Who are the nation’s greenest units?
March 17, 2009 by feed · Leave a Comment
The ESPN bloggers are getting into the St. Patrick’s Day spirit by breaking down the least experienced units in college football. Some highlights below, with links to the full reviews….
BYU offensive line: The Cougars will have to fill four of the five starting spots on the offensive line, but do have some depth there since several players received playing time due to injuries and some shuffling last year.
Boise State wide receivers: Boise State lost its three starting receivers, including Jeremy Childs, who left early for the NFL. Childs led the team in receiving yards and receptions last year and now quarterback Kellen Moore is going to have to break in some new playmakers.
Louisville: The biggest bunch of newbies are at quarterback, where there are four candidates for the job but not one who’s seen any significant playing time at this level.
South Florida: Look no farther than the offensive line, where four of five starters need to be replaced.
Oklahoma offensive line: The departure of starting center Jon Cooper, tackle Phil Loadholt and guards Duke Robinson and Brandon Walker means that Sam Bradford will have an inexperienced group protecting him next season. Trent Williams moves to left tackle and Bob Stoops likes his incoming talent, if not its early work habits.
Texas defensive line: The major question dogging the Longhorns’ national title hopes will be rebuilding a defensive front that loses All-American defensive end Brian Orakpo, defensive tackle Roy Miller, defensive tackleAaron Lewis and defensive end Henry Melton from last season.
Texas Tech offensive line: New quarterback Taylor Potts will be relying on a retooled offensive line protecting his blind side after left tackle Rylan Reed, left guard Louis Vasquez and center Stephen Hamby all departed from last year.
Alabama: The Crimson Tide are replacing three-year starter John Parker Wilson at quarterback, but losing the threesome of Andre Smith, Marlon Davis and Antoine Caldwell on the offensive line leaves the biggest void. They were at the crux of just about everything Alabama did on offense last season.
Georgia: Much of the focus this spring will be on Joe Cox and the quarterback position, but the Bulldogs’ most glaring weakness is the lack of a dominant pass-rusher from the defensive end position. They’ve got to find somebody who can consistently get to the quarterback.
LSU: Jordan Jefferson started the final two games at quarterback last season as a true freshman and enters 2009 as the favorite to win the job. His main competition will come from another true freshman, Russell Shepard, who graduated early and is going through spring practice.
GEORGIA TECH — Having lost three of four starters on the defensive line, it’s easily one of the greenest groups in the whole conference.
MIAMI – The Canes are still young everywhere, but remember quarterback Jacory Harris has only started two games and his backups have no collegiate experience.
NORTH CAROLINA — The Tar Heels lost their top three receivers and will be counting heavily on inexperienced players to replace Hakeem Nicks, Brandon Tate and Brooks Foster.
Arizona State — QB: Combined starts of the five candidates to replace Rudy Carpenter at quarterback? Zero.
Oregon – DT: Both starting defensive tackles are gone and this unofficial depth chart shows 14 combine tackles for seven potential replacements.
Oregon State — DE: Sackmasters Victor Butler and Slade Norris and their 41.5 combined sacks over the past two seasons are gone. Sophomore Kevin Frahm and senior Ben Terry, who split two sacks between themselves in 2008, are in.
Ohio State’s offensive line — Don’t be shocked if Ohio State enters 2009 with three sophomores (Mike Brewster, Mike Adams, J.B. Shugarts) and a transfer (Justin Boren) on its starting line.
Penn State’s defensive ends — Jerome Hayes should be back from another knee injury, but Penn State will be on the lookout for a proven pass rusher after losing Aaron Maybin, Maurice Evans and Josh Gaines.
Purdue’s wide receivers — New coach Danny Hope made wide receiver a peak priority in his first recruiting class after losing Greg Orton and Desmond Tardy, who combined for 136 receptions and 1,596 yards last year.
Wisconsin’s defensive line — The Badgers lose three multiyear starters (Matt Shaughnessy, Mike Newkirk and Jason Chapman) and don’t return many proven players aside from ends O’Brien Schofield and Dan Moore.
