scouts ink

**bearmz** · 08-29-08, 12:59 PM

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

Ten big issues to consider as we enter the first weekend of action.

Is USC QB Mark Sanchez's dislocated knee cap in the past or will it riddle him much of the season? Trojans coaches aren't shy about pointing out the vast distance between the way Sanchez is playing and the way the other QBs are. He's the guy. So, it's a blow if his knee doesn't hold up. He's an athletic guy who is unafraid to scramble, but he probably should play things fairly safe at Virginia.
Oregon QB Justin Roper needs to take control in the huddle and show his teammates he's the man. By most accounts, one of Nate Costa's primary edges in the Ducks QB competition was leadership. Coaches always talk about taking charge in the huddle, and Costa did -- and Roper sometimes didn't. With Costa out for the season with a knee injury, Roper needs to grab his teammates by their figurative lapels and show them he's in charge. Otherwise, coaches might look to backup Jeremiah Masoli.
We'll get a good measure of California's new 3-4 defense right out of the gate. Michigan State has a huge (average weight: 308) and experienced offensive line leading the charge for one of the most explosive running backs in the country in Javon Ringer. The Bears new linebacker-heavy defense needs to thwart the Spartans running game, or this one probably won't go well.
Will UCLA QB Kevin Craft be able to manage the offense and avoid major mistakes? The Bruins won't win a track meet with Tennessee. The only way this one stays tight is if Craft and the offense play safe and smart and lean on their defense and special teams, which then need to do their part. If the Bruins consistently win the field position battle, the defense could force new Vols starting QB Jonathan Crompton to make his own gaffes, which could give Craft and company the short field they need.
Will Washington State's new no-huddle offense be just the ticket for QB Gary Rogers? Rogers, a fifth-year senior, has waited a long time to take over the offense. New coach Paul Wulff's fast-paced, spread scheme doesn't seem like the ideal fit for the 6-foot-7 senior, but coaches surely mixed and matched parts to fit his skill set. Oklahoma State's defense isn't very good. The Cowboys figure to run all over the Cougars thin defense -- might the Cougars and Rogers return the favor?
Arizona shouldn't just mail it in against overmatched Idaho; make a statement Wildcats! Arizona has the softest schedule in the conference, and these types of nonconference patsies are supposed to help a team build its confidence. But what if Arizona wins 27-24? That message is little more than a whimper. QB Willie Tuitama and his veteran offense should be satisfied with no less than 40 points, and the rebuilt defense should want to hold Idaho to no more than half of that.
Arizona State's offensive line can start shutting up the so-called pundits by not allowing a sack against Northern Arizona: It's as easy as that. Last season's 55 sacks -- the oft-repeated stat of ignominy in Tempe -- will no longer be brought up as soon as the line shows QB protection problems are a thing of the past. The Lumberjacks aren't USC, but they certainly will come after QB Rudy Carpenter. If Carpenter's pants are free of grass stains after the final gun, mission accomplished.
Give me the, er, darn ball! USC coach Pete Carroll has repeatedly -- endlessly -- insisted that he sees no problem in trying to give as many as four TBs carries in a game. That means Joe McKnight, Stafon Johnson, C.J. Gable and Allen Bradford will each get touches at Virginia. McKnight, due to his versatility, is a sure-thing. But how will the ball be distributed among the other three?
All eyes are on QB Kevin Riley, but don't be surprised if TB Jahvid Best steals the show: Best is one of the nation's fastest football players. My guess is he's a step (or two) faster than Michigan State's Javon Ringer. So it's possible Spartans defenders will be shocked when the pursuit angles they've taken on Ringer leave them looking at Best's rear end.
Washington's defense will be better, but by how much? The Huskies don't have amazing talent, but the biggest thing veteran NFL coach Ed Donatell can do to improve the defense is install a sound scheme the players understand. Last season, the Huskies often didn't know where to go and didn't understand why they were asked to do things. Without a sound plan, a team has no hope against Oregon's potent, elusive spread option.

**bearmz** · 08-29-08, 01:05 PM

Entering 2008, USC has won 15 straight August and September games, outscoring opponents 611-226. The last August or September game the Trojans lost was Sept. 27, 2003 at Cal.

• Despite its "Thunder and Lightning" backfield of James Davis and C.J. Spiller, Clemson ranked a disappointing 50th in the nation in rushing offense last season (161.2 yards per game).

**bearmz** · 08-29-08, 01:07 PM

Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett

Every Friday during the season, we'll give you 10 things to watch during the weekend's games. Here's what to look for in the Big East over the next three days:

1. Pat White's left arm: Bill Stewart has talked most of the offseason about having his star quarterback throw more. White should get plenty of opportunities to try out his throws against Villanova. I'll be looking for how crisp he heaves it and how his receivers perform.

