chichester and Victor Anderson. They are big contributors to be sure. But the Cardinals return so many young players from a year ago, many are already projecting this to be one of the best teams in the Big East. You can bet coach Charlie Strong will be sure to hammer home nothing has changed -- as in, they have to stay focused and continue to play like underdogs.

Position battles to watch

Linebacker. Depth has to be built at this position, where the Cardinals lose starter Dexter Heyman. You can be sure all eyes will be on Preston Brown as he transitions inside, and the two early enrollee freshmen -- Keith Brown and James Burgess. Both will be on the weak side behind Daniel Brown. Deiontrez Mount, who transitioned to linebacker last season, is penciled in to start at the other outside position. But you have to think this is a position of flux given some of the incoming talent and the depth that has to be built.

Running back. Victor Anderson is gone, but the Cardinals return several veterans with playing experience in Dominique Brown and Jeremy Wright. Add in Senorise Perry and Corvin Lamb, and you have the makings of an excellent competition this spring. Coaches really want to take a good look at Lamb, a back with 4.3-speed who played with Teddy Bridgewater at Northwestern High in Miami.

Kicker. Chris Philpott is gone, leaving nobody on the roster with experience kicking or punting. So expect a wide-open race this spring and fall. The contenders at kicker are: redshirt freshman John Wallace, and walk-ons Andrew Fletcher and Matthew Nakatani. Incoming freshman Joshua Appleby is expected to compete when he arrives on campus this summer. Ryan Johnson is probably the leader at punter.

Injury update: Defensive end Roy Philon (back), center Mario Benavides (shoulder) and receiver Michaelee Harris (knee) are out.

Time to pick up my final position rankings for the 2011 season. Before you start sending in your notes to the mailbag, please keep in mind that West Virginia will be included in all 2011 postseason rankings and evaluations because the Mountaineers were still part of the league.

Now where was I? Oh yes, offense. Let us move on to running back. I am using rushing yards by quarterbacks and receivers in this evaluation.

1. Cincinnati. Isaiah Pead won Big East Offensive Player of the Year, but that was not the only story behind the Bearcats rushing attack this past season. Cincinnati had more total yards rushing than any other team with 2,321 -- Pead had a little more than half that total (1,259). The quarterbacks definitely contributed because everybody who played the position is a dual threat. But also keep in mind Cincinnati averaged 4.6 yards a carry -- tied for tops in the league, and led the league with 28 rushing TDs. Preseason ranking: 1.

2. Pitt. Ray Graham was having an unbelievable season before he got hurt, and I truly think he could have had a case for Big East Offensive Player of the Year had he stayed healthy. Zach Brown proved to be a solid backup, and it was nice to see the development of true freshman Isaac Bennett. Despite teams keying on the run, Pitt still finished third in the league in rushing. Preseason ranking: 2.

3. USF. The Bulls actually led the Big East in rushing, though they had nobody go over 1,000 yards. Still, what you realize is that three players went over 500 yards on the ground. That includes quarterback B.J. Daniels, who has the capability of making plays with his legs as well. Darrell Scott had some highlight-worthy plays this season (hurdler, anyone?) and was tough to bring down at times. Preseason ranking: 6.

4. West Virginia. Dustin Garrison was having a fine debut season until a torn ACL sidelined him for the Orange Bowl. There is no question this was an area of inconsistency for the Mountaineers throughout the season. But having players like Tavon Austin run plays out of the backfield, plus a guy like Shawne Alston step up when Garrison was hurt showed there was some talent that could keep teams off-balance, when the Mountaineers wanted to. Preseason ranking: 3.

5. Syracuse. Antwon Bailey had a good season, going over 1,000 yards while earning a spot on the Big East first team. The problem is that there was virtually no depth behind him. The next-highest rusher was Jerome Smith, with 134 yards on the ground. So depth was a clear issue. Bailey is the big reason why the Orange rank here. Preseason ranking: 5.