And — of course — everyone’s favorite green unit:
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Evans reportedly to follow Maybin and turn pro
January 13, 2009 by feed · Leave a Comment
Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
Penn State already has lost one All-Big Ten defensive end to the NFL draft, and another appears to be following him out the door.
Nittany Lions redshirt sophomore Aaron Maybin officially declared for the NFL draft today during an announcement at his Maryland high school. And multiple reports say Penn State junior end Maurice Evans has also decided to turn pro.
"Leaving Penn State was one of the most difficult decisions I've faced," Maybin said in a statement delivered by LEAP Management, LLC. "I received so much valuable advice and counsel during this process. In the end, I've decided this is an opportunity I would like to pursue. … I appreciate the opportunity given to me by the Penn State coaching staff and the enthusiastic support of the fans."
The team has yet to make an official announcement about either player.
While Maybin blossomed this season with 12 sacks and 20 tackles for loss, Evans had his breakout performance in 2007, recording 12.5 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss. Evans entered this fall as a Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year candidate but was suspended three games in early September after being charged with marijuana possession. His suspension seemed to clear a path for Maybin, and Evans finished with three sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss.
Maybin's decision isn't a surprise, given his meteoric rise this season, but Evans would be better served with another season in State College. He certainly didn't help his draft stock this season and could restore his reputation as one of the nation's top pass rushers with a strong effort in 2009.
Should both players depart, depth at defensive end will be a concern for Penn State. Jerome Hayes returns from injury, but the Lions will lack a proven pass rusher next fall. They should be very solid in the interior line, but edge rushers like Maybin and Evans don't come around every year.
There's also the question of line coach Larry Johnson, who has been offered a pretty sweet deal by Illinois. If Johnson bolts, it would be hard not to label the defensive line as an area of concern for Penn State going forward.
Maybin seizes opportunity for Penn State
December 30, 2008 by feed · Leave a Comment
Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg
A year ago, Penn State’s defensive line meeting room was packed with players, and Aaron Maybin could hang out in the back.
Maybin had a role, but not a key one. He contributed four sacks as a redshirt freshman and had carved a niche as a rush end who could provide a boost every now and then.
Maybin’s role figured to remain more or less the same for the 2008 season. Anything he gave Penn State would be gravy, but the defensive line would be solid without him.
Then Chris Baker and Phil Taylor were dismissed from the team, Maurice Evans and Abe Koroma were suspended and Devon Still and Jerome Hayes sustained major injuries.
A few games into the season, the meeting room had nearly cleared out, and Maybin sat down with line coach Larry Johnson.
“He really let me know it was time to turn up the heat,” Maybin said. “Because there was nobody else.”
Maybin followed orders, and the temperature rose in opponents’ backfields. The redshirt sophomore made his first career start in Week 3 at Syracuse and started nine of the final 10 games for the Lions.
He emerged as the Big Ten’s top pass rusher, racking up 12 sacks and 19 tackles for loss to go along with three forced fumbles. A first-team AP All-American, Maybin anchored a Penn State defensive line that survived all the personnel losses and ranked ninth nationally against the run (95.9 ypg).
“Obviously, it was a tough situation to deal with,” Maybin said. “Being as close as I am with my whole D-line, it was tough to see some guys go down and some guys be removed from the equation because of situations that are out of my control.
“But obviously, I had to step up and contribute a lot of things to this defense. Throughout the course of the season, I’ve been able to do that.”
Final Big Ten injury report: Week 13
November 22, 2008 by feed · Leave a Comment
Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg
Courtesy of collegeinjuryreport.com and some of my own research.
