Bleacher Report - Articles by Michael Felder

SEC East and ACC Coastal Episode I: Kentucky and Duke

Michael Felder — Tue, 26 May 2009 21:36:28 -0400

Tune into the Gulf Coast Sports Radio HourWednesday at four to hear Brian Scott and Michael Felder delve deeper into Kentucky, Duke and the SEC/ACC picture.

Biggest Offseason Loss

The Blue Devil’s biggest losses come in the departure of wide receiver Eron Riley. Riley was quarterback Thaddeus Lewis’ favorite target; having accounted for 693 of Lewis’ 2171 yards and 8 of his 15 touchdowns. Riley was a sure handed, speedy target capable of getting open down field and making the big play for the Devils.

Losing Michael Tauiliili; the middle linebacker who led the ACC and finished third in the nation in tackles should also be noted. However, his loss will not be felt as significantly as Riley’s due to the Devils returning solid contributors from last season’s defense.

For the Wildcats the biggest offseason loss up to just over a week ago was injury plagued fan favorite tight end Dicky Lyons Jr. That would change with the disqualification of Jeremy Jarmon for taking a banned substance. The senior’s career was ended as he failed a drug test for a dietary supplement that he failed to clear with the Kentucky athletic staff.

In losing Jarmon the Wildcats lose an All-SEC caliber defensive end as well as some serious, quality depth on the defensive front. The one year barring for a first offense has come under heavy scrutiny but the odds of Jarmon reversing the circumstances are highly unlikely.

Best Returning Players

In Durham this question gets a simple answer; Thaddeus Lewis. Lewis is the best pure pocket passer in the ACC and with the exception of the big names at the position the senior would be an upgrade for most schools.

He is, in effect, the anti-Graham Harrell; no gaudy or inflated statistics but a legitimate pro-styled quarterback who has received great tutelage under Cutcliffe and will have a legitimate shot at the next level.

Lexingtonwill see several very solid players return to campus headlined by Trevard Lindley. The 6’, 175 pound senior is among the nation’s elite at the cornerback position due to his instincts and closing speed. He’s got great anticipation as shown by his 11 passes defensed and 4 interceptions.

Lindley is a probable first rounder who will have to be spectacular for the Wildcat defense to truly step up with their inexperienced on the frontline.

Break Out Players

Donovan Varner will be tasked with filling Eron Riley’s shoes. The 5’9” sophomore out of Miami, Floridais the best athlete on Cutcliffe’s team and after playing corner, return man and a little receiver in 2008 Varner will use his talents on offense and in the return game exclusively.

As a full time receiver Varner has already flourished, catching six balls for 116 yards in the spring game last month. He gives Thaddeus Lewis a weapon capable of breaking the big run and a dangerous asset for Cutcliffe’s offensive mind to utilize.

While Varner will be asked to grow up and into his role in Durhamthe Wildcats will need their breakout player DeQuin Evans to come ready to play. Currently listed as the second on the depth chart the JUCO transfer will have his work cut out for him with the recent Jarmon dismissal.

Ranked the No. 15 JUCO prospect last season he totaled 19.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and 63 tackles in fifteen games at Los Angeles Harbor College. He’s got a tremendous motor, solid ability and the body to compete immediately for Rich Brooks.

Three Crucial Games

Duke @ Kansas

Duke @ NC State

Duke vs Wake Forest

The Devils will have a shot at winning all of these games and to achieve Cutcliffe’s goal of a bowl appearance they will likely have to win all three. Heading to Lawrence will give the Blue Devils their first quality test of the season against a likely top 25 team. NC State, Wake Forest and a November date in Chapel Hill should all help Cut’s in-state recruiting goals if they can find a win.

Kentucky @ South Carolina

Kentucky @ Auburn

Kentucky @ Georgia

Kentucky found a way to get bowl eligible last season despite injuries, poor quarterback play and no true offensive identity. This season Hartline should be better, Randall Cobb will be a full time wide out and they have some quality running backs returning.

In playing USC, Auburn, and UGA on this down year the Wildcats have an opportunity to make some waves in these three swing games.

Dream vs Nightmare Season

For the Blue Devils their dream season is an 8-4 masterpiece by Cutcliffe. Getting the Devils to their first bowl game since Spurrier and putting them squarely in the thick of the ACC Coastal race.

Losses to VT, NC State, UNC, GT, and Miami appear to be inevitable however, stealing a win from one of those schools while completing their soft non-conference schedule while beating UVA, Wake and Maryland would land the Devils in a heavenly scenario.

On the flipside of the dream scenario is the Blue Devil nightmare. Losing all league games plus contests with FCS Richmond and Kansas would truly set the Blue Devils back into the “loser” stratosphere they’ve inhabited since the departure of Spurrier.

In Lexington the dream mark would be a 9-3 season and finishing second to Florida in the east. Losing to the machines from Gainesville and Tuscaloosaplus just one loss in the final three contests (UGA, Vandy, Tenn) would set the Cats up for their fourth straight bowl bid.

Nightmarishly speaking the Wildcats are only an injuries away from staring down the barrel of a 3-9 season. If Cobb and Hartline both struggle and suffer their offense would be incapable of point production to assist the stout defense Brooks will trot out this season.

Losing all their league games plus the rivalry game with Louisville is not out of the realm of possibilities given Brooks’ anemic 27 percent winning rate in SEC play.

Spring in the ACC: Predicting the Best of the Coastal Division

Michael Felder — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 22:05:06 -0400

Check out College Football Campus for more original, insightful NCAA Football articles.

Half of the ACC’s Coastal Division hosts spring showcases this coming Saturday (Apr. 18) as folks in Atlanta, Durham and Charlottesville will get a live preview of next season’s edition.

Meanwhile, the 'Canes and Heels have already put their final stamp on spring football.

Frank Beamer’s Hokies put the official end on spring in the Coastal when they wrap up workouts the final weekend of April.

While the Atlantic Division looks to be filled with unknowns, the Coastal returns the bulk of their talent including five* of six starting quarterbacks.

The asterisk of course belongs to the lone “new” face in Virginia’s Jameel Sewell, who started all of 2007 leading the Wahoos to nine wins before being forced to sit out 2008 due to academic ineligibility.

The Coastal looks poised to be extremely competitive with four teams ranked in just about everyone’s preseason top 25 for 2009 (VT, GT, Miami, UNC).

With so much talent returning, this could be the year where the ACC starts to make good on becoming a major BCS football player as was predicted after realignment in 2004.

As spring heads down the home stretch, let’s take an early look at the best that the Coastal Division has to offer at each of the seven position groups.

Offensive Line: Sergio Render (Guard, Virginia Tech)

Render is a monster of a man standing 6’3” and weighing in at 324 lbs. He’s got the prototypical size of an NFL guard. His fourth season as a starter in Blacksburgand, he will be the anchor on a Virginia Tech line that will need to give Tyrod Taylor time to work his magic and Darren Evans holes to run through.

The experienced senior missed all of spring practice after undergoing shoulder surgery but enters the season as one of the top ranked guards in the nation. He is coming off a second team All-ACC performance and seems poised to join FSU’s Rodney Hudson on numerous pre-season All-American teams.

Entering this season, Beamer has the running back and quarterback threats that he’s lacked in recent seasons and Render is going to be a major cog in driving the Hokie express.

Render is a devastating run blocker. He can pull to the outside to attack linebackers and the secondary but he really excels leaning on tackles and moving his frame forward.

He gets great leg drive, dominates defensive tackles and moves to the second level like a monster.

Running Back: Jonathan Dwyer (Georgia Tech)

Dwyer was a breath of fresh air for the Yellow Jacket program under new head man Paul Johnson in 2008. The sophomore racked up 1,395 yards to lead the ACC.

The six-foot-tall, 228 lbs, back is prototype size. He has the speed for the NFL and his sophomore season has put him on the national radar as more than just an “option running back.”

This season Dwyer will be no secret and the Coastal Division will have a year of facing Johnson’s option attack under its belt which should make for intense battles at the line of scrimmage.

The positive is Dwyer and the rest of the Wreck’s personnel have had a season to fully immerse themselves in the flexbone.

Dwyer’s biggest issue will be his durability. However, that will less of an issue with the increased role of understudies Roddy Jones and Anthony Allen.

He should still post big numbers and, with the Jackets' offensive machine, poised to roll repeat as the ACC player of the year.

Wide Receiver: Demaryius Thomas (Georgia Tech)

Thomas is the second Jacket to make the list and his name is probably a surprise to fans outside the Georgia Tech communities.

Thomas averaged a mere three receptions a game and only posted 627 receiving yards in 2008 but when it comes to the ACC’s receivers, he is without a doubt the best returning cast member.

His size, speed and ability to go up and get the football make him a dangerous threat on every down from scrimmage.

The problem is Thomas plays under Paul Johnson’s system with a quarterback, Josh Nesbitt, who only completed 43.9 percent of his passes.

When the passes were there, Thomas was able to average 16.1 yards per catch and, as he demonstrated against Clemson, has the ability to make big catches under pressure.

His third-down catch sealed the Tigers fate in Death Valley after the Tigers rallied to within a score.

Look for Paul Johnson to utilize his 6’3”, 229 lbs, wide-out more frequently this season as his offensive line gels together and the team understands the option.

Running the option pass will become more efficient with an experienced Nesbitt and Thomas’ numbers should increase.

His numbers still may keep him off the All-ACC team but the talent, size and ability are there to make him one of the ACC’s best.

Quarterback: Tyrod Taylor (Virginia Tech)

Finally, Tyrod Taylor is "the guy" in Blacksburg.

The junior split time with Sean Glennon, was stripped of a redshirt and has struggled with injuries in previous seasons. But now it is his time to shine for the Hokies.

Taylor is coming off an ACC title season and he’s currently the ACC’s savior by getting the league a much needed BCS bowl game win.

The most dangerous player in the ACC, he has tremendous blend of speed and a cannon for an arm. He must improve his accuracy to truly be the devastating threat his potential screams for him to be.

The kid can get it done with his legs, proven by his 738 rushing yards from just a season ago. Yet he must get more confident in his receivers to maximize the Hokies potential.

That confidence in the receivers should come this season as the corp has gained the much valued experience of a season at the collegiate level.

Taylor’s first test will come in the opening week as the Hokies take on Nick Saban’s Alabama team on the national stage. If the preseason top ten Hokies want to live up to their BCS dreams, Tyrod Taylor will have to be healthy and at his best for the entire season.

Defensive Back: Morgan Burnett (Safety, Georgia Tech)

Morgan Burnett finished with seven interceptions, 5.5 tackles for loss and finished 13th in the ACC in tackles per game in 2008.

Burnett is a guy who does all the dirty work. But his job just got a little dirtier with the departure of both starting defensive tackles and end, Michael Johnson.

The kid is a ball-hawk who sees the field and truly rallies to the football. He brings his “big boy” pads with him to the stadium every day. In taking the time to watch him play, you see a safety who is passionate about the game and has an elevated understanding of his role in the defense.

He led the Wreck in tackles in 2008 as a sophomore and looks to make an encore performance this season.

The junior safety will have to have a stellar season to elevate a Yellow Jacket defense that is without Darryl Richard, Vance Walker and Johnson but the experienced Burnett is now the leader of the defense.

Expect to see Burnett flying around in the secondary and making stops at the line of scrimmage as the Jackets must employ increased perimeter pressure to counteract the absence of an experienced defensive line.

