ESPN College Football

College football guru Phil Steele has unveiled his preseason All-Big East selections.

I agree with most every first-team selection. Here are a few of my early thoughts. Note: the ESPN.com preseason Big East first team will come out just before the season begins.

• I completely understand having Teddy Bridgewater as the first-team quarterback, but I probably would have gone with B.J. Daniels here. I know many people think that makes me a little bit nutty. But I will repeat my thought process on this -- Daniels is going into his fourth year as a starter with some pretty terrific receivers and quality backs. On paper, he should be the best quarterback in the league.
• A little surprised to see Anthony McClung ahead of Alec Lemon at first-team receiver. Coach Butch Jones has said that McClung needs to have an outstanding summer to continue his development. Lemon was better last year; and I think he will have another solid season -- if healthy. It was also interesting to see two Pitt receivers on the first and second teams -- Devin Street and Mike Shanahan, respectively. Tino Sunseri is still the quarterback and the Panthers will be run heavy, so I'm not sure they will have two of the top four receivers in the league.
• Andre Davis may end up having a better season than Sterling Griffin at USF.
• Defensive line continues to be a position of strength. I think Walter Stewart is going to be one of the better players in the league. Maybe he sneaks in over Trevardo Williams, though it's hard to ignore the 12.5 sacks Williams had a year ago.
• Watch out for Pitt safety Ray Vinopal. He was not listed on any of the four teams. I think this is the deepest position in the league.
• I would have had Ralph David Abernathy IV at Cincinnati ahead of Jeremy Deering at kick returner.

Time for my long-awaited post-spring power rankings. I made only a few changes from the pre-spring rankings. Here goes ...

1. Louisville: Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater looked better than ever this spring, giving me renewed confidence the Cardinals are going to be the preseason favorite in the league. The secondary should be exceptionally strong, and the offensive line should be better. Questions remain at running back and with depth in the front seven. But of all the teams in the league, I think the Cardinals have the most stability headed into the season. Plus, it hugely helps to have Charlie Strong entering Year 3.

2. USF: Big jump for the Bulls. I know I said I refused to buy into USF until the Bulls actually do something. But what they have returning is hard to ignore. Generally speaking, teams with 18 returning starters -- many of them seniors -- do really well. So do teams with veteran starting quarterbacks. While USF still has some major question marks on paper -- can B.J. Daniels develop, what happens at running back, where is the depth at linebacker -- the Bulls look like they have a shot.

3. Rutgers: At one time, I had Rutgers as my preseason favorite. But I am a little nervous about the situation at quarterback. I thought there would be a resolution this spring, but neither Chas Dodd nor Gary Nova did much to impress. Mohamed Sanu is gone, there are more shifts on the offensive line, and the running game has to prove something. I think the defense will be the best in the Big East. The offense is scaring me right now, which is why I moved the Scarlet Knights down.

4. Cincinnati: The Bearcats do return talent, and players who saw some significant action last season. But they also lose 21 seniors, including Big East Offensive Player of the Year Isaiah Pead and Big East Co-Defensive Player of the Year Derek Wolfe. I don't have any doubts that the Bearcats will have a good season. I just don't know if they will win another championship.

5. Pitt: If there is any team with "ifs" all over the roster, it is the Panthers. They have a new head coach. They are returning Tino Sunseri at quarterback. Nobody knows how Ray Graham is going to do after major knee surgery. The offensive line has to be better. There is not much depth on the defensive line. If all of these come together, the Panthers could be really good. If they don't, they could be really bad.

6. UConn: The Huskies will be good on defense. But what about quarterback? I feel like a broken record saying the same thing over again. Quarterback uncertainty always makes me hesitant to rank a team in the top half of the league. I was hesitant last year, and I am hesitant again this year.

7. Syracuse: I have said this before, but it bears repeating: I think Syracuse is the hardest team to gauge in the Big East. The Orange have to be more consistent on offense. They have to find a running game to help ease some of the burden off quarterback Ryan Nassib. Does Ashton Broyld give them enough to get them more explosive plays? The defense still has depth concerns in the front seven.

8. Temple: I worry about how the Owls will make the transition to the Big East in Year 1. I think Temple has a good team, but the Owls also lost a lot of their best players and have depth concerns on the offensive and defensive lines. That is enough to worry any coach in Year 1 in a major conference.

AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. -- Pitt coach Paul Chryst came right out and said what had become obvious this spring -- Tino Sunseri is his starting quarterback going into fall practice.

Chryst said Tuesday during the ACC spring meetings, "He was the best quarterback we had out of spring. That's why he's the starter."

