Big East: Sam Barrington
2011 overall record: 5-7
2011 conference record: 1-6 (T-7)
Returning starters: Offense: 8; defense: 7; kicker/punter: 3
Top returners
QB B.J. Daniels, RB Demetris Murray, WR Sterling Griffin, WR Andre Davis, LB DeDe Lattimore, LB Sam Barrington, DE Ryne Giddins, DT Cory Grissom
Key losses
C Chaz Hine, OG Jeremiah Warren, RB Darrell Scott, DE Patrick Hampton, DT Keith McCaskill, S Jerrell Young, CB Quenton Washington
2011 statistical leaders (*returners)
Rushing: Darrell Scott (814 yards)
Passing: B.J. Daniels* (215-of-365 for 2,585 yards, 13 TDs, 7 INTs)
Receiving: Sterling Griffin* (530 yards)
Tackles: DeDe Lattimore* (94)
Sacks: Lattimore* (7)
Interceptions: Jerrell Young, Kayvon Webster*, JaQuez Jenkins* (two each)
Spring answers
1. Offensive line: The Bulls went into the spring with question marks at center and guard, thanks to the departures of two of the most consistent players up front last season, Chaz Hine and Jeremiah Warren. It appears Austin Reiter has the edge at center, while Damien Edwards did really well at left guard. He and Lawrence Martin will compete at right guard when Danous Estenor returns from injury to his left guard spot.
2. Cornerback: The Bulls have plenty of returning starters, but one of the biggest holes to fill was at cornerback with the departure of Quenton Washington. Junior college transfer Fidel Montgomery stepped right in and showed why he deserved to win the starting job, making plays for most of the spring.
3. Andre Davis emerges: We all saw glimpses of how good Andre Davis could be last season, when he played extensively as a true freshman because of injuries at the position. He got even better this spring and is currently listed as the starter ahead of Sterling Griffin, who led the team in receiving yards last season. Davis is the type of player who can stretch the field -- and clearly B.J. Daniels has much more confidence in him now that he is a year older.
Fall questions
1. Cory Grissom's return. Grissom broke his ankle toward the end of spring practice, and coach Skip Holtz is hopeful that his big tackle will be back in time for the start of the season. But as of right now, there is no real set timetable for his return -- it just a matter of how well he heals. Without him, USF is not as deep at the position as it would want. But there is some talent there in Elkino Watson, Luke Sager and Todd Chandler.
2. Safety. This is a pretty deep position for the Bulls, who are hoping for improved play out of this position. Starter Jon Lejiste was out for the spring, but Mark Joyce and JaQuez Jenkins did really well in his absence. Lejiste is going to have a fight on his hands when he returns, but no doubt the Bulls are happy about having some competition here going into the spring.
3. Using Lindsey Lamar. While Murray is the starter at running back, Lamar was moved to the position in the spring and coaches were happy with how he came along. Now the big question is how can Lamar provide some of the big plays out of the backfield the Bulls are going to need to complement the bigger Murray.
2011 conference record: 1-6 (T-7)
Returning starters: Offense: 8; defense: 7; kicker/punter: 3
Top returners
QB B.J. Daniels, RB Demetris Murray, WR Sterling Griffin, WR Andre Davis, LB DeDe Lattimore, LB Sam Barrington, DE Ryne Giddins, DT Cory Grissom
Key losses
C Chaz Hine, OG Jeremiah Warren, RB Darrell Scott, DE Patrick Hampton, DT Keith McCaskill, S Jerrell Young, CB Quenton Washington
2011 statistical leaders (*returners)
Rushing: Darrell Scott (814 yards)
Passing: B.J. Daniels* (215-of-365 for 2,585 yards, 13 TDs, 7 INTs)
Receiving: Sterling Griffin* (530 yards)
Tackles: DeDe Lattimore* (94)
Sacks: Lattimore* (7)
Interceptions: Jerrell Young, Kayvon Webster*, JaQuez Jenkins* (two each)
Spring answers
1. Offensive line: The Bulls went into the spring with question marks at center and guard, thanks to the departures of two of the most consistent players up front last season, Chaz Hine and Jeremiah Warren. It appears Austin Reiter has the edge at center, while Damien Edwards did really well at left guard. He and Lawrence Martin will compete at right guard when Danous Estenor returns from injury to his left guard spot.
2. Cornerback: The Bulls have plenty of returning starters, but one of the biggest holes to fill was at cornerback with the departure of Quenton Washington. Junior college transfer Fidel Montgomery stepped right in and showed why he deserved to win the starting job, making plays for most of the spring.
3. Andre Davis emerges: We all saw glimpses of how good Andre Davis could be last season, when he played extensively as a true freshman because of injuries at the position. He got even better this spring and is currently listed as the starter ahead of Sterling Griffin, who led the team in receiving yards last season. Davis is the type of player who can stretch the field -- and clearly B.J. Daniels has much more confidence in him now that he is a year older.
Fall questions
1. Cory Grissom's return. Grissom broke his ankle toward the end of spring practice, and coach Skip Holtz is hopeful that his big tackle will be back in time for the start of the season. But as of right now, there is no real set timetable for his return -- it just a matter of how well he heals. Without him, USF is not as deep at the position as it would want. But there is some talent there in Elkino Watson, Luke Sager and Todd Chandler.
2. Safety. This is a pretty deep position for the Bulls, who are hoping for improved play out of this position. Starter Jon Lejiste was out for the spring, but Mark Joyce and JaQuez Jenkins did really well in his absence. Lejiste is going to have a fight on his hands when he returns, but no doubt the Bulls are happy about having some competition here going into the spring.
3. Using Lindsey Lamar. While Murray is the starter at running back, Lamar was moved to the position in the spring and coaches were happy with how he came along. Now the big question is how can Lamar provide some of the big plays out of the backfield the Bulls are going to need to complement the bigger Murray.
Vote: Who will have best defense in 2012
March, 23, 2012
Mar 23
2:00
PM ET
By
Andrea Adelson | ESPN.com
Today, we move on to the candidates for best defense in 2012.
Several of the best defenses in the league from a year ago return with their key players. A few others should make improvements. Who are my top four candidates headed into spring practice?
Cincinnati. The Bearcats have some definite question marks on defense headed into the season, with JK Schaffer, Derek Wolfe and John Hughes gone. But they also return some veteran players, particularly along the defensive line and in the secondary. Walter Stewart is poised for a breakout season at end. Drew Frey is coming off an All-Big East season at safety. If the front seven is able to match the production of a year ago, that will alleviate whatever concerns there might be in the middle of the defense, and at corner.
UConn. The Huskies had the best run defense a year ago, but the worst pass offense. I fully expect the back end to be much better, with Blidi Wreh-Wilson back and healthy, and several young players in Ty-Meer Brown and Byron Jones having gained experience a year ago. Kendall Reyes is gone inside, but this is a defense that returns a majority of its starters, along with solid linebacker Sio Moore.
Louisville. The Cardinals finished No. 2 last season in total defense, and return a great majority of their key contributors. The big hole is in the middle of the defense since Dexter Heyman is done. The secondary should be much improved now that young players have much more game experience. The Cardinals need more depth along the defensive line, but the players who should contribute all saw significant action last season. If there is one thing you can bank on with a Charlie Strong-coached team, it is solid defense.
Rutgers. This would be my preseason choice for No. 1 defense. The Scarlet Knights were No. 1 in the Big East last year and return virtually everybody. That includes Co-Big East Defensive Player of the Year Khaseem Greene, along with Logan Ryan, Scott Vallone and Steve Beauharnais. Greg Schiano is gone, but the aggressive defensive scheme that he favored will remain.
I included "other" as an option so folks can express their displeasure with my four choices. If I had to put in a No. 5 choice, it would probably be USF. The Bulls return many key players, including Sam Barrington, DeDe Lattimore, Ryne Giddins and Kayvon Webster. But they also switched defensive coordinators and have to prove they can hold on to four-quarter leads.
Make sure to vote, or send me an email or leave a response in the comments section with your prediction for best defense in 2012.
Several of the best defenses in the league from a year ago return with their key players. A few others should make improvements. Who are my top four candidates headed into spring practice?
UConn. The Huskies had the best run defense a year ago, but the worst pass offense. I fully expect the back end to be much better, with Blidi Wreh-Wilson back and healthy, and several young players in Ty-Meer Brown and Byron Jones having gained experience a year ago. Kendall Reyes is gone inside, but this is a defense that returns a majority of its starters, along with solid linebacker Sio Moore.
Louisville. The Cardinals finished No. 2 last season in total defense, and return a great majority of their key contributors. The big hole is in the middle of the defense since Dexter Heyman is done. The secondary should be much improved now that young players have much more game experience. The Cardinals need more depth along the defensive line, but the players who should contribute all saw significant action last season. If there is one thing you can bank on with a Charlie Strong-coached team, it is solid defense.
