Draft Spotlight: Running Back

Who Are the Potential Feature Backs?

“Donald Brown (Connecticut), what can you say about that guy? LeSean McCoy (Pittsburgh), holy cow! You talk about great backs, I mean, they are great backs,” West Virginia head coach Bill Stewart said of the two Big East backs in a College Football Insiders radio interview. Joining the UConn and Pitt products as potential feature backs are Beanie Wells (Ohio St.) and Knowshon Moreno (Georgia), who are pretty much the consensus top two.

Before we get to Beanie the Buckeye, the NFL Draft Bible’s top two backs are a pair of Jersey Boys in Moreno and Brown. Moreno was a star for the Dawgs the past two seasons running the football, and no one in college football played with as much fire or energy. He has excellent vision and knows how to make people miss. Moreno lacks prototypical size and speed, but is such an instinctive runner. In addition, he had the second best 3-Cone time at the NFL Scouting Combine, displaying his ability to change directions and accelerate. Similarly, Brown may not possess eye-popping measurables, but the kid can play, as evidenced by his 2,000 yards in 2008 for the Huskies. Brown is a strong runner, who sees the field well with the necessary patience to allow holes to develop.

Wells is bigger and faster, but has question marks regarding his durability and desire. Does he have a passion the game? Is he willing to play hurt? Very few NFL running backs are 100 percent by the time crunch time rolls around. He has the most upside of any back and comes with great potential value, but is not as safe a pick as Moreno or Brown—Beanie could boom or bust.

Finally, we come to McCoy, who not everyone views as potential feature back. Don’t count former teammate linebacker Scott McKillop among the doubters.

“He helped me become a better linebacker this year,” McKillop said of McCoy. “I thought I was pretty fortunate to go out and practice against one of the top running backs in college football. I think he helped me become a better tackler this year than I was last. He’s a great kid, I’m pulling for him.”

McCoy, a red-shirt sophomore like Moreno, had only two years of college experience; he lacks ideal size and did not get the opportunity to strut his stuff at the Combine due to an injury. Nevertheless, one cannot ignore what he can do on the field. McCoy has good vision, great balance and even better elusiveness—he’ll make ya miss.

Who Are the Next Tier of Runners?

More than any other back at the Combine, Andre Brown (North Carolina St.) displayed his potential with 4.4-speed and an NFL frame at over 220 pounds.

“His potential is unlimited,” his former head coach Tom O’Brien said in a CFI interview. “We’ve only been here two years and actually he missed the last six games of our first year with an injury. He’s certainly made tremendous strides this year. He can play whether it’s first, second or third down—he can be that back. He has size and he has speed to take that pounding at the next level. So I think he would be a great addition to someone’s team.”

What will likely keep Brown from becoming a feature back is his lack of durability. Brown has struggled to stay on the field, which limited his production as a collegian. He possesses good vision, patience and can be a factor in the passing game.

Glenn Coffee also must overcome durability concerns. He doesn’t have standout skills, but is tough, physical runner who always seems to find a way to fall forward and pick up an extra yard or two. He possesses the ability to cut, change direction and not lose speed.

Who is the Best Between the Tackles?

Shonn Greene (Iowa) doesn’t offer much in terms of breakaway speed, elusiveness or explosiveness, but he is a downhill runner who maximizes the available yards in traffic—he pushes the pile. One has to love his consistency as well; no other back ran for 100 yards in each and every game this past season.

Another north-south runner is Gartrell Johnson (Colorado St.), who had a dominant bowl game and was very impressive at the East-West Shrine game. Originally viewed by some as fullback, it appears Johnson has solidified himself as a runner. However, he may very well be the slowest running back in this class and doesn’t have the type of elusiveness to make defenders miss in the open field, but he does possess very quick feet.

The best big back may very well be small school product Rashad Jennings (Liberty) who packs a punch at 231 pounds. In both the All-Star game process and the Combine Jennings proved he belonged among the Bowl Subdivision backs. He has good vision and can change directions very well for a big back. He surprised quite a few observers with his 3-Cone time of 6.86 (fourth at the Combine).

Are There Any Home Run Threats?

With only four backs running sub-4.5s at the Combine, there are not as many breakaway threats as NFL scouts would like. One reason for the poor Combine numbers was that the NFL did not see fit to invite little man Devin Moore (Wyoming) to Indianapolis. Moore shined at his own private workout in his hometown and teams looking for a breakaway threat should not underestimate this Wyoming product. He is elusive, possesses long speed, and is stronger than you might think.

Mike Goodson (Texas A&M) wasn’t as productive as expected when he arrived at College Station, but he could end being the big play back the Aggies expected at the NFL level. He is explosive, has good balance in the open field and the long speed to hit the home run.

Two backs that surprised a few people at the Combine with their straight-line speed were Cedric Peerman (Virginia) and Kory Sheets (Purdue). Peerman ran a 4.5 in Indianapolis and he possesses good vision, but isn’t necessarily at his best in the open field. Sheets ran a 4.47 and excels outside the tackles, with the wiggle to make people miss. The former Boilermaker is also quite willing to get physical with defensive backs and when he wins those confrontations, he is more than able to break free for a big run.