Sunseri had been competing with Mark Myers and Trey Anderson for the starting job after a pretty brutal 2011 season. The truth is that Sunseri was not really a match for the spread offense under former coach Todd Graham. But he was inconsistent the season before under Dave Wannstedt, so there are those Pitt fans probably scratching their heads wondering what Sunseri can do to be better entering his third season as a starter.

"The biggest thing for quarterbacking is being able to do it and doing it on a consistent level," Chryst said. "That’s your normal progression. He clearly was the best this spring that we had. You’re aware of the history but it doesn’t really matter for us. What do you have right now? It’s our job to coach them and how can you help everyone get better? He’s got a great opportunity. He has played in a lot of games, he does have experience. He’s got room to grow. If he chooses to grow, and I know it’s easier for us to say last year or two years before that doesn’t matter. It matters in the sense that you should learn from all of it, positive or negative. But it doesn’t matter going forward.

"Right now, if you were to say who gives you the best chance to have success, it would be him. So coach the heck out of him."

Chryst said nobody grabbed the backup quarterback job. As for what he anticipates for Chad Voytik once the four-star prospect arrives this summer, Chryst said, "First he's got to get here. Then we've got to see how he picks up things. I anticipate him getting work. Legitimately getting work and then we'll see."

Now here is a quick update on running back Ray Graham, coming off a knee injury. Chryst said Graham is "progressing" and anticipates his star back will be ready for the start of fall camp.

"The plan is he will be ready," Chryst said. "We’ll have him practice. He needs it. They all need it. I’m not going to project too much until it’s time. But we’re planning on it. We’re going full steam ahead."

Chryst anticipates he will have all his players available for practice when fall camp opens.

Four Big East teams went into the spring with open quarterback competitions.

Four Big East teams leave the spring with open quarterback competitions.

So much for spring practice resolving some major question marks.

Cincinnati, UConn, Pitt and Rutgers have not declared starters at the most high-profile position. While it appears front-runners have emerged at Cincinnati (Munchie Legaux), Pitt (Tino
Sunseri) and UConn (Chandler Whitmer), none of the head coaches at those respective schools have made any definitive announcements.

At Rutgers, there appears to be no true front-runner after spring practice, as neither Chas Dodd nor Gary Nova was consistent enough to win the job. Dodd has more game experience but Nova has all the physical tools you want your quarterback to have. Both started games last season, as former coach Greg Schiano continued what has been a recent trend of his -- playing musical quarterbacks.

But new coach Kyle Flood says he is going to make a decision on his starter at least a week before the season opener, and stick with that guy. He does not want to switch his starters in and out the way Schiano did the past several years.

UConn has had quarterback instability over the past several seasons as well. Last spring, the Huskies essentially went through the same routine, with four quarterbacks competing for the starting job. Nobody won it after the spring and the competition lasted until the season opener.

Johnny McEntee ended up becoming the starter, but he was largely ineffective and in over his head last season. UConn ended up playing three quarterbacks and posted its first losing record since 2006.

Those three players -- McEntee, Michael Nebrich and Scott McCummings -- were back in the spring competing to win the starting job.

Added into the mix were two early enrollees -- freshman Casey Cochran and Whitmer, a junior college transfer. It was Whitmer who had the best performance in the spring game, throwing two touchdown passes.

But coach Paul Pasqualoni was not ready to declare the competition over.

Immediately after the spring game last month, Pasqualoni said, "We'll come back in four weeks to start their summer program. Then we get to start this process all over again. Once we get into preseason camp and it's clear, then we'll make a decision. We won't make a decision right now."

The quarterback group as a whole in the Big East is not particularly strong this year, though Louisville freshman Teddy Bridgewater is on the rise. But the league goes into the year without a marquee name at the position for the first time in a long time. The Big East is the only one of the six automatic qualifying conferences without a returning 3,000-yard passer.

Look at recent history -- most everybody expected Geno Smith at West Virginia to have a breakout season last year. Folks knew about Zach Collaros at Cincinnati. Going further back, the Big East had nationally recognizable big names like Tony Pike, Pat White and Brian Brohm back to 2005. That was the first year of the reconfigured Big East.

Marquee quarterback names generally translate into more national attention, whether that involves debates, comparisons or even Heisman talk. The Big East is sorely lacking in that department. Even if the open quarterback competitions were resolved this spring, this is a position in need of a breakout star.

And fast.

2011 overall record: 6-7

2011 conference record: 4-3 (T-4)

Returning starters

Offense 8; Defense 4; Kicker/punter: 2.

