2009 CFN Big East Preview
Unit Rankings
Team Previews &
Predictions
Cincinnati
|
Connecticut
|
Louisville
|
Pitt
Rutgers
|
South Florida
|
Syracuse |
West Virginia
-
2009 CFN Big East Preview
- Big East Team-by-Team
Capsules
-
CFN All-Big East Team &
Top 30 Players
-
Big
East Unit
Rankings
- Big
East Schedules &
Predictions
-
2008 CFN Big East Preview
1. West Virginia
After getting mostly negative reviews in his first season as the
offensive coordinator, Jeff Mullen begins his second year
without the services of QB Pat White. Oh, joy. Actually, there
are silver linings for the offense. Jarrett Brown has been one
of the nation’s top backup quarterbacks the last two years, and
Noel Devine is a dynamic playmaker coming out of the backfield.
Plus, without White to bail the offense out of every jam, the
days of relying on one player to do most of the heavy lifting
are over. The Mountaineers are sticking with the spread, but
it’ll be tailored more toward Brown, a taller passer, who won’t
have to scramble to improve his line of sight. The program needs
him to deliver in a big way after it produced its fewest points
in seven years.
2. South Florida
3. Cincinnati
4. Pitt
5. Rutgers
6. Louisville
7.
Connecticut
8. Syracuse
Quarterbacks
1. Cincinnati
For the first time in four years,
Cincinnati came out of spring without any major question marks at
quarterback. That’s a good thing for the entire program that has
undergone so much turmoil under center. The Bearcats were able to win
games last year when Tony Pike was average, but that won’t be the
case in 2009. He’ll need to take his game to another level and
become the new face of the program. Chazz Anderson is a
fantastic athlete, and there are nice reserves pushing for the No. 3
spot.
2. West Virginia
3. South
Florida
4. Pitt
5. Rutgers
6. Louisville
7. Connecticut
8. Syracuse
Running Backs
1.
West Virginia
As long as Noel Devine is healthy, West Virginia will again have one
of the most explosive running games in the country. If, however,
he gets dinged, hold your breath. The Mountaineers are
perilously thin in the backfield, lacking the depth and
experience to endure any down time from their best offensive
weapon.
2.
Louisville
3. Connecticut
4. South Florida
5. Rutgers
6.
Cincinnati
7. Pitt
8. Syracuse
Receivers
1.
Pitt
Over the last two seasons,
Pittsburgh has been home to one of the nation’s least efficient passing
teams. Don’t blame the receivers, a talented group that would be so much
more productive if teamed with a better battery mate. It’s hard to argue
with a unit that has star potential at wide receiver with Jonathan
Baldwin and Oderick Turner, and tight end Nate Byham, and as much depth as anyone in the Big East.
2. Cincinnati
3. South Florida
4.
Syracuse
5. Louisville
6. West Virginia
7. Rutgers
8.
Connecticut
Offensive Line
1.
Connecticut
Someone needs to start giving more
attention to the job being done by offensive line coach Mike Foley, who
consistently whips players others ignored into outstanding blockers.
He’ll earn his pay again this year, trying to retool a unit that helped
the Huskies lead the Big East in rushing and sacks allowed. The key will
be at left tackle, where either Dan Ryan or Jimmy Bennett needs to
lessen the pain of losing William Beatty to the NFL.
2. West Virginia
3. Pitt
4. Cincinnati
5.
Louisville
6. Rutgers
7. South Florida
8. Syracuse
Defenses
1.
Pitt
As the defense goes, so goes the Pittsburgh program. Even after
losing All-American LB Scott McKillop to graduation, the Panthers are loaded on
this side of the ball, especially up front. With three legitimate
All-Big East contenders, they’ll control the line of scrimmage most
weekends, making life easier for the linebackers and defensive backs. On
the outside, Greg Romeus and Jabaal Sheard form one of the top 10 or so
scariest pass rushing tandems in the country. Add in DT Mick Williams, a
disruptive force in his own right, and Pitt has a chance to dominate
most games at the point of contact. If a suitable replacement can be
found for McKillop in the middle, the Panthers will hold opponents to
under 20 points a game this fall.
2.
South Florida
3. West Virginia
4. Rutgers
5. Connecticut
6.
Cincinnati
7. Louisville
8. Syracuse
Defensive Line
1.
Pitt
If, indeed,
it all starts up front, the Panthers will be in great shape on defense
this season. Pitt has enough talent on the line to dominate and force quarterbacks into mistakes. The Big East doesn’t have
many quality passers as it is, so the Panthers will enjoy a huge edge in
most games with Greg Romeus coming from the outside, and Mick Williams
controlling things inside.
2.
South Florida
3. West Virginia
4. Connecticut
5. Rutgers
6.
Cincinnati
7. Syracuse
8. Louisville
Linebackers
1.
West Virginia
Whatever the defensive
linemen miss, these talented linebackers will be prepared to clean up.
Even after losing Ivy to the NFL, it’s a very talented and diverse group
that knows the 3-3-5 stack intimately. Reed Williams and J.T. Thomas are All-Big East-caliber, and
Pat Lazear and Anthony
Leonard aren’t that far behind.
2. Connectcut
3. Rutgers
4. Pitt
5. South Florida
6. Cincinnati
7. Louisville
8. Syracuse
Defensive
Backs
1.
Pitt
If they can
avoid some of the breakdowns that plagued them last year, the Panthers
are in nice shape in the defensive backfield. There’s a good mix of
athletes, with corners Aaron Berry and Jovani Chappel, to go
along with the thumpers, Dom DeCicco and Elijah Fields. Throw in the rush that’ll
be generated up front, and it’ll be very tough throwing on Pitt this
year.
2. South Florida
3.
West Virginia
4. Connecticut
5. Rutgers
6. Cincinnati
7.
Louisville
8. Syracuse
Special Teams
1. Cincinnati
It doesn't get a whole lot of discussion,
but assistant Mike Elston does
a really nice job with the UC pecial teams. The Beacats cover
well, have dangerous return men, and should get enough out of
Jake Rogers as a kicker and a punter. While his leg strength is not a
question, he does need to straighten out more of his kicks.
Mardy Gilyard is one of the most explosive kickoff returners in
America.
2. Pitt
3. Rutgers
4. South Florida
5. Connecticut
6. West
Virginia
7. Syracuse
8. Louisville