“I think he could help a team in a lot of ways,” says Purdue head coach Danny Hope. “He’s a good kick return man, he has legitimate speed, and good size, not great. But I’m not surprised he ran as fast as he did. I think he ran somewhere in the mid, low 4.4’s. He was an excellent sprinter in high school. He was a track man in high school and had documented track times. He was fortunate this season to get the bulk of the work at the running back spot. We had an injury to one of our top running backs, Jason Taylor. We relied a lot on Kory Sheets and he rose to the occasion and really did a great job. He rushed for over 1,200 yards and was a good receiver out of the backfield, but I think the fact that he played in the spread offense and knows how to catch the football will separate him from some other guys at his position. If he can prove himself to be a physical player, I think he can do very well in National Football League. He is very talented and I think he has the desire to do well.”

Rounding out this group is Marcus Thigpen (Indiana), who may or may not get drafted, but leaves little doubt in terms of his pure speed. The man with sub-4.4 speed also has the potential to be a special return man.

Who Are the Best of the Rest?

There are still some talented backs remaining, led by the 5’9 duo of Jeremiah Johnson (Oregon) and Jevon Ringer (Michigan St.). What hurts this pair is that in addition to lacking ideal size, neither brings top end speed to the table. Ringer is very quick though, with the ability to change direction. He has good vision, is very tough, and better between the tackles than one might assume. Johnson is a little more explosive and more elusive in the open field, a very dangerous runner once he can get outside the tackles. The former Duck also seems to be able to break off long runs, he’s rarely caught from behind.

We also can’t forget Ian Johnson (Boise St.), Bernard Scott (Abilene-Christian), Arian Foster (Tennessee), James Davis (Clemson) and Aaron Brown (TCU). Johnson really proved the doubters wrong with his speed, quickness and strength at the Combine. He improved his draft stock by a round or two. Scott will get drafted beneath his talent level because of character question marks, but the kid can play ball.

The two senior sinkers since the start of the season are Davis and Foster. The former Vol has superb hands, prototypical size, and he is very smooth runner. However, he has serious questions when it comes to his ability to stay on the field. Davis has enough size and speed to play at the next level, but has tight hips, durability issues and he was not much of factor in the Tigers’ passing attack when it came to blocking or receiving.

Brown never put up big numbers as a Horned Frog and also had trouble staying healthy, but he has very good vision and burst, with the hands and ability to run after the catch. He could certainly be a solid third-down back.

Who Are the Potential PFA Gems?

A pair of backs who are not physically imposing or going to make you double check your stop-watch, but possess the quick feet and ability to change direction are Tyrell Sutton (Northwestern) and Kahlil Bell (UCLA). Brad Lester (Auburn) did not receive an invitation to the Combine because he barely contributed as a senior and struggled his entire career at Auburn to stay on the field. If healthy, Lester could be a real find.

Which Fullbacks Could Get Draft?

Tony Fiammetta (Syracuse) is the odds-on favorite to be the first fullback off the board. He has good size and speed, is an above average blocker and can catch the ball out of the backfield. Other fullbacks who could hear their name called are Quinn Johnson (LSU), Brannan Southerland (Georgia), Conredge Collins (Pittsburgh) and Jason Cook (Mississippi St.). Cook has prototypical size, Johnson is an excellent lead blocker, injury issues hurt Southerland, while Collins is athletic, but undersized.

Who Are the Stars of Tomorrow?

The top senior back for 2009 will be C.J. Spiller (Clemson), who possesses breakaway speed and is a true weapon coming out of the backfield. Even though Davis is gone, Spiller figures to share some carries. LeGarrette Blount (Oregon) and Charles Scott (LSU) are bruising backs that tip the scales at over 230 pounds. Stafon Johnson (USC) is an intriguing talent, but has never had the opportunity to get consistent carries as a Trojan.

Junior Jonathan Dwyer (Georgia Tech) is a powerful runner, with Jahvid Best (California) and Noel Devine (West Virginia) true game-breakers for the Class of 2011. The players with the most potential remain DeMarco Murray (Oklahoma) and Joe McKnight (USC), with the red-shirt junior out of Norman the more proven talent. Also out of the Big XII, Kendall Hunter (Oklahoma St.) is a sleeper who has been very productive.

Photo Credit: College Press Box (Michigan St., Pittsburgh, NC State), SEC Sports Media, University of Wyoming Photo Service

Coaches Corner: HC Bill Stewart, WVU

Coach Stew is 10-4 as headman of the West Virginia Mountaineers out of the BIG EAST, including Bowl wins over a highly touted Oklahoma Sooners team led by Bob Stoops in his first games in the Fiesta Bowl as WVU's head coach and a thrilling victory over Butch Davis and the North Carolina Tar Heels in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

Stewart joins College Football Insiders founder Daniel Mogollon in this CFI Coaches Corner on the eve of West Virginia Spring Football, filling us in on what the Mountaineers hope to accomplish this spring, as well as giving insight on several players heading into the 2009 NFL Draft, including his take on the great Pat White debate. What happened at the Mountaineer's Pro Day? Is Jarrett Brown ready to take over the reigns? How impressed was he with the likes of Kenny Britt, Donald Brown, Shady McCoy and Hakeem Nicks?

