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Uh, is it just me or has everyone already forgotten who won the National Title last year? It was LSU by the way. For a defending national champion, I sure don’t hear as much chatter about the Tigers as I do about Georgia, or Florida, or Auburn, or USC, Ohio State, West Virginia, so on and so forth.
After being banged up most of the year, LSU used the time between the SEC Championship Game and the BCS National Championship to get healthy and I think it’s pretty accurate to say LSU at 100% last year was the nation’s top team.
However LSU lost a number of key parts (seniors) from that team – Matt Flynn, Jacob Hester, Early Doucet, Craig Steltz, Ali Highsmith, Glenn Dorsey, Luke Sanders, Chevis Jackson, and Jonathan Zenon (I cringe at the mention of his name…). But when you have the talented depth that LSU has, you don’t have rebuilding seasons – you just reload and keep winning.
That’s why writing LSU off as the “underdog” to Auburn in the West is foolish. This team is still loaded at all of the skill positions offensively and have plenty of experience and talent along the OL. Obviously with the now-ended saga of troubles and dismissal of Ryan Perrylou, the hole at QB is gaping.
But it’s not like whoever the QB’s going to be – either Harvard transfer Andrew Hatch or redshirt freshman Jarrett Lee or maybe even true freshman Jordan Jefferson – has to go out and win games for LSU. He’ll just have to manage the game, spread the ball around, and not make crucial mistakes. Granted, the QB will at some point have to make a big play, but the LSU QB has so many weapons around him that his job really ain’t that hard.
For example, you have a continuing line of NFL WRs to throw to like Brandon LaFell and Demetrius Byrd (Terrance Toliver is no slouch either). Richard Dickson’s pretty solid over the middle at the TE position. Even easier, you can just hand the ball off to one of these guys:
(1) Keiland Williams…
(I could have made that throw)
(2) or Charles Scott…
(3) or maybe the most dangerous, Trindon Holliday…
(above LSU vids by WebWideLeader)
And when you’re running/passing behind a line of Brett Helms, Lyle Hitt, Herman Johnson, and Ciron Black, you really like it. In other words, if the LSU QB is even just slightly above average, look out.
For as much offensive talent as LSU has produced in recent years, when you think LSU you tend to think a mean, scary defense – especially the front four. LSU has five of the SEC’s best linemen – ends Kirston Pittman (#49) and Tyson Jackson (#93) and tackles Marlon Favorite, Ricky Jean-Francois (#90), and Al Woods. RJF played in two games last year and was the defensive MVP of the BCS Title Game. LSU probably has the best lines in the SEC.
Darry Beckwith (more cringing…) is the only linebacker returning and free safety Curtis Taylor is the only returning starter in the secondary, so there’s reasons for concern at least experience-wise, especially in the secondary. Despite that, you know those young, inexperienced guys are still going to be (1) really fast, (2) really athletic, and (3) really talented.
Also don’t discount the loss of Bo Pelini to Nebraska, as he was a excellent defensive coordinator. LSU will feature co-defensive coorindators this year with DBs coach Doug Mallory and LBs coach Dale Peveto. With those two guys you’re likely going to see probably the same defense for the most part.
Also, the cycle of luck and fortune says that LSU won’t get all the bounces and tough yards (and bonehead throws by senior QBs) this year as that they did last year. Keep an eye on that. Les Miles, much maligned for his seemingly idiotic coaching, has a chance to shut people up this year – as if that ring and crystal football haven’t done it already.
Our first good look at LSU actually won’t be at Auburn September 20 – it will be the opening Saturday against Appalachian State. However, it’s not gonna happen this year, so stop thinking about it happening. Ellis-Shoe also has trips to Gainesville and Columbia and Georgia at home back-to-back-to-back in October, but I don’t see any Ls anywhere else.
Perhaps people should be talking about the talent at the skill spots and along the lines instead of the hole at QB – there they’ll see the West favorite.
I’ve already hashed out the atrocity that was the Big 12 North of a couple years in the ACC Coastal preview a couple days ago, and now it’s time to actually talk about the current state of the Big 12 North.
Nebraska’s struggles – and the rest of the conference living in the shadow of Oklahoma and Texas – damaged the division’s reputation and respectability, and Missouri and Kansas valiantly tried to help repair that last year.
Mizzou reached the top of the polls heading into the Big 12 Title Game, but lost to the Sooners for the second time last year. Meanwhile, KU used a favorable (to say the least) schedule to roll to undefeated season until a 36-28 loss to the Tigers in KC.