ILLINOIS (at Northwestern)
- QB Eddie McGee, toe, probable
- LB Martez Wilson, out, suspension
- DT Josh Brent, knee, questionable
- RB Mikel LeShoure, jaw, questionable
- FB Rahkeem Smith, suspension, questionable
- S Garrett Edwards, shoulder, questionable
- OT Ryan Palmer, foot, questionable
- CB Miami Thomas, knee, out (season)
- DT Sirod Williams, knee, out (season)
INDIANA (at Purdue)
- RB Zach Davis-Walker, thumb, questionable
- S Jerimy Finch, ankle, questionable
- RB Bryan Payton, ankle, questionable
- CB Richard Council, knee, questionable
- LB Will Patterson, knee, questionable
- CB Richard Council, knee, doubtful
- OL Andrew McDonald, undisclosed, questionable
- S Nick Polk, knee, out (season)
- TE Brian Zematis, ankle, out (season)
- S Austin Thomas, knee, out (season)
- OL Dennis Zeigler, knee, out (season)
- CB Chris Phillips, knee, out (season)
IOWA (at Minnesota)
- OG Andy Kuempel, muscle pull, doubtful
- OL Wes Aeschliman, hip, out (season)
- S Harold Dalton, suspension, out
- TE Tony Moeaki, leg, questionable
- OL James Ferentz, suspension, out
MICHIGAN (at Ohio State)
- WR Zion Babb, dismissal, out (season)
- RB Sam McGuffie, shoulder/personal, questionable
- OT Stephen Schilling, knee, questionable
- RB Carlos Brown, foot, questionable
- WR Junior Hemingway, mononucleosis, out
- QB Steven Threet, shoulder, doubtful,
- LB Kevin Leach, ankle, questionable
- T Mark Huyge, ankle, out
- WR Terence Robinson, knee, doubtful
- S Brandon Smith, appendix, out (season)
- G Cory Zirbel, knee, out (season)
MICHIGAN STATE (at Penn State)
- WR Keshawn Martin, undisclosed, questionable
- CB Chris L. Rucker, leg, questionable
- WR Mark Dell, knee, questionable
- S Roderick Jenrette, personal, out (season)
MINNESOTA (vs. Iowa)
- WR Eric Decker, ankle, probable
- S Kyle Theret, leg, probable
- LB Lee Campbell, questionable, hamstring
- RB Duane Bennett, knee, out (season)
NORTHWESTERN (vs. Illinois)
- DT Corbin Bryant, knee, out (season)
- LB Malcolm Arrington, knee, out (season)
- QB Mike Kafka, concussion, probable
- DE Vince Browne, knee, out
- RB Omar Conteh, knee, out (season)
- TE/FB Drake Dunsmore, knee, out (season)
- DE Rejaie Johnson, shoulder, out (season)
- RB Tyrell Sutton, wrist, out
- CB Justan Vaughn, shoulder, out (season)
OHIO STATE (vs. Michigan)
- WR Ray Small, suspension, questionable
- CB Jermale Hines, leg, doubtful
- OL Ben Person, leg, out
- OL Connor Smith, undisclosed, questionable
- DE Curtis Terry, undisclosed, out (season)
- OL Mike Adams, ankle, out (season)
- OL J.B. Shugarts, shoulder, out (season)
- DE Lawrence Wilson, knee, out (season)
- CB Andre Amos, knee, out (season)
PENN STATE (vs. Michigan State)
- DE Josh Gaines, ankle, questionable
- OL Ako Poti, knee, out (season)
- DT Devon Still, ankle, out (season)
- RB Brent Carter, knee, out (season)
- OL Doug Klopacz, knee, out (season)
- DE Jerome Hayes, knee, out (season)
PURDUE (vs. Indiana)
- TE Kyle Adams, knee, doubtful
- LB Jason Werner, back, out
- OL Justin Pierce, groin, questionable
- OT Sean Sester, knee, probable
- G Eric Hedstrom, knee, probable
- QB Joey Elliott, shoulder, out (season)
- T Garrett Miller, knee, out (season)
- RB Jaycen Taylor, knee, out (season)
WISCONSIN (vs. Cal-Poly)
- T Eric Vanden Heuvel, foot, probable
- WR Kyle Jefferson, concussion, out
- TE Lance Kendricks, leg, out (season)
- WR Maurice Moore, leg, doubtful
- TE Travis Beckum, leg, out (season)
- DE Brendan Kelly, thumb, out (season)
- CB Aaron Henry, knee, out (season)
- DE Kirk DeCremer, back, out (season)
Final Big Ten injury report: Week 12
November 15, 2008 by feed · Leave a Comment
Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg
Courtesy of collegeinjuryreport.com and some of my own research. Michigan State has a bye this week.