Rutgers. This would be my preseason choice for No. 1 defense. The Scarlet Knights were No. 1 in the Big East last year and return virtually everybody. That includes Co-Big East Defensive Player of the Year Khaseem Greene, along with Logan Ryan, Scott Vallone and Steve Beauharnais. Greg Schiano is gone, but the aggressive defensive scheme that he favored will remain.
I included "other" as an option so folks can express their displeasure with my four choices. If I had to put in a No. 5 choice, it would probably be USF. The Bulls return many key players, including Sam Barrington, DeDe Lattimore, Ryne Giddins and Kayvon Webster. But they also switched defensive coordinators and have to prove they can hold on to four-quarter leads.
Make sure to vote, or send me an email or leave a response in the comments section with your prediction for best defense in 2012.
USF has hired Chris Cosh as defensive coordinator to replace Mark Snyder.
Cosh, who served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Kansas State from 2009-11, worked with USF coach Skip Holtz when the two were assistants at South Carolina from 1999-2003.
More from the school's release:
At USF, he has plenty to work with headed into 2012. The Bulls ranked No. 4 in the nation in sacks with 39, and return many key contributors up front -- including Ryne Giddins, Cory Grissom, Elkino Watson and Julius Forte. Linebackers DeDe Lattimore and Sam Barrington also return. The major holes to fill are in the secondary, where Quenton Washington and Jerrell Young are gone.
The key for this defense is to be more sound and disciplined. Too many times this season USF had key lapses late in games that ended up contributing to some of the close losses. USF lost five games by a touchdown or less. Contrast that to the team Cosh left behind: Kansas State won eight games by a touchdown or less. It was a huge reason the Wildcats made a resurgence this season.
Cosh, who served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Kansas State from 2009-11, worked with USF coach Skip Holtz when the two were assistants at South Carolina from 1999-2003.
More from the school's release:
In total, Cosh has served as a defensive coordinator for 15 of his 28 seasons, including stops at Kansas State, Maryland, South Carolina, Michigan St. and Illinois.
“I’m excited that Chris has agreed to be the defensive coordinator here,” Holtz said. “We’re very familiar with each other, having coached together for five years at South Carolina. I’ve got great respect for him as a teacher and communicator. He’s had a lot of success building some of the top programs in the country and I’m looking forward to working with him again here at USF.”
Cosh, who was in his second tour of duty at Kansas State, helped rebuild the Wildcats under Bill Snyder, culminating in a Cotton Bowl appearances after the 2011 season. The Wildcats improved drastically in 2011, cutting almost 100 yards per game off their rushing defense to rank 37th nationally. K-State gave up less than 400 yards per game and under 28 points despite playing in a league that had six of the nation’s top 13 offenses. Cosh’s defense produced three All-Big 12 performers last year, including linebacker Arthur Brown. In 2010, Cosh helped direct a Wildcat defense that saw a true freshman earn All-Big 12 honors for the first time on a Snyder-coached team when safety Ty Zimmerman had a breakout rookie season. Zimmerman was named to numerous Freshman All-America teams and received votes for the Big 12 Freshman of the Year award after recording 74 tackles, three interceptions, three pass breakups and two fumble recoveries.
At USF, he has plenty to work with headed into 2012. The Bulls ranked No. 4 in the nation in sacks with 39, and return many key contributors up front -- including Ryne Giddins, Cory Grissom, Elkino Watson and Julius Forte. Linebackers DeDe Lattimore and Sam Barrington also return. The major holes to fill are in the secondary, where Quenton Washington and Jerrell Young are gone.
The key for this defense is to be more sound and disciplined. Too many times this season USF had key lapses late in games that ended up contributing to some of the close losses. USF lost five games by a touchdown or less. Contrast that to the team Cosh left behind: Kansas State won eight games by a touchdown or less. It was a huge reason the Wildcats made a resurgence this season.
Part I: Q&A with USF coach Skip Holtz
December, 15, 2011
12/15/11
3:00
PM ET
By
Andrea Adelson | ESPN.com
I had a chance to catch up with USF coach Skip Holtz in the wake of his team’s disappointing 5-7 season. I will divide up our interview into two parts. Here is a little of what he had to say about the season in general. Part II will focus more on individual players and performances.
How much have you second guessed yourself in the wake of so many close losses this season?
SH: Every game you go back and say, ‘Golly, if we would have called this instead of that … if we had called deep-right kickoff instead of deep left. Hindsight is 20-20. It’s easy to beat yourself up but the bottom line is we could have done a better job with this team. The healing process begins when you start to take ownership. It's too easy to point your finger and say the 18-year-old went the wrong way or a 19-year-old dropped the ball. You get into coaching because you feel like you can make a difference. I always jump on the grenade and say we could have done more as coaches. I feel a deep sense of regret to the seniors, Chaz Hine, Jeremiah Warren, Jerrell Young, (Quenton) Washington that we weren't able to get it done, but I also can look at it and I can't say there's just one thing if we had done this we could have done a better job. It seemed every game there was a different breakdown. B.J. Daniels plays his tail off in the last game. He had missed 10 days of practice before he has to play. He was playing with a sore shoulder. He puts us in a position to win the game and unfortunately, we put the ball on the ground. It wasn't because he doesn't care. Then we get a 15-yard penalty that puts them into field-goal range. There's things we could have done, but it's not like some people won and some people lost. We lose as a team.
So what can you take away from this season?
SH: The thing that encourages me is we are that close. I know from a perception standpoint, you win or you lose, but when I look at the young men, the football team we have returning, the number of young players that gained experience, when I look at this football team I am excited about the future. It's certainly not like the wheel’s broke and we've got to re-invent the wheel here. I think we just have to stay the course. When you look at what we return, with every offensive skill player returning, with our quarterback, all your receivers, Sterling Griffin back healthy, Deonte Welch, Andre Davis and Ruben Gonzalez, Chris Dunkley is going to be eligible after he sat out. Victor Marc, Terrence Mitchell will be back, Darrell Scott, Demetris Murray, Marcus Shaw all our tight ends -- I'm encouraged. I feel like the momentum in our team meeting at the end is not one of despair like, 'What are we going to do now?’ It's one of, ‘We'll roll our sleeves up to get this done. Same for the defense with Sam Barrington, Mike Lanaris, DeDe Lattimore, Cory Grissom, Elkino Watson, Ryne Giddins, Julius Forte back and Kayvon Webster, JaQuez Jenkins, Jon Lejiste, a lot of guys who have played for us. I'm encouraged for the future even though the season didn't turn out the way we wanted to. I'm not discouraged, like the dam is broken.
Have you been through anything like this in your career, where you lost so many close games?
SH: Not like this. In my head coaching career, I think I lost four or five games by three points or less. It happened four times this year, so it puts it into perspective in how close we were. That's what made this year so frustrating.
How can this season be seen as anything but a step backward?
SH: It's hard to say you didn't make improvement. When you look at a year ago on offense, you're leading the league in rushing, ranked in the top 2 or 3 in offense, top 2 or 3 scoring offense, top 2 or 3 in passing offense. It's definitely hard from a football standpoint to say we didn’t make progress. Same thing from a defensive standpoint. We lost a lot of players that went to the NFL. We were hit hard by graduation, but we had a lot of guys step up. … When you look at it, the wins-losses, we went backward but if four plays turn out differently, we improve on last year's record. … When I look from the inside of the program, I feel good about the improvements we've made and where we're going as a program.
How much have you second guessed yourself in the wake of so many close losses this season?
SH: Every game you go back and say, ‘Golly, if we would have called this instead of that … if we had called deep-right kickoff instead of deep left. Hindsight is 20-20. It’s easy to beat yourself up but the bottom line is we could have done a better job with this team. The healing process begins when you start to take ownership. It's too easy to point your finger and say the 18-year-old went the wrong way or a 19-year-old dropped the ball. You get into coaching because you feel like you can make a difference. I always jump on the grenade and say we could have done more as coaches. I feel a deep sense of regret to the seniors, Chaz Hine, Jeremiah Warren, Jerrell Young, (Quenton) Washington that we weren't able to get it done, but I also can look at it and I can't say there's just one thing if we had done this we could have done a better job. It seemed every game there was a different breakdown. B.J. Daniels plays his tail off in the last game. He had missed 10 days of practice before he has to play. He was playing with a sore shoulder. He puts us in a position to win the game and unfortunately, we put the ball on the ground. It wasn't because he doesn't care. Then we get a 15-yard penalty that puts them into field-goal range. There's things we could have done, but it's not like some people won and some people lost. We lose as a team.
So what can you take away from this season?
