BCS Busters Week One Preview

Game of the Week * #19 Oregon Ducks @ #16 Boise State *

Thursday September 3rd * ESPN * 10:15 PM EST

Players to Watch: Oregon: Jeremiah Masoli (QB), Oregon; LeGarrette Blount (RB), Oregon; Walter Thurmond (CB); Boise St.: Kellen Moore (QB), Boise St.; Ryan Winterswyk (DE), Boise St.; Kyle Wilson (CB)

What a terrific game to the start the season. Oregon will need great performances from quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and running back LeGarrette Blount to win this game. Boise State’s blue turf field can be a rude awakening for some teams because it plays so fast. Some teams tend to over-compensate as they’re used to playing on grass fields, which can be slippery and play slow at times. If the Ducks’ defense can adjust to the turf, then they will come out victors. On the flip side, the Broncos need to have an outstanding performance by quarterback Kellen Moore to have a chance in this matchup. He needs to have good protection from his veteran offensive line; which will allow him to keep making smart decisions as he did in 2008. The defense will also have to have a great performance. This will be a big test for the inexperienced defensive line and should be a good measuring stick as to how far they have come during fall practices. They will have a hard task at hand in stopping “The Wrecking Ball”, Blount, who has a punishing running style. This should be a fun one to watch, with stars on both sides of the ball for each team looking to get off to a fast start.

Prediction: Oregon 37, Boise State 24

Other Games to Watch:

BYU vs. Oklahoma: BYU quarterback Max Hall will look to match Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford throw for throw, as the Sooner takes his first step at making a second run at the title game. This game will be played at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas so home field advantage is taken away, which should make for an entertaining matchup even though there will be more red in the stands than blue.
Prediction: Oklahoma 47, BYU 20

**Upset Special**
Nevada @ Notre Dame: The high-powered Nevada offense takes aim at one of the most storied programs in college football. Led by quarterback Collin Kaepernick and tailback Via Taua, the Wolf Pack will look to get the ground game going early in this one and will need to if they have a chance at winning in South Bend.
Prediction: Nevada 40, Notre Dame 33

Western Michigan @ Michigan: There's a classic drop back passer who will have NFL scouts watching closely in this one-but he's not wearing Maize and Blue, it's Western quarterback Tim Hiller. The senior takes on a perennial power in Michigan, with Rich Rodriguez looking to bring them back after a disappointing 2008 campaign.
Prediction: Michigan 42, Western Michigan 17

Florida Atlantic @ Nebraska: The Owls quarterback Rusty Smith will need to avoid turning the ball over against a tenacious Cornhusker’s defense. Wide receiver Cortez Gent will have to play like the No.1 wideout he was in 2007 when he eclipsed the 1,000 yard receiving mark if they have a chance at winning in Lincoln.
Prediction: Nebraska 34, Florida Atlantic 13

Central Michigan @ Arizona: Dan LeFevour will need time in the pocket to pick the underachieving Wildcat secondary apart and move the chains. Ball control will be a key factor in this game and LeFevour has two great wideouts to keep drives alive in Antonio Brown and Bryan Anderson.
Prediction: Arizona 28, Central Michigan 14

Mississippi @ Memphis: The Tigers look to down the one team that beat national champion Florida last season. They will need to rely heavily on running back Curtis Steele to eat up some clock and have quarterback Arkelon Hall be better than he was a year ago if they have a chance at taking down the Rebels.
Prediction: Mississippi 30, Memphis 17

Photos Courtesy of Media Relations Boise St. University and Jaren Wilkey/BYU

Pro Day Rewind: 'Canes, Owls & Cardinals

By ANDREW GARDA

Welcome to week two of Pro Day Rewind where we’ll catch you up on the previous week of Pro Days.

The news from the NFL Scouting Combine wasn’t even cold yet and schools were getting their guys into the spotlight immediately. At this point, it’s largely smaller schools that kick off the post-Combine workout schedule, but from those humble beginnings some mighty stars emerge.

