2007 Connecticut Huskies
Recap:
The hands-down surprise of the year in the Big East, Connecticut
defied the odds by going 9-4 and winning a share of the league
title. With a win over West Virginia on Nov. 24, the no-frills
Huskies would have been the outright champs, earning a BCS bowl
berth that was unimaginable just three months earlier. Connecticut
won plenty of games the old-fashioned way, snuffing out opponents
with a no-name defense and controlling the clock with talented
sophomore backs Andre Dixon and Donald Brown.
Offensive Player of the Year: RB Donald Brown
Defensive Player of the Year: LB Danny Lansanah
Biggest Surprise: The defense. Not a whole lot was expected
from a unit that lacked star power or high-profile recruits.
Opportunistic and air-tight against the pass, Connecticut allowed
just 19 points and 194 yards passing a game behind anonymous
players, such as Lansanah, LB Lawrence Wilson, and DE Julius
Williams.
Biggest Disappointment: Connecticut wasn’t supposed to beat
West Virginia in Morgantown with so much at stake, but a 66-21 loss
robbed the program of earning the national respect that it sorely
craves. After taking a 7-0 lead, the Huskies were never
competitive, a stark reminder how far they must travel before
measuring up with a team like the Mountaineers.
Looking Ahead: With so much of last year’s squad, including
coveted head coach Randy Edsall, returning in 2008, there’s no
reason to believe Connecticut won’t be right back in the bowl hunt
again next November. Unlike this past fall, however, the Huskies
won’t be able to sneak up on the rest of the Big East.
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2007 UConn Preview
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2006 UConn Season
2007 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 5-7
2007 Schedule:
9-4
Sept. 1
at Duke
W 45-14
Sept. 8
Maine
W 38-0
Sept. 15
Temple
W 22-17
Sept. 22 at
Pitt W 34-14
Sept. 29
Akron
W 44-10
Oct.
13 at
Virginia L 17-16
Oct.
20
Louisville W 21-17
Oct.
27
South Florida
W 22-15
Nov.
3 Rutgers W 38-19
Nov.
10 at
Cincinnati L 27-3
Nov.
17
Syracuse W 30-7
Nov.
24 at W Virginia L 66-21
Meineke Car Care Bowl
Dec. 29 Wake Forest L 24-10 |
Dec. 29
2007 Meineke Car Care Bowl
Wake Forest 24 ... Connecticut 10
Wake Forest gave up a 68-yard punt return for a touchdown to
Larry Taylor in the first quarter, and allowed a 29-yard field goal
in the second. Then it was all Demon Deacons scoring 24 unanswered
points while the defensive shut down the Husky attack. Riley Skinner
connected with John Tereshinski for a 20-yard score and Josh Adams
tore off a 38-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, Sam Swank
connected on a 43-yard field goal in the fourth, and Micah Andrews
put it away with a nine-yard touchdown run in the final minute.
UConn was held to just nine first downs and 213 yards of total
offense, while the Demon Deacon had 23 first downs and 412 yards.
Offensive Player of the
Game:
Wake Forest WR Kenneth Moore made 11 catches for 112 yards, returned
four punts for 26 yards, and two kickoffs for 33 yards
Defensive Player of the Game: Wake Forest LB Stanley Arnoux
made eight tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, half a sack, broke up a
pass and came up with an interception
Stat Leaders: Wake Forest - Passing: Riley
Skinner, 29-38, 268 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Josh Adams, 19-66, 1 TD. Receiving: Kenneth
Moore, 11-112
Connecticut - Passing: Tyler Lorenzen, 13-26,
98 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Donald Brown, 13-72. Receiving: Brad Kanauch,
3-36
Thoughts & Notes ... UConn's defense was solid all season long, and
while it forced two turnovers, including a beauty of a hit by Darius
Butler to stop a sure touchdown drive, the offense couldn't provide
any help. Tyler Lorenzen did the best he could under pressure, but
he couldn't make enough plays with his feet, and he struggled to get
any consistent offense going. The Huskies simply couldn't get
behind, and they did in the second half. ... With 20 wins in the
last two years is a lot for anyone, but for Wake Forest, this
represents the best era in the school's football history. Jim Grobe
continues to be the coach's coach, the one who gets the utmost
respect for what he does with less talent than most, but he's had
some players over the last few years. Kenneth Moore grew into a top
pass catcher, the offensive line has been terrific, and the defense
has had a few great college talents here and there. Now the program
has expectations, and that's not a bad thing. ... Once the Demon
Deacons took control in the second half, never once did it seem like
the Huskies had a shot to make a comeback. There were a few chances,
and the defense wasn't awful, but the passing game was too off and
the ground game didn't provide any pop. Outside of a few big runs,
Donald Brown and Andre Dixon never got going.
