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NCAA shows once again that it is a *&^% show when making decisions
'12 COLLEGE FOOTBALL OFF-SEASON (NSD, spring practice, summer sessions)
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by gunna get it,
- Start date
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Artie Burns (CB from Miami Northwestern) finally decommitted from Bama. No surprise, been weeks in the making
FSU, Miami, USC, LSU
FSU, Miami, USC, LSU
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Wisconsin year in review:
Offseason notes, USCe, Utah, UCF, UF
Sorry %$! offenses that look to improve in 2013
Spoiler [+]
[h2]The Year in Review: Wisconsin (11-3, 6-2)[/h2][h4]By Paul Myerberg // Mar 14, 2012[/h4]
It’s not quite Tennessee, but it’s close. The Volunteers lost seven assistants off last year’s staff. Bret Bielema and the Badgers lost six assistants, though it seemed, for a day or two, that the total would jump to seven: Earlier this month, running backs coach Thomas Hammock flirted with the St. Louis Rams before choosing to remain with Wisconsin. But you can see why coaches were leaving Derek Dooley and Tennessee en masse; one former assistant, Eric Russell, openly cited the lack of stability in Knoxville as his rationale for joining Mike Leach at Washington State. Other former Dooley assistants couldn’t be faulted for feeling the same way.
On the other hand, why would Wisconsin have suffered such massive changeover on its coaching staff? The Badgers ended last year with 11 wins and a narrow loss in the Rose Bowl, just as they ended the 2010 season. The program has won 32 games over the last three years, and an even 60 over Bielema’s six seasons as head coach.
Six assistants left Madison in the weeks following the Rose Bowl loss. Offensive coordinator Paul Chryst was named the head coach at Pittsburgh on Dec. 22, though he remained on Bielema’s staff through the postseason. He was followed to Pittsburgh by offensive line coach Bob Bostad, tight ends coach Joe Rudolph and linebackers coach Dave Huxtable.
In early January, wide receivers coach DelVaughn Alexander left for the same position at Arizona State. On Jan. 19, special teams coordinator and safeties coach DeMontie Cross was hired as Charlie Weis’ linebackers coach at Kansas. There’s your six: Chryst, Bostad, Rudolph, Huxtable, Alexander and Cross.
Chryst landed a B.C.S. conference head coaching job — an absolute no-brainer. Bostad and Rudolph were package deals, it seems. Huxtable earned a promotion from linebackers to defensive coordinator. Alexander’s move was lateral, to be fair. But Cross was able to get his own position group with the Jayhawks, and as weak as Kansas might be in 2012, that’s a definite career upgrade.
Unlike the circumstances at Tennessee, Wisconsin’s departed assistants left for better opportunities, not greater stability. The lone exception is Alexander, who left for another reason altogether: the chance to work in the Pac-12. A native of Los Angeles, Alexander worked at U.S.C. — his alma mater — Oregon State and the University of San Diego before joining Bielema in 2007.
Three assistants will return this fall, each in the same role. Chris Ash remains Wisconsin’s co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach. Charlie Partridge, Bielema’s assistant head coach, will share coordinator duties and coach the defensive line. After that mild flirtation with the N.F.L., Hammock returned for another year of Montee Ball and the Badgers’ high-profile running game.
Despite the circumstances, and despite the trio of coaches who opted to remain, the widespread turnover is reason for concern. Not quite red-alert-level concern, but there’s no easy answer to the question: Why would so many coaches leave what seems, on paper, like one of the better situations in college football? The question doesn’t apply to Chryst, but what about the rest?
Is Bielema difficult to work under? Perhaps. But that didn’t lead Chryst, a seven-year veteran of Wisconsin, to take another job at any point over the previous six seasons. Bostad had been with the Badgers since Bielema’s arrival in 2006. Alexander had been in the fold for five years; Rudolph since 2008. Huxtable and Cross were new additions in 2011.
A more valid theory: The six had capped out with the Badgers. Chryst’s stock was never going to be higher — besides, he landed a plum gig with the Panthers. Bostad and Rudolph were able to ride his coattails to a nice raise and a career boost. Huxtable earned a promotion. Cross turned a Rose Bowl run into the job at Kansas. The six got out while the getting was good. A nice theory, at least.
Turnabout is fair play. Bielema reached into Chryst’s pocket to nab tight ends coach Eddie Faulkner, who agreed to terms with Wisconsin less than a month after joining the Panthers. On Feb. 18, Bostad left Pittsburgh — he joined Chryst on Jan. 7 — to become Greg Schiano’s offensive line coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Bielema raided Northern Illinois for Matt Canada, who replaced Chryst as offensive coordinator. Nevada lost defensive coordinator Andy Buh, who stepped in for Huxtable. New receivers coach Zach Azzanni was Western Kentucky’s offensive coordinator. And round and round we go.
