2009 Big Ten Team Lookaheads
2009 Pages
Illinois
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Indiana
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Iowa
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Michigan
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Michigan
State
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Minnesota
Northwestern
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Ohio State
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Penn State
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Purdue
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Wisconsin
2008 Pages
Illinois
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Indiana
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Iowa
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Michigan
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Michigan
State
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Minnesota
Northwestern
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Ohio State
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Penn State
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Purdue
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Wisconsin
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2008 CFN All-Big
Ten Team
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2008 CFN Preseason All-Big
Ten Team
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2007
Big Ten Lookback/Recaps |
2008 Big Ten Lookaheads
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2008 Big Ten Lookbacks and Recaps
Illinois Fighting Illini
CFN Preseason Prediction: 6-6 Final
Record: 5-7
Why to get excited: The skill players might
be the best in the conference. Juice Williams has matured into an
efficient passer and a good all-around playmaker, and he has all his key
parts back from receivers Arrelious Benn and Jeff Cumberland to tight
end Michael Hoomanawanui, who’ll be a bigger part of the offense. Three
of the four conference road games should be as easy as they come going
to Indiana, Purdue, and Minnesota.
Why to be grouchy: The other Big Ten road
game is at Ohio State. The Illini lose three key veterans off the
offensive line, hurt mostly by the loss of center Ryan McDonald. The
defense that was so good in several different areas last year, but it
loses just enough good starters to hurt. CB Vontae Davis was a
disappointment, but he’s a first-round draft pick caliber corner who was
an elite athlete. LB Brit Miller was a tackling machine and a leader for
the front seven, while end Derek Walker was one of the team’s leading
pass rushers.
The number one thing to work on is:
Holding up better against the run. The Illini pass rush was the best in
the Big Ten while the front seven was great at getting into the
backfield. How mediocre was the run defense? Illinois led the league in
tackles for loss, and still finished ninth in the conference in run
defense. This is going to be yet another athletic, active defense. Now
it’ll have to show it can be tough.
Biggest offensive loss: C Ryan McDonald
Biggest defensive
loss: LB Brit Miller
Best returning offensive player: QB
Juice Williams, Sr.
Best returning defensive player:
LB Martez Wilson, Jr.
Indiana Hoosiers
CFN Preseason Prediction: 5-7 Final
Record: 3-9
Why to get excited: The offense loses RB
Marcus Thigpen, arguably the team’s best offensive player last year, but
it gets back everyone else including QB Kellen Lewis. The offensive line
might have struggled last year, but with all five starters returning, it
should be better. For anyone else, the schedule starts out nice with
Eastern Kentucky, Western Michigan, Akron and Michigan.
Why to be grouchy: Is the talent level there
to improve? The Hoosiers have miles to go to be more competitive
compared to last year. The Hoosiers were last in the Big Ten in almost
every meaningful defensive category, struggled offensively, and were
blown out in every FBS game but two. The receiving corps is going to
continue to be an issue.
The number one thing to work on is:
Making Kellen Lewis, Kellen Lewis. When he had James Hardy to throw to
and everything was clicking in 2007, he threw for 3,043 yards and 28
touchdowns while running for 736 yards and nine scores. Last year, a bit
banged up and off the mark after the first three games, he finished with
just 1,131 passing yards and six touchdowns with eight interceptions,
while running for just 167 yards and no touchdowns over the final nine
games.
Biggest offensive loss: RB Marcus Thigpen
Biggest defensive
loss: SS Joe Kleinsmith
Best returning offensive player:
QB Kellen Lewis, Sr.
Best returning defensive player:
DE Jammie Kirlew, Sr.
Iowa Hawkeyes
CFN Preseason Prediction: 7-5
Final Record: 9-4
Why to get excited: The offensive line that was so strong last year
loses guard Seth Olsen and center Rob Bruggeman, but the tackles are
back along with emerging quarterback Ricky Stanzi and top receivers,
Derrell Johnson-Koulianos. The defense that led the Big Ten in pass
efficiency D, and was 12th in the nation, gets back three
starters while the entire linebacking corps is back.
Why to be grouchy: The schedule and the
stars. Mitch King and Matt Kroul might have been the best defensive
tackle pair in America that no one paid any attention to. They’ll be
sorely missed, but not as much as RB Shonn Greene. The Doak Walker
winner might have come from out of nowhere, but Iowa doesn’t have
another one quite like him waiting in the wings. And then there’s the
schedule. How’s this for the Big Ten road schedule? Penn State,
Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Ohio State. Thank you very much. Good
night.