6. UConn. Lyle McCombs saves the day for the Huskies in this category. Just like Syracuse, there was a critical lack of depth at running back once D.J. Shoemate went out. Quarterback Scott McCummings provided a nice change of pace out of the backfield, but the Huskies only averaged 3.1 yards a carry as a whole, with a total of 13 rushing touchdowns. Preseason ranking: 8.

7. Louisville. I didn't think there was anything spectacular about this group of running backs. Louisville did a nice job when it moved Dominique Brown from quarterback to running back, and that really gave this unit a boost. But the Cardinals struggled most of the year on the ground. Only one back went over 100 yards on the year -- Jeremy Wright. That ranks as the fewest in the Big East. Preseason ranking: 4.

8. Rutgers. Jawan Jamison definitely emerged, but I don't think anybody would tell you that Rutgers' rushing offense scared teams this past season. The Scarlet Knights were the worst Big East rushing team, and averaged a Big East-worst 2.8 yards a carry with an average of 97.8 yards per game on the ground. Just a hunch, but I think this area will be vastly improved in 2012. Preseason ranking: 7.

Shawn Watson called the plays for the majority of last season for Louisville. So there will not be much shock to the system now that he has been officially named offensive coordinator.

The best way to put the upcoming changes -- minor tweaks here and there.

For starters, the Cardinals will feature more of an up-tempo look at times, depending on the game plan and situation. Louisville will still huddle up, but Watson was pleased with the way Louisville ran its hurry-up and two-minute offense in 2011 and wants to see more of that.

"You want to create more big-play opportunities, and tempo offense gives you that opportunity," Watson said last week, in his first comments since being promoted. "Some games we don't want to be in a no-huddle attack all the time. That's why it's important to have the huddle approach, too. West Virginia, we chose our time to no huddle but playing in a huddle, chewing up clock, helped us win the football game. How much [no huddle] we'll do will depend on our opponent and how much we can handle."

The offense starts and stops with Teddy Bridgewater, whom Watson has had nothing but high praise for since arriving on campus. Bridgewater was a capable leader his freshman season, but the Cardinals are expecting him to take the next step, which in turn will make the offense more dynamic.

Part of what should help him is more of a West Coast style -- the type of offense Watson wholeheartedly endorses. The West Coast type of offense will give Bridgewater many options for high-percentage passes, while also giving Louisville an opportunity to take advantage of mismatches in coverage.

"It's simple for the players, it's driven for the quarterback," Watson said. "I love coaching the quarterback position. I think the two go hand in hand."

As for Bridgewater himself, Watson has just about finished watching all the pass play cut-ups from last season and sees definite room for improvement. But that all comes with a growing player.

"There's things he missed, some things the offense gives him, like a free throw to take," Watson said. "Sometimes he either second guessed himself, which is part of being young. It looks like to me the inconsistency was just that. He did a great job with our run game, and got us into so many good plays this year. He just has to continue to develop in the passing game."

The ground game will continue to feature power-running formations, as well as the zone play. Watson believes the players he has -- Dominique Brown, Jeremy Wright, Senorise Perry and Corvin Lamb -- provide something different to the offense, which gives the Cardinals flexibility at the position.

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.

Every team has plenty to do in the offseason. Today, I present to you my top priorities for each Big East program headed into the 2012 season.

Cincinnati

• Settle on a quarterback. If 2011 was any indication, then Munchie Legaux seems a sure bet to start next season. He showed flashes, but he needs to spend the bulk of his offseason developing a nice rhythm and chemistry with his receivers. That was one of the biggest roadblocks for him when he took over for Zach Collaros. Cincinnati has some good talent at receiver -- with Anthony McClung, Kenbrell Thompkins and Alex Chisum coming back -- so this must be a top priority.
• Develop senior leadership. The Bearcats are losing the best senior class in school history, filled with leaders left and right. With guys such as Collaros, Isaiah Pead and JK Schaffer gone, who is going to take the responsibility of leading this team? That is something that must be worked on throughout the offseason.