Key returners

RB Ray Graham, QB Tino Sunseri, OG Chris Jacobson, RB Isaac Bennett, WR Devin Street, DT Aaron Donald, S Jarred Holley, CB K'Waun Williams

Key losses

DE Brandon Lindsey, DT Chas Alecxih, DT Myles Caragein, LB Max Gruder, CB Antwuan Reed

2011 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Ray Graham* (958 yards)

Passing: Tino Sunseri* (247-of-385 for 2,616 yards, 10 TDs, 11 INTs)

Receiving: Devin Street* (754 yards)

Tackles: Max Gruder (116)

Sacks: Aaron Donald* (11)

Interceptions: Eight tied with one each

Spring answers

1. Depth at safety. Pitt has some major talent at safety, with four players capable of starting in Jarred Holley, Andrew Taglianetti, Jason Hendricks and transfer Ray Vinopal, one of the highlights for the Panthers this season. Coaches are going to have a hard time determining the starters from the backups once the season begins.

2. Michigan transfers rise. Speaking of Vinopal, he and Cullen Christian came to Pitt from Michigan and were forced to sit out a year. Though the scheme has changed, both players had terrific springs. Vinopal was making plays all over the field, exactly what you want your safety to do. Christian is making a serious play to win the starting cornerback job opposite K'Waun Williams.

3. Chryst comfortable. Pitt has had more coaching transitions in the last two years than any other school in America. So naturally, many wondered how coach Paul Chryst would do in his first spring. I haven't heard any complaints about him or what he is trying to do at Pitt. His persona has been embraced, and so has his offensive scheme.

Fall questions

1. Is Ray Graham 100 percent? All indications are that Graham is on schedule in his rehab from a torn ACL. But he missed all of spring, and just how much he will do in the fall remains up in the air. Remember, he will be less than a year removed from knee surgery when the season opens in September. So his recovery will be one of the biggest story lines to watch this season for the Panthers.

2. Can Tino Sunseri be better? If everything holds as expected, Sunseri will be going into his third season as a starter. Of course, he will be going into his third different offense as well, hard enough for most players to adjust to, let alone the quarterback. Coach Paul Chryst did a great job tailoring the offense to the players he had while at Wisconsin. It will be paramount to do the same with Sunseri, to get him comfortable in the offense and limiting his mistakes.

3. Revamped defensive front. Pitt lost three of its top four linemen from a year ago, and will feature a radically reshaped defensive front. Sack leader Aaron Donald is the only one who returns. The others who will be counted on to step up, from Shayne Hale to Bryan Murphy to T.J. Clemmings, were all highly touted players who must now meet expectations to maintain Pitt's status as a solid defensive team.

Time to move along to Week 2 in my ultimate Big East road trip. For those just tuning in to this new series, I am selecting the games I would choose to see each and every week this season.

My editors usually do that for me. But if the scheduling were up to me, this is where I would want to go.

Here is the Week 2 schedule:

Thurs., Sept. 6

• Pitt at Cincinnati

Sat., Sept. 8

• NC State at UConn
• Missouri State at Louisville
• Howard at Rutgers
• USF at Nevada
• USC vs. Syracuse
• Maryland at Temple

My choice: Pitt at Cincinnati

Why: There are more intriguing games in Week 2 than in Week 1, so this was a much more difficult decision. I could bend the spirit of the rules and pick two games -- start off in Cincinnati on Thursday night before heading to New York to watch USC against Syracuse. But we are generally assigned just one game a week. So I shall pick one.

I really would love to see USC vs. Syracuse, because this is one of the high-profile nonconference games of the Big East season. USC will be one of the top-ranked teams in the nation, playing Syracuse in the shadow of New York City. A win for Syracuse here, and the Big East reputation will no doubt be bolstered. But I am going with the game that has Big East implications, also being played on national television.

This is the season opener for the Bearcats, who will have a new look with so much departing talent gone. And it is the first big test for new Pitt coach Paul Chryst (the Panthers open the season against FCS Youngstown State). Cincinnati has won a share of the Big East championship three times in the past four seasons, including 2009 -- the last time the Bearcats opened the season against a Big East opponent (Rutgers). The big question is whether they can do it again after losing players like Zach Collaros, Isaiah Pead, Derek Wolfe and JK Schaffer.

As for Pitt, how will the revamped offensive scheme fare against what should continue to be an aggressive defensive front? Has Ray Graham returned to form? How does Tino Sunseri handle Big East play for the third straight season? How does the Pitt revamped front seven do against a team with a mobile quarterback that likes to run the spread? Whoever wins obviously gets a leg up in the Big East standings early in the season, making this the most important game of Week 2.

In case you missed it, here is Week 1.

With nearly every Big East team having wrapped up spring practice, one constant remains -- open quarterback competitions.

