2009 Big East Team Lookaheads
2009 Pages
Cincinnati
|
Connecticut
|
Louisville
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Pittsburgh
Rutgers
|
South
Florida |
Syracuse
|
West
Virginia
2008 Pages
Cincinnati
|
Connecticut
|
Louisville
|
Pittsburgh
Rutgers
|
South
Florida |
Syracuse
|
West
Virginia
-
2008 CFN All-Big
East Team
|
2008 CFN Preseason All-Big East Team
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2007 Big East
Lookbacks & Recaps
|
2008
Big East Lookaheads
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2008 Big East Lookbacks/Recaps
Cincinnati
Bearcats
CFN Preseason Prediction: 9-4 Final Record: 11-3
Why
to get excited: The situation at quarterback will be
far more stable than a year ago. Unlike the 2008 season, when three
different hurlers started games, the Bearcats will enter 2009 with Tony
Pike firmly entrenched as the starter. He really came on in his first
season of action, and has the size and passing skills to parlay a strong
senior year into a spot on an NFL roster.
Why to be grouchy:
The defense is being ravaged by graduation. If Cincinnati is to defend its Big East
championship, it’ll need to cope with the loss of 10 defensive starters,
including four named to the all-conference squad. Oh, and if things
couldn’t get any tougher for the rebuilt unit, All-America P Kevin
Huber, one of the unsung heroes of the team, has also exhausted his
eligibility.
The
number one thing to work on is: The running game. The Bearcats would like to have a little more balance
on offense after finishing last in the league in rushing and averaging
less than four yards a carry. Plus, while the defense adapts to a slew
of new faces in important places, controlling the clock and extending
drives will take on a greater priority.
Biggest
offensive loss:
G Trevor Canfield
Biggest defensive loss: CB Mike Mickens
Best returning offensive player:
WR Mardy Gilyard, Jr.
Best returning defensive player:
S Aaron Webster, Sr.
Connecticut Huskies
CFN Preseason Prediction: 6-6 Final Record: 8-5
Why
to get excited: Randy Edsall is still employed by the
university. Although he and his agent field offers regularly, Edsall has
resisted the temptation to leave
Storrs. That’s terrific news for a program that
never attracts top-flight talent to the campus, yet has gone bowling in
each of the last two seasons. The reason? No one in the Big East is
doing a better job of coaching up kids than Edsall and his staff.
Why to be grouchy: RB Donald Brown is leaving early for the NFL Draft.
Geez, does that sting for an offense that lacks punch or anything
resembling a passing game. After leading the nation in rushing, Brown
decided to capitalize on his success, leaving the program with Jordan
Todman and Andre Dixon to pick up the slack. Now that Tyler Lorenzen has
graduated, Connecticut will also be
searching for a quarterback in the new-look backfield.
The number one thing to work on is:
The passing attack. Connecticut doesn’t
aspire to be Oklahoma, but it needs to
do better than five touchdown passes in a season. While Zach Frazer and
Cody Endres have live arms, it won’t matter if someone doesn’t step up
from a receiving corps that intimidates no one.
Biggest offensive loss:
RB Donald Brown
Biggest defensive loss: DE Cody Brown
Best returning offensive player:
T Mike Hicks, Sr.
Best returning defensive player:
LB Scott Lutrus, Jr.
Louisville Cardinals
CFN Preseason Prediction: 7-5 Final Record: 5-7
Why to get excited: Most
of last year’s top skill position talent is back to support whoever’s
under center. Victor Anderson was a 1,000-yard rusher in his first
season, and Bilal Powell was underutilized in a reserve role. At wide
receiver, the Cards’ top four pass-catchers return. Doug Beaumont
enjoyed a breakthrough year with a team-high 62 receptions. Josh
Chichester is a 6-8 mismatch on the outside. Scott Long has the biggest
upside once he’s healthy for an entire year.