The number one thing to work on is:
Getting more from Ricky Stanzi. It took a little while for Stanzi to
take the starting quarterback job by the horns, but when he did, he was
solid. However, the Iowa offense was all about Greene and the running
game, and while the passing attack was efficient, it wasn’t spectacular.
With Greene gone, Stanzi will have more pressure on his shoulders to
make the offense go.
Biggest offensive loss: RB Shonn Greene
Biggest defensive
loss: DT Mitch King
Best returning offensive player: OT
Kyle Calloway, Sr.
Best returning defensive player: LB
Pat Angerer, Sr. s
Michigan Wolverines
CFN Preseason Prediction: 7-5 Final
Record: 3-9
Why to get excited: Everyone but QB Steven Threet, who’s
transferring, is back on offense. While that might not seem like a
positive considering the woeful, last-in-the-Big-Ten season, for a team
trying to figure out the new coaching staff and the system, having a
year under the belt means there won’t be a ton of turnover early on. The
recruiting class wasn’t remotely as good as Ohio State’s, but it was
good enough to be excited for the near future.
Why to be grouchy: The schedule. While it
doesn’t appear to be that bad early on, Western Michigan and Notre Dame
are the only two concerns in the first month, all home games, and then
comes the fun. At Michigan State, at Iowa, Penn State, at Illinois. If
the Wolverines, who aren’t going to be Florida, can survive that, and
can get through the eye of the Hurricane, the home date with Purdue, the
reward is going to Wisconsin and getting Ohio State. Defensively,
Michigan loses two key players, TIm Jamison and Terrence Taylor, on the front four, while the secondary
has to replace CB Morgan Trent and SS Brandon Harrison.
The number one thing to work on is:
Running the football. The passing game simply isn’t going to shine. It
should be better, depending on the quarterback, but if the Wolverines
have to throw to win, they’re sunk. They have to do one thing, do it
very well, and then move on to the next week, and that one thing has to
be the running game. West Virginia’s ground game wasn’t always
consistent, but it almost always blew up in the second half after a few
adjustments. Michigan’s ground game has to be good throughout … and the
fumbles have to stop.
Biggest offensive loss: PK K.C. Lopata
Biggest defensive
loss: DE Tim Jamison
Best returning offensive player:
RB Brandon Minor, Sr.
Best returning defensive player: DE Brandon Graham, Sr.
Michigan State Spartans
CFN Preseason Prediction: 7-5 Final
Record: 9-4
Why to get excited: There’s no Ohio State on the schedule and the
road games are at Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota and Purdue.
That’s easier than it looks on paper. The defense might not have been a
rock last year, but it should be loaded with LB Greg Jones and DE Trevor
Anderson leading a good front seven. The receivers that were so mediocre
last season should be better with a year of experience under its belt,
and with everyone returning. Oh yeah, and Michigan still stinks. It’ll
be a stunner of MSU isn’t better than its arch-rival again.
Why to be grouchy: Keith Nichol, the
one-time super-recruit should be a good quarterback in time, but he
might need a little while. Kirk Cousins will probably be the option on
day one, and he won’t have Javon Ringer to fall back on. While the
defense should be stronger, it does lose a few key players in DT Justin
Kershaw, SS Otis Wiley, and DE Brandon Long. The offense loses
All-Big Ten linemen Roland Martin and Jesse Miller.
The number one thing to work on is:
Getting the receivers involved. Mark Dell had the look of MSU’s next
superstar receiver in the season opener against Cal, catching nine
passes for 202 yards and a touchdown, but he didn’t do much the rest of
the way. Neither did anyone else. The offense revolved around Javon
Ringer and the running game, and now there needs to be more balance and
more pop to the passing attack. The receivers have experience, and now
they need to produce.
Biggest offensive loss: RB Javon Ringer
Biggest defensive
loss: SS Otis Wiley
Best returning offensive player: C
Joel Nitchman, Sr.
Best returning defensive player: LB
Greg Jones, Jr.
Minnesota Golden Gophers
CFN Preseason Prediction: 6-6 Final
Record: 7-6
Why to get excited: Everyone is back. The new TCF Bank Stadium will
get an experienced team to open it up. Oh sure, TE Jack Simmons, DE
Willie VanDeSteeg, and LB Deon Hightower were all major producers, but
they’re the only ones missing from a team that started out the year so
hot. Fine, so the kickers are gone, too, but everyone else is back
including QB Adam Weber, WR Eric Decker, and eight other starters on
offense. Nine starters return on defense.