So while the week after the Combine was pretty slow, we’ll talk a little about those few who got us kicked off.

Five schools had their Pro Days last week: Bethune-Cookman, Florida-International, Ball State, Florida Atlantic and a big school as well – the University of Miami. At the end of the week, it was the Florida schools which had made the biggest noise, though Ball State had its say as well.

MIAMI: On the 27th of February, 11 players showed off their skills to the representatives of ten NFL teams including Miami, Philadelphia, Tennessee and Atlanta. CB Bruce Johnson improved upon his Combine performance in the 40 (4.42 and 4.45) and vertical (38.5 inches), and posted a 4.03 shuttle and a 6.92 three cone drill. Fellow CB Carlos Armour made up for not being in Indianapolis by running a 4.55 and 4.59 in the 40 and jumping a 37.5 vertical, but was only able to bench press 10 times. However, none of the players looked good enough to go in the first round, which would end a 14-year streak for the 'Canes. In fact, it’s likely nobody will go the first day with Johnson possibly the lone 'Cane drafted.

Florida-Atlantic: The Owls got an unusual level of interest this year as representatives from 16 teams traveled to the school’s Pro Day, for the most part to see senior linebacker Frantz Joseph. Joseph, one of the players highlighted in last week’s column, was not invited to the NFL Scouting Combine but his body of work certainly made him an attraction to scouts. He did not disappoint, running a 4.83 in the 40, benching 225 pounds 19 times, and measuring in at 6’1” and 242 pounds. Joseph also ran a 4.41 shuttle and a 7.34 three-cone drill. Overall, he continued to build heat and while Joseph is assuming he will need to fight for a spot on someone’s practice squad, he may hear his name called on the second day of the Draft. Of the other 17 players who put on a display for the visiting NFL dignitaries, the one who stood out the most was safety Carldayle Brantley. While he only started two games this past season, Brantley put on an eye-opening exhibition, running a 4.40 time in the 40 yard dash, jumping a 38 _ vertical and a 10’7” broad jump – all of which were tops on the day. Charles Pierre, the team’s 1,000 yard rusher, led the weight room, lifting the bar 26 times. Still, while the exposure may garner his fellow teammates a chance at a practice squad, if anyone is to be drafted it will most likely be Joseph and last week’s effort solidified that.

Ball State: Representatives from 14 teams came to Scheumann Stadium on a rainy day to see what Ball State’s players had to offer, but quarterback Nate Davis and offensive tackle Robert Brewster (both of whom participated in the Combine) sat out, although Davis threw for receivers working out. Both athletes will be working out for teams on March 20th instead and will be joined by punter Chris Williams, who could not work out because the event was held indoors due to the inclement weather. Of those who did participate, the most impressive was tight end Darius Hill. Hill ran a career-best 4.71 time in the 40 and did well in the pass-catching drill. The Cardinal tight end had been highly rated going into the 2008 season, but his stock dropped over its course. He is now hoping for at least a shot as a rookie free agent.

2.23.09 - Pro Day Rewind: Combine Edition


Photo Credit: University of Miami Sports Media Relations Office

MOTOR CITY BOWL NOTES: FAU 27, CMU 24

Big Game Russ

“When pressure rises, it’s one of my strong points not to crack under the pressure,” Florida Atlantic quarterback Rusty Smith told CFI Radio after his first practice in Detroit for the Motor City Bowl. “I don’t really know where I got it from. It’s just something where I’ve been able to stay calm whenever the pressure builds up.”

Smith, or Big Red as he is known (his father is Bigger Red), was at his big game best once again. It wasn’t the five-touchdown performance he had a year ago at the New Orleans Bowl, but it wasn’t too shabby either. Smith completed 20-of-35 passes for 306 yards and two touchdowns (zero interceptions).

Throughout the game, Smith did a nice job going through his progressions and the Jacksonville native made throws outside the hash marks with relative ease, working the sidelines on several occasions. His arm doesn’t warrant comparison to Matthew Stafford’s, but it appears to strong enough to “make all the throws” – there was more than enough zip on his passes.