Season grade: A Rarely does a transfer work so well — whether from another program, the junior college ranks or via the N.C.A.A. graduate student loophole, with the latter responsible for allowing Russell Wilson to trade in Raleigh for Madison. For every Wilson there’s a Jeremiah Masoli, who arrived at Mississippi with similar fanfare but crashed and burned outside of Chip Kelly’s offense. Wilson was nearly perfect, setting a pair of N.C.A.A. records during his marvelous one-year run with the Badgers: one career, for the most consecutive games with a touchdown, and one single-season, for the highest quarterback efficiency rating. Thanks to Wilson, a Heisman-worthy running back and a fairly strong defense, the Badgers won 11 games for the second consecutive season. Sadly, the year ended with another loss in the Rose Bowl.
High point Two victories stand out. The first was a prime-time destruction of then-No. 8 Nebraska on Oct. 1. Key word: destruction. The second was a 42-39 win over Michigan State in the inaugural Big Ten title game, one that avenged a narrow loss in October and pushed the Badgers into the Rose Bowl.
Low point In order: Oregon, Ohio State and Michigan State. The first for occurring in Pasadena, where the Badgers have dropped two straight under Bielema after winning all three of its tries under Barry Alvarez. The second for the utter insanity of it all; the Buckeyes had no business hanging around that game, let alone pulling out the win. The third was painful, but the Badgers were able to gain a measure of revenge in Indianapolis.
Offensive M.V.P. Thirty-nine total touchdowns, the second-most in F.B.S. history. An F.B.S.-best 1,932 yards rushing. Ten 100-yard games; two 200-yard games. At least one touchdown in 20 consecutive games, an N.C.A.A. record. A Heisman finalist. With all due respect to Wilson, Montee Ball was the engine behind Wisconsin’s prolific offense. The best news? After weighing his options in January, Ball opted to return to Madison for his senior season.
Defensive M.V.P. The defense melted down against Oregon. It suffered through a horrific second quarter in the loss to Michigan State. The Badgers were unprepared for Braxton Miller and the Ohio State running game a week later. By and large, however, the defense might have been Wisconsin’s best since 2006, Bielema’s first season. One thing the Badgers did as well as anyone was defend the pass, ranking fourth nationally in yards allowed per game and intercepting 16 passes, tied for 18th nationally. That the defense struggled at times stopping the run contributed to the nice numbers against the pass — the Badgers faced the 25th-fewest passing attempts in the country — but cornerback Aaron Henry, a first-team all-conference pick, helped pace a secondary that held four opponents under 100 yards passing. Linebackers Mike Taylor and Chris Borland, who combined for 293 tackles, also earned all-conference recognition.
Stock watch Ball’s still around, as is Bielema and a few loyal assistants. But the Badgers have some serious questions to address before being penciled into another postseason trip to Pasadena. There’s that nearly brand-new staff. The Badgers’ quarterback issues have resurfaced. Both lines suffered a handful of losses to graduation. Wisconsin’s not going to suffer a precipitous slide, but can this team really be viewed as the best in the Big Ten for a third straight year? A few things in the Badgers’ favor: the offensive line is always superb; Ball is the best returning back in the country; three of last season’s top four receivers return; and by and large, the defense remains intact. The pieces are there for another run at 10 wins. How well the new faces meld with the old standbys will decide Wisconsin’s fate.
It’s not quite Tennessee, but it’s close. The Volunteers lost seven assistants off last year’s staff. Bret Bielema and the Badgers lost six assistants, though it seemed, for a day or two, that the total would jump to seven: Earlier this month, running backs coach Thomas Hammock flirted with the St. Louis Rams before choosing to remain with Wisconsin. But you can see why coaches were leaving Derek Dooley and Tennessee en masse; one former assistant, Eric Russell, openly cited the lack of stability in Knoxville as his rationale for joining Mike Leach at Washington State. Other former Dooley assistants couldn’t be faulted for feeling the same way.
On the other hand, why would Wisconsin have suffered such massive changeover on its coaching staff? The Badgers ended last year with 11 wins and a narrow loss in the Rose Bowl, just as they ended the 2010 season. The program has won 32 games over the last three years, and an even 60 over Bielema’s six seasons as head coach.
Six assistants left Madison in the weeks following the Rose Bowl loss. Offensive coordinator Paul Chryst was named the head coach at Pittsburgh on Dec. 22, though he remained on Bielema’s staff through the postseason. He was followed to Pittsburgh by offensive line coach Bob Bostad, tight ends coach Joe Rudolph and linebackers coach Dave Huxtable.
In early January, wide receivers coach DelVaughn Alexander left for the same position at Arizona State. On Jan. 19, special teams coordinator and safeties coach DeMontie Cross was hired as Charlie Weis’ linebackers coach at Kansas. There’s your six: Chryst, Bostad, Rudolph, Huxtable, Alexander and Cross.
