Spring
Preview
2009
Big East Spring Football Previews
By
Richard Cirminiello
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2009 Big East Team-By-Team
Schedule
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2009 Big East Composite
Schedule
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2009 Big East Early Lookaheads
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2008 Big East Lookbacks and
Recaps
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2008 CFN Big East Preview
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2007 Big East Spring Analysis
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2008
Early Lookaheads -
Big East
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2008 Big East Insider Spring
Questions & Answers
Cincinnati
Begins:
March 31
Game: April 25
The early spring buzz ...
The wholesale changes on the Bearcat
defense will not be limited to the
personnel. More than a month after the
season ended, Brian Kelly surprisingly
fired defensive coordinator Joe Tresey,
plucking Bobby Diaco out of Virginia to
replace him. By all measures, Tresey was
a success at Cincinnati, but there were
philosophical differences between the
coaches that couldn’t be solved. In
order words, Kelly wants to make the
move to a 3-4 alignment, which will
begin to be implemented in April. Diaco
is just 36 years old, and one of the
fast risers in the coaching ranks.
The big spring question is ... Can
the defense recover from the loss of so
many key players? Four Bearcat
defenders, Mike Mickens, Brandon
Underwood, Connor Barwin, and Terrill
Byrd, earned All-Big East honors a year
ago. All four are now preparing for
possible NFL careers. Just a couple of
players with starting experience are
back in 2009, which will heap pressure
on unproven players, like CB Dominique
Battle, DT John Hughes, and S Drew Frey
to come up big and pick up some slack.
The most important position to watch is
... nose tackle. If Cincinnati is,
indeed, moving toward the 3-4 defense,
it has to develop someone that can play
the nose and plug a couple of gaps on
running downs. The Bearcats will be
looking for a big, physical lineman, who
has the quickness to get penetration and
the durability to absorb a lot of
contact. If they’re not successful, the
run D could take a nosedive. Hughes,
Derek Wolfe, and Ricardo Mathews are all
candidates to get extensive playing time
in the fall.
Spring attitude...
With back-to-back 10-win seasons and a Big East championship behind it,
Cincinnati is looking to maintain without a bunch of familiar and
integral faces. If Kelly can still keep the Bearcats in the hunt in a
quasi-rebuilding year, it’ll send a message that this program will be
relevant as long as he’s on the sidelines. QB Tony Pike and WR Mardy
Gilyard caught a lot of people by surprise in 2008. Now, they’re two of
the cornerstones of the program, hoping to take on more of a leadership
role and impress NFL scouts.
Connecticut
Begins:
March 17
Game: April 19
The early spring buzz ... After once again
posting spotty results on offense, the program couldn’t have been too
shaken up when coordinator Rob Ambrose left for the head job at Towson.
If not for the heroics of RB Donald Brown, the Huskies’ might have had
the Big East’s worst attack. Randy Edsall is entrusting his offense to
Joe Moorhead, who’d like to install a far more up-tempo, no-huddle
system that incorporates a quick, short passing game. Does Moorhead have
the parts needed to make the offense click? He’ll know better in the
spring.
The big spring question is ...
Who gets the ball? If the Huskies want to do a little more passing
this fall, they better locate and develop their triggerman in the
spring. The battle to replace Tyler Lorenzen is expected to come down to
junior Zach Frazer and sophomore Cody Endres, a couple of strong-armed
passers. While both got reps last season, neither impressed, combining
for just two touchdowns and nine interceptions for the nation’s 109th-ranked
passing game. It’s time for Frazer, a Notre Dame transfer, to begin
playing like one of the top quarterbacks in the class of 2006.
The most important position to watch is ...
running back. You’ll hear all offseason about Connecticut’s fancy new
offense, but don’t be fooled. This program is still built around the
ground game. Although you don’t get better by losing the nation’s
leading rusher, the Huskies may not be in such bad shape at the
position. If senior Andre Dixon can avoid distractions, he’s got
1,000-yard potential, and sophomore Jordan Todman ran well in his first
year. Remember, if he has his act together, this is the same Dixon who
outplayed Brown in 2007.
Spring attitude...