Click to find out and much more, including the lowdown on Mike Tomlin as a rookie coach fresh out of college back in 1995. 19 Min.

Photo Credit: WVU Sports Communication

On Location: RB Notes From Indy - II

RB Knowshown Moreno, Georgia:
Workouts: Will work out.
Training: Michael Johnson Performance

RB LeSean McCoy, Pitt:
Workouts: Has been sick and lost 10 pounds but still may try and go.

RB Michael Goodson, Texas A & M:
Workouts: Will work out.

RB James Davis, Clemson:
Workouts: Will work out.

FB Jason Cook, Ole Miss:
Workouts: Will only do bench due to knee.
Spoken with Rams, Browns, Falcons, Bengals.
Pro Day: March 26.

As reported by Justin VanFulpen

On Location: Their Personalities – In A Word

By John Sears

A day of interviews for quarterbacks, receivers and running backs. Judging solely on their interview at the combine, here is my one word analysis of their current status:

Wide Receivers:
Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech: Happy-go-lucky
Deon Butler, WR, Penn State: Determined
Darius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland: Ready
Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri: Self-assured
Derrick Williams, WR, Penn State: Relaxed
Jordan Norwood, WR, Penn State: Realistic

Running Backs:
Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia: Humble
Chris “Beanie” Wells, RB, Ohio State: Nervous
P.J. Hill, RB, Wisconsin: Mature
Ian Johnson, RB, Boise State: Chip-on-the-shoulder (out to prove himself)
Javon Ringer, RB, Michigan State: Competitor
LeSean McCoy, RB, Pittsburgh: Brave

Quarterbacks:
Matt Stafford, QB, Georgia: Polished
Chase Daniel, QB, Missouri: Under-valued
Graham Harrell, QB, Texas Tech: Honest
Mark Sanchez, QB, USC: Confident

Stay tuned for more on location from the NFL combine.

Sun Bowl: Pittsburgh vs. Oregon St.

By CHRISTOPHER MOGOLLON - BIG EAST INSIDER

December 31, 2008 * 2:00 * CBS
Sun Bowl * El Paso, Texas

The hope was this year’s Sun Bowl would feature two of the youngest and brightest running backs in the country. LeSean McCoy followed up his outstanding freshman season with an even better sophomore year by gaining more yards, scoring more touchdowns and leading Pittsburgh – at long last – to a bowl game. Unfortunately, Oregon St. freshman Jacquizz Rodgers, who became a household name after his 186-yard performance led the Beavers to an upset win over USC will not be available. A late season injury kept him out of the Civil War and might have cost his team a trip to the Rose Bowl.

When the Panthers Have the Ball

The Panther offense relies heavily on the success of their star running back McCoy. He was unanimously named first team All Big East, ranked 10th in the nation in rushing with 1,403 yards, and was the nation’s second leading scorer with 21 touchdowns. Oregon State's rush defense, ranked 46th in the country, will have trouble keeping McCoy, who has scored a touchdown in every game this season, from reaching the end zone. The problem with the Pittsburgh offense is their pass protection and the decision making of their quarterback, Bill Stull. The junior has had a solid season throwing for 2,304 yards and has improved his completion percentage. However, Stull throws far too many interceptions and takes unnecessary chances. Senior wide out Derek Kinder can be the go-to guy at times catching a team leading 35 balls, but he’s struggled against better competition. Keep an eye out for freshman Jonathan Baldwin and junior Oderick Turner, they haven't put up superb numbers but are deep threats. The big mismatch in this game is the Oregon State defensive line versus the Pittsburgh offensive line. The Panthers have had trouble protecting the quarterback all year and are ranked 81st in the nation in allowing sacks while the Beavers have put up the 10th most sacks in the nation. Their senior ends Slade Norris and Victor Butler are strong pass rushers. Norris leads the team with nine total sacks. Linebacker Keaton Kristick, who finished the season with 14.5 tackles for loss, may also play a significant role. He could be the key to containing the Pittsburgh rushing attack.

When the Beavers Have the Ball

It was obvious how important Rodgers is to the Oregon State offense when he was out in their loss to Oregon and only touched the ball four times in their near loss against Arizona. What makes the freshman so valuable is his ability to gain yards in bunches (averaging 4.8 yards per carry). The game could come down to the play of quarterback Lyle Moevao. The junior missed some action, including two games down the stretch, but looked healthy in his five-touchdown performance against Oregon. Moevao keeps his completion percentage fairly high and is always a threat to beat the defense deep. Senior receiver Sammie Stroughter – 64 catches for 952 yards – will be tough to stop. The all-conference wide out finished the season strong posting 116 yards at Arizona and 145 yards versus Oregon, turning in four games this season with 100-plus receiving yards. He is a deadly threat averaging 14.9 yards per catch. The Panthers have had trouble defending the big pass play and lost games against passing teams Cincinnati and Rutgers. The secondary wasn't able to handle the depth Rutgers had at receiver and may have trouble containing Stroughter and Shane Morales. The speedy James Rodgers, Quizz’s big brother, is also out for this contest. Freshman tailback Ryan McCants and senior wide out Chris Johnson could end up playing big roles. The key to the Pitt defense is Scott McKillop – if the linebacker can make OSU a passing team, the Panthers will have a fighting chance.