Unless coach Kyle Flood makes a last-second decision following the Rutgers spring game Saturday, four schools will go into the summer without a starter at perhaps the most important position on a team. Here is a quick look at how those competitions stack up:

Cincinnati. Munchie Legaux and Brendon Kay are the top two players vying for the job. Coach Butch Jones has decided not to name a starter, but all indications point to Legaux as winning the job once the fall rolls around. Legaux said during an interview this spring he had been taking most of the reps with the first team.

UConn. Five players remain in the competition -- Junior college transfer Chandler Whitmer, freshman Casey Cochran, Michael Nebrich, Scott McCummings and Johnny McEntee. Nobody distinguished himself through the spring or in the spring game, though Whitmer had the "best" performance of the three. Don't be surprised if Whitmer is the starter, Cochran is redshirted and McCummings continues in his role as Wildcat quarterback.

Pitt. Coach Paul Chryst has not named his starter, either, but he has indicated that incumbent Tino Sunseri has separated himself from Mark Myers and Trey Anderson. Now we'll see what happens when true freshman Chad Voytik enters the mix when he arrives in the summer.

Rutgers. Chas Dodd and Gary Nova went back and forth at quarterback last season for the Scarlet Knights, and neither one has really stood out this spring. Defense has dominated the scrimmages so far. Flood has said he would not make a decision until one player stood head and shoulders above the rest, but would like a starter in place a week to 10 days before the start of the season.

Pitt coach Paul Chryst has not definitively declared Tino Sunseri as his starting quarterback headed into fall practice.

Does he need to?

Chryst said last week that Sunseri had separated himself from Mark Myers and Trey Anderson, which seemingly points in the direction of Sunseri winning the starting job. True freshman Chad Voytik enrolls this summer, so there is a chance that he could come in and blow everybody away with his amazing talent and grasp of the offense.

But right now, it appears Sunseri will go into his third straight season as the starter.

That is hard to believe for many, considering the lackluster results along the way. It is no secret that Sunseri has struggled with the deep ball, and clearly cannot run a spread offense. He should never be asked to do that again. I truly believe Sunseri should be given a pass for what happened last season, and I think the longer time goes on, perhaps more Pitt fans feel the same way. Todd Graham deserves the blame for what happened last season.

The point is that Chryst must believe Sunseri truly gives his team the best chance to win, given his experience and current understanding of the new offense. While the passing game was nothing to write home about -- Sunseri went 13-of-27 for 147 yards with a touchdown and interception in the spring game -- you wonder how much of an ask is going to be made of the quarterbacks with the potential for such a strong running game.

Perhaps the quarterback for Pitt this season will be more of a game manager. Sunseri has been good at times throughout his career. Look back to the USF, UConn and Louisville games for recent examples. Give him time in the pocket, and he does not implode. I can guarantee the offensive line will be miles better this season.

The short passing game works for him, along with play action. Does he need to make 80-yard throws every game? Obviously a home run ball is nice every once in a while, but there have been quarterbacks without the greatest command of the deep ball that have fared just fine.

With the development of Isaac Bennett and Corey Davis, along with the return of Ray Graham and the arrival of Rushel Shell, Pitt has the perfect opportunity this season to just ground and pound, and let Sunseri throw it as a change of pace. Obviously, any great team wants to have balance with their running and passing attack. Obviously, teams will want to stack the box to force Pitt to throw. Sunseri has to learn how to beat the blitzes and make the clutch throws with games on the line.

But Ray Graham was so good last season, teams loaded the box and still couldn't stop him. The potential exists for the same to happen again this season with so much talent in the backfield. Pitt needs its ground game to work for Sunseri to work.

"(The run game) has a chance to be good," Chryst said after spring ball wrapped. "But it all starts with the line. The line made some improvements this spring. Ray's working, we need to get him back healthy and Rushel, we all know what he is ... There's also a lot of quesitons, but that will be a good problem if we have a bunch of running backs."

Especially if it takes pressure off Sunseri.

Let's take a spin through the Big East.

• Paul Dehner gives you plenty of comprehensive news and notes from Cincinnati's spring.
• Could UConn have an all-Connecticut backfield? Video: UConn draft prospect Kendall Reyes.
• Teddy Bridgewater was honored as one of the top freshmen at Louisville.
• Lay off Tino Sunseri! (More on this later today.)
• New Rutgers president Robert Barchi says the football program should be "balanced" to reflect the needs of the university.
• How does losing Cory Grissom impact USF?
• Was the Syracuse Post-Standard editorial criticizing athletic director Daryl Gross over the line?
• Athlon Sports now ranks the quarterbacks in the Big East. Bridgewater over B.J. Daniels?