Why to be grouchy: In Big Ten play,
Minnesota has to go on the road to face Northwestern, Penn State, Ohio
State, and Iowa. While missing Michigan would normally be a plus, that’s
not necessarily the case this year. The Gophers also miss Indiana,
likely the league’s worst team. Offensive
coordinator Mike Dunbar is gone, but that’s not a killer. Losing
defensive coordinator Ted Roof to Auburn, is.
The number one thing to work on is:
Getting the running game back on track. There was a time when Minnesota
had one of the nation’s most feared ground attacks. But injuries, a
change in offense, and the lack of a steady back meant a last place Big
Ten finish in rushing offense. While Weber and the passing game will be
fine, there’s a hard ceiling on what the team can do without an improved
ground game.
Biggest offensive loss: TE Jack Simmons
Biggest defensive
loss: DE Willie VanDeSteeg
Best returning offensive player:
WR Eric Decker, Sr.
Best returning defensive player:
S Tramaine Brock, Sr.
Northwestern Wildcats
CFN Preseason Prediction: 6-6 Final
Record: 9-4
Why to get excited: The offensive line was
second in the Big Ten in sacks allowed and did a decent job for the
ground game. That was with three redshirt freshmen starting, and now
they’re matured to go along with senior right tackle Desmond Taylor. The
defense gets back eight starters after allowing just 341 yards and 20
points per game. Schedule-wise, starting out with Miami University,
Towson, at Syracuse, Minnesota, at Purdue, and Eastern Michigan is nice.
A home game against Indiana should also be a win, while missing Ohio
State is a gift.
Why to be grouchy: Is Corey Wootton ready?
Apparently he’s on track to come back from the knee injury suffered in
the Alamo Bowl, and the line will need him with DT John Gill and end
Kevin Mims gone. There are veterans back for the offensive backfield,
but Mike Kafka has to prove he can do more than just run and a steady
running back has to emerge to replace Tyrell Sutton. Top receivers Ross
Lane and Rasheed Ward are gone.
The number one thing to work on is:
The passing game. Kafka came in to replace an injured C.J. Bacher and
ran for 217 yards in the win over Minnesota and ran for 83 yards against
Ohio State. While he completed 32-of-46 passes in his limited time, he
threw three interceptions to go along with the two touchdown passes he
tossed against the Gophers. With new starters in at receiver, and
without Sutton to rely on to carry the offense, the Wildcats need a big
off-season from Kafka.
Biggest offensive loss:
QB C.J. Bacher
Biggest defensive loss: DT John Gill
Best returning offensive player: OT Al Netter, Soph.
Best
returning defensive player: DE Corey Wootton, Sr.
Ohio State Buckeyes
CFN Preseason Prediction: 12-0 Final Record: 10-3
Why to get excited: If you’re going to play
USC, especially this year, do it early. While the Buckeyes have some
reloading to do, USC has to do more work and has to be ready for the
date in Columbus on September 12th. If OSU can somehow pull
that one off, it should be smooth sailing in a weak Big Ten until early
November with a trip to Penn State. By then, the defense, that returns
seven starters, should be solid, while Terrelle Pryor and the offense
should be good enough to win with.
Why to be grouchy: James Laurinaitis,
Malcolm Jenkins, Alex Boone, Beanie Wells, Marcus Freeman, Brian
Hartline, Donald Washington, Brian Robiskie, Rory Nichol and Steve
Rehring. Those ten players are likely to be drafted, and there’s a
chance punter A.J. Trapasso and kicker Ryan Pretorius will end up
pushing for an NFL job in someone’s camp. Ohio State might reload, but
that’s a lot of next-level talent to replace right away.
The number one thing to work on is:
Opening up the passing game. Pryor was kept under wraps with the passing
game, much to the chagrin of NFL-caliber receivers Brian Robiskie and
Brian Hartline. Now, with Beanie Wells gone, all eyes will be on Pryor
to carry the load of the offense. If he and the attack are as
one-dimensional as last year, there will be major problems. He has to be
able to open things up early on.
Biggest offensive loss:
RB Beanie Wells
Biggest defensive loss: LB James
Laurinaitis
Best returning offensive player: QB Terrelle
Pryor, Soph.
Best returning defensive player: SS Kurt
Coleman, Sr.