Final Analysis

With a more balanced offensive attack and a ferocious pass rush – not to mention Coach Mike Riley’s perfect 4-0 bowl record – the Beavers are the team beat in the 2008 Sun Bowl.

Oregon St. Beavers (8-4, 7-2)
Pass: Lyle Moevao – 2,341 yards, 19 TDs
Run: Jacquizz Rogers – 1,253 yards, 11 TDs
Catch: Sammie Stroughter – 952 yards, 7 TDs

Pittsburgh Panthers (9-3, 5-2)
Pass: Bill Stull – 2,304 yards, 9 TDs
Run: LeSean McCoy – 1,403 yards, 21 TDs
Catch: Derek Kinder – 410 yards, 3 TDs

The CFI Prediction: Oregon St. 23, Pittsburgh 20

NLS All-American Team

The Next Level Scouting, Inc. College Football All-American team is annually created by the scouts and talent evaluators employed throughout the season that coordinate by region and then nationally the company's final NFL Draft rankings and grades.

Taken into consideration were each players stats, importance to his college team and finally his current NFL Draft grade, so as much as this is an All-American team it is also a look at the "Best-of-the Best" in terms of potential for playing at the next level, regardless of the draft year. Thus, there are several underclassmen included.

Selections are listed in order which would compare to being 1st, 2nd & 3rd team by position.

Quarterback:
Sam Bradford, Oklahoma
Matthew Stafford, Georgia
Mark Sanchez, USC

Running Back:
LeSean McCoy, Pittsburgh
Donald Brown, Connecticut

Knowshon Moreno, Georgia
Shonn Greene, Iowa

Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech
Glen Coffee, Alabama

Fullback:
Gartrell Johnson, Colorado State
Richie Brockel, Boise State
Cody Johnson, Texas


Wide Receiver:
Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech
Julio Jones, Alabama

Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State
Jeremy Maclin, Missouri

Kenny Britt, Rutgers
Percy Harvin, Florida

Tight End:
Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma
Robert Gronkowski, Arizona
Richard Quinn, North Carolina

Offensive Tackle:
Andre Smith, Alabama
Russell Okung, Oklahoma State

Eugene Monroe, Virginia
Jason Smith, Baylor

Michael Oher, Mississippi
Eben Britton, Arizona

Offensive Guard:
Andy Levitre, Oregon State
Herman Johnson, LSU

Duke Robinson, Oklahoma
Sergio Render, Virginia Tech

Michael Johnson, Alabama
Greg Isdaner, West Virginia

Center:
Alex Mack, California
A.Q. Shipley, Penn State
John Estes, Hawaii

Defensive End:
Brian Orakpo, Texas
Aaron Maybin, Penn State

Larry English, Northern Illinois
Everette Brown, Florida State

Corey Wootton, Northwestern
Paul Kruger, Utah

Defensive Tackle:
Peria Jerry, Mississippi
Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma

B.J. Raji, Boston College
Terrence Cody, Alabama

Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska
Arthur Jones, Syracuse


Inside Linebacker:
Brandon Spikes, Florida
Rolando McClain, Alabama
James Laurinaitis, Ohio State

Outside Linebacker:
Aaron Curry, Wake Forest
Mark Herzlich, Boston College

Sean Witherspoon, Missouri
Brian Cushing, USC

Perry Riley, LSU
Travis Lewis, Oklahoma

Cornerback:
Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State
Sean Smith, Utah

D.J. Moore, Vanderbilt
Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest

Jairus Byrd, Oregon
Syd'Quan Thompson, California

Safety:
Rashad Johnson, Alabama
Taylor Mays, USC

Eric Berry, Tennessee
Morgan Burnett, Georgia Tech

Louis Delmas, Western Michigan
Sean Baker, Ball State

Kicker:
Louie Sakoda, Utah
Matt Bosher, Miami (FL)
Josh Arauco, Arkansas State


Punter:
Zoltan Mesko, Michigan
Kevin Huber, Cincinnati
Bryan Anger, California

ALL-PURPOSE:
Noel Devine, West Virginia (RB/RT)
A.J. Jefferson, Fresno State (DB/RT)
Antonio Brown, Central Michigan (WR/RT)

Photo Credit: SEC Sports Media, College Press Box, Penn St. University, Oklahoma University, Texas Tech Athletics, WVU Sports Communication

Inside the Big East - Week Eight

By CHRISTOPHER MOGOLLON -
BIG EAST INSIDER

Both Louisville and South Florida took care of business as home this week.