Why to be grouchy: Everywhere else warrants a question
mark. The new quarterback will have no relevant experience. The
offensive line loses All-Big East first teamers, Eric Wood and George
Bussey. And an already flimsy defense needs to replace all four starters
along the front wall and popular coordinator Ron English. A lack of
depth will be a season-long problem for this group.
The number one thing to work on is:
Protecting the ball. The Cardinals don’t have enough talent to overcome
another 30-turnover season. Few schools do. If Louisville is going to do
better than 110th nationally in turnover margin, untested
quarterbacks Tyler Wolfe, Justin Burke, Zac Stoudt and Adam Froman
better grow up in a hurry.
Biggest offensive loss:
C Eric Wood
Biggest defensive loss: NT Earl Heyman
Best returning offensive player:
RB Victor Anderson, Soph.
Best returning defensive player:
LB Jon Dempsey, Sr.
Pitt Panthers
CFN Preseason Prediction: 10-2 Final Record: 8-4
Why to get excited: The
defensive line will be the best of the Dave Wannstedt era. On the
outside, juniors-to-be Jabaal Sheard and Greg Romeus formed a dynamite
bookend in 2008, combining for 26 tackles for loss and 13 sacks. While
Rashaad Duncan will be missed at the nose, Mick Williams, Tommie Duhart,
and Gus Mustakas form a capable rotation of seniors, who all started at
least one game last fall.
Why to be grouchy: LeSean is LeGone. After saying for months that he
planned to return for his junior year, star RB LeSean McCoy has bolted
for the NFL after all. The one bright light in an otherwise dreary
Panther offense, he leaves a gaping hole in the backfield that’ll likely
be filled by unproven Kevin Collier and Shariff Harris.
The number one thing to work on is:
Lighting a fire under the passing attack. Yeah, Wannstedt is all about
the power running game, but you can’t throw 10 touchdown passes all year
and expect to win a Big East championship. The Panthers need increased
production from the quarterback in order to get budding talents, such as
WR Jonathan Baldwin and TE Nate Byham, more involved in the gameplan.
Biggest offensive loss:
RB LeSean McCoy
Biggest defensive loss: LB Scott McKillop
Best returning offensive player:
WR Jonathan Baldwin, Soph.
Best returning defensive player:
DE Greg Romeus, Jr.
Rutgers
Scarlet Knights
CFN Preseason Prediction: 7-5 Final Record: 7-6
Why to get excited: The
offensive line has the potential to be among the best in school history.
Of the seven blockers who started games in 2008, six return next fall.
All-star Anthony Davis is a next-level player at left tackle, and Caleb
Ruch and Art Forst exceeded expectations as freshmen. If this group
keeps gelling, it’s good news for a backfield-by-committee welcoming
back last year’s top four rushers.
Why to be grouchy: The passing game will be impotent. Yeah, QB Mike
Teel could drive you nuts with his decision-making, but he’ll be missed
next fall by the fans in Piscataway.
The favorite to succeed him is Jabu Lovelace, who’s a better athlete
than a passer, and top receivers Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood are
moving on to careers in the NFL. The ground game better produce because
the Knights will be suspect through the air.
The number one thing to work on is:
Running the ball with more authority. The Scarlet Knights sputtered in
their first year without Ray Rice, which was no surprise. Next year? No
excuses. The offensive line will be a team strength and there are a
number of complimentary options out of the backfield.
Jourdan
Brooks and Joe Martinek
are the meat-and-potatoes backs, who can pick up yards between the
tackles. Kordell Young and Mason Robinson provide the dash and the speed
to get outside.
Biggest offensive loss:
WR Kenny Britt
Biggest defensive loss: S Courtney Greene
Best returning offensive player:
T Anthony Davis, Jr.
Best returning defensive player:
LB Ryan D’Imperio, Sr.