Linebacker: Quan Sturdivant (Middle Linebacker, North Carolina)

The converted quarterback played well as a freshman in 2007 but 2008 saw Sturdivant explode in production racking up 122 tackles from his outside linebacker position. In 2009, you'll see the speedy, physical junior step into the middle linebacker spot to replace the graduated Mark Paschal.

The transition to middle linebacker pulls Sturdivant, the Heels best linebacker, into the heart of the defense and allows him to be an anchor for the newcomer Zach Brown.

Posting thirteen-tackle games twice in 2008 from the outside, Sturdivant is a tackling machine who finds a way through the wash to the ball carrier.

His combination of size (6’2”, 232 lbs) and speed (4.6) make him a wrecking ball in the second level. His athletic ability make him a true player in pass defense.

As an every down middle linebacker, Sturdivant is one of the best in the nation entering 2008. He’s got the size and speed to play both short and long yardage possessions.

He’s at his best flowing sideline to sideline. With the massive tackles in front of him occupying blockers, this season should see the junior post career highs in tackles yet again.

Defensive Line: Marvin Austin (Defensive Tackle, North Carolina)

Austin has the potential to be the number one overall pick in the 2010 draft.

The issue is him finally living up to his athletic expectations. He’s a terrific blend of size, speed and power that has the explosion to dominate against the run and the pass.

After having a stand out freshman year, he took a step back in 2008 when he faced double teams and didn’t have the presence of Kentwan Balmer and Hilee Taylor along the defensive line.

The emergence of Robert Quinn and EJ Wilson as dependable pass rushers should give Austin more freedom along the defensive line. Their impact, coupled with defensive line coach John Blake’s diligent teachings, should elevate Austin from playing on instinct as he did in 2007 to using technique and experience to defeat double teams in 2009.

Much like Clemson’s Da’Quan Bowers, UNC’s Marvin Austin seems poised for a break out season in 2009.

By giving the dominant tackle help along the defensive front, Austin’s tackle for loss as well as sack number should improve as will his impact upon the game.

Look for Austin to return to freshman form and surpass those numbers through increased playing time while making his first appearance on the All-ACC team.

Spring in the ACC: Predicting the Best of the Atlantic Division

Michael Felder — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 12:29:58 -0400

Check out College Football Campus for more insightful NCAA Football Articles.

Spring football is slowly starting to wind down. The Seminoles wrapped up spring drills a week ago, and the Clemson Tigers look to showcase their progress today with their Orange and White scrimmage in Death Valley.

The next two weeks will see the division's other four schools will put an exclamation point on their 15 spring practices.

With that in mind, we turn an eye to the best of what the ACC’s Atlantic Division has to offer the college football world.

Looking through position groups there are some clear cut leaders in the Atlantic’s landscape. Other names like Nate Ingram, NCSU’s fiery middle linebacker, Riley Skinner of Wake Forest, as well as Clemson’s CJ Spiller, just barely missed the cut for leading their respective position groups in the Atlantic Division.

Here’s an early look at who will stand out in the fall of 2009...your Best of the Atlantic Division.

Offensive Line: Rodney Hudson (Guard, Florida State)

The 6’2” 295 pound junior is entering his third season as a starter in Tallahassee, and he’s already racked up quite a resume:

Third-team All-ACC, freshman All-American in 2007, and first team All-ACC as a sophomore.

The mauler anchored the Seminole’s rushing attack last season and he’s a solid player in the passing game as well. Another of Hudson’s assets is his ability to get to the perimeter in the run game. He’s remarkably agile for a big man, and his ability to get to the second level after defeating his initial assignment is the best among guards in the college ranks.

While physically impressive, Hudson’s biggest asset is his mentally focused approach to the game exemplified by his 20-game streak of playing penalty-free football; which was broken by a false start in 2008 (1,024 snaps played).

He limits his mistakes, and is a guy that the 'Noles can count on game in and game out; the poster-boy for consistency. He’s going to be called upon to protect Ponder as well as be a road grader for FSU’s run game. Expect preseason All-America Honors to come his way from every publication.

Running Back: Da’Rel Scott (Tailback, Maryland)

Most folks will automatically slot Clemson’s CJ Spiller into this slot as the best back in the division. However, facts say otherwise.

While Spiller is a dynamic back capable of hurting teams in both ways, there is no spot on the All-ACC team for “dynamic guy.”

There is a spot for “running back,” and Da'Rel Scott looks to snatch one of those slots with an encore of his 2008 performance. Scott posted 1,133 yards on the ground and eight touchdowns for a shaky Terrapins offense saddled with the burden of trying to get Darius Heyward-Bey the football. With no Heyward-Bey, the Terps can focus on the best part of their offense: Scott and backfield mate Davin Meggett.

Look for Scott to battle GT’s Jonathan Dwyer as the ACC’s premier feature back. Scott’s a bruising runner between the tackles who is capable of breaking the ball open if he’s given a seam.

He’s a back who gets better with each carry as he punishes defenders throughout the game, and with Meggett there to help carry part of the load, watch his second half production increase drastically.

Wide Receiver: Jacoby Ford (Wide Receiver, Clemson)

This is less a testament to Ford’s presence as a dominating wide receiver and more an ode to the departure of Aaron Kelly, Darius Heyward-Bey, and Wake Forest’s DJ Boldin.

Not to mention Preston Parker’s dismissal from the FSU squad for enjoying an "alcohol induced nap" in a McDonald's drive-thru. The Atlantic is without a true, prototypical NFL, dominant receiver, and thus Ford is thrust from his Robin role in the Clemson offense, to the Batman position for the Tigers.

Ford is a speed demon capable of getting loose down field against both man-to-man and zone coverage. However, the Clemson senior is at his best in the screen and short passing game.

He can turn a five or 10 yard pass into a long gain with his legs, and Dabo Swinney would be wise to the get the ball in his hands early and often.

Quarterback: Russell Wilson (North Carolina State)

Wilson had a breakout season in 2008 and was the biggest and best surprise in the ACC, winning first team honors as well as the ACC Rookie of the Year award.

Originally just thought to be a stopgap while the highly touted Mike Glennon red-shirted to bulk up and learn the system, Wilson excelled as the ACC season progressed.

Plagued by injuries in the first half of 2008 the red-shirt freshman was able to rebound and lead the Pack to a four game win streak to close out the regular season, making them bowl eligible.

This season, Wilson has bulked up to ready his body for the wear and tear of the ACC schedule, and his receiving corps looks to be more dependable than they were as freshmen just a year ago.

Coming off a throttling of UNC and a dismantling of Miami in their final two ACC games, the Wolfpack have a lot of momentum. With 2006’s prize recruit Toney Baker finally healthy, Wilson should have the run game he needs to compliment the Pack’s improved passing game.

Defensive Back: Crezdon Butler (Cornerback, Clemson)

Kevin Steele leaves pro-prospect Javier Arenas at Alabama, but inherits a very similar player in Butler. As a sophomore, Butler proved his worth by amassing 43 tackles, four interceptions, and, most impressively, 3.5 tackles for loss. The kid is a burner who, unlike most cover corners, isn’t afraid to mix it up at the line of scrimmage.

The departure of safeties Michael Hamlin and Chris Clemons, coupled with Kevin Steele’s aggressive, blitzing and man-to-man schemes, will put the onus on Butler to take that next step.

He has the physical tools to not only be the Atlantic’s best defensive back, but in feasting on mistakes caused by the new pressure front he can become one of the nation’s elite cornerbacks.

Linebacker: Mark Herzlich (Outside Linebacker, Boston College)

Herzlich enters his third season as a full-time starter for the Eagles, playing for his third coach in four seasons. After posting back to back 90+ tackle seasons, Herzlich was named the ACC Player of the Year in 2008, and elected to return for his senior season.

Returning BC to the nation’s elite defensive rankings will not be easy, as he must combat losing tackles BJ Raji and Ron Brace to graduation and the NFL, as well as starting middle linebacker Mike McLaughlin to a ruptured achilles.

The Eagles will need Herzlich to duplicate his six interception performance of a season ago, as well as fight through more blocks to get to the ball careers. In terms of his NFL stock, returning may have hurt Herzlich, but for the Eagles and BC to be successful, his return for Frank Spaziani was imperative.

Look for Herzlich to repeat as an All-ACC linebacker, and if Kaleb Ramsey and Damik Scaife can even partially fill Brace and Raji’s shoes, the senior backer should be able to post another dominant season for the Eagles.

Defensive Line: Da’Quan Bowers (Defensive End, Clemson)

Bowers is quite possibly the best physical specimen to play at Clemson since the Perry brothers. In 2008, he stepped onto campus as a man, and has played heavy minutes from day one.

He showed flashes of brilliance during last season, as he adjusted to the college game and finished the season with a flourish, posting six tackles for loss in his last four games.

Playing opposite of a healthy Ricky Sapp should give Bowers a better edge than last season, when teams were able to double team and key on the man-child of a freshman.

Built in the mold of recent ACC phenoms Julius Peppers and Mario Williams, 2009 will be a breakout season for the sophomore. He has the talent to be 2011’s No. 1 overall pick, and this coming season, with a season of experience under his belt, watch for Bowers to take that step towards solidifying his name right alongside Clemson’s other great defensive linemen of all-time.

Butch Davis: Maximizing the Tar Heel Spring Experience

Michael Felder — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 18:42:51 -0400

Check out College Football Campus for more insightful college football break downs.

Michael Felder will be twittering for UNC fans from the Spring Showcase.

The trees start to green up, the lawn mowers come out on weekends, windows stay open, and drinking beers on the patio of your favorite bar is back in season.

It can only mean one thing, spring football time in the south.

Teams are introducing philosophies, finding new quarterbacks, and filling roster holes left by graduation, dismissal, and the Holy Grail that is the NFL Draft.

New faces such as Lane Kiffin and Dabo Swinney are building program support, while the most familiar mugs Frank Beamer and Bobby Bowden try to teach another group of young men to cope with expectations.

Teams like Florida, LSU, Georgia Tech, and Alabama are racing towards their annual spring showcases trying to fill holes and show boosters that 2009 can be “THE” year.

The same can be said for Butch Davis, the 57-year-old head man for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. Davis enters his third spring at the helm in Chapel Hill, and coming off a brilliant recruiting effort, the Heels charged into the spring ready to do serious work.

They not only added three new faces to the coaching staff, but the Heels were tasked with replacing holes in the offensive line, secondary, linebackers, and the entire receiving corps.

Opening spring practice on March 4 gave the Heels one of the earliest starts in the nation, and gave the young team a chance to gel with their new staff early. While creating staff and player synergy is crucial, true benefits of Davis’ early spring schedule will be reaped on Saturday March 28, as well as in the months to come.

The advantages will be seen on multiple fronts, including current players, community goodwill, and most importantly on the recruiting trails. It certainly would appear that Davis and his staff have put together another win in Chapel Hill to add to the momentum build during the recruiting season.

Current Players

For the Tar Heels currently on the roster, the advanced schedule should yield some clearly tangible results. The first and most important result will be the athletes’ abilities to spend the month of April functioning as a normal student; more or less.

Without the hours spent on film breakdowns, daily install sessions, practices, and scrimmages, the student athletes will have time to focus on the tests, papers, projects, and finals that never fail to pile up as the end of the semester approaches.

It gives the academic support staff, as well as the players, an opportunity to correct lapses, improve performance, and address problem areas in the classroom.