No. 19 South Florida defeated Syracuse 45-13 despite a rough first half. South Florida quarterback Matt Grothe was able to orchestrate drives all game with his arm and legs, finishing with 248 yards passing and three total touchdowns. His two touchdown passes to sophomore wide receiver A.J. Love and senior Taurus Johnson in the third quarter put the game away. Two more Bulls, Carlton Mitchell and Benjamin Williams, were standouts—each caught three balls for over 60 yards.

Grothe rushed for a season high 72 yards and added his third rushing touchdown of the year. The Bulls’ offense was highly efficient in the second half and their offensive line was dominant, allowing very little pressure from the Syracuse D-Line.

With this loss, the Syracuse Orange have clinched their fourth straight non-winning season. The SU offense was able to run the ball very well in the first half, as running back Curtis Brinkley finished with 112 yards and two touchdowns. This was the fourth straight 100-yard game for Brinkley. But in the second half, the Syracuse offense was inept, unable to convert a single first down in the fourth quarter and finishing with seven total yards in the second half. Quarterback Cameron Dantley was less than impressive, finishing the game with only 129 yards passing, but with limited protection it was difficult for the junior to establish any rhythm.

Now that Syracuse is 1-6 the only news that awaits Orange fans is when Coach Greg Robinson will be fired. With this loss, Robinson falls to 2-22 in Big East games.

Louisville’s running game dominated in their 42-23 victory over Middle Tennessee State. After a lackluster first half, the Cardinals broke out in the second on the shoulders of running backs Victor Anderson and Brock Bolen. The freshman Anderson rushed for 161 yards including a career high 88-yard touchdown run. This was the freshman’s third 100-yard game of the year. Bolen was even stronger around the goal line, as the short-yardage back rushed for three touchdowns. Quarterback Hunter Cantwell came out throwing but was not very successful--his two interceptions kept MTSU around until the third quarter.

The Cardinals defense took over after halftime. They allowed a total of -11 yards on Middle Tennessee State’s first five possessions of the second half. Linebacker Chris Campa led all Cardinals with seven tackles.

No. 23 Pittsburgh crushed Navy, 42-21, and extended their winning steak to five. The Panthers’ offense was rolling from the first snap, scoring 35 points in the first half. Running back LeSean McCoy continued to run the ball well, racking up a season high 156 yards and three touchdowns. The sophomore star averaged 8.7 yards a carry and caught two balls for 46 yards. Quarterback Bill Stull did throw two interceptions but for the most part, he was efficient and his 255 yards passing were nearly a season high. Wide receiver Jonathon Baldwin has become a playmaker for the Panthers. The freshman caught three balls including a 60-yard bomb late in the game, and his 101 yards receiving yards were a career high. But it was the defense that was most impressive--the Navy offense finished with 194 rushing yards, 119 yards less than their season average.

VANDERBILT IS TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (FWAA) - With their 14-13 win over 13th-ranked Auburn, the Vanderbilt Commodores (5-0) are the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week for games of the weekend of Oct. 4.

Mackenzi Adams threw a pair of touchdown passes as the Commodores improved to 5-0 for the first time since 1943. The Vanderbilt defense limited Auburn to just 208 yards and registered five sacks by five different players.

Vanderbilt's 3-0 start in SEC play is the school's best since 1950. The win over Auburn snapped a 13-game losing streak to the Tigers that dated back to the 1955 Gator Bowl. Coming in ranked No. 19, the Commodores also produced their first win as a ranked team since 1956.

Other Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Bowl National Team of the Week nominees for the weekend of Oct. 4 included:

· Army (1-4): Collin Mooney ran for 187 yards and four touchdowns to help the Black Knights end a 10-game losing streak with a 44-13 win at Tulane.

· North Carolina (4-1): Converted safety Shawn Draughn ran for 109 yards and a score as the Tar Heels recorded their first win over a ranked non-conference opponent since 1997 with their 38-12 win over No. 24 Connecticut.

· Pittsburgh (4-1): LeSean McCoy ran for 142 yards and two touchdowns as the Panthers upset 10th-ranked South Florida, 26-21, in Tampa.

The FWAA has named a national team of the week since the 2002 season. This is the fifth season that the award has been sponsored by the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

Members of the FWAA board of directors and All-America committee decide the weekly honor. Each Monday during the 2008 college football season, the FWAA will name the Tostitos Bowl National Team of the Week through Dec. 1.

Since 1971, the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl has hosted six games that have decided the college football national championship, including three Bowl Championship Series title games. This season the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl game will be played on Jan. 5, 2009 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., and the Insight Bowl will be played on Dec. 31, 2008 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.

For more information on the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week, go to footballwriters.com or fiestabowl.org.