2. Rutgers' running game: Finding a replacement, or replacements, for Ray Rice has been the question mark hanging over the Scarlet Knights' preseason. If they can't run the ball effectively on Monday night, they'll have a hard time keeping up with Fresno State's explosive offense.

3. Louisville's defense: It has to be better than it was in 2007, especially against a Kentucky team that's breaking in a new quarterback. Keep an eye on how the linebackers play and how well the Cardinals tackle on Sunday.

4. Pittsburgh's poise: Bowling Green will try to spread the Panthers out with four- and five-wide receiver sets and throw deep. The Falcons are bound to score some points. If Pittsburgh is going to have the breakthrough season many predict, they'll need to bounce back quickly from any adversity.

5. South Florida's cornerbacks: They're not going to get a tremendous test from Tennessee-Martin. Still, it's the first chance to eyeball Tyller Roberts and Jerome Murphy as they take over for Mike Jenkins and Trae Williams. An interception would be nice.

6. The state of Syracuse: There's (another) new offensive coordinator and a new (sorta) defensive coordinator. So the Orange have a new plan. Will they show a pulse at Northwestern, or will be it another long, cold winter in upstate New York?

7. Newcomers: Whether it's Alric Arnett (West Virginia), Victor Anderson (Louisville), Jonathan Baldwin (Pittsburgh) or Jourdan Brooks (Rutgers), the bubble wrap comes off the next wave of Big East stars.

8. The scoreboard race: With West Virginia and South Florida playing FCS teams, Pitt facing a high-tempo MAC outfit and Rutgers in a possible shootout with Fresno State, which Big East team will score the most points? Can anyone hit 60?

9. Noel Devine: He's been a star since high school thanks to his YouTube videos, and now he'll start off in a major role for West Virginia. Odds are he'll rip-off at least one SportsCenter Top 10-type play on Saturday

10. South Florida's pass rush: Tennessee-Martin's offensive line averages just 255 pounds, including a 240-pound left tackle. How are the SkyHawks going to contain George Selvie and Co.?

**bearmz** · 08-29-08, 01:13 PM

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

Here are 10 things to keep an eye on in the ACC this Saturday:

Clemson's offensive line: Enough with the questions already. Let's see if these guys can hold their own against Alabama. The Tigers had to replace four of five starters, but these guys are not inexperienced and they're eager to prove it.
Boston College offense: Quarterback Chris Crane will be making his first start as leader of this young group and another torch will be passed to freshman running back Josh Haden. For the first time in a while, the Eagles' receivers will be the ones bringing everyone else along.
East Carolina upset over Virginia Tech: With possibly no Macho Harris in the mix (ankle), this becomes even more of a possibility. Odds are the Hokies get a good scare in the first half before sneaking out of Charlotte with the win.
Virginia's quarterback: Finally. We'll find out which one of the mystery trio will start against USC. We haven't heard much about who's leading the race between Peter Lalich, Marc Verica and Scott Deke.
Brian Toal's comeback: The BC linebacker was missed last season, and he was out for a few days last week with a pinched nerve in his trapezius, but Toal is finally 100 percent. Will he be used again in those short-yardage situations?
Clemson freshman Da'Quan Bowers: How much of an impact will he have in his debut with the Tigers? About 25-30 snaps against Alabama will give him a chance to show us.
Maryland's offense: With James Franklin running the show and Jordan Steffy at quarterback, how much different can this offense be? And how much will the Terps really show against Delaware?
Virginia Tech's wide receivers: When it comes to experience, depleted is an understatement. True freshmen will have to grow up quickly. Now that we know who the Hokies' quarterback will be, let's find out who Sean Glennon's favorite target is.
North Carolina's defense: This is the first chance we get to see the impact of first-year coordinator Everett Withers, particularly his work in the secondary. It's also the first opportunity to see how the Tar Heels replaced Hilee Taylor and Kentwan Balmer.
Duke's first win: You wouldn't want to miss that, would you? James Madison could very easily win this game, but the excitement around that program and the high expectations of David Cutcliffe make 1-0 a real possibility.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Growing pains for Texas' green secondary? Sure, starting two freshman safeties is a huge gamble. But Texas coach Mack Brown likes his young talent and I'm expecting Texas to dominate in the trenches against Florida Atlantic's injury-riddle defensive front.
How Kansas' young offensive linemen fare: Mark Mangino is replacing two of the best tackles in the conference with redshirt freshmen tackles Jeff Spikes and Jeremiah Hatch, who will be starting their first college games. QB Todd Reesing's health will be riding on it.
Keithen Valentine: The former walk-on has emerged as Kansas State's top rushing threat and earned a scholarship in the process. He needs to step up in order to balance the Wildcats' heavy dependance on QB Josh Freeman's passing skills.
Missouri's aggressive defense: With more experience in his unit, Missouri coordinator Matt Eberflus promises to "unleash the hounds" after playing a base defense most of last season. I'm curious how many more blitzes we'll actually see.
Nebraska's rotation of I-backs: I'm curious exactly how coach Bo Pelini will rotate Marlon Lucky, Roy Helu and Quentin Castille in the featured back role for the Cornhuskers. Lucky is the conference's leading returning rusher. Will that give him more snaps than the others?
Artrell Woods is back: One of the feel-good stories in college football will take place as Oklahoma State WR Artrell Woods returns to the lineup after missing last season with a back injury. He should be in Oklahoma State's lineup against Washington State.
Mike Balogun's development: Balogun sat out his final two years of high school football in order to help support his family as a construction worker. But after a strong junior college career and an injury to Austin Box, Balogun will be in Oklahoma's starting lineup against Chattanooga.
The mouth that roared: Did Howard Schnellenberger's taunts about Texas' lack of toughness awaken a sleeping giant and stoke some passion in a team that struggled sometimes last season to exhibit much?
Break out the calculator: Texas Tech has shown little mercy against Football Championship Subdivision teams in the last three seasons. The Red Raiders have played four games against those teams and averaged 70 points per game, scoring at least 62 points in each contest.
How the heavier Mike Goodson holds up in Texas A&M backfield: Goodson has bulked up by nearly 20 pounds to become a more durable player and better withstand his new role as coach Mike Sherman's featured back.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