UConn

• Find a quarterback. Sounds the same as last season, right? The Huskies never really found one in 2011 and that is a big reason why they struggled. Spring practice has the potential to have five different quarterbacks taking reps in Johnny McEntee, Scott McCummings, Michael Nebrich, Chandler Whitmer and Casey Cochran. Somebody has to emerge to take a hold of this offense.
• Work on improving the secondary. The weakest part of this team last season ranked No. 113 in the nation, so this is a clear area that has to get better. The Huskies were hurt when starting cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson missed a good chunk of the season with a knee injury, and they also had to rely on freshmen in Byron Jones and Ty-Meer Brown. This group will be much more experienced, so you have to hope they will be much better, too.

Louisville

• Mature. The Cardinals were one of the youngest teams in the nation last season, and their immaturity showed at times. But now they enter the offseason with exceedingly high expectations. Many preseason lists have them ranked in the Top 25 and challenging for the Big East title. This team will still be young in 2012, so it will be imperative for coach Charlie Strong to help get this group to mature quickly and stay focused.
• Work on the run game. Strong wants the run game to be the bread-and-butter of the offense, and this was an area that took a step back in 2011 with Bilal Powell gone. Louisville went from being ranked No. 1 in the Big East to No. 5 in the Big East, averaging 121.5 yards per game. That is down over 50 yards per game. Dominique Brown and Jeremy Wright are back, but they have to be consistent and the Cardinals probably need somebody else to emerge.

Pitt

• New identity. A new coach means a new identity, so it will be interesting to see how the Panthers look under Paul Chryst and his new staff. We will find out when spring practice opens in March. There is plenty of talent on the roster, but the big question is how will the talent be utilized?
• Is Tino the man? This is starting to sound like a trend, right? The Panthers have quarterback issues as well after Tino Sunseri had a season to forget. Much of his performance can probably be laid at the feet of former coach Todd Graham, who stubbornly tried to run an offensive system that was not suited for the players he had. You can be sure Chryst will open up the quarterback competition to see who emerges.

Rutgers

• Handle expectations. The Scarlet Knights have not been so good in the past when the pressure is on. All you have to do is look back at what happened this season, with a shot to win a share of the Big East title. Now they are getting some preseason love and probably have their best team since 2006. So coach Greg Schiano is going to have to do a good job of managing preparation and focus because expectations were raised off a successful 2011 campaign.
• Quarterback derby. Yet another Big East team with a quarterback question mark. Chas Dodd and Gary Nova ended up splitting the starts this past season. Now there is the possibility that former quarterback Tom Savage transfers back in. I don't know if Schiano can afford to keep playing musical chairs with his quarterbacks every season.

USF

• Re-focus. The Bulls have to put 2011 behind them and focus on the future. This is still a team that has the talent to win. Coach Skip Holtz has to find a way to get that done. This is going to be a veteran team that has been through good times and bad. He needs leaders who will their teammates to victory, who know how to win close games and are determined to get this team back on top. Who are they?
• New defense. USF brings in new defensive coordinator Chris Cosh from Kansas State, its third different coordinator in the past four years. Getting the players adapted to his scheme as soon as possible has to be a point of emphasis in the spring and throughout the offseason.

Syracuse

• More offensive consistency. To be sure, Ryan Nassib and Alec Lemon both had career years and made strides for the Orange. But a lot of that was because the run game was inconsistent, and Syracuse found itself trailing late in several games. This team has to find a way to sustain drives and score -- Syracuse was No. 7 in the Big East in scoring offense (24.2 ppg).
• Shore up the defense. The Orange lose some of their best players on the defensive line, and have to get better in the secondary, which was a major problem for most of the year. Syracuse ranked No. 98 in the nation in pass defense, and they lose some key contributors. Shamarko Thomas is really going to have to step up and take control of this group.