Penn State Nittany Lions
CFN Preseason Prediction: 8-4 Final Record: 11-2
Why to get excited: It’s a four game
schedule, and the one big one is at home. Penn State has to worry about
trips to Illinois and Michigan State, while Iowa and Ohio State have to
come to Happy Valley. Win three of the four, with one of the wins coming
against the Buckeyes, and it’s off to Pasadena for a second year in a
row. Sean Lee comes back from his knee injury to join Josh Hull and
Navorro Bowman, forming one of the nation’s best linebacking corps,
while the offensive backfield is loaded with Clark and running backs
Evan Royster and Stephfon Green returning.
Why to be grouchy: The lines need a lot of
retooling. With Maurice Evans and Aaron Maybin taking off early for the
NFL, new stars need to be found at defensive end. The offensive line is
a bigger issue. Guard Stefen Wisniewski might be the best in the
country, but he’s one of just two returning starters. Good luck
replacing the four-year receiving corps of Derrick Williams, Deon Butler
and Jordan Norwood.
The number one thing to work on is:
The passing game. Clark had a great season, but he wasn’t able to come
through in the fourth quarter against Iowa and he wasn’t in for the key
final drive in the win over Penn State. He was ultra-efficient, and now
he’ll have to be even better with his receiving corps gone. The offense
will revolve around the running game early on, and there will be time,
with the schedule relatively light, to get the passing attack rolling.
Biggest offensive loss:
WR Derrick Williams
Biggest defensive loss: DE Aaron
Maybin
Best returning offensive player: QB Daryll Clark, Sr.
Best returning defensive player: LB Sean Lee, Sr.
Purdue Boilermakers
CFN Preseason Prediction: 6-6 Final Record: 4-8
Why to get excited: The Big Ten’s leading
pass defense gets the entire secondary back. While the Boilermakers led
the conference primarily because the run defense was getting rolled,
this should still be the team’s strength. Six of the first eight games
are at home, and while there are some tough battles, especially against
Ohio State and Illinois, there should be time to reload a bit.
Why to be grouchy: The offense has to
replace just about everyone. Including Curtis Painter, Purdue loses
eight starters off an attack that didn’t do anything anyway, while the
defensive line loses Alex Magee and Ryan Baker. Yeah, the home games
define the first part of the season, but there’s a price to pay. The
Boilermakers go on the road for three of their final four games, even if
they are against Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana.
The number one thing to work on is:
Incorporating the first recruiting class. It’s not a strong class, but
it was build to immediately fill some holes. And there are a lot of
holes. Can Al-Terek McBurse carry the rushing load right away? Will
receivers Eric Williams, Gary Bush, and Gabe Holmes, all from Florida,
be able to take over the passing game? Hope needs an influx of talent to
at least build depth early on.
Biggest offensive loss:
RB Kory Sheets
Biggest defensive loss: LB Anthony Heygood
Best returning offensive player: OT Zach Jones, Sr.
Best
returning defensive player: DE Ryan Kerrigan, Jr.
Wisconsin Badgers
CFN Preseason Prediction: 10-2 Final Record: 7-6
Why to get excited: The Badgers might be
tremendously flawed, and if they play like they did last year they can
be beaten by anyone, but the schedule works out relatively well with no
Penn State or Illinois and plenty of winnable home games against teams
like Wofford, Northern Illinois, and Purdue. The offense gets back seven
starters, while the defense returns three starters in the secondary.
Getting back PK Philip Welch and P Brad Nortman is a plus.
Why to be grouchy: There are eight games
against 2008 bowl teams, and that includes a regular-season ending trip
to Hawaii. For a team that struggled against Cal Poly and was lucky just
to get a 13th game last season, it’ll need to be far tighter
and a lot better. The defensive line that was such a disappointment at
times last season loses three key starters, while the offensive line has
to replace three starters, too. John Clay might be the team’s most
talented back, but losing P.J. Hill to the NFL a year early will sting.
The number one thing to work on is:
Generating more of a pass rush. The offense isn’t going to be explosive
enough to win with on a regular basis; the defensive will need to steal
a game or three. That’ll only happen if the front line shines. Even with
a good group of defensive linemen last year, the Badgers still struggled
to get into the backfield on a regular basis. Now they need to replace,
tackles Jason Chapman and Mike Newkirk along with end Matt Shaughnessy.
Biggest offensive loss: RB P.J. Hill
Biggest defensive loss: CB Allen Langford
Best returning
offensive player: TE Garrett Graham, Sr.
Best returning
defensive player: LB Jaevery McFadden, Sr.