SH: The thing that encourages me is we are that close. I know from a perception standpoint, you win or you lose, but when I look at the young men, the football team we have returning, the number of young players that gained experience, when I look at this football team I am excited about the future. It's certainly not like the wheel’s broke and we've got to re-invent the wheel here. I think we just have to stay the course. When you look at what we return, with every offensive skill player returning, with our quarterback, all your receivers, Sterling Griffin back healthy, Deonte Welch, Andre Davis and Ruben Gonzalez, Chris Dunkley is going to be eligible after he sat out. Victor Marc, Terrence Mitchell will be back, Darrell Scott, Demetris Murray, Marcus Shaw all our tight ends -- I'm encouraged. I feel like the momentum in our team meeting at the end is not one of despair like, 'What are we going to do now?’ It's one of, ‘We'll roll our sleeves up to get this done. Same for the defense with Sam Barrington, Mike Lanaris, DeDe Lattimore, Cory Grissom, Elkino Watson, Ryne Giddins, Julius Forte back and Kayvon Webster, JaQuez Jenkins, Jon Lejiste, a lot of guys who have played for us. I'm encouraged for the future even though the season didn't turn out the way we wanted to. I'm not discouraged, like the dam is broken.
Have you been through anything like this in your career, where you lost so many close games?
SH: Not like this. In my head coaching career, I think I lost four or five games by three points or less. It happened four times this year, so it puts it into perspective in how close we were. That's what made this year so frustrating.
How can this season be seen as anything but a step backward?
SH: It's hard to say you didn't make improvement. When you look at a year ago on offense, you're leading the league in rushing, ranked in the top 2 or 3 in offense, top 2 or 3 scoring offense, top 2 or 3 in passing offense. It's definitely hard from a football standpoint to say we didn’t make progress. Same thing from a defensive standpoint. We lost a lot of players that went to the NFL. We were hit hard by graduation, but we had a lot of guys step up. … When you look at it, the wins-losses, we went backward but if four plays turn out differently, we improve on last year's record. … When I look from the inside of the program, I feel good about the improvements we've made and where we're going as a program.
What we learned in the Big East: Week 7
October, 16, 2011
10/16/11
10:00
AM ET
By
Andrea Adelson | ESPN.com
What did we learn in the Big East in Week 7?
1. The offense went missing. West Virginia and its prolific offense took a seat on the couch this week, leaving the rest of the league in the spotlight. Most of us had to hide our eyes at what passed for offense Saturday. UConn, Louisville and Pitt failed to score offensive touchdowns. USF had one. The highest scoring team -- Cincinnati with 25 points. That would be 20 points below its season average. Only the Bearcats and Rutgers went over 20 points. It was the ugliest weekend of the season.
2. Pitt is in trouble. The Panthers have now scored 10 points of offense in the past two games combined, reaching rock bottom in a 26-14 loss to Utah in which they scored on a kickoff return and a blocked punt. Simply put: they have no quarterback. Tino Sunseri has had one good game out of the seven he has started. True freshman backup Trey Anderson has looked totally overwhelmed. Teams know they can key in on Ray Graham when there is no threat to pass. Pitt finished with 50 yards passing, and starting receivers Devin Street, Mike Shanahan and Cam Saddler combined for -- NO catches. What is supposed to be a "high-octane" offense is sputtering like a clunker that is running on molasses. If Pitt continues to play this poorly, its bowl prospects will be in serious jeopardy.
3. The USF Bulls teased. Again. This is a team that starts off hot, but then disappoints. With 16 days between games, you would have thought the Bulls would have played a bit better against UConn. Four turnovers -- including three from B.J. Daniels -- cost them big time in a 16-10 loss. So did nine penalties and an inability to convert on third down for the second straight week. After a 4-0 start that featured three wins against cupcakes, the Bulls are now 0-2 in conference. Their two losses are to teams that currently have losing records (Pitt, UConn are each 3-4).
4. Rutgers, Cincinnati nearly bowl eligible. Two teams nobody picked anywhere near the top of the conference are now one win away from becoming bowl eligible. Both were 4-8 last season; both sit at 5-1 headed into next week. Both hit the road next week: Rutgers is at Louisville; Cincinnati goes to USF.
5. Defensive fronts dominated. Well, maybe the offense was bad, but the defensive lines had nice showings Saturday. Cincinnati defensive tackle Derek Wolfe had a career-high 11 tackles and the Bearcats had four sacks. Rutgers had four sacks -- on a triple-option team. Pitt had seven sacks against Utah. USF tied a school record with seven sacks -- Ryne Giddins set a career high with two sacks and Sam Barrington set a career high with 1.5 sacks. Louisville had three. The only Big East team that did not have a sack this week was UConn -- the No. 2 team in the conference in that category headed into Week 7.
1. The offense went missing. West Virginia and its prolific offense took a seat on the couch this week, leaving the rest of the league in the spotlight. Most of us had to hide our eyes at what passed for offense Saturday. UConn, Louisville and Pitt failed to score offensive touchdowns. USF had one. The highest scoring team -- Cincinnati with 25 points. That would be 20 points below its season average. Only the Bearcats and Rutgers went over 20 points. It was the ugliest weekend of the season.
[+] Enlarge
Charles LeClaire/USPRESSWIREWith almost no passing game, Utah was able to key on Pitt running back Ray Graham.
Charles LeClaire/USPRESSWIREWith almost no passing game, Utah was able to key on Pitt running back Ray Graham.3. The USF Bulls teased. Again. This is a team that starts off hot, but then disappoints. With 16 days between games, you would have thought the Bulls would have played a bit better against UConn. Four turnovers -- including three from B.J. Daniels -- cost them big time in a 16-10 loss. So did nine penalties and an inability to convert on third down for the second straight week. After a 4-0 start that featured three wins against cupcakes, the Bulls are now 0-2 in conference. Their two losses are to teams that currently have losing records (Pitt, UConn are each 3-4).
4. Rutgers, Cincinnati nearly bowl eligible. Two teams nobody picked anywhere near the top of the conference are now one win away from becoming bowl eligible. Both were 4-8 last season; both sit at 5-1 headed into next week. Both hit the road next week: Rutgers is at Louisville; Cincinnati goes to USF.
5. Defensive fronts dominated. Well, maybe the offense was bad, but the defensive lines had nice showings Saturday. Cincinnati defensive tackle Derek Wolfe had a career-high 11 tackles and the Bearcats had four sacks. Rutgers had four sacks -- on a triple-option team. Pitt had seven sacks against Utah. USF tied a school record with seven sacks -- Ryne Giddins set a career high with two sacks and Sam Barrington set a career high with 1.5 sacks. Louisville had three. The only Big East team that did not have a sack this week was UConn -- the No. 2 team in the conference in that category headed into Week 7.
The Bulls could be the only undefeated team left in the conference after tonight, following a 52-24 win over UTEP.
No. 18 USF (4-0) has scored 50-plus points in consecutive games for the first time in school history, and dominated on the ground, racking up 373 yards on the ground and nearly setting a school record. B.J. Daniels had yet another terrific game -- scoring on a 71-yard touchdown run -- to help him lead the team with 130 yards rushing.
He added 202 yards passing and two touchdowns through the air as he continues to impress through the first four games of the season. There was not much to complain about on the offense. The defense gave fans some heart palpitations early in the game, and was within two touchdowns until the Bulls blew the game open in the fourth quarter.
USF did get three interceptions, including one returned 30 yards for a touchdown by Sam Barrington to close out the victory.
One injury note: USF receiver Terrence Mitchell was carted off the field after a head-t0-head collision on a UTEP fake punt attempt. The school says he has feeling in his extremities and was carted off as a precaution.
The Bulls now have five days to get ready for the Big East opener at Pitt on Thursday night.
No. 18 USF (4-0) has scored 50-plus points in consecutive games for the first time in school history, and dominated on the ground, racking up 373 yards on the ground and nearly setting a school record. B.J. Daniels had yet another terrific game -- scoring on a 71-yard touchdown run -- to help him lead the team with 130 yards rushing.
He added 202 yards passing and two touchdowns through the air as he continues to impress through the first four games of the season. There was not much to complain about on the offense. The defense gave fans some heart palpitations early in the game, and was within two touchdowns until the Bulls blew the game open in the fourth quarter.
USF did get three interceptions, including one returned 30 yards for a touchdown by Sam Barrington to close out the victory.
One injury note: USF receiver Terrence Mitchell was carted off the field after a head-t0-head collision on a UTEP fake punt attempt. The school says he has feeling in his extremities and was carted off as a precaution.
The Bulls now have five days to get ready for the Big East opener at Pitt on Thursday night.
Time for lots of flak to come my way over the Top 25 Big East player rankings. Thanks to everyone who submitted their comments and nominations.
This was not an easy assignment for me. In no way did "bias" enter into the picture. I never even tallied up the final player count by school until my post Monday. I tried my best to project the players I thought would be the best in the league at the end of the season, with some input from other players and coaches as well. Will I be wrong on some of them? There are always busts, and there are always surprise players. Who just missed the cut? My last five "cut" were:
Mike Ryan, OT, UConn
Sam Barrington, LB, USF
Scott Vallone, DT, Rutgers
Antwon Bailey, RB, Syracuse
Justin Pugh, OT, Syracuse
Now let's hear from you. USF fans were by far the most upset with the list because I had B.J. Daniels ranked, and nobody on defense. Let me reiterate an important point: this is projecting who I think will be in the Top 25 at the end of the season. Daniels might not be the best USF player now, but I think he will be when the season ends. USF fans dismissing that leads me to believe they do not have much faith in him running this team.