Nov. 24
West Virginia 66 ... Connecticut
21
Connecticut hung tough for a a half, pulling with in 24-14 on
a two-yard Donald Brown run with 20 seconds left. And then West
Virginia cranked out 42 straight points highlighted by a 24-yard Pat
White touchdown dash, a 25-yard Noel Devine scoring run, and a
fumble recovery for a touchdown from Reed Williams. Steve Slaton
tore off scoring runs from 31 and three yards out as part of the 517
rushing yards the Mountaineers put up. WVU outgained UConn 624 yards
to 392.
Player of the game:
West Virginia QB Pat White completed nine of 13 passes for 107 yards
and a touchdown with an interception, and ran 16 times for 186 yards
and two touchdowns.
Stat Leaders: West Virginia - Passing: Pat
White, 9-13, 107 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Pat White, 16-186, 2 TD. Receiving: Darius
Reynaud, 5-76, 1 TD
Connecticut - Passing: Tyler Lorenzen, 14-28,
151 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Donald Brown, 22-129, 1 TD. Receiving: Brad
Kanuch, 3-63, 1 TD
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ...
While UConn obviously isn't going to be pleased with getting blasted
by West Virginia and losing out on the Big East title, it's hard to
argue with a 9-3 season and a chance for a double-digit year with a
win in the bowl game. The offense simply isn't equipped to keep up
in shootouts, and when the defense isn't coming up with big stops,
forget about it. Getting more from the passing game will be
addressed in the offseason, but simply getting a good bowl game
would be a nice finish to a shocking year.
Nov. 17
Connecticut 30 ... Syracuse 7
Connecticut got up to a 30-0 lead with Tyler Lorenzen
connecting with Terence Jeffers for a 63-yard touchdown early in the
first and Andre Dixon sand Donald Brown each running for scores. The
defense got into the act in the second half with Danny Lansanah
picking off a pass and taking it 49 yards for a touchdown. SU
finally got on the board with a two-yard Mike Williams catch for its
only points of the game. The Huskies finished the year unbeaten at
home.
Player of the game: Connecticut RB Donald Brown ran 22 times for
99 yards and a touchdown and caught a pass for 11 yards
Stat Leaders: Syracuse - Passing: Cameron
Dantley, 7-17, 61 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Doug Hogue, 12-65. Receiving: Mike Williams,
6-24, 1 TD
Connecticut - Passing: Tyler Lorenzen, 16-24,
213 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Donald Brown, 22-99, 1 TD. Receiving: Andre
Dixon, 4-40
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... The
Huskies might not be pretty, but they pulled off their wins at home,
got to 9-2, and now have a shot to win the Big East title with a
victory at West Virginia next week. Of course that's easier said
than done, but they're in for a good bowl, and possible the the
league's number two bowl slot, but they're still realistically
thinking about the championship. To beat the Mountaineers, the
offense has to go on long, sustained drives and the defense has to
force mistakes. A repeat of the performance against Syracuse would
be nice.
Nov. 10
Cincinnati 27 ... Connecticut 3
Cincinnati stuffed Connecticut, holding the vaunted ground
game to 22 yards, while Ben Mauk scored on an 11-yard run and threw
two short first quarter touchdown passes on the was to the win. Mauk
closed out the scoring with a 37-yard touchdown pass to Dominick
Goodman early in the fourth quarter, and the UConn offense couldn't
respond. The Huskies could only manage a 22-yard Tony Ciravino field
goal.
