ILLINOIS
STRENGTHS:
This high octane passing
offense (tops in the conference
last fall) returns fourth
year starting quarterback
Juice Williams and boasts
the league’s best
receiving corps in Preseason
All-American Arrelious
Benn, five-star Florida
transfer Jarred Fayson,
senior Jeff Cumberland
and All-Big Ten tight
end Mike Hoomanawanui.
The running back cupboard
with Daniel Dufrene is
full with the off-season
emergence of Jason Ford
and Mikel Leshoure. Defensively
the secondary looks sturdy
with experience at both
corner spots while tackles
Sirod Williams and Corey
Liuget support the middle
of the line.
CONCERNS:
Many holes exist on the
defensive side, especially
at linebacker where youth
and inexperience will
surely cause a few headaches.
The early loss of cornerback
Vontae Davis, LB Brit
Miller and both defensive
ends leaves the Illini
short on proven defensive
playmakers. Turnovers
continue to be the dent
in Juice Williams' armor.
If this situation cannot
get ironed out, Illinois
will continue to miss
the post-season.
PROGNOSIS:
The read-option offense
that suits the strengths
of Juice Williams, a strong-armed
thrower and a shifty rusher,
won't change much under
new coordinator Mike Schultz
who was hired away from
TCU to replace Mike Locksley.
The defensive personnel
is unproven at numerous
spots due to player departures.
Ergo, the offensive aerial
attack is what will keep
Illinois in the bowl hunt.
The talent level is here
to produce a top three-conference
finish. The schedule however
is absolutely brutal.
The first three conference
games will include Ohio
State, Penn State and
Michigan State. The back-to-back
non-conference games to
close the season are Cincinnati
and Fresno State. Ouch!
PROJECTED
RECORD: 7-5
INDIANA
STRENGTHS:
No better defensive end
combination can be found
in this league. Greg Middleton
and Jammie Kirlew have
both received looks on
All-American lists the
past two seasons. A talented
group of linebackers are
in place to booster the
front seven. Austin Thomas
and Nick Polk should be
recovered from knee injuries
to provide the secondary
with a pair of quality
safeties.
CONCERNS:
The dismissal of athletic
quarterback/receiver Kellen
Lewis is obviously a set
back. A new "Pistol"
offense has been installed
with Ben Chappell taking
over. He shared the duties
behind center last season.
Although Chappell appears
to have a strong arm,
this looks to be another
run dominated scheme so
expect the passing totals
to remain near the bottom
of the Big Ten. The offensive
line is still uncertain
after dealing with injuries
a year ago. Ample pass
protection is severely
lacking.
PROGNOSIS:
The defense has nine starters
back but had trouble stopping
both the run and the pass
a year ago (11th in Big
Ten total defense). Expect
enough improvements on
this side of the ball
to give Indiana a fighting
chance in most of their
games. Some of the biggest
questions remain unanswered
on offense. The offensive
line and running back
committee needs to become
more of a force for this
new scheme to work. Getting
the respect Hoosiers across
the state desperately
seek won't happen overnight...or
this season.
PROJECTED
RECORD: 4-8
IOWA
STRENGTHS: This
could be a defense that
was better than it was
in 2008...quite a statement
for a unit that finished
ranked No. 2 in the Big
Ten. Linebacker will be
the source of the success
with all three starters
returning. Pat Angerer
is the leader in the middle
with A.J. Edds on the
outside. In the secondary,
three starters return
from a group that tied
the school record with
23 interceptions. Quarterback
Ricky Stanzi is poised
to be more than just a
game manager.
CONCERNS:
The Hawkeyes will need
to replace much of the
star power that made them
a conference contender.
Gone are big time defensive
tackles Mitch King and
Matt Kroul, running back
Shonn Greene left early
for the NFL and a few
major clogs up front providing
the blocking are missing.
King and Kroul had 95
starts between them and
were the teeth of the
defense. Reforming the
line of scrimmage may
be the biggest challenge.