The eve of the Big Ten season is upon us, so check your pulse. It should be racing. Every Friday, I'll take a look at 10 things I'm excited to see in the upcoming games. Here's installment No. 1.

1. Michigan's quarterbacks: After so much speculation about who fits RichRod's system, who doesn't, who's fast and who's not, we finally get a look at Steven Threet and Nick Sheridan in a game. Expect some growing pains early on, but both quarterbacks are heady players who could grasp the spread offense better than any of us expect them to. Just the sight of Michigan in a no-huddle spread could induce some double-takes.

2. That Pryor guy: Forget about gimmick plays and custom-designed packages near the goal line or anywhere else on the field. I want to see Ohio State freshman Terrelle Pryor lead a real drive, make real decisions and showcase all of his abilities, including his supposedly improved passing skills. Pryor should get a chance in the first half against Youngstown State.

3. Juice vs. Chase: The Edward Jones Dome is the site for arguably the nation's best quarterback matchup of the day. Illinois coaches are convinced Juice Williams has made the necessary strides as a passer and a leader during the offseason. The Illini junior will try to show it as he goes up against a proven commodity, Missouri senior quarterback Chase Daniel.

4. The Spread HD: It might take a more superior opponent than Coastal Carolina to get a good read on Penn State's new offense, but Saturday should shed some light on the mysterious system and Daryll Clark's ability to run it. Clark's passing skills will be in the spotlight, and Penn State fans finally get a look at speedster Stephfon Green.

5. Javon Ringer return a kick -- Ringer could push Ohio State's Beanie Wells for Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year honors this fall, and he won't waste time producing highlights. The Michigan State running back should be a factor on kickoff returns against Cal, and he could break a big one and make Spartans fans momentarily forget about Devin Thomas.

6. Jake Christensen -- Christensen retained his starting job but hardly got a ringing endorsement from Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, who also plans to play sophomore Ricky Stanzi against Maine. Not all of what went wrong last season can be placed on Christensen, but it's time for the junior to make better decisions, show more consistency and utilize his weapons in the passing game.

7. Tramaine Brock rocks: The safety has been labeled a difference-maker for Minnesota as soon as he set foot on campus this winter. A ferocious hitter who can play either defensive back position, Brock gets his first chance to show that this will be a different year for the Gophers secondary as he goes up against Northern Illinois.

8. Martez Wilson on a blitz: Wilson makes his first career start for Illinois after plenty of preseason hype and faces one of the nation's best quarterbacks in Missouri's Daniel. The 6-foot-4, 246-pound sophomore passes the eye test and should be a dominant defender for the Illini. Now he's got to go out and prove it.

9. The wait ends for Evridge and Lewis: Allan Evridge makes his first start since 2005 as the senior left-hander leads Wisconsin against Akron. Evridge has been patient since transferring from Kansas State but can't get too hyped for the game and make mistakes. The wait hasn't been nearly as long for Indiana quarterback Kellen Lewis, but it certainly felt that way after the junior lost his way this winter and had to earn his way back on the team. He makes his 22nd consecutive start against Western Kentucky.

10. Northwestern's new-look line in action: An offensive line featuring three new starters, including two redshirt freshman, is considered the only potential obstacle for a talent-stocked Wildcats offense. The front five needs a strong start against a Syracuse defense that tied for last nationally in sacks (.75 spg) in 2007.