The now-departed Aqib Talib’s pick six led Kansas to an unlikely (and undeserved) Orange Bowl win last year
The Tigers finished by crushing Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl. Kansas played in the Orange Bowl they totally didn’t deserve, but shut people like me up by beating Virginia Tech. Even with those two teams, I’m not sure how many people thought Mizzou and KU were all that good, which is somewhat understandable given their respective football pasts.
So while there’s been improvement for the North, there’s still a little ways to go, and that has to do with how Nebraska and Kansas State fare this year (more on them later). I for one think that the Big 12 will move past the Pac-10 for the title of second-best conference (behind the SEC of course).
The Big 12 as a whole should be a powerfully offensive league this year, as only Iowa State (Bret Meyer) and Nebraska (Sam Keller) have to find new QBs. You look at the QBs in this league, and you can only be impressed by not only the talent there, but they’ve put up some pretty good stats as well.
Perhaps the best QB is Missouri’s Chase Daniel. 2008 should be another big year for Daniel and the Tigers. Despite the losses of HB Tony Temple, WR Will Franklin, and TE Martin Rucker, the Tigers are pretty set at the skill positions. They will have a new C and new LT, the two most important OL positions, but there won’t be much of a dropoff.
Defensively, Mizzou has one of the top LB corps in the conference with Sean Weatherspoon, Brock Christopher, and Luke Lambert. Three defensive lineman, including the awesomely-named DE Stryker Sulak, return and FS William Moore anchors the secondary. The only games I see as potential losses for Missouri are the opener against Illinois in St. Louis and trips to Nebraska and Texas. Fortunately, Oklahoma is not on the schedule (yet).
WR Jeremy Maclin was a Freshman All-American last year, racking up 2,776 all-purpose yards to go along with 1,055 receiving yards and 16 total TDs
This needs to be said: I’m partial to Missouri, simply because I almost went there…i.e. if I had to pick a second favorite team behind the Vols, it would be Missouri. No, I don’t live-and-die with whether or not they win on Saturdays like it is with Tennessee, but I certainly enjoy seeing them do well. Plus, I think they are fairly exciting to watch as well.
Kansas surprised everyone last year, using a terribly easy schedule and kind Orange Bowl reps to reach their first BCS Bowl, a 24-21 win over Virginia Tech. While much of that team returns intact, the schedule is more challenging this year, so expect a fall back to reality for Kansas.
The Jayhawks face the South’s three best teams (at Oklahoma, Texas Tech and Texas at home in a three-week span) and play at USF on a Friday night. They go to Nebraska as well, and still play Missouri. QB Todd Reesing returns and will have some new faces on offense, but the production should be about the same.
Overshadowed by the offense last year, Kansas returns 9 starters from a defense that allowed just 16 points/game last year. They have to replace stud CB Aqib Talib, but the LB group of Mike Rivera, Joe Mortensen, and James Holt rivals Missouri’s.
Nebraska’s certainly had a really, really hard fall the past decade. From dominating everyone with the option (seeing the Gators get owned I can always enjoy) here…
…to playing just horrifically bad defense last year (WARNING: it’s long and a poor choice of music)…
Nebraska had owned Kansas for a really long time before 2005, and KU hung 76 on them last year. Interestingly, Nebraska scored 73 the next week in a win over Kansas State, before returning to form by giving up 65 to Colorado in the finale. On the season, Nebraska gave up a school-record 455 points (38 per game) and 5,722 yards.
Nebraska got rid of Bill Callahan, and hired LSU Defensive Coordinator Bo Pelini, a very good hire in my opinion. Pelini obviously will bring a new attitude to the Husker defense, one that will have to rely on its front four in 2008. The same group that gave up 232 yards/game on the ground all returns and can only get better. It’s a little green in the back seven, but Nebraska can’t be much worse defensively than they were last year with Pelini running things.
Offensively, QB Joe Ganz started three games last year, and, in 173 fewer attempts, had more TDs than the highly-touted Sam Keller. The Huskers will rely on the running game this year, and having Marlon Lucky back behind an OL with five players with more than nine career starts. We’ll get to see the new Huskers early – they host Virginia Tech September 27.
After rolling Baylor, Kansas State was 5-3 with a close loss at Auburn and a 41-21 romp at Texas. Then the defense disappeared, giving up 31, 73, 49, and 45 points respectively to Iowa State, Nebraska, Missouri, and Fresno State. Despite just 12 returning starters, K-State should make it back to the postseason.
QB Josh Freeman has led the Wildcats to wins over Texas the past two years
Why? They bring in a whopping 19 junior college transfers. That’s not a typo. 19 junior college players. I’ve never heard of that. QB Josh Freeman and 2006 and 2007 All-Big 12 1st Team DE Ian Campbell returns as well.