While the classroom benefits will be much appreciated by the academic support staff and the UNC community, the secondary benefit is the one that will be felt most noticeably on the gridiron. Spring football’s early ending begat offseason conditioning’s early beginning.

Teams across the nation will be wrapping up spring as the Tar Heels are keying up their summer conditioning program. Instead of bring players back after exams to initiate offseason workouts, the Heels’ bodies will be working trending towards summer time shape as they return to campus for the first summer session.

Community Goodwill

Unlike the Alabama's, Florida's, and Nebraska’s of the world, spring football has yet to become a statewide event for North Carolina. However, Davis is working to change this mindset and spring attendance has increased tremendously since his arrival in 2007.

The 2009 spring game should be a banner year as Chapel Hill hosts Super Saturday, a day in which visitors can take in all that Chapel Hill and the University of North Carolina has to offer.

This event begins with Tar Heel Town, an interactive fan experience geared towards young and old fans alike and moves into the 2009 Tar Heel Spring Showcase where the football team will give the public a glimpse of what fall 2009 will hold.

Adding to the experience of the Super Saturday are four other sporting events to immerse attendees in the college sports atmosphere. UNC’s men’s and women’s lacrosse, softball, and men’s tennis will all take their respective fields to put on a show; all free of charge.

The culmination of the day of course being the No. 5 Tar Heels taking on the No. 24 Virginia Cavaliers on the baseball diamond. Fans not only get to take in a promising young Tar Heels football team projected to open the season in the top 20, but they also get to take in their choice from the UNC sports buffet.

Prospective Players

This is the biggest plus for Davis and the Tar Heels entering the summer recruiting season. Getting kids on campus to the spring game is a major recruiting tool, it allows for them to witness practice intensity, simulated game scenarios, and interact more openly with staff and players than during the high pressure atmosphere of a game day Saturday.

UNC has a leg up on area schools in getting all the kids they want to visit Carolina for the spring game.

While Clemson, Georgia, and South Carolina are battling over who will come to campus for their April 11 spring games, the Heel’s March 28 date is almost exclusively their own as Miami is the only team of note to share this coming Saturday.

The 11th is only modestly crowded compared to the full slate of games on the 18th, most notably including ACC (Duke, GT, NCSU, UVA, Wake), SEC (Alabama, LSU, Florida, Tennessee), and recruiting threats West Virginia and East Carolina.

Schools such as OU (11th), Texas (5th), FSU (4th), and the aforementioned Miami, have set themselves up to be in the catbird seat just as the Heels have done.

With OU and Texas’ games coming on back-to-back weekends, they can show off for the same group of individuals and with staggered scheduling Florida, Miami, and FSU can push to get the cream of Florida’s crop on campus.

For UNC, the major recruiting threats of Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Clemson, South Carolina, and Georgia won’t be a factor in recruits deciding to visit the spring game; Davis takes the guess work out of it.

This recruiting season, Davis has taken a stranglehold on recruiting in the state of North Carolina, landing the majority of the states top recruits, as well as swiping big names from the border states of Georgia and Virginia.

His Spring Showcase is another step in the right direction for the Tar Heels football program. By moving up spring practice, the savvy veteran has taken some monumental strokes towards painting yet another recruiting class masterpiece for 2010.

Boston College and Georgia Tech Need to Fill "Big" Shoes on Defense

Michael Felder — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 11:14:35 -0400

Check out the new College Football Campus for great analysis from the world of college football.

The quarterback is the sexy position. They get all the limelight, all the glory and all of the headlines.

They also receive the brunt of the blame, the ridicule and the criticism. So it is no wonder that heading into spring football the quarterback is the position of note for fans and the media alike.

Searches and battles at schools like Michigan, Southern Cal, Alabama and Georgia exemplify the feeding of the media’s quarterback frenzy.

Even ACC country is caught up with the battle raging at Clemson between Kyle Parker and Willie Korn.

However, second most anticipated ACC battle has left fans quite disappointed.

Entering spring folks in Tallahasseewere expecting to see Jimbo Fisher’s handpicked recruit EJ Manuel square off against incumbent Christian Ponder but alas this position clash was over before it began with Manuel suffering a dislocated finger on his throwing hand early in spring drills.

While the nation hones in on quarterback battles and who will win the starting jobs the “meatiest” story of the ACC this off-season will be written on the campuses of Georgia Tech and Boston Colleges.

Both schools are presented with the same daunting task; replacing the heart, soul and girth of their defenses.

Although the hog-mollies from the trenches don’t draw the attention that the pretty boys under center command they are every bit as integral to each teams’ winning formula and that is why BC and GT have the biggest shoes to fill in the ACC.

The Georgia Tech duo of Darryl Richard and Vance Walker comprised 583 pounds of man while BJ Raji and Ron Brace accounted for some 663 pounds of the BC front four.

Both mammoth numbers in and of themselves the impact of these four players was felt on more than just the scales. Combined the four defensive tackles totaled 136 tackles, 45.5 tackles for loss and 18 sacks during the 2008 season.

Each of duos were experienced anchors that not only produced tangible statistical numbers but also served a bigger purpose to their respective squads; they freed up the linebackers to flow to ball carriers and make plays unhampered by the oppositions offensive lines.

Not only were these four players the class of their respective teams, combined they were the class of the conference.

Vance Walker and BJ Raji taking the two first team All-ACC defensive tackle spots while Brace and Richard occupied the second team slots.

Frank Spaziani and Paul Johnson will have to pull the proverbial rabbit out of the hat in order to replace these defensive stalwarts as neither team is particularly well stocked at the tackle position.

For the Ramblin’ Wreck the post Walker and Richard era has a positive outlook in Ben Anderson and TJ Barnes. Anderson saw plenty of action in reserve duty for both Richard and Walker during the 2007 and 2008 seasons.

The junior has appeared in eighteen games and brings a capable scrappy attitude to the defensive tackle position. Although a bit undersized at 6’2” and a “svelte” 271 pounds Anderson has accounted for a sack and a couple of tackles for loss.

He’ll be counted on by Johnson to be a consistent and productive starter at the defensive tackle position.

While Anderson should be the model of consistency Paul Johnson’s staff stake their defensive line future on the freshman TJ Barnes. Barnes redshirted 2008 and will likely be a four year starter, should he play out all of his eligibility.

The 6’7” 325 pound youngster from Enterprise, Alabama will look to take over where Vance Walker left off. He’s an athletic big man with good feet who looks to be fully capable of not only commanding but defeating routine double teams.

The Jackets will need Barnes to keep their linebackers clean if they hope to return to their status among the nations top rush (24th, 120.3 ypg) and sack defenses (18th, 34 total, 2.62 per game).

The reigning Atlantic Division Champions 2009 defensive tackle replacement prospects are not quite as clear as their Coastal Division foe.

Frank Spaziani and the Eagles lose the girth that elevated his defense to 7th nationally against the run yielding 91.2 ypg and 26th in the sack department by racking up 35 total and 2.5 per game.

Damik Scafe a 6’3”, 293 pound sophomore will be the leader in replacing Brace and Raji. He has some experience including 13 tackles, 1 tackle for loss and 1 quarterback hurry in the 2008 season.

Although limited his experience clearly makes him the elder statesmen as the rest of the roster has zero experience on the defensive line.

Bryan Murray and Kaleb Ramsey are the leaders in auditioning for playing time in 2009. Murray is a 6’2”, 292 pound freshman with the physical skill set to be a plug in the middle.

On the other hand Ramsey is a talented athlete who played tight end and defensive end in high school. The freshman is listed at 256 pounds making him quite undersized in the ACC but at 6’3” and built wide he has the frame support the weight he needs to be a successful defensive tackle.

The Boston College trio of Scafe, Murray and Ramsey will have to grow up fast as the linebacking core of the Eagles only returns one starter after the Achilles injury to Mike McLaughlin. Inexperienced linebackers coupled with unproven defensive tackles could be a recipe for run defense disaster in Chestnut Hill.

Both the Eagles and the Yellow Jackets have their work cut out for them as they try to replace All-American, All-ACC and elite NFL draft caliber players on their defensive fronts.

The fifteen spring practices are the first chance we’ll get to see what Anderson and Barnes will give the ACC’s Coastal Division for the Yellow Jackets, a team expected to be among the nations top fifteen.

In the Atlantic Division new headman Frank Spaziani will have to hold open auditions to fill the holes in what once was the seventh best rush defense in the nation.

Scafe and Anderson have proven themselves capable in spots now each will get a chance to be THE MAN instead of just A GUY in the rotation.

Out of the young players working to get their first minutes Barnes looks to be the most promising but Murray’s stout build could position him to be a reliable middle defender.

The ACC: 12 Early Questions Entering 2009

Michael Felder — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 12:31:14 -0400

Check out the new College Football Campus for more great NCAA Football Coverage

12) How will the Yellow Jackets respond to the early success?

In Paul Johnson’s first season the Jackets surged out to a very admirable 9-4 record, finishing second in the Coastal Division and showing the nation that the option wasn’t dead; it’d just taken a break from BCS football.

Johnson’s young Jacket squad was only learning the option in 2008 in the 2009 season this roster will be peppered with Johnson recruits and anchored by players experienced in running the attack.

With both quarterback Josh Nesbitt and the ACC’s leading rusher Jonathan Dwyer returning the Ramblin’ Wreck possess the nucleus of the nation’s fourth best rushing attack.

The key to the spring will be the Jacket’s ability to shore up a defense that lost defense linemen Vance Walker, Darryl Richard and Michael Johnson and their best cover corner Jahi Word-Daniels.

11) Can Jim Grobe replace his first ever “star” class?

Steve Justice and Kenny Moore were drafted in 2008 but 2009’s NFL draft holds the true keys to Wake Forests four year run in the ACC. Aaron Curry, Chip Vaughn and Alphonso Smith are three of the best players to ever step foot on the tiny campus in Winston-Salem and their departure is going to be felt by the Deacon defense....

Replacing Curry, the do everything linebacker along with Smith and Vaughn will be no small task and it will be interesting to see how Grobe’s “a redshirt for everyone” strategy works to fill these positions.

The Deac’s offense looks to be ready to hit the ground running in ’09; returning Riley Skinner (QB), Josh Adams (RB) and DJ Boldin (WR) will go along way towards buying time for their defense to gel.

10) Did Gene DiFilipo (after the soap opera) pick a winner?

BC’s not known for drama, they’re a blue collar, hard working school outside of Boston with great academics and a hard-nosed, get-it-done football attitude. However, DiFilipo’s offseason posturing with former Coach Jeff Jagodzinski put the spotlight squarely on the New England campus for a week.

When a coach goes 20-8 in two seasons at a middle tier football school it’s expected that he’ll be courted by other, better jobs; what is not expected is for the AD to attempt to strong arm the coach out taking job interviews.

DiFilipo’s bizarre approach to keeping a successful coach ended in Jagz leaving and BC staring down the barrel, scrambling to make a hire to salvage their recruiting class.

Enter Frank Spaziani, he’s put in over a decade of work for the Eagles on the defensive side of the ball and he’s a coaching staff, player, fan and campus favorite in Chestnut Hill.

He’s finally got his shot at the top spot and now it’s up to him to prove he can extend BC’s consecutive bowl trips to eleven while trying to find a quarterback and a defense to get him there.

9) Will the Terps run their way to a solid Atlantic finish?

