Big East: George Johnson
Rutgers players went through their pro day on Wednesday, with 35 scouts and whoever wanted to watch via the Internet looking on.
It wasn't a great day for wideout Tim Brown, who didn't receive an NFL combine invite and probably needed a good workout. Brown measured in at just 5-foot-6 and 3/4 inches and 151 pounds. He had been listed at 5-8 during his college career. His actual size makes what he accomplished at Rutgers even more impressive, but it doesn't exactly thrill tape-measure obsessed scouts.
And Brown, who had been dealing with an ankle injury, ran just a 4.52 and a 4.44 in the 40-yard dash.
Rutgers' two possible first-rounders, Devin McCourty and Anthony Davis, did most of their work at the combine. Davis didn't do any drills Wednesday, while McCourty focused only on position work.
Center Ryan Blaszczyk had the best performance on the bench press, hoisting 225 pounds 31 times. Fullback Jack Corcoran, who weighed in nearly 70 pounds less than Blaszczyk, managed to 30 reps.
Linebacker Ryan D'Imperio had a nice day, running a respectable 4.65 in the 40 and showing off good athleticism in the other drills. He also worked some at fullback. Defensive lineman George Johnson measured in at 6-foot-4 and 3/8 and 268 pounds and put in some time at linebacker.
You can view the complete Rutgers pro day results here.
It wasn't a great day for wideout Tim Brown, who didn't receive an NFL combine invite and probably needed a good workout. Brown measured in at just 5-foot-6 and 3/4 inches and 151 pounds. He had been listed at 5-8 during his college career. His actual size makes what he accomplished at Rutgers even more impressive, but it doesn't exactly thrill tape-measure obsessed scouts.
And Brown, who had been dealing with an ankle injury, ran just a 4.52 and a 4.44 in the 40-yard dash.
Rutgers' two possible first-rounders, Devin McCourty and Anthony Davis, did most of their work at the combine. Davis didn't do any drills Wednesday, while McCourty focused only on position work.
Center Ryan Blaszczyk had the best performance on the bench press, hoisting 225 pounds 31 times. Fullback Jack Corcoran, who weighed in nearly 70 pounds less than Blaszczyk, managed to 30 reps.
Linebacker Ryan D'Imperio had a nice day, running a respectable 4.65 in the 40 and showing off good athleticism in the other drills. He also worked some at fullback. Defensive lineman George Johnson measured in at 6-foot-4 and 3/8 and 268 pounds and put in some time at linebacker.
You can view the complete Rutgers pro day results here.
If you need a football fix, you can watch former Rutgers players work out for the NFL scouts today.
The Scarlet Knights' Pro Day will be broadcast live on Scarlet Knights.com beginning at 1:50 p.m. Here is the list of players who are participating:
Blair Bines
Ryan Blaszczyk
Pat Brown
Tim Brown
Jack Corcoran
Anthony Davis (will not participate in every drill)
Andrew DePaola
Ryan D’Imperio
Shamar Graves
Kevin Haslam
George Johnson
Stephante Kent
Zaire Kitchen
Jabu Lovelace
Devin McCourty (will not participate in every drill)
Damaso Munoz
McCourty and Davis each worked out at the NFL combine and are considered potential first-round picks.
The Scarlet Knights' Pro Day will be broadcast live on Scarlet Knights.com beginning at 1:50 p.m. Here is the list of players who are participating:
Blair Bines
Ryan Blaszczyk
Pat Brown
Tim Brown
Jack Corcoran
Anthony Davis (will not participate in every drill)
Andrew DePaola
Ryan D’Imperio
Shamar Graves
Kevin Haslam
George Johnson
Stephante Kent
Zaire Kitchen
Jabu Lovelace
Devin McCourty (will not participate in every drill)
Damaso Munoz
McCourty and Davis each worked out at the NFL combine and are considered potential first-round picks.
Six Big East players on Texas vs. The Nation roster
January, 20, 2010
1/20/10
3:39
PM ET
By
Brian Bennett | ESPN.com
Six Big East players will participate in the Texas vs. The Nation all-star game on Feb. 6 in El Paso, Texas. The game is not as prestigious as the Senior Bowl or East-West Shrine Game but still offers a showcase for potential future pros.
The Big East players who are on the roster are:
In addition, former Pittsburgh defensive lineman Tommie Duhart, who finished up his career at Youngstown State, will participate.
The Big East players who are on the roster are:
- Alex Daniels, DE/OLB, Cincinnati
- Aaron Webster, S, Cincinnati
- George Johnson, DE, Rutgers
- Robert Vaughn, S, Connecticut
- Marcus Easley, WR, Connecticut
- Scott Long, WR, Louisville
In addition, former Pittsburgh defensive lineman Tommie Duhart, who finished up his career at Youngstown State, will participate.
The 2009 season wasn't always easy for Rutgers. There was the opening blowout loss to Cincinnati, the surprising upset defeat at Syracuse and the inability to beat West Virginia again, among other disappointments.