Colorado, under first-year coach Dan “Go play intramurals, brother” Hawkins, surprised many and reached a bowl game last year. The highlights included a stunner over #3 Oklahoma on a late FG, a 31-26 win at Texas Tech, and a 65-51 romp over Nebraska. This was pretty cool too…
(Yes, I think South Park’s a great show) CU must replace Charles, Polumbus, Wheatley, and Dizon the Tackle-Machine (he had 173 last year). Hawkins landed Darrell Scott, a highly-ranked RB who could start this year, and his son Cody returns at QB.
I would say Colorado would be a shoe-in for a bowl, but they play a tough schedule: host West Virginia, play Florida State in Jacksonville, play at Kansas, at Missouri, at Texas A&M, at Nebraska, and get Texas at home.
Finally, there’s Iowa State, who started off the Gene Chizik era last year by losing home games to Kent State at Northern Iowa (ouch). It got better, as ISU beat hated Iowa, hung with Oklahoma and beat Kansas State and Colorado late in the year. QB Bret Meyer is gone, there’s improvement everywhere else on the offense. On defense the entire secondary is back, but only three of the front seven return, and the Cyclones have a ways to go to make any noise in the league.
Iowa State’s new logo for 2008
Now for the Mac East division, otherwise known as the oddest division – literally, with 7 teams – in college football.
BOWLING GREEN
Last Year: 8-5, lost to Tulsa by bowl-record 56 points – 2007 Schedule – 2008 Schedule
Bowling Green Jr. QB Tyler Sheehan looks to lead the Falcons into the MAC Title game in 2008
If it had been this year last year, Bowling Green would have played for the MAC Title, not Miami. The Falcons were 6-2, Miami was 5-2, but with only the division records counting, BG lost the tiebreakers. It worked out for them though – well, kinda. Miami lost, and Bowling Green got their bowl spot and promptly got blown away 63-7 by Tulsa.
The offensive skills position pretty much return everybody – QB Tyler Sheehan, HBs Anthony Turner and Willie Geter, and WRs Freddie Barnes and Corey Partridge. Interestingly enough, both Turner and Barnes played some QB for the Falcons in both 2005 and 2006, before Sheehan nailed down the starting job heading into last season. The offensive line, however, returns just 2 starters, and have just 36 career starts with the returning players this year.
Defensively, Bowling Green only has to replace a DE and an OLB. Leading tacklers – LBs Erique Dozier and John Haneline and SS P.J. Mahone – all return to lead what should be an improved defense. There are no non-conference breaks on the schedule, as BG plays Minnesota (who they beat last year) at home and Pitt, Boise State, and Wyoming all on the road. That said, the Falcons certainly are one of the favorites in a wide open East.
MIAMI
Last Year: 6-7, lost MAC Title and a bowl game to Central Michigan – 2007 Schedule – 2008 Schedule
Clayton Mullins (9) is one of the 3 returning LBs that lead a strong Miami defense
It might be safe to say Miami is still finding the going tough post-Roethlisberger. They improved from 2-10 to 6-7 last year, and should see more of the same this season, challenging to repeat as the West’s title game rep. Daniel Raudabaugh returns at QB, though with 12 TDs and 12 INTs last year he will have to battle redshirt Fr. Clay Belton for the starting job. The top 3 rushers are gone, though Thomas Merriweather appears to be the guy at HB and he led the Redhawks in rushing TDs last year. Miami is fine at WR, with Dustin Woods, Eugene Harris, and Armand Robinson all returning, and the OL has 3 starters back.
Miami topped the MAC in defense last year and returns 9 starters, obvious reasons to believe they may be the team to beat in this division. The strength is the LBs – Caleb Bostic, Joey Hudson, and Clayton Mullins – who were the top 3 tacklers last year. The DL and secondary are both solid, and you know what they say – “Defense wins championships.” Miami plays at Bowling Green this year and hammered the Falcons 47-14 last year . Interestingly, they host a very green Vanderbilt offense on the opening Thursday night, becoming the first MAC team to host an SEC team since 1920.
KENT STATE
Last Year: 3-9 – 2007 Schedule – 2008 Schedule
HB Eugene Jarvis spearheads a potent Kent State running game as the Golden Flashes look to improve on last year’s 3-9 season
Kent State stunned Iowa State 23-14 in Ames on the opening Thursday night of last season, and then things went awry. Injuries, most notably at the QB spot where they were down to the fourth-stringer, wrecked the season. QB Julian Edelman started last year and is back this year, along with HB Eugene Jarvis, a 1st Team All-MAC player from last year. The OL is experienced, and the Golden Flashes are predominantly a running team.