Here is a quick recap of the four spring scrimmages around the Big East this past weekend:

Cincinnati. Inclement weather forced Cincinnati to cancel the Bearcat Bowl, as the Bearcats shifted to their indoor bubble for a brief practice. A couple hundred fans crowded into the bubble and onto the sidelines for a glimpse of what their team will look like in 2012. They saw quite the physical practice Saturday.

"We have to be a physical football team," coach Butch Jones said. "I said our margin of error is going to be extremely slim this year so we have to have a team that buys into the team concept, plays great team offense, team defense and team special teams. Our defense, we have to swarm to the football, we need all 11 hats getting to the football. It's an ongoing process but I liked the collisions I saw out here."

Louisville. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater capped off a terrific spring with a nearly flawless performance in the Red-White game, going 19-of-21 for 257 yards and three touchdowns as the first team beat the second team on a rainy Saturday. Bridgewater has been on point throughout the spring, completing about 70 percent of his passes, further establishing the Cardinals as one of the favorites to win the Big East in 2012.

"He's had a really good spring," offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said. "He's been very accurate really all spring. I know he's been lights out. He's really played very well. I challenged him with the things he needed to get better with and use all the tools he has available to him. As a young player, he didn't quite get it. Now he's getting it. You're seeing a lot more completions now. He's worked hard. He's doing a lot of good things with his eyes and playing well."

Pitt. Isaac Bennett put an exclamation point on his terrific spring, running for 121 yards on 23 carries in the Blue-Gold game on Saturday. Pitt did not use a scoring format, relying instead on scripted situations. Bennett had a 51-yard run during the scrimmage, his fourth 50-plus yard run of the spring.

"Isaac worked this spring,” coach Paul Chryst said. “He is young and I think he had a chance to learn and to grow. The last scrimmages we’ve had, he’s gone pretty hard. He’s had some mistakes in pass blocking that he needs to clean up, but that is not atypical of a running back. I thought he did some good things.”

Tino Sunseri went 13-of-27 for 147 yards with a touchdown and one interception, while Mark Myers was 10-of-16 for 167 yards and it seemed apparent to observers that the passing game needs work. In one more bit of news, Chryst announced before the scrimmage center Ryan Turnley and defensive end Shayne Hale won the Ed Conway Award, given annually to the most improved players of the spring.

Temple. The Owls may have answered some questions about depth in their backfield during the spring. In the Cherry-White game Saturday, Kenny Harper ran for a game-high 48 yards and two touchdowns -- one for each side. Jalen Fitzpatrick had 40 yards on five carries, while Matt Brown had 39 yards on seven rushes for the Owls.

The running game was more effective than the passing game, which struggled at times. Chris Coyer was 6-of-15 for 116 yards and a 43-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Alderman. Receivers were plagued with several drops.

In another note, Temple announced its spring award winners -- Brown earned the Mark Bresani Award for spirit and enthusiasm; tight end Wanemi Omuso was most improved non-scholarship player; linebacker Ahkeem Smith was the most improved defensive player; Fitzpatrick was most improved offensive player; and linebacker Olaniyi Adewole was most improved special teams player.

Four Big East teams wrap up practice with their spring games Saturday. Here is a quick peek at what to watch.

Cincinnati: This team all but belongs to Munchie Legaux at quarterback. Now the true test of whether he can improve his accuracy and chemistry with receivers will be on full display. All accounts say Legaux has had a very nice spring for the Bearcats. Other positions fans should note -- middle linebacker, where Solomon Tentman overcame a major knee injury to win the starting job out of spring. And how does the defensive line look with Camaron Beard and Jordan Stepp inside? Coach Butch Jones called Beard one of the most improved players of the spring.

Louisville: Coach Charlie Strong already loves the work ethic on this team, having noted a difference already with a group that is much more experienced this season than last. What he is going to need is a team that doesn't believe its own hype, something he surely has stressed this spring game. The Cardinals have yet to settle on a starter at running back, and are still looking for a big-play receiver to emerge. But they have to be feeling good about the way Preston Brown has made the transition to middle linebacker, along with the starting secondary and the development of the starting offensive line.

Pitt: The Panthers are holding their spring game at a local high school, in an effort to embrace and celebrate the traditions of football in Western Pennsylvania. After the Todd Graham fiasco, coach Paul Chryst made the right decision to go back to the roots that have helped define Pitt. All eyes are no doubt going to be on quarterback Tino Sunseri, to see how he has adjusted to the new offense and whether he truly has separated himself from the pack. At this point, it appears Sunseri is the likely starter headed into fall practice, so he gets one last shot to prove himself behind center. It may be hard for some Pitt fans to believe, but Sunseri would go into the season as a third-year starter. Another position to watch has to be offensive line. The scheme change has no doubt benefited this unit.