The FAU signal caller shows good pocket presence and steps up when pressured--he doesn’t panic.

Smith has an unorthodox throwing motion, which seems to impact his accuracy more than his arm strength. Several passes sailed on him, particularly when he stepped up in the pocket. Rolling to his right, Smith looked good, displaying a strong arm when he was able to square his shoulders on a pretty 53-yard touchdown pass to Chris Bonner.

His completion percentage was also hurt by drops – leading receiver Cortez Gent dropped two passes – a problem all year for the Owls.

Smith also needs to work on his ball security. Twice he fumbled the football (lost one) and the second time he wasn’t even hit that hard by the defender. Protecting the football should be a point of emphasis for the soon-to-be senior quarterback.

A second straight bowl win adds another building block for the FAU program, a piece that didn’t appear would come this season when they were 1-5 and Smith had only five touchdown passes to go with nine interceptions. With the win over Central Michigan, the Owls ended the year on a 6-1 run with Smith’s touchdown-to-interception ratio improving to 19-to-5.

What was different?

“Not taking everything into my own hands,” was Smith’s answer. “Early on in the season I was trying to do a little too much, trying to force passes that really weren’t there. I realized it’s not really helping the team if I’m trying to do too much, so I decided I should take what the defense gave me and not try and force a 20-yard throw that wasn’t there. I realized if I could hit a five-yard route, the receiver would catch it and get 15 yards.”

Killer Hankies

Number One: With the score tied at 10 in the third quarter, it appeared CMU were going to force Florida Atlantic to punt…until they were flagged for roughing the passer. So instead of giving up the ball, the Owls had a first down on the 48-yard line, setting up Rusty Smith’s 52-yard scoring strike for a 17-10 lead. IMPACT: Minus seven points

Number Two: Antonio Brown breaks off a 78-yard scoring scamper to take a 20-17 lead…until a face mask penalty brought it all the way back. On the next play, they ran the same exact reverse to Brown, but this time he lost six yards and CMU had to punt the football. IMPACT: Minus seven points (Total = 14 points lost)

Number Three: Down 24-13, the Chippewas drove to the FAU one yard line with a chance to pull within one-score…until a false start penalty pushed them back to the six-yard line. There is not a worse spot on the field to commit a false start penalty. Dan LeFevour threw incompletions on the next two plays and they turned the ball over on downs. IMPACT: Minus eight points potentially (Total = 14-22 points lost)

Of course, one might ask, WHY ARE THEY GOING FOR IT? Inexplicably, Coach Butch Jones went for it on fourth-and-goal from the six-yard line with over 5:00 remaining. A field goal would have cut it to an eight-point game. Jones’ decision added insult to penalty.

Defensive Studs

Senior inside linebacker Frantz Joseph was all over the field, recording a team-high 13 tackles. Joseph is a big time hitter who takes names later and possesses good timing in open field when looking to lay the wood.

You can’t run right at Joseph – he’s a very sure tackler. He has excellent footwork and does a good job of sliding by potential blockers and squaring up to the ball carrier.

Joseph stays on the field in passing situations – he’s a legit three-down linebacker. He made an excellent open field tackle on Central Michigan’s playmaking wide out/return man Antonio Brown, allowing zero yards after the catch. Later in the game, Joseph knocked down a fourth down pass in the end zone, preserving the Owls’ 11-point lead.

Effort is not an issue, as Joseph doesn’t give up on plays. Even when he doesn’t make initial play, he cleans up a lot.

A couple of times, Joseph was pushed around by the Chippewas offensive line; disengaging is something he needs to work on, but it’s nothing to be too concerned about. He also can get a little too deep penetrating the offensive backfield, losing sight of the football.

Not as explosive as Joseph, but solid in his own right was CMU’s middle linebacker Nick Bellore, who recorded 12 tackles. The junior displayed good closing speed in zone coverage and quickness when he pounced on a Smith fumble. Bellore was active throughout the contest.