Player of the game: Cincinnati QB Ben Mauk completed 21 of 33
passes for 276 yards and three touchdowns, and ran nine times for 12
yards and a score
Stat Leaders: Cincinnati - Passing: Ben Mauk,
21-33, 276 yds, 3 TD
Rushing: Jacob Ramsey, 17-66. Receiving: Dominick
Goodman, 8-127, 1 TD
Connecticut - Passing: Tyler Lorenzen, 18-37,
182 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Andre Dixon, 12-35. Receiving: Andre Dixon, 6-51
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... It's
too harsh to say UConn got exposed by Cincinnati, but the formula
didn't work. The Bearcats were more physical, didn't make a slew of
mistakes, and stuffed the Husky running game cold. This was a game
when Tyler Lorenzen needed to throw his way into the game, and he
couldn't do it. He had some decent numbers, but he didn't move the
ball well enough to overcome the rest of the team's problems. All
isn't lost. If West Virginia can beat Cincinnati next week, UConn is
right back in the Big East title hunt with the Mountaineers to close
out the year after playing Syracuse.
Nov. 3
Connecticut 38 ... Rutgers 19
Connecticut jumped out to an early 18-3 lead helped by two
Tyler Lorenzen touchdown passes and a bad snap for a safety, and
then let Donald Brown and the running game take over. The Huskies
ran for 256 yards to overcome 343 passing yards from Scarlet Knight
QB Mike Teel, while the defense did a good job of not breaking too
often, only allowing a four-yard Ray Rice touchdown run and four
Jeremy Ito field goals. After the second, Tyvon Branch put the game
away with a 97-yard kickoff return for a score. Tony Ciaravino added
field goals from 43, 30 and 26 for the Huskies.
Player of the
game:
Connecticut RB
Donald Brown ran 24 times for 154 yards and a touchdown, and caught
a pass for four yards.
Stat Leaders: Rutgers - Passing: Mike Teel,
32-52, 343 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Ray Rice, 21-116, 1 TD. Receiving: Kenny
Britt, 8-122
Connecticut - Passing: Tyler Lorenzen, 10-21,
140 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: Donald Brown, 24-154, 1 TD. Receiving: Steve
Brouse, 4-55, 1 TD
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... Somehow,
some way, the formula continues to work. The running game is
bruising, the defense bends, but doesn't break, and the offense
capitalizes on seemingly every little mistake. The offensive line
dominated Rutgers, and Donald Brown took advantage. Tyler Lorenzen
hardly had a good day throwing the ball, but he did just enough
early on to set the tone for the game, and basically put the Scarlet
Knights away. If the Huskies can beat Cincinnati, then it'll be 10-1
with a layup against Syracuse to follow. Yes, UConn can be 10-1.
Oct. 27
Connecticut 22 ... South Florida 15
Connecticut took a 16-0 lead with Steve Brouse catching a
three-yard touchdown pass and Scott Lutrus picking off a pass for a
23-yard score, and then in the rain and mud, had to hang on for deal
life. South Florida roared back in the second half with two Delbert
Alvarado field goals and a ten-yard Matt Grothe touchdown run, and
then had a chance to win in the final minute getting down to the
Husky 12. On fourth and goal, Grothe's final pass was incomplete,
and UConn hung on. USF committed ten penalties for 79 yards, while
UConn committed six for 39.
Player of the game:
Connecticut RB Andre Dixon ran 32 times for 167 yards, and caught
three passes for 42 yards
Stat Leaders: South Florida - Passing: Matt
Grothe, 16-30, 189 yds, 2 INT
Rushing: Matt Grothe, 25-146, 1 TD. Receiving:
Jessie Hester, 6-50
Connecticut - Passing: Tyler Lorenzen, 13-25,
194 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Andre Dixon, 32-167. Receiving: D.J. Hernandez,
3-60
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ...
Now will everyone believe that UConn is
for real? Probably not. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, flashy
about this team. It runs the ball well, with Andre Dixon having a
great day against South Florida, the defense is sound, and it's been
able to come up with two great home wins in a row with Rutgers
coming to Storrs next week. It would be nice if there was more pop
to the passing game, but 8-1 is 8-1. Yes, UConn is four wins away
from going to the BCS.
Oct. 20
Connecticut 21 ... Louisville 17
In lousy weather, Connecticut forced three Brian Brohm
interceptions and overcame a 17-7 fourth quarter deficit with a
seven-yard D.J. Hernandez touchdown catch and a five-yard Andre
Dixon scoring run. The Huskies got a big break early in the third
quarter, as Larry Taylor waved for the fair catch on a punt, fielded
it, and ran 74 yards for a score after the Louisville defenders
stopped. It was still ruled a score. The Cardinal offense only
managed a two-yard Scott Kuhn touchdown catch and a field goal, with
Earl Heyman returning a fumble 32 yards for a score in the fourth.