Chryst landed a B.C.S. conference head coaching job — an absolute no-brainer. Bostad and Rudolph were package deals, it seems. Huxtable earned a promotion from linebackers to defensive coordinator. Alexander’s move was lateral, to be fair. But Cross was able to get his own position group with the Jayhawks, and as weak as Kansas might be in 2012, that’s a definite career upgrade.
Unlike the circumstances at Tennessee, Wisconsin’s departed assistants left for better opportunities, not greater stability. The lone exception is Alexander, who left for another reason altogether: the chance to work in the Pac-12. A native of Los Angeles, Alexander worked at U.S.C. — his alma mater — Oregon State and the University of San Diego before joining Bielema in 2007.
Three assistants will return this fall, each in the same role. Chris Ash remains Wisconsin’s co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach. Charlie Partridge, Bielema’s assistant head coach, will share coordinator duties and coach the defensive line. After that mild flirtation with the N.F.L., Hammock returned for another year of Montee Ball and the Badgers’ high-profile running game.
Despite the circumstances, and despite the trio of coaches who opted to remain, the widespread turnover is reason for concern. Not quite red-alert-level concern, but there’s no easy answer to the question: Why would so many coaches leave what seems, on paper, like one of the better situations in college football? The question doesn’t apply to Chryst, but what about the rest?
Is Bielema difficult to work under? Perhaps. But that didn’t lead Chryst, a seven-year veteran of Wisconsin, to take another job at any point over the previous six seasons. Bostad had been with the Badgers since Bielema’s arrival in 2006. Alexander had been in the fold for five years; Rudolph since 2008. Huxtable and Cross were new additions in 2011.
A more valid theory: The six had capped out with the Badgers. Chryst’s stock was never going to be higher — besides, he landed a plum gig with the Panthers. Bostad and Rudolph were able to ride his coattails to a nice raise and a career boost. Huxtable earned a promotion. Cross turned a Rose Bowl run into the job at Kansas. The six got out while the getting was good. A nice theory, at least.
Turnabout is fair play. Bielema reached into Chryst’s pocket to nab tight ends coach Eddie Faulkner, who agreed to terms with Wisconsin less than a month after joining the Panthers. On Feb. 18, Bostad left Pittsburgh — he joined Chryst on Jan. 7 — to become Greg Schiano’s offensive line coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Bielema raided Northern Illinois for Matt Canada, who replaced Chryst as offensive coordinator. Nevada lost defensive coordinator Andy Buh, who stepped in for Huxtable. New receivers coach Zach Azzanni was Western Kentucky’s offensive coordinator. And round and round we go.
Season grade: A Rarely does a transfer work so well — whether from another program, the junior college ranks or via the N.C.A.A. graduate student loophole, with the latter responsible for allowing Russell Wilson to trade in Raleigh for Madison. For every Wilson there’s a Jeremiah Masoli, who arrived at Mississippi with similar fanfare but crashed and burned outside of Chip Kelly’s offense. Wilson was nearly perfect, setting a pair of N.C.A.A. records during his marvelous one-year run with the Badgers: one career, for the most consecutive games with a touchdown, and one single-season, for the highest quarterback efficiency rating. Thanks to Wilson, a Heisman-worthy running back and a fairly strong defense, the Badgers won 11 games for the second consecutive season. Sadly, the year ended with another loss in the Rose Bowl.
High point Two victories stand out. The first was a prime-time destruction of then-No. 8 Nebraska on Oct. 1. Key word: destruction. The second was a 42-39 win over Michigan State in the inaugural Big Ten title game, one that avenged a narrow loss in October and pushed the Badgers into the Rose Bowl.
Low point In order: Oregon, Ohio State and Michigan State. The first for occurring in Pasadena, where the Badgers have dropped two straight under Bielema after winning all three of its tries under Barry Alvarez. The second for the utter insanity of it all; the Buckeyes had no business hanging around that game, let alone pulling out the win. The third was painful, but the Badgers were able to gain a measure of revenge in Indianapolis.
Offensive M.V.P. Thirty-nine total touchdowns, the second-most in F.B.S. history. An F.B.S.-best 1,932 yards rushing. Ten 100-yard games; two 200-yard games. At least one touchdown in 20 consecutive games, an N.C.A.A. record. A Heisman finalist. With all due respect to Wilson, Montee Ball was the engine behind Wisconsin’s prolific offense. The best news? After weighing his options in January, Ball opted to return to Madison for his senior season.
Defensive M.V.P. The defense melted down against Oregon. It suffered through a horrific second quarter in the loss to Michigan State. The Badgers were unprepared for Braxton Miller and the Ohio State running game a week later. By and large, however, the defense might have been Wisconsin’s best since 2006, Bielema’s first season. One thing the Badgers did as well as anyone was defend the pass, ranking fourth nationally in yards allowed per game and intercepting 16 passes, tied for 18th nationally. That the defense struggled at times stopping the run contributed to the nice numbers against the pass — the Badgers faced the 25th-fewest passing attempts in the country — but cornerback Aaron Henry, a first-team all-conference pick, helped pace a secondary that held four opponents under 100 yards passing. Linebackers Mike Taylor and Chris Borland, who combined for 293 tackles, also earned all-conference recognition.