Eric C. in Pittsburgh: How could you possibly leave off Max Gruder? I would even consider him putting in the top 10. He's had 175 tackles in the last 2 years and he is the clear cut leader of the Pitt defense. He may not be the most athletic or talented player, but he is as essential to this Pitt defense as Brandon Lindsey is, and he is primed to have a big year. What were you thinking, Andrea!
AA:At last glance on the depth chart, Gruder and Tristan Roberts were locked in a battle to start.
Charlie in Louisville writes: Come on, Andrea. Where is Mario Benavides in the top 25?
AA: I have great respect for him. One of the best centers in the league. Just don't think he is a Top 25 player.
cory_hartman: It is understandable that Antwon Bailey is not on your preseason list, but he will be on your postseason list. Ryan Nassib and several of the offensive linemen have a shot too, as also do the Thomases at safety. But Ross Krautman is a better placekicker than Dave Teggart this year, just like he was last year. He should be No. 25 right now.
AA: Teggart was pretty clutch with the game on the line last season.
newarklax24: A placekicker in the top 25. That's the dumbest thing I've ever seen.
AA: Let me know how dumb it is when your team loses a game on a last-second kick.
uconnhuskies1995: The league's best OT Mike Ryan should have been on this list.
AA: I thought long and hard about him.
Calmteer: Biggest snub was DeDe Lattimore, USF linebacker. Everyone is talking about the USF defense and specifically their linebackers........so how do make a top 25 list and not include a USF linebacker??
AA: Was it DeDe Lattimore or Sam Barrington who got snubbed? Barrington is moving positions, last I saw. These guys are good, yes, but they did not make any watch lists and have a ways to go to live up to their potential.
LeavittyJim: AA, you're an idiot. I'm not even going to waste my time dignifying this with a response. The only reason I came to the blog was because I still follow on Twitter for some reason.
AA: Well, I guess you wasted your time.
tampbabe67: She has shown nothing but hate towards USF. She won't openly say it, but she lives in Orlando...pretty much sums up some of the things she says about USF. USF has one of the best collections of talent in the conference and we put ONE player on the list. She is an idiot.
AA: Yup, those stories on Ryne Giddins, Chaz Hine, Armando Sanchez, B.J. Daniels and Skip Holtz = pure hatred.
Any in Atlanta: Really disappointed by your lack of knowledge on the Big East. To have BJ Daniels listed as the top USF player and the only player in the top 25 shows you don't take your job seriously. I come the this blog everyday and wont be for much longer.
AA: Not to compare with others, but I think Athlon Sports had ... wait for it ... ZERO USF players in its Top 25. I guess they don't take their job seriously, either.
BearcatTuba: I see a lot of USF fans complaining about the number of players on this list. Remember, a good team is made of just that a team, and individual stars can only carry you so far in a sport like football. We (Cincy fans) thought the same thing when BB did his post season list in 2009. UC maybe had 3 guys in the top 25 and it seem odd since UC was a great team that year, and a lot of fans thought we got snubbed that year. But look at the team, besides (Tony) Pike, (Mardy) Gilyard, and (Armon) Binns (maybe) who on that team was a star? Take consolation that she has you ranked as a team at third and look at it like you have a great team that knows how to pull together in the game.
AA: Indeed.
wvrobo304: Keith Tandy should be top 5 and and Joe Madsen should be somewhere in the teens as well. Stedman Bailey made some big plays last year but I want to see a little more. I can understand him getting overlooked. I think that USF not getting much love from AA is kind of unrealistic. They're always underrated.
AA: We'll see what happens at the end of the season!
This was not an easy assignment for me. In no way did "bias" enter into the picture. I never even tallied up the final player count by school until my post Monday. I tried my best to project the players I thought would be the best in the league at the end of the season, with some input from other players and coaches as well. Will I be wrong on some of them? There are always busts, and there are always surprise players. Who just missed the cut? My last five "cut" were:
Mike Ryan, OT, UConn
Sam Barrington, LB, USF
Scott Vallone, DT, Rutgers
Antwon Bailey, RB, Syracuse
Justin Pugh, OT, Syracuse
Now let's hear from you. USF fans were by far the most upset with the list because I had B.J. Daniels ranked, and nobody on defense. Let me reiterate an important point: this is projecting who I think will be in the Top 25 at the end of the season. Daniels might not be the best USF player now, but I think he will be when the season ends. USF fans dismissing that leads me to believe they do not have much faith in him running this team.
Eric C. in Pittsburgh: How could you possibly leave off Max Gruder? I would even consider him putting in the top 10. He's had 175 tackles in the last 2 years and he is the clear cut leader of the Pitt defense. He may not be the most athletic or talented player, but he is as essential to this Pitt defense as Brandon Lindsey is, and he is primed to have a big year. What were you thinking, Andrea!
AA:At last glance on the depth chart, Gruder and Tristan Roberts were locked in a battle to start.
Charlie in Louisville writes: Come on, Andrea. Where is Mario Benavides in the top 25?
AA: I have great respect for him. One of the best centers in the league. Just don't think he is a Top 25 player.
cory_hartman: It is understandable that Antwon Bailey is not on your preseason list, but he will be on your postseason list. Ryan Nassib and several of the offensive linemen have a shot too, as also do the Thomases at safety. But Ross Krautman is a better placekicker than Dave Teggart this year, just like he was last year. He should be No. 25 right now.
AA: Teggart was pretty clutch with the game on the line last season.
newarklax24: A placekicker in the top 25. That's the dumbest thing I've ever seen.
AA: Let me know how dumb it is when your team loses a game on a last-second kick.
uconnhuskies1995: The league's best OT Mike Ryan should have been on this list.
AA: I thought long and hard about him.
Calmteer: Biggest snub was DeDe Lattimore, USF linebacker. Everyone is talking about the USF defense and specifically their linebackers........so how do make a top 25 list and not include a USF linebacker??
AA: Was it DeDe Lattimore or Sam Barrington who got snubbed? Barrington is moving positions, last I saw. These guys are good, yes, but they did not make any watch lists and have a ways to go to live up to their potential.
LeavittyJim: AA, you're an idiot. I'm not even going to waste my time dignifying this with a response. The only reason I came to the blog was because I still follow on Twitter for some reason.
AA: Well, I guess you wasted your time.
tampbabe67: She has shown nothing but hate towards USF. She won't openly say it, but she lives in Orlando...pretty much sums up some of the things she says about USF. USF has one of the best collections of talent in the conference and we put ONE player on the list. She is an idiot.
AA: Yup, those stories on Ryne Giddins, Chaz Hine, Armando Sanchez, B.J. Daniels and Skip Holtz = pure hatred.
Any in Atlanta: Really disappointed by your lack of knowledge on the Big East. To have BJ Daniels listed as the top USF player and the only player in the top 25 shows you don't take your job seriously. I come the this blog everyday and wont be for much longer.
AA: Not to compare with others, but I think Athlon Sports had ... wait for it ... ZERO USF players in its Top 25. I guess they don't take their job seriously, either.
BearcatTuba: I see a lot of USF fans complaining about the number of players on this list. Remember, a good team is made of just that a team, and individual stars can only carry you so far in a sport like football. We (Cincy fans) thought the same thing when BB did his post season list in 2009. UC maybe had 3 guys in the top 25 and it seem odd since UC was a great team that year, and a lot of fans thought we got snubbed that year. But look at the team, besides (Tony) Pike, (Mardy) Gilyard, and (Armon) Binns (maybe) who on that team was a star? Take consolation that she has you ranked as a team at third and look at it like you have a great team that knows how to pull together in the game.
AA: Indeed.
wvrobo304: Keith Tandy should be top 5 and and Joe Madsen should be somewhere in the teens as well. Stedman Bailey made some big plays last year but I want to see a little more. I can understand him getting overlooked. I think that USF not getting much love from AA is kind of unrealistic. They're always underrated.
AA: We'll see what happens at the end of the season!
Every Big East team has wrapped up fall camp. So where does USF stand headed into the season? Here are a few lingering questions:
1. Revamped linebackers. The Bulls made a switch among their linebackers, moving Sam Barrington from the middle to the strong side, and promoting Mike Lanaris to the starter in the middle. DeDe Lattimore will start on the weak side. That gives USF its most experienced trio of linebacker starters, something that should most certainly help a revamped defensive line. If everybody stays healthy, this linebacker group could be the best in the league.