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

Ten big issues to consider as we enter the first weekend of action.

Is USC QB Mark Sanchez's dislocated knee cap in the past or will it riddle him much of the season? Trojans coaches aren't shy about pointing out the vast distance between the way Sanchez is playing and the way the other QBs are. He's the guy. So, it's a blow if his knee doesn't hold up. He's an athletic guy who is unafraid to scramble, but he probably should play things fairly safe at Virginia.
Oregon QB Justin Roper needs to take control in the huddle and show his teammates he's the man. By most accounts, one of Nate Costa's primary edges in the Ducks QB competition was leadership. Coaches always talk about taking charge in the huddle, and Costa did -- and Roper sometimes didn't. With Costa out for the season with a knee injury, Roper needs to grab his teammates by their figurative lapels and show them he's in charge. Otherwise, coaches might look to backup Jeremiah Masoli.
We'll get a good measure of California's new 3-4 defense right out of the gate. Michigan State has a huge (average weight: 308) and experienced offensive line leading the charge for one of the most explosive running backs in the country in Javon Ringer. The Bears new linebacker-heavy defense needs to thwart the Spartans running game, or this one probably won't go well.
Will UCLA QB Kevin Craft be able to manage the offense and avoid major mistakes? The Bruins won't win a track meet with Tennessee. The only way this one stays tight is if Craft and the offense play safe and smart and lean on their defense and special teams, which then need to do their part. If the Bruins consistently win the field position battle, the defense could force new Vols starting QB Jonathan Crompton to make his own gaffes, which could give Craft and company the short field they need.
Will Washington State's new no-huddle offense be just the ticket for QB Gary Rogers? Rogers, a fifth-year senior, has waited a long time to take over the offense. New coach Paul Wulff's fast-paced, spread scheme doesn't seem like the ideal fit for the 6-foot-7 senior, but coaches surely mixed and matched parts to fit his skill set. Oklahoma State's defense isn't very good. The Cowboys figure to run all over the Cougars thin defense -- might the Cougars and Rogers return the favor?
Arizona shouldn't just mail it in against overmatched Idaho; make a statement Wildcats! Arizona has the softest schedule in the conference, and these types of nonconference patsies are supposed to help a team build its confidence. But what if Arizona wins 27-24? That message is little more than a whimper. QB Willie Tuitama and his veteran offense should be satisfied with no less than 40 points, and the rebuilt defense should want to hold Idaho to no more than half of that.
Arizona State's offensive line can start shutting up the so-called pundits by not allowing a sack against Northern Arizona: It's as easy as that. Last season's 55 sacks -- the oft-repeated stat of ignominy in Tempe -- will no longer be brought up as soon as the line shows QB protection problems are a thing of the past. The Lumberjacks aren't USC, but they certainly will come after QB Rudy Carpenter. If Carpenter's pants are free of grass stains after the final gun, mission accomplished.
Give me the, er, darn ball! USC coach Pete Carroll has repeatedly -- endlessly -- insisted that he sees no problem in trying to give as many as four TBs carries in a game. That means Joe McKnight, Stafon Johnson, C.J. Gable and Allen Bradford will each get touches at Virginia. McKnight, due to his versatility, is a sure-thing. But how will the ball be distributed among the other three?
All eyes are on QB Kevin Riley, but don't be surprised if TB Jahvid Best steals the show: Best is one of the nation's fastest football players. My guess is he's a step (or two) faster than Michigan State's Javon Ringer. So it's possible Spartans defenders will be shocked when the pursuit angles they've taken on Ringer leave them looking at Best's rear end.
Washington's defense will be better, but by how much? The Huskies don't have amazing talent, but the biggest thing veteran NFL coach Ed Donatell can do to improve the defense is install a sound scheme the players understand. Last season, the Huskies often didn't know where to go and didn't understand why they were asked to do things. Without a sound plan, a team has no hope against Oregon's potent, elusive spread option.

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

Here's your unofficial guide to SEC football viewing this weekend. Consider it your own little playbook with scouting reports on everything from players, coaches, schemes, stadiums, pregame activities, hot spots around campus, even a few take-it-the-bank predictions:

Julio Jones scoring in his first college game: Sure, there will be some butterflies, even for a guy as hyped as Jones has been. But his teammates already have the utmost faith in him, and he absolutely is the real deal. Not only will he score against Clemson, but he'll have an Escalade (only a rental, mind you) waiting on him to take him back to the airport afterward.

Tight end power: Has there ever been this many good tight ends in the SEC? It seems like every team has somebody that's going to be a difficult matchup for the defense. Just to name a few, there are D.J. Williams and Andrew Davie at Arkansas, Aaron Hernandez at Florida, Brandon Warren at Tennessee, Jared Cook at South Carolina, Richard Dickson at LSU and Tripp Chandler at Georgia.