Stock watch Ball’s still around, as is Bielema and a few loyal assistants. But the Badgers have some serious questions to address before being penciled into another postseason trip to Pasadena. There’s that nearly brand-new staff. The Badgers’ quarterback issues have resurfaced. Both lines suffered a handful of losses to graduation. Wisconsin’s not going to suffer a precipitous slide, but can this team really be viewed as the best in the Big Ten for a third straight year? A few things in the Badgers’ favor: the offensive line is always superb; Ball is the best returning back in the country; three of last season’s top four receivers return; and by and large, the defense remains intact. The pieces are there for another run at 10 wins. How well the new faces meld with the old standbys will decide Wisconsin’s fate.
Spoiler [+]
[h2]
[/h2][h2]Two-Deep Notes: U.S.C., U.F., Utah and U.C.F.[/h2][h4]By Paul Myerberg // Mar 15, 2012[/h4]
With spring comes rain, baseball, grass and depth charts. Each of the latter trio is welcome, with none more so than the parade of two-deeps cascading onto university Web sites over the last two weeks. Another four schools offered up a preliminary depth chart over the last two days: Utah, U.C.F., Florida and South Carolina. With these depth charts, and with a few others, comes spring. An important note, however: All depth charts are to be taken lightly, and then taken outside and lit aflame, because they’re worthless. Less than worthless, perhaps — for many teams, the names and numbers listed alongside the vast majority of positions are space-fillers, more or less.
Sometimes, however, a spring two-deep sends a message. Take South Carolina, for instance, which has Marcus Lattimore listed atop the depth chart at running back. That’s despite the fact that Lattimore won’t participate in any contact drills during the spring; in fact, Lattimore might be held out of non-contact drills, if his knee doesn’t prove up to the task.
The Gamecocks enter the spring with question marks at receiver. The team lost Alshon Jeffery to the N.F.L. Draft, as expected, but will also be without sophomore Bruce Ellington, who this week reconfirmed his commitment to South Carolina’s basketball team. That’s a two-pronged blow: Ellington was also valuable part of Carolina’s return game.
The Gamecocks will rely on Ace Sanders to lead by example. In its spring depth chart, South Carolina listed Sanders, junior DeAngelo Smith and senior D.L. Moore as the three starters at receiver. Along the offensive line, the depth chart indicates that sophomore Mike Matulis will remain at right tackle rather than replace Rokevious Watkins on the blind side.
One thing that stands out with Florida’s depth chart is how… unsurprising it is. On defense, at least. Offensively, the Gators may have more than one position battle determined during the spring. At quarterback, Florida listed sophomores Jacoby Brissett and Jeff Driskel as co-starters. That’s one of the key position battles taking place across the SEC over the next month.
Look for extra emphasis to be placed on the offensive line, which was a weekly concern for Florida last fall. The Gators may alternate several different lineups during the spring in search of a more consistent offensive front. Entering the spring, the starting five, from left to right: Patchan, Wilson, Harrison, Halapio and Green. This will change throughout the spring.
The defense is locked in. Leon Orr is penciled in as Jaye Howard’s replacement at tackle, as expected. Junior Darrin Kitchens is listed as the starter at strong side linebacker, but that should change when Lerentee McCray returns from injury. For now, it’s Kitchens, who played inside last fall, followed by sophomore Graham Stewart.
The best position battle may be occurring at cornerback, where Jaylen Watkins, Loucheiz Purifoy and Willie Bailey will battle for the right to start opposite of Cody Riggs while Marcus Roberson recovers from a neck injury. One interesting listing is safety Matt Elam listed as the starter at nickel back ahead of De’Ante Saunders, who held those duties in 2011.
Utah’s experience at the offensive and defensive skill positions might be the envy of the Pac-12 — though there’s no Matt Barkley in Provo, nor a Robert Woods or De’Anthony Thomas. But there is a John White IV: once again, the former JUCO transfer will be the heart and soul of Utah’s offensive attack.
Little has changed between the Sun Bowl and spring ball, judging by Utah’s two-deep. DeVonte Christopher, Reggie Dunn and Luke Matthews are the starting receivers; Matthews makes a slight position change, from F-back to receiver, in new offensive coordinator Brian Johnson’s more spread-based system. David Rolf and Jake Murphy run one-two at tight end.
The only change might be at quarterback, where Jordan Wynn has reclaimed his spot atop the depth chart after missing a significant portion of last season with a shoulder injury. But there’s no Jon Hays to be found: Wynn is the starter entering the spring, followed by true freshmen Travis Wilson and Chase Hansen. Hays, a former Nebraska-Omaha transfer, isn’t listed among the top three quarterbacks.