2. Offensive line. One of the biggest questions on offense has been getting three new starters on the offensive line ready to go. The Bulls did shift right guard Chaz Hine to center, making way for Danous Estenor to take over at right guard. Jeremiah Warren remains at left guard, with Quinterrius Eatmon and Mark Popek at the tackle spots. The backup offensive line has taken shape as well. The big test, of course, is opening on the road against Notre Dame. We will see how this unit handles the pressure.
3. Receivers. There is plenty of talent at receiver, but who is going to do what where? It seems as if the possibilities are endless with the crew the Bulls have coming back. Offensive coordinator Todd Fitch said Lindsey Lamar, Victor Marc and Joel Miller all have a chance to play slotback and tailback. Terrence Mitchell is going to be used more at receiver. Sterling Griffin has had a nice camp as he recovered from ankle surgery. True freshmen Andre Davis and Ruben Gonzalez also should play, giving USF plenty of options.
1. Revamped linebackers. The Bulls made a switch among their linebackers, moving Sam Barrington from the middle to the strong side, and promoting Mike Lanaris to the starter in the middle. DeDe Lattimore will start on the weak side. That gives USF its most experienced trio of linebacker starters, something that should most certainly help a revamped defensive line. If everybody stays healthy, this linebacker group could be the best in the league.
2. Offensive line. One of the biggest questions on offense has been getting three new starters on the offensive line ready to go. The Bulls did shift right guard Chaz Hine to center, making way for Danous Estenor to take over at right guard. Jeremiah Warren remains at left guard, with Quinterrius Eatmon and Mark Popek at the tackle spots. The backup offensive line has taken shape as well. The big test, of course, is opening on the road against Notre Dame. We will see how this unit handles the pressure.
3. Receivers. There is plenty of talent at receiver, but who is going to do what where? It seems as if the possibilities are endless with the crew the Bulls have coming back. Offensive coordinator Todd Fitch said Lindsey Lamar, Victor Marc and Joel Miller all have a chance to play slotback and tailback. Terrence Mitchell is going to be used more at receiver. Sterling Griffin has had a nice camp as he recovered from ankle surgery. True freshmen Andre Davis and Ruben Gonzalez also should play, giving USF plenty of options.
Serving up your links for today ...
- Cincinnati season-ticket sales are down 22 percent. Receiver Chris Moore is out four to six weeks with a shoulder injury.
- Connecticut is ready to break camp, but Paul Pasqualoni won't name a starting quarterback until game day. There is one clue about who won't start -- Michael Box said he has been practicing with the scout team. The Huskies got another commitment.
- Louisville quarterbacks coach Shawn Watson addresses the competition between Teddy Bridgewater and Will Stein.
- Things are not a snap for Pitt center Ryan Turnley. Myles Caragein is in line to lead the Panthers.
- Rutgers coach Greg Schiano is excited about his team after breaking camp Thursday. Paul Carrezola has made a big impact at tight end. The new trio of linebackers adds lots of speed. Wayne Warren is a serious drummer.
- Which Syracuse freshmen will play this season?
- Does USF have sleeper potential? Sam Barrington will start at strongside linebacker. There is still some competition for kicking jobs.
- Shaq Rowell took the long road to West Virginia. Dana Holgorsen's offense is simpler than it sounds. Confident Tyler Bitancurt is back kicking. A worry list for West Virginia fans.
We move on to linebacker rankings in the Big East. Will these cause as much outrage over the defensive line rankings? Let me also add that I am surprised only Max Gruder was named to the Butkus Award watch list. Plenty of other good candidates in the league, though there are questions on nearly every team because some good linebackers are gone.
1. Sio Moore, Connecticut. With Lawrence Wilson gone, expect Moore to emerge as the leader of the linebacker group. He already had a great season in 2010, finishing second on the team with 110 tackles. He also had 11.5 tackles for loss and should be one of the best in the league.
2. J.K. Schaffer, Cincinnati. Schaffer was a second-team All Big East selection last season after finishing second in the league in tackles with 111. In fact, he has posted back-to-back 100 tackle seasons. He was one of the bright spots on the Bearcats defense and should be even better in 2011.
3.Max Gruder, Pitt. The only player from the Big East under consideration for the Butkus Award, Gruder has 175 combined tackles over the past two years. Pitt is moving to a 3-4 and he will be on the weakside this season. The Panthers need a good season out of him.
4. Najee Goode, West Virginia. The Mountaineers lost many of their best players at linebacker, but at least Goode returns to anchor the unit. As a senior and most experienced player, he is in line to have a breakout season and be a leader of this group.
5. Sam Barrington, USF. Barrington had his best season yet in 2010. He finished right behind DeDe Lattimore in tackles on the team with 65.
6. DeDe Lattimore, USF. The Lattimore-Barrington duo put USF atop the team linebacker rankings, so here they are in back-to-back positions here in the player rankings. Lattimore finished second on the team in tackles in a season that got him Freshman All-America honors in one publication.
7. Marquis Spruill, Syracuse. Spruill had a breakout freshman season last year, with 51 tackles, two tackles and seven tackles for loss in 13 starters. Just a true sophomore, he will be the veteran of the starting unit because of heavy losses the Orange took at this position.
8. Dexter Heyman, Louisville. Heyman was transformed when Charlie Strong took over as head coach. He moved to linebacker and had the best season of his career. He should be even better this year, especially when you consider he is one of the hardest workers on the team.
9. Steve Beauharnais, Rutgers. Beauharnais is the top returning tackler for the Scarlet Knights after finishing third on the team last season. But he has been moved from the middle to the strong side, where he will be able to contribute in the pass rush.
10. Khaseem Greene, Rutgers. Greene has moved from free safety to linebacker, and he should help shore up the entire linebacker group. But the big question is how well he does in the transition.
Previous rankings:
1. Sio Moore, Connecticut. With Lawrence Wilson gone, expect Moore to emerge as the leader of the linebacker group. He already had a great season in 2010, finishing second on the team with 110 tackles. He also had 11.5 tackles for loss and should be one of the best in the league.
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David Butler II/US PresswireCincinnati's J.K. Schaffer is among the top returning linebackers in the Big East.
David Butler II/US PresswireCincinnati's J.K. Schaffer is among the top returning linebackers in the Big East.3.Max Gruder, Pitt. The only player from the Big East under consideration for the Butkus Award, Gruder has 175 combined tackles over the past two years. Pitt is moving to a 3-4 and he will be on the weakside this season. The Panthers need a good season out of him.
4. Najee Goode, West Virginia. The Mountaineers lost many of their best players at linebacker, but at least Goode returns to anchor the unit. As a senior and most experienced player, he is in line to have a breakout season and be a leader of this group.
5. Sam Barrington, USF. Barrington had his best season yet in 2010. He finished right behind DeDe Lattimore in tackles on the team with 65.
6. DeDe Lattimore, USF. The Lattimore-Barrington duo put USF atop the team linebacker rankings, so here they are in back-to-back positions here in the player rankings. Lattimore finished second on the team in tackles in a season that got him Freshman All-America honors in one publication.
7. Marquis Spruill, Syracuse. Spruill had a breakout freshman season last year, with 51 tackles, two tackles and seven tackles for loss in 13 starters. Just a true sophomore, he will be the veteran of the starting unit because of heavy losses the Orange took at this position.
8. Dexter Heyman, Louisville. Heyman was transformed when Charlie Strong took over as head coach. He moved to linebacker and had the best season of his career. He should be even better this year, especially when you consider he is one of the hardest workers on the team.
9. Steve Beauharnais, Rutgers. Beauharnais is the top returning tackler for the Scarlet Knights after finishing third on the team last season. But he has been moved from the middle to the strong side, where he will be able to contribute in the pass rush.
10. Khaseem Greene, Rutgers. Greene has moved from free safety to linebacker, and he should help shore up the entire linebacker group. But the big question is how well he does in the transition.
Previous rankings:
Big East position rankings: Linebackers
July, 6, 2011
7/06/11
4:30
PM ET
By
Andrea Adelson | ESPN.com
We continue our team position rankings with the linebackers. This position was one of the hardest hit in the league with the number of quality players who are gone. You could probably interchange teams 2-7 in the rankings, depending on your point of view. So who is going to step up? Let's peer into the crystal ball.
1. South Florida. Sam Barrington and DeDe Lattimore form the best linebacking duo in the league, helping put the Bulls into the top spot. By no means have they fully arrived -- plenty of room for improvement here. What also helps with the ranking is depth. Reshard Cliett had a nice spring, after coming into USF as a safety. Junior college transfer Mike Juene was in for spring and also has raised expectations. Mike Lanaris and Curtis Weatherspoon should be important contributors as well.
2. Connecticut. The strength of the team is on defense, but if there is one group on this unit that has the biggest questions it is linebacker. There is no disputing Sio Moore is one of the best in the league. But the Huskies lost four-year starters Lawrence Wilson and Scott Lutrus. Jory Johnson, Jerome Williams, Mike Osiecki and Yawin Smallwood are all in the mix, but there is no question this group is much more inexperienced than a year ago. Still, Moore makes this a top-tier group.