Just keep working hard in
the offseason no matter who’s paying attention. Connecticut has become
the epitome of a blue-collar team, working a little harder than the
competition because Edsall demands it and a relative lack of stars
requires it. There are considerable holes on both sides of the ball, so
March and April will be used to establish a soft two-deep and find a
leader to pilot the offense. If Moorhead can whip this offense into
shape, there’s no reason the Huskies won’t be playing in a third
straight bowl game.
Louisville
Begins:
March 7
Game: April 17
The early spring buzz ... The
Cardinals need to get back on the field just to deflect some attention
away from a miserable offseason. There were player transfer, a
disappointing recruiting class, and some important defections on the
staff. Louisville parted ways with offensive coordinator Jeff Brohm and
lost defensive coordinator Ron English and his successor, Bill Miller,
within a matter of weeks. Looking to take ownership of the offense and
his fate, Steve Kragthorpe will call plays and be his own coordinator.
When the team convenes in March, there’ll be an unmistakable air of
desperation permeating throughout the coaching staff.
The big spring question is ...
Who takes over at quarterback? While Hunter Cantwell was a major
disappointment, at least he was a fifth-year player with next-level arm
strength. Matt Simms was being groomed to be in the hunt, but he grew
fed up with the program, transferring in January. Out of junior Tyler
Wolfe, redshirt freshman Zack Stoudt, and JUCO transfer Andrew Froman,
Kragthorpe needs to decide who’s best suited to run the offense. Wolfe’s
four passing attempts a year ago make him the veteran of the group.
The most
important position to watch is ... the defensive line. A team
strength in 2008, it’s back to the drawing board for the Cardinal front.
End Maurice Mitchell and tackles Earl Heyman and Adrian Grady have
graduated, leaving new coordinator Brent Guy with big gaps on his
defensive line. Rodney Gnat and L.D. Scott will get first dibs on the
two outside jobs. On the inside, L.T. Walker and Tyler Jessen enter
spring with the most experience. If these veterans cannot generate
consistent pressure, a rebuilt secondary will pay the consequences.
Spring attitude... Stop the
bleeding. Louisville needs to generate something to feel good about
after a past year that was flush with so much negativity. This is the
perfect setting, with no outsiders watching and no one keeping score, to
begin turning around the culture of losing that’s developed under
Kragthorpe. It’s important for the Cardinals to give the local media
something to discuss, like the performance of a young breakthrough
player, so it can take a breather on the decline of the program and the
problems with the coaching staff.
Pitt
Begins:
March 19
Game: April 11
The early spring buzz ...
Although local whipping-boy Matt Cavanaugh has left for an NFL job,
don’t expect the offense to be overhauled now that Frank Cignetti is the
new coordinator. As long as Dave Wannstedt is the head coach, the
Panthers will favor a more conservative pro-style offense that sets up
the pass with a heavy dose of running. Cignetti shares that philosophy,
which was a contributing factor in bringing him over from Cal. Plus,
until one of the quarterbacks proves he’s capable of handling a more
diverse attack, it makes no sense to open things up through the air.
The big spring question is ...
Who plays quarterback, Bill Stull, Pat Bostick, or Tino Sunseri?
Yeah, all eyes will be on LeSean McCoy’s replacement, but Pittsburgh
will be fine on the ground with Shariff Harris and Chris Burns,
especially if the passing game improves. Stull was ordinary as the
starter a year ago, opening up the competition after failing to take
advantage of a talented corps of receivers. Beginning this spring,
someone needs to lock down the position in order to take some heat off
the backs and get the most out of TE Nate Byham and 6-5 budding
superstar Jonathan Baldwin.
The most important position
to watch is ... the offensive line. Even after losing all-star G
C.J. Davis to graduation, this could be the best front wall in the
Wannstedt era. With four starters back, the unit has the potential to
make life so much easier for Harris, Burns, and the quarterbacks. Jason
Pinkston and Joe Thomas are a pair of tackles with next-level potential.
Robb Houser started seven games at center a year ago. And G John Malecki
was named Most Improved Player in his first year after switching sides
of the ball. If some of the top recruits from the past few signing days
are ready to contribute, Pitt should have a terrific two-deep in the
trenches.