Big East Preview - Week 5

By CHRISTOPHER MOGOLLON - BIG EAST INSIDER

In their first four games the Syracuse defense hasn't proven they can stop anyone, even allowing 21 points and 293 passing yards last week versus Northeastern. They have had trouble tackling, putting pressure on the quarterback and defending on passing downs. This week the Panthers look to start off conference play with a victory in the Carrier Dome—with good receivers and a star running back they shouldn't have too much trouble. LeSean McCoy has not had a break out game yet but still ranks fourth in the conference with 242 yards. Pittsburgh’s backup tailback LaRod Stephens-Howling rushed for 221 yards last time he played in the Carrier Dome in 2006. Syracuse cornerbacks Mike Holmes, Nico Scott and Da'Mon Merkerson have been very shaky and still learning the position, so expect Pittsburgh receivers Oderick Turner and Derek Kinder to be open and put up a lot of receiving yards. The Syracuse rushing attack of Curtis Brinkley, Delone Carter and Doug Houge should be able to carry on the success from last week. Brinkley, who is second in the conference in yards, is healthy and having himself a great senior season. If the Orange can run the ball early it will set up the play action pass and allow quarterback Cameron Dantley to roll out, which is when he is most effective. This week Syracuse AD Darryl Gross stated this week that he has not seen any obvious progress from the football team since coach Greg Robinson has taken over—it will be interesting to see if this has any effect on how the ‘Cuse come out and play.

Both West Virginia and Rutgers are on losing steaks and have must win games on Saturday at home. West Virginia has lost two-in-a-row and look to get a victory in Morgantown versus rival Marshall. It is no secret the Mountaineers’ rushing attack is their bread and butter, Quarterback Pat White and running back Noel Devine should be able to run all over their Conference USA opponent. Last season when these instate rivals matched up White rushed for 125 yards and threw for 149 yards and two touchdowns. Devine touched the ball five times and rushed for 76 yards with two touchdowns. It will be important for West Virginia to improve in their efficiency, they were pitiful on third downs in their losses at East Carolina and Colorado. Rutgers welcomes Morgan State with open arms, desperate for a win. The winless Knights gave the ball to their freshman tailback Jourdan Brooks last week and will do the same on Saturday. If Rutgers needs a score they should not have trouble passing the ball, Morgan State just does not have the ability to shut down Kenny Britt, who ranks third in the conference with 21 receptions or Tiquan Underwood. What to watch for is the defensive shuffling by Rutgers and how the fans will react to Quarterback Mike Teel. Head Coach Greg Schiano said he has been very disappointed with his defense and will try different players and looks in this game. Teel was caught on camera last week punching a teammate and is off to a bad start with one touchdown and six interceptions, if he and offense are off to a bad start they will hear it from the Rutgers faithful. Nevertheless, both West Virginia and Rutgers will probably get their much needed victories before meeting up next week in Morgantown.

South Florida and Cincinnati are favorites to win on the road this week but will be tested in their respected match-ups. The USF Bulls had scares on the road already this season and will face off at North Carolina State, who are fresh off of their overtime upset of East Carolina. When South Florida quarterback Matt Grothe plays well his team usually wins, Grothe leads the conference in passing yards and touchdown passes despite throwing none last week. Expect South Florida to throw the ball and wide out Taurus Johnson to have a bounce back game. Because of an injury to Russell Wilson, Harrison Beck will start at quarterback for the Wolfpack. Beck was not effective in his last two games against Clemson and East Carolina. Cincinnati will visit Akron at the Rubber Bowl this Saturday. Watch for how quarterback Tony Pike performs in his only second start. The Zips offense has been good led by quarterback Chris Jacquemain who has thrown for 960 yards and seven touchdowns in four games.

Big East - The Week That Was - Week Four

By CHRISTOPHER MOGOLLON - BIG EAST INSIDER

On Friday night, the Connecticut Huskies rolled past visiting Big 12 opponent Baylor 31-28. Connecticut tailback Ronald Brown rushed for 150 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner in the fourth quarter. It was Brown’s fourth consecutive 100-yard rushing game and his 716 yards lead the nation, with his 10 rushing touchdowns second only to Javon Ringer's 11. Brown and the Connecticut offensive line made up for the lack of a pass threat, as Huskies’ quarterback Tyler Lorenzen was ineffective, throwing two interceptions. Highly touted Baylor freshman quarterback Robert Griffin didn't disappoint, as he threw for three touchdowns and 208 yards, including a late fourth quarter scoring strike to wide out Kendall Wright. The freshman wide receiver caught six passes for 114 yards. Despite allowing four touchdowns, the Connecticut defense stepped up late, stopping Baylor in their final two possessions. The Huskies remained undefeated and look to continue their success on the road, as they visit Louisville for another Friday night under the lights.

Cincinnati, South Florida and Pittsburgh all prevailed on Saturday.

Pittsburgh tailback LeSean McCoy rushed for 78 yards on 18 carries, including the game-winning touchdown early in the fourth quarter against the previously undefeated Iowa Hawkeyes. The Panthers continue to struggle through the air, as quarterback Bill Stull completed only eleven passes and no receiver had more than two receptions. The Pitt rush defense was not strong either, giving up 158 yards on the ground.

Meanwhile, in the Sunshine State, the USF Bulls survived their third straight scare with a 17-9 win over Florida International. South Florida's defense allowed a total of 189 yards and didn't allow FIU to reach the end zone until the final minute of the game. Quarterback Matt Grothe was held without a rushing or passing touchdown for the first time in his career. Bulls’ tailback Jamar Taylor led all rushers with 56 yards on twelve carries. South Florida looks to cap off a perfect non-conference this week at NC State.