PROGNOSIS:
Continuing the success
of last season's nine
win campaign has to start
with reloading on the
line of scrimmage as well
as locating a replacement
for 1,850 yard rusher
Shonn Greene. Running
with the ball and stopping
the run is what made Iowa
formidable and that formula
is about to get tested.
Plenty of talent is available
however, especially on
defense, to put Iowa back
into a January Big Ten
Bowl. Ricky Stanzi is
progressing as a signal
caller. He needs to prove
it this fall for Iowa
to reach the same type
of won-loss mark.
PROJECTED
RECORD: 9-3
MICHIGAN
STRENGTHS:
The offense returns every
starter outside of quarterback
and depth is much more
plentiful. Some of the
thinnest positions are
now some of the deepest.
Running back Brandon Minor
has All-Conference potential
and should get better
blocking from a much-improved
offensive line led by
Stephen Schilling at guard.
Brandon Graham is one
of the better rush ends
in the league. The team's
leading tackler is back
(LB Obi Ezeh). Punter
Zoltan Mesko is a front-runner
for the Ray Guy Award.
CONCERNS:
New defensive coordinator
Greg Robinson takes over
a young group. The veteran
bunch of a year ago surrendered
a school record 347 points.
He will have work to do
as the defensive line
and secondary will go
through a major rebuilding
project. Head coach Rich
Rodriguez will attempt
to make his spread offense
work more efficiently
with a true freshman at
quarterback in Tate Forcier.
The passing game will
likely continue to be
non-existent.
PROGNOSIS:
This won't be the year
Michigan returns to glory.
Just getting bowl eligible
is going to be a major
hurdle still. Experience
is readily available on
offense, just not loads
of talent. The key to
any Rodriguez offense
is a mobile quarterback.
San Diego product Tate
Forcier is a four-star
dual-threat prep quarterback
who enrolled early this
January. He may be the
answer after he gets comfortable
running this system, but
that won't be in 2009
barring a miracle. The
defense does not have
the numbers statistically
or from a manpower stance
to keep opponents out
of the end zone. This
could be another long
season, just not as long
as 2008 and the natives
are still restless.
PROJECTED
RECORD: 5-7
MICHIGAN STATE
STRENGTHS:
Receivers Mark Dell, Blair
White, B.J. Cunningham
and tight end Charlie
Gantt served as the four
leading receivers a year
ago and the whole quartet
will be lining up again
this fall. The all combined
for 139 catches and more
than 2,100 yards. The
Spartans have two quality
hit men to build a defense
around with end Trevor
Anderson and linebacker
Greg Jones. Each unit
on defense returns multiple
starters so expect this
to be the steady side
of the football.
CONCERNS:
Someone needs to get these
quality receivers the
ball since quarterback
Brian Hoyer is no longer
tossing the passes. The
force behind him, Javon
Ringer, will also not
be available to carry
the ball. Two sophomores,
Kirk Cousins and Oklahoma
transfer Keith Nichol
will battle for top honors
as the signal caller all
the way into the opener.
The defensive line needs
someone else to step up
so Anderson does not get
taken out as much by double-team
efforts.
PROGNOSIS:
MSU took a surprising
step forward last year
and was playing for a
share of the Big Ten title
in its finale. This year's
team will be more of the
same with the big exception
of a new quarterback and
running back. This puts
the challenge of continued
success on the shoulders
of other units, a situation
head coach Mark Dantonio
is well equipped for.
This will be a better
defense while the offense
grows through a learning
curve. The effort won't
be enough to win the Big
Ten, but it won't be far
off again.
PROJECTED
RECORD: 8-4
MINNESOTA
STRENGTHS:
Quarterback Adam Weber
and receiver Eric Decker
ensure the passing game
will be just fine. Both
were All-Big Ten selections
last fall and Decker will
get All-American looks
this time around. The
offensive line has all
five starters returning.
The Gophers may be the
most experienced team
in the conference. Four
of the six team captains
are on defense. Tackles
Eric Small and Garrett
Brown are senior stalwarts.
Senior linebackers Simoni
Lawrence and Lee Campbell
are the playmakers. Senior
Traye Simmons is an All-Big
Ten honoree at cornerback.