But what coach Greg Schiano liked was how his team dealt with those problems, including the way it wrapped up a nine-win season with a St. Petersburg Bowl victory over Central Florida.
"We fought back every time things seemed to go against us," he said.
The hope is that things go even smoother next season, but the Scarlet Knights have some significant holes to fill.
They will lose a senior class full of standout players like Devin McCourty, Ryan D'Imperio and George Johnson. Star left tackle Anthony Davis is expected to announce his decision to leave for the NFL at noon on Tuesday. Schiano will be looking for team leaders to emerge and replace them.
He'll also need a new linebackers coach, as Brian Jenkins took the head coaching job at Bethune-Cookman.
But Schiano is happy with the number of players he was able to redshirt this season, including star defensive line recruits Antwan Lowery and Isaac Holmes. He said he thinks the program has depth now to where it can reload, though a priority will be upgrading the talent at running back.
"I think we were steady in the running game, but I don't know how many times we created yardage that wasn't blocked," he said. "We got spoiled around here with Ray [Rice]. I'm not downplaying what our backs did because they ran hard. But I think we need to take the next step there, and part of that is always recruiting."
The offense also needs an upgrade at receiver, especially with its top playmaker, Tim Brown, graduating. Players like Mark Harrison and Keith Stroud got some experience this year but must improve.
"We had some young guys in there who probably weren't quite ready to play," Schiano said. "Now they'll go into spring practice knowing how hard it is to play major college football, and that will help them in their winter work."
Rutgers already has some freshmen who proved their worth this season, none more so than quarterback Tom Savage and receiver/all-purpose threat Mohamed Sanu.
"That's a really good place to start," Schiano said. "I'm definitely excited about the guys who are coming back."
But what coach Greg Schiano liked was how his team dealt with those problems, including the way it wrapped up a nine-win season with a St. Petersburg Bowl victory over Central Florida.
"We fought back every time things seemed to go against us," he said.
The hope is that things go even smoother next season, but the Scarlet Knights have some significant holes to fill.
They will lose a senior class full of standout players like Devin McCourty, Ryan D'Imperio and George Johnson. Star left tackle Anthony Davis is expected to announce his decision to leave for the NFL at noon on Tuesday. Schiano will be looking for team leaders to emerge and replace them.
He'll also need a new linebackers coach, as Brian Jenkins took the head coaching job at Bethune-Cookman.
But Schiano is happy with the number of players he was able to redshirt this season, including star defensive line recruits Antwan Lowery and Isaac Holmes. He said he thinks the program has depth now to where it can reload, though a priority will be upgrading the talent at running back.
"I think we were steady in the running game, but I don't know how many times we created yardage that wasn't blocked," he said. "We got spoiled around here with Ray [Rice]. I'm not downplaying what our backs did because they ran hard. But I think we need to take the next step there, and part of that is always recruiting."
The offense also needs an upgrade at receiver, especially with its top playmaker, Tim Brown, graduating. Players like Mark Harrison and Keith Stroud got some experience this year but must improve.
"We had some young guys in there who probably weren't quite ready to play," Schiano said. "Now they'll go into spring practice knowing how hard it is to play major college football, and that will help them in their winter work."
Rutgers already has some freshmen who proved their worth this season, none more so than quarterback Tom Savage and receiver/all-purpose threat Mohamed Sanu.
"That's a really good place to start," Schiano said. "I'm definitely excited about the guys who are coming back."
Reviewing Rutgers' St. Petersburg Bowl win
December, 21, 2009
12/21/09
10:25
AM ET
By
Brian Bennett | ESPN.com
The Big East got off to a strong start in the bowl season, as Rutgers kicked things off Saturday with a 45-24 win over Central Florida.
On Friday, I offered three keys to the game for the Scarlet Knights: develop some type of running threat even if it is Mohamed Sanu in the Wildcat, stop UCF running back Brynn Harvey and come up with a play or two on special teams.
While Rutgers had only 86 yards rushing, Sanu ran for two touchdowns out of the Wildcat. It was enough to keep the UCF defense off balance, and Tom Savage threw for 294 yards. Harvey, who was the Knights' top weapon, had only 32 yards on 13 carries as Rutgers allowed only 35 yards rushing the entire game.
As for special teams, Damaso Munoz scored off an onside kick return, though the game was well in hand at that point. Rutgers gave up some serious yards on kick returns and Sanu muffed a punt.
I thought it might be a low-scoring game, but I was way off about that. The Scarlet Knights got key contributions from injured receiver Tim Brown (four catches, 100 yards and a 65-yard score) and scored on an interception return by Billy Anderson just before the half. That and Munoz's touchdown gave Rutgers nine non-offensive scores on the season. The offensive line, which had disappointed much of the year, turned in a strong performance to keep Savage clean.