UConn's Scott Lutrus made 18 tackles, and Danny Lansanah made 15.
Player of the game:
Connecticut RB Andre Dixon ran 22 times for 115 yards and a
touchdown and led the team with three catches for 55 yards
Stat Leaders: Connecticut - Passing: Tyler
Lorenzen, 9-18, 130 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Andre Dixon, 22-115, 1 TD. Receiving: Andre
Dixon, 3-55
Louisville - Passing: Brian Brohm, 29-41, 228
yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Brock Bolen, 16-60. Receiving: Gary Barnridge,
8-64
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ...
UConn might not play the prettiest brand
of football, and it might not have a consistent enough passing game,
but it cranks out productive running backs like they came off an
assembly line, and the linebacker play has been phenomenal.
Louisville's running game never got going, while there was just
enough pressure all game long to hurry Brian Brohm and throw him off
his game. Now on top of the Big East standings, the Huskies can
start to dream big with South Florida and Rutgers coming to town
over the next two weeks.
Oct. 13
Virginia 17 ... Connecticut 16
Virginia got a 19-yard Chris Gould field goal with just
over three minutes to play, and survived a late UConn drive, helped
by an errant snap and a false start penalty, to hang on for the win.
The Huskies got three Tony Ciaravino field goals and a six-yard
Steve Brouse touchdown catch, while Virginia got a one-yard Keith
Payne touchdown run and an eight-yard John Phillips scoring grab.
Player of the game:
In a losing cause,
Connecticut LB Lawrence Wilson made 17 tackles and three tackles for
loss
Stat Leaders: Virginia - Passing: Jameel
Sewell, 14-24, 149 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Jameel Sewell, 16-66. Receiving: Chris
Gorham, 3-76
Connecticut - Passing: Tyler Lorenzen, 17-33,
176 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Andre Dixon, 14-63. Receiving: Terence Jeffers, 5-60
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... The
Huskies had their chances to beat Virginia, but the running game
went into the tank, gaining just 78 yards, and the offense blew up
on the key late drive that appeared to be almost certain to produce
a field goal. As ugly as the game was, and as bad as the loss was,
it still was a non-conference loss. The real work is ahead in Big
East play, and the Huskies get Louisville, South Florida and Rutgers
at home. If the defense plays like it did against Virginia, there
Huskies will have a chance to win any or all of those.
Sept. 29
Connecticut 44 ... Akron 10
Connecticut took just over a quarter to wake up, and after
getting down 10-9 late in the first half on a six-yard Jabari Arthur
touchdown grab, and then things quickly changed as Tyvon Branch took
the ensuing kickoff 97 yards for a score. The Huskies scored 35
unanswered points with Donald Brown and Lou Allen running for short
scores, and Andre Dixon ripping off a 55-yard score, his second
touchdown of the game. Tyler Lorenzen threw two touchdown passes.
Player of the
game:
Connecticut RB
Andre Dixon ran for 116 yards and a score on 12 carries, and had
four catches for 52 yards and another touchdown.
Stat Leaders: Akron - Passing: Chris Jacquemain,
19-28, 145 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Bryan Williams, 13-65. Receiving: Jabari
Arthur, 8-81, 1 TD
Connecticut - Passing: Tyler Lorenzen, 17-26,
203 yds, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing: Andre Dixon, 12-116, 1 TD. Receiving: Andre
Dixon, 4-52, 1 TD
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ...
UConn took a while to get going against Akron, committed 11
penalties, only forced one turnover, and struggled on third downs
... and won by 34 over Akron. There might not be a great win to hang
a hat on yet, but the defense is playing extremely well against the
run and the ground game was stellar. 5-0 is 5-0, with the help
coming from several different spots to provide the spark. As long as
there's balance, limited mistakes, and good run D, UConn will come
up with a win or two over the nasty next few games against Virginia,
Louisville, South Florida and Rutgers.
