si preseason review

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West Virginia

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Steve Slaton

Al Tielemans/SI

The Lowdown 2006 Schedule

Coach: Rich Rodriguez (6th season, 39-22)

2005 record: 11-1 (Beat Georgia in Sugar Bowl)

Big East finish: 7-0 (1st)

2005 I-A offensive rankings:

Rushing: 4th (272.4 ypg)

Passing: 115th (116.5 ypg)

2005 I-A defensive rankings:

Rushing: 19th (109.7 ypg)

Passing: 34th (201.1 ypg)

Date Opponent

Sept. 2 Marshall

Sept. 9 Buffalo

Sept. 14 Maryland

Sept. 23 at East Carolina

Oct. 7 at Mississippi State

Oct. 14 Syracuse

Oct. 20 at Connecticut

Nov. 2 at Louisville

Nov. 11 Cincinnati

Nov. 16 at Pittsburgh

Nov. 25 South Florida

Dec. 2 Rutgers

Depth Chart: Offense

8 returning starters in red

Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr.

WR 7 Brandon Myles Sr. 85 Brandon Barrett Jr.

WR 21 Dorrell Jalloh So. 82 Rayshawn Bolden Sr.

WR 2 Darius Reynaud Jr. 28 Jeremy Bruce So.

LT 71 Damien Crissey Sr. 78 Frank Carduff Fr.

LG 62 Ryan Stanchek So. 72 John Bradshaw So.

C 76 Dan Mozes Sr. 68 Mike Dent So.

RG 65 Jeremy Sheffey Sr. 79 Greg Isdaner Fr.

RT 73 Jake Figner So. 72 John Bradshaw So.

TE 88 Mike Villagrana Jr. 45 Brad Palmer Sr.

QB 5 Pat White So. 11 Adam Bednarik Jr.

TB 10 Steve Slaton So. 35 Owen Schmitt Jr.

Depth Chart: Defense

5 returning starters in red

Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr.

DE 92 Johnny Dingle Jr. 90 Warren Young Sr.

NT 98 Pat Liebig Jr. 66 Craig Wilson Sr.

DT 96 Keilen Dykes Jr. 64 Doug Slavonic So.

SLB 55 Bobby Hathaway Jr. - Barry Wright Sr.

MLB 42 Jay Henry Sr. 53 Marc Magro Jr.

WLB 43 Kevin McLee Sr. 49 Ovid Goulbourne Fr.

CB 6 Antonio Lewis Jr. 19 Vaughn Rivers Jr.

CB 3 Larry Williams Jr. 27 Kent Richardson Fr.

SS 41 Eric Wicks Sr. 1 John Holmes So.

BS 22 Ridwan Malik Jr. 48 Akeem Jackson Sr.

FS 47 Quinton Andrews Fr. 18 Abraham Jones Sr.

Special Teams

Ps. No. Player Yr. Ps. No. Player Yr.

K 40 Pat McAfee So. P 37 Scott Kozlowski Fr.

KR 6 Antonio Lewis Jr. PR 6 Antonio Lewis Jr.

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It may have been the finest play call in West Virginia football history. A successful fake punt on 4th-and-6 from the Georgia 48 capped an improbable Sugar Bowl victory over the SEC champs.

And with all but three offensive starters back and several defensive veterans returning, expectations are sky high in Morgantown.

"The key is how much better those returning players get," says WVU coach Rich Rodriguez. "We're going to need to be better because, let's face it, we're going to get everybody's best shot. Teams will have a better idea what our guys can do. So our mantra has been 'stay humble; stay hungry.'"

The Mountaineers, 11-1 last season, will certainly stay fast. Last season's freshman sensations, quarterback Pat White and tailback Steve Slaton, are a dynamic duo. And like the school's basketball team, Rodriguez's troops will once again try to keep opponents off balance with an unconventional offense (a no-huddle spread heavy on the run) and defense (3-3 odd stack).

OFFENSE

In White, West Virginia has an explosive running quarterback who has been timed at 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash. And during spring drills, Rodriguez says, White continued to improve. "He's learned how we want to attack," says the coach. "And not just with the running game, but the passing game."

Expect White, a lefty, to throw more this season after averaging 79 rushing yards per game and 69 passing yards in 2005.

WVU has an impressive one-two punch in the backfield with the speed of Sugar Bowl MVP Slaton and the power of combo back Owen Schmitt. Slaton made a statement against Louisville by scoring a whopping six touchdowns. He rushed for 1,128 yards as a true freshman in only 10 games. Schmitt is the change-up with his power and surprising speed for a 6-3, 245-pound back. He'll play both fullback and tailback.

West Virginia has plenty of receivers back from last season's team, but only two -- wideout Brandon Myles and slot man Darius Reynaud -- can be called consistent threats.

The biggest concern on offense is replacing the two tackles. Gone are a pair of 300-pounders. In their places are Damien Crissey and Jake Figner, who are on average 17 pounds lighter. The good news for WVU fans is that both move well. Also, WVU returns All-America center Dan Mozes, a strong sparkplug who is gunning for an NFL career, and proven guards Ryan Stanchek and Jeremy Sheffey.