Last season the story coming from College Park centered on Darrius Heyward-Bey not getting the football enough due to inconsistent quarterback play from Chris Turner and Jordan Steffy. This season, Turner and Heyward-Bey are gone and the Terps should return all but one offensive lineman.

The story now focuses on Steffy handing the ball off to the ACC’s most dynamic running tandem; Da’Rel Scott and Davin Meggett.

Both showed flashes of brilliance in 2008 but the Terps were too inconsistent to take full advantage of the potent one-two punch. In 2009, with an experienced offensive line and no proven receivers look for the Terps to ride the legs of Meggett and Scott to ACC success.

They may not post the gaudy per game numbers of the “run-centric” Georgia Tech offense but they will be a potent attack built to punish defenses in the fourth quarter.

8) What is Thaddeus Lewis going to do without Eron Riley?

Sure if you look at the stats you’ll see that Riley only caught 61 of Lewis’ 224 completions and only 693 of the quarterbacks 2,171 yards or only 27 percent and 39 percent of the aforementioned passing statistics.

However, take a look closer and you’ll see that Lewis’ go to, speedy receiver accounted for eight of the quarterback’s fifteen touchdown passes. That’s 53 percent and that number will be a lot harder to replace.

Riley’s 61 catches more than doubled any other Duke receiver’s production so the Devils will turn to receiver by committee. The talented trio of Donovan Varner, Johnny Williams and running back Jay Hollingsworth will have to work together to pick up Riley’s leftovers.

Varner, a converted cornerback, showed promise last season snatching 21 catches and showing flashes of athleticism in the open field. If Coach Cut can find a legitimate deep threat he may be able to keep defenses honest and push towards Duke’s first bowl since 1995.

7) Will the massive staff overhaul save Al Groh’s job?

With the exception of Tommy Bowden for obvious reasons, no coach’s seat was hotter during the season than Al Groh’s. The coach lost his job, saved his job then tried to lose his job over the course of the season’s twelve games.

At one point the Wahoos were tied for the Coastal lead only to drop their last four games for a 5-7 finish and no bowl appearance.

Groh fired three assistants, two assistants left on their own accord and in the off-season the grizzly veteran has pushed to fill his staff with quality football coaches. He’s added Latrell Scott and Gregg Brandon with the hopes of bolstering his offensive production.

Meanwhile long time NFL and college assistant Bob Trott has signed on to coach linebackers and former Kansas State coach Ron Prince is back in Charlottesville to head the special teams units. Will this remodeling of the staff be enough to get Groh a few more years in the land of the Wah-Hoo-Wah?

6) How will Bowden’s ‘Noles handle the added scrutiny?

We all know the Bobby Bowden, truly one of college football’s good guys, will handle the added attention the way he always has, with grace; but how will his young football team respond.

The nation’s eye has turned back to Tallahassee for all the wrong reasons following the cheating scandal and NCAA sanctions levied just over a week ago. Just as Christian Ponder was setting up to battle EJ Manuel to retain his starting position the NCAA shine’s their security guard flashlight on the dark underbelly of FSU sports.

Instead of focusing on how the 'Noles will replace NFL draft bound Everett Brown and the ever present showdown between Bowden and Joe Pa the nation will be poking around the Florida capital in an effort to dig up more dirt on the 'Noles.

It's been over a decade since the “Crimi-Noles” moniker debuted and once again FSU finds itself between a rock and a hard place; the difference is those “Crimi-Noles” teams were dominating the ACC, this team has yet to prove itself.

5) What is Tom O’Brien going to do with Mike Glennon?

This time a year ago the Wolfpack faithful were raving about their incoming freshman Mike Glennon. The brother of Virginia Tech quarterback Sean Glennon, Mike was the Pack’s ace in the hole, set to enroll in the summer and become the savior of the red and the white.

Enter Russell Wilson, 2008’s ACC Rookie of the Year and the quarterback of 2008’s All-ACC team.

O’Brien is the model of consistency, the poster boy for steadiness and uniformity which is why there will likely be no open competition as the Pack enter spring football. The job will be Wilson’s and barring injury or some outrageous, Festivus styled “feats of strength” Glennon won’t come close to anything but mop up duty for the Wolfpack.

This team rallies around the savvy Wilson and, if he’s healthy all season, the quickly improving Pack have a shot at winning eight, or more, games this season.

4) Can Jacory Harris showcase his talent with Marve out of the picture?

The two quarterback system enacted by offensive coordinator Patrick Nix called for Harris and Robert Marve to alternate series in the first half, never truly allowing either quarterback to truly get into the flow of the game early. Nix is out the door, Mark Whipple is in as the new OC.

Marve, after violating team rules, is also out of the door in Coral Gables. It’s time for the Harris show.

Mr. Football in Florida in 2007, the true freshman showed poise in big spots including a comeback win over Virginia and a battle against a ranked Virginia Tech team. He has a live arm, outstanding mobility and a core of talented young receivers.

The biggest story will be Harris’ reunion on field Saturdays with his favorite high school target the 6’5” 205 pound wide receiver Tommy Streeter. This dynamic duo looks to connect for big plays as the Canes revamped offense gives Whipple plenty of toys to experiment with.

3) How can the Tar Heels replace Nicks, Foster and Tate?

Fifty-two is the number of total receptions that return on the Tar Heels 2009 roster, including tight ends, backs and receivers. 114, is the amount of receptions Nicks, Foster and Tate combined for in 2008; Nicks totaled some 68 receptions on his own.

In other words the Heels are inexperienced on the perimeter offensively and leave returning quarterback TJ Yates without a capable, proven, reliable go to receiver. The running game with emerging star Shaun Draughn will be the Tar Heel’s safety net but without a viable pass attack expect opponents to stack the box against the Heels.

Here is where the situation gets dicey: the Heels have Greg Little, a wide receiver, converted to running back, converted back to wide receiver to lead their receiving core but behind him the group totals zero receptions and limited game time.

On the bright side the Heels have a bevy of highly touted, big and physical wide outs; sophomore Dwight Jones (6’4” 220 lbs) and freshmen Joshua Adams (6’4” 200 lbs), Todd Harrelson (6’2” 190 lbs) lead the charge as the young men auditioning for the spot opposite Little during the spring.

Looking at the build of UNC’s receiving core is there any doubt that Michael Irvin was one of Davis’ favorite U prospects and Cowboy receiver? It is far too early to anoint any of these talents as Irvin-esque but if they can work to fill Nicks’ shoes (68 rec, 1,222 yds) they will be well on their way to being Davis and UNC’s next big thing.

2) How is “That Boy” going to do in his first full season?

Last season Dabo Swinney inspired the Pickens County campus with his fiery antics including the “Tiger Walk”, kissing Howard’s Rock and the live television berating of a punter who failed to hustle off the field.

What is next up for the man from Alabama? Transitioning his second half of the season inspirational novelty act into a full time culture infusion for Tiger Town.

The roster is chock full of talent but losing quarterback Cullen Harper, receivers Aaron Kelly and Tyler Grisham, running back James Davis and the 75 percent of the secondary make the young ball coach’s job a little tougher.

The first test of the coach will be deciding between Kyle Parker and Willie Korn. Parker was a highly touted two sport recruit who redshirted his freshman season on his way to becoming an All-ACC baseball stand out.

Korn, played sparingly as a true freshman in 2007 and saw action in five games in 2008 but entered Clemson as the “savior of Tigerland.” Korn’s plans to start in 2008 were derailed by Harper’s stand out 2007 season and now he finds himself embroiled in a legitimate battle with Parker.

One thing is for certain, Swinney has to make a clear cut decision for 2009. Parker’s baseball could give Korn a leg up but, NCSU’s Russell Wilson was a two sport guy and he’s the reigning first team All-ACC quarterback and Rookie of the Year.

1) Will Frank Beamer’s Hokie squad live up to their lofty expectations?

Gone are the guys who helped carry Beamer’s young team last season. Out are names like Victor “Macho” Harris, Orion Martin and Purnell Sturdivant as well as Sean Glennon who started the season at quarterback for the Hokie-birds.

With Glennon out Beamer can finally hand the reins over full time to Tyrod Taylor, the ACC’s most electrifying returning player. The Hokies are slated to open the season as a top ten team, the ACC’s elite and have date with Alabama in the Georgia Dome.

The first key to avoiding “The Great Clemson Embarrassment of 2008” will be VaTech’s offense. Taylor has one of the ACC’s best running backs at his disposal in Darren Evans as well as receivers Danny Coale, Jarrett Boykin and Dyrell Roberts; all of whom are sophomores.

Experience tight end the mammoth but surprisingly versatile Greg Boone (6’3” 280 lbs) returns as well. On defense VPI will expect safety Kam Chancellor, corner Stephen Virgil and linebacker Cam Martin to stabilize an experienced and deep core.

Dyrell Robers, who smashed every VT freshman return record in 2008, will be back to wreak havoc on cover teams as the Hokies look to get back to playing Beamer Ball. With all the pieces in place the September fifth date with a young Tide team could be the Hokie’s national coming out party.

Tar Heels Head To Virginia For The 113th Meeting Of The South's Oldest Rivalry

Michael Felder — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 09:30:15 -0400

North Carolina and Virginia have been playing one another in football for longer than a lot of schools have even existed. The two schools began battling in 1892 and have played this game continuously since 1919.

To put that into perspective, the Heels and Hoos have played each other more times than Army-Navy and more than Georgia-Auburn.

Although UNC leads the all time series 56-52-4, it is Virginia that has retained the upper hand in the most recent decades. The Tar Heels haven't won in Charlottesville since 1981 and the Cavaliers have won 8 of the last 10 contests overall. The most recent Carolina triumph came in 2005's game in Chapel Hill, seeing the Heels battle to an ugly 7-5 victory.

Heading into this game the story lines on each side are pretty interesting:

For the Heels, the success of being ranked #18 in the nation is bittersweet as they move forward without two of their offensive leaders, QB TJ Yates (broken ankle, 4 weeks) and WR Brandon Tate (torn ACL/MCL, season).

The Heels have been resilient in the face of adversity relying on timely offensive production, tough and opportunistic defense and outstanding special teams to pull out their victories in their stars' absence.

On the Virginia side of things, the major story is the resurgence of the Hoos in the last two weekends. After a 31-3 shellacking in Wallace-Wade by the Blue Devils, the Wahoos returned to Charlottesville to lick their wounds and welcome in a tough Maryland squad.

Virginia responded, blasting the Terps 31-0 and following that effort up by thumping Conference USA favorite ECU 35-20.

With that said Cavaliers appear to be less "Jekyll and Hyde" and more "ok, we know what we're doing now." Marc Verica's passing efficiency in his first two starts averaged 87.95 with 0 TDs; both losses. His second two starts he pushed those numbers to 140.71 with 4 TDs.

Better still is the running game has gotten their legs back. Through the 1-3 start, Cedric Peerman totaled 96 yards and 1 TD. In going 2-0, Peerman has totaled 283 yards and 3 TDs.

North Carolina Offense vs Virginia Defense

The Carolina offense is going to have to find a new dynamic playmaker to fill the shoes of Brandon Tate in this facet of the game. Brooks Foster, Greg Little and a few lesser known Heels will have to work together to pick up the slack left by the ACC's most electrifying player.

Shaun Draughn and Ryan Houston will have to work harder at running back protecting the football, and finding the holes against a Virginia defense that gives up 168.4 yards per game, but only has been stingy in the last three games only giving up 84 yards per game.