Eight defensive starters return, including all 3 LBs – Cedrick Maxwell, Stevon Moss, and Derrek Burrell. 3 DL starters are back, and, while losing their top 2 DBs, Kent State has 6 DBs returning with starting experience. Overall, Kent State should be an improved defense, and should be much better overall. They could be a darkhorse contender in the West and reaching bowl eligibility – Kent State has made only one bowl ever – isn’t out of the question.
BUFFALO
Last Year: 5-7 – 2007 Schedule – 2008 Schedule
Could HB James Starks lead Buffalo – yes, Buffalo – into a bowl game??
Buffalo was 12-68 from 2000-2006, or really, really bad. UB brought in Turner Gill in 2006, went 2-10, and started off 2007 1-4 – ho-hum Bulls football. Yet after a 26-10 win over Akron, Buffalo was 3-0 in the division and were in the race. After a 31-28 loss at Miami, Buffalo fell 31-17 at home to Bowling Green, falling out of contention. They won 5 MAC games last year, just 3 less than the 7 years before that, and outgained MAC teams by 70 yards/game last season (third in the conference). Maybe that’s why Nebraska was looking at Gill for their vacancy. The offense returns 10 starters, most notably 1,100-yd and 12 TDs from last year in HB James Starks.
Defense is a little bit of a concern, though, especially at LB. The line should continue improvement and the entire secondary returns. Road games at Pitt, Missouri, Central Michigan and Bowling Green will be tough, but could it be possible for Buffalo to have a .500 season?
TEMPLE
Last Year: 4-8 – 2007 Schedule – 2008 Schedule
HB Jason Harper is one of Temple’s 22 – yes, that’s all of them – returning starters
After seemingly forever in the Big East cellar, Temple has found a much better home in the MAC. From 2003-2006, Temple won four games, the same number they won last year. Much like Buffalo, incredible improvement for one of the worst I-A programs in recent years. Amazingly, Temple returns all 22 starters and loses just two letterman from last year, something I have never even seen or heard of.
The top 3 offensive players – QB Adam DiMichele, HB Jason Harper, and WR Bruce Francis – return with a year of experience. The entire defense is back. You would think a team with all their starters back would have to improve, but it’s Temple, right? Could Temple be one of the bowl eligible teams next year? It will certainly be a surprise to me if Buffalo or Temple reaches the 6-6 mark next year.
OHIO
Last Year: 6-6 – 2007 Schedule – 2008 Schedule
So. WR LaVon Brazill should be a starter at WR for Ohio this season
After being fired for going 9-3 at Nebraska, Frank Solich seems to have found some success at Ohio, signing an extension through 2013 in mid-July. The Bobcats went bowling in 2006, but were just 6-6 last year. This year could be tougher as Ohio returns just 13 starters. HB Kalvin McRae (19 rushing TDs last year) is the biggest hole to fill, and QB Brad Bower is gone, giving way to Theo Scott to be this year’s starter.
Three of the top five tacklers from last year are gone, but LB Michael Brown, SS Michael Mitchell, and DE Jameson Hartke look to lead the defense. A tough sked won’t help the young Bobcats – trips to Wyoming, Ohio State, Northwestern, Western Michigan, Kent State, Temple, and Miami could be trouble. Phil Steele says of Ohio, “If Solich pulls out a winning record, I’ll give him my vote for MAC Coach of the Year.”
AKRON
Last Year: 4-8 – 2007 Schedule – 2008 Schedule
Akron’s Andre Jones moves from FS to WR this year in efforts to replace the departed Jabari Arthur
Last year’s struggles might have been expected for Akron, having to replace QB Luke Getsy, who replaced Akron’s career passing leader Charlie Frye. QB Chris Jacquemain enters his second season as the Akron starter after a tough 2007. The leading rushing TD (7) HB Alex Allen is back, but they must replace 1,171-yd, 10 TD receptions WR Jabari Arthur. The offensive line does have 4 starters back, and T Chris Kemme was 2nd Team All-MAC in 2007.
Just 5 starters back from a defense that was #10 in the MAC last year. Leading returning tackler FS Andre Jones moves to WR, leaving Sr. MLB Kevin Grant as the top returning tackler. Leading rusher from last year Bryan Williams moves to SS and is the only returning “starter” (can you call it that?). The defensive line should be the Zips’ strength, but it’s a little different in the back 7.
