Big East Preview
Pittsburgh: 10-2 (7-0)
Offense: Once again this year Pitt should have a good balanced attack, led by their run game. Las year RB Dion Lewis was third in the nation in rushing yards with 1,799 as a freshman, and should put up a similar number this year. Lewis is not the only RB that produces for the Panthers though, as they also have Ray Graham to run through and around defenses. FB Hereny Hynoski returns to lead the way for Lewis and Graham. The pass game will also be strong this year as well. There is a battle going on for the starting QB job between Tino Sunseri and Pat Bostick. Both have some experience, but Suneri was the leader in the club house coming out of spring practice. Who ever wins the job has some very big targets to through to. WR Jonathan Baldwin and Mike Shanahan are both 6’ 5” and can go up and get any jump ball. Baldwin was the 3rd leading WR in the Big East last year and could be the leading WR this year. The line returns both tackles in Jason Pinkston and Lucas Nix, but the interior line will have all new starters.
Defense: Last year Pitt’s defense led the nation with 47 sacks, and 37 of them by the line. DE Jabaal Sheard and Greg Romeus both return this year after a combined 13 sacks and being Co Big East Defensive Player of the Years honors. DT Chas Alecxih and Myles Caragein step into the starter roles. The LB corps will be solid again this year led by MLB Dan Mason. The Panthers secondary will be good again this year led by SS Don DeCicco and Jarred Holley. The CB possession is full of depth with Antwuan Reed and Saheed Imoru starting.
Special Teams: Dan Hutchins is back once again this year to do both P and K duties. Cameron Saddler is back as well as the return man.
Overall: Pitt had some good progress last year in winning there first bowl game since 2002 and look to build off of that. The offense has plenty of play makers and will be very balanced. The line is the key to the offense, if they can jell quickly Pitt will be very tough to stop. The defense once again will be one of the tops in the Big East and the nation. The Panthers do have a tough non conference schedule with trips to Utah and Notre Dame along with Miami coming in.
Connecticut: 9-3 (5-2)
Offense: UConn comes into this year with a solid balanced offense coming into this year. The Huskies have two good QB in Zach Frazer and Cody Endres. Frazer will be the starter but if he does go down UConn will be fine with Endres running the offense. A WR does need to step up and be a big play maker though between the group of Kashif Moore, Michael Smith, Isiah Moore, and Malik Generett. TE Ryan Griffin does provide a good target ass well. The run game is still the Huskies bread and butter. RB Jordan Todman is the man guy now that Andre Dixon has graduated. There are a group of RB behind him but if someone can step up and be a good back up that will help. The line lost only one starter from last year and will be led by RG Zach Hurd and C Moe Petrus.
Defense: UConn’s defense returns eight starters this year. Greg Lloyd moves from OLB to DE this year and will be joined by three other returning starters from last year, led by DT Twyon Martin who can stuff the run and pressure the QB. The LB have good experience with four year starters Scott Lutrus and Lawrence Wilson returning this year. Jory Johnson and Andrew Opoku will compete for the other starting spot at LB. The secondary needs to improve from last year. They are young starting three sophomores, but two of them started last years in CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson and FS Jerome Junior.
Special Teams: K Dave Teggart returns this year but needs to be more consistent. The Huskies will have a new P in Chad Christen. The return game will be fine with a rotation of Jordan Todman, Robbie Frey, and Matt Lang.
Overall: UConn rebounded well after the murder of team mate Jasper Harris and look to take the momentum of winning their last four games into this year. The offense will still be a run first scheme, but will have a solid pass game as well. UConn usually has a solid defense and should once again this year. The secondary is the key to the defense, with some improvement the Huskies will have a chance at challenging Pitt for the Big East title.
West Virginia: 9-3 (5-2)
Offense: QB Geno Smith has some starting experience from last year and looks to be the starter this year, but with a broken bone in his foot let Coley White into the picture to compete for the job. The return of play making RB Noel Devine is a big break for West Virginia, as he almost left early for the NFL. Devine will once again have a big work load but will have RB Shawne Alston to run the ball as well, along with FB Ryan Clarke to help with the short yardage situations. WR Joke Sanders is back again this year and can provide the big play. Sanders will be joined by Tavon Austin and Bradley Starks as the starting WR. Four starters return this year led by C Joe Madsen and LT Don Barclay.
Defense: The Mountaineers return nine starters from last years defense that was solid last year. West Virginia runs a 3-3-5 base and have all three line men back in DE Julian Miller and Chris Neild and DT Scooter Berry. The LB core has good experience and depth with Pat Lazear and JT Thomas as the returning starters. The secondary doesn’t have very much depth definitely after starting S Robert Sands and Sidney Glover. If either go down the pass defense may have some issues.
Special Teams: West Virginia have plenty of good options to be a returner between Devine, Sanders, Austin, and CB Brandon Hogan. K Tyler Bitancurt did a good job last year and should once again this year, but will have a new P in Corey Smith.