DEFENSE

Defensively, WVU lost one of its best players in nose tackle Ernest Hunter, but the Mountaineers return seven lettermen for a three-man front. The best of the bunch is junior Keilen Dykes, who started every game last season at tackle.

The Mountaineers' marquee player at linebacker is Kevin "Boo" McLee, who was a star on the weak side last season. Jay Henry is solid in the middle. If there's a concern, it's at the strong-side spot.

WVU was hardest hit by expired eligibility in the secondary. Of the five positions, only spur Eric Wicks returns as a starter. Wicks, though, is one of the team's best athletes. Also, WVU's coaches love the ability of redshirt freshman Quinton Andrews at free safety.

SPECIALISTS

WVU returns kicker Pat McAfee, a sophomore who was spotty at times last season but has a very strong leg. As of the end of spring, the punting position was redshirt freshman Scott Kozlowski's to lose. Consistent snapper Tim Lindsey is back.

FINAL ANALYSIS

Save for key injuries, there's no reason why West Virginia shouldn't contend for a Big East title, BCS berth and, possibly, a shot at a national title. The key will be keeping blazing fast White and Slaton healthy. A loss of Slaton's speed would be particularly devastating. Also, the Mountaineers must continue their penchant for holding on to the ball. Last season, WVU turned the ball over 17 times in 12 games. On defense, West Virginia's retooled secondary must stand up to what figures to be unending testing. Expect, though, the high-powered offense to score enough points to cover any defensive deficiencies

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Louisville

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Brian Brohm

Fred Vuich/SI

The Lowdown 2006 Schedule

Coach: Bobby Petrino (5th season, 29-8)

2005 record: 9-3 (Lost to Virginia Tech in Gator Bowl)

Big East finish: 5-2 (2nd)

2005 I-A offensive rankings:

Rushing: 30th (188.5 ypg)

Passing: 13th (293.6 ypg)

2005 I-A defensive rankings:

Rushing: 21st (114.0 ypg)

Passing: 46th (210.0 ypg)

Date Opponent

Sept. 2 Kentucky

Sept. 9 at Temple

Sept. 16 Miami

Sept. 23 at Kansas State

Oct. 6 #Middle Tennessee

Oct. 14 Cincinnati

Oct. 21 at Syracuse

Nov. 2 West Virginia

Nov. 9 at Rutgers

Nov. 18 South Florida

Nov. 25 at Pittsburgh

Dec. 2 Connecticut

#Nashville TN

Depth Chart: Offense

8 returning starters in red

Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr.

WR 7 Mario Urrutia So. 84 Scott Long Fr.

WR 85 Harry Douglas Jr. 15 Chris Vaughn So.

WT 72 Breno Giacomini Jr. 69 Marcel Benson Jr.

WG 63 Danny Barlowe Jr. 68 George Bussey So.

C 77 Eric Wood So. 53 Michael Sturgeon Sr.

SG 76 Kurt Quarterman Sr. 64 Devon May Jr.

ST 79 Renardo Foster Sr. 71 Marcus Gordon Jr.

TE 82 Gary Barnidge Jr. 81 Scott Kuhn Jr.

QB 12 Brian Brohm Jr. 14 Hunter Cantwell So.

FB 47 Deriontae Taylor Sr. 49 Joe Tronzo Fr.

RB 19 Michael Bush Sr. 33 Kolby Smith Sr.

Depth Chart: Defense

7 returning starters in red

Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr.

DE 96 Zach Anderson Sr. 95 Maurice Mitchell So.

DT 94 Adrian Grady So. 92 Willie Williams Jr.

DT 91 Amobi Okoye Sr. 57 Earl Heyman So.

DE 88 Brandon Cox Jr. - Deantwan Whitehead Fr.

SLB 11 Malik Jackson Jr. 46 Terrance Butler Jr.

MLB 10 Nate Harris Sr. 22 Lamar Myles So.

WLB 43 Abe Brown Sr. 6 Preston Smith Jr.

CB 14 Rod Council So. 27 Gavin Smart Sr.

CB 21 William Gay Sr. 34 Bobby Buchanan So.

SS 13 Jonathan Russell So. 29 Deon Palmer Fr.

FS 35 Brandon Sharp Sr. 2 Richard Raglin So.

Special Teams

Ps. No. Player Yr. Ps. No. Player Yr.

K 18 Art Carmody Jr. P 36 Todd Flannery Jr.

KR 85 Harry Douglas Jr. PR 4 Patrick Carter Jr.

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This is the season that University of Louisville football fans have been waiting for from the moment the program joined the Big East Conference.

Michael Bush is back for his senior season. Brian Brohm, his surgically repaired knee healed, is poised to throw 25 touchdown passes -- or more. Solid veterans on both sides of the ball. A splendid recruiting class. Kentucky, Miami, West Virginia and South Florida all booked to visit Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. The Cardinals were disappointed they had to settle for the Gator Bowl last season, a game they led before losing to Virginia Tech, 35-24. This fall, only a jump into a Bowl Championship Series game will be satisfactory.