West Virginia

• Big 12 or Big East? The Mountaineers are bent on leaving for the Big 12, regardless of any court outcomes. On-field issues have nothing on trying to figure out where you are going to be playing. And who you are going to be playing.
• Defense. Coach Dana Holgorsen has hired a few defensive assistants, but still no word yet on who is going to run the show. That, of course, will determine the future course of this defense. It appears an inevitability that they will no longer use the 3-3-5 that former coordinator Jeff Casteel ran. Plus, players such as Keith Tandy, Najee Goode, Bruce Irvin and Julian Miller are gone. Shoring up this unit has to be tops on Holgorsen's list.

You will have to wait until later this afternoon for my way-too-early 2012 Big East power rankings. But to keep you happy until then, I present Mark Schlabach's way-too-early Top 25 for 2012.

Two Big East teams make the list. Or is that 1.5 Big East teams? One Big East team? Still confused about what to call West Virginia in 2012. Until the lawsuits are settled, you will continue to see West Virginia in this blog -- although Big 12 blogger David Ubben included the Mountaineers in his 2012 Big 12 preseason power rankings, at No. 3.

So away we go:

No. 7 West Virginia. Schlabach says:

WVU fans finally saw a glimpse of how explosive coach Dana Holgorsen's spread offense can be in the Mountaineers' 70-33 rout of Clemson in the Discover Orange Bowl. Holgorsen's first season has to be considered a roaring success after a 10-3 finish, but the Mountaineers might have just scratched the surface with his high-powered offense.

No. 25 Louisville. Schlabach says:

Coach Charlie Strong has done a nice job of rebuilding the Cardinals, guiding them to back-to-back bowl games and a share of a Big East title in 2011. ... Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, tailback Dominique Brown and receiver DeVante Parker give the Cards a nice foundation on offense, and their defense should get better as a young secondary matures.

USA Today also has West Virginia at No. 10 in its early 2012 Top 25. Brett McMurphy of CBSSports.com has West Virginia at No. 12, Rutgers at No. 24 and Louisville at No. 25.

You saw the preview and prediction. Now here are three keys for Louisville going into the Belk Bowl tonight:

1. Relax: This will be the first bowl game for many of the starters and key contributors on this team. With so many true and redshirt freshmen contributing, it is natural to wonder how they will handle the challenge of playing with the spotlight squarely on them. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is not one to flinch under pressure -- he led his team to a comeback win against in-state rival Kentucky early on this season. But still, bowl games come with distractions and a long layoff that are not built into the regular season. How Louisville handles both will be a big key in this game.

2. Watch Amerson: NC State cornerback David Amerson has been an interception machine all season, so you can bet Louisville will be on the lookout for where he lines up in the secondary. With Michaelee Harris out because of a knee injury, he most likely will draw the assignment of trying to slow down Eli Rogers and DeVante Parker -- who leads the team with six touchdown receptions. Bridgewater has thrown 12 touchdown passes to nine interceptions this season, and is still learning how to read coverages. NC State might try to disguise what it is doing or at least confuse Bridgewater, and force him into making mistakes.

3. Do run-run: Louisville is at its best when it is able to establish the run, so that is going to be a bigger key than anything Bridgewater can do in the passing game. Louisville is 7-2 when rushing for 100 or more yards this season; 0-3 when failing to reach the 100-yard mark. Moving Dominique Brown to running back has been a big help for the Cardinals, as he and Victor Anderson have carried the rushing load in the past five games of the season. When Louisville has balance, most everything works out for this team.