3. Louisville. The Cardinals lose Brandon Heath and a few other players who brought valuable experience. But Daniel Brown and Dexter Heyman are experienced starters who will anchor this unit. The Cardinals took a hit when Brandon Golson reportedly decided to transfer, so they are going to need to work on some depth.
4. Rutgers. Some players moved around during the spring -- Manny Abreu moved from strongside linebacker to defensive end, and Khaseem Greene moved from safety to weakside linebacker. These moves should make the defense better. Steve Beauharnais switched back to the strong side from the middle, a move that should benefit him. Ka'Lial Glaud is now penciled in to start in the middle. Marvin Booker had a good spring as well. Depth is an issue and true freshman Quentin Gause and Kevin Snyder could play. But this group should be better.
5. West Virginia. Najee Goode is a proven big-time player, but there were some huge losses for this unit. Anthony Leonard, JT Thomas and Pat Lazear are all gone. Junior college transfer Josh Francis and Casey Vance are competing on the weakside and Doug Rigg, Tyler Anderson and Donovan Miles on the strong side. Francis would add athleticism to the group, but first he has to win the starting job.
6. Pittsburgh. The Panthers are transitioning to a 3-4 and experimented plenty during the spring with various combinations. They have experience, with the top seven linebackers on the team returning. Plus Brandon Lindsey is going to play more of a hybrid defensive end/linebacker role. But this was one of the worst units on the team last season. Max Gruder and Greg Williams have to be better for this unit to be ranked higher.
7. Syracuse. The Orange lose not only two of their best players, but two of their biggest leaders in Doug Hogue and Derrell Smith. Smith led the team in tackles, and Hogue was right behind him, making linebacker one of the biggest question marks on this team heading into the season. Two other contributors, Malcolm Cater and Brice Hawkes, were kicked off the team. That leaves sophmore Marquis Spruill as the only player with significant playing time among the linebackers, and he moved to a new position in the middle. Early enrollee Dyshawn Davis, a receiver in high school, is penciled in to start so that should tell you where this group is headed into the fall.
8. Cincinnati. JK Schaffer is one of the best in the Big East, but depth here is a concern. Walter Stewart has moved to defensive end, leaving a hole at one of the linebacker spots. True freshmen Nick Temple and Dwight Jackson were in for spring practice are expected to compete for starting jobs. This unit was not very good last year and undersized, making it the group with the most to prove in 2011.
Previous rankings
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Kim Klement/US PresswireSouth Florida linebacker Sam Barrington, 36, leads the Big East's best group of linebackers.
Kim Klement/US PresswireSouth Florida linebacker Sam Barrington, 36, leads the Big East's best group of linebackers.2. Connecticut. The strength of the team is on defense, but if there is one group on this unit that has the biggest questions it is linebacker. There is no disputing Sio Moore is one of the best in the league. But the Huskies lost four-year starters Lawrence Wilson and Scott Lutrus. Jory Johnson, Jerome Williams, Mike Osiecki and Yawin Smallwood are all in the mix, but there is no question this group is much more inexperienced than a year ago. Still, Moore makes this a top-tier group.
3. Louisville. The Cardinals lose Brandon Heath and a few other players who brought valuable experience. But Daniel Brown and Dexter Heyman are experienced starters who will anchor this unit. The Cardinals took a hit when Brandon Golson reportedly decided to transfer, so they are going to need to work on some depth.
4. Rutgers. Some players moved around during the spring -- Manny Abreu moved from strongside linebacker to defensive end, and Khaseem Greene moved from safety to weakside linebacker. These moves should make the defense better. Steve Beauharnais switched back to the strong side from the middle, a move that should benefit him. Ka'Lial Glaud is now penciled in to start in the middle. Marvin Booker had a good spring as well. Depth is an issue and true freshman Quentin Gause and Kevin Snyder could play. But this group should be better.
5. West Virginia. Najee Goode is a proven big-time player, but there were some huge losses for this unit. Anthony Leonard, JT Thomas and Pat Lazear are all gone. Junior college transfer Josh Francis and Casey Vance are competing on the weakside and Doug Rigg, Tyler Anderson and Donovan Miles on the strong side. Francis would add athleticism to the group, but first he has to win the starting job.
6. Pittsburgh. The Panthers are transitioning to a 3-4 and experimented plenty during the spring with various combinations. They have experience, with the top seven linebackers on the team returning. Plus Brandon Lindsey is going to play more of a hybrid defensive end/linebacker role. But this was one of the worst units on the team last season. Max Gruder and Greg Williams have to be better for this unit to be ranked higher.
7. Syracuse. The Orange lose not only two of their best players, but two of their biggest leaders in Doug Hogue and Derrell Smith. Smith led the team in tackles, and Hogue was right behind him, making linebacker one of the biggest question marks on this team heading into the season. Two other contributors, Malcolm Cater and Brice Hawkes, were kicked off the team. That leaves sophmore Marquis Spruill as the only player with significant playing time among the linebackers, and he moved to a new position in the middle. Early enrollee Dyshawn Davis, a receiver in high school, is penciled in to start so that should tell you where this group is headed into the fall.
8. Cincinnati. JK Schaffer is one of the best in the Big East, but depth here is a concern. Walter Stewart has moved to defensive end, leaving a hole at one of the linebacker spots. True freshmen Nick Temple and Dwight Jackson were in for spring practice are expected to compete for starting jobs. This unit was not very good last year and undersized, making it the group with the most to prove in 2011.
Previous rankings
We continue our look at Big East title chances for each team in the league. Up next: USF. There are plenty of reasons to believe the Bulls could win the league this year. Skip Holtz has a history of doing well in Year 2, B.J. Daniels has the potential to have a breakout season, the defense returns Sam Barrington and DeDe Lattimore and they get West Virginia at home to close the season.
Why USF will win the league title
1. B.J. Daniels takes charge. Holtz expects much out of Daniels this season after seeing improvement at the end of the year. Daniels was bowl MVP against Clemson, going 20-of-27 for 189 yards with two touchdowns and one interception and ran for another. Holtz saw a continuing progression into spring football and believes the time is now for a breakout season. "B.J. is not only starting to pick up the offense, this was his first year going through spring practice in the same offense he ran the fall before," Holtz said. "Watching him take the next step in growing through that, I use the analogy all the time: He’s taken French I, Latin and Spanish I and now he’s going into Spanish II. To see the steps he’s taken has been exciting."
2. Better running back production. USF has not had a 1,000-yard rusher since 2005, but hopes are high for that to change this season with the addition of Colorado transfer Darrell Scott. Dontae Aycock also is eligible after transferring in from Auburn, and you also have second-leading rusher Demetris Murray returning. Marcus Shaw is back, too. This position has depth and could be one of strength.
3. Solid D. USF returns six starters on defense and should be stronger at each position. Big things are projected for defensive end Ryne Giddins. Lattimore and Barrington anchor the linebacker group after combining for 134 tackles last season, and Mike Jeune and Reshard Cliett provide excellent depth. The secondary returns three of four starters, including Jon Lejiste. This unit could be the best in the league.
Why USF won't win the league title
1. Daniels regresses. What if Daniels takes a step back and does not continue to improve the way he should? Then USF will be in big trouble. What the Bulls need most out of him is consistency, and he has yet to show that during a full season. A.J. Love and Sterling Griffin are back from injuries, so that should help, but the pressure to get the passing game going and efficient rests on Daniels, who ended last season with 13 interceptions to 11 touchdowns and a completion percentage of 58.
2. Inexperience. Yes, the Bulls only lose 15 letter winners, but a majority of those were starters. Only 11 starters return, and USF loses big-time contributors in leading tackler Jacquain Williams, leading rusher Moise Plancher, leading receiver Dontavia Bogan, Terrell McClain, Mistral Raymond, Sampson Genus and Jacob Sims. The offensive line only has two starters returning and is going to rely on a redshirt freshman at one of the tackle positions.
3. Schedule. USF has had a history of losing games late in the season and has to turn that trend around in order to have a shot at winning its first conference title. The last time the Bulls posted a winning record in their final four games was 2007. The Bulls do close the season with three home games, so that is a positive. But on the other hand, they only get three conference games at home. Its first conference game is at Pittsburgh, quite an early season test.
Previously featured:
Why USF will win the league title
1. B.J. Daniels takes charge. Holtz expects much out of Daniels this season after seeing improvement at the end of the year. Daniels was bowl MVP against Clemson, going 20-of-27 for 189 yards with two touchdowns and one interception and ran for another. Holtz saw a continuing progression into spring football and believes the time is now for a breakout season. "B.J. is not only starting to pick up the offense, this was his first year going through spring practice in the same offense he ran the fall before," Holtz said. "Watching him take the next step in growing through that, I use the analogy all the time: He’s taken French I, Latin and Spanish I and now he’s going into Spanish II. To see the steps he’s taken has been exciting."