"I think we'll be able to move the football again," says Louisville coach Bobby Petrino. "We've got some pieces to put together, but we've got a lot to work with."

OFFENSE

It will be the most discussed right knee in the Big East, but the ligaments and cartilage that Brohm tore against Syracuse last November have healed. Although Brohm did not participate in contact drills during spring practice, he plans to be the Cardinals quarterback for the season opener against Kentucky.

Few backs smell the end zone better than Bush, who scored 24 total touchdowns while running for 1,143 yards. Excuse defensive backs if they think twice before stepping in front of this 6-2, 250-pound freight train. Reserves George Stripling and Kolby Smith are not as powerful as Bush, but they're more elusive.

Receiver Mario Urrutia remains the best big-play threat. He averaged 21.5 yards per reception. Harry Douglas can stretch the field, but Petrino expects major contributions from from Georgia Tech transfer Patrick Carter, Notre Dame transfer Chris Vaughn, and redshirt freshmen Trent Guy and Scott Long. Guy is considered to be the fastest player on the Cardinals roster.

There's work to do on the offensive line. Center Eric Wood, a freshman All-America, returns with guard Kurt Quarterman, but veterans must be replaced at the other three spots.

DEFENSE

Chances are that Louisville's defensive linemen will not be dancing in the opposing backfields as much this fall. The returning players are solid run-stoppers, but they have not shown the consistent push to make quarterbacks squirm. Although tackle Amobi Okoye is only 19, he's a senior who has played three full seasons. Adrian Grady played a spectacular Gator Bowl, and backup Earl Heyman had two long fumble returns.

Defensive end will be the more interesting position. Zach Anderson and Brandon Cox are the two most experienced ends. But Cardinals fans are asking if top recruit Deantwan "Peanut" Whitehead can replace All-America Elvis Dumervil and his 20 sacks.

Middle linebacker Nate Harris did not move into the starting lineup until the third game, but he was clearly Louisville's most improved defensive player. Outside linebacker Abe Brown is not as talented as Harris, but he's just as relentless and nearly as fast.

Although Louisville put tremendous pressure on the quarterback last season, it rarely translated into turnovers. The Cards had only nine interceptions last season. The entire starting defensive backfield returns, led by cornerback Rod Council.

SPECIALISTS

Placekicker Art Carmody is a junior, but he's already on target to set every Louisville record at the position, while punter Todd Flannery excels at dropping kicks inside the 20-yard line.

FINAL ANALYSIS

The talent is there, especially at quarterback, running back and receiver. So is a strong recruiting class. And Petrino remains one of the sharpest offensive minds in the game, capable of hanging 40 points on any team. Petrino has the skill position players to keep posting those numbers if the offensive line delivers with three new faces. That's a major question. Ditto for the defensive line, which must replace its top two players.

With a home schedule that includes Kentucky, Miami, West Virginia and South Florida, Louisville has a legitimate chance to finish in the Top 10 and win the Big East.

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Cincinnati

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The Lowdown 2006 Schedule

Coach: Mark Dantonio (3rd season, 11-12)

2005 record: 4-7

Big East finish: 2-5 (t-6th)

2005 I-A offensive rankings:

Rushing: 82nd (124.6 ypg)

Passing: 83rd (199.9 ypg)

2005 I-A defensive rankings:

Rushing: 90th (180.4 ypg)

Passing: 64th (221.3 ypg)

Date Opponent

Sept. 2 Eastern Kentucky

Sept. 8 Pittsburgh

Sept. 16 at Ohio State

Sept. 23 at Virginia Tech

Sept. 30 Miami (Ohio)

Oct. 7 Akron

Oct. 14 at Louisville

Oct. 21 South Florida

Oct. 28 Syracuse

Nov. 11 at West Virginia

Nov. 18 Rutgers

Nov. 25 at Connecticut

Depth Chart: Offense

7 returning starters in red

Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr.

WR 14 Earnest Jackson Jr. 81 Antwuan Giddens Jr.

WR - Derrick Stewart Fr. 16 Dominick Goodman So.

LT 74 Ken Rodriguez Jr. 77 Jeremy Bolton Jr.

LG 71 Jeff Reinstatler Sr. 66 J.P. Simon Jr.

C 73 Mario Duenas Jr. 64 Chris Flores Jr.

RG 76 Trevor Canfield So. 63 Jon Tobin Jr.

RT 72 Digger Bujnoch Jr. 79 Khalil El-Amin So.

TE 85 Brent Celek Sr. 89 Connor Barwin So.

QB 4 Dustin Grutza So. 9 Nick Davila Sr.

FB 86 Doug Jones Jr. 35 Marcus Waugh Fr.

TB 11 Bradley Glatthaar Jr. 48 Greg Moore Sr.

Depth Chart: Defense

10 returning starters in red

Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr.

DE 12 Anthony Hoke Jr. 53 Tony Carvitti Sr.

DT 95 Terrill Byrd So. 98 Patrick Mimms So.

DT 54 Jon Newton Jr. 75 Thomas Claggett So.

DE 56 Trevor Anderson So. 10 Lamonte Nelms So.