Sept. 22
Connecticut 34 ... Pitt 14
Connecticut's offense wasn't sharp, but it didn't have to be,
with the defense forcing six turnovers highlighted by a 51-yard
Lawrence Wilson interception return for a touchdown early in the
fourth quarter. Danny Lansanah came up with an
interception on the third play of the game, and Lou Allen cashed
it in with a one-yard touchdown run as part of a 10-0 first
quarter lead. Pitt's main highlight came on a 19-yard LeSean
McCoy touchdown run early in the second quarter, but the UConn
offense went on its two best drives of the day, with Allen and
Donald Brown running for short scores, with Allen's one-yard
dash coming with 32 seconds to play. A sack forced a fumble, and
UConn converted with a 39-yard Tony Ciaravino field goal with no
time left on the clock. In the second half, Pitt only managed a
21-yard Oderick Turner touchdown catch late in the fourth
quarter.
Player of the game:
Connecticut LB Lawrence Wilson made 11 tackles, a
tackle for loss, and picked off a pass for a 51-yard touchdown
Stat Leaders: Connecticut - Passing: Tyler
Lorenzen, 12-25, 174 yds
Rushing: Donald Brown, 18-53, 1 TD. Receiving: D.J.
Hernandez, 3-50
Pitt
- Passing: Pat Bostick, 27-41, 230 yds, 1 TD, 3 INT
Rushing: LeSean McCoy, 11-70, 1 TD. Receiving:
Darrell Strong, 6-73
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ...
The offense continues to struggle,
and there's still a concern about a passing game that doesn't
seem to be able to get jump-started, but the defense has come
through time and again. Pitt's offense couldn't get the running
game going, and too many drives were halted with turnovers and
third down stops. Credit a Husky defense that has become
ball-hawking and occasionally dominant. With Akron up next, it's
vital to get more from the offense attack before going to
Virginia. There must be more explosion to deal with the start of
the Big East season in mid-October.
Sept. 15
Connecticut 22 ... Temple 17
Connecticut got a five-yard Donald Brown touchdown run early
in the fourth quarter to take the lead, and then held on for dear
life as Temple got the ball down to the Husky 11 in the final
moments, but couldn't score. However, it was close, as QB Adam
DiMichelle, in the end zone, battled a pass off a flea-flicker to
Bruce Francis, but was ruled out of bounds even after a review. The
Owls got touchdowns on a 59-yard Francis catch and a 13-yard Jason
Harper run, while the Huskies struggled, getting two Brown touchdown
runs and three Tony Ciaravino field goals.
Player of the
game:
Connecticut RB
Donald Brown ran for 54 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries,
while catching one pass for a touchdown..
Stat Leaders: Temple - Passing: Adam DiMichele,
9-18, 143 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Jason Harper, 22-114, 1 TD. Receiving: Bruce
Francis, 4-84, 1 TD
Connecticut - Passing: Tyler Lorenzen, 19-29,
222 yds
Rushing: Andre Dixon, 21-129. Receiving: D.J. Hernandez,
5-58
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... It's
not like the Huskies weren't efficient against Temple; they simply
weren't explosive. The defense did a fantastic job for around 55
minutes, and then couldn't come up with the final stop until Temple
misfired late. On the plus side, there weren't a slew of mistakes
with Tyler Lorenzen throwing the ball well, but to beat Pitt next
week, the offensive line will have to do a better job of protecting
him. Temple got six sacks, and Pitt should get nearly that many.
Sept. 8
Connecticut 45 ... Duke 14
Duke started off the scoring with a Brandon King six-yard
touchdown run to cap off a six-play, 80-yard drive, and held a 14-11
halftime lead as Jabari Marshall returned a kickoff 94 yards for a
score following a 27-yard Tony Ciaravino field goal. And then the
roof caved in as the Huskies scored 37 unanswered points as Tyler
Lorenzen threw two touchdown passes including a 57-yarder to D.J.
Hernandez, and Donald Brown tore off a 25-yard touchdown run. Darius
Butler capped off a nightmare of a second half for Duke with a
36-yard interception return for a score.
Player of the game: Connecticut QB Tyler Lorenzen
completed 22 of 30 passes for 298 yards and two touchdowns with an
interception and ran 19 times for 56 yards
Stat Leaders: Connecticut - Passing:
Tyler Lorenzen, 22-30, 298 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Donald Brown, 19-99, 1 TD. Receiving:
Terence Jeffers, 8-92
Duke - Passing: Thaddeus Lewis, 14-28,
148 yds, 1 TD, 3 INT
Rushing: Justin Boyle, 6-31. Receiving: Jomar
Wright, 4-31
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ...