Rolando McClain vs. 'Thunder & Lightning': He's only a sophomore, but Rolando McClain probably feels like the old man of an Alabama linebacker corps that might play three true freshmen on Saturday. Those guys will have their work cut out against the Clemson running back tandem of James Davis (Thunder) and C.J. Spiller (Lightning).

Everybody but Percy: We know Florida's Percy Harvin won't score Saturday against Hawaii. He'll be sitting this one out to give his surgically repaired right heel more time to recover. The question is: Who won't score for the Gators? Here's betting they hit 50 with Tim Tebow, Emmanuel Moody, Louis Murphy, Chris Rainey, Deonte Thompson and Brandon James all finding the end zone.

Time for a little Enrique: Junior Cordera Eason will start at tailback, but most of the buzz around the Ole Miss campus has centered around freshman Enrique Davis. Yes, he's got a cool name, but he's also got a sweet game. I saw him live in a scrimmage earlier this preseason, and he's got some serious get up and go.

Underrated: Some of the guys who might not be flying under the radar as much after this opening weekend and the next few weeks: Alabama receiver Mike McCoy, Arkansas running back Michael Smith, Georgia safety Reshad Jones, Kentucky defensive tackle Myron Pryor, Tennessee receiver Gerald Jones, LSU tailback Richard Murphy and Florida defensive end Carlos Dunlap.

Defense at Kentucky? OK, I know even some Kentucky fans are probably rolling their eyes, but this will be the best and most talented defense the Wildcats have had under Rich Brooks. They return 17 of the top 22 players from their Music City Bowl two-deep a year ago. This team will have to lean on its defense, too, starting Sunday at Louisville.

On further review: As Florida coach Urban Meyer glances over at Harvin standing on the sideline Saturday and undoubtedly wondering when he's going to get his franchise receiver back, I can't help but go back to Meyer's quote when Harvin had the surgery back in April. "It's a very minor surgery, probably an eight-week recovery," Meyer said. Somebody was off somewhere.

Vols want respect: The "no respect" theme is picking up steam in Tennessee, and granted, the Vols have been an afterthought in the East race talk. That's despite playing for the SEC championship a year ago. The reality is that Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer likes this position. He's done his best work when less has been expected of the Vols.

Fannin the flames: Is it just me, or is Mario Fannin one of those guys that always seems to be on the cusp of breaking out and becoming an elite player in this league? I think this is his year in Auburn's new spread offense. And if not, he's always got one of the coolest fan Web sites going ... Team Fannin.

**bearmz** · 08-29-08, 01:17 PM

Why so many copy and paste? The I-net is for sharing info.

**bearmz** · 08-29-08, 01:27 PM

Updated: August 29, 2008, 9:09 AM ET
College football has officially morphed into Generation Spread.

The success Urban Meyer is experiencing at Florida has legitimized what was once considered a gimmicky brand of offensive football. As a result, new versions and wrinkles are popping up seemingly everywhere.

It's getting to the point where using the term "spread offense" for all the different variations is no longer effective. It's like referring to fettuccini, spaghetti and gnocchi all as pastas. Sure, they all belong in the pasta family, but I better be specific when I'm ordering at a restaurant.

Tim Tebow's mastery of Florida's version of the spread could earn him two Heisman Trophies.
Rich Rodriguez's career-to-date is a prime illustration of how the spread can be adapted to fit its personnel, particularly the quarterback position. Take his previous three coaching stops, for example:

Tulane, 1997-98 (coordinator and quarterbacks coach): Went undefeated (12-0) with Shaun King operating a pass-heavy version. Rodriguez almost never called King's number as a runner yet still operated multi-receiver sets out of the shotgun. When the Green Wave ran the ball it was primarily on shotgun handoffs to the halfback, who ran behind a zone-blocking offensive line.

Clemson, 1999-2000 (coordinator and associate head coach): As coordinator, Rodriguez tailored his scheme to fit the running style of Woody Dantzler. The tweaked system was more balanced between run and pass, and it also featured the quarterback heavily in the running game via the shotgun read-option. Dantzler finished his collegiate career with 51 school records.

West Virginia, 2001-07 (head coach): Rodriguez took the running portion of the spread to new heights with Pat White, a sensational athlete who had raw passing skills early in his career. The Mountaineers racked up 32.1 points per game in 2005 en route to a Sugar Bowl upset of Georgia.