It was the fifth straight bowl appearance and fourth consecutive postseason victory for the Scarlet Knights, who now need to build on this win with Sanu and Savage returning for their sophomore years. The team needs to avoid the slow starts in 2010 that have plagued them in recent years.
The program will lose some significant players, including Brown, center Ryan Blaszczyk, defensive end George Johnson, linebacker Ryan D'Imperio, cornerback Devin McCourty and left tackle Anthony Davis, who has called a news conference for Tuesday to announce his intentions to leave for the NFL draft.
But the departing seniors see a bright future for Rutgers, Tom Luicci writes in The Star-Ledger.
“You need to be consistent before you can be great," head coach Greg Schiano said. "We’re going to be great someday ... someday soon."
On Friday, I offered three keys to the game for the Scarlet Knights: develop some type of running threat even if it is Mohamed Sanu in the Wildcat, stop UCF running back Brynn Harvey and come up with a play or two on special teams.
While Rutgers had only 86 yards rushing, Sanu ran for two touchdowns out of the Wildcat. It was enough to keep the UCF defense off balance, and Tom Savage threw for 294 yards. Harvey, who was the Knights' top weapon, had only 32 yards on 13 carries as Rutgers allowed only 35 yards rushing the entire game.
As for special teams, Damaso Munoz scored off an onside kick return, though the game was well in hand at that point. Rutgers gave up some serious yards on kick returns and Sanu muffed a punt.
I thought it might be a low-scoring game, but I was way off about that. The Scarlet Knights got key contributions from injured receiver Tim Brown (four catches, 100 yards and a 65-yard score) and scored on an interception return by Billy Anderson just before the half. That and Munoz's touchdown gave Rutgers nine non-offensive scores on the season. The offensive line, which had disappointed much of the year, turned in a strong performance to keep Savage clean.
It was the fifth straight bowl appearance and fourth consecutive postseason victory for the Scarlet Knights, who now need to build on this win with Sanu and Savage returning for their sophomore years. The team needs to avoid the slow starts in 2010 that have plagued them in recent years.
The program will lose some significant players, including Brown, center Ryan Blaszczyk, defensive end George Johnson, linebacker Ryan D'Imperio, cornerback Devin McCourty and left tackle Anthony Davis, who has called a news conference for Tuesday to announce his intentions to leave for the NFL draft.
But the departing seniors see a bright future for Rutgers, Tom Luicci writes in The Star-Ledger.
“You need to be consistent before you can be great," head coach Greg Schiano said. "We’re going to be great someday ... someday soon."
Rutgers Scarlet Knights season recap
December, 9, 2009
12/09/09
11:30
AM ET
By
Brian Bennett | ESPN.com
It's difficult to call an 8-4 season and a bowl game a disappointment, especially for a program that's still relatively new to this whole winning thing.
Still, Rutgers had things lined up to do so much more this season. The Scarlet Knights played no one of consequence in the nonconference schedule and had most of their toughest league games at home. Viewed in that light, 8-4 isn't much to crow about.
The season got off to the worst possible start, as Cincinnati ruined the opening of the expanded Rutgers Stadium with a 47-15 pounding on Labor Day. Midway through that game, head coach Greg Schiano decided to cast his lot with true freshman Tom Savage at quarterback. It was the right call, as Savage was better than senior Dom Natale, but it also meant that the offense would be on training wheels most of the season.
Receiver Tim Brown, true freshman Mohamed Sanu and running back Joe Martinek gave the offense some punch, but the veteran offensive line disappointed. The team went back to the earlier days under Schiano by relying on defense and special teams to create opportunities; Rutgers was one of the best in the nation in forcing turnovers, coming up with 32 of them on the year.
The Scarlet Knights had a chance to salvage something special out of this season, but a blowout upset loss to Syracuse and an inability to get past West Virginia in the home finale left them thinking about next year.
Offensive MVP: Brown. After years of playing a complementary role behind Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood, the diminutive Brown stepped forward as a true No. 1 receiver this season. He had 51 catches for 1,051 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 20.6 yards per catch. That he did it with a true freshman quarterback and cautious playcalling in the passing game made Brown's year all the more impressive.
Defensive MVP: Devin McCourty. The best cornerback in the Big East was also one of the league's most disruptive forces on special teams. He'll join his twin brother, Jason, in the NFL next season.
Turning point: The Scarlet Knights had just fallen behind UConn 24-21 with 38 seconds left on Halloween afternoon. A loss would have saddled them with a 5-3 record and 0-3 Big East mark. But Brown rescued Rutgers with an amazing 81-yard catch-and-dash for a touchdown just 16 seconds later. Who knows how the season would have unfolded without that play?
What's next: With Savage and Sanu on the verge of superstardom, the future looks pretty bright. Still, the Scarlet Knights lose key seniors Brown, McCourty, defensive end George Johnson, center Ryan Blaszczyk and linebacker Ryan D'Imperio and most likely junior left tackle Anthony Davis to the NFL. Rutgers needs to develop a more consistent running game, find more receivers who can contribute and avoid the slow starts that have plagued the last two seasons.