It might have only been against Duke,
but Connecticut has to be ecstatic with the play of Tyler Lorenzen,
who settled the quarterback issues with a great all-around game, or
at least a great all-around second half, while the rest of the
running game did whatever it wanted to against the Blue Devils.
Defensively, the Huskies stuffed the Duke ground game and forced
several bad plays with continuous pressure into the backfield. With
tuneups against Maine and Temple coming up, Lorenzen has to keep
progressing and has to keep working the ball around. The less
running he has to do, the better.
Sept. 1 - Duke
Offense: Eleven starters return to an offense that lived
through the growing pains of a youth movement in an attempt to take a
giant leap forward. New offensive coordinator Peter Vaas, who comes over
from Notre Dame, should help make quarterback Thaddeus Lewis more
consistent. Helping the overall cause even more is a veteran line that
needs to be far better after doing next to nothing well throughout last
year. It'll be tailback by committee with several different options to
see carries, while the overall strength will be at receiver with several
young, big, good-looking targets for Lewis to use to push the ball
deeper.
Defense: The defense is still not going to be a rock, but there's
promise with several good young players to revolve around. Top prospects
Vince Oghobaase and Ayanga Okpokowuruk are rising stars on the line,
while Patrick Bailey is a playmaker who'll be one of the ACC's better
pass rushers. Michael Tauiliili is a playmaker at middle linebacker, but
the outside linebackers are question marks. Safeties Chris Davis and
Adrian Aye-Darko are good, and they'll need to be with major concerns at
corner.
Sept. 8 - Maine
Sept. 15 - Temple
Offense:
There was a little bit of improvement; the
offense averaged 10.92 points per game after averaging 9.73 in 2005.
There's plenty of experience and a major infusion of talent at running
back and receiver, but can any of them play? The attack will rely on
several true freshmen all over the place while praying for a major,
major improvement on the offensive line. The quarterback situation
is solid with Adam DiMichele and Vaughn Charlton each good enough to
start after seeing plenty of time last season. Whatever happens, the
offense will average more than a nation's worst 215.67 yards per game.
Defense: The good: The D improved giving up nine fewer yards and
four fewer points per game than in 2005. The bad: The Owls were 117th in
the nation in total defense and 118th in scoring D. The 2008 version
should be tremendous once all the freshmen and sophomores are crusty
veterans, but for now, there's good competition at almost every spot
with no sure-thing starter. The defensive line should be far better with
an instant infusion of talent, while the back seven has potential,
especially at linebacker, to make a big jump in production. It would be
nice if a true shut-down corner could quickly emerge with the hope that
JUCO transfer Tommie Williams will be that guy. Don't expect miracles,
but the overall numbers should improve.
Sept. 22 – at Pitt
Offense: The graduation of Tyler Palko leaves a gaping
hole on the Panther offense that’ll be filled by either junior Bill
Stull or hot-shot rookie Pat Bostick. Whoever gets the ball will enjoy
an outstanding supporting cast that includes junior running back LaRod
Stephens-Howling, one of the deepest receiving corps in the nation and
the program’s best front wall since Dave Wannstedt arrived. Wannstedt
and Matt Cavanaugh want to establish a more physical ground game, but if
the new hurler is up to the challenge, the ensuing balance will make
this a very dangerous offense.
Defense: Last year’s defense had big names, like H.B. Blades and
Darrelle Revis, with poor results. This year’s defense is devoid of
stars, but might wind up being statistically better. The key will be
stopping the run, something that vexed the Panthers throughout the
second half of the 2006 season. The difference this fall will be a
defensive line that’ll be much deeper than last year, and capable of
creating inside-outside pressure with junior tackle Gus Mustakas and
senior end Joe Clermond. Although replacing Revis won’t be a snap, the
secondary is busting with potential from future all-Big East players,
like sophomores Aaron Berry and Elijah Fields.
Sept. 29 - Akron
Offense: The offense was a major disappointment last
season with almost no production from a veteran offensive line and too
much of a reliance on the passing game. Now the running game, with a
good 1-2 punch of Dennis Kennedy and Andre Walker, should provide more
pop, but the the line, with four new starters, has to be far better. The
quarterback situation will be unsettled going into the fall with Carlton
Jackson, Chris Jaquemain, and Sean Hakes all in the race. The receiving
corps is fast and experienced, and now everyone has to play beyond their
talent level to help out whoever the new passer will be.
