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BOSSHOGG30
06-18-2008, 09:08 PM
Over the next two weeks I will break down each conference in the NCAA. I will try to give as much insite and information that I can dig up so that everyone is ready for the up and coming college football season.

Today I will start with the ACC or Atlantic Coast Conference....


Preseason Rankings
Atlantic:
1) Clemson
2) Wake Forest
3) Florida State
4) Maryland
5) Boston College
6) N.C. State

Coastal:
1) Virginia Tech
2) North Carolina
3) Miami
4) Georgia Tech
5) Virginia
6) Duke

All ACC Team
QB: Cullen Harper, Senior, Clemson
QB: Riley Skinner, Junior, Wake Forest
RB: James Davis, Senior, Clemson
RB: Josh Adams, Sophmore, Wake Forest
RB: C.J. Spiller, Junior, Clemson
WR: Aaron Kelly, Senior, Clemson
WR: Hakeem Nicks, Junior, North Carolina
WR: Darrius Heyward-bey, Junior, Maryland
TE: Ryan Purvis, Senior, Boston College
TE: Anthony Hill, Senior, N.C. State
C: Thomas Austin, Junior, Clemson
OL: Jason Fox, Junior, Miami
OL: Andrew Gardner, Senior, Georgia Tech
OL: Rodney Hudson, Sophmore, Florida State
OL: Eugene Monroe, Senior, Virginia

DL: Alex Albright, Junior, Boston College
DL: Everette Brown, Junior, Florida State
DL: Dorell Scott, Senior, Clemson
DL: Vance Walker, Senior, Georgia Tech
LB: Aaron Curry, Senior, Wake Forest
LB: Clint Sintim, Senior, Virginia
CB: Victor Harris, Senior, Virginia Tech
CB: Alphonso Smith, Senior, Wake Forest
S: Michael Hamlin, Senior, Clemson
S: Chip Vaughn, Senior, Wake Forest

K: Sam Swank, Senior, Wake Forest
P: Graham Gano, Senior, Florida State
KR: C.J. Spiller, Junior, Clemson
PR: Vic Hall, Junior, Virginia



Unit Rankings
QB RB WR/TE OL DL LB DB
Boston College 8 11 3 6 1 3 12
Clemson 1 1 1 11 2 10 1
Duke 5 10 5 12 5 7 11
Florida State 4 5 2 4 4 5 3
Georgia Tech 10 6 12 10 3 11 10
Maryland 7 9 6 1 11 4 9
Miami 12 2 9 7 8 6 6
North Carolina 6 8 4 3 10 8 4
NC State 9 4 8 5 6 12 7
Virginia 11 7 7 9 12 1 8
Virginia Tech 3 12 11 2 9 9 5
Wake Forest 2 3 10 8 7 2 2

BOSSHOGG30
06-18-2008, 09:32 PM
My #1 ACC team breakdown.........

Offense:
Quarterback Cullen Harper returns for his final year after vastly exceeding expectations in 2007. Tailback James Davis went back on his decision to turn pro and combines with junior C.J. Spiller to form perhaps the most dynamic backfield tandem in college football. Harper has his favorite reciever back in Aaron Kelly, who caught 88 balls for 1,081 yards and 11 TD's last year.

The big question mark is up front, where Clemson lost three full-time starters. The offenisve line struggled last season against imposing defenses, and the new guys have plenty of talent but could take a while to develop. Replacing Barry Richardson at left tackle could be a tall order for heretofore underachieving junior Cory Lambert. Right tackle Chris Hairston is considered a future star, and the center position is solid with the return of junior Thomas Austin. Of greater concern is the tow gaurd positions.