Temple: Coach Steve Addazio has stressed discipline and toughness this spring as his team prepares to make the move to the Big East. He realizes if they limit the penalties and work to find edges against the competition, they will be competitive in every game. Having Chris Coyer returning at quarterback helps. Addazio is also hoping to utilize Jalen Fitzpatrick much more this season, after he had an outstanding spring. Fitzpatrick can be used in a variety of different ways out of the backfield and in the slot. Temple still has to figure out who is going to emerge in the secondary, one of the biggest question marks remaining on the team.

Another weekend has arrived, which means one last look into the mailbag.

Rob in NJ All Day writes: Why isn't anyone talking about Jawan Jamison and the Rutgers' run game? Our run game got better as the year went on and Jamison was a stud over the last couple games, including the bowl game. With this unit adding (R.J.) Dill at right tackle and a healthy, much bigger and stronger (Dallas) Hendrickson at center, I think he will be the best running back in the league. Mark my words, AA, and let's check back at the end of next year.

Andrea Adelson: Well, that is a pretty bold statement, considering Ray Graham is coming back to the league. I do believe the run game will be better, and the offensive line will be better. But the truth is, Rutgers was the worst rushing team in the Big East last season and was plagued with inconsistency -- even with some of Jamison's better games. That's why nobody is talking about Jamison. Add Savon Huggins back into the mix, and there is a true competition at running back this spring. I don't think it is set in stone that Jamison is going to be the featured back, despite what he did late in the year. Coach Kyle Flood wants both of them ready.

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Steve in Rome, N.Y., writes: AA, what do you think of Doug Marrone's decision to close practices? On one hand the local media seems to have struck back by writing virtually nothing on the team, so I'm dying for info. On the other hand, it certainly builds the anticipation for the spring game for the true diehards like myself! Anyway, appreciate your thoughts, keep up the great work on the blog, and rememeber that San Diego is east of somewhere!

Adelson: East of Hawaii, indeed! I don't think it is fair to say the local media has struck back by writing nothing on the team. Not only has Marrone closed practice, he, his players and assistants have been unavailable for post-practice comments. So there is not much in the way of information coming out of Syracuse. I don't have a problem with coaches closing practice. Most only allow a 30-minute viewing period for media, anyway. Now this may sound a bit self-serving because I am in the media, but I think it does hurt when you make nobody available for comment. I truly believe it helps the program when you make yourself available for articles, blog posts, and interviews. Especially when the focus has been on basketball. Give your guys some pub, put the Syracuse name out there. Nobody is asking them to reveal state secrets, and I don't think anybody is looking to write anything with a poison pen. I have not written anything myself, because there is nothing to write. If that is the way Marrone prefers it, then so be it.

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Jake in Montreal writes: Tino Sunseri for HEISMAN??????....No, I'm kidding. Who do you think will be the starting quarterback for Pitt under the new pro-style offense?I'm thinking (Mark) Myers. I can't trust Sunseri with the team. You with me?

Adelson: Everything out of Pittsburgh indicates Sunseri is the man headed into fall practice. He's the most experienced of the group, and has actually had a pretty decent camp. Maybe Paul Chryst has already worked his magic.

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Nick G. in Wethersfield, Conn., writes: Andrea, I know a lot of people so far are basing predictions and what not off of last year's teams and players lost. It seems to me that everyone for the most part is down on UConn for 2012. I don't think UConn will be as bad as people say or think we are going to be. The secondary will be much improved not only with Blidi Wreh-Wilson being healthy but because a lot of the guys who had to step in where very, very young. Now they have the experience and playing time. The defensive line lost a couple of guys that where great players, but we got some big ones to replace them that can handle the job just as well (I don't think we'll lose a step on the DL). And the O-line lost a few but got a new center that was a transfer from Penn St. and (Jimmy) Bennett is going to be healthy now. We are much deeper at linebacker now. We have some great players at RB, and more talent at WR than years in the past. Only Concern is at QB, but Johnny McEntee has been doing well this spring but so have the other four guys. They are all really competing for the starting spot with some flashes af great play. I honestly think this team can be top half of the league this year and fighting for the BCS berth with the last 2-3 weeks of the year if they stay away from injuries and all play to their potential, unlike last year.

Adelson: I fully expect UConn to be better, Nick. I think another year in the system is going to help everybody. As I mentioned in my offensive line preview video, I think this group will be improved. But again, any time you have questions at quarterback, you have questions about your entire team. There are no proven playmakers at receiver, either, though I know Shakim Phillips looked good before getting hurt. Linebacker will be strong, but depth along the defensive line is a major question as well. I asked Wreh-Wilson about being overlooked in the Big East, and he basically told me it was the same old story. "We've never been picked high, so we don’t worry about that," he said. If I had to guess right now, I think UConn goes back to a bowl game. Just a little better play at quarterback makes a huge, huge difference.