2. Better running back production. USF has not had a 1,000-yard rusher since 2005, but hopes are high for that to change this season with the addition of Colorado transfer Darrell Scott. Dontae Aycock also is eligible after transferring in from Auburn, and you also have second-leading rusher Demetris Murray returning. Marcus Shaw is back, too. This position has depth and could be one of strength.
3. Solid D. USF returns six starters on defense and should be stronger at each position. Big things are projected for defensive end Ryne Giddins. Lattimore and Barrington anchor the linebacker group after combining for 134 tackles last season, and Mike Jeune and Reshard Cliett provide excellent depth. The secondary returns three of four starters, including Jon Lejiste. This unit could be the best in the league.
Why USF won't win the league title
1. Daniels regresses. What if Daniels takes a step back and does not continue to improve the way he should? Then USF will be in big trouble. What the Bulls need most out of him is consistency, and he has yet to show that during a full season. A.J. Love and Sterling Griffin are back from injuries, so that should help, but the pressure to get the passing game going and efficient rests on Daniels, who ended last season with 13 interceptions to 11 touchdowns and a completion percentage of 58.
2. Inexperience. Yes, the Bulls only lose 15 letter winners, but a majority of those were starters. Only 11 starters return, and USF loses big-time contributors in leading tackler Jacquain Williams, leading rusher Moise Plancher, leading receiver Dontavia Bogan, Terrell McClain, Mistral Raymond, Sampson Genus and Jacob Sims. The offensive line only has two starters returning and is going to rely on a redshirt freshman at one of the tackle positions.
3. Schedule. USF has had a history of losing games late in the season and has to turn that trend around in order to have a shot at winning its first conference title. The last time the Bulls posted a winning record in their final four games was 2007. The Bulls do close the season with three home games, so that is a positive. But on the other hand, they only get three conference games at home. Its first conference game is at Pittsburgh, quite an early season test.
Previously featured:
I got the following question in my chat on Wednesday and wanted to answer it but knew I needed more time to think about it than the rapid fire nature of those chats allows:
As Barney Stinson would say, challenge accepted. Now that I've had a day to assemble my thoughts, it's time to assemble my team. As John's rules indicated, I can choose an entire position group from each Big East team, and I want to make sure my squad is as cohesive as possible. Here's how I would shape my Big East super team:
Quarterback: West Virginia
I want Geno Smith running my team, plain and simple. I realize there isn't much experienced depth behind him. But how many Big East teams have experienced backup QBs? Hardly any.
Running back: Louisville
This is going to be a controversial pick, but hear me out. I would be using a spread offense, so I would want a couple of quick backs. I also want two proven guys here. While I'd love to have Ray Graham or Isaiah Pead, they don't have much behind them right now. West Virginia has a stable of backs, but none have stood out. USF has potential but no home-run hitters. Rutgers could be a good choice if Savon Huggins is as good as advertised, but who knows? So I'm rolling with the Cardinals' tandem of Jeremy Wright and Victor Anderson, both of whom I like to have good years if healthy.
Wide receivers: Rutgers
I've long been obsessed with tall receivers, probably far more so than I should. So that's why I'm going with the Scarlet Knights, who bring me Mark Harrison (6-foot-3), Mohamed Sanu (6-2), Tim Wright (6-4) and Brandon Coleman (6-6), plus tight end D.C. Jefferson (6-6), whom I'd find a way to use in my spread. Your 5-foot-9 cornerbacks should be afraid, very afraid.
Offensive line: Connecticut
The Huskies might not have exactly the right kind of offensive line for my offensive scheme, but they've been so good for so long that this is almost a no-brainer. And I'm hoping UConn offensive line coach Mike Foley comes along in the deal.
Defensive line: Pittsburgh
This is the toughest call on the board, as I believe defensive line is the strongest position in the Big East for 2011. I could have chosen South Florida, which has been producing solid and deep D-lines for years now. But there are no stars -- yet -- on that Bulls line. It was also tough to overlook UConn, which is deep and talented with guys like Jesse Joseph and Kendall Reyes, as well as West Virginia (Bruce Irvin, Julian Miller) and Syracuse (Chandler Jones, Mikhail Marinovich). In the end, I choose Pitt because of the overall depth of this unit. I'm playing a 4-3 on defense, so I'd line up Brandon Lindsey at defensive end, with Myles Caragein and Chas Alecxih at tackles. Then I'd still have Aaron Donald, Bryan Murphy, Tyrone Ezell, Khaynin Mosley-Smith and others to work with. We're coming after your quarterback.
Linebacker: South Florida
I want a fast, athletic defense with linebackers who can really run. And I like the way the Bulls fit my plan here. Returning starters Sam Barrington and DeDe Lattimore can make plays all over the place, and guys like Reshard Cliett and Mike Jeune will get after you.
Cornerbacks: Connecticut
Blidi Wreh-Wilson is one of the best cornerbacks in the league, and Dwayne Gratz isn't too shabby, either. Both have lots of experience in this league as well. Plus, just about every backup who saw time last season returns in 2011. I know I can count on these guys when I call for the blitz.
Safeties: Syracuse
I'll take the Thomas boys, Phillip and Shamarko. (And I'll have more on Phillip Thomas in an upcoming blog post). These guys have been playing next to each other for two years, are both good tacklers and in my mind are the best safety tandem in the league.
Specialists: Connecticut
My team is going to be so good that we're not going to need to kick many long field goals, but I'll take Dave Teggart's rocket-launcher of a leg just in case. And if Nick Williams can maintain his ridiculous 35-yard kick return average from last year, my offense is going to have great field position most of the time.
So there's my super team. I'm already booking some hotel rooms for the Orange Bowl for these guys. What do you think?
John (Tampa, FL): If you could create an ultimate Big East team for next season taking a group from the schools (USF - DL, WVU - DB, UCONN - OL, etc.) what would your team look like?
As Barney Stinson would say, challenge accepted. Now that I've had a day to assemble my thoughts, it's time to assemble my team. As John's rules indicated, I can choose an entire position group from each Big East team, and I want to make sure my squad is as cohesive as possible. Here's how I would shape my Big East super team:
Quarterback: West Virginia
[+] Enlarge
AP Photo Michael SwitzerI'd make Geno Smith the QB of my Big East super team.
AP Photo Michael SwitzerI'd make Geno Smith the QB of my Big East super team.Running back: Louisville
This is going to be a controversial pick, but hear me out. I would be using a spread offense, so I would want a couple of quick backs. I also want two proven guys here. While I'd love to have Ray Graham or Isaiah Pead, they don't have much behind them right now. West Virginia has a stable of backs, but none have stood out. USF has potential but no home-run hitters. Rutgers could be a good choice if Savon Huggins is as good as advertised, but who knows? So I'm rolling with the Cardinals' tandem of Jeremy Wright and Victor Anderson, both of whom I like to have good years if healthy.
Wide receivers: Rutgers
I've long been obsessed with tall receivers, probably far more so than I should. So that's why I'm going with the Scarlet Knights, who bring me Mark Harrison (6-foot-3), Mohamed Sanu (6-2), Tim Wright (6-4) and Brandon Coleman (6-6), plus tight end D.C. Jefferson (6-6), whom I'd find a way to use in my spread. Your 5-foot-9 cornerbacks should be afraid, very afraid.
Offensive line: Connecticut
The Huskies might not have exactly the right kind of offensive line for my offensive scheme, but they've been so good for so long that this is almost a no-brainer. And I'm hoping UConn offensive line coach Mike Foley comes along in the deal.
Defensive line: Pittsburgh
This is the toughest call on the board, as I believe defensive line is the strongest position in the Big East for 2011. I could have chosen South Florida, which has been producing solid and deep D-lines for years now. But there are no stars -- yet -- on that Bulls line. It was also tough to overlook UConn, which is deep and talented with guys like Jesse Joseph and Kendall Reyes, as well as West Virginia (Bruce Irvin, Julian Miller) and Syracuse (Chandler Jones, Mikhail Marinovich). In the end, I choose Pitt because of the overall depth of this unit. I'm playing a 4-3 on defense, so I'd line up Brandon Lindsey at defensive end, with Myles Caragein and Chas Alecxih at tackles. Then I'd still have Aaron Donald, Bryan Murphy, Tyrone Ezell, Khaynin Mosley-Smith and others to work with. We're coming after your quarterback.
Linebacker: South Florida
I want a fast, athletic defense with linebackers who can really run. And I like the way the Bulls fit my plan here. Returning starters Sam Barrington and DeDe Lattimore can make plays all over the place, and guys like Reshard Cliett and Mike Jeune will get after you.
Cornerbacks: Connecticut
Blidi Wreh-Wilson is one of the best cornerbacks in the league, and Dwayne Gratz isn't too shabby, either. Both have lots of experience in this league as well. Plus, just about every backup who saw time last season returns in 2011. I know I can count on these guys when I call for the blitz.