Defense:
The defense could maintain its Top 10 form if it finds a way to fill some big holes at linebacker. Inexperience and uncertainty surrounded this group as the Tigers broke for summer. Already gone were starters Nick Watkins and Tramaine Billie, who combined for 65 career starts and 639 tackles. And the status of seniors Cortney Vincent and Antonio Clay was uncertain. Vincent was arrested for DUI in December, and that case was still pending. Then he was booted for spring practice for another misstep after an unspecified violation of team policy. For the second year in a row, Clay went home for the spring semester to deal with personal issues stemming from the September 2006 death of his sister in a car accident.
Redshirt freshman Brandon Maye stood out at middle linebacker during the spring. Sophmore Scotty Cooper is budding star at strong-side linebacker, and Kavell Conner appears ready to take over for Watkins on the other side.
The front four is in good shape despite the loss of end Phillip Merling, who left for the NFL after his junior year. The strength is in the interior, where senior Dorell Scott is primed for a big year after coming on late last season. It's only a matter of time before stud freshman Da'Quan Bowers, one of the school's top recruits ever, nabs a starting role at Merling's vacated position.
The Tigers might have the best secondary in the ACC. Seniors Michal Hamlin and Chris Clemons are rock-solid at the safety positions; Chris Chancellor and Crezdon Butler form an underrated corner tandem.

Specialist:
Mark Buchholz made only 61 percent of his kicks last season, struggling with long distance and attempts from the hash marks. Former walk-on Jimmy Maners had a solid year at punter but will be challenged by Richard Jackson.

Final Analysis:
A total of 89 yards. That's the combined rushing output, including lost yardage for sacks, for Clemson last year in regular-season games against Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, and Boston College. The Tigers lost all three games, and that was the difference between a great team and a good one. Against physical defenses, Clemson's offensive line was simply not good enough to move people off the ball. If the Tigers improve in this area, they're a good bet to finally win the Atlantic Division and play for their first ACC title since 1991. If not, don't be surprised if they're yet again bemoaning how close they came to glory.

2008 Schedule

Alabama
The Citadel
N.C. State
South Carolina State
Maryland
at Wake Forest
Georgia Tech
at Boston College
at Florida State
Duke
at Virginia
South Carolina

Looking at this schedule, I think the Wake Forest and Florida State will be their toughest games. The other games should be wins for Clemson.

Requiem / The Dagda
06-18-2008, 09:33 PM
Myrone Rolle not All-ACC?

BOSSHOGG30
06-19-2008, 07:58 AM
Myrone Rolle not All-ACC?

He would be on my 2nd team All ACC team... Rolle has tremendous potential in the NFL and he should have a very good year this year, but Michael Hamlin and Chip Vaughn are very good in their own right and as for college football talent for the 2008 season, I have to place them above Rolle. When it is all said and done, I think Rolle will have the better NFL career. I'm writing about college football though and not necessarily about future talent in the NFL.

Chip Vaughn
105 tackles 1 INT

Michael Hamlin
97 tackles 4 INT

Myron Rolle
67 tackles 0 INT

BOSSHOGG30
06-19-2008, 08:30 PM
Next up.... Big 12 Conference

Preseason Rankings

Big 12 North:
1) Missouri
2) Kansas
3) Colorado
4) Nebraska
5) Kansas State
6) Iowa State

Big 12 South:
1) Oklahoma
2) Texas
3) Texas Tech
4) Oklahoma State
5) Texas A&M
6) Baylor

All Big 12 Team
QB: Chase Daniel, Senior, Missouri
QB: Sam Bradford, Sophmore, Oklahoma
RB: Mike Goodson, Junior, Texas A&M
RB: Marlon Lucky, Senior, Nebraska
RB: DeMarco Murray, Sophmore, Oklahoma
WR: Michael Crabtree, Sophmore, Texas Tech
WR: Jeremy Maclin, Sophmore, Missouri
WR: Juaquin Iglesias, Senior, Oklahoma
TE: Chase Coffman, Senior, Missouri
TE: Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma
C: Jon Cooper, Senior, Oklahoma
OL: Cedric Dockery, Senior, Texas
OL: Phil Loadholt, Senior, Oklahoma
OL: Duke Robinson, Senior, Oklahoma
OL: Louis Vasquez, Senior, Texas Tech

DL: Auston English, Junior, Oklahoma
DL: George Hypolite, Senior, Colorado
DL: Gerald McCoy, Sophmore, Oklahoma
DL: Brian Orakpo, Senior, Texas
LB: Joe Mortensen, Senior, Kansas
LB: Joe Pawelek, Junior, Baylor
LB: Sean Weatherspoon, Junior, Missouri
CB: Chris Harris, Sophmore, Kansas
CB: Jamar Wall, Junior, Texas Tech
S: Nic Harris, Senior, Oklahoma
S: William Moore, Senior, Missouri