Pitt opened spring practice Thursday morning. Here is a little primer on what to expect.

Spring changes: Another spring means more change for the Panthers, who have gone through more than their share of upheaval over the past 15 months. New coach Paul Chryst has brought in an entirely new staff and new scheme, going back to more of a pro-style set on offense and the 4-3 on defense. Eight starters return to an offense that should benefit from a return to a more traditional system. But only four starters return on defense, with some major holes to fill in the front seven.

In addition, 11 players have changed positions.

Position battles to watch

Quarterback. Though incumbent Tino Sunseri goes into the spring as the favorite to win the starting job, Chryst has said the competition is open. Five players are going to be getting reps this spring -- Sunseri, Mark Myers and Trey Anderson, along with Anthony Gonzalez and E.J. Banks. Gonzalez began his Pitt career at quarterback before moving to H-back; Banks has played cornerback. The big player missing is incoming freshman Chad Voytik, one of the stars of the 2012 recruiting class. He arrives this summer.

Defensive end. With the news that Aaron Donald has moved inside full-time in the 4-3, the Panthers are in search of some quality defensive ends as they transition back to starting four down linemen. Brandon Lindsey, who played end/linebacker, is gone so there are some gaps to fill. Shayne Hale is the only upperclassman at the position this spring. Sophomores T.J. Clemmings and Bryan Murphy are coming off redshirt seasons, LaQuentin Smith moves to end after playing linebacker last season, and Devin Cook enters the mix after redshirting last season.

Linebacker. Leading tackler Max Gruder is gone, along with Greg Williams and Tristan Roberts. Todd Thomas, expected to return on the strong side, is out for the spring with a knee injury. Players to watch this spring include Ejuan Price, Manny Williams, Carl Fleming, Shane Gordon and Eric Williams. But perhaps the biggest story could be Dan Mason, who is healthy and vying for playing time at middle linebacker after sitting out a year and a half with a serious knee injury sustained in 2010.

Offensive tackle. Lucas Nix, Greg Gaskins and Jordan Gibbs are all gone, leaving both tackle positions up for grabs. Juantez Hollins and Matt Rotheram saw some playing time last season, but neither one was very effective. They go into the spring with competition from Justin Virbitsky, who moves over from tight end, along with Penn State transfer Tom Ricketts and 2011 junior college transfer Zenel Demhasaj.

Injury report: Running back Ray Graham (knee) and Thomas (knee) are out for the spring. Receiver Mike Shanahan (back), guard Chris Jacobson (knee) and safety Jarred Holley (knee) will be limited.

Pitt opens spring practice Thursday morning with yet another new coaching staff, another new scheme, and more questions than answers.

Unfortunately for the Panthers, this has become a familiar story line. Going on their fourth head coach since the end of the 2010 season — five if you count interim coach Keith Patterson — has brought Pitt its fair share of negative ink, along with upheaval for players who have to adjust to new coordinators and terminology all over again.

Nobody is quite sure what to expect. That goes for new head coach Paul Chryst, who embarks on his first practice as a head coach. Chryst understands there will be a "feeling out period" for the players to get to know the coaches and vice versa, along with the natural anxiety that comes along with figuring out what is being asked.

Pitt is going back to a more traditional offensive style, and switching back to the 4-3 defensive scheme that Pitt has historically run with success. The good news is that the majority of the players on the team were recruited to play those particular styles. The bad news is their brains may feel like football mush given all the tumult of the last year.

But the spring is always a time for renewal and hope for every team, and every position. That goes for quarterback, where Tino Sunseri will be under the microscope for the third straight season. Though the Pitt defense has many more holes to fill, Chryst cannot go through an interview without being asked about Sunseri, and what he can do to improve himself should he be the starter again.

"I'm glad he's here," Chryst said. "I'm looking forward to working with him. I know Brooks (Bollinger) is, I know Joe (Rudolph) is. We're fired up about that."

Sunseri never got adjusted to the hurry-up spread system former coach Todd Graham installed, and withstood withering criticism not only from fans but from Graham himself. Never once did Sunseri lash out or complain. He took every single hit on the field and off the field and kept coming back up. Rudolph, the newly installed offensive coordinator, believes Sunseri has a skill-set the Panthers can utilize effectively this season.