ILLINOIS (vs. Ohio State)
- RB Mikel LeShoure, jaw, doubtful
- FB Rahkeem Smith, suspension, probable (suspension lifted)
- S Garrett Edwards, shoulder, questionable
- OT Xavier Fulton, shoulder, probable
- OT Ryan Palmer, foot, probable
- CB Miami Thomas, knee, out (season)
- DT Sirod Williams, knee, out (season)
INDIANA (at Penn State)
- RB Zach Davis-Walker, thumb, questionable
- S Jerimy Finch, ankle, questionable
- RB Bryan Payton, ankle, out
- QB Kellen Lewis, ankle, probable
- QB Ben Chappell, probable, head
- LB Will Patterson, knee, out
- CB Richard Council, knee, doubtful
- S Joe Kleinsmith, undisclosed, questionable
- OL Pete Saxon, undisclosed, questionable
- OL Mike Reiter, abdominal, questionable
- OL James Brewer, ankle, questionable
- OT Rodger Saffold, knee, probable
- OL Andrew McDonald, undisclosed, questionable
- S Nick Polk, knee, out (season)
- TE Brian Zematis, ankle, out (season)
- S Austin Thomas, knee, out (season)
- OL Dennis Zeigler, knee, out (season)
- CB Chris Phillips, knee, out (season)
IOWA (vs. Purdue)
- OG Andy Kuempel, muscle pull, doubtful
- OL Wes Aeschliman, hip, out (season)
- S Harold Dalton, suspension, out
- TE Tony Moeaki, leg, doubtful
- OL James Ferentz, out, suspension
MICHIGAN (vs. Northwestern)
- RB Brandon Minor, shoulder/wrist/ribs, doubtful
- RB Carlos Brown, foot, questionable
- OL David Molk, toe, probable
- WR Junior Hemingway, mononucleosis, out
- QB Steven Threet, concussion, probable
- LB Kevin Leach, ankle, questionable
- T Mark Huyge, ankle, questionable
- WR Terence Robinson, knee, questionable
- S Brandon Smith, appendix, out (season)
- G Cory Zirbel, knee, out (season)
MINNESOTA (at Wisconsin)
- WR Eric Decker, ankle, out
- RB Duane Bennett, knee, out (season)
NORTHWESTERN (at Michigan)
- LB Malcolm Arrington, knee, out (season)
- QB C.J. Bacher, hamstring, probable
- DE Vince Browne, knee, out
- RB Omar Conteh, knee, out (season)
- TE/FB Drake Dunsmore, knee, out (season)
- DE Rejaie Johnson, shoulder, out (season)
- RB Tyrell Sutton, wrist, out
- CB Justan Vaughn, shoulder, out (season)
OHIO STATE (at Illinois)
- WR Ray Small, out, suspension
- OL Ben Person, leg, out
- DE Thaddeus Gibson, ankle, probable
- DE Curtis Terry, undisclosed, out(season)
- OL Mike Adams, ankle, out (season)
- OL J.B. Shugarts, shoulder, doubtful
- DE Lawrence Wilson, knee, out (season)
- CB Andre Amos, knee, out (season)
PENN STATE (vs. Indiana)
- CB Drew Astorino, thumb, probable
- DE Josh Gaines, ankle, probable
- OL Ako Poti, knee, out (season)
- DT Devon Still, ankle, out (season)
- RB Brent Carter, knee, out (season)
- OL Doug Klopacz, knee, out (season)
- DE Jerome Hayes, knee, out (season)
PURDUE (at Iowa)
- QB Curtis Painter, shoulder, probable
- TE Kyle Adams, knee, doubtful
- LB Jason Werner, back, doubtful
- OL Justin Pierce, groin, questionable
- OT Sean Sester, knee, questionable
- G Eric Hedstrom, knee, questionable
- QB Joey Elliott, shoulder, out (season)
- T Garrett Miller, knee, out (season)
- RB Jaycen Taylor, knee, out (season)
WISCONSIN (vs. Minnesota)
- T Eric Vanden Heuvel, foot, doubtful
- LB Jaevery McFadden, concussion, probable
- TE Lance Kendricks, leg, out (season)
- WR Maurice Moore, leg, questionable
- TE Travis Beckum, leg, out (season)
- DE Brendan Kelly, thumb, out (season)
- CB Aaron Henry, knee, out (season)
- DE Kirk DeCremer, back, out (season)
Joe Paterno Deserves Coach of the Year Honors Despite Possible BCS Snub
October 28, 2008 by feed · Leave a Comment
Most people do not believe in destiny, and I was among them until this football season began to unfold.