Virginia, while solid against the run lately has not been nearly as suffocating against the pass and here is where the Heels should be able to utilize their strength. Hakeem Nicks, the ACC's receiving leader, will remain Cam Sexton's primary target as the number one receiver.

Foster, Little, slowly transitioning from running back, as well as former defensive back Cooter Arnold should round out the preliminary receiving core tasked with stretching the Virginia defense.

As important as the running and passing game options are to the Heels, the most critical part of this offense and defense match up will be the Heels ability to handle Virginia's aggressive blitzing scheme.

Playing out of the 3-4 scheme, Al Groh brings pressure from multiple areas, drops linemen into coverage and uses unpredictability to confuse offensive lines. This is evident in their seven sacks in the last two games and Clint Sintim's six solo sacks in the last three games.

The good news for the Heels is that they've fared well in facing both the Rutgers and Notre Dame defenses that brought pressure from all areas.

The bad news is this UVA group is far more talented than either of those two groups.

Sintim is a projected first day pick and guys like Antonio Appleby, Jon Copper and Matt Conrath are no slouches. They fly to the football and have a great understanding of Al Groh's system.

Kyle Jolly, Aaron Stahl, Lowell Dyer, Calvin Darity and Garrett Reynolds will have to work with Sexton, Draughn and Houston to diagnose blitzes and ensure solid pass protection and get hat on hat to run the football.

Edge: Even

North Carolina Defense vs Virginia Offense

For the Wahoos there's been ONE major change between their first four games and their last two contests. This change is about 6'6" and 310 pounds and goes by the name Austin Pasztor.

The freshman from Canada was moved into the starting left guard spot following the fourth game, replacing Zak Stair, and the offense has been hitting on all cylinders ever since.

Although Marc Verica's jersey has been clean most of the season the addition of the seventeen year old freshman Pasztor has given Verica plenty of time to settle into the pocket and hit his targets.

Kevin Ogletree and John Phillips have become Verica's primary targets and the UVA passing attack is slowly pulling itself up by the bootstraps in the last two games.

As solid as Pasztor's impact on the passing game has been his contributions to the running game have been monumental. The Hoos have returned to the two-headed monster form that Al Groh relied on heavily in Virginia's recent years.

Cedric Peerman and Mikell Simpson have been running over, around and through the opposition.

North Carolina's defense will have to bow their necks to shut down the Virginia power rushing attack. Mark Paschal along with the gang of defensive tackles (Marvin Austin, Tydreke Powell, Cam Thomas, Alleric Mullins) will have to control the A-gaps and force the Hoos to run wide into the speedy Tar Heel pursuit.

Linebackers Quan Sturdivant and Bruce Carter must do their jobs flowing down hill to fill holes while ends EJ Wilson, Robert Quinn and Quinton Coples hold their edge to keep contain.

Edge: North Carolina

Special Teams

UNC loses Brandon Tate, the best return man in the NCAA history and replacing his output will be no small task. With that said the Heels still feature solid teams led by Melvin Williams, Matt Merletti and Ryan Taylor, guys not afraid to get downfield and make a tackle while sacrificing their body to do it.

To stop Virginia's Ogletree and leading return man Chase Minnifield these guys will have to hustle down on kickoffs.

In the punt return game UNC will also miss Tate but they're a capable group who have managed to block four kicks in their last two games and having the Wahoos wary of the block should open up the field for the Heels newest return man.

Bruce Carter has got a knack for getting to punters and Yannick Reyering doesn't get the ball off quickly Merletti may find himself in the end zone for the second time in as many weeks.

On the flip side UNC's punting unit, lead by Terrence Brown is looking solid after coming out shaky in the opener. Brown's pinned opponents deep 12 of the 26 times he's punted and not had a punt blocked all season.

Keeping the ball out of Vic Hall's hands will be crucial as he is the most electrifying player on the Cavaliers roster and if he gets loose the Heels will be chasing him for a while.

The Heels have a slight edge in the kicking game as Casey Barth has started to prove he's a capable field goal kicker. Reyering, who handles both the kicking and the punting, is still recovering from a leg injury that limits not only his range but his accuracy as well.

Edge: North Carolina

Pregame Summary

Offensively the Heels will have to come out ready for all the blitzes and zone-dogs that are the hallmark of Groh's 3-4 defense. This veteran offensive line should be able to diagnose the scheme and make the correct ID's to keep the Wahoos on their Heels.

Without Tate it'll be tough for Sexton to stretch the secondary deep but Brooks Foster has the speed to keep Vic Hall and his 'mates honest.

Should Butch Davis take the redshirt off of Jamal Womble and/or Dwight Jones, as has been rumored, the Heels will be showcasing two talented athletes capable of breaking the ball for big gains.

Special teams wise the Tar Heels have a clear cut advantage and by getting after the ailing Reyering they should be able to force poor punts and obtain short fields for their offense. Casey Barth must duplicate his player of the week performance from the Notre Dame game in order to ensure the Heels success.

Defensively the Tar Heels linebackers must stick to their gaps to clog the cutback lanes and fill holes to push the Wahoos running backs wide towards the pursuit. Mark Paschal and his downhill, no nonsense approach should come in handy fighting it out with the Cavaliers massive offensive line.

The back seven cannot get lulled to sleep as Virginia and Marc Verica makes use of the play action pass and have burned both ECU and Maryland with run action.

This should be a tight game with both teams jockeying for position within the very competitive ACC Coastal division. With the Heels looking to end yet another embarrassingly long drought, Butch Davis' boys should be ready to play.

College Football Week Three: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of the ACC

Michael Felder — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 11:18:06 -0400

North Carolina 44, Rutgers 12

Maryland 35, California 27

Duke 41, Navy 31

Clemson 27, NC State 9

Virginia Tech 20, Georgia Tech 17

Florida State 49, Chattanooga 7

Virginia 10, UConn 45

This week was a solid one for the ACC as its teams went 4-1 in non-conference games and featured a Coastal Division showdown with the Hokies taking on the Yellow Jackets in Blacksburg.

The California Golden Bears were shocked by the Terps in the best ACC surprise of the weekend. Maryland caught the West Coast Bears sleeping early, and when Jeff Tedford's squad woke up in the fourth quarter it was too late for them to salvage the victory.

North Carolina showed America that the preseason hype wasn't completely unwarranted as they blasted Rutgers, and even Duke got into the action by beating a solid Navy squad.

With that said, let's get into The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the ACC's third week of football action.

The Good

Maryland Rush Defense

The Terps' defense against the run was spectacular, holding Jahvid Best and the Bears to a measly 38 yards for the game. Best entered the contest with over 300 rushing yards on the season but was held to only 25 by a defense that looked passive in the weeks leading up to the game. David Philistin led the way with 13 tackles, including one for loss, as the Terps stacked the line and shut down the Bears rushing attack.

Florida State Quarterbacks

Devontrey Richardson and Christian Ponder were a combined 22-for-36 for 297 yards and four touchdowns Saturday against Chattanooga. Yes, the Mocs are an FCS team, but for the 'Noles this is a sign that the two-quarterback system of D-Vo and Ponder is slowly maturing and readying itself for the ACC schedule quickly approaching.

It is clear that the Seminoles have started their crawl way back to national prominence, entering the Coaches Poll at No. 25 this week.

UNC Defensive Back Seven

The unit is young but the linebackers are starting to understand their fits, and the secondary is benefiting from the experience from a season ago. Nabbing four interceptions from Rutgers' quarterback Mike Teel the unit is beginning to gel nicely in their zone drops and making good reads on the football. If they can play as physical with the Tech's and Miami the team will definitely be competing for the Coastal Division title come November.

The Bad

NC State Offense

The Wolfpack produced only 288 yards against the Clemson Tigers' less than suffocating defense. While the team moved the ball well at times between the 20s, it continued its 13-quarter offensive touchdown drought. Yes, it has been over three games since the Pack offense has put the ball in the end zone against an FBS team. Next week against ECU, the countdown continues.

Virginia Rushing Attack

Mikell Simpson and Cedric Peerman were expected to be All-ACC contenders entering the 2008 season, a tandem second only to CJ Spiller and James Davis of Clemson. The two were supposed to take the heat off Peter Lalich and give opponents fits with their smash-and-dash running styles.

The duo rumbled for 24 total yards at Connecticut, bringing their combined season total to 200 yards. Without some increased production from these backfield mates Virginia's woes will continue.

The Ugly

Virginia Tech Passing Attack

The un-redshirting of Tyrod Taylor was designed to jump-start the Hokies' offensive attack. In a way, it worked, as VPI has two wins with Taylor at the helm and their rushing production has increased substantially. But, Taylor's 48 yards passing are one of the worst showings for a quarterback in the modern era. He threw for 61 fewer yards than the triple-option conservative attack of the Ramblin' Wreck.

Sure, he completed around 64 percent of his passes, but, to put it in perspective, Taylor was 9-of-14 for 48 yards while Georgia Tech had one pass for 41 yards during the game. In other words, if all of Taylor's completions were lined up from the 1, they wouldn't even reach midfield.

Virginia Rushing Defense

The Wahoos offense looked bad, their rushing defense was abhorrent. Donald Brown is nobody's All-American, but the Hoos defense sure did their best to make him look like a world-beater in allowing him to rush 20 times for 206 yards through three quarters. The Cavaliers surrendered 382 total rushing yards or 163 more rushing yards than their offense gained total.

Clint Sintim, Jon Copper and Antonio Appleby, the senior linebackers and core of this defensive football team, have got to find a way to turn this once proud defense around.

All in all, this week was strong for the ACC and next week the conference schedule features only two games as the Tar Heels play host to Virginia Tech and Wake Forest heads down to Tallahassee. The ACC also has nonconference games against the SEC (GT vs MSU), Big XII (UM vs TAMU) and Conference USA (BC vs UCF, NCSU vs #15 ECU)

UNC Ends Streak and Silences Critics by Sprinting Past Rutgers in Jersey

Michael Felder — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 03:29:18 -0400

The Tar Heels were the pre-season darlings of the national media.

Among others: Mark May, Athlon and the ACC press were quick to jump all over the Heels; picking them as an ACC darkhorse and a team to watch for the 2008 season.

Following a two hour rain delay, the Tar Heels limped to an eight point victory over McNeese State. In an instant, in a game that almost nobody watched, the hype was taken away and replaced with questioning and criticism. A once packed band wagon had more room on it than Subway Jerrod has when he puts on his old fat pants.

Thursday night the Heels showed the nation what UNC football is all about. Toughness, intensity, passion and execution.

Oh yeah, and speed too.

The 32-point victory was the Heels most impressive win in nearly a decade, and the young team showed America why they have all the pieces to legitimize the claims made early in the season. North Carolina got plays from all three facets of the game and were quite thorough in their approach and execution. Let's run the game:

The Offense

The Tar Heels were held scoreless through the first quarter and as their offense was slowly getting a feel for the blitzing and confusing alignments of the Rutgers defense. Schiano did a good job shifting fronts late, bringing linebackers into the box and making Yates and the offensive line uncomfortable.

One of the most telling plays for the offense in the first quarter was Yates' fourth down pass to Brandon Tate that was tossed behind the dynamic receiver.

Good thought process, good read; but Yates overcompensated for a blitzing defensive back and fired the ball a step behind the wide open Tate. Yates, and the Heels as a whole, just needed to settle down, relax, and hit their spots.