Still, Rutgers had things lined up to do so much more this season. The Scarlet Knights played no one of consequence in the nonconference schedule and had most of their toughest league games at home. Viewed in that light, 8-4 isn't much to crow about.
The season got off to the worst possible start, as Cincinnati ruined the opening of the expanded Rutgers Stadium with a 47-15 pounding on Labor Day. Midway through that game, head coach Greg Schiano decided to cast his lot with true freshman Tom Savage at quarterback. It was the right call, as Savage was better than senior Dom Natale, but it also meant that the offense would be on training wheels most of the season.
Receiver Tim Brown, true freshman Mohamed Sanu and running back Joe Martinek gave the offense some punch, but the veteran offensive line disappointed. The team went back to the earlier days under Schiano by relying on defense and special teams to create opportunities; Rutgers was one of the best in the nation in forcing turnovers, coming up with 32 of them on the year.
The Scarlet Knights had a chance to salvage something special out of this season, but a blowout upset loss to Syracuse and an inability to get past West Virginia in the home finale left them thinking about next year.
Offensive MVP: Brown. After years of playing a complementary role behind Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood, the diminutive Brown stepped forward as a true No. 1 receiver this season. He had 51 catches for 1,051 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 20.6 yards per catch. That he did it with a true freshman quarterback and cautious playcalling in the passing game made Brown's year all the more impressive.
Defensive MVP: Devin McCourty. The best cornerback in the Big East was also one of the league's most disruptive forces on special teams. He'll join his twin brother, Jason, in the NFL next season.
Turning point: The Scarlet Knights had just fallen behind UConn 24-21 with 38 seconds left on Halloween afternoon. A loss would have saddled them with a 5-3 record and 0-3 Big East mark. But Brown rescued Rutgers with an amazing 81-yard catch-and-dash for a touchdown just 16 seconds later. Who knows how the season would have unfolded without that play?
What's next: With Savage and Sanu on the verge of superstardom, the future looks pretty bright. Still, the Scarlet Knights lose key seniors Brown, McCourty, defensive end George Johnson, center Ryan Blaszczyk and linebacker Ryan D'Imperio and most likely junior left tackle Anthony Davis to the NFL. Rutgers needs to develop a more consistent running game, find more receivers who can contribute and avoid the slow starts that have plagued the last two seasons.
With no more regular-season games to preview, we're simply living in the past this week (insert Notre Dame joke here). Let's review the final week of the 2009 Big East season:
Team of the week: Cincinnati. All hail the two-time defending Big East champions. Simply a remarkable 12-0 season for the Bearcats, topped by an amazing comeback at Pitt.
Best game: All three league games this weekend were terrific, and they were decided by a total of six points. But when there's a title on the line, and a huge comeback and 89 total points, well it's got to be Cincinnati 45, Pitt 44.
Biggest play: Mardy Gilyard's 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Pitt. Cincinnati was trailing 31-10 at the time, late in the first half, and looked ready to get run out of the building. Gilyard changed momentum and gave his team a chance to get back in it.
Best call: Up 24-21 with 1:51 to go, West Virginia had a third and six. It needed a first down so it could drain the clock. The Mountaineers chose to fake a handoff and let quarterback Jarrett Brown run a bootleg. Brown did the rest, stiff-arming George Johnson to get past the sticks.
Big Man on Campus (Offense): It's rare that a player on a losing team wins this award, but Dion Lewis's Herculean effort must be recognized. The Pitt tailback did everything he could to lift the Panthers to the Big East title, running an incredible 47 times for 194 yards and three touchdowns. I'm guessing he's a little sore this morning.
Big Man on Campus (Defense): West Virginia safety Sidney Glover had perhaps the biggest defensive play of the weekend, picking off Tom Savage and running it back 24 yards for a touchdown.
Big Man on Campus (Special teams): Gilyard. In addition to his touchdown, Gilyard set up another Cincinnati score by returning a kick to the Pitt 23. In all, he had 256 return yards.
Worst hangover: Pitt. From 9-1 and in the top-10, to 9-3 and in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. Panthers fans will mourn Saturday's loss for a long, long time.
Strangest moment: After Dave Teggart hit a last-second field goal to send UConn to a thrilling win over South Florida, Huskies players and coaches rushed onto the field. One guy did not have a good trip: Randy Edsall. The head coach got knocked to the snowy ground on his rear end by backup linebacker Alex Folsom. Edsall looked steamed about it while players celebrated around him.
"I didn't play a lot but that's the hardest hit I've ever taken," said Edsall, who was a backup at Syracuse back in the day said. "I was upset when it happened, but now I'm getting over it."
Team of the week: Cincinnati. All hail the two-time defending Big East champions. Simply a remarkable 12-0 season for the Bearcats, topped by an amazing comeback at Pitt.