K: Jeff Wolfert, Senior, Missouri
P: Justin Brantly, Senior, Texas A&M
KR: Marcus Herford, Senior, Kansas
PR: Jeremy Maclin, Sophmore, Missouri



QB RB WR/TE OL DL LB DB
Baylor 10 12 7 9 9 10 12
Colorado 11 9 9 10 6 5 9
Iowa State 12 7 11 12 11 9 5
Kansas 3 4 4 4 3 1 1
Kansas State 9 11 10 8 5 6 8
Missouri 1 6 1 6 4 2 7
Nebraska 8 3 8 5 7 8 6
Oklahoma 2 1 3 1 1 4 4
Oklahoma State 7 8 6 7 12 11 11
Texas 5 5 5 2 2 3 10
Texas A&M 6 2 12 11 10 12 3
Texas Tech 4 10 2 3 8 7 2

BOSSHOGG30
06-19-2008, 08:52 PM
My #1 Big 12 team breakdown.........

Oklahoma

Offense: Oklahoma entered the 2007 season unsure of what it had a quarterback. Safe to say the Sooners are sure now. Sam Bradford emerged from a three-man competition to produce one of the greatest freshman seasons in NCAA history. Behind a veteran and talented offensive line and armed with proven weapons across the board, Bradford seems poised to lead the Sooners toward another Big 12 title and perhaps more. Bradford led the nation in passing effieciency and set the NCAA freshman record with 36 touchdown passes a year ago. Now what? The natural assumption is that Bradford will be even better in his second season. While it's not always that simple, the sophmore slump shouldn't be an issue. And it's not like he doesn't have help.

OU's offensive line, built around top pro prospects Duke Robinson and Phil Loadholt and returning every starter, rates among the nation's best. The Sooners aslo return veteran receivers Juaguin Iglesias and Manuel Johnson and tight end on the verge of a major breakout in Jermaine Gresham. Running backs DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown combined for 1,375 yards and 22 touchdowns playing behind departed senior Allen Patrick. Murray, just a sophmore, is a speedy and elusive runner with star potential.

Defense:
The Sooners will lean on a potentially dominant front four to control the line of scrimmage while an in-transition back seven shakes out. Tackles Gerald McCoy and DeMarcus Granger team with ends Auston English and Jeremy Beal to for an imposing front that is equally effective against the run and the pass.
Behind them, there's talent, yet question marks due ot inexperience. Safeties Nic Harris and Lendy Holmes are all-star candidates who offer some stability in the secondary. But both cornerbacks will be new, with the spots likely filled by sophmore Dominique Franks and little-used junior Brian Jackson. Each played well enough in the spring to ease some concern.
A major overhaul takes place at linebacker, where Curtis Lofton jumped to the NFL after recording 157 tackles. Ryan Reynolds is the lone player with experience, and his career has been hampered by injuries. The fate of the unit could rest on the rapid development of incoming junior college transfers J.R. Bryant and Mike Balogun and redshirt freshman Travis Lewis and Austin Box.

Specialist:
OU led the nation in kickoff returns a year ago and returns its top options, Iglesias and Murray. Mike Knall is one of the Big 12's best punters, in terms of both yardage and hang time, but the Sooners must find someone to handle kicking duties.

Final Analyis:
Oklahoma's 11-3 finish in 2007 featured a Big 12 championship, its conference-high fifth since the inception of the league. Still, the team and its fan crave something more: an eigth national championship. The Sooners should be in the conversation if the offense picks up where it left off and the defense doesn't reveal too much of its youth and inexperience. The schedule offers few potential roadblocks. Bradford should thrive in Year 2, flanked by playmakers all around. But lingering uncertainty at linebacker and in the secondary at the close of spring left the Sooners with much work to do in August. If the defense is slow to come around, the Sooners could slip in the Big 12 South. If the defense arrives on time, OU could play for National Championship.

2008 Schedule
Chattanooga
Cincinnati
at Washington
TCU
at Baylor
Texas
Kansas
at Kansas State
Nebraska
at Texas A&M
Texas Tech
at Oklahoma State

Looking at the schedule I think the Texas and Texas Tech games should be good ones and potential hazards for a very talented and promising Oklahoma team.