Safeties: Syracuse
I'll take the Thomas boys, Phillip and Shamarko. (And I'll have more on Phillip Thomas in an upcoming blog post). These guys have been playing next to each other for two years, are both good tacklers and in my mind are the best safety tandem in the league.
Specialists: Connecticut
My team is going to be so good that we're not going to need to kick many long field goals, but I'll take Dave Teggart's rocket-launcher of a leg just in case. And if Nick Williams can maintain his ridiculous 35-yard kick return average from last year, my offense is going to have great field position most of the time.
So there's my super team. I'm already booking some hotel rooms for the Orange Bowl for these guys. What do you think?
Poll: Big East's defensive player of the year
May, 12, 2011
5/12/11
3:00
PM ET
By
Brian Bennett | ESPN.com
We're continuing to seek out your opinion on some of the pressing questions in the Big East for 2011.
Vote here in our poll and we'll tally up the results and react to them at a later time. Up next: Who will be the 2011 Big East Defensive Player of the Year?
I gave odds on some top candidates earlier this spring, and here's a list of my top five nominees:
So those are the nominees. Now it's time to let your voice be heard.
Vote here in our poll and we'll tally up the results and react to them at a later time. Up next: Who will be the 2011 Big East Defensive Player of the Year?
- Brandon Lindsey, LB, Pittsburgh: Led the league in tackles for loss and finished second in sacks in 2010. Will get a chance to make all kinds of plays from new hybrid "panther" linebacker position.
- Bruce Irvin, DE, West Virginia: Finished second nationally in sacks last year with 14 and will have an every-down role this year as he looks to terrorize quarterbacks.
- Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse: Had a solid sophomore campaign and could be poised to take a huge leap forward in 2011.
- Sio Moore, LB, Connecticut: Collected over 100 tackles in his first full season of starting last year and should continue UConn's strong linebacker tradition.
- Sam Barrington, LB, South Florida: A skilled, heady player who'll be asked to lead a deep and talented -- if somewhat anonymous -- Bulls defense.
So those are the nominees. Now it's time to let your voice be heard.
2010 overall record: 8-5
2010 conference record: 3-4, tied for fifth in Big East
Returning starters:
Offense: 4. Defense: 6. Punter/kicker: 2.
Top returners:
QB B.J. Daniels, RB Demetris Murray, LB Sam Barrington, LB DeDe Lattimore, WR A.J. Love, S Jon Lejiste
Key losses:
C Sampson Genus, DT Terrell McClain, RB Mo Plancher, WR Dontavia Bogan, LB Jacquian Williams, CB Mistral Raymond
2010 statistical leaders (* returners)
Rushing: Mo Plancher (793 yards)
Passing: B.J. Daniels* (1,685 yards)
Receiving: Dontavia Bogan (685 yards)
Tackles: Jacquian Williams (71)
Sacks: Jon Lejiste* and Craig Marshall (4)
Interceptions: Jerrell Young* (3)
Spring answers
1. Quarterback security: At this time last spring, South Florida had B.J. Daniels and no other quarterbacks who had taken a college snap. Head coach Skip Holtz said he would make it an open competition this spring between Daniels and former walk-on Bobby Eveld, but Daniels mostly carried over his solid play from the Meineke Car Care Bowl to hold onto the starting spot. And now the Bulls know they can rely on Eveld, and freshman Matt Floyd showed some good things this spring. Holtz goes into his second year in Tampa feeling much better about his quarterback position.
2. Ground gains: USF was really a run-first offense last year and should be even better running the ball in 2011. Demetris Murray was a co-starter last year and kept his grip on the No. 1 tailback job after a solid spring. Colorado transfer Darrell Scott had a nagging hamstring injury but flashed the talent that once made him the nation's most sought-after tailback recruit. Add in Auburn transfer Dontae Aycock and Marcus Shaw, and the Bulls have depth and versatility in the backfield.
3. Solid back seven: South Florida has churned out pro prospects at linebacker and defensive back of late, and that again looks to be an area of strength this season. The Bulls bring back all four of their top safeties, led by veterans Jon Lejiste and Jerrell Young, plus experienced corners in Kayvon Webster and Quenton Washington. Starters Sam Barrington and DeDe Lattimore return at linebacker, and there's good depth with Mike Lanaris, Curtis Weatherspoon and the spring emergence of Reshard Cliett and Mike Jeune.
Fall questions
1. Catch me if you can: Daniels' passing numbers looked bad at times in the spring, and Holtz often blamed the receivers. The Bulls weren't very good in the passing game last year and lost leading receiver Dontavia Bogan to graduation. A.J. Love and Sterling Griffin struggled to get all the way back from last year's injuries. Sophomore Terrence Mitchell looked like a promising playmaker on occasion, but overall the group needs to get a whole lot better this summer.
2. Offensive line concerns: South Florida has to replace All-Big East center Sampson Genus and both starting tackles from last season. Some veterans are still around, like Mark Popek, Jeremiah Warren and Chaz Hine, and redshirt freshman Quinterrius Eatmon locked up the right tackle job with a good spring. Still, this group needs to jell this summer and find some more depth behind the starters.
3. Defensive tackle depth: The coaching staff feels good about the defensive ends, but there are still some questions on the interior after losing third-round NFL pick Terrell McClain. Cory Grissom and Keith McCaskill are veterans at the inside positions and should be fine at starter; the Bulls would like more depth behind them. They would love to see a young player like Todd Chandler or even incoming freshman Elkino Watson step up during fall camp to solidify the rotation there.
2010 conference record: 3-4, tied for fifth in Big East
Returning starters:
Offense: 4. Defense: 6. Punter/kicker: 2.
Top returners:
QB B.J. Daniels, RB Demetris Murray, LB Sam Barrington, LB DeDe Lattimore, WR A.J. Love, S Jon Lejiste
Key losses:
C Sampson Genus, DT Terrell McClain, RB Mo Plancher, WR Dontavia Bogan, LB Jacquian Williams, CB Mistral Raymond
2010 statistical leaders (* returners)
Rushing: Mo Plancher (793 yards)
Passing: B.J. Daniels* (1,685 yards)
Receiving: Dontavia Bogan (685 yards)
Tackles: Jacquian Williams (71)
Sacks: Jon Lejiste* and Craig Marshall (4)
Interceptions: Jerrell Young* (3)
Spring answers
1. Quarterback security: At this time last spring, South Florida had B.J. Daniels and no other quarterbacks who had taken a college snap. Head coach Skip Holtz said he would make it an open competition this spring between Daniels and former walk-on Bobby Eveld, but Daniels mostly carried over his solid play from the Meineke Car Care Bowl to hold onto the starting spot. And now the Bulls know they can rely on Eveld, and freshman Matt Floyd showed some good things this spring. Holtz goes into his second year in Tampa feeling much better about his quarterback position.
2. Ground gains: USF was really a run-first offense last year and should be even better running the ball in 2011. Demetris Murray was a co-starter last year and kept his grip on the No. 1 tailback job after a solid spring. Colorado transfer Darrell Scott had a nagging hamstring injury but flashed the talent that once made him the nation's most sought-after tailback recruit. Add in Auburn transfer Dontae Aycock and Marcus Shaw, and the Bulls have depth and versatility in the backfield.
3. Solid back seven: South Florida has churned out pro prospects at linebacker and defensive back of late, and that again looks to be an area of strength this season. The Bulls bring back all four of their top safeties, led by veterans Jon Lejiste and Jerrell Young, plus experienced corners in Kayvon Webster and Quenton Washington. Starters Sam Barrington and DeDe Lattimore return at linebacker, and there's good depth with Mike Lanaris, Curtis Weatherspoon and the spring emergence of Reshard Cliett and Mike Jeune.
Fall questions
1. Catch me if you can: Daniels' passing numbers looked bad at times in the spring, and Holtz often blamed the receivers. The Bulls weren't very good in the passing game last year and lost leading receiver Dontavia Bogan to graduation. A.J. Love and Sterling Griffin struggled to get all the way back from last year's injuries. Sophomore Terrence Mitchell looked like a promising playmaker on occasion, but overall the group needs to get a whole lot better this summer.
2. Offensive line concerns: South Florida has to replace All-Big East center Sampson Genus and both starting tackles from last season. Some veterans are still around, like Mark Popek, Jeremiah Warren and Chaz Hine, and redshirt freshman Quinterrius Eatmon locked up the right tackle job with a good spring. Still, this group needs to jell this summer and find some more depth behind the starters.
3. Defensive tackle depth: The coaching staff feels good about the defensive ends, but there are still some questions on the interior after losing third-round NFL pick Terrell McClain. Cory Grissom and Keith McCaskill are veterans at the inside positions and should be fine at starter; the Bulls would like more depth behind them. They would love to see a young player like Todd Chandler or even incoming freshman Elkino Watson step up during fall camp to solidify the rotation there.
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.