CONCERNS:
No doubt the lack of a
running game is killing
the Gophers (104th nationally).
Other than DeLeon Eskridge
and QB Adam Weber, no
other player had more
than 50 carriers. The
running back group is
still made up of first
or second year players.
The offensive line has
not been productive at
opening holes. The secondary
will have to do more with
three returning starters.
They had major issues
guarding against the pass
last fall.
PROGNOSIS:
Minnesota will be opening
a brand new outdoor stadium.
The leap from one victory
in 2007 to seven wins
in 2008 leaves a genuine
optimism surrounding the
program, especially with
so many returning starters
back in the fold. To reach
higher goals will require
the Gophers to get back
to a punishing running
style like the one perfected
by former head coach Glen
Mason. The offensive line
should be better equipped
to take a step in that
direction. The defense
is full of tacklers and
playmakers. That means
Minnesota has the ability
to surprise somebody on
the schedule.
PROJECTED
RECORD: 7-5
NORTHWESTERN
STRENGTHS:
Defensive end Corey Wootton
gives the Wildcats an
All-Big Ten anchor to
carry over a defense that
will continue to be stingy
defending the run. The
secondary has all four
starters back - three
of them are seniors. The
offensive line with four
starters back is the most
experienced group on the
offensive side.
CONCERNS:
The running back spot
is missing a permanent
every down fixture with
the loss of Tyrell Sutton.
Senior Mike Kafka inherits
the quarterbacking duties
from C.J. Bacher. His
nimble feet will likely
be the best option in
terms of the ground game.
He also will have to work
with a totally brand new
set of receivers, an issue
that could truly hamper
the Cat's offensive production
through out the fall.
PROGNOSIS:
Northwestern is building
a championship caliber
defense with plenty of
experience. The key will
be how well the offensive
newcomers can perform
at the crucial skill positions.
Mike Kafka did not implode
when forced into action
behind center last fall.
If the offensive line
with four starters back
can keep the offensive
strides positive, the
non-conference schedule
(Towson, Eastern Michigan,
Syracuse and Miami OH)
will allow this team to
make its way into bowl
contention once again.
They are just missing
an offensive playmaker.
PROJECTED
RECORD: 7-5
OHIO STATE
STRENGTHS: A
legend is already starting
to grow in Columbus regarding
true sophomore quarterback
Terrelle Pryor. He has
a ton of room for improvement
in terms of throwing the
ball, but as expected
he is on pace to become
the most dangerous man
in college football from
behind center using his
feet. The defensive line
is poised to be one of
the best in years where
three starters and a deep
pool of subs remain plentiful.
Preseason All-American
Kurt Coleman forms a sturdy
safety package with senior
Anderson Russell.
CONCERNS:
All of the skill
positions of offense are
new with the exception
of Pryor. Not having a
premier pass catcher will
only hamper the already
low passing numbers. The
offense will also need
to find another Beanie
Wells type of rusher to
take some of the heat
off of Pryor. The linebackers
are getting retooled after
the losses of James Laurinaitis
and Marcus Freeman while
a pair of three-year starters
at cornerback gets replaced.
One of them, Malcolm Jenkins,
won the Thorpe Award last
season.
PROGNOSIS:
Ohio State wins with two
main functions...coaching
and recruiting. With only
13 starters returning
the Buckeyes are still
the predicted front-runner
to win the conference
as a Top 10 poll performer.
QB Terrelle Pryor represents
the recruiting side of
Columbus. The heralded
prep star is now ready
to make the splash everyone
hoped for, but he will
have to do it with new
faces surrounding him.
The defense will be the
key ingredient that keeps
this team at the top.
The USC home game on September
12 has been circled for
a long time. A few key
positions need to grow
up fast before this test.
The Buckeyes will be favored
in all the rest.
PROJECTED
RECORD: 11-1
PENN STATE
STRENGTHS: Two
very legitimate Heisman
candidates will be in
this offensive backfield.
QB Daryll Clark eerily
reminds people of successful
former QB Michael Robinson
in terms of running this
spread based offense.
