On The Clock: Dallas Cowboys

Record: 9-7, 3rd In the NFC East
General Manager: Jerry Jones, Head Coach: Wade Phillips (3rd Year), Offensive Coordinator: Jason Garrett (3rd Year), Defensive Coordinator: Wade Phillips (1st Year)

Offense Rankings: No. 13 Overall, No. 18 Scoring, No. 9 Passing, No. 21 Rushing
Defense Rankings: No. 8 Overall, No. 20 Scoring, No. 5 Passing, No. 12 Rushing

Last Five Years: 46-34; Last Playoff Appearance: 2007; Last Playoff Victory: 1996 (40-15 Over the Minnesota Vikings)

2008 Draft: (1-22) RB Felix Jones, (1-25) CB Mike Jenkins, (2-61) TE Martellus Bennett, (4-122) RB Tashard Choice, (5-143) CB Orlando Scandrick, (6-167) DE Erik Walden

Top Picks Last Five Years:
2008 – (1-22) RB Felix Jones, Arkansas & (1-25) CB Mike Jenkins, South Florida
2007 – (1-26) DE Anthony Spencer, Purdue
2006 – (1-18) LB Bobby Carpenter, Ohio St.
2005 – (1-11) LB DeMarcus Ware, Troy & (1-20) DE Marcus Spears, LSU
2004 – (2-43) RB Julius Jones, Notre Dame

Booms: WR Patrick Crayton (7th Round 2004), DB Jacques Reeves (7th Round 2004), OLB DeMarcus Ware (1st Round 2005), RB Marion Barber III (4th Round 2005), DE Chris Canty (4th Round 2005), DE Jay Ratliff (7th Round 2005), OT Pat McQuistan (7th Round 2006), K Nicholas Folk (6th Round 2007), RB Tashard Choice (4th Round 2008), CB Orlando Scandrick (5th Round 2008)

Busts: OT Jacob Rogers (2nd Round 2004), OLB Bobby Carpenter (1st Round 2006), WR Skyler Green (4th Round 2006), DE Anthony Spencer (1st Round 2007), OT James Marten (2nd Round 2007)

Additions:
OLB Keith Brooking (Free Agent)
QB Jon Kitna (Trade)
DE Igor Olshansky (Free Agent)
SS Gerald Sensabaugh (Free Agent)
LB Matt Stewart (Free Agent)

Subtractions:
OG Joe Berger (FA-Miami)
OLB Kevin Burnett (FA-San Diego)
DE Chris Canty (FA-New York)
QB Brad Johnson (Released)
CB Adam Jones (Released)
WR Terrell Owens (Released)
SS Roy Williams (Released)

Keepers:
None.

2009 Picks:
Round 2, Selection 19
Round 3, Selection 5 (From Cleveland)
Round 4, Selection 1 (From Detroit)
Round 4, Selection 17
Round 5, Selection 20
Round 5, Selection 30 (From Tennessee)
Round 5, Selection 36 (Compensatory)
Round 6, Selection 24 (From Miami)
Round 6, Selection 35 (Compensatory)
Round 7, Selection 1 (From Detroit)
Round 7, Selection 18

Team Needs – Players of Interest (Day One):
1. Safety: Louis Delmas, Western Michigan
2. Wide Receiver: Kenny Britt, Rutgers; Hakeem Nicks, UNC; Brian Robiskie, OSU; Juaquin Iglesias, Oklahoma; Mike Thomas, Arizona
3. Defensive End: Jarron Gilbert, San Jose St.; Evander Hood, Missouri; Sen’Derrick Marks, Auburn
4. Offensive Tackle: Eben Britton, Arizona; William Beatty, UConn; Jamon Meredith, South Carolina
5. Punter: None.

Photo Credit: College Press Box, OSU Athletics

CFI: BLOW OUT CITY IN THE BIG EAST PART I & II

BY CHRISTOPHER MOGOLLON
BIG EAST INSIDER

September 9 (8:00 – ESPN2) * Rutgers 5-4 (2-3) @ Army 3-6 – This is a must win game for the Scarlet Knights after losing two straight conference games since their upset over South Florida. Army has been spanked three times in a row and in all three games their defense has given up at least 30 points. Rutgers should be able to pass the ball fairly easily, as Tiquan Underwood is likely to have another big game. The receiver leads the conference in receptions with 59 and has six games with a 100 yards receiving or more. He is with out a doubt a playmaker, having caught six touchdowns, which is tied for fourth in the conference. Sophomores Kenny Britt and Tim Brown are also dangerous speedsters. Britt has come along nicely this season catching 39 balls for 829 yards, including a career-high eight receptions in a loss to Connecticut last week. Army does not have much of an offense, they are ranked 116th in college football, and their season-high in points is 23 in a loss to Central Michigan.