ACC blogger Heather Dinich has the height and weight advantage, but Big East blogger Andrea Adelson is a shifty little back with elusive speed. Today they go head-to-head to determine who will have the better conference this bowl season. The ACC has been dogged time and again for its losing records in bowl games, which extends back to 2006, but the Big East has been the joke of the BCS conferences this year. The two conferences will square off this bowl season in two bowls, as NC State (7-5) will face Louisville (7-5) in the Belk Bowl on Dec. 27 (8 p.m. ET, ESPN), and Clemson (10-3) will face West Virginia (9-3) on Jan. 4 in the Discover Orange Bowl (8 p.m. ET, ESPN). If you thought the NC State-Cincinnati game was ugly this season, brace yourself for this catfight …

Heather Dinich: I would love to entertain you all day, AA, but the truth is there really is no argument here for the Big East. In fact, I almost feel bad for you. Almost. I’ve got two teams in BCS bowls and you’ve got, well, West Virginia -- a program that loves its conference so much it’s already got one foot in the Big 12. The Big East was so good this year that its best nonconference win came against Notre Dame by a South Florida team that finished 1-6 in the league. Now, I will give you this: The ACC and Big East enter bowl season tied at 3-3 this year, thanks to wins by Syracuse (ahem, overtime with Wake’s quarterback injured), West Virginia (you and I could beat Maryland), and Cincinnati (I’ve got nothin’). There’s no reason, though, that the ACC shouldn’t come out 2-0 against the punching bag of the BCS. First down, me. Your turn.

Andrea Adelson: Yes, there is plenty to brag about when your second BCS team is a laughingstock that does not deserve its spot in the big game. I think even you said that yourself, Heather. The Big East has its problems, and it's easy to take tired jabs. But it does appear as if my preseason prediction is on the verge of coming true. You might recall that I said this summer that the Big East would have a winning record over the ACC this year. Let's take a closer look at the X's and O's to really get this debate started. I would love to hear how NC State is going to beat Louisville, the hottest team in the Big East right now after ending the season 5-1. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was just named by "College Football Live" as rookie of the year, and the Cardinals' defense has been playing lights out during this winning streak. The Cardinals have their run game going, they've shored up their offensive line, and their defense is one of the most aggressive in the Big East -- ranking No. 2 in scoring defense and total defense. Adrian Bushell has developed into a shutdown corner, Dominique Brown has made a huge difference in his move from quarterback to running back, and Bridgewater rarely makes mistakes. Cincinnati hammered NC State, a team I think you called the most inconsistent in the ACC. So the Wolfpack are going to win this game how exactly? And I love how Clemson lost three of four going into the ACC title game, but a win over big-game choker Virginia Tech makes the Tigers all of a sudden a favorite. But we can get to that game in a second.

HD: Wait, wait, wait. Are we talking about the same Louisville team? The one that ranks No. 100 in scoring offense? No. 104 in total offense? No. 111 in sacks allowed? And No. 94 in rushing offense? Yep, that’s the one. How is NC State going to beat that team? Probably by pressuring Bridgewater into an interception right into the hands of cornerback David Amerson, who leads the nation with 11 picks. By winning the turnover battle, thanks in part to quarterback Mike Glennon, who has eight touchdown passes to one interception in the past two wins. By making great use of their tight end, George Bryan. And by winning the field position, thanks to the No. 12 punt returner in the country in T.J. Graham. Yeah, Louisville won five of its last six games, OK, but three of those wins came against teams with losing records in conference play. NC State, meanwhile, beat the No. 7 team in the country in Clemson. Speaking of the Tigers, I know you’re going to bring up West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith as your main argument, but I’ll see you Smith and raise you Sammy Watkins. Oh, and P.S., West Virginia is 4-9 against the ACC in postseason play.