Defense: The 3-3-5 defense of Jim Fleming was excellent last
year, and it should be even better with eight starters returning and the
right pieces in place. To run this type of defense, you need big
linemen. Check. The Zips have 300-pounders in a rotation at tackle and
big size at the other two spots. You need playmaking linebackers. Check.
Three starters return with excellent depth to rotate in. You also need a
secondary to hold it's own. Not a problem. Four starters return in the
back five led by veteran corners Reggie Corner and Davanzo Tate.
Oct. 13 – at Virginia
Offense: Until the receivers prove they can play, it'll be run,
run and run some more with mobile quarterback Jameel Sewell and decent
backs Cedric Peerman and Keith Payne working behind a much improved,
veteran line. The tight ends are excellent, but the receiving corps
suffered a nasty blow when it lost leading receiver Kevin Ogletree with
a knee injury. Now it'll be up to Sewell, a rising star but an
inconsistent passer, to make everyone around him better. Don't expect
anything flashy for a while.
Defense: Somewhat quietly, the Virginia defense had a terrific
year finishing 17th in the nation in total D and 22nd in scoring D. It
should be even better with ten starters returning, including top linemen
Chris Long and Jeffrey Fitzgerald to anchor the front three. All four
starting linebackers are back to form a solid group that doesn't make a
whole bunch of mistakes. This might not be the most athletic defense,
but it's aggressive and is always around the ball.
Oct. 20 - Louisville
Offense: The coaching staff is new, but the results won’t differ
much from last season when Louisville rung up 37 points and 475 yards a
game. The Cardinals will spread the field and ask future first round
draft choice Brian Brohm to distribute the ball to his plethora of
playmakers. Brohm’s embarrassment of riches at receiver includes senior
Harry Douglas, junior Mario Urrutia and senior Gary Barnidge, who
combined for 159 receptions and 16 touchdowns in 2006. Head coach Steve
Kragthorpe and offensive coordinator Charlie Stubbs love leaning on the
tight end, so Barnidge could be particularly busy this fall. Even
without Michael Bush the running game is in good shape with the returns
of Anthony Allen and George Stripling, a thunder and lightning combo
that had 20 touchdowns a year ago. If Kragthorpe was able to
supercharge the Tulsa offense, just imagine what he’ll do with all the
resources they have in Louisville.
Defense: Not unlike the offense, the Cardinal D is aggressive,
unpredictable and built on speed. They’ll attack regularly which often
means sacks, turnovers and the occasional busted play that goes for 65
yards. The latter could happen a little more frequently in 2007, as the
secondary adjusts to three new starters and uncertainty at cornerback.
Even without All-American tackle Amobi Okoye, the defensive line figures
to be among the best in the Big East. Sophomore end Peanut Whitehead
and junior tackle Earl Heyman aren’t household names today, but both
have the explosiveness to change that by November. Senior linebacker
Malik Jackson is a disruptive force with enough range to wreak havoc all
over the field.
Oct. 27 - South Florida
Offense: This is Matt Grothe’s offense, but unlike last season,
he shouldn’t have to do everything short of crafting the weekly gameplan
in order to make the unit hum. Although he led the offense in passing,
rushing and scoring, the program realizes it needs to protect its most
important commodity and give him more support. Can freshman Mike Ford
live up to the hype? Plenty is expected from a back that should ignite
a rushing attack that did little in 2006 when Grothe wasn’t slithering
through opposing defenses. Originally headed to Tuscaloosa, he’s the
highest-profile recruit to ever sign with USF. The Bull receivers are a
dynamic bunch that’s loaded with size, speed and underachievers that
need to get their act together.
Defense: Like all teams from Florida, the USF defense pursues
well and is built on speed. Wally Burnham’s unit is well-coached,
prevents the big play and is vastly underappreciated and unnoticed on a
national level. That could change if the Bulls crack the top 10 in
total defense in 2007, a distinct possibility. Next level corners Trae
Williams and Mike Jenkins allow the defense to sell out on occasion, and
the front four, led by sophomore rush end George Selvie, returns seven
linemen that started games in 2006. Importing defensive line coach Dan
McCarney and linebacker Tyrone McKenzie from Iowa State were coups
that’ll pay immediate dividends.
Nov. 3 - Rutgers
Offense: Although Rutgers is more than content to pound the ball
between the tackles 30 times a game with All-America running back Ray
Rice, it wouldn’t mind a little more offensive balance this year.