OLB 42 Corey Smith So. 82 Angelo Craig Jr.

MLB 52 Kevin McCullough Sr. 45 Ryan Manalac So.

OLB 37 Anthony Williams Jr. 55 Leo Morgan Sr.

CB 21 Mike Mickens So. 33 John Bowie Sr.

CB 5 Antoine Horton Sr. 19 Marshwan Gilyard So.

SS 49 Dominic Ross Sr. 18 Cedric Tolbert So.

FS 13 Haruki Nakamura Jr. 38 JaJuan Hall Sr.

Special Teams

Ps. No. Player Yr. Ps. No. Player Yr.

K 15 Kevin Lovell Sr. P 47 Kevin Huber So.

KR 16 Dominick Goodman So. PR 26 Mike Daniels Sr.

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If it looked as if the Cincinnati Bearcats were boys playing against men at times last season, that's because in many respects they were. The Bearcats played 10 first-year freshmen, six of whom started. In fact, 30 of the 44 players on their depth chart had one season or less of Division I-A experience.

Throughout the 4-7 season, Cincinnati's first in the Big East, coach Mark Dantonio, the former Ohio State defensive coordinator, talked a lot about the future and about growing with this group of players.

So the good news for the Bearcats this season is that all of those players have a year of experience under their belts as Cincinnati begins its third season under Dantonio with starters returning at 17 positions. But this team still has a lot of growing to do.

Two years ago, Dantonio inherited a senior-laden team that he led to the Fort Worth Bowl. Last year, the Bearcats had to start over and finished 2-5 in the Big East.

"This year, at least we have experience coming in," Dantonio says. "We have the knowledge of playing Big East teams, and we have a staff with continuity. We need to continue to take steps toward the success of this program. I don't know how many steps there are to the top, but if there are eight of them, we're stepping up on one or two."

OFFENSE

Second-year quarterback Dustin Grutza will attempt to improve on a so-so rookie season behind an offensive line that has been bolstered by the presence of two junior college transfers who are expected to add physical maturity to a young group.

The Bearcats have three capable running backs in Bradley Glatthaar, Greg Moore and Butler Benton, although none has breakaway speed. That overall lack of team speed has also been a problem at wide receiver, but newcomer Derrick Stewart, an academic non-qualifier last year, is expected to add to that element this season. Sophomore Dominick Goodman, a converted high school quarterback, made strides as a receiver toward the end of last season. Senior Bill Poland doesn't have great speed but could become a dependable possession receiver. Juniors Earnest Jackson and Antwuan Giddens both showed potential last year. Senior tight end Brent Celek is the most talented player on this unit and a candidate for All-Big East honors.

DEFENSE

The defense welcomes back 10 starters, but there are still plenty of question marks here. The best of the returnees are sophomore tackle Terrill Byrd and cornerback Mike Mickens, who was a second-team All-Big East selection as a freshman last year.

Coach Mark Dantonio used a lot of different combinations at linebacker last season and discovered two potentially effective players in senior Kevin McCullough and sophomore Corey Smith. Incoming freshman Freddie Lenix was the most highly regarded member of Cincinnati's recruiting class and could make an immediate impact.

The secondary is one of the deepest areas of this team. In addition to Mickens, the Bearcats return junior free safety Haruki Nakamura, senior strong safety Dominic Ross and senior cornerback Antoine Horton. Dantonio is also expecting contributions from four incoming freshmen newcomers.

SPECIALISTS

Senior placekicker Kevin Lovell is looking to rebound from a mediocre season in which he made only 4-of-9 field goal attempts. Cincinnati must find a new punter after the graduation of four-year starter Chet Ervin.

Goodman showed flashes of brilliance as a kickoff returner in the second half of last season. Mike Daniels and Nakamura are solid, if not spectacular, punt returners.

FINAL ANALYSIS

In a sense, this is really only the second year of Dantonio's rebuilding project at Cincinnati. During his first year, he inherited a senior-laden team and led it to a victory over Marshall in the Fort Worth Bowl. Last year, the program's first in the Big East, the Bearcats had one of the youngest teams in the country - with 10 first-year freshmen, six of whom started. In fact, 30 of the 44 players on their depth chart had a season or less of Division I-A experience, and they frequently played like it. Those players all have a year of experience under their belts this season and should improve on that basis alone.

But this is a team that still lacks speed and is still looking for a replacement for career passing leader Gino Guidugli at quarterback; and he graduated two years ago. Grutza played well at times last year, but he was often too slow in his decision-making. He'll have to reclaim the job over senior Nick Davila and redshirt freshman Craig Carey.

In a town that's nuts over the NFL Bengals, this program badly needs a game-breaking player who can capture the imagination of local fans, who don't embrace Cincinnati football the same way they embrace the Bearcats' basketball program.