Best game: All three league games this weekend were terrific, and they were decided by a total of six points. But when there's a title on the line, and a huge comeback and 89 total points, well it's got to be Cincinnati 45, Pitt 44.
Biggest play: Mardy Gilyard's 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Pitt. Cincinnati was trailing 31-10 at the time, late in the first half, and looked ready to get run out of the building. Gilyard changed momentum and gave his team a chance to get back in it.
Best call: Up 24-21 with 1:51 to go, West Virginia had a third and six. It needed a first down so it could drain the clock. The Mountaineers chose to fake a handoff and let quarterback Jarrett Brown run a bootleg. Brown did the rest, stiff-arming George Johnson to get past the sticks.
Big Man on Campus (Offense): It's rare that a player on a losing team wins this award, but Dion Lewis's Herculean effort must be recognized. The Pitt tailback did everything he could to lift the Panthers to the Big East title, running an incredible 47 times for 194 yards and three touchdowns. I'm guessing he's a little sore this morning.
Big Man on Campus (Defense): West Virginia safety Sidney Glover had perhaps the biggest defensive play of the weekend, picking off Tom Savage and running it back 24 yards for a touchdown.
Big Man on Campus (Special teams): Gilyard. In addition to his touchdown, Gilyard set up another Cincinnati score by returning a kick to the Pitt 23. In all, he had 256 return yards.
Worst hangover: Pitt. From 9-1 and in the top-10, to 9-3 and in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. Panthers fans will mourn Saturday's loss for a long, long time.
Strangest moment: After Dave Teggart hit a last-second field goal to send UConn to a thrilling win over South Florida, Huskies players and coaches rushed onto the field. One guy did not have a good trip: Randy Edsall. The head coach got knocked to the snowy ground on his rear end by backup linebacker Alex Folsom. Edsall looked steamed about it while players celebrated around him.
"I didn't play a lot but that's the hardest hit I've ever taken," said Edsall, who was a backup at Syracuse back in the day said. "I was upset when it happened, but now I'm getting over it."
Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
After a mostly dreadful first half, Rutgers bounced back with a runaway performance in the second half at Maryland.
The Scarlet Knights got their second defensive score of the game when Joe Lefeged forced a Chris Turner fumble in the end zone that George Johnson recovered for a touchdown. The offense finally started contributing in the fourth quarter, especially running back Joe Martinek. He has a 29-yard touchdown and a 61-yard score during a 146-yard day.
This was a win Rutgers really needed to have any credibility at all, given the general awfulness of its nonconference schedule. And it should help build a lot of confidence.
The Big East is about to go 2-0 against the ACC today, though Pitt is in a real dogfight at NC State.
Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Rutgers can't win without putting pressure on Tony Pike.
The Scarlet Knights' first sack of Pike finally came on the final play of the first quarter, courtesy of George Johnson. Before that, Pike had had virtually all day, though the Scarlet Knights are trying more twists and stunts up front. Pike scrambled away from one pressure for a 15-yard gain on third-and-one. But Johnson got him on the next.
Rutgers simply has to get some negative plays and get the Bearcats off schedule, because otherwise their offense is humming along like a machine.
Very entertaining first quarter so far. I think both of these teams look good in different ways.
Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
Welcome to the final Friday that doesn't precede a football Saturday for the next three-plus months. And thank goodness for that. Let's get to some of your questions:
Ron from Davis, Calif., writes: How are injuries stacking up? Are any teams especially hard-hit? I'm especially curious about how injuries may affect the RU-Cincy game.
Brian Bennett: That's a good question, and it allows me to point out that the Big East, to this date, has been remarkably injury-free this preseason (knock on wood). The most serious injuries that we know about are South Florida running back Jamar Taylor's sprained knee, which will keep him out 8-to-10 weeks, and UConn backup tackle Jimmy Bennett's season-ending knee injury. While tough breaks for those guys, these aren't exactly crushing blows to their teams' hopes. Now of course there are the usual bumps and bruises but not a lot of major, season-changing injuries that we know about.
As far as the Rutgers game, keep an eye on the situation with Scarlet Knights defensive end, who's been out most of this week of practice and was listed as questionable by Greg Schiano. That may have an effect on the game, though Rutgers should have adequate replacements.
Rodney from New York, N.Y., writes: Seems like 2009 may be the kind of year where any team in the Big East with a few lucky bounces (and the fewest mistakes) can win the league or the game. What teams do you think are the best suited to take care of the ball and vice versa the ones that may be prone to mistakes and turnovers?
Brian Bennett: Turnovers are almost wholly unpredictable from year to year, and yet turnover margin is a good indicator of success. It's nearly impossible to tell who will get the breaks in that area, because a lot of time it is pure luck, i.e. a fumble bouncing the right way or a pass deflecting off a receivers' hands. One team I will look closely at when it comes to turnovers, though, is South Florida. We all know about Matt Grothe's interception problems, and he is working hard to cut that down. At the same time, new defensive coordinator Joe Tresey was known for creating turnovers at Cincinnati. If the Bulls can improve their turnover margin, they may be ready to take the next step.