"You look at the offense that we run, we had two really different quarterbacks in the last two years at Wisconsin," Rudolph said in a phone interview. "You had Scott Tolzien and you had Russell Wilson, and you wouldn't watch film and mistake those guys for each other. They're different, but both had great success. You can have people with different skill sets, but if you teach them to make good decisions and grow the offense to highlight their skill set, they have a chance to be successful. That's what you feel about Tino. He has the skill set. Now it's can he make those decisions, can you be consistent, can you play within the offense? We'll find out."

The offensive line in front of him was an area of weakness last season, having to fight through injuries and inexperience as well as a scheme that did not lend itself to their strengths. But last season can stay there as far as Chryst is concerned.

"I didn't spend a lot of time watching or caring what their scheme was last year," he said.

Run-blocking generally suits an offensive lineman better than pass-blocking, so there is hope -- especially if Chryst is able to translate the success he had with the ground game at Wisconsin to the Panthers. Ray Graham is out for the spring, but that gives some young players an opportunity to gain some reps and earn playing time come the fall. Isaac Bennett, Corey Davis and Malcolm Crockett will get a majority of the carries.

Defensively, Pitt has to replace linemen Brandon Lindsey, Myles Caragein and Chas Alecxih, along with leading tackler Max Gruder, and needs to work on depth along the line and at linebacker, the two positions that took the biggest hits. Starting linebacker Todd Thomas also will be out for the spring.

So yes, there is plenty of work to be done on both sides of the ball. Chryst and his staff are eager to get started on building this team — for the long run.

The final ranking of the Big East Top 25 players for 2011 is complete. So it's time for a little breakdown.

By school

West Virginia: 7

Cincinnati: 4

Rutgers: 4

UConn: 3

Syracuse: 2

Louisville: 2

Pitt: 2

USF: 1

By unit

Offense: 9

Defense: 16

By position

Defensive line: 8

Running back: 4

Linebacker: 4

Defensive back: 4

Wide receiver: 3

Quarterback: 2

Now for what many of you have asked to see -- the players ranked in my preseason list who went unranked on the final list.

No. 2 Brandon Lindsey, DL/LB, Pitt. There are many Panthers fans who are upset that Lindsey did not make the final Top 25 list. Lindsey had 8.5 sacks, down from the 10 he had a year ago, while he transitioned to a new hybrid defensive end/linebacker position. I think being caught in no-man's land at times this season really took a toll. Pitt never really decided how they wanted to use him, and while he had the stats, overall I didn't think he was as effective as he was a year ago. In fact, I think he was probably misused in the new 3-4 scheme.

No. 10 Sio Moore, LB, UConn. Moore did have a good season for the Huskies, but I thought he was inconsistent on the whole at a position that had some pretty strong players. Moore did not make either Big East conference team, an award voted on by the coaches, but I do expect him to have a much better season in 2012.

No. 12 Moe Petrus, C, UConn. Offensive line was an area of weakness across the Big East, and UConn was no exception. Petrus was the first-team Big East center, but the Huskies had big problems on the line this past season, and I didn't think any lineman was worthy of recognition.

No. 13 Mark Harrison, WR, Rutgers. Totally misjudged the receiver position at Rutgers, where Mohamed Sanu dominated. Still, I wasn't the only one who had high expectations for Harrison in 2011, so I think it is safe to say he disappointed.

No. 15 Blidi Wreh-Wilson, CB, UConn. Wreh-Wilson hurt his knee and missed a good chunk of the season, leaving the Huskies' secondary to fend without him. The result was a mess.

No. 16 D.J. Woods, WR, Cincinnati. Woods never really became the go-to receiver for the Bearcats, finishing with just 444 yards and two touchdowns. His production was down by more than half compared to the 2010 season, when he had 898 yards and eight touchdown receptions.

No. 19 Jarred Holley, S, Pitt. Holley did make the Big East first-team, but he didn't make as many big plays this season as he did during the 2010 season at a position that was relatively week across the league.

No. 22 Victor Anderson, RB, Louisville. Anderson got his chance as a starter, and never really made a big impact. He struggled to play through a sprained ankle, and ended up splitting reps with Jeremy Wright and Dominique Brown, finishing with 539 yards and three touchdown runs.

No. 23 Tino Sunseri, QB, Pitt. Do I need to go into how I badly miscalculated here?

No. 24 B.J. Daniels, QB, USF. Daniels had more yards passing, more touchdown passes and cut down on the interceptions from the 2010 season. But he wasn't an elite quarterback in the league, and ended up making critical mistakes in several key games this past season.

No. 25 Dave Teggart, PK, UConn. Teggart's field goal percentage was down from the 2010 season, and he also missed the first extra point attempt of his career. Nobody in the kicking/punting game really merited a mention in the Top 25.