Skinny
06-19-2008, 09:48 PM
I agree with you on Clemson. If they can find a way to get better up front along the O-line, even after losing those 3 starters, they have everything else covered. That's a tall order to fill but Clemson has always done well in getting top recruits along both the O-line and D-line so this is very possible. Their a very good deep ball club and are in pretty good shape schedule wise with 8 home games and 4 away, to make a serious run at the ACC title and a nice BCS game.








ouch

slim
06-20-2008, 06:36 PM
Boss, what's your take on Cody Hawkins?

MOtorboat
06-20-2008, 07:41 PM
Boss, what's your take on Cody Hawkins?

I'm guessing he's high on one of two players...or both...Hawkins or Ballenger.

BOSSHOGG30
06-20-2008, 08:21 PM
Boss, what's your take on Cody Hawkins?

I think the sophmore should have a pretty good year. He showed last year that he can manage things pretty well. I think he will put up big numbers. By the middle of last season CU was starting two freshman on the offensive line. I think the offensive wasn't really opened up like it should be because of all the young talent.... Now that they all have more experience I think you will see the very under-rated talent CU has at receiver. Josh Smith is a very, very good receiver. I think a lot more people will know his name after this season is over with. Darell Scott should be an instant success and help Cody Hawkins as well.

Jwalk - JayCutty6Goes - CasinoRoyal
06-21-2008, 07:03 AM
Its kind of hard for any FSU prospect to stand out stat wise because there so talented and everybody flies to the ball. There front 7 is not lacking anything so its really not mandatory that Rolle gets up in the box to make alot of tackles. But him as a NFL prospect is amazing. I think hes ACC all first team regardless. I also find it hard to believe t hat only 4 of your all ACC team comes from FSU and Miami.... But then again its your own personal list.

BOSSHOGG30
06-21-2008, 11:56 AM
Its kind of hard for any FSU prospect to stand out stat wise because there so talented and everybody flies to the ball. There front 7 is not lacking anything so its really not mandatory that Rolle gets up in the box to make alot of tackles. But him as a NFL prospect is amazing. I think hes ACC all first team regardless. I also find it hard to believe t hat only 4 of your all ACC team comes from FSU and Miami.... But then again its your own personal list.

I agree that Rolle has great value in the NFL... if you follow my post at all you should know by now that I have a man crush on Taylor Mays and Myron Rolle. I'm guessing you don't though and that is why you posted what you did. As for you opinion on FSU and Miami, I'm not posting NFL talent... My job as a writer for the Broncos Forums is to evaluate college talent... not NFL. If you want me to post a list of NFL talent out of the ACC it would be different. However, I'm not taking that approach with my columns, I'm simply stating who is who and what in college football. I'm not here to write about potential or 2009, I'm writing about the 2008 season.

Jwalk - JayCutty6Goes - CasinoRoyal
06-23-2008, 01:57 AM
Yeah well your list is just bad regardless of NFL projected players also. So is your Big-12 list.

MOtorboat
06-23-2008, 08:03 AM
Yeah well your list is just bad regardless of NFL projected players also. So is your Big-12 list.

Well thought-out analysis. Keep it up :2thumbs:

BOSSHOGG30
06-23-2008, 09:18 AM
Yeah well your list is just bad regardless of NFL projected players also. So is your Big-12 list.

I would love to see your list so I can learn from a ture NCAA guru. I would also like to apologize that I couldn't satisfy your needs and create a suitable list to your liking. I will thrive really hard in the future to gain your approval.

Slick
06-23-2008, 01:06 PM
Some of us really appreciate the time and effort you put in to posts like these Boss. Thanks and keep up the good work. :salute:

Jwalk - JayCutty6Goes - CasinoRoyal
06-23-2008, 07:56 PM
Im not saying stop doing your job dude. Im just saying you got alot of work and research to do. Hopefully you get better but right now your list is crazy.

MOtorboat
06-23-2008, 07:58 PM
Im not saying stop doing your job dude. Im just saying you got alot of work and research to do. Hopefully you get better but right now your list is crazy.

Care to explain why, or are you just going to continue to ridicule him?