Unsung Heroes

Fullback Willie Rose was one of the top prospects on either team, paving the way for many of FAU’s rushing yards with his excellent lead blocks and providing solid pass protection to boot. Not just an extra offensive linemen, Rose saw some time as the lone running back in one-back sets. He showed good vision and showed toughness inside when asked to run the football. Coming out of the backfield, he can catch the ball and make yards once he gets the ball in his hands.

Following Rose’s blocks much of the time was senior tailback Charles Pierre, a physical runner who possesses good size. Pierre runs hard and is not afraid to put his hat down. Even when he was heading out of bounds, the tailback put his head down to get a little hit in on defender. He gained most of his yards (16 carries, 77 yards) running between the tackles, using his center of gravity and balance. Even when contact is made, Pierre keeps his legs churning.

He played his final game with passion and tremendous poise, so it was no surprise that headman Howard Schnellenberger went to his senior runner to milk the final minutes to secure the win. The Owls took over with 3:09 remaining in the game and Pierre touched the ball on five straight plays, converting three first downs before Smith took a knee on the final two plays of the game.

In the Trenches

Several of the top players and pro prospects will not see their name in the box score, but FAU guard Ryan Wischnefski and CMU tackle Andrew Hartline each made his presence felt. Wischnefski, just a sophomore, did an excellent job of run blocking which is where Pierre did most of his damage. Most of the Chippewas’ productive runs came when they ran behind senior Hartline, who made his 51st straight start.

On the first play of the game, Central’s defensive end Frank Zombo read screen pass, got his hands up and deflected the pass. He was quiet for most of the day, but did record a half a tackle for a loss and his pressure on Smith set up a sack for a teammate. For the Owls, their most productive defensive lineman was senior Jervonte Jackson. The defensive tackle was able to get penetration, as well as a couple of big hits on the Chippewas’ quarterback Dan LeFevour. A bit undersized to play on the inside, Jackson can get beat up physically, but has the quickness to make impact plays.

Stars of Tomorrow

Central Michigan: WR Kiro Poblah, Sophomore; LB Matt Berning, Sophomore; DT Sean Murnane, Sophomore; Florida Atlantic: CB Tarvoris Hill, Sophomore

Motor City Bowl: FAU vs. Central Michigan

By J.J. PESAVENTO

December 26 * 7:30 PM * ESPN

All eyes will be on quarterback Dan LeFevour as he leads his 8-4 Chippewas against Florida Atlantic. LeFevour can hurt a defense with his arm or his legs and led the MAC Conference in total offense in 2008. When he looks downfield, LeFevour will be targeting Antonio Brown and Bryan Anderson. When LeFevour is not moving the offense himself, look for running back Ontario Sneed to tote the rock for the Chippewas. Central Michigan has two standout defensive performers in Nick Bellore and Frank Zambo, but the defense ranks near the bottom of the pack in both pass defense and total defense. During the second half of the 2008 season, quarterback Rusty Smith threw 17 of his 22 touchdown passes and led the Owls to five wins in six games to gain a spot in the Motor City Bowl. The Owls have allowed only 12 sacks all season which has given Smith more than enough time to find receivers Cortez Gent and Jamari Grant, as well as tight end Rob Housler. The Owls live by the pass, but when they do run, Charles Pierre will get the call. The Owls have a stud defender in linebacker Frantz Joseph who ranks second in the nation in tackles. But like CMU, the defense as a whole is a weakness.

Inside the Numbers – Pass, Run & Catch

Central Michigan Chippewas (8-4, 6-2)
Pass: Dan LeFevour – 2,531 yards, 19 TDs
Run: Dan LeFevour – 536 yards, 6 TDs
Catch: Antonio Brown – 82-906-6 TDs

Florida Atlantic Owls (6-6, 4-3)
Pass: Rusty Smith – 2,918 yards, 22 TDs
Run: Charles Pierre – 937 yards, 8 TDs
Catch: Cortez Gent – 53-837-8 TDs

Photo Credit: Central Michigan University