Cincinnati bounced back versus Miami (OH) with a 45-20 win against their rival. The story of the game was quarterback Tony Pike, who made his first start. The junior was 20-of-24 for 241 yards and three touchdowns. He hooked up with wide receiver Dominick Goodman for a couple of big plays to set up scores. Goodman finished the game with six receptions for 94 yards. Senior Mike Mickens picked off his first pass of the year, returning it 72 yards for a touchdown.

Photo Credit: USF Athletics Communications

CFI: THE BIG EAST REPORT

BY CHRISTOPHER MOGOLLON
BIG EAST INSIDER

GETTING BACK INTO THE RACE

The Cincinnati Bearcats with put themselves right back into the Big East Title race with a dramatic victory over 18th ranked South Florida. The first quarter was mayhem -- the game began with a 73-yard interception taken back for a touchdown by who else but Trae Williams. Cincinnati, who answered with a touchdown of their own, was answered right with a 100-yard kick off return for a touchdown by Mike Jenkins. Using big plays themselves the Bearcats put up 24 points in the final eight minutes of the quarter. It was a blocked punt recovered for a touchdown by Antwuan Giddens that sparked the Bearcats on their run. The defense of Cincinnati forced a remarkable eight turnovers in the game including four interceptions and a defensive touchdown. Quarterback Ben Mauk had a solid effort throwing for 162 yards and three touchdowns, as Marshwan Gilyard caught three of his passes for 100 yards. Mauk came up big on the ground (75 yards) making up for an overall poor rushing attack for Cincinnati -- Jacob Ramsey was held to only 1.9 yards per carry. South Florida chipped away at the lead from the beginning, as Matt Grothe finished with 382 yards passing, 75 rushing yards and a total of two touchdowns but the team couldn't get over his three picks. Despite all the turnovers and big special team plays by Cincy, the Bulls had a chance to win it at the end but the secondary batted two of Grothe's passes in the end zone to clinch the 38-33 victory.

FRESHMAN STANDOUT

With a total of seven receptions and 110 yards receiving, both career highs, Carlton Mitchell helped the Bulls attempt a comeback against Cincinnati. Mitchell averaged 15.7 yards a catch and had a 51 -yard reception, which put South Florida in a good position to score.

THE LONGSHOT

The Pittsburgh Panthers have found themselves back in the race the for conference title, sure it is far fetched but with their win over Syracuse (20-17) they are in second place in the BIG EAST. Pittsburgh won this game thanks to their special teams setting up both touchdowns. Lowell Robinson racked up 108 yards on kick returns including a 64-yard return and Aaron Berry netted a total of 106 yards on punt returns. Freshman LeSean McCoy had his fourth straight 100-yard game rushing for 140 yards and a touchdown.

THE NEW CINDERELLA

Just a year ago it was Rutgers having a magical season and on their way to a program changing season. This year it is all about the Huskies, they continued to surprise the experts by dominating the Scarlet Knights in a 38-19 victory. Connecticut doesn't have the star power on offense but were very efficient capitalizing early for 18 points in the first quarter. The player of the game had to be running back Donald Brown. The sophomore tailback had a season-high 124 yards, averaging six yards per carry. He had a big 33-yard touchdown run in the third and a 70-yard run to setup a score. Quarterback Tyler Lorenzen didn't make any big mistakes and threw for two big touchdowns. Ray Rice had his fourth straight 100-yard rushing performance racking up 116 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. Mike Teel also had some good numbers throwing for 343 yards but zero touchdowns and a key interception. Tight End Steve Brouse had a season high four catches and caught his fourth touchdown in the first quarter. The biggest play of the game might have come from Tyvon Branch who on four kick returns netted a total of 184 yards including a 97-yard touchdown responding to a RU field goal.

Photo Credit: Collegiate Images

CFI PREVIEW: THE BIG EAST

BY CHRISTOPHER J. MOGOLLON
BIG EAST INSIDER
Don’t Look ahead games: 12:00 – ESPN: North Carolina 1-2 (0-1) @ South Florida 2-0 (0-0) - It has been a big two weeks for the USF program, a week ago they defeated Auburn on the road and after a bye they broke into the AP poll for the first time in school history at number 23. It is important for the Bulls to keep it up and not look ahead to next week’s game when the Mountaineers come to town. These two teams played last year in Chapel Hill where Matt Grothe played well throwing for 158 yards and a touchdown in a South Florida 37-20 victory.

Key Match up: T.J Yates vs. USF Secondary - North Carolina is trying to avoid there third straight loss and in order to do so they need to continue to throw the ball successfully. In the first three games of the season, Yates has thrown for 901 yards and nine touchdowns. He has thrown a pass of at least 53 yards in each of his first three games and managed rack up 339 yards versus ACC rival Virginia -- not to shabby for a freshman. Now he has to face maybe one of the best secondaries in the country, the same one that held Auburn to only 165 passing yards and forced two interceptions. Trae Williams is an absolute superstar corner but don’t forget about Mike Jenkins who is a big time playmakers. UNC has no defense to speak of and haven’t established a running game, the only way they can pull off this upset is if Yates continues to put up three scores a game -- let’s see how the freshman does against this smart and speedy secondary.

