The Next Phil T
I found some video that is circulating the Internet of the next Phil T. This kid looks like he has a promising future. Actually, no one knows how he will be 10 years from now in college, much less the pros. He’s a torn ACL away from being normal. Plus, what an amazing coaching job. The blocking schemes are top notch, especially on special teams. He does have very good field vision though, but overall, that is a well oiled machine he’s the star of and that helps.
Big 12 South
The Big 12 South is a tough conference to be in this year with probably 5 out of the 6 teams getting to bowls and there is a lot of talent on all the teams this year.
1. Texas – Colt McCoy, Jamaal Charles, and all 3 of their top receivers back should leave an explosive offense this season. They only have 6 back on defense (lowest amount since 2002), but they are still loaded with talent and have one of the top defenses in the conference. Oklahoma, @ Oklahoma State, and @Texas A&M for a revenge match will be the key games here. If they can survive those, the Longhorns will be an a BCS bowl. The schedule plays out nicely, and I give them a good shot at going undefeated. Prediction: 11-1 (7-1)
2. Oklahoma State - The Cowboys are one of my surprise teams this year. They have 15 starters back and I look for them to greatly improve on last years 7-6 record. They have their big 3 (QB, RB, WR) back on offense and should be able to put up points on just about anyone. Their defense returns 7 including all their entire LB core and secondary comprising their top 7 tacklers. The schedule is tough enough and they start the season at Georgia. If they can surprise Georgia and get a win, they have a good shot at being 5-0 when they travel for two tough road games in a row (Nebraska, Texas A&M). But both are winnable and they could be 8-0 playing Texas at home which would give them a great deal of confidence. I pick them team to make a lot of noise this season. Prediction: 10-2 (6-2)
3. Oklahoma – As talented as this team is, it’s difficult to pick them 3rd in the South, especially with only 3 Big 12 road games and their defense is arguably the best in the Big 12. They also have 15 returning starters. Hmm, I might regret this decision, because I think they have a shot at being undefeated this season if the defense can match that of their 2000 season. However, the true freshman projected at starter for QB and RB and a tough road game against Miami early scares me. An improved Miami defense should give the freshman trouble and I’m not sure if a true freshman can win every game in this conference. It’s tough and their are no off weeks. Prediction: 9-3 (6-2)
4. Texas A&M – They wil be a tough out every week and nearly every game falls into the winnable category. But the schedule is tough as they play at Miami (yea, for some reason the Hurricanes play two Big 12 games this season), and play Oklahoma State and then take on both my top 2 Big 12 North teams on the road (Nebraska and Missouri) in back to back weeks and Texas will be gunning for them after they upset them last year. I think they have a good enough team, I just think the schedule might be a little too tough for them to make too many waves. Prediction: 8-4 (5-3)
5. Texas Tech – The Red Raiders have only 10 returning starters this year, and only 5 back on offense which is their forte. They do have a veteren QB and RB and their non conference games are a walk, so their 12th straight winning season is a realistic goal. Surprisingly, they are the only Big 12 team to have 11 straight winning seasons. But the defense is a big question mark, so most of their games will just be shootouts. Prediction: 6-6 (2-6)
6. Baylor – Last season, they were outgained by 134 yards per game and only have 11 starters returning and lost a Big 12 high 32 letterman. Guy Morriss has made great strides with this team over the last couple seasons, but winning a Big 12 game will be a challenge this year. Prediction: 3-9 (0-8).