Spring
attitude... Although McCoy’s exit has lowered expectations around
the country, the Panthers are looking ahead and not back. And why not?
Even without their offensive star, this is a talented team that
continues to stockpile blue-chippers in February. The defense alone is
good enough to get the program to a second straight postseason game. If
the offense makes strides under Cignetti, a Big East championship is
well within reach, especially with West Virginia and Cincinnati expected
to take a step back.
Rutgers
Begins:
March 10
Game: April 18
The early spring buzz ...
While every school is looking to plug some holes this time of year,
Rutgers is in the difficult position of finding new leaders, especially
on offense. Last season, the Knights were forced to move on without star
RB Ray Rice, and now need to replace QB Mike Teel. Sure, Teel was
maddeningly inconsistent, but he was also a four-year starter with the
best arm of any quarterback to ever play in Piscataway. A lot like West
Virginia, which has lost Steve Slaton and Pat White in the last two
years, Rutgers needs to find a new face of the offense beginning in
March and April.
The big spring question is ...
Will a feature runner break from the pack? Greg Schiano wound up
using four different backs last year to try and match Rice’s production.
Kordell Young, Jourdan Brooks, and Joe Martinek all showed flashes of
potential and a different skill set. With the passing game almost
guaranteed to suffer a power outage, one of these runners, along with
Mason Robinson, will have a shot for a monster season if he can build
separation and command 20-25 carries a game.
The most important position to watch is ... defensive tackle.
The flashiest losses may be at wide receiver,
but to be successful in 2009, the
Scarlet Knights have to develop more run-stoppers. Although he got
almost no pub outside of New Jersey, Peter Tverdov had an outstanding
senior season and will be sorely missed. It’s incumbent upon the younger
linemen, like Alex Silvestro, Charlie Noonan, and Justin Francis, to
show they can clog the middle, or else the Rutgers run defense will be
vulnerable.
Spring attitude... Is Rutgers
the team that started last season 1-5 or the one that finished on a
seven-game winning streak? The long climb toward answering that question
begins in the spring. After four straight postseason games, the Scarlet
Knights believe they’ve reached a point in their development where
full-scale rebuilding only takes place on the stadium and practice
facilities. If, however, they hope to move up a rung with a Big East
title, a bunch of relative unknowns out of the backfield must emerge.
South Florida
Begins:
March 9
Game: April 11
The early spring buzz ...
Like much of the Big East this offseason, the Bulls have lost assistant
coaches like they were baby teeth. First, head coach Jim Leavitt demoted
offensive coordinator Greg Gregory, who later left the program for the
same position at South Alabama. Receivers coach Mike Canales is expected
to be promoted to take his place. The bigger blow came when revered
defensive coordinator Wally Burnham pulled up stakes and bolted for Iowa
State in February. With staff changes coming so late in the offseason,
it’s going to be an unsettling spring session for the entire program.
The big spring question
is ... Is this the beginning of QB Matt Grothe’s best season at
South Florida? It better be, or else the Bulls can forget about winning
their first Big East championship. Grothe can be both fantastic and
frustrating…on the same series. While he’s easily been the school’s
offensive MVP over the last three seasons, he has also thrown 42
interceptions over that time. South Florida needs to see fewer mistakes
and more of the player that accounted for 319 yards, three touchdowns,
and no turnovers in the bowl rout of Memphis.
The most important position to
watch is ... the offensive line. This group will be watched and
worked by the staff more than any other unit in March and April. Gone
are long-time stalwarts Matt Huners, Ryan Schmidt, Jake Griffin, and
Marc Dile, leaving Zach Hermann as the lone returning starter. Plenty
will be expected from Jacob Sims, Jeremiah Warren, Joe Herzhauser, and
Danous Estenor, who played as underclassmen and will all have shots at
filling the holes in the starting lineup.
Spring attitude... It’s the
final year in the careers of Grothe and DE George Selvie, two of the
cornerstones of South Florida’s rise to national notoriety. The Bulls
are not going away, but if they don’t capitalize now, it’ll go down as a
lost opportunity. While they have enough talent, bolstered by another
dynamite recruiting class, to win the Big East and play in the Orange
Bowl, the program has developed a flaky personality that’s been a
stumbling block the last two years.