Key Match-Up: Ray Rice vs. Army Run Defense – Rice leads the conference in rushing and is ranked eighth in the country, having racking up 1257 yards. He is a scoring machine, getting into the end zone 14 times this year, which ranks sixth in the country. Rice has six 100-yard games, including his 181-yard performance against South Florida. Army has been dreadful defending the run giving up 100-plus yards on the ground to every team they have played this year, which includes Rhode Island. Their most recent game was a joke allowing 437 yards and two touchdowns on the ground versus Air Force.


September 10 (12:00 – ESPN 360/Gameplan) * South Florida 6-3 (1-3) @ Syracuse 2-7 (1-3) – South Florida has a lot of frustration coming into this game losing three in a row and going from number two in the country to unranked, with emotional Jim Leavitt pumping up his troops, don't be surprised if this one is a blowout. Syracuse lost a very tough game last week at Pittsburgh and find themselves lost for points, as their offense is ranked 113th in the country averaging 16.6 points a game. The Orange are getting productivity from their wide receivers every game with sophomore Mike Williams leading in the team in touchdowns and ranking ninth in the conference with 37 receptions. Captain Taj Smith has racked up 607 yards so far this season averaging 18.4 yards a catch. Syracuse might play around with their quarterbacks, using both Andrew Robinson and Cameron Dantley to try to get as much offensive production as possible. Trae Williams and Mike Jenkins lead the conference in passes defended, making up a fierce secondary. Watch out for the pass rushers in this game, George Selvie leads the conference with 13.5. Last year’s leader in sacks, Jameel McClain, hasn't had the same success this year as last year, but can still be dangerous.

Key Match up: Matt Grothe vs. SU Rush Defense – Grothe leads the team in rushing yards with 625, averaging 4.3 yards a carry. He scores plenty using his feet with seven touchdowns. The problem for Syracuse is they have been unable to stop any team’s rushing attack, especially clubs with a running quarterback. This year against Washington, Illinois, and West Virginia, the SU run defense looked very slow and couldn't bring down the opposing team’s athletic signal caller. Grothe was great last year versus the 'Cuse, as the freshman threw for 364 yards and rushed for 45 more.

Photo Credit: Collegiate Images

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

Thorpe Award names 12 semifinalists

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Ohio State's Malcolm Jenkins and LSU's Craig Steltz were among the 12 semifinalists chosen Monday for the Jim Thorpe Award, which is given annually to college football's top defensive back.

Boston College's Mike Silva, Oklahoma's Reggie Smith and Kansas' Aqib Talib are also among the semifinalists, who will be narrowed to three finalists on Nov. 19. Three finalists will be invited to the college football awards show on Dec. 6, where a winner will be announced.

The other semifinalists include UCLA's Trey Brown, Arizona's Antoine Cason, Illinois' Vontae Davis, South Florida's Mike Jenkins, Miami's Kenny Phillips, Wyoming's Julius Stinson and Notre Dame's Tom Zbikowski.

The last two winners were Michael Huff and Aaron Ross, both of Texas.

SOURCE: NCAAFOOTBALL.COM; PHOTO CREDIT: COLLEGIATE IMAGES

STOCK RISING

BY RICK SERRITELLA
NFL DRAFT BIBLE

Despite Louisville’s early season struggles, wide receiver Harry Douglas has been a staple of consistency. Douglas has gained 100 yards and scored at least one touchdown in every game this season. Through the first four games he has collected 679 receiving yards and five touchdowns.

Having been a manufacturer of producing pro caliber linebackers, J Leman looks to be the next in line to hail from the University of Illinois. Standing in at 6’2, 240-pounds, Leman has the size and lateral speed to be an impact player at the next level. He can also lay the lumber and punishes those who dare to come across the middle.

Boston College cornerback DeJuan Tribble has proved to be a defensive playmaker through the first quarter of the season. The defensive team leader has made a ton of plays and gets his hands on a lot of balls, whether it be via interception or pass deflections. Tribble looks to be headed towards solidifying first-round status.

One player flying under the radar is South Florida cornerback Mike Jenkins. Helping South Carolina get off to a 3-0 start, Jenkins helped set up an upset victory over Auburn with a late-game interception a couple of weeks ago. His speed is comparable to any top corner in the ’07 draft and you can be sure that scout’s eyes will be on Jenkins as the Bulls host West Virginia this upcoming week.

Lost amidst the shocking upset over Louisville is the gutsy performance by Syracuse wide out Taj Smith. The speedster from Newark, New Jersey had 4 catches- two of which went for touchdowns and 173 receiving yards. Hailing from a gang-infested community, the senior could have a turn of good fortune, as a few more performances like that and he will definitely be on the NFL Draft radar come April.