Utah has only one gap to fill in the secondary, one it should fill with relative ease. Conroy Black has exhausted his eligibility; Ryan Lacy claims his spot. Lacy shared time with Mo Lee at cornerback last fall, so he’s a natural replacement for Black. After suffering some growing pains last fall, sophomore Eric Rowe and junior Brian Blechen enter the spring as the starters at free and strong safety, respectively.
A sign of the times in Orlando: George O’Leary told reporters following Tuesday’s initial practice that all jobs are open to competition. Better yet — or worse yet, if you cover the team, like Iliana Limon of the Orlando Sentinel — O’Leary has followed up on his promise and not assigned a starting tag to any one player on the U.C.F. roster.
So how does a reporter like Limon judge which players might be considered starters on the first day of spring ball? By watching closely, taking notes and keeping a roster handy. According to Limon, most of the returning starters from last season remained part of the first team during the Knights’ first practice.
This included sophomore quarterback Blake Bortles, who should claim the starting role outright now that Jeff Godfrey is no longer part of the program. In reality, while O’Leary touts the open nature of the depth chart, there are only four position battles worth watching: right tackle, cornerback, defensive end and middle linebacker.
Junior Jordan McCray, a five-game starter at right guard in 2011, will get the first shot at replacing Nick Pieschel at right tackle. By Limon’s count, former JUCO transfer Toby Jackson is the odds-on favorite to replace Darius Nall at defensive end. Terrance Plummer showed promise as a freshman, so it’s logical that he’d step in for Josh Linam at middle linebacker.
And cornerback? Three-time all-Conference USA pick Josh Robinson will be nearly impossible for U.C.F. to replace. Brandon Alexander was another freshman who impressed on defense a year ago, but can the sophomore replicate Robinson’s game-changing ability? Well, it’s spring: it’s the time for such questions.
[h5][/h5]
[/h2][h2]Two-Deep Notes: U.S.C., U.F., Utah and U.C.F.[/h2][h4]By Paul Myerberg // Mar 15, 2012[/h4]
With spring comes rain, baseball, grass and depth charts. Each of the latter trio is welcome, with none more so than the parade of two-deeps cascading onto university Web sites over the last two weeks. Another four schools offered up a preliminary depth chart over the last two days: Utah, U.C.F., Florida and South Carolina. With these depth charts, and with a few others, comes spring. An important note, however: All depth charts are to be taken lightly, and then taken outside and lit aflame, because they’re worthless. Less than worthless, perhaps — for many teams, the names and numbers listed alongside the vast majority of positions are space-fillers, more or less.
Sometimes, however, a spring two-deep sends a message. Take South Carolina, for instance, which has Marcus Lattimore listed atop the depth chart at running back. That’s despite the fact that Lattimore won’t participate in any contact drills during the spring; in fact, Lattimore might be held out of non-contact drills, if his knee doesn’t prove up to the task.
The Gamecocks enter the spring with question marks at receiver. The team lost Alshon Jeffery to the N.F.L. Draft, as expected, but will also be without sophomore Bruce Ellington, who this week reconfirmed his commitment to South Carolina’s basketball team. That’s a two-pronged blow: Ellington was also valuable part of Carolina’s return game.
The Gamecocks will rely on Ace Sanders to lead by example. In its spring depth chart, South Carolina listed Sanders, junior DeAngelo Smith and senior D.L. Moore as the three starters at receiver. Along the offensive line, the depth chart indicates that sophomore Mike Matulis will remain at right tackle rather than replace Rokevious Watkins on the blind side.
One thing that stands out with Florida’s depth chart is how… unsurprising it is. On defense, at least. Offensively, the Gators may have more than one position battle determined during the spring. At quarterback, Florida listed sophomores Jacoby Brissett and Jeff Driskel as co-starters. That’s one of the key position battles taking place across the SEC over the next month.
Look for extra emphasis to be placed on the offensive line, which was a weekly concern for Florida last fall. The Gators may alternate several different lineups during the spring in search of a more consistent offensive front. Entering the spring, the starting five, from left to right: Patchan, Wilson, Harrison, Halapio and Green. This will change throughout the spring.
The defense is locked in. Leon Orr is penciled in as Jaye Howard’s replacement at tackle, as expected. Junior Darrin Kitchens is listed as the starter at strong side linebacker, but that should change when Lerentee McCray returns from injury. For now, it’s Kitchens, who played inside last fall, followed by sophomore Graham Stewart.
The best position battle may be occurring at cornerback, where Jaylen Watkins, Loucheiz Purifoy and Willie Bailey will battle for the right to start opposite of Cody Riggs while Marcus Roberson recovers from a neck injury. One interesting listing is safety Matt Elam listed as the starter at nickel back ahead of De’Ante Saunders, who held those duties in 2011.
Utah’s experience at the offensive and defensive skill positions might be the envy of the Pac-12 — though there’s no Matt Barkley in Provo, nor a Robert Woods or De’Anthony Thomas. But there is a John White IV: once again, the former JUCO transfer will be the heart and soul of Utah’s offensive attack.