South Florida
Bulls
CFN Preseason Prediction: 7-5 Final Record: 8-5
Why to get excited:
The Bulls’ most important offensive and defensive player return for one
more season. DE George Selvie put off the NFL, opting to try and
recapture his All-America form of 2007. Assuming the ankle injury that
bothered him throughout 2008 doesn’t flare up, he’s poised to go on a
12-game salary run. Although QB Matt Grothe still makes too many costly
mistakes, he remains the multi-dimensional heartbeat of the offense and
begins his fourth season as the starter, a luxury for any head coach.
Why to be grouchy: The offensive line will be going through an
overhaul. Four starters with extensive experience are gone, including
captain Jake Griffin and a pair of all-stars on the right side, Matt
Huners and Marc Dile. The offense has had enough problems running the
ball consistently and keeping Grothe off his back. With so much turnover
up front, moving the ball is about to get a whole lot tougher.
The number one thing to work on is:
Creating more takeaways. Isn’t South Florida
supposed to harbor some of the Big East’s best athletes? It didn’t look
that way last fall from a defense that lacked explosiveness or a
penchant for causing mistakes. The Bulls forced just 17 turnovers, which
was 97th nationally and better than only
Syracuse
in the conference.
Biggest offensive loss:
G Matt Huners
Biggest defensive loss: LB Tyrone McKenzie
Best returning offensive player:
QB Matt Grothe, Sr.
Best returning defensive player:
DE George Selvie, Sr.
Syracuse
Orange
CFN Preseason Prediction: 3-9 Final Record: 3-9
Why to get excited: WR
Mike Williams is back in classes. While it’ll take a lot more than just
one player to turn this vessel around, Williams was the closest thing Syracuse had to a star before he was lost for
academic reasons. Well, he has re-enrolled in spring classes, meaning
he’ll have a chance in the fall to extend his streak of nine straight
games with a touchdown reception.
Why to be grouchy: The Orange
failed to make a splash when searching for head coach Greg Robinson’s
replacement. With more accomplished candidates, such as Turner Gill and
Skip Holtz, in the mix, the program settled on Doug Marrone, a relative
unknown from the New Orleans Saints. Hey, maybe Marrone is the next big
thing in young coaches, but considering the depths of
Syracuse’s problems, he’s a risky hire.
The number one thing to work on is:
Pass defense. The way the
Orange
gave up big plays through the air, you’d think it was a member of the Big 12. After allowing 27 touchdown passes and
picking off just eight in a weak league for passers, Syracuse needs more than just CB Mike Holmes
to step up and make stops.
Biggest offensive loss:
RB Curtis Brinkley
Biggest defensive loss: LB Jake Flaherty
Best returning offensive player:
WR Mike Williams, Jr.
Best returning defensive player:
DT Arthur Jones, Sr.
West Virginia
Mountaineers
CFN Preseason Prediction: 10-2 Final Record: 9-4
Why to get excited: The
defense will be outstanding. Only three regulars are gone from a unit
that led the Big East in scoring D and was 16th nationally in
pass efficiency defense. The lineup was littered with sophomores, such
as DT Scooter Berry, LB J.T. Thomas, and CB Brandon Hogan, who’ll only
get better with more reps. As an added bonus, top LB Reed Williams is
expected back from shoulder surgery that forced him to redshirt in 2008.
Why to be grouchy: The Pat White era is over. The
transition period after an all-timer graduates is never easy, especially
when he touched the ball 60 times a game. He carried the Mountaineers to
a lot of wins over the last four years with his arm, legs, and knack for
making plays late in close games. Although you could do a lot worse than
rising senior Jarrett Brown, no one is capable of adequately replacing
White.
The number one thing to work on is:
Rebuilding the offensive line. This will be almost as tough as replacing
White. All five starters are gone, including junior G Greg Isdaner, who
has declared for the NFL Draft, and perennial all-star Ryan Stanchek.
The new veteran is sophomore C Eric Jobe, who started the final five
games after Mike Dent was injured.
Biggest offensive loss:
QB Pat White
Biggest defensive loss: LB Mortty Ivy
Best returning offensive player:
RB Noel Devine, Jr.
Best returning defensive player:
DT Scooter Berry, Jr.