WRITEUP BY TOM DIENHART
MY PICK...NORTHWESTERN -12
NORTHWESTERN
COACH: Pat Fitzgerald (10-14 in two seasons).
LAST SEASON: 6-6 overall, 3-5 in Big Ten (tied for seventh in league).
KEEP AN EYE ON: Senior guard Keegan Kennedy could emerge as an All-Big Ten honoree. He impressed in the spring after switching from defense, showing power and athletic ability. At 6-2 and 285 pounds, Kennedy is nimble enough to move in a scheme that features wide splits. And he plays with a nasty streak. Senior defensive tackle John Gill is the headliner on a line that returns all four starters. Gill had 50 tackles last season, with 8.5 tackles for loss, four sacks and three pass breakups.
STAR POWER: When its gets around to discussing the nation's top quarterbacks, rarely is C.J. Bacher mentioned. That's too bad. Bacher is a classic Northwestern quarterback, a guy who won't wow with physical skills but does a little bit of everything well. Don't be shocked if Bacher, who has started 17 games in a row and threw for 3,656 yards and 19 TDs last season, ends up being the All-Big Ten quarterback.
STRENGTHS: Remember the offense NU had in 2005 that averaged more than 500 yards per game? Well, this offense has a chance to be almost as good. New coordinator Mick McCall, who was the offensive coordinator at Bowling Green, has installed a hurry-up/no-huddle concept that former coach Randy Walker used effectively. This was the No. 2 offense in the Big Ten in 2007 but ranked just 10th in scoring. McCall must make those numbers more congruous. He also must hone Bacher's decision-making, hoping to cut down on the 19 picks he tossed last year. When Bacher isn't zinging short strikes, he'll hand off to tailback Tyrell Sutton, who is healthy after being limited to seven games last season. Backup Omar Conteh also can be effective. Fitzgerald thinks the receivers – led by Ross Lane, Eric Peterman and Rasheed Ward – will be among the best ever in Evanston. And the defense may have bite. The line looks stout, and Sherrick McManis is a steady cornerback and a good return man.
WEAKNESSES: The potential pyrotechnics of the offense could be short-circuited if an overhauled line that's breaking in three new starters – including a redshirt freshman at left tackle (Al Netter) – flops. The big boys also have to help improve a ground game that struggled in 2007. The back seven on defense needs work. The new defensive coordinator is veteran Mike Hankwitz, who held the same job at Wisconsin last season. One of his top priorities is generating more pressure. There is just one returning starter at linebacker, and half the secondary will be new. Will kicker Amado Villarreal settle down and be consistent after being better from long range than short range?
THE BUZZ: Fitzgerald slowly is putting his stamp on the program. This looks like the year the Wildcats could break through. They were close last year but blew a few games late. A schedule that doesn't feature a bowl team until Oct. 11 (Michigan State), coupled with a terrific offense and improved defense, means the Wildcats should go bowling for the first time since 2005. And don't be shocked if Northwestern is within striking distance of first place in the Big Ten in November.
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SYRACUSE
COACH: Greg Robinson (7-28 in three seasons).
LAST SEASON: 2-10 overall, 1-7 in Big East (eighth in league).
KEEP AN EYE ON: Junior wide receiver Lavar Lobdell came to campus with a fat high school scrapbook. But he hasn't added to it. Lobdell, a 6-3, 200-pounder, turned heads in the spring and could be a key threat downfield for an offense that's screaming for playmakers at wide receiver. Punter Rob Long was one of the best freshman at his position last season (an average of 41.9 yards on 75 attempts). Given the state of the offense, Long likely will be called on often this season.
STAR POWER: To call anyone a "star" on this squad may not be apropos. Still, we'll affix the label to junior nose tackle Arthur Jones. He's a boulder in the middle, adept at mucking up the works and making plays amid a sea of bodies. Jones, a 6-4, 289-pounder, had 17.5 tackles for loss last year, proving he must be reckoned with at all times.
STRENGTHS: The Orange could – could – have a good running game. Running backs Delone Carter (hip) and Curtis Brinkley (leg) are back from injuries, and true freshman Averin Collier also will get a chance to make an impact on a rushing offense that ranked next-to-last in the nation last season. Doug Hogue is another possibility. Quarterback Andrew Robinson also can run. Don't expect him to pass as much as he did in 2007, when the Orange set school standards for attempts and completions. There may be hope for the defense, thanks to what looks like a strong line that will feature Jones and ends Brandon Gilbeaux and Vincenzo Giruzzi. Backup free safety Max Suter is a bonus in the return game. He can go the distance and set an NCAA single-season record (1,299) for kickoff-return yards last year. Wait, is that a good thing?
WEAKNESSES: How much time do you have? The biggest shortcoming is the offense. Robinson hired Mitch Browning as coordinator to try to make something out of what has been a nothing attack during Robinson's dreary tenure. Browning engineered some powerful Minnesota offenses under Glen Mason that pounded opponents with the run. The top priority is trying to assemble a halfway decent line. Three starters are back, but the Orange allowed 54 sacks and didn't open many rushing lanes in 2007. If this crew doesn't jell, all of that talent at running back won't matter. One more thing: WR Mike Williams, a legit star, has been lost for the season for academic reasons. Linebacker Jake Flaherty is a keeper, but the rest of the defensive back seven is a mess. Robinson will co-coordinate the defense, which should help.
THE BUZZ: What buzz? This once-proud program has become a shell of itself. How bad has it been? Robinson is 2-19 in Big East play. That's Temple-esque. Last year's 10-loss stinker set a dubious school single-season standard. No wonder Syracuse athletic director Daryl Gross told Robinson he'll be gone unless significant improvement is shown. It looks like another bottom-feeder season in the Big East.