Overall: Bill Stewart is going into his third season as West Virginia’s head coach and once again fields a team that has a chance at the Big East title and a BCS birth. Who ever he decides will be the QB will have plenty of playmakers around him, led by Devin and Sanders. The defense should be solid in all aspects of the game and help the offense have plenty of opportunities to score. The big plays did hurt the defense last year and less of those would help even more. The Mountaineers will get an early test to see how good they are when they travel to LSU on September 25th.
Cincinnati: 7-5 (4-3)
Offense: Last year Cincinnati’s offence was one of the most high octane offenses in the nation, but lost their leading passer and receiver from that team this year. That shouldn’t slow down the Bearcats though as Zach Collaros takes over Tony Pikes job at QB and did a good job last year in four games that Pike was out. USC transfer Vidal Hazelton will take over Mardy Gilyard’s spot and could put up the same numbers Gilyard’s. The second and third leading WR do return this year in Armon Binns and DJ Woods. TE Ben Guidugli also provides a good target. Don’t sleep on the Bearcats run game either, as they have a good back in Isaiah Pead who averaged 6.7 yards per carry last year. Three starters return this year led by G Jason Kelce and Alex Hoffman.
Defense: Cincinnati’s defense got pushed around quit a bit last year and will be kind of young this year. They are switching to a 4-3 defense and have only one returning starter on the line in DT Derek Wolfe. The LB corps return two starters led by OLB JK Schaffer. The secondary is really young and will need to jell quickly. SS Drew Frey will have to lead the secondary as they may experience some growing pains.
Special Teams: The lose of Mardy Gilyard as a returner hurts but the Bearcats have plenty of depth at WR and RB that there will be plenty of options to take over that duty. K Jake Rodgers did both jobs in punting and kicking and did a decent job. He was better as a K and will do that again this year while Patrick O’Donnell will take over as P.
Overall: New head coach Butch Jones takes over a very talented offense but needs his defense to improve. The offense once again should be able to put points on the board fast and in bunches. The defense is what will hold Cincinnati back. They had issues stopping people last year and are learning a new scheme this year along with being so young. The Bearcats will still be a very tough team to beat but don’t have enough to win there third consecutive Big East title.
South Florida: 6-6 (3-4)
Offense: For the first time in four year USF will start its season without QB Matt Grothe. Grothe has graduated and moved on letting the BJ Daniels era take off. Daniels actually played in 12 of the 13 games last year and started in 9 of them after Grothe got injured. As expected from a young player he had his ups and downs and looks to be more consistent this year, but still use his play making abilities as a duel threat QB. The WR will once again be solid this year but hit with a big loss in spring practice with AJ Love tore his ACL and will miss at least half the season. Dontavia Bogan and Sterling Griffin will be the top targets this year after being third and fourth options last year. Lindsey Lamar has converted to WR from RB and can provide a big play threat. Over the past four years USF’s QB has led the team in rushing. New head coach Skip Holtz looks to change that this year, with the combo of Moise Plancher and Demetris Murray. The line returns four starters this year led by C Sampson Genus.
Defense: The Bulls only have four returning starters back this year. The line got hit the most with DE Jason Pierre-Paul and George Selvie go on to the NFL. DT Terrell McClain is the only returning starter on the line but it does have some experience and a good young talent in DE Ryne Giddins. The LB corps also only returns one starter in Sabbath Joseph. LB Sam Barrington has shown he could be an all conference performer. The secondary has a good CB tandem in CB Quinton Washington and Kayvon Webster. The pass defense was one of the tops in the nation, but will need to run defense to improve this year.
Special Teams: Eric Schwartz and Maikon Bonani will battle for the K job this year, while Justin Brockhaus-Kann is the new P. Faron Hornes and Dontavia Bogan will return punts and kicks respectively.
Overall: New head coach Skip Holtz inherits a good offense who should be able to score and looks to be more balanced this year. The defense is where the issues are. The lack of returning starters does not help. The secondary should be the strongest unit and will have to lead the defense as the front seven breaks in the new starters. The offense is there to challenge in the Big East, but the defense will hold them back.
Rutgers: 7-5 (3-4)
Offense: Last year QB Tom Savage was thrown into the fire as a true freshman and did a very good job and will be even better this year. Savage will miss WR Tim Brown, but does have young star WR Mohamed Sanu to throw to. The Knights do need a complementary WR to step up between the group of Tim Wright, Mark Harrsion, and Julian Hayes. The running game will be solid to help balance the offensive attack led by Joe Martinek. The line only returns only two starters on the line in G Art Forst and C Howard Barbieri.