Little has changed between the Sun Bowl and spring ball, judging by Utah’s two-deep. DeVonte Christopher, Reggie Dunn and Luke Matthews are the starting receivers; Matthews makes a slight position change, from F-back to receiver, in new offensive coordinator Brian Johnson’s more spread-based system. David Rolf and Jake Murphy run one-two at tight end.
The only change might be at quarterback, where Jordan Wynn has reclaimed his spot atop the depth chart after missing a significant portion of last season with a shoulder injury. But there’s no Jon Hays to be found: Wynn is the starter entering the spring, followed by true freshmen Travis Wilson and Chase Hansen. Hays, a former Nebraska-Omaha transfer, isn’t listed among the top three quarterbacks.
Utah has only one gap to fill in the secondary, one it should fill with relative ease. Conroy Black has exhausted his eligibility; Ryan Lacy claims his spot. Lacy shared time with Mo Lee at cornerback last fall, so he’s a natural replacement for Black. After suffering some growing pains last fall, sophomore Eric Rowe and junior Brian Blechen enter the spring as the starters at free and strong safety, respectively.
A sign of the times in Orlando: George O’Leary told reporters following Tuesday’s initial practice that all jobs are open to competition. Better yet — or worse yet, if you cover the team, like Iliana Limon of the Orlando Sentinel — O’Leary has followed up on his promise and not assigned a starting tag to any one player on the U.C.F. roster.
So how does a reporter like Limon judge which players might be considered starters on the first day of spring ball? By watching closely, taking notes and keeping a roster handy. According to Limon, most of the returning starters from last season remained part of the first team during the Knights’ first practice.
This included sophomore quarterback Blake Bortles, who should claim the starting role outright now that Jeff Godfrey is no longer part of the program. In reality, while O’Leary touts the open nature of the depth chart, there are only four position battles worth watching: right tackle, cornerback, defensive end and middle linebacker.
Junior Jordan McCray, a five-game starter at right guard in 2011, will get the first shot at replacing Nick Pieschel at right tackle. By Limon’s count, former JUCO transfer Toby Jackson is the odds-on favorite to replace Darius Nall at defensive end. Terrance Plummer showed promise as a freshman, so it’s logical that he’d step in for Josh Linam at middle linebacker.
And cornerback? Three-time all-Conference USA pick Josh Robinson will be nearly impossible for U.C.F. to replace. Brandon Alexander was another freshman who impressed on defense a year ago, but can the sophomore replicate Robinson’s game-changing ability? Well, it’s spring: it’s the time for such questions.
[h5][/h5]
Spoiler [+]
[h2]Bottom-Tier Offenses Aim for ’12 Rebound[/h2][h4]By Paul Myerberg // Mar 14, 2012[/h4]
Six teams scored less than 200 points in 2012. Five changed head coaches. Memphis went from Larry Porter to former T.C.U. co-offensive coordinator Justin Fuente — and then went from Conference USA to the Big East, though that’s another story altogether. Mississippi followed the same route, trading in Houston Nutt for former Arkansas State head coach Hugh Freeze. Akron swapped Rob Ianello, who won two games in as many years, for former coaching wunderkind Terry Bowden, who was 13 years removed from his last head coaching job on the F.B.S. level.
New Mexico turned back the clock with Bob Davie, the former Notre Dame head coach who has spent the last decade-plus close to the game, but not too close: Davie obviously watched his fair share of football as an announcer, but he hasn’t spent any time along the sidelines in an official coaching capacity since 2001.
Florida Atlantic went with fire over offensive substance. After the grandfatherly Howard Schnellenberger — he looked grandfatherly, at least — the program hired Carl Pelini, he of the short fuse, hot temper and defense-first bloodlines. The only coach who turns red quicker than Carl Pelini might be Bo Pelini, his brother and former boss at Nebraska.
Each coach, regardless of his background, was brought in with one primary task at hand: win football games. Of course. Not surprisingly, each team’s impotency on offense was mirrored by a team-wide incompetence; the five teams combined to win seven games last season, paced by two apiece from the Tigers and Rebels.
So behind the quest for more wins lies the quest for improved production on the offensive side of the ball. Fuente and Freeze will take a decidedly hands-on approach with their new offenses. Davie brought in Bob DeBesse from Sam Houston State, where he ran the sort of balanced attack that seems to meld well with Davie’s more staid offensive approach.
Pelini hired Brian Wright, who spent the last two seasons at Montana State after a longer stint at Youngstown State. While Bowden has yet to technically fill his vacancy at offensive coordinator, it’s expected that Akron will run the same sort of spread-based offense used by Bowden’s teams at North Alabama from 2009-11. He’s brought along his coordinator at U.N.A., Alan Arrington, though Arrington is tagged as Akron’s line coach, not its coordinator.