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Connecticut

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The Lowdown 2006 Schedule

Head Coach: Randy Edsall (8th season, 37-43)

2005 record: 5-6

Big East finish: 2-5 (t-6th)

2005 I-A offensive rankings:

Rushing: 34th (174.8 ypg)

Passing: 106th (149.5 ypg)

2005 I-A defensive rankings:

Rushing: 45th (139.8 ypg)

Passing: 4th (158.5 ypg)

Date Opponent

Aug. 31 Rhode Island

Sept. 16 Wake Forest

Sept. 23 at Indiana

Sept. 30 Navy

Oct. 7 at South Florida

Oct. 14 Army

Oct. 20 West Virginia

Oct. 28 at Rutgers

Nov. 11 Pittsburgh

Nov. 18 at Syracuse

Nov. 25 Cincinnati

Dec. 2 at Louisville

Depth Chart: Offense

7 returning starters in red

Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr.

WR 83 Brandon Young Sr. 81 Nollis Dewar So.

WR 88 Brandon McLean Jr. - Terence Jeffers Fr.

LT 64 William Beatty So. 73 Dan Ryan Fr.

LG 57 Matt Applebaum Sr. 75 Brian Kersmanc Jr.

C 68 Keith Gray So. 74 Alex LaMagdelaine Fr.

RG 61 Immanuel Hutcherson So. 55 Donald Thomas Sr.

RT 79 Mike Hicks Fr. 71 Matt Wood So.

TE 46 Dan Murray Sr. 90 Steve Brouse So.

QB 14 D.J. Hernandez So. 16 Matt Bonislawski Sr.

FB 30 Deon Anderson Sr. 31 Anthony Barksdale So.

TB 44 Terry Caulley Sr. 5 Lou Allen So.

Depth Chart: Defense

7 returning starters in red

Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr.

DE 59 Jason Ward Sr. 50 Cody Brown So.

DT 53 Ray Blagman Sr. 62 Lawrence Green Fr.

DT 93 Rhema Fuller Sr. 65 Rob Lunn So.

DE 6 Dan Davis Jr. 96 Gary Mack Jr.

SLB 14 Justin DeRubertis Jr. 21 Donta Moore Jr.

MLB 43 Ryan Henegan Jr. 45 Julius Williams So.

WLB 48 Danny Lansanah Jr. 22 Johnathon Smith So.

CB 28 Darius Butler So. 9 Courtney Robinson So.

CB 29 Tyvon Branch Jr. 41 Ernest Cole Sr.

SS 35 M.J. Estep Sr. 7 Glen Mourning Fr.

FS 10 Marvin Taylor Jr. 26 Allan Barnes Sr.

Special Teams

Ps. No. Player Yr. Ps. No. Player Yr.

K 98 Matt Nuzie Sr. P 6 Chris Pavasaris Sr.

KR 24 Larry Taylor Jr. PR 24 Larry Taylor Jr.

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Coach Randy Edsall expected some growing pains last season. After all, a year removed from the most successful season in its brief history as a Division I-A program, UConn was forced to replace the most prolific passer in school history (Dan Orlovsky) and arguably its greatest linebacker (Alfred Fincher).

What Edsall didn't figure on, however, was that aches and pains would replace growing pains. During a two-week stretch in early October, for instance, the Huskies lost eight starters to injury, two for the season. Eighteen different players who began the year on the two-deep chart missed at least one game. A promising 4-1 start was followed by four straight losses, and UConn never recovered, finishing 5-6 overall and 2-5 in the Big East.

It was particularly frustrating because Edsall and his coaching staff worked so hard to develop enough depth to carry UConn through its second Big East season.

"Of course we wanted to have a winning season and go to a bowl game, but I never saw a lack of effort," Edsall says. "We just didn't have enough firepower. We were young and with the injuries we had, that's what combined to make it the kind of season it was."

There is renewed hope for the Huskies in 2006. They return 14 starters, another 23 lettermen, and hope to sprinkle in some talented newcomers that just might be enough to move them up the Big East ladder and into bowl contention again.

"We always hope we can get to the top," says Edsall. "We're good enough to beat anybody, but if we don't play well we can lose to anybody. I think we can be very competitive in the conference if we can stay healthy and play with more consistency."

OFFENSE

Senior quarterback Matt Bonislawski is healthy again after missing five games in 2005 with a broken left collarbone in his non-throwing shoulder that required surgery. However, he will begin training camp behind sophomore D.J. Hernandez, who was the most impressive quarterback in spring practice.

UConn has talent and depth in the backfield, starting with senior tailback Terry Caulley, a former 1,000-yard rusher who returned following a severe knee injury that sidelined him for most of two seasons. He averaged 4.7 yards per carry in 2005. Sophomore Lou Allen will spell Caulley while fullback Deon Anderson, a three-year starter, has rejoined the program after missing the 2005 season due to personal issues.

The Huskies have one of the Big East's best tight ends in Dan Murray but lack depth in the receiving corps. Look for freshmen to have an impact at wide receiver.

UConn expects to be better up front with the return of four linemen who started the last three games of 2005 together. The lone newcomer is redshirt freshman Mike Hicks, who at 6-7, 336 pounds is the largest player in the program.

DEFENSE

This is an experienced, deep and talented unit. The Huskies will rotate six veterans up front, led by senior tackle Rhema Fuller, who was a second-team All-Big East selection last season.