Defense: Rutgers returns a solid line this year with three starters and a part time player back to start this year. DT Charlie Noonan, DT Scott Vallone, and DE Alex Silbestro all started last year and will again this year. Sack specialist DE Jonathan Freeny is now starting as well this year. The area of most concern for the Knights with only Antonio Lowery returning, but does have a promising new starter in Steve Beauharnais. SS Joe Lefeged will lead a solid secondary this year and will be joined by fellow starter CB David Rowe and some solid young players.
Special Teams: K San San Te needs to step up and have a better year this year after two consecutive ok years. P Teddy Dellaganna will once again be solid and one of the top P in the conference. With a lot of RB depth there are plenty of options at return man.
Overall: Greg Schiano has done a great job making Rutgers a contender in the Big East year in and year out after being the doormat for a long time. The offense has plenty of talent at the skill possessions, but the line is where the question mark is. If the new line can jell well then the offense will be even better. Last years defense was very good and should be just as good this year. With a weak non-conference schedule Rutgers should once again make a bowl game. Tough trips in conference play will cost the Knights a shot at the Big East Title.
Syracuse: 4-8 (1-6):
Offense: Last year Syracuse had some issues scoring and may once again this year. The Orange will have a new starting QB in Ryan Nassib. Nassib did get some experience last year coming into game when last years starter Greg Paulus (LETS GO DUKE!!!!! LOL) struggled. Nassib does not have a lot of WR to pass to, but does have a decent go to guy in Alec Lemon. The rest of the WR corps is mediocre at best and will need to step up. RB Delone Carter was a big part of the offense last year, but got into some trouble with the law and was suspended for spring practice and will have to stay out of trouble to stay on the team. If Carter does get in trouble again Syracuse does have some depth with Antwon Bailey and Averin Collier. The offensive line will be decent with three starters returning led by C Ryan Bartholomew.
Defense: The defense was ok last year and an improvement would help keep the team in more games. The line returns three starters in the 4-3 defense led by DE Chandler Jones. The LB corps is the best unit on the defense with Doug Hogue and Derrell Smith returning. The secondary does have good experience with SS Max Suter and FS Mike Holmes returning, but they will need to improve in stopping the opposition.
Special Teams: One bright spot for Syracuse is the kicking game with K Ryan Lichtenstein and P Rob Long being one of the top duos in the nation. The Orange will have to use a group of players to be return men.
Overall: Last years four wins in head coach Doug Marrone’s first year has brought some hope back to Syracuse football. There is still a lot of building to do though. The offense doesn’t have a lot of depth and will need to produce a lot more this year. But there is some good young stars to build around. The defense will once again lead the team. The run d was very good last year and will hope to put up similar numbers this year. The secondary and pass defense is where the improvement needs to come from. The Orange are still a few years away from a bowl game but at least have some signs of hope to build on.
Louisville: 3-9 (0-7)
Offense: New head coach Charlie Strong is planning on brining in the spread offense that he has seen over the past few years while at Florida. Right now he might not have the players to do that though. QB Adam Froman looks to be the starter again but will get some good compotation from Will Stein, and Dominique Brown. Who ever the QB is will not have a lot of targets to throw to as Louisville has only six WR on scholarship. Josh Chichester provides a nice big target at 6”8’ at least. TE Cameron Graham started last year and could be one of the top targets in the pass game this year. RB is where the strength of the offense is. Victor Anderson returns as the starter this year but have a solid back ups in Bilal Powell, too bad the offense is based on passing the ball more then running it. The line returns three starters led by C Mario Benavides.
Defense: Good thing Charlie Strong’s forte is defense because the Cardinals need some help on this side of the defense. The line will have the most experience with three starters returning in DE William Savoy, DE Malcolm Tatum, and DT Greg Scruggs. They will need to stop the run a lot better this year as they gave up 165.1 rushing ypg last year. The LB corps is the strength of the defense with starting LB Antwon Canady and Brandon heath returning along with some decent depth. The secondary is where the big questions are at. They did a good job last year against the pass but have only one starter returning in CB Johnny Patrick. SS Terence Simien could be an x factor this year after missing last season with a lacerated kidney. Last years number two RB Darius Ashley has been moved to CB to help sure up some depth issues.
Special Teams: K Chris Philpott did a decent job last year and looks to do even better this year, while P Jon Payne looks to help improve the punting game this year. There will be a group of players battling for the job as return man.
Overall: It’s hard to believe that just four years ago Louisville was coming off a 12-1 record and Orange Bowl win. Now after Steve Kragthorpe ran the program into the ground Charlie Strong has a lot of rebuilding to do. The talent cupboard is pretty empty, but one good this is Strong was one of Florida’s top recruiters and should be able to get some good athletes and players to come to Louisville. The offense is not ready for the spread but has enough pieces to run it this year. The run game will carry the team. The defense needs to improve against the run if they want to win more games. It also doesn’t help that last years strength in the secondary is now probably the defenses weakness this year. With a few years of good recruiting classes the Cardinals once again could be battling for a Big East Title and BCS berth.