All five teams have done something. Two teams hired a coach with a clear background on offense. Bowden brought along a fairly well-regarded offense from North Alabama, even if he hired only one of his former offensive assistants. DeBesse and Wright fall into the same category: while unknown to those more familiar with the F.B.S., both ranked among the more well-regarded coordinators on the F.C.S. level.
Then there’s Kentucky, which scored a total of 190 points in 2011. Joker Phillips made only one change on his offensive staff, and only then because wide receivers coach Tee Martin was hired in the same position at U.S.C. His replacement, Pat Washington, is a long-time F.B.S. assistant who spent the last three seasons as the running backs coach at Southern Mississippi.
How does Kentucky plan to improve its production with the same staff that piloted the nation’s 117th-ranked scoring offense a season ago? While the five other offensive cellar-dwellers made wholesale changes in an effort to beef up its scoring output, the Wildcats have retained the status quo. Is Phillips banking on a return to Kentucky’s 2010 level, when the Wildcats averaged 31.2 points per game, fifth-most in the SEC?
This is a very Kentucky approach. The program has had great continuity on its coaching staff since Rich Brooks first arrived a decade ago; this continuity reached its boiling point when U.K. promoted Phillips, then the coordinator, from within the staff as Brooks’ successor. In turn, Phillips promoted quarterbacks coach Randy Sanders — and former Tennessee coordinator — to run his offense.
Was it coaching that led to Kentucky’s offensive demise last fall? Yes, in some fashion. But not in the way you think: it wasn’t in the philosophy — the big picture — but rather in the little things that the Wildcats struggled, and struggled as much as any team in major college football.
The offensive line was abysmal. The Wildcats allowed 35 sacks, ranked 104th in the country, despite ranking 97th nationally in passing attempts. The running game never clicked, averaging 91.9 yards per game against B.C.S. conference competition. The less said of Kentucky’s quarterback play the better, though Maxwell Smith and Morgan Newton weren’t bailed out by a receiver corps with the worst case of drops in recent SEC history.
This was Kentucky’s mindset: The offense itself isn’t broken. The little things need work — concentration, mindset, physicality — but in terms of a philosophy, Phillips feels confident in his staff’s ability to create an offense strong enough to win two or three games in SEC play. And despite the offensive ineptitude last fall, Kentucky was still within one win of a return to bowl play.
The difference between Kentucky and Memphis, Mississippi, Akron, Florida Atlantic and New Mexico is simple. While the latter five need an offensive overhaul, the Wildcats just need to retool — and not in any major way, as in a new system, but in a unit-by-unit approach. The Wildcats have issues on offense, but according to Phillips, the scheme isn’t one.
Six teams scored less than 200 points in 2012. Five changed head coaches. Memphis went from Larry Porter to former T.C.U. co-offensive coordinator Justin Fuente — and then went from Conference USA to the Big East, though that’s another story altogether. Mississippi followed the same route, trading in Houston Nutt for former Arkansas State head coach Hugh Freeze. Akron swapped Rob Ianello, who won two games in as many years, for former coaching wunderkind Terry Bowden, who was 13 years removed from his last head coaching job on the F.B.S. level.
New Mexico turned back the clock with Bob Davie, the former Notre Dame head coach who has spent the last decade-plus close to the game, but not too close: Davie obviously watched his fair share of football as an announcer, but he hasn’t spent any time along the sidelines in an official coaching capacity since 2001.
Florida Atlantic went with fire over offensive substance. After the grandfatherly Howard Schnellenberger — he looked grandfatherly, at least — the program hired Carl Pelini, he of the short fuse, hot temper and defense-first bloodlines. The only coach who turns red quicker than Carl Pelini might be Bo Pelini, his brother and former boss at Nebraska.
Each coach, regardless of his background, was brought in with one primary task at hand: win football games. Of course. Not surprisingly, each team’s impotency on offense was mirrored by a team-wide incompetence; the five teams combined to win seven games last season, paced by two apiece from the Tigers and Rebels.
So behind the quest for more wins lies the quest for improved production on the offensive side of the ball. Fuente and Freeze will take a decidedly hands-on approach with their new offenses. Davie brought in Bob DeBesse from Sam Houston State, where he ran the sort of balanced attack that seems to meld well with Davie’s more staid offensive approach.
Pelini hired Brian Wright, who spent the last two seasons at Montana State after a longer stint at Youngstown State. While Bowden has yet to technically fill his vacancy at offensive coordinator, it’s expected that Akron will run the same sort of spread-based offense used by Bowden’s teams at North Alabama from 2009-11. He’s brought along his coordinator at U.N.A., Alan Arrington, though Arrington is tagged as Akron’s line coach, not its coordinator.
All five teams have done something. Two teams hired a coach with a clear background on offense. Bowden brought along a fairly well-regarded offense from North Alabama, even if he hired only one of his former offensive assistants. DeBesse and Wright fall into the same category: while unknown to those more familiar with the F.B.S., both ranked among the more well-regarded coordinators on the F.C.S. level.