Jwalk - JayCutty6Goes - CasinoRoyal
06-23-2008, 08:24 PM
Because he is simple missing alot of talent on that list. Alot of the Clemson picks were okay but he kind of ran away with that. Along with a heavy number of Wake Forest players who are just flat out not better than alot of players not on that list. I could go on for days. But i will not, Like i said keep doing your job and work to get better. If you cant take a little constructive criticism then you probably wont make it far.

MOtorboat
06-23-2008, 08:26 PM
Because he is simple missing alot of talent on that list. Alot of the Clemson picks were okay but he kind of ran away with that. Along with a heavy number of Wake Forest players who are just flat out not better than alot of players not on that list. I could go on for days. But i will not, Like i said keep doing your job and work to get better. If you cant take a little constructive criticism then you probably wont make it far.

Its not constructive if you don't give any direction.

Besides, he explained, this has nothing to do with NFL talent, and everything to do with who should be All-Conference. There's a huge difference.

Jwalk - JayCutty6Goes - CasinoRoyal
06-23-2008, 08:28 PM
Alot of guys on his list are not all conferance players.

MOtorboat
06-23-2008, 08:29 PM
Alot of guys on his list are not all conferance players.

Man, like pulling teeth.

OK...who is?

Jwalk - JayCutty6Goes - CasinoRoyal
06-23-2008, 08:29 PM
Just make sure this thread is around when the college football season ends and see where alot of those guys end up.

BOSSHOGG30
06-23-2008, 08:52 PM
Now for the Big East.... Hopefully I can do a much better job and get my shit together that way I can make Mr. Casino happy.

Anyways, here is my Big East preseason predictions

Preseason Rankings

1) West Virginia
2) South Florida
3) Rutgers
4) Pittsburgh
5) Cincinnati
6) Connecticut
7) Louisville
8) Syracuse

All Big East Team

QB: Pat White, Senior, Virginia
QB: Matt Grothe, Junior, South Florida
RB: Noel Devine, Sophmore, West Virginia
RB: LeSean McCoy, Sophmore, Pittsburgh
RB: Mike Ford, Sophmore, South Florida
WR: Oderick Turner, Junior, Pittsburgh
WR: Tiquan Underwood, Senior, Rutgers
WR: Mike Williams, Junior, Syracuse
TE: Steve Brouse, Senior, Connecticut
TE: Kevin Brock, Senior, Rutgers
C: Eric Wood, Senior, Louisville
OL: George Bussey, Senior, Louisville
OL: Trevor Canfield, Senior, Cincinnati
OL: Greg Isdaner, Junior, West Virginia
OL: Ryan Stanchek, Senior, West Virginia

DL: Terrill Byrd, Senior, Cincinnati
DL: Earl Heyman, Senior, Louisville
DL: Arthur Jones, Junior, Syracuse
DL: George Selvie, Junior, South Florida
LB: Tyrone McKenzie, Senior, South Florida
LB: Scott McKillop, Senior, Pittsburgh
LB: Reed Williams, Junior, West Virginia
CB: Mike Mickens, Senior, Cincinnati
CB: DeAngelo Smith, Senior, Cincinnati
S: Nate Allen, Junior, South Florida
S: Courtney Greene, Senior, Rutgers

K: Pat Mcafee, Senior, West Virginia
P: Kevin Huber, Senior, Cincinnati
KR: Max Suter, Sophmore, Syracuse
PR: Aaron Berry, Junior, Pittsburgh



QB RB WT/TE OL DL LB DB
Cincinnati 6 8 2 7 4 5 1
Connecticut 5 4 8 5 2 4 3
Louisville 4 5 7 2 3 6 5
Pittsburgh 8 2 3 6 5 3 7
Rutgers 3 7 1 3 6 7 2
South Florida 2 3 4 4 1 2 4
Syracuse 7 6 5 8 8 8 8
West Virginia 1 1 6 1 7 1 6

MOtorboat
06-23-2008, 08:54 PM
Great job Boss.

Not sure how Pat White and Noel Devine can be on that All-Conference list though.

Seriously...love the read.

BOSSHOGG30
06-23-2008, 09:11 PM
#1 Big East Team.....