Offensive Coordinator John Shoop became the difference in this game, as he worked to out fox Greg Schiano. From the second quarter on he was always one step ahead of the Rutgers defensive staff, often leaving Schiano and his players standing looking at each other dumbfounded.

Shoop rode his horses Hakeem Nicks and Brandon Tate to a quick lead and kept riding them to a blow out. He had Yates hit the junior receiver Nicks for two scores on corner routes that were wide open.

Courtne Greene, Rutgers best defender, was out of position both times, and both times TJ Yates found Nicks, with beautiful touch passes. Coming out of a Scarlet Knights made field goal, Shoop and the Tar Heels took a deep shot immediately to Tate that paid off in the way of a 69-yard touchdown pass.

The running game began to open up with the continuous threat of Nicks and Tate getting loose in the secondary. Starting tailback Greg Little broke a couple of nice runs, including a 26 yard play where his offensive line manhandled the Rutgers front seven and he sprinted into the third level untouched.

He totaled 71 rushing yards. Not a bad effort, and he is beginning to show a knack for picking up first downs and doing what it takes to fall forward and maintain his leg drive. Little is becoming a true prototype running back.

Our offensive line struggled early but as the game wore on they gelled and became increasingly confident in their diagnosing of the Rutgers pass rush scheme. Watching this group of guys come together will be fascinating as the season rolls on and the Heels begin to run the ball more.

A pulling Bryan Bishop teamed with right guard Calvin Darity and right tackle Garrett Reynolds to make the right side of our line Greg Little's favorite running spot.

UNC's skill players and line played exceptionally, but the most important factor in this team's run away win was the play of quarterback TJ Yates. He made smart throws, none of which were into traffic.

His touchdown passes to Yates were soft balls right on target and easy to catch. His two deep balls to Tate were lasers that hit the speedy receiver in stride to pick up big chunks of yardage and a score.

The redshirt sophomore also showed some savvy and toughness that a team likes to see out of their leader as he threw the ball away to keep the team in field goal range and then later sacrificed his body to pick up a crucial first down.

Overall the unit played well in putting up 378 yards of total offense, 157 of which came on the ground. Yates' was outstanding in completing 64% of his passes for 221 yards and three touchdowns.

The Defense

For the second game in a row the Tar Heels defense surrendered more yards than their offense gained. For the second game in a row the Tar Heels chalked a dub-ya up in the win column. From 30 to 30 the Heels played a very vanilla scheme, dropping linebackers into coverage, rushing four and playing heavy zones to keep things in front of them.

But, when teams build momentum and pressure the Tar Heels defensive coordinator Everett Withers isn't afraid to use his young, athletic defense to turn up the heat on the opposition.

As the game wore on the Tar Heels secondary, especially safeties Trimane Goddard and Deunta Williams, grew increasingly confident and this could be seen in their ability to hold coverage disguises longer to influence and dictate the reads of Mike Teel.

Corner back Kendrick Burney (6), Goddard (6) and Nickleback Charles Brown (10) all were major tacklers in this game as Rutgers was forced to throw underneath check down routes and the Heels made sure tackles.

On one drive, Deunta Williams and Kendrick Burney both had rib blasting hits on Rutgers' two star wideouts Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood. Burney's was a decleater that left the smaller Underwood laid out on the rug clutching his torso in pain.

Burney and Brown bolstered their solid tackling night by snatching Mike Teel passes out of the Jersey air. Burney returned his 34 yards while Brown's pick was a nice diving effort coming from behind the receiver to make the grab.

The Tar Heel linebacking core of Quan Sturdivant, Bruce Carter, Mark Paschal and Chase Rice struggled early in making their drops and reading the quarterback. But, after a couple of drives of Rutgers hitting passes in the middle they recognized down, distance and go to their proper depths. Sturdivant and Carter both made athletic interceptions, Carter returning his 66 yards for a score and Sturdivant weaving 57 yards into Rutgers' territory.

As a core the backers looked solid, made tackles at and near the line of scrimmage and flowed well against the run. Carter and Sturdivant are going to be special players for the Carolina family. They're growing by leaps and bounds in their second year at the position. Expect Butkus and Nagurski watch lists in their future; their one of the most athletically gifted linebacking tandems in the nation.

North Carolina's defensive line got their first sack late in the game when freshmen Quinton Coples and Michael McAdoo took down Mike Teel in the fourth quarter. The stats are less than telling as the defensive line contained the Rutgers' running game and aggrevated Teel enough to force him into making bad decisions.

A bright spot was Robert Quinn who had a slobber-knocker of a hit on running back Mason Robinson. The freshmen defensive ends played well in the absence of Darrius Massenberg and should continue to improve.

Interior the tackles Cam Thomas, Marvin Austin, Alleric Mullins and Tydreke Powell did a solid job keeping the linebackers clean and letting them flow to the football.

As a singular unit the defense played better than advertised and showed that against a more traditional (read non-gimmicky) offense the Tar Heels have what it takes to make big plays and be the deciding factor. The four interceptions really turned the tide and gave the Tar Heel offense plenty of opportunities to put the ball in the end zone.

The Special Teams

John Lovett ought to pat his boys on their backs after tonight's showing. Perfect on PATs it seems Jay Wooten has won the kicking job and his three field goals, including a 43 yarder, were proof that Connor Barth can be replaced. Terrence Brown averaged 43.5 yards per punt and downed one inside the twenty.

Brooks Foster had a heady recovery of a muff, and a spectacular almost downing of a punt, Matt Merletti, Ryan Taylor, Richie Rich and Da'Norris Searcy all played big on the teams. They made tackles, limited Rutgers' returns and covered punts and kickoffs exceptionally well.

Stand out Brandon Tate was kept pretty well bottled up by Rutgers' punter Ted Dellaganna and their kickoff and punt coverage units. He was close to breaking one, a 32-yard kick return that was a block away from going the distance.

Good work out of the Tar Heel special teams and while most folks will celebrate, Yates, Nicks and Tate; I'll continue to work to highlight the teamers and the defense as they are equally as crucial to the success of this young Heels team.

Summary

Overall a good win for the Heels and seeing as this was a national television game and "the only show in town" for the evening Carolina did themselves a favor by knocking off the Rutgers team. The Mentor bested the Pupil in this go around and this was a great way for the team to get on track before opening their ACC season with Virginia Tech next Saturday.

Celebrate this win for a day or two heading into the weekend before the Heels head back to the office in order to continue to improve as a team. Sure it is patented coach speak but it is the truth, the Heels will have to play a better game in order to be victorious against Virginia Tech, Miami, Georgia Tech and the remaining teams on their schedule.

Georgia Tech-Virginia Tech: The First ACC Coastal Division Showdown

Michael Felder — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:37:21 -0400

The Yellow Jackets, with their new offensive scheme and new head coach Paul Johnson, make the trip up to Blacksburg to take on the team that has been the ACC's lone perennial power since entering in 2005, Virginia Tech.

Georgia Tech enters this game coming off a win in Chestnut Hill over the Eagles of Boston College, while Virginia Tech limps into the contest after struggling to close out FCS Furman.

Paul Johnson's team is already 1-0 in the ACC, and with a win here they would go to 2-0 in the league and have some breathing room during their quest to reach Tampa.

The Hokies need to rebound from the ECU shocker and prove they're still the team to beat in the Coastal which is why this early season showdown is the ACC GAME of the WEEK.

Both teams feature stout defenses that will pressure the quarterback, play opportunistic football and take advantage of mismatches with their front four.

Getting behind the line of scrimmage and disrupting the flow of the game on both run and pass is what drives these two surprisingly underrated defensive units.

On offense, though, the schemes are different, as both GaTech and VaTech look to punish you with a relentless rushing attack. VPI's power running game has been less than impressive this season, but the addition of dynamic quarterback Tyrod Taylor should give the Hokies a shot in the arm and a boost in offensive production. He missed the first game but is already the Hokies 'leading rusher with 112 yards.

The Yellow Jackets rushing attack has yet to be stopped in their first two games. Quarterback Josh Nesbitt and B-Back Jonathan Dwyer have been the two biggest surprises of the young ACC season. Averaging 255.5 rushing yards a game, the Jackets have proven to be a problem for BC already, and they look to test the Hokies defensive discipline.

Georgia Tech Defense vs. Virginia Tech Offense

Georgia Tech's defensive line was tabbed as one of the units to watch in the ACC during the preseason and they haven't disappointed.

Vance Walker, the leader of the unit, has put up strong numbers including three TFLs and a solo sack as well. Derrick Morgan and Darryl Richard have also been major players in this scheme, piling up TFLs and sacks on an All-ACC pace.

While the defensive line got all the hype with pro prospect Michael Johnson, the back seven have been the true story of this season as they've been the most noticeable improvement to Coach Johnson's talent pool.

At Navy, he had players who were limited athletically. Now with first-rate talent, his team goes from hoping to limit opponents to playing an attacking, gambling defensive style capable of frustrating opponents (see Ryan Perrilloux and Chris Crane).

Along with the seven sacks they've amassed, the GT defense has four interceptions, two by leading tackler, safety Morgan Burnett.

The Jackets will be up against a nameless, faceless and completely identity-less offensive entity when they face the Hokies, a team averaging less than 300 yards of total offense a game. That paltry stat is only worsened by the putrid realization that only 103 of those yards came through the air (The Yellow Jackets, a triple option team, average 104 passing).

To make this competitive, the Hokies need to find some sort of offensive leader. Sean Glennon is out, Tyrod Taylor is in, which helps the rushing output but only serves to further the woes of the passing game.

VPI's leading receiver is Kenny Lewis, a running back, with only five receptions on the year. The departure of three senior receivers Hyman, Morgan and Royal for the NFL left the Hokies depleted and inexperienced at receiver.

Young guns such as Dyrell Roberts and Andre Smith will have to step up to help out Taylor with this menacing Ramblin' Wreck pass rush.

Expect to see Morgan Burnett tight in the box with the Tech linebackers daring Virginia Tech to stretch the talented back seven vertically.

Virginia Tech's Defense vs. Georgia Tech's Offense

Despite their offensive woes, the Hokies defense has remained impressively stout, even with the loss of Xavier Adibi, Vince Hall and Brandon Flowers. VPI is only giving up 96 rushing yards a game and a very respectable 212 passing yards.

Macho Harris isn't 100 percent, but he's still playing quality and at times punishing defense. With the departure of the aforementioned linebackers Cam Martin and Purnell Sturdivant have stepped up nicely and played with the same "lunch pail" mentality of the traditional Bud Foster defense.

Stephen Virgil has been a bright spot in the defensive backfield, as he's returned both a fumble and blocked PAT for scores and, playing opposite Harris, he is growing into VT's next NFL cornerback.

The Virginia Tech run defense is going to be put to their most crucial test of this short season when they face the Yellow Jackets triple option attack. They'll get all they can handle when Nesbitt and Dwyer take the field.

The Jackets have scored eight touchdowns on the season; every one of them has been on the ground and Coach Johnson and team seem content to follow that trend all season.

They're averaging right at 30 points a game and almost six yards per carry (5.9). With every game the Wreck's crisp execution gets better and the team becomes more confident in their ability to win by staying within Johnson's system.

Demaryius Thomas, the leading receiver, patiently lays in wait as the Jackets' "deep threat," averaging 32.5 receiving yards a game. The Wreck will test Cam Martin and Purnell Sturdivant's discipline as Nesbitt and Dwyer methodically move the football down the field.