Big 10 Preview
1. Michigan – The Wolverines came within 3 points of getting a chance to get creamed by Florida last year in the BCS championship game. They have the lowest amount of returning starters in the Big 10, but they had a great defense last year and return 7 starters on that side of the ball. Still, they are the best in the league in terms of talent and the Big 10 scheduling gods must be Michigan fans as they have 8 home games and only 4 road games. Their only tough road game will be Wisconsin, but all of them are certainly winnable. However, this team is a Chad Henne or Mike Hart injury away from being 8-4 or 9-3. Please though, don’t label me a Michigan lover as I will be rooting against them every weeknd. Regardless, with that schedule, they could go undefeated and get demonished by a quality opponent in a BCS bowl. If they can break their 3 game losing streak against OSU, they have a good shot at the National Championship game. Prediction: 11-1 (7-1)
2. Ohio State – With only 11 returning starters and ample talent lost to the NFL. They also have to play Michigan and Penn State on the road. The defense will be solid as usual so they will be competitive in every ballgame, but it will be tough to match last years season with so many unknowns on offense. Prediction: 10-2 (6-2)
3. Penn State – The Big 10 schedule is tough enough but doable with Wisconsin and Ohio State at home and non-conference foe Notre Dame at home as well, but they have to travel to Michigan. Anthony Morelli is an improved QB and will continue to improve this season and should put up even better numbers as he has his top 3 receivers back this year, as well as a couple solid recruits coming in. Look for Chris Bell (6’2″,210, 4.4 speed) to be the end zone threat they lacked last year. The defense will be one of the best in the country, particularly the secondary. The DL has some questions as its less experienced than last year, and the LB core loses Paul Posluszny, but the LBs that are still there are solid and the secondary was #16 last year and they return everyone there. If the cards fall right and they can beat Michigan on the road, this team could be undefeated. Prediction: 10-2 (6-2).
4. Wisconsin – It’s a log jam again this year at the top of the Big 10. They get Michigan at home, but travel to PSU, OSU. But the non conference schedule is light and they are 18-1 in home stadium Camp Randall since 2004. Last year, they average 29.2 points per game, which was this best since 2000 and they return 9 starters on offense, only losing QB and LT. I think it’ll be tough to match the 12 wins of last year, but anything less than a New Years day bowl is a disappointment with this much talent. Prediction: 10-2 (6-2).
5. Iowa – Ohio State and Michigan drop off the schedule this year, so they should improve upon their 6-7 record last year. However, this is a team that hasn’t reached its potential the last several years under Ferentz so we have no reason to believe they will this year either. Tate is gone at QB and he has been the one who carried the team the last couple years and will be difficult to replace. But they do have 8 back on defense, and defense is very important to winning in the Big 10. Prediction: 8-4 (4-4).
6. Purdue – This has been a team predicted to be at the top of the Big 10 the last 2 years since they didn’t have to play Michigan or Ohio State and were loaded with talent, but they’ve been unable to turn the corner and join the Big 10 elite. They return all their key skill positions on offense and are capable of putting up some big numbers on any given week. Also, they should at least start 4-0 and possibly 5-0. With 18 returning starters, this is a very experienced team. They do have to play Ohio State and Michigan this year though. Predition: 7-5 (4-4).
7. Illinois – My surprise team in the Big 10. I just hope Illini fans remember how to get to a bowl game because after several disappointing seasons, they could find themselves in their first bowl game since 2001. Despite going 2-10 last year, Illinois actually outgained opponents on offense, and they return their QB, Juice Williams, and their core WRs. Juice is a threat to run on any play as well and will help the running game develop as all their running backs are highly touted recruits, but unproven. Zook in his 3rd season has a lot more of his recruits in and those that return are familiar with his systems. Prediction: 7-5 (4-4)
8. Northwestern – I look for Northwestern to improve upon last years record of 4-8 as they return 16 of their top 19 tacklers and the QB situation should be much more stable this year. CJ Bacher improved as the season wore on and will be more improved this season as he gets comfortable in the offense. As the passing game improves, Tyrell Sutton (2005 Big 10 freshman of the year) should be able to find some running room again as defenses won’t be able to stack up against him. Prediction: 7-5 (4-4).
9. Michigan State – Coaching changes are tough on everyone. And Mark Dantonio (formerly of Cincinnati) has an uphill battle with only 12 returning starters this year. Coach Dantonio is discipline oriented and if the players buy into his system, they should at least be competitive in all their ballgames but have a tough schedule (@Notre Dame, @OSU,PSU,Michigan,@Wisconsin). They had 4 close losses last year (normally a sign for an improved record) and lost 24 starts due to injury. Still, bowl eligibility will be an accomplishment. Prediction: 5-7 (3-5)
10. Indiana – Terry Hoeppner missed all of spring practice and then passed away over the summer. All of their home games this year will be a memorial to him. They do return 16 starters, including 9 on offense and 7 on defense. 3-5 in the Big10 last year will be tough to match though but with Ohio State and Michigan off the schedule, they could get to 5 or 6 wins if a few things go their way. It’s difficult to predict how the team will react to the loss of their coach. Prediction: 4-8 (1-7).