The Huskies also have nine players who logged significant minutes in the secondary, led by steady safeties M.J. Estep and Marvin Taylor, and a dynamic sophomore cornerback in Darius Butler, who recorded four interceptions as a freshman.

UConn also has five letterwinners back at linebacker, led by junior Danny Lansanah, the leading tackler a year ago despite missing one game with an injury.

SPECIALISTS

Larry Taylor was one of the Big East's most dangerous return specialists until suffering a knee injury in the sixth game against Cincinnati. He averaged 12.3 yards per punt return and 34.2 per kickoff return.

Butler stepped in on kickoffs and averaged 33.8 yards per return, including a 90-yard TD return that helped UConn upset South Florida late in the season.

Placekicker Matt Nuzie was a second-team All-Big East selection as a sophomore when he booted 20 field goals but was inconsistent a year ago (10-of-19). True freshman Desi Cullen could challenge Nuzie, but his best shot will be as a punter, where the only returner is a walk-on, senior Chris Pavasaris.

FINAL ANALYSIS

Edsall preaches consistency, but the one position UConn can least afford inconsistent play is at quarterback, and that's exactly what happened a year ago and again in the spring.

The Huskies played better and under more control offensively when Bonislawski started last season (5-2), but Hernandez may give the Huskies a better chance to win over the long haul because of his athleticism and arm strength. Hernandez must play with more patience, however.

What should help the Huskies, at least early on, is a favorable schedule. UConn plays three of its first four games at home and has a reasonable shot at starting 4-2.

Edsall will lean on his battled-tested defense to set the tone while the offense catches up. If things work under that scenario, a break-even season seems possible, although a winning record and the program's second bowl bid in three seasons might be slightly out of reach.

Preview another

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Pittsburgh

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The Lowdown 2006 Schedule

Coach: Dave Wannstedt (2nd season, 5-6)

2005 record: 5-6

Big East finish: 4-3 (t-3rd)

2005 I-A offensive rankings:

Rushing: 93rd (116.8 ypg)

Passing: 67th (219.0 ypg)

2005 I-A defensive rankings:

Rushing: 94th (185.2 ypg)

Passing: 2nd (152.8 ypg)

Date Opponent

Sept. 2 Virginia

Sept. 8 at Cincinnati

Sept. 16 Michigan State

Sept. 23 The Citadel

Sept. 30 Toledo

Oct. 7 at Syracuse

Oct. 14 at UCF

Oct. 21 Rutgers

Nov. 4 at South Florida

Nov. 11 at Connecticut

Nov. 16 West Virginia

Nov. 25 Louisville

Depth Chart: Offense

6 returning starters in red

Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr.

SE 87 Marcel Pestano So. - Dorin Dickerson Fr.

FL 81 Derek Kinder Jr. 4 Joe DelSardo Sr.

LT 62 John Bachman So. - Jeff Otah Jr.

LG 57 C.J. Davis So. 78 John Brown Fr.

C 68 Joe Villani Sr. 64 Chris Vangas Jr.

RG 60 John Simonitis Sr. 70 Dominic Williams So.

RT 75 Mike McGlynn Jr. 72 Chase Clowser So.

TE 84 Steve Buches Sr. 14 Darrell Strong Jr.

QB 3 Tyler Palko Sr. 11 Bill Stull So.

FB 31 Conredge Collins So. 6 Chris Bova Fr.

TB 34 LaRod Stephens-Howling So. 26 Shane Brooks Fr.

Depth Chart: Defense

6 returning starters in red

Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr.

DE 54 Charles Sallet Sr. 58 Joe Clermond Jr.

DT 97 Corey Davis So. 90 Craig Bokor Fr.

DT 50 Rashaad Duncan So. 95 Ernest Williams Fr.

DE 41 Chris McKillop Jr. 48 Doug Fulmer Fr.

SLB 17 Clint Session Sr. 39 Derron Thomas Jr.

MLB 51 H.B. Blades Sr. 40 Scott McKillop So.

WLB 44 Brian Bennett Sr. 29 Tommie Campbell So.

CB 25 Darrelle Revis Jr. 7 Jovani Chappel Fr.

CB 21 Reggie Carter Sr. 5 Kennard Cox Jr.

SS 46 Sam Bryant Sr. 24 Jemeel Brady Jr.

FS 10 Mike Phillips Jr. 28 Eric Thatcher So.

Special Teams

Ps. No. Player Yr. Ps. No. Player Yr.

K 16 David Abdul Sr. P 18 Adam Graessle Sr.

KR 34 L. Stephens-Howling So. PR 25 Darrelle Revis Jr.

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The first thing coach Dave Wannstedt did following a disappointing 5-6 debut at his alma mater was search for answers. Wannstedt started by looking in the mirror.

"As coaches, when you have a losing season you have to look at yourself first -- and that's what we did," says Wannstedt, a 31-year coaching veteran. "We had to look at our team as a whole and figure out the areas we failed in."

Despite an incoming recruiting class that is one of the best in school history, Pittsburgh has far more questions than answers beyond its big three of senior quarterback Tyler Palko, linebacker H.B. Blades and cornerback Darrelle Revis. Youth and inexperience dominate the roster, and several players from that heralded recruiting class are being counted on to contribute immediately.