Variety and adaptations of the spread can be found all over college football in 2008, and no position is affected more than quarterback. Take a look at my rankings of the top 10 quarterbacks in college football, for example:

1. Tim Tebow, Jr., Florida (6-foot-¾, 235 pounds)
2. Pat White, Sr., West Virginia (6-0, 191)
3. Chase Daniel, Sr., Missouri (6-0, 232)
4. Cullen Harper, Sr., Clemson (6-3, 220)
5. Sam Bradford, So., Oklahoma (6-3½, 218)
6. Graham Harrell, Sr., Texas Tech (6-2⅛, 199)
7. Todd Reesing, Sr., Kansas (5-11, 205)
8. Matthew Stafford, Jr., Georgia (6-2½, 235)
9. Curtis Painter, Sr., Purdue (6-2½, 225)
10. Todd Boeckman, Sr., Ohio State (6-4, 245)

Seven of the top nine, including the first four on the list, are the trigger men in various spread schemes. With that in mind, here's a brief breakdown of the type of spread each of those seven quarterbacks operates and his responsibility within the particular scheme.

1. Tebow
Spread style: Meyer's version is a multi-faceted spread, typically operated out of the shotgun with one back and four receivers (one of which can be a rocked-up tight end). The basic premise is to isolate and exploit individual mismatches in Florida's favor, both on the ground and via the air.
QB's primary responsibility: Let's be honest: Tebow's role has morphed into him carrying the offense. With the exception of catching his own passes, Tebow does it all in Meyer's system. From a scheme responsibility standpoint, Tebow's ability to recognize the defense and locate its vulnerability is critical to the offense's execution.
QB's pass/run ratio in 2007: 350 passing attempts/210 rushing attempts

2. White
Spread style: West Virginia's shotgun triple-option continues to evolve. Last year it incorporated far more bubble screens, which serve as a supplement to one of the three run options. This year new coach Bill Stewart will add more vertical shots to the passing attack for two reasons: to generate more explosive opportunities and to keep defenses more honest.
QB's primary responsibility: White's job is tougher than it looks from a mental standpoint. First, he must make the correct pre-snap call on run or pass, which is determined by defenders in the box. If it's a run, White has a split second to decide whether to hand the ball off, keep it himself, or pitch it to his back. If it's a pass; White typically reads one safety and looks to exploit the single-coverage furthest away from him.
QB's pass/run ratio in '07: 216 passing attempts/197 rushing attempts

3. Daniel
Spread style: Missouri works primarily out of the shotgun with four-and-five receiver sets, which can include one or two H-backs flexed out. It features lots of misdirection on the ground, in addition to a wide variety of screens and timing routes in the passing game.
QB's primary responsibility: Daniel is the point guard of this up-tempo, wide-open version of the spread. In addition to all of his mental responsibilities, Daniel must throw the ball with excellent timing and accuracy in order to exploit one-on-one mismatches and lead his playmakers to daylight after the catch.
QB's pass/run ratio in '07: 563 passing attempts/109 rushing attempts

4. Harper
Spread style: The majority of Clemson's offense is run out of the shotgun with a minimum of three receivers on the field. The system looks to achieve run/pass balance and it relies heavily on pre-snap reads of the defense's personnel package and alignment.
QB's primary responsibility: Harper's job is to put the offense in favorable position from a numbers standpoint with his pre-snap reads. Ball control is also critical to the big picture for Clemson, which is why there's such a heavy focus on Harper's pass efficiency and overall game management. It doesn't hurt that Harper also does an excellent job of hitting his receivers in stride, which leads to some big run-after-catch opportunities with all the slants and crossing routes the Tigers run.
QB's pass/run ratio in '07: 433 passing attempts/ 71 rushing attempts

6. Harrell
Spread style: Mike Leach's infamous four-and-five wide, shotgun system can best be described as pass-drunk.
QB's primary responsibility: Harrell's role is to execute Leach's unique system of reading defensive fronts and coverages, which are all designed to put Harrell in the best position to throw a strike to an open receiver in space. With more than 700 pass attempts in a season, Harrell's No. 2 priority is to get his arm on ice each night.
QB's pass/run ratio in '07: 713 passing attempts/ 38 rushing attempts

7. Reesing
Spread style: Kansas up-tempo spread scheme places an emphasis on run-pass balance. Also, offensive coordinator Ed Warinner wisely leaves room for Reesing's creativity when his playmaking signal caller sees fit.
QB's primary responsibility: Reesing proved to be the ideal leader of Kansas spread last year in his first season as the starter, which finished second nationally in scoring under first-year coordinator Warinner. Reesing is allowed to maximize his scrappy playmaking ability, so long as it does not interfere with the heavy emphasis on ball security.
QB's pass/run ratio in '07: 446 passing attempts/ 92 rushing attempts

9. Painter
Spread style: Joe Tiller began been running his version of the spread in West Lafayette many years before it hit the mainstream. His system has a West Coast feel with an up-tempo style and an emphasis on high-percentage throws, except that it operates primarily out of the shotgun with multiple-receiver sets.
QB's primary responsibility: Painter's job is to distribute the ball as accurately and efficiently as possible, primarily focusing on attacking the short-to-intermediate zones.
QB's pass/run ratio in '07: 569 passing attempts/53 rushing attempts

Todd McShay is the director of college football scouting for Scouts Inc. He has been evaluating prospects for the NFL draft since 1998.