AA: You can bring up Geno, who has been quite solid this season. But I will bring up the West Virginia defense, which you could argue is the biggest reason why the Mountaineers are playing in this BCS game. West Virginia looked really shaky early in the year. I will bring up the Syracuse game for you. But then Dana Holgorsen urged his players to quit acting like they could just step onto the field and win without even trying. There was one more hiccup against Louisville, but the defense has been outstanding in wins over Cincinnati, Pitt and USF. Two of those teams are going to bowl games. West Virginia had defensive scores against the Bearcats and Bulls. It was Najee Goode's huge strip of B.J. Daniels late in the season finale against USF that allowed the Mountaineers to come back and win. How about 10 sacks against Pitt? Clemson is going to have to account for Julian Miller and Bruce Irvin up front -- both players have come on strong at the end of the season. And the biggest reason West Virginia has improved on pass defense has been cornerback Brodrick Jenkins, who's a major upgrade over Pat Miller. He and first-team Big East cornerback Keith Tandy have been a nice duo. Plus, West Virginia just finds a way to win close games -- 4-1 in games decided by six points or less.

HD: Two words for the West Virginia defense against Chad Morris’ offense: Good luck. If it were JUST Sammy Watkins, that would be one thing, but as Virginia Tech figured out in Loss One to Clemson, the Tigers’ offense runs deeper than the country’s best freshman. Tight end Dwayne Allen has been an X factor all season, and the Tigers have plenty of other options surrounding quarterback Tajh Boyd. Clemson has already set school season records for passing yards, total offense and points scored. Boyd has been inconsistent this season, but he’s had far more good moments than disappointing ones. The biggest factor for Clemson has been the turnover margin. The Tigers are 8-0 when they win the turnover battle and 2-3 when they don’t. These two teams are similar in that area. Clemson has lost 20 turnovers this year, WVU 21. I’m guessing that slim margin could be the difference in the game. Quite frankly, Clemson is the more talented team and should win. The ACC will prove this season that it’s the better conference. If it weren’t, why would Pitt and Syracuse be so quick to jump ship? You can’t possibly think that adding Boise State, San Diego State, Houston, UCF and SMU will beef it up? To me, it just got watered down. Even you called the realignment scenario “preposterous.” Great word, by the way.

AA: Are you talking about the same juggernaut Clemson offense that averaged 14 points in its losses to NC State, Georgia Tech and South Carolina? The same Boyd who threw two touchdown passes and five interceptions in those games? Yeah, I think West Virginia can handle that. Don't forget, the Mountaineers see a pretty prolific offense in practice, and Dana Holgorsen has been doing this a little longer than Chad Morris. As for realignment, what the Big East had to do to get itself back in order is preposterous, no question. Having to reach all the way to California to find a new member is ridiculous. But the Big East would not be in this predicament if the ACC kept its hands to itself. If the ACC was such a great, solid conference filled with the finest football programs, why exactly does it keep raiding the Big East? The ACC can now count five former Big East members. Hey, I have an idea. Maybe we should just start calling the ACC the Big East because it will have more of the Big East's original members than the newly reformed Big East-West-Country-USA. The ACC really has the worst of both worlds, taking jabs not only for its own league members but for the Big East, too!

HD: Hey, if I recall correctly, the ACC “received applications” from Pitt and Syracuse, not the other way around. There was probably a line at John Swofford’s door, with Rutgers, UConn and West Virginia all elbowing each other to try to get in, too. The ACC will be bigger and better, thanks to expansion. The Big Conference will be just that -- bigger. Look, I’d love to sit here and watch you swing at air some more, but the ACC has eight teams in bowl games, unlike the Big East. I’ve got some work to do. So why don’t you just settle in, get yourself some Beef O’Brady’s, and watch the ACC go 2-0 against your Big conference. I know, I know, you’ve got something to say. Go ahead and have the last word. You’ll need it.

AA: Well, considering you cover a conference with 12 teams and I cover one with eight, the Big East has just about the same percentage of teams in bowls. And I don't really need to remind you that the Big East has a better winning percentage in bowl games, or that the ACC has not posted a winning record in bowl games since 2006. Or that the ACC hasn't posted a winning record against the Big East in bowl games since 2007. Nah, you don't need to be reminded at all.