11. Minnesota – 1st year coach Tim Brewster steps into a team with a couple holes on offense, including QB and WR. They do have 9 back on defense though, and the defense will be ready way before the offense as they switch from their power running game to the spread offense under new offensive coordinator Dunbar. The new coordinators have plenty of proven coaching experience and Brewster made a name for himself as a top recruiter while working for Mack Brown. He’ll have a new $289 million stadium to lure recruits to next season, but he’ll need a couple years to build a solid team. I just hope the Golden Gopher faithful give him the time he needs. Prediction: 3-9 (0-8).
Pac 10 Preview
1. USC – No surprise here, I think everyone is calling them to win their conference this year and they have a good shot at running the table and going to the BCS Championship game. They have 16 starters back, including 10 on defense and senior QB leadership in John David Booty. They do have a tough shedule, going on the road to play Nebraska, but get Notre Dame, Oregon, Arizona State, and Cal at home. Prediction: 11-1 (8-1).
2. Oregon – I think Oregon is a much improved team this year. Look for Dennis Dixon to be one of the most improved QBs in the country, plus they get 5 Pac 10 games at home. They do play Michigan early in the season though. Prediction: 10-2 (8-1).
3. Arizona St – This is the first year under a new coach, and teams in that situation are hard to pick. But Dennis Erickson has 8 home games in his first year and an easy start to the schedule. Starting hot helps players buy into a new head coach’s system and philosophy and that confidence only grows as the season progresses. The schedule works out that this team start out 7-0, possibly even 8-0. Prediction: 9-3 (6-3).
4. UCLA - I almost put UCLA at #2 in this conference as they have 20 returning starters and a relatively light schedule. It’s not unreasonable to think that this team could be 11-0 going into the USC game. They could be, but I don’t think they will. They still have Karl Dorell as coach and will lose a couple they should win. They have the talent, we’ll see if it materializes this season. Prediction: 8-4 (6-3).
5. California – They only have 13 returning starters and had 4 close wins last year that might not be in the cards for the Golden Bears this year. They have to face Arizona St, UCLA, USC, and Oregon all on the road, and have non conference games against Tennessee and at Colorado St. But they have one of the better QBs in the conference leading the team and should see the post season. Prediction: 7-5 (5-4).
6. Oregon St – The Beavers won’t repeat last years 10-4 record. The schedule is tough and they have to replace their QB and several other key position players. Still, this team won’t be an easy win for any of the better teams in the conference. Prediction: 7-5 (4-5)
7. Arizona - Mike Stoops is closing the gap on the top tier teams from when he took over this team. But this team still has a ways to go. 5 of their 6 road games are against teams who played in a bowl last year and they will have to keep QB Tuitama healthy. They can’t be competitive have play QB Lotto like they did last year. Still, this team is a few close wins away from being in its first bowl game in 9 years. Prediction: 6-6 (3-6)
8 – Washington – Ty Willingham is in his 3rd year at Washington and the Huskies are improving. Thankfully for Ty, the Washington administration looks like they are going to give him the time he needs to build up the program. They start a redshirt freshman QB and face a very tough schedule. Looks like another rebuilding year for the Huskies. Prediction: 4-9 (3-6).
9. Washington State – Hard to pick this team here as I think they will be competitive in most of their games. But they return just 12 starters, 6 on each side of the ball and have 5 conference road games. Prediction: 4-9 (2-9)
10. Stanford – Oh, the lowly Cardinal. I’m not optimistic that this team can win a conference game this year. In fact, their nonconference games are against Notre Dame, TCU, and San Jose St. And San Jose St beat them last year! However, they have a new head coach in Jim Harbaugh (hey, didn’t I have his rookie card?) and an entirely new coaching staff, that includes several ex-NFL assistant coaches. But they have a LONG way to go. A very LONG way. If they work tirelessly and pull of a few recruiting miracles, they could be a decent team in a couple years. Prediction: 1-10 (0-9).
Football Season is coming…
In the upcoming days, I’ll be posting my conference previews in preparation of adding lots more content to the site for football season. Bear with me, I’ll be as frequent as I can, but work is getting crazy busy and it has to come before RedShirt for now unfortunately.