MY PICK...NORTHWESTERN -12
NORTHWESTERN
COACH: Pat Fitzgerald (10-14 in two seasons).
LAST SEASON: 6-6 overall, 3-5 in Big Ten (tied for seventh in league).
KEEP AN EYE ON: Senior guard Keegan Kennedy could emerge as an All-Big Ten honoree. He impressed in the spring after switching from defense, showing power and athletic ability. At 6-2 and 285 pounds, Kennedy is nimble enough to move in a scheme that features wide splits. And he plays with a nasty streak. Senior defensive tackle John Gill is the headliner on a line that returns all four starters. Gill had 50 tackles last season, with 8.5 tackles for loss, four sacks and three pass breakups.
STAR POWER: When its gets around to discussing the nation's top quarterbacks, rarely is C.J. Bacher mentioned. That's too bad. Bacher is a classic Northwestern quarterback, a guy who won't wow with physical skills but does a little bit of everything well. Don't be shocked if Bacher, who has started 17 games in a row and threw for 3,656 yards and 19 TDs last season, ends up being the All-Big Ten quarterback.
STRENGTHS: Remember the offense NU had in 2005 that averaged more than 500 yards per game? Well, this offense has a chance to be almost as good. New coordinator Mick McCall, who was the offensive coordinator at Bowling Green, has installed a hurry-up/no-huddle concept that former coach Randy Walker used effectively. This was the No. 2 offense in the Big Ten in 2007 but ranked just 10th in scoring. McCall must make those numbers more congruous. He also must hone Bacher's decision-making, hoping to cut down on the 19 picks he tossed last year. When Bacher isn't zinging short strikes, he'll hand off to tailback Tyrell Sutton, who is healthy after being limited to seven games last season. Backup Omar Conteh also can be effective. Fitzgerald thinks the receivers – led by Ross Lane, Eric Peterman and Rasheed Ward – will be among the best ever in Evanston. And the defense may have bite. The line looks stout, and Sherrick McManis is a steady cornerback and a good return man.
WEAKNESSES: The potential pyrotechnics of the offense could be short-circuited if an overhauled line that's breaking in three new starters – including a redshirt freshman at left tackle (Al Netter) – flops. The big boys also have to help improve a ground game that struggled in 2007. The back seven on defense needs work. The new defensive coordinator is veteran Mike Hankwitz, who held the same job at Wisconsin last season. One of his top priorities is generating more pressure. There is just one returning starter at linebacker, and half the secondary will be new. Will kicker Amado Villarreal settle down and be consistent after being better from long range than short range?
THE BUZZ: Fitzgerald slowly is putting his stamp on the program. This looks like the year the Wildcats could break through. They were close last year but blew a few games late. A schedule that doesn't feature a bowl team until Oct. 11 (Michigan State), coupled with a terrific offense and improved defense, means the Wildcats should go bowling for the first time since 2005. And don't be shocked if Northwestern is within striking distance of first place in the Big Ten in November.
======================================== ====
SYRACUSE
COACH: Greg Robinson (7-28 in three seasons).
LAST SEASON: 2-10 overall, 1-7 in Big East (eighth in league).
KEEP AN EYE ON: Junior wide receiver Lavar Lobdell came to campus with a fat high school scrapbook. But he hasn't added to it. Lobdell, a 6-3, 200-pounder, turned heads in the spring and could be a key threat downfield for an offense that's screaming for playmakers at wide receiver. Punter Rob Long was one of the best freshman at his position last season (an average of 41.9 yards on 75 attempts). Given the state of the offense, Long likely will be called on often this season.
STAR POWER: To call anyone a "star" on this squad may not be apropos. Still, we'll affix the label to junior nose tackle Arthur Jones. He's a boulder in the middle, adept at mucking up the works and making plays amid a sea of bodies. Jones, a 6-4, 289-pounder, had 17.5 tackles for loss last year, proving he must be reckoned with at all times.
STRENGTHS: The Orange could – could – have a good running game. Running backs Delone Carter (hip) and Curtis Brinkley (leg) are back from injuries, and true freshman Averin Collier also will get a chance to make an impact on a rushing offense that ranked next-to-last in the nation last season. Doug Hogue is another possibility. Quarterback Andrew Robinson also can run. Don't expect him to pass as much as he did in 2007, when the Orange set school standards for attempts and completions. There may be hope for the defense, thanks to what looks like a strong line that will feature Jones and ends Brandon Gilbeaux and Vincenzo Giruzzi. Backup free safety Max Suter is a bonus in the return game. He can go the distance and set an NCAA single-season record (1,299) for kickoff-return yards last year. Wait, is that a good thing?
WEAKNESSES: How much time do you have? The biggest shortcoming is the offense. Robinson hired Mitch Browning as coordinator to try to make something out of what has been a nothing attack during Robinson's dreary tenure. Browning engineered some powerful Minnesota offenses under Glen Mason that pounded opponents with the run. The top priority is trying to assemble a halfway decent line. Three starters are back, but the Orange allowed 54 sacks and didn't open many rushing lanes in 2007. If this crew doesn't jell, all of that talent at running back won't matter. One more thing: WR Mike Williams, a legit star, has been lost for the season for academic reasons. Linebacker Jake Flaherty is a keeper, but the rest of the defensive back seven is a mess. Robinson will co-coordinate the defense, which should help.
THE BUZZ: What buzz? This once-proud program has become a shell of itself. How bad has it been? Robinson is 2-19 in Big East play. That's Temple-esque. Last year's 10-loss stinker set a dubious school single-season standard. No wonder Syracuse athletic director Daryl Gross told Robinson he'll be gone unless significant improvement is shown. It looks like another bottom-feeder season in the Big East.