Speaking of which ...
Dave from Pittsburgh writes: I just want to make clear that USF has only disappointed once. In 2007, a 9-4 record was an extremely fair prediction at the start of the season. Everyone that being No. 2 was absurd, but at the time, there were no other qualified teams and USF had won at No. 19 Auburn and beaten No. 5 WVU. But they were not the second-best team in the country. Last year was a disappointment, but only by two games, as I think that 10-3 was the best possible likely outcome. They hardly pulled a Clemson or Pitt.
I think you've greatly overblown USF's tendency to slow down. They are coming off of one disappointing season. In my mind, 2007 was the greatest season in school history. USF takes heat for fast starts, but most schools in the country would love to get off to such a fast start (think Rutgers last year). But at the end of the season, the overall record has been pretty much on target.
Brian Bennett: The thing with the Bulls is they look like they're building up to something great and then they come right back down. In 2007, losing at Rutgers was no shame. But they followed that up by losing at UConn and at home to Cincinnati. And then they were destroyed by Oregon 56-21 in the Sun Bowl. A team that was talented enough to win at Auburn and beat a West Virginia team that won the Fiesta Bowl should have performed better than that.
Injuries played a part the past two years, but it seems this team wears down as the season goes along. Whether that's because of a lack of depth or because it's being pushed too hard, I'm not sure. Regardless, South Florida needs to do better than a 4-3 conference record one of these years.
Ute from Connecticut writes: BB, you do a great job covering the Big East, I love reading the blog. And you hit us with good stuff regularly. I know the BE is getting a bad rep this year (pre-season) and I agree this isn't a banner year for the conference (pre-season)... although there are some teams that can surprise people. With the talent Rutgers, Pitt, WVU have been recruiting and UConn's experience/sniper recruiting, do you agree that in 2010, the Big East will be serious business?
Brian Bennett: I do believe this is just a down cycle and the league will be strong again in the near future. Recruiting has been strong and there are a number of young players already emerging in camps. It's exciting to think about Tom Savage playing for four years at Rutgers or the young talent at West Virginia and South Florida, and I'm glad you mentioned UConn, because that team will have some serious experience next year. Will it be 2010? It might not be until 2011. But I think this league is on course for a major uptick.
Jeff C. from Raleigh, N.C., writes: No clear favorite in the Big East has caused a major guessing game among five of the eight Big East teams: Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, South Florida, or West Virginia. All contenders, if we believe smart beat writers like yourself. Weeks 7 and 8 seem to have some great matchups inside the conference. These two weeks should separate the contenders from the pretenders in the race for the Big East crown. Do you think we'll have the Big East race down to two teams after Week 8? Or will it be one big ambiguous sloppy mess of for all five until the final match-ups on Dec. 5th in Week 14.
Brian Bennett: Some of the matchups you're talking about include Cincinnati at South Florida, Pitt at Rutgers, South Florida at Pitt and UConn at West Virginia. I think we'll know a lot more about who the real contenders are, but it will be way too early for much separation. I don't think all five will be in the running by Dec. 5, but I suspect two or maybe three will be. Remember that in Week 7 last year, Cincinnati lost 40-16 at UConn. They didn't exactly look like runaway Big East champs that week.
Bundy from Running Springs, Calif., writes: If Syracuse played one FCS team -- Utah State, San Diego State, UNLV, Wyoming, and New Mexico -- every year they would have been bowl eligible every year for the past decade. Question: Since a lot of teams get props for playing pathetic schedules and racking up wins, wouldn't the Big East benefit by bringing up a low-level school rather than add even
more parity. Villanova is ranked No. 5 in the FCS with several first place votes. If we bring them up we don't upset the basketball powers, our scheduling gets fixed and our top half looks better by comparison. Plus, Philly is a great TV market for football.
Brian Bennett: Well, first of all I have to take issue with your math. Syracuse played an FCS team last year (Northeastern) and finished 3-9. The previous three years they 2-10, 4-8 and 1-10, so one victory would not have mattered much. And the Orange have begun, smartly, to soften their ridiculously tough schedules. As for Villanova, I'm not sure how adding a team that would likely need a few years to get up to BCS level would help the overall strength of the league. And as we've discussed at length, Villanova does not have a place to play that would meet FBS eligibility (Lincoln Financial Field is booked with the NFL's Eagles and Temple).
Andrew from Sistersville, W.Va., writes: I started thinking about something after reading your blog on Coach Kelly's and Coach Leavitt's preseason top 25. Are the coaches that are selected to vote on a Top 25 really up to the task? Does a head coach that spends anywhere between 65-to-90 hours a week on practice with their team, game day, interviews, dinners and whatever else the head coach is involved in have enough time to judge 119 teams and put together a valid Top 25? I really think it is just a popularity contest to serve the interests of voter's teams and conferences. Just another reason to work towards a playoff of some sort. What are your thoughts?