Syracuse
Begins:
March 23
Game: April 18
The early spring buzz ...
It’s the dawn of a new era, as former NFL assistant Doug Marrone was
hired to replace Greg Robinson. The Orange needed a fresh face on the
sidelines, but it’ll be a while before the program knows if it made the
right decision here. The main objective of the 15 practices will be for
the staff to get its first luck at the personnel, and for the new
systems on both sides of the ball to be installed. Scott Shafer will be
implementing a 4-3 defense that creates pressure without necessarily
blitzing haphazardly. Rob Spence’s offense will feature elements of the
no-huddle with some interesting wrinkles.
The big spring
question is ... Is Mike Williams here to stay? Remember him, the
All-Big East wide receiver, who’d caught a touchdown pass in nine
consecutive games before being academically ineligible for 2008? He
spent the fall semester at Springfield (Mass.) Technical Community
College, and is taking classes again at Syracuse this spring. The Orange
needs him to be eligible this September to help along a passing attack
that was 113th nationally a year ago. The one player on the
roster who’ll frighten opposing defenses, Williams will be the best
friend of struggling QB Andrew Robinson.
The most important position to
watch is ... the defensive backfield. Something must be done with
the secondary after it allowed 27 touchdowns passes and picked off just
eight. There are a handful of familiar faces back in the mix, like top
corner Mike Holmes, but that alone is not going to get the job done. The
Orange needs CB Dorian Graham and S Kevyn Scott to build on their
freshmen debuts, and former starting CB Nick Chestnut to return after
missing the 2008 season. The bodies are there, but Syracuse needs some
healthy competition to bring out the best in this group.
Spring attitude... Coming off
a three-win season and lacking the talent of the rest of the Big East,
Syracuse understandably has modest goals in 2009. Unlike most other
schools, wins and bowl eligibility won’t be the only measures of
success, as the Orange takes its first steps toward recovery under
Marrone. If the new staff can create some excitement among the players,
fans, and community, it’ll be off to a flying start with the program.
West Virginia
Begins:
March 24
Game: April 18
The early spring buzz ... Far
more than last year, when QB Pat White was still the dominant figure in
Morgantown, this is Bill Stewart’s team. He has a full season under his
belt and two of his recruiting classes settling into a campus routine.
He and his staff are expected to put an even bigger imprint on the
Mountaineers in 2009, which should impact White’s successor, senior
Jarrett Brown. One of the nation’s better backups the last couple of
years, he’ll have his chance to excel in an offense that’s expected to
air it out a little more this fall.
The big spring question is ...
Who’ll step up and assume a leadership role on offense? For the
first time in five years, White won’t be on campus for West Virginia,
and it’ll feel weird for a long time. The offensive line is being
rebuilt. Noel Devine isn’t ready to take on the assignment. And Jock
Sanders is currently serving an indefinite suspension for a DUI. If
Brown isn’t ready to be the sparkplug on the field, in the huddle, and
in the locker room, it could be an unusually long season for the
Mountaineer offense.
The
most important position to watch is ... the offensive line. For
years, this is where West Virginia’s championships have been won. The
Mountaineers have had a knack for taking marginal high school prospects,
like Dan Mozes, Ryan Stanchek, and Greg Isdaner, and turning them into
all-star performers. Well, they’ll have to keep that trend going in
order to compensate for the loss of four of last year’s regulars. T
Selvish Capers and C Eric Jobe are experienced returners, but sophomore
G Josh Jenkins is the lineman who really has the staff giddy.
Spring attitude... The
Mountaineers feel the Big East is rightfully theirs to win, and plan to
take it back this season. In two years, West Virginia has lost White,
head coach Rich Rodriguez, and RB Steve Slaton, producing a groundswell
of critics, who are predicting an end to the prosperity. Stewart’s
aw-shucks demeanor lost its charm right around the time the ‘eers were
eliminated from the Big East race. A league title without White’s
assistance is exactly what the coach needs to rekindle the spark with
the locals.