He accounted for a school
record 29 touchdowns last
fall. Running back Evan
Royster is the other part
of the Heisman equation
and represents the best
ball carrier in the Big
Ten. It's just another
season at Linebacker U.
where Navorro Bowman and
Sean Lee, who sat out
all of 2008 with a knee
injury, represent two
legitimate Butkus Award
candidates.
CONCERNS:
Every single starter at
receiver needs replaced
and the same is true for
every single defensive
back. This offense evolved
into a success story based
on the feats of receivers
by the name of Williams,
Butler and Norwood. They
are all gone. The secondary
left cause for major concerns
according the coach Joe
Paterno this off-season.
The sturdy offensive line
was a veteran unit last
fall which equates to
the fact they won’t
be this fall.
PROGNOSIS:
The good news is that
there is enough top quality
players at key positions
to make up for the significant
lack of experience elsewhere.
Quarterback and running
back is a good place to
start and Penn State has
some good ones to say
the least. The crucial
building projects will
be with the passing game
on both sides of the ball.
The names catching passes
and defending against
them are all fresh. The
Nittany Lions are heavy
favorites to chase the
Buckeyes for the conference
crown and the light non-conference
schedule makes getting
ten wins quite attainable
for the second year in
a row.
PROJECTED
RECORD: 10-2
PURDUE
STRENGTHS:
The defense looks fairly
solid led by three returning
starters in a secondary
that finished atop the
Big Ten in pass defense.
The linebackers may be
the largest area of improvement
on either side of the
ball making this back
seven extremely formidable.
The offensive line is
the only unit on the entire
offense that has returning
starters in the lineup.
Without these four starters
Purdue would be in big
trouble.
CONCERNS:
How about the entire offensive
skill sets? First year
coach Danny Hope inherits
an offense that lost four-year
starter Curtis Painter
at quarterback, the top
two wide outs and the
top running back. No one
at quarterback has earned
a start and the spring
made matters worse when
Justin Siller was suspended
for the year for academic
improprieties. The situation
at receiver is not much
different all the way
down to the tight end.
PROGNOSIS:
The Boilermakers still
want to throw the ball
around, but don't have
anyone proven who can
catch or throw. This is
poised to be a descent
year from a defensive
standpoint but it won't
be enough to overcome
the shortcomings of talent
across the board, especially
on offense. No one on
the list of incoming recruits
is set to have an immediate
impact and first year
head coach Danny Hope
will find difficulties
improving on the four
win season of a year ago.
PROJECTED
RECORD: 3-9
WISCONSIN
STRENGTHS: Two
aspects are always certain
in Madison...running back
and tight end. Wisconsin
will carry on these traditions
with John Clay carrying
the pigskin and Garrett
Graham catching it respectively.
The Badgers led the Big
Ten in rushing last fall
and despite the loss of
P.J. Hill, the running
backs will “carry
on” with Clay. The
depth behind him is well
stocked too. In addition
to Graham, the receivers
are a mature group of
top athletes with four
guys of equal capability.
The pillar of the defense
is in the secondary where
three starters return.
CONCERNS:
The Badgers lost four
of their top six tacklers.
The defensive front seven
was almost completely
gutted and the depth at
linebacker is scarce.
Last year's predominant
starter behind center,
Dustin Sherer is still
battling Curt Phillips
for the job. The possibility
of rotating quarterbacks
is a good bet. This situation
has to be much improved
compared to the same Sherer/Allan
Evridge combo of 2008.
PROGNOSIS:
A rebuilding effort of
some sorts is taking place.
The front seven on defense
only returns two starters
total and the quarterback
outlook does not appear
to be any better than
it was last season. The
rushing attack will continue
to be priority No. 1 with
a slew of backs easily
capable of carrying on
this unit's stellar tradition.
John Clay looks to be
the next Wisconsin household
name taking the handoffs.
Head coach Brett Bielema
is now at a crossroads
season after going 17-1
in his first 18 games.
Unfortunately, this team
is not as good as the
ones he initially inherited.
PROJECTED
RECORD: 7-5 |