Brian Bennett: You're absolutely right and it's a problem that has been recognized for a while. That's why a lot of coaches have their sports information directors fill out their ballots; they don't have time to watch games of teams they're not playing. The same thing goes for the media poll, by the way. Most of the voters are beat writers who cover one team and thus are at one stadium each week spending hours reporting and writing in the press box and often traveling. I was a voter once and can tell you that you're basically going off highlight shows and scores.
If the polls are going to be used for the BCS formula, I'd like to see something like the Legends Poll, where former coaches or administrators who know the game and have time to watch all the teams each weekend can offer a truly informed opinion from week to week.
Welcome to the final Friday that doesn't precede a football Saturday for the next three-plus months. And thank goodness for that. Let's get to some of your questions:
Ron from Davis, Calif., writes: How are injuries stacking up? Are any teams especially hard-hit? I'm especially curious about how injuries may affect the RU-Cincy game.
Brian Bennett: That's a good question, and it allows me to point out that the Big East, to this date, has been remarkably injury-free this preseason (knock on wood). The most serious injuries that we know about are South Florida running back Jamar Taylor's sprained knee, which will keep him out 8-to-10 weeks, and UConn backup tackle Jimmy Bennett's season-ending knee injury. While tough breaks for those guys, these aren't exactly crushing blows to their teams' hopes. Now of course there are the usual bumps and bruises but not a lot of major, season-changing injuries that we know about.
As far as the Rutgers game, keep an eye on the situation with Scarlet Knights defensive end, who's been out most of this week of practice and was listed as questionable by Greg Schiano. That may have an effect on the game, though Rutgers should have adequate replacements.
Rodney from New York, N.Y., writes: Seems like 2009 may be the kind of year where any team in the Big East with a few lucky bounces (and the fewest mistakes) can win the league or the game. What teams do you think are the best suited to take care of the ball and vice versa the ones that may be prone to mistakes and turnovers?
Brian Bennett: Turnovers are almost wholly unpredictable from year to year, and yet turnover margin is a good indicator of success. It's nearly impossible to tell who will get the breaks in that area, because a lot of time it is pure luck, i.e. a fumble bouncing the right way or a pass deflecting off a receivers' hands. One team I will look closely at when it comes to turnovers, though, is South Florida. We all know about Matt Grothe's interception problems, and he is working hard to cut that down. At the same time, new defensive coordinator Joe Tresey was known for creating turnovers at Cincinnati. If the Bulls can improve their turnover margin, they may be ready to take the next step.
Speaking of which ...
Dave from Pittsburgh writes: I just want to make clear that USF has only disappointed once. In 2007, a 9-4 record was an extremely fair prediction at the start of the season. Everyone that being No. 2 was absurd, but at the time, there were no other qualified teams and USF had won at No. 19 Auburn and beaten No. 5 WVU. But they were not the second-best team in the country. Last year was a disappointment, but only by two games, as I think that 10-3 was the best possible likely outcome. They hardly pulled a Clemson or Pitt.
I think you've greatly overblown USF's tendency to slow down. They are coming off of one disappointing season. In my mind, 2007 was the greatest season in school history. USF takes heat for fast starts, but most schools in the country would love to get off to such a fast start (think Rutgers last year). But at the end of the season, the overall record has been pretty much on target.
Brian Bennett: The thing with the Bulls is they look like they're building up to something great and then they come right back down. In 2007, losing at Rutgers was no shame. But they followed that up by losing at UConn and at home to Cincinnati. And then they were destroyed by Oregon 56-21 in the Sun Bowl. A team that was talented enough to win at Auburn and beat a West Virginia team that won the Fiesta Bowl should have performed better than that.
Injuries played a part the past two years, but it seems this team wears down as the season goes along. Whether that's because of a lack of depth or because it's being pushed too hard, I'm not sure. Regardless, South Florida needs to do better than a 4-3 conference record one of these years.
Ute from Connecticut writes: BB, you do a great job covering the Big East, I love reading the blog. And you hit us with good stuff regularly. I know the BE is getting a bad rep this year (pre-season) and I agree this isn't a banner year for the conference (pre-season)... although there are some teams that can surprise people. With the talent Rutgers, Pitt, WVU have been recruiting and UConn's experience/sniper recruiting, do you agree that in 2010, the Big East will be serious business?
Brian Bennett: I do believe this is just a down cycle and the league will be strong again in the near future. Recruiting has been strong and there are a number of young players already emerging in camps. It's exciting to think about Tom Savage playing for four years at Rutgers or the young talent at West Virginia and South Florida, and I'm glad you mentioned UConn, because that team will have some serious experience next year. Will it be 2010? It might not be until 2011. But I think this league is on course for a major uptick.