12:00 - ESPN2: East Carolina 1-2 (0-1) @ West Virginia 3-0 (0-0) - West Virginia comes back to Morgantown after back to back victories on the road and they plan on continuing their winning steak. They host East Carolina who is coming off a tough loss at home to Southern Miss, when they blew the lead in the fourth quarter. ECU isn’t your normal cream puff Conference USA school, this is the same team that defeated North Carolina and had Virginia Tech on its heels in Blacksburg. West Virginia has won five straight games in this series including a 27-10 victory last year. Pat White threw for 216 yards and two touchdowns but did throw three interceptions as well.

Key Match up: Steve Slaton/Pat White vs. ECU Run Defense – Don’t be fooled by the 1-2 record -- the Pirates have some players on defense. In the opening game in Blacksburg, they allowed only 33 total rushing yards on 31 attempts and held Brandon Ore to 70 yards. It was more of the same when they played North Carolina only allowing 79 rushing yards. There is a reason why this unit is ranked 25th in rush defense. Quentin Cotton leads the team in tackles and has 4.5 for a loss, while Zack Slate is also having a fine start to the year with 5.5 tackles for a loss. ECU has a challenge in stopping Steve Slaton who has rushed for 392 yards this year, which ranks ninth in the country. Slaton is a Heisman candidate for a reason and should be able to put up his dominant numbers. If ECU can possibly slow down Slaton and force White to pass instead of running, they can make this game like they did versus Virginia Tech.

Blowout City Games: 12:00 - ESPN369/Gameplan: Syracuse 0-3 (0-0) @ Louisville 2-1 (0-0) - After being upset by rival Kentucky expect the Louisville Cardinals to be extra focused this week when they play a winless and banged up Syracuse squad. The Orange really cannot catch a break -- this is not a good time to be facing an angry and talented football team. Syracuse nearly pulled off an upset for the ages last year when these two Big East schools hooked up in late October. In that game, the Orange put up 303 passing yards and forced three turnovers in what ended up as a fifteen-point defeat.

Key Match up: SU receivers vs. Louisville Secondary – It’s been back to back weeks that this Louisville secondary has played poorly allowing 42 points to Middle Tennessee State and then 40 to rival Kentucky. Meanwhile Syracuse’s offense looks like there still in spring practice but do have some underrated receivers who are just dying to make some plays. Last year against Louisville Mike Williams had five receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown, he is a big play receiver who needs to make a couple of them this week at Louisville. We already know Brian Brohm is a lock to throw for 300+ yards again but can the Orange offense respond? This is a major statement game for both of these units and the senior defensive backs on Louisville like Bobby Buchanan and Dean Palmer need to play better.

7:00 – ESPNU: Connecticut 3-0 (0-0) @ Pittsburgh 2-1 (0-0) - A huge conference opener for both teams who are off to good starts and hope to squeak into a bowl game. Last season Connecticut was winless in conference road games so a victory in Heinz Field would be enormous for the Huskies. Last year when these two schools faced off, it was Connecticut who came on top in a double overtime thriller. In the game, Donald Brown rushed for 205 yards and two touchdowns. Both these teams have had major contributions from young running backs. Brown has rushed for 240 yards averaging 4.6 a carry and three touchdowns. Pitt freshman LeSean McCoy is 17th in the country in rushing yards and has only touched the ball 54 times -- far less than anyone else on that list. McCoy has rushed for 347 yards averaging an outstanding 6.4 yards a carry including a 172-yard game in East Lansing last week.

Key Match up: Tyler Lorenzen vs. Kevan Smith - Both these offenses rely a lot on the ground game but the lack of a passing game cost Pitt a win in East Lansing and nearly cost Connecticut against Temple. Both teams have solid defenses, Pitt is a little more talented but the true test this week will be the quarterback play. Although the Pitt defense isn’t the greatest -- it will be the best that Lorenzen has seen all year (no offense Maine). Lorenzen had a superb game at Duke throwing for 298 yards and even rushing for 56 yards. A couple of drives stalled in their game against Temple because of some poor throws but Lorenzen did throw for 222 yards. Kevan Smith has not been as efficient since becoming the starter with a pretty poor performance at Michigan State. He was 9/18 for 86 yards and threw two interceptions, with the running game he is getting all Smith needs to do is not make mistakes which sometimes can be difficult for a freshman quarterback.

7:30 - ESPN360/Gameplan: Marshall 0-3 (0-0) @ Cincinnati 3-0 (0-0) - This is a game of two schools going in two very different directions. Marshall has lost three consecutive games -- including a 13 point loss to Championship Subdivision New Hampshire, while Cincinnati is trying to become 4-0 and ranks 11th in scoring in the country.

Key match up: Bernard Morris vs. Cincinnati Defense - The Bearcats have allowed a total of 16 points in three games and now face a school whose rushing attack is ranked 103rd in the nation. The only way Marshall has a chance to stay in this game is if senior Bernard Morris can work a little magic, but don’t count on it.