Then there’s Kentucky, which scored a total of 190 points in 2011. Joker Phillips made only one change on his offensive staff, and only then because wide receivers coach Tee Martin was hired in the same position at U.S.C. His replacement, Pat Washington, is a long-time F.B.S. assistant who spent the last three seasons as the running backs coach at Southern Mississippi.
How does Kentucky plan to improve its production with the same staff that piloted the nation’s 117th-ranked scoring offense a season ago? While the five other offensive cellar-dwellers made wholesale changes in an effort to beef up its scoring output, the Wildcats have retained the status quo. Is Phillips banking on a return to Kentucky’s 2010 level, when the Wildcats averaged 31.2 points per game, fifth-most in the SEC?
This is a very Kentucky approach. The program has had great continuity on its coaching staff since Rich Brooks first arrived a decade ago; this continuity reached its boiling point when U.K. promoted Phillips, then the coordinator, from within the staff as Brooks’ successor. In turn, Phillips promoted quarterbacks coach Randy Sanders — and former Tennessee coordinator — to run his offense.
Was it coaching that led to Kentucky’s offensive demise last fall? Yes, in some fashion. But not in the way you think: it wasn’t in the philosophy — the big picture — but rather in the little things that the Wildcats struggled, and struggled as much as any team in major college football.
The offensive line was abysmal. The Wildcats allowed 35 sacks, ranked 104th in the country, despite ranking 97th nationally in passing attempts. The running game never clicked, averaging 91.9 yards per game against B.C.S. conference competition. The less said of Kentucky’s quarterback play the better, though Maxwell Smith and Morgan Newton weren’t bailed out by a receiver corps with the worst case of drops in recent SEC history.
This was Kentucky’s mindset: The offense itself isn’t broken. The little things need work — concentration, mindset, physicality — but in terms of a philosophy, Phillips feels confident in his staff’s ability to create an offense strong enough to win two or three games in SEC play. And despite the offensive ineptitude last fall, Kentucky was still within one win of a return to bowl play.
The difference between Kentucky and Memphis, Mississippi, Akron, Florida Atlantic and New Mexico is simple. While the latter five need an offensive overhaul, the Wildcats just need to retool — and not in any major way, as in a new system, but in a unit-by-unit approach. The Wildcats have issues on offense, but according to Phillips, the scheme isn’t one.
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In some completely shocking and unexpected news, Ray Lewis III has committed to Miami.
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Amir Carlisle broke his ankle
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Michigan told Derrick Green they're full at RB, hoping for Ty Isaac. I think Isaac's going USC this weekend. Lets see what kind of tricks sheriff Lane has up his sleeves.
Michigan is also not recruiting Rod Crayton because apparently the staff just found out he's missing part of his foot.
Michigan is also not recruiting Rod Crayton because apparently the staff just found out he's missing part of his foot.
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the $!*+...?
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Who is that supposed to be?
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AM11
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I hardly even noticed the others in the background
dacomeup
Supporter
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Kevin Olsen visiting Miami tomorrow
.
Kyrk, you still think Ryan Williams can beat out Stephen Morris?
Kyrk, you still think Ryan Williams can beat out Stephen Morris?
dacomeup
Supporter
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yuku'd
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need moar pics of this "kristin"
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Originally Posted by DaComeUP
Kevin Olsen visiting Miami tomorrow.
Kyrk, you still think Ryan Williams can beat out Stephen Morris?
Yeah but I'm in the minority. Too early to tell anyway, gotta see how he does in the spring game.
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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
What are your expectations for Miami heading into this upcoming season?
What are your expectations for Miami heading into this upcoming season?
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Hines Ward to UGA..?
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teaching Zesty dance moves?
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To suck.
Win 6/7 games max. I think Bama is the only team who has lost more players to the NFL than us in the last two years. All of our best players will be freshman and sophomores. 3 returning starters on defense. It's going to be a rough year.
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AM11 behind IC1 in the zest formation.
Fruity Bowtie on two, ready break!
Fruity Bowtie on two, ready break!
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Mike,
Y'all got a commit from Deon Hollins Jr. yesterday right? He looks like he could be one hell of a rush backer in a 3-4. He was supposedly very concerned about where he would fit into a 4-3 defense, but was very high on the 3-4. He wanted to know an exact position and an exact plan for how he would be used in a team's defense. The UCLA coaches must have done a hell of a job selling him on a plan for him to get him to commit without even visiting LA yet.
Y'all got a commit from Deon Hollins Jr. yesterday right? He looks like he could be one hell of a rush backer in a 3-4. He was supposedly very concerned about where he would fit into a 4-3 defense, but was very high on the 3-4. He wanted to know an exact position and an exact plan for how he would be used in a team's defense. The UCLA coaches must have done a hell of a job selling him on a plan for him to get him to commit without even visiting LA yet.
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Speaking of Crowell...he's up to 220 lbs (played at 195-200 last year)..and says he's set his goal for Heisman.
Cant wait til September.
Cant wait til September.