**bearmz** · 08-29-08, 01:46 PM

Against nonconference ranked foes, ACC teams are 9-31 in the past 40 meetings. They are 2-17 against the top 10. No ACC team has finished in the AP top five since Florida State in 2000.

Officials will be flag-happy this season, enforcing the rules committee's new initiative on post-play celebrations. Tapes were shipped this summer to all officiating crews, showing examples of grievous sins like somersaults into the end zone, high stepping and various other quick displays of emotion that threaten to undermine the fabric of the game (and society in general). Or so they'd have us believe.

Officials have been instructed to keep a closer eye on celebrations in 2008.
Officials were told they must flag these things.

Army finished in the bottom five in the nation in total offense (275.5 yards per game) and scoring offense (16.9 points). The inability to hold on to the ball led to a rushing defense (233.5 yards) that also finished in the bottom five. So HC Brock set out to find an offense.
The greatest success that Army, Navy and Air Force have had in the past 25 years has been when they have run the option. Army went away from the option eight years ago, firing Bob Sutton and hiring Todd Berry. He installed a no-huddle spread.
He has heard that the option is an equalizer against more talented teams.
He has heard that the option stretches a defense like the spread but without the same need for speed in the open field.
Brock, offensive coordinator Tim Walsh and the Army staff have read every option book and playbook they could find. (The Internet is a beautiful thing.) They have watched a lot of video. What they have created, exactly, Brock isn't saying.
"It's a run-option-based offense," he said. "The reason I think it's going to work is that when you can make everybody honor the run, it will make throwing the ball a little easier.
The offense is an old friend. He and his staff went to visit the retired Jim Young, the head coach who in the 1980s first made option football at Army a success. They went to visit Young's successor, Bob Sutton, now the defensive coordinator of the New York Jets.
In 1996, Sutton's Army team began the season 9-0 and finished it 10-2 and No. 25. That's the last time Army was ranked. That's also the last time that Army had a winning record. In the past 11 seasons, Army has won 27 games. It has been a long, black night for the Black Knights.
The option makes sense as the shortest path to renewed success. Brock has no idea if he's right. At this point, he's taking one day at a time.

**bearmz** · 08-29-08, 02:12 PM

Sorry so helter skelter on posts.

Army vs Temple:
LY Army won 37-21 at Michie Stadium, but Army scored TDs on an 88 yd KOR, 85 yr PR, and FR in the EZ.

Temp outgained Army 463-329 with 359 pyds to 175. Of Army's 175 pyds, 69 came on one pass TD. Temp also had 5 TOs to 3 for Army.

L6g in '07 Army allowed an avg of 39.8 pt/g while scoring 15.1where 39 pts were scored vs Tulsa in 49-39 L. Take away the 39 and they avg 10.4 in the other 5g.

Temp faltered their L3 rdg LY scoring 3, 7, and 24, but avg 24.3 their 1st 3 rdg.

Temp returns 11 starters from MACs '07 #1 D.

Looking good for Temp vs Army with a transition O coming in.

**bearmz** · 08-29-08, 02:20 PM

Several Temple Players Receive Preseason Honors
Aug. 11, 2008

PHILADELPHIA - With 18 days to go until the first game, 13 Temple football players have been cited with preseason honors by various publications.

Senior center Alex Derenthal (Davie, Fla.) and junior nose tackle Andre Neblett (Rahway, N.J.) lead the way with the most accolades. A Rimington Trophy candidate as the nation's top center, Derenthal is a preseason first-team All-MAC selection by Phil Steele's College Football and the Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook. He has also been named an NFL Draft Scout "Star of 2008".

A Bronko Nagurski Trophy candidate as the nation's best defensive player, Neblett is a preseason first-team All-MAC selection by Athlon, Phil Steele's College Football, the Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook, and MAC Report Online.

Junior cornerback Anthony Ferla (Waldwick, N.J.) is a preseason second-team All-MAC selection by Athlon.

Senior wide receiver Bruce Francis (Sicklerville, N.J.) is a preseason fourth-team All-MAC selection by Phil Steele's College Football.

Junior defensive end Junior Galette (Spring Valley, N.Y.) is a preseason Honorable Mention All-MAC selection by Phil Steele's College Football.

Junior defensive back Dominique Harris (Washington, D.C.) is a preseason fourth-team All-MAC selection by Phil Steele's College Football.

Sophomore linebacker Amara Kamara (Newark, N.J.) is a preseason Honorable Mention All-MAC selection by Phil Steele's College Football.