"You look at us on paper, we have a lot of things we have to find out about a lot of players," says Wannstedt. "I think it will help that, as a coaching staff, we're going through this a second time now."

OFFENSE

Palko spent the offseason determined to put his sub-par junior year behind him and return to his impressive 2004 level. Everything he has done since the end of last season -- from assuming a leadership role to his work habits -- indicates that the stylish lefty should bounce back in a big way. Having another year in Wannstedt's system will help as well.

But Palko needs some support, and beyond wide receiver Derek Kinder (37 catches for 374 yards), there are far more questions than answers on offense. True freshman wide receiver Dorin Dickerson, a consensus Top 100 recruit, could have an immediate impact. So should classmate Kevin Collier, a tailback brought in to jazz up a running game that ranked 93rd nationally last year. Sophomore LaRod Stephens-Howling was Pitt's top rusher last fall with only 434 yards, though he did average a solid 4.5 yards per carry.

The offensive line has four returning starters and another good one in Pittsburgh's long tradition of quality linemen in right guard John Simonitis.

DEFENSE

Wannstedt is looking for more balance from his defense after it finished No. 2 nationally against the pass but No. 94 against the run. The anchors to the unit will again be two of the nation's best at their positions: middle linebacker Blades, who led the Big East with 121 tackles last year, and standout junior cornerback Darrelle Revis, a two-year starter.

The defensive line returns ends Charles Sallet and Chris McKillop, but size is an issue there. That's why Wannstedt will build around his linebackers, with talented-but-injury-prone senior Clint Session at the strong side.

In an effort to offset the lack of size with speed, Tommie Campbell was moved from strong safety to the weak side. Though undersized at 195 pounds, Campbell has reportedly been clocked in 4.18 for the 40. He dazzled in the spring by flying all over the field making plays.

True freshman Jovani Chappel is in the picture at cornerback after enrolling in school in January and taking part in spring practice, where he impressed.

SPECIALISTS

New special teams coordinator Charlie Partridge inherits a unit that produced four touchdowns, returning a punt and a kickoff for scores in the same season for the first time since 1977.

Punter Adam Graessle averaged 42.2 yards per kick last year, but Pitt only ranked 108th nationally in net punting. David Abdul, the placekicker in 2002 and 2003 before being beset by personal problems, is battling sophomore Conor Lee.

Revis, who averaged 11.6 yards (with a 79-yard TD) on 28 punt returns, has the duties again. Stephens-Howling and Marcel Pestano, both sophomores, are the leading kick returners from last year - although one of the Panthers' talented incoming freshmen may get a crack at the job.

FINAL ANALYSIS

With so much of the emphasis on youth, including one of the school's best recruiting classes, the Panthers face some growing pains. But a more reasonable schedule (and seven home games) should help. Wannstedt is a quality coach who will learn from the disappointing showing in his return to the college ranks. A winning season is there to be had if Palko regains his form and some of the promising young players deliver

[smazza]

Syracuse

2005 Season | Team Page   Select Conference ACC Big East Big Ten Big 12 Conference USA Independents MAC Mountain West Pac-10 SEC Sun Belt WAC

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The Lowdown 2006 Schedule

Coach: Greg Robinson (2nd season, 1-10)

2005 record: 1-10

Big East finish: 0-7 (8th)

2005 I-A offensive rankings:

Rushing: 105th (106.6 ypg)

Passing: 105th (150.8 ypg)

2005 I-A defensive rankings:

Rushing: 97th (187.3 ypg)

Passing: 21st (185.5 ypg)

Date Opponent

Sept. 2 at Wake Forest

Sept. 9 Iowa

Sept. 16 at Illinois

Sept. 23 Miami (Ohio)

Sept. 30 Wyoming

Oct. 7 Pittsburgh

Oct. 14 at West Virginia

Oct. 21 Louisville

Oct. 28 at Cincinnati

Nov. 11 at South Florida

Nov. 18 Connecticut

Nov. 25 at Rutgers

Depth Chart: Offense

6 returning starters in red

Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr.

WR 81 Tim Lane Sr. 80 Lavar Lobdell So.

WR 12 Rice Moss Jr. 82 Taj Smith Jr.

LT 64 Corey Chavers So. 72 Ian Hammond Jr.

LG 59 Carroll Madison Jr. 76 Mike Sklarosky Sr.

C 60 Justin Outten Sr. 67 Marvin McCall Jr.

RG 75 Ryan Durand So. 68 David Bouchard So.

RT 78 Eugene Newsome Jr. 74 Ryan Ehrie So.

TE 84 Brandon Darlington Sr. 89 Tom Ferron So.

QB 10 Perry Patterson Sr. 5 Joe Fields Jr.

FB 48 Stephen McDonald Sr. 38 Breyone Evans Jr.

TB 31 Paul Chiara So. 22 Curtis Brinkley So.

Depth Chart: Defense

4 returning starters in red

Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr.

DE 95 Nick Santiago So. 61 Brandon Gilbeaux Fr.