West Virginia

Offense:
Former West Virginia coach Rich Rodriques took most of his assistants to Michigan. Offense standouts like tailback Steve Slaton, slot man Darius Reynaud and full back Owen Schmitt have also moved on. Yet the Mountaineer offense that lit up Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl is still loaded. Returning for new head coach Bill Stewart is Heisman Trophy candidate Pat White and blue-chip tailback Noel Devine, two of college football's fastest men, along with the entire offensive line. White is a two-time Big East Offensive Player of the Year, and there's no proven talent behind Devine, so keeping the young men healthy is key. In front of the pair, however, there is plenty of talent. All-American left tackle Ryan Stanchek returns to lead an offensive line that pushed for two 1,000 yard rushers and an average output of 297.2 rushing yards per game, third best nationally. The concern is the receiving corps.

Defense:
Coordinator Jeff Casteel must replace anchors Ryan Mundy, Eric Wicks, Keilen Dykes, and Johnny Dingle from an odd stack defense that was surprisingly good last season. Stewart, though, says this year's unit is as fast as he's ever had. Middle linebacker Reed Williams returns after leading the team in tackles last season with 107. Mortty Ivy, the team's second leading tackler last season, is also back on the weak side. Defensive line coach Bill Kirelawich has some work ahead of him. Chris Neild has been put in a "pressure cooker" by Kirelawich and Stewart to take over at nosetackle. At end, watch out for four-star recruit Tevita Finau, who transferred from Phoenix (Ariz.) College. The Mountaineer secondary has size and speed, but the talent level is questionable. Quinton Andrews has the most experience, but proved undisciplined at times on and off the field last year.

Specialist:
Pat McAfee will continue to be the man in regard to WVU's special teams. He handles the team's kickoff, punt, field goal and extra point duties and was a Lou Groza Award semifinalist last season. McAfee has his holder and snapper back in Jeremy Kash and Adam Hughes. Devine may return kickoffs, depending upon depth at tailback, along with Sanders. Ellis Lakster could be the team's punt returner.

Final Analysis:

It's a pivotal season in Morgantown with Stewart taking over for the fiery Rodriguez. If WVU's players respond well to the change, the program should continue to have success. It's yet to be seen how the players repsond not only to Stewart, but also the position coaches. The schedule is a bit tougher, with an away game at Colorado and a home game against Auburn, but the talent is there for the Mountaineers to make another national title run. There are defensive holes to fill, but even with those WVU may be able to simply outscore its opponents as it did earlier in the Rodriguez era. If White and Devine stay healthy, Stewart should have a Top 10 team on his hands. A key could be the Dec. 6 home finale against South Florida.

Schedule:
Villanova
at East Carolina
at Colorado
Marshall
Rutgers
Syracuse
Auburn
at Connecticut
Cincinnati
at Louisville
at Pittsburgh
South Florida

Looking at this schedule I think the key games are at Colorado, Auburn, and South Florida.

BOSSHOGG30
06-23-2008, 09:13 PM
Upcoming:
Big Ten Conference
Conference USA
Mid-American Conference
Mountain West Conference
Pac-10 Conference
Southeastern Conference
Sun Belt Conference
Western Athlectic Conference

BOSSHOGG30
06-29-2008, 08:00 PM
Big Ten Conference

Preseason Rankings

Ohio State
Wisconsin
Illinois
Michigan
Penn State
Iowa
Michigan State
Northwestern
Purdue
Indiana
Minnesota

All Big Ten Team

QB: Todd Boeckman, Senior, Ohio State
QB: Juice Williams, Junior, Illinois
RB: Javon Ringer, Senior, Michigan State
RB: Chris Wells, Junior, Ohio State
RB: P.J. Hill, Junior, Wisconsin
WR: Arrelious Benn, Sophmore, Illinois
WR: Brian Robiskie, Senior, Ohio State
WR: Greg Orton, Senior, Purdue
TE: Travis Beckum, Senior, Wisconsin
TE: Tony Moeaki, Senior, Iowa
OL: Alex Boone, Senior, Ohio State
OL: Xavier Fulton, Senior, Illinois
OL: Rich Ohrnberger, Senior, Penn State
OL: Kraig Urbik, Senior, Wisconsin