Look for Kam Chancellor and Macho Harris, VPI's most experienced back end players, to get involved in the run game early, helping out the less experienced backers.

VT should load up the box, playing some variations of cover-2 to allow Harris and Virgil to stop the run as well as straight man to get their safeties active in the box early. The Hokies do have a slim athletic advantage and can afford to risk crowding the line of scrimmage.

Special Teams

So far this season, Beamer ball has been somewhat less than stellar. Yes, the Hokies returned a blocked PAT for a score, but they also committed a gaffe uncharacteristic of the Maroon and Orange; costing the Hokies a game.

The ECU game special teams mishap that allowed a blocked punt for a touchdown lost Tech the game but should show the players how critical sound special teams can be, especially for a struggling offensive unit.

While the Hokies have had a very public shortcoming, the Yellow Jackets kicking game with Scott Blair has been very Jekyll and Hyde-like. Blair is averaging 44.2 yards per punt and has forced three fair catches in the Jackets first two games.

A quite strong showing early on by the sophomore. However, Blair, a Calhoun, Ga., native, has been the polar opposite when it comes to his place kicking. He's 1-for-5 in field goal attempts and 7-for-8 with PATs.

Match Ups To Watch

Virginia Tech's QBs vs. Morgan Burnett
Taylor isn't much of a passer, but then again neither is Glennon, and Burnett has shown a nose for the football through 2008's first two games. The safety had better be on the radar for the Hokies, because if the quarterback doesn't look Burnett off, the College Park sophomore could snag a couple more interceptions.

Cam Martin and Purnell Sturdivant vs. Josh Nesbitt and Jonathan Dwyer
The Hokies top linebackers had better be ready to flow sideline-to-sideline all day in order to stop the Jackets' dangerous rushing duo. If they miss their assignments and make improper hits, either player is capable of taking the ball for large chunks of yardage.

Virginia Tech's Receiving Corps vs. Georgia Tech Secondary
Georgia Tech's senior cornerback appears prepared to stop anyone the Hokies trot out there, it'll be up to OC Bryan Stynespring and the players themselves to work on establishing a legitimate receiving threat. The Hokies will be seeing nine in the box if they don't force the Wreck's secondary to respect their receivers.

Prediction

Georgia Tech's defense will be much better than the Furman unit that held the Hokies to three first-half points. The defensive line will pressure Taylor and I expect the sophomore to make a couple amazing plays with his legs, not his arm.

He'll lead the Hokies in rushing again and should add a long score or two to his highlight reel. In the end the lack of a serious receiving threat will doom the Hokie-birds as the Jackets will load up the box and force VT into the adventure that is throwing the football.

The Hokies' defense will be stout against the option, Bud Foster is notorious for playing a simple defense that allows his athletes to make sound football plays. This will be one of Georgia Tech's toughest tests all season, and Nesbitt and Dwyer will be facing a caliber of athlete that they have yet to face.

With that said, I think as the game grinds on, the Jackets offense slowly wears down the Hokie defense and they'll find the end zone a couple times.

Special teams will swing the Hokies way and give them a sound edge in the kicking game as well as the opportunity to score off a block. Paul Johnson may want to think about going for it or pooching the football because Lane Stadium isn't the place you want a young kicker getting his feel for the position.

In the end, I think the Yellow Jackets get their second ACC win to move to 3-0 and squarely in first in the ACC.

Georgia Tech 23, Virginia Tech 17

Questions Raised During the Spain vs USA Olympic Gold Medal Final

Michael Felder — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 10:04:52 -0400

Sunday morning at 4:30 eastern time I, along with anyone dedicated enough to stay up, let out a satisfied sigh of relief as USA battled to reclaiming our No. 1 spot in the basketball world. They struggled at times, but in the end there was never any doubt that America was the best team on the planet.

As the game went on there was passion, there was fire, and there was the determination and will to win that had been missing from USA basketball during the 2004 and 2006 debacles.

Critics can attempt to tear down the accomplishment by saying they should have won. In the end, the USA basketball team overcame more pressure than any other competitor in the 29th Olympiad.

Yes, Phelps wanted to win eight golds.

Yes, Usain Bolt wanted to break Michael Johnson's record.

But know this. If Phelps had only won two golds, a silver, and five bronzes, and Usain Bolt won gold with no records, they both still would've come out of the Olympics as heroes, albeit to a lesser degree.

On the flip side of that coin is Team USA:

“I can't go back home to North Carolina without it.”

These are the words of USA point guard Chris Paul, sentiments echoed by the entire USA roster and coaching staff. Winning a silver would've been devastating to them, and the public massacre of Coach K, Kobe, Lebron, and company by the media would've been much worse.

There will be no more Le-Bronze talk, and for the moment it seems that all is right in the basketball universe.

Or is it?

Although I know college football season is upon us watching the gold medal game pushed my mind ahead to the coming NBA season and tons of questions rolled through my head about the ramifications of this game on the upcoming season.

Will Pau Gasol keep that attitude?

He played with fire in Beijing. Pau was chippy, he was vocal, and he was without a doubt a leader on that Spanish national team. From pushing Dwight Howard and Chris Bosh to gain position down low to bowing up against Carmelo Anthony, the eldest Gasol showed a range of emotions that he's largely lacked in his Los Angeles and Memphis stints.

In short, Gasol's Olympic play was the antithesis of his NBA game. He lived on the low block, snatching rebounds, dunking over people, and being an overall physical presence at both ends of the court. Pau didn't shy from contact, walk from confrontation, or play his normal role of matador to the rim.

Let's hope the seven-foot Spaniard can keep this edge when he steps on to the court for the LA Lakers.

How good is Portland going to be this season?

Defensive assistant Nate McMillan worked on a staff with Coach K, Jim Boeheim, and offensive whiz Mike D'Antonio. He's now spent his summer game planning with and picking the brains of two hall of fame coaches and one fast rising offensive guru. NBA Northwest, take note.

The young team also looks to add college standouts Greg Oden and Jerryd Bayless to their rotation of quality players Joel Pryzbilla, Brandon Roy, and LaMarcus Aldridge. They've got a great young nucleus with these players sitting there for Nate McMillan, but then enters Spanish newcomer Rudy Fernandez.

The wing from Spain put all his skills on display in scoring 22 points to keep the Spanish team in the game. He broke down Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, and Derron Williams with his dribble drives to the lane en route to dropping his floaters over the waiting USA big men.

The future Blazer was also responsible for the most spectacular play of the game when he slipped past a gambling Bryant and took the ball to the rack and dunked over Dwight Howard.

Portland's prospects look ridiculously promising with the massive influx of talent over the last couple of seasons. Rudy Fernandez will only serve to sweeten the pot.

Is Jason Kidd officially ready for the senior circuit?

Watching one of the greatest point guards of all time in the Olympics was difficult. Watching him get abused by the Spanish guards was simply painful. Kidd was slow, he was old, and he was the least effective he's been in his career.

Though he was a leader who brought the team together, his game play left him out of the rotation for much of the games crucial moments. Instead, K turned to the younger, quicker Chris Paul and Derron Williams.

Once a reliable defender and a capable offensive player, Kidd looked surprisingly average and worn out as he struggled to stay in front of Ricky Rubio. The Dallas Mavericks may be in for a long season with Kidd at the helm, especially with an extra month of games and global travel on his already aging legs.

Will Ricky Rubio be the prize of the 2010 NBA draft?

We all know about the free agency prospects for 2010 and the big money that is going to be fired around the NBA during that summer less than two years away, but the draft itself is a mystery.

Fill out your number one spot now with Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio. As the NBA trends toward becoming a guards league, Ricky Rubio is the best point guard not currently on an NBA roster.

The 17-year-old who, as Mike Breen repeatedly let us know, idolizes Chris Paul and Jason Kidd, was stellar in his Olympic debut.

For a kid he was poised, he was calm, and he wasn't intimidated playing against a legendary point guard in Kidd and the NBA's premier point guard Chris Paul. Several times Rubio's ball-handling skills and quickness got him to the lane, scooting past Kobe, Paul, and Derron Williams setting up feeds to teammates for open looks at the basket.

Is there any doubt that Kobe is the greatest on the planet?

Kobe Bryant didn't play very well all game Sunday, but he played great when the chips were down. While the US struggled to create open looks and get points on the board in the fourth quarter Kobe Bryant did what we've seen him do countless times in the NBA, call for the ball and make good things happen.

During a stretch in the fourth he scored on a contested jump shot in the lane, got into the lane and kicked the ball out for a three and then found Dwight Howard in the lane for an easy basket to stretch the US lead to a comfortable nine points.

Kobe, remember, has won an NBA MVP with torn ligaments in his right pinkie finger and now he's won his first gold medal. He is, simply put, a spectacularly gifted and doggedly determined player.

This NBA season is going to be exciting, and thanks to the Olympics we got a taste of just how special things are going to be.

Kicking Off the 2008 ACC Season

Michael Felder — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 03:15:02 -0400

The ACC season kicks off in just about a week, and by now every fan has read more than their share of season previews. The written words of Bruce Feldman, Phil Steele, Athlon, Lindy's, and Street and Smith's have become the gospel of college football fans.

Depth charts, matchups, and schemes are swirling around the brain, and the words "Hot Seat" and "Breakout Year" are burned into our retinas. Preseason All-ACC picks, freshmen to watch, and divisional champs have been droned on about so frequently that we can all recite them in our sleep.

With only a week to go, let's take a step back and check out the gameday atmosphere of the ACC and the best of what our 12 member institutions have to offer as we get set to experience another fall of ACC football.

Best Stadium: North Carolina

Most folks don't look to Chapel Hill when they think of the best college football stadiums. Most folks also confuse the idea of the best with the biggest.

Kenan Stadium is a simple 60,000-seat horseshoe that is nestled right into the heart of the UNC campus, surrounded by pine trees with a view of the legendary Morehead-Patterson Bell Tower just over the west end zone. Visitors to the venue are never disappointed.

Several publications have ranked Kenan Stadium one of the premier places to enjoy a college football game in the nation, including a paper in the heart of the SEC, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Ringed by the pine trees as well as dormitories, a dining hall, classrooms, the hospital, and the Bell Tower, there is no denying the picturesque qualities of Kenan.

Best Tailgating: Clemson

There are pockets of tailgating greatness scattered throughout the ACC. However, for overall community atmosphere, there are only four true contenders.

The Tigers edge out North Carolina State, Florida State, and Virginia Tech because of the sheer size of their tailgating Saturdays in Pickens County. The spacious fields filled with RVs, law enforcement concerned more with helping and patron safety than ticketing and arresting, as well as committed lifelong tailgaters, make Clemson an environment perfectly conducive to enjoying a fall Saturday.

Generators rumble, grills sizzle, and the Southern rock blares in the air, while televisions set on tables and hung on the side of RVs show the highlights of the college football world. Solid Orange nation offers beers, bourbon, and barbecue to old friends, new friends, and perfect strangers alike.

The aromas of Carolina barbecue, fried turkey, homemade jambalaya, chili, and the rest of a veritable cornucopia of traditional Southern fare mix in the air to produce a heavenly scent that simply screams Southern Football Saturdays. It's a set up that would make any SEC fan proud.