NT 56 Chris Thorner Sr. 97 Arthur Jones Fr.

DT 51 Tony Jenkins Jr. 99 Cornelius Campbell Jr.

DE 55 Lee Williams Jr. 52 Jameel McClain Jr.

SLB 57 Jerry Mackey Sr. 30 Vincenzo Giruzzi So.

MLB 8 Kelvin Smith Sr. 58 Mike Stenclik Fr.

WLB 19 Luke Cain Sr. 45 Jake Flaherty So.

CB 28 Tanard Jackson Sr. 4 Terrell Lemon Sr.

CB 27 Nick Chestnut So. 23 Derek Bailey Fr.

SS 26 Dowayne Davis Jr. 86 Bruce Williams So.

FS 17 A.J. Brown So. 18 Reggie McCoy Jr.

Special Teams

Ps. No. Player Yr. Ps. No. Player Yr.

K 6 John Barker So. P 47 Brendan Carney Sr.

KR 21 Kareem Jones So. PR 86 Bruce Williams So.

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Woozy from slogging through the first 10-loss season in school history and still feeling its way through the coaching transition, the Orange are a bit humbled and pained. But players understand no one is feeling sorry for them, and they're ready to fight for their football lives.

"This is my senior year," middle linebacker Kelvin Smith says. "We've got to get up and get it rolling. We go 1-10, that should be a jumpstart like, 'Listen, we've got to turn this around right now.' Things aren't down. There's a sense of urgency. Let's put it like that."

This is Year 2 for coach Greg Robinson, who believes his defense and special teams will be solid and that his offense is progressing in its transition to the West Coast-based philosophy.

Robinson made important, if not necessary, staff changes in the offseason with the addition of veteran Wisconsin assistant Brian White as offensive coordinator and Phil Earley as quarterbacks coach. White's assignment is to revive a comatose offense (ranked 115th in total yards) that could not stretch the field with the deep pass, and to rehabilitate quarterback Perry Patterson, who admitted he was lost in a system that championed the three-and-out possession (ranked 117th in third-down conversions).

The problem for Syracuse remains its offensive line. The unit appears to be a mess and came out of spring practice with only two designated starters.

White wants defenses to stop daring the Orange to pass by crowding the box, which closes down the running game and leaves Patterson under constant stress. Receivers must do a better job getting open and catching passes. White says the one thing he knows the Orange will do well this season is execute the short-passing game. At this point, that's at least something.

OFFENSE

The Orange ranked 117th in third-down conversions. Patterson finished 100th in the nation in passing efficiency and had a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 6-to-11.

The problem for Syracuse remains its offensive line. The unit appears to be a mess and came out of spring practice with only two designated starters. That's not a good thing for an offense that struggled to protect Patterson (37 sacks) and did little about establishing a running presence (106.6 yards per game).

The Orange have talent at tailback in Paul Chiara and Curtis Brinkley. They are also improved at wide receiver with a healthy Rice Moss and the addition of junior college transfer Taj Smith. What the Orange need most is for the offensive line to function and for Patterson to find a comfort zone to operate a scaled-back playbook.

DEFENSE

Robinson, who acts as defensive coordinator, is fond of saying he plays to his strengths and hides his weaknesses. The strength of the defense is at linebacker, with three senior starters in Kelvin Smith, Jerry Mackey and Luke Cain. There is depth with Vincenzo Giruzzi and Jake Flaherty. It's why Robinson moved Jameel McClain to defensive end. Tackles Chris Thorner and Tony Jenkins have played in every game for two years, so the loss of three starters on the line is not so severe.

There's no way to hide the problems in the secondary. Tanard Jackson was suspended in spring practice, and while he's expected to return, the Orange simply have no one else of Jackson's ability. Marcus "Gator" Clayton looked like the starter at the other corner but he left school in the spring. Now, Nick Chestnut, who played receiver last year, appears to be the starter. Dowayne Davis is solid at strong safety, but free safety is a position with issues. A.J. Brown is the leader heading into camp.

Generating a pass rush will be essential because of the inexperience and uncertainty in the secondary.

SPECIALISTS

All-Big East punter Brendan Carney returns and is a vital piece of the field position/defensive struggle Syracuse must play to compensate for its offense.

There's a good battle brewing between placekickers John Barker and Patrick Shadle. And though it took awhile, the Orange have found some stability in punt returner Bruce Williams and a rotation of kick returners including Brinkley, Smith, Kareem Jones and Jeremy Horne. This is a unit that stumbled early and quietly got better a year ago. Expect more progress here.

FINAL ANALYSIS

It's really all about the offense. The Orange have turned to White to design a plan that will generate a passing game that can allow the running game some room to operate. Patterson made significant improvement in the spring. And so did the receivers, who dropped too many passes last season. The Orange seem to have some weapons. What they need most is protection from the offensive line.

Robinson believes the Orange have enough defense and special teams to be as good, if not better, than last season. Those efforts, however, were completely lost in the futility of the offensive follies. Still, the road remains treacherous. It looks like another last-place finish at Syracuse.

[bulls96go]