DL: Maurice Evans, Junior, Penn State
DL: Mitch King, Senior, Iowa
DL: Greg Middleton, Junior, Indiana
DL: Matt Shaughnessy, Senior, Wisconsin
LB: Marcus Freeman, Senior, Ohio State
LB: James Laurinaitis, Senior, Ohio State
LB: Brit Miller, Senior, Illinois
CB: Vontae Davis, Junior, Illinois
CB: Malcomn Jenkins, Senior, Ohio State
S: Anderson Russell, Junior, Ohio State
S: Anthony Scirrotto, Senior, Penn State

K: Anderson Russell, Junior, Ohio State
P: Jeremy Boone, Junior, Penn State
KR: A.J. Wallace, Junior, Penn State
PR: David Gilreath, Sophmore, Wisconsin

BOSSHOGG30
06-29-2008, 08:20 PM
Top Big Ten Team:

Ohio State

Offense: When Chris "Beanie" Wells arrived to the program from Akron, Ohio, a member of the OSU coaching staff compared the bruising running back to a young Jim Brown. High praise indeed. Wells may not reach that pinnacle, but he does appear to be ready to dominate on a weekly basis. The junior is coming off the best rushing performance ever by a Buckeye against Michigan (222 yards) and an eye-opening display in the BCS National Championship Game vs. LSU (146 yards, including a 65-yard TD romp). With Wells a constant threat in the backfield, quarterback Todd Boeckman should have enough time behind a veteran offensive line to find his favorite targets, wide receivers Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline. The graceful Robiskie ran under several of Boeckman's deep lobs last season and averaged a robust 17.0 yards per catch. Hartline ranked right behind Robiskie's team-leading 55 catches with 52 of his own. Finding a consistent thrid receiver and developing a fullback to pave running lanes for Wells will be early-season priorities. The wild card is true freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor, a once-in-a-lifetime athlete who can bring an added dimension to the offense.

Defense:
It's no mystery why the Buckeyes entered the title game tops in the nation in points allowed, rushing defense, and overall defense. As has been the case for decades, they emply a very active 4-3 alignment that provides regular pressure on passing downs and funnels running plays to the middle, which is where Bukus Award-winning linebacker James Laurinaitis resides. A senior with size, speed, and all the intangibles, Laurinaitis may be hailed as the best defensive player in the country by the time his senior season ends. Outside linebacker Marcus Freeman has ranked second on the team in tackles the last two seasons behind Laurinaitis, and there's no reason to think that won't happen again. The front line is fierce and armed with plenty of reserves for co-coordinator Jim Heacock to keep fresh troops on the field. Thorpe Award frontrunner Malcolm Jenkins, a physical corner, headlines a stellar secondary. Kurt Coleman and Anderson Russell showed signs of becoming a terrific tandem at safety but need to come up with more turnovers.

Specialist:
The Buckeyes struggled at times last year to contain kick returners but should improve with more athletic cover units and the return of kickoff specialist Aaron Pettrey, who was hurt for much of 2007. Also, punter A.J. Trapasso is a All-Big Ten-caliber performer who is especially savvy at placing kicks inside the 20-yard line. Ryan Pretorius is accurate but needs to get more lift on his placements.

Final Analysis:
Everything is in place for Ohio State to again be among the very elite teams in the country. The Buckeyes have nine returning starters on both sides of the ball, and some of them are All-Americans in waiting. They also have a head coach in Jim Tressel who knows how to maneuver through the potential pitfalls of the regular season and has a Division I-A national championship to his credit. The defense should again be among the very best in the nation but may miss the outside pressure provided by Vernon Gholston. The offense needs to substain more drives and avoid the costly trunover. Wells had fumbling issues early in his career, and Boeckman tossed 14 INT's last season. A sizzling season should lead to a championship game apperance in Miami.

Schedule:
Youngstown State
Ohio
at USC
Troy
Minnesota
at Wisconsin
Purdue
at Michigan State
Penn State
at Northwestern
at Illinois
Michigan

Ohio State should have tough games versus; USC, Wisconsin, and Illinois

Northman
06-30-2008, 04:41 AM
Sweet, UVA getting overlooked yet again. LOVE IT. \m/