Whether that happens depends on the development of junior quarterback
Mike Teel who struggled badly last year, but did play his best ball at
the end of the year and has a speedy group of receivers needed to author
a rebound. While question marks exist on the interior of the offensive
line, the tackle tandem of seniors Pedro Sosa and Jeremy Zuttah is one
of the best in the country.
Defense: For Greg Schiano and his Rutgers defense, it’s all about
creating pressure and turnovers with a variety of different looks to
confuse opposing offenses. Everything came together last year for a
unit that had 31 takeaways and allowed just 252 yards and 14 points a
game, but five starters need to be replaced. Senior defensive tackle
Eric Foster is a ticking time bomb that exploded on quarterbacks in
2006, en route to All-America recognition. He’s the physical and
spiritual leader of a front seven that’s noticeably less experienced
than last year. Provided sophomore Devin McCourty can handle the corner
spot opposite twin brother Jason, the secondary will rock with the
return of all-league safeties, Courtney Greene and Ron Girault.
Nov. 10 – at Cincinnati
Offense:
Take whatever you knew about last year’s Cincy offense and
delete it. Nothing will be the same, as Brian Kelly and his
staff dismantle Mark Dantonio’s plodding run game in favor of a
fancy spread attack. There’ll be growing pains, to be sure, but
by mid-season, there should also be improvement if a consistent
quarterback, such as Wake Forest transfer Ben Mauk, develops and
the line adjusts to a zone blocking scheme. A receiving corps
that’s led by juniors Derrick Stewart, Dominick Goodman and
Connor Barwin has a chance to blow up in the new system.
Defense: That Bearcat defense, which was so stingy
a year ago, returns almost virtually intact. The unit is small,
but very quick from sideline to sideline, and prone to swarming
anyone with the ball in his hands. It all starts up front with
a line that welcomes back four players with starting experience,
including its figurehead, junior tackle Terrill Byrd. Junior
cornerback Mike Mickens is one of the best unknown cornerbacks
in the country and the kind of defender that can shut down the
opposition’s No. 1 receiver. While the offense takes time to
adjust to a new system, the defense is going to keep Cincy in
plenty of games.
Nov. 17 - Syracuse
Offense:
The pieces are there among the skill players for a night-and-day
improvement from last year’s putrid attack that cranked out a mere 264
yards and 17.4 points per game. The receiving cops, helped by the return
of Taj Smith from injury, should be one of the best in the Big East,
while Curtis Brinkley is a good back to work around. Sophomore QB Andrew
Robinson is a star in the making, but he’ll have a hard time with his
consistency behind an offensive line that needs work even with three
starters returning in the interior.
Defense: It might take a little while, but the D will improve as
the season goes on, it struggled in every area but getting into the
backfield, and with a strong defensive line returning, led be end Jameel
McClain, generating pressure won’t be much of a problem. The linebacking
corps will be a work in progress with three news starters, but the
excellent safety tandem of Dowayne Davis and Joe Fields should clean up
plenty of messes.
Nov. 24 – at West Virginia
Offense: Unlike most schools that run the spread offense,
West Virginia aims to open lanes for its prolific ground game, rarely
putting the ball in the air more than 20 times a game. The Mountaineers
want the ball in the hands of its two junior Heisman candidates,
quarterback Patrick White and running back Steve Slaton. Along with
receiver Darius Reynaud, they form the fastest offensive trio in
America, and are threats for six with even a hint of daylight. White is
an underrated passer that rarely misses his target, but needs more help
from a receiving corps that’s suspect after Reynaud. Few schools
rebuild on the offensive line better than West Virginia, but how will
the unit react without its long-time quarterback Dan Mozes and long-time
coach Rick Trickett?
Defense: Lost in all the yards the Mountaineer offense gained in
2006 was all the yards the defense allowed. West Virginia allowed 35 or
more points three times last fall and was torched through the air
repeatedly over the second half of the year. Worse, this once
relentless defense had trouble getting to the quarterback and looked a
step slow. Rich Rodriguez is banking on a few tweaks to the back eight
and an influx of faster players as the solutions in the team’s 3-3-5
stack formation. Led by playmaking senior safety Eric Wicks, the
secondary has a glut of really talented athletes that need to gel into a
cohesive unit.
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