Jeff C. from Raleigh, N.C., writes: No clear favorite in the Big East has caused a major guessing game among five of the eight Big East teams: Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, South Florida, or West Virginia. All contenders, if we believe smart beat writers like yourself. Weeks 7 and 8 seem to have some great matchups inside the conference. These two weeks should separate the contenders from the pretenders in the race for the Big East crown. Do you think we'll have the Big East race down to two teams after Week 8? Or will it be one big ambiguous sloppy mess of for all five until the final match-ups on Dec. 5th in Week 14.
Brian Bennett: Some of the matchups you're talking about include Cincinnati at South Florida, Pitt at Rutgers, South Florida at Pitt and UConn at West Virginia. I think we'll know a lot more about who the real contenders are, but it will be way too early for much separation. I don't think all five will be in the running by Dec. 5, but I suspect two or maybe three will be. Remember that in Week 7 last year, Cincinnati lost 40-16 at UConn. They didn't exactly look like runaway Big East champs that week.
Bundy from Running Springs, Calif., writes: If Syracuse played one FCS team -- Utah State, San Diego State, UNLV, Wyoming, and New Mexico -- every year they would have been bowl eligible every year for the past decade. Question: Since a lot of teams get props for playing pathetic schedules and racking up wins, wouldn't the Big East benefit by bringing up a low-level school rather than add even
more parity. Villanova is ranked No. 5 in the FCS with several first place votes. If we bring them up we don't upset the basketball powers, our scheduling gets fixed and our top half looks better by comparison. Plus, Philly is a great TV market for football.
Brian Bennett: Well, first of all I have to take issue with your math. Syracuse played an FCS team last year (Northeastern) and finished 3-9. The previous three years they 2-10, 4-8 and 1-10, so one victory would not have mattered much. And the Orange have begun, smartly, to soften their ridiculously tough schedules. As for Villanova, I'm not sure how adding a team that would likely need a few years to get up to BCS level would help the overall strength of the league. And as we've discussed at length, Villanova does not have a place to play that would meet FBS eligibility (Lincoln Financial Field is booked with the NFL's Eagles and Temple).
Andrew from Sistersville, W.Va., writes: I started thinking about something after reading your blog on Coach Kelly's and Coach Leavitt's preseason top 25. Are the coaches that are selected to vote on a Top 25 really up to the task? Does a head coach that spends anywhere between 65-to-90 hours a week on practice with their team, game day, interviews, dinners and whatever else the head coach is involved in have enough time to judge 119 teams and put together a valid Top 25? I really think it is just a popularity contest to serve the interests of voter's teams and conferences. Just another reason to work towards a playoff of some sort. What are your thoughts?
Brian Bennett: You're absolutely right and it's a problem that has been recognized for a while. That's why a lot of coaches have their sports information directors fill out their ballots; they don't have time to watch games of teams they're not playing. The same thing goes for the media poll, by the way. Most of the voters are beat writers who cover one team and thus are at one stadium each week spending hours reporting and writing in the press box and often traveling. I was a voter once and can tell you that you're basically going off highlight shows and scores.
If the polls are going to be used for the BCS formula, I'd like to see something like the Legends Poll, where former coaches or administrators who know the game and have time to watch all the teams each weekend can offer a truly informed opinion from week to week.
Big East names to remember after spring practice
May, 19, 2009
5/19/09
1:31
PM ET
By
Brian Bennett | ESPN.com
Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
You already know the stars in the Big East. We've talked about some potential emerging stars. Here are some other players who might not have been household names before the spring, but you should remember who they are come the fall:
• Chris Neild, West Virginia: It's not like Neild was a complete unknown going into the spring. He started at nose guard last year and had a nice season. Still, the coaching staff heaped praise on his effort this spring and are predicting a big year for the junior.
• Derek Wolfe, Cincinnati: Speaking of nose guards, the 6-foot-5, 295-pound Wolfe emerged as a disruptive force along the Bearcats front this season. The sophomore could help a defense that lost all four starting linemen.
• Ed Alcin, South Florida: He had only two catches last year but worked as a starting wide receiver most of the spring. And he's one of the fastest Bulls on the team.
• Aundre Wright, Pitt: Wright made his impact on special teams last year, averaging 21 yards per kickoff return. The speedster could see more time at wideout as a sophomore with T.J. Porter no longer around.
• George Johnson, Rutgers: Overshadowed at times by other big-name players on defense, Johnson had a solid year as a junior at end. Now as a senior, he looks ready to assert himself as one of the team leaders.
• Ryan Nassib, Syracuse: Barely known before spring practice, he was anointed the starting quarterback. Now he'll be the guy who'll try to keep Greg Paulus on the sidelines.
• Twyon Martin and Kendall Reyes, UConn: These two did not get enough attention for their standout work at defensive tackle as freshmen. They could pose problems for opposing offenses for a long time to come.
BACK TO TOP
Page: 1
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.