Senior defensive tackle Terrance Knighton (Windsor, Conn.) has been named to the Senior Bowl Watch List. He is a preseason second-team All-MAC selection by Athlon and MAC Report Online.

Sophomore running back Marquise Liverpool (Ramsey, N.J.) is a preseason Honorable Mention All-MAC selection by Phil Steele's College Football.

Senior wide receiver Travis Shelton (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) is a preseason first-team All-MAC kick returner by Phil Steele's College Football.

Additionally, junior linebacker Alex Joseph (Stamford, Conn.) is a candidate for the Butkus Award, while senior offensive tackles Andre Douglas (New Rochelle, N.Y.) and Jabari Ferguson (Miami, Fla.) have been named to the NFL Draft Scout's Top 2009 Prospects' list.

As a team, Temple was selected to finish fifth in the East Division of the Mid-American Conference by the MAC News Media Association. Ranked by eight different groups, TU has been picked to finish anywhere between second and sixth in the East while also receiving two first-place votes. The Sporting News had the highest prediction, picking the Owls second.

PAIR NAMED TO PRESEASON WATCH LISTS

• Army defensive tackle

Ted Bentler and linebacker Frank Scappaticci have
been named to the preseason watch lists for three of the major college football
awards.
• Bentler is one of 42 preseason candidates for the 2008 Lott Trophy.

Scappaticci is a preseason player to watch for the 2008 Dick Butkus Award, which is presented to the

top linebacker in college football.

The Army defense will also have some changes as veteran coordinator

John Mumford must replace four of
the top five tacklers from last season, all four starters in the secondary and two of the three starting

linebackers from 2007.

**bearmz** · 08-29-08, 03:10 PM

SMU at Rice:

Home team is 10-2 ATS in their last 12 meetings with Rice winning and covering the 2 RD Ws. Rice W LY 43-42 at SMU.

SMU has scored 12pts combined it's L2 openers.

Rice allowed 45.7 pt/g L10g while SMU allowed 39.7.
Rice scored 39.5 pt/g L7g while SMU scored 29.4.

Rice returns its top five rushers, eight of the nine receivers who caught at least 10 passes last year and its top five tacklers.

Nine months later, it's still hard to fathom just how good Chase Clement was over the final four games of last season. Clement produced 1,653 passing yards and 15 TDs while rushing for 298 yards and five TDs. If he picks up where he left off, the offense should enjoy a breakout effort.
The Owls have won the last nine meetings between the two at Rice Stadium, with the Mustangs last win here coming in 1986.
OWLS’ CAREERS VS. SMU
Jarett Dillard has averaged 102 receiving in three games against SMU (23 catches, 307 yards) and has five touchdown catches against the Mustangs in the last two years. He caught a career-high 13 passes last season.
Chase Clement piled up 488 yards of total offense last year (124 rushing, 364 passing), the third-best total in school history.

LY Rice outgained SMU 545-495 with 364-165 edge in pyds in it’s 43-42 W.
The Mustangs scored 28 straight points to take a 42-27 lead after a 1-yard run by Chris Butler with 2:06 left in the third quarter.

UP FOR HONORS
Rice placed the most position players (4) of any team in on the C-USA coaches pre-season all counference team. but that wasn’t the only pre-season list that featured members of the Owls:
JARETT DILLARD
All-America, Phil Steele, 4th team
All C-USA
All Texas College, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football
Walter Camp Foundation Player of the Year
Watch List
Maxwell Award Watch List
CHASE CLEMENT
All C-USA preseason
All Texas College 2nd team, Dave Campbell’s
Texas Football
Davey O’Brien Award Watch List
Johnny Unitas Award Watch List
BRIAN RAINES
All C-USA
Lombardi Award Watch List
Butkus Award Watch List
ANDREW SENDEJO
All C-USA
All Texas College, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football
Lombardi Award Watch List
Butkus Award Watch List

SMU
With Bo Levi Mitchell & Braden Smith atop the depth chart, SMU likely will start its first true
freshman at quarterback since Chris Phillips started at Tulsa in 2003.
SMU's fall camp started with five quarterbacks vying for the top two slots on the depth chart. On Aug. 18, Jones announced that true freshman Bo Levi Mitchell would receive the most repetitions heading into the preparations for Rice. Junior quarterback Justin Willis, who started 22 of the last 23 games for SMU, is now a co-No. 3 on the depth chart.
• With 13 true freshmen on its two-deep, SMU is the youngest team in the nation entering 2008.
Almost 25% of the 56 players listed are entering their fi rst season of collegiate football.
Enright Named To Rimington Trophy Watch List
Will Bonilla Named To 2008 Butkus Award Watch List
Martin Named Doak Walker Award Candidate