For many in Nittany Nation, this season was an enigma from the beginning: two unproven quarterbacks battling it out for the top spot on the depth chart, an ESPN story questioning our famous slogan “Success with Honor,” dismissals of key players, and a flurry of off the field incidents.
With all of this going on, many folks doubted if this team could regroup and post eight or nine wins. When a lot of friends and others asked me what I thought this team’s record would be this season, I looked each one of them in the eye and simply said, “12-0.”
This Penn State team had way too much talent and a favorable enough schedule to win at least nine games, but the question marks are always the big three of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio State.
I never quite understood how a Wisconsin team that Penn State throttled 38-7 last year was ranked ahead of us, after it looked like we only improved and they had lost their starting quarterback.
Michigan lost everyone, and we knew if there was a year that we could end our streak against “them,” as they have been named here in Happy Valley, this would be the year.
That left Ohio State—the old Buckeyes. Jim Tressel has done as good a job of recruiting and coaching as anyone in the country since he took over at OSU. Sure, they have lost some big games in recent years, but keep in mind those were some great teams, and Tressel also took down a Miami team in 2002 that looked unbeatable.
This season was going to come down to a trip to the “Shoe.” Admittedly, I had my doubts about a road game up there, especially after GameDay reviewed our previous seven losses up there. But this team was not to be denied.
After a dramatic 13-6 bruising victory against the Buckeyes, PSU now sits at 9-0 and third in every poll, including the only one that really matters, the BCS standings.
Unfortunately, Penn State does not have a chance of jumping an undefeated Big 12 or SEC team. Once again a great Penn State team could be on the outside looking in when it comes to the national title game.
It seems unfair, but this is what we have, and no one can argue with the fact that the Big Ten is not very good this season.
With all of this being said, there is no reason that Joe Paterno should not be the Coach of the Year. It seems that Penn State has developed a system where every three seasons they make a run with a group that grows up together (see 1999, 2002, 2005, and now 2008).
Among all the distractions concerning contract talks and retirement questions, Paterno has held strong. Battling through a hip injury and a brutal October schedule, Paterno and the Nittany Lions enter November with a great shot at yet another undefeated season.
This team of destiny has been nothing but a pleasure to watch, winning every way imaginable. They have won with an explosive offense (Syracuse, Temple, Oregon State), a smothering defense (Ohio State), with all three phases (Wisconsin), playing ahead (Purdue), and coming from behind (Michigan).
This is the toughest and most disciplined team I have seen this season and for a long time here at Penn State. Against the Buckeyes in Columbus, the Lions were held in check on offense but committed no turnovers and did not have one penalty enforced against them. I do not know if anyone else ever can make that claim.
What is even scarier about this Penn State team is to think about what they have lost. The defense alone took hits when the all-time career leader in tackles, Dan Connor, graduated, cornerback Justin King took his game to the NFL a year early (whoops), Phil Taylor and Chris Baker were dismissed from the team, and Devon Still and Jerome Hayes were lost to season-ending injuries.
Those five guys who could have been with Penn State this year could probably start on any other team in the country. And there was one more…oh yes—Sean Lee, the best linebacker in the country, was also lost in the preseason to a knee injury.
Through the injuries, the media attacks, the Paterno succession question, the player dismissals, and all the doubters, the Nittany Lions continue going strong—and yet they may not get a chance to play for the crystal football. Taking nothing away from what Mack Brown, Mike Leach, and Nick Saban have done, Paterno deserves to be honored.
Although I never really like to root for people to lose, nothing would be better than watching the 82-year-old legend carried off the field as a national champion one last time down in Miami this January.
Now that is a destiny I can believe in.