Best Pre-Kickoff Ritual: Clemson, Florida State, and Virginia Tech

With the mixture of old school and new school in the ACC, it was too tough to pick a winner in this category. Hence, three schools share the title.

Howard's Rock, the Hill, Tiger Rag and C-L-E-M-S-O-(wait for it)-N. There really isn't much to explain here, as every self-respecting college football fan knows the story and the drama that surrounds "The Most Exciting 25 Seconds in College Football." It is one of the most original entrances in the game.

The cheery tones of FSU's fight song end with the resounding WHoOOoOO, and then Chief Osceola and Renegade charge out onto Bobby Bowden Field in Tallahassee, a flaming spear held high above his headdress. As the Chief plants the spear at midfield, the 82,000-plus 'Noles fans erupt into the War Chant, and the gravity of the game sets in. FSU, the fans, and their opponents know that the niceties are over: It's time for football.

Virginia Tech's pregame entrance is a baby compared to the traditions of Clemson and FSU—but this baby is an experience that every true fan owes him or herself. At 66,000-plus, Tech's Lane Stadium is modest in size compared to Death Valley and Doak Campbell, but the eerily vertical stands create a noise level capable of rattling most opponents.

As the "Let's Go Hokies" stadium-wide chant gives way to Metallica's "Enter Sandman," the Hokie faithful go wild, making Lane Stadium physically shake under the roar. It's one of the loudest entrances in the nation. Simply put, the Hokies' fans hold their own in Blacksburg.

Honorable mention goes to the Canes' often imitated but never duplicated "Running Through The Smoke," and the Yellow Jackets' coming into the Dodd led by the Rambler.

Best Uniforms: Wake Forest

The ACC has some very intriguing uniform combinations, from the Grimace-inspired all-purple getup of Clemson to the UNC all-blues that would make Papa Smurf proud. Although the Seminoles and Terps both have experimented with all black, the Demon Deacons of Wake Forest do it right.

Jim Grobe's boys don the all-blacks for every ACC home game, and the greatness of the unis is in their simplicity. No multicolor stripes like the all-black duds of FSU. No white helmets offsetting the black jerseys as is the case with the Terps. Just black: basic black uniforms with gold lettering and a whole lot of attitude.

Shifting from the bottom of the barrel just a decade ago to the sleek all-black uniforms let the rest of the ACC know that the Deacs have arrived on the scene.

Best Helmets: Miami

FSU's spears and tomahawk stickers are as crucial to the 'Noles as Bobby Bowden and Renegade. The interlocking NC of the Heels is as recognizable as any in the college football ranks. NC State's giant S and tiny NC has a classical look but strong Wolfpack feel, and BC's basic gold helmet with the lone stripe is about as traditional as it gets.

However, there is only one school that is recognized by a single letter: The U. That orange and green decal on the side of the Hurricane's helmets is uniquely and unabashedly Miami. They don't need to dress it up with stickers: They are the U, and their helmets let the world know.

As simple as the design is, there isn't any doubt that the 'Canes helmet is in the top tier of NCAA headgear along with the likes of Alabama, Nebraska, Michigan, and Penn State.

As it stands now, the ACC has got some solid traditions across the board, and breaking them down to the best and brightest for the sake of ranking them was no small task.

From Chestnut Hill down to Coral Gables, the conference covers more mileage than any other BCS league, and with expansion finalized in 2005, the ACC is still ascending that mountain to the upper echelon of college football.

With a good showing in the 2008 season, the ACC should be well on its way to changing the basketball-first sentiments the league generally evokes.

Why Notre Dame is Not the Most Delusional Fanbase in College Football

Michael Felder — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 11:28:16 -0400

Everyone knows about Notre Dame's legendary status as the most optimistic fan base in college football. From Lou Holtz picking the Domers in every game to their fans truly believing they're on the cusp of winning a national title—to be honest it has become a novelty that college football can't do without.

They're steadfast in their beliefs, they hang together in packs, stick up for one another, and will attack en masse any and all who attempt to oppose or even correct them.

I'd like to reach out and give them a pound, a nice little fist bump because they're the fans who love their team no matter how bad they are. They don't boo, show up late, or leave early. They love those Golden Domers and they don't necessarily need a decent or recent reason to. It's great.

However, all good things must come to an end, and sadly enough I feel that there is a fan base that has risen up to overtake that number one spot.

The new number one belongs to the fans of one Appalachian State University from Boone, North Carolina.

That's right. App State has risen up and slain yet another of college football's titans. First Michigan in the Big House, now Notre Dame at the alter of delusional team adulation.

App State you say? Not crazed 'Bama fan or Big Ten guy who swears there isn't a talent gap? Not Arizona fan who thinks Stoops will finally get them on track or Syracuse fan who still thinks the Orangemen are just a year away from Jim Brown or at least the McNabb days?

No, it has to be App. The tiny little mountain school has risen up to a level of optimism of such epic proportions that its tough to see where the myth that is Appalachian State even begins.

Sure if you're in Ohio, Idaho, California, or Maryland, somewhere out of the reach of the "other" Mountaineers you still see them as a feel good story. The Michigan game exposed them to the world, their three national titles are cute. Everything is all warm and fuzzy when its still at arm's length.

If you're in any of the states surrounding App, it's a completely different story. By the way that'd be Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina for those of you who still didn't know that App was in North Carolina.

Living in Charlotte, which has a plethora of newly unearthed Mountaineer fans, the mindless drivel spewed by their fan base is a daily obstacle that sensible folks encounter.

There have been some clever arguments kicked around by App fans, including teams in DI-A being scared of them and the idea that they should be a top-25 team, but recently two legitimate arguments posed by fans almost made me drive my car into a ditch.

There are Appalachian State fans out there that believe:

1) Armanti Edwards is better than Tim Tebow and Pat White.

2) Appalachian State is going to walk out of Tiger Stadium with the pelt of Mike VI slung over its shoulder to use as a rug.

Pause for a second to wrap your brain around those two ideas.

Tim Tebow, the reigning Heisman winner, SEC quarterback who battles NFL caliber defenders on a game-by-game basis.

Pat White, the most dangerous quarterback in the nation, one of the fastest players nationwide, Fiesta Bowl MVP.

Doesn't matter the accolades the two have amassed because Armanti Edwards of Appalachian State is better than both of them. They can't hold his jock.

I'm not making this stuff up people.

Edwards is generously listed at 6'0" 178 pounds. Very generously. That listing would make him several pounds lighter than the 185ish pound Pat White.

Obviously beaten down by the Michigan defense, Edwards struggled mightily throughout the season as App struggled all year, dropping two games before going on to win the title.

Keep in mind this is against the hulking mammoths of Wofford, Georgia Southern, Elon, and Western Carolina—just to name a few of the grinders he was going through.

Edwards, at a division one FBS program would spend more time in the training room than Gilbert Brown spent at the dinner table. Whether it's the Big East, the ACC, or SEC the caliber of player would send the spindly legged quarterback to the cold tub, if not the hospital, quite quickly.

Yes he beat Michigan, but could he stand to play Michigan every week? Please don't kid yourself into thinking that he can.

Throwing fuel on the argument is this crazy idea that if he had Florida's talent he could better Tebow's season from 2007. People actually think this—again, I'm just the messenger. I let the people speak and I listen.

Edwards is a really good I-AA quarterback. He's amazing to watch scoot around the field, but in Tim Tebow, barring injury, we're witnessing one of the greatest college football players of all time. Tebow is an animal that the sport has never seen before and he keeps getting better.

Another branch of this testament to Edwards' greatness is the idea that Edwards might pick up and take his show to the NFL after the season as a junior.

Yes people from Appalachian State are actually worried Edwards might bolt for the pros after he performs yet another unbelievable upset, single handedly pimp slapping around all of Division I-A to steal the Heisman from all the FBS worthy candidates. But then again, when you're better than Tebow and White, that's how you roll I guess.

As ridiculously blind as the first point was, this second point is what truly forced Notre Dame out of their number one spot: The idea of LSU losing to Appalachian State. Just saying it gives me a headache because my brain can't even wrap itself around the concept.

Oh I know people said App didn't stand a chance in 2007 going up to the Big House. Folks said they were crazy for buying tickets and making the journey to Ann Arbor. I understand that last year the Mountaineers did the impossible.

To that I have one thing to say: this is 2008.

So let's state the obvious—first, you're not going to sneak up on LSU the way you snuck up on Michigan, and when they woke up it was too late. The last thing the Bayou Bengals need is the embarrassment of allowing App to make a game of this first ever FCS and FBS champions meeting.

Appalachian State is on the Tiger's radar, and they're a massive aircraft carrier of a blip, not a tiny two man gun boat blip.

A large contingent of fans base their reasoning on this statement: "We have Armanti Edwards, but LSU doesn't know who their quarterback is."

Doesn't matter.

If Les Miles put Nick Nolte, Kerri Strug, and Danny DeVito in a bag and shook it up, whoever he pulled out could start against App State for a game. That is how inconsequential the quarterback is in the App vs LSU equation.

LSU's massive front lines have just as much speed as many of App's skill players, they're in a different stratosphere talent wise, and this gap is going to be revealed quite quickly as the Tigers quickly start to roll the boys from Boone.

Of course using the backward logic of Mountaineers fans this will be anything but a blowout. Here's the reasoning in short:

App beat Michigan::Michigan beat Florida::Florida only lost to LSU by four

ergo App should be close enough to win the game late.

Makes since right?

Yeah, not to me either.

The Michigan game was nice, it was a great 15 minutes of fame. The blocked field goal did more for the school in 20 seconds than the rest of the university has accomplished in school history.

Applications are up, donations are up, and attendance is the highest ever. Slow clap for that guys, it's impressive. The dream has been running since September 2007 and was intensified by the third title, but 5:00 pm on August 30th the Mountaineers get roused from their fairytale slumber.

Why 2007 Phenom Dwight Jones Should Leave Valdosta St. for UNC

Michael Felder — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 07:33:34 -0400

Do you remember Dwight Jones?

The fourth-ranked receiver in the nation in 2007, Jones spurned the likes of Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, and Clemson to commit to his home state Tar Heels and new coach Butch Davis.

After struggling with academic qualifying, Jones, Davis, and the Heels realized that prep school would be necessary for the wide receiver to become a part of the UNC football program. Thus, in August 2007 the Burlington, NC native enrolled in Hargrave Military Academy.

Jones worked in the classroom, field, and weight room in anticipation of returning to North Carolina for the second summer session, along with the rest of the incoming freshmen. Then, for the second time, plans went awry.

Dwight Jones didn't qualify again—the NCAA Clearinghouse said Jones didn't have the required number of credits to permit him to enroll at a Division I university.

With that news out, Division II schools started calling, and Dwight Jones, the mega recruit, settled on a little school in south Georgia—Valdosta State.

The Blazers welcomed Jones as they opened practice on August 1st. The super freshman thrilled their staff and was quickly made one of the focal points of their pass-happy attack.

Alas, that was not the last wrench chucked into Dwight Jones' football career.

Turns out that over the summer the NCAA Clearinghouse—being the model of efficiency and thoroughness they are—made a mistake in filing his qualification papers. Jones graduated high school in 2007, but the Clearinghouse utilized the 2008 standards to assess his eligibility standing.

The difference? Two high school credits.

Seniors graduating in 2007 needed 14 credits to be eligible for Division I competition. 2008 seniors required 16 credits for eligibility.

This news broke on the fifth of August as Jones was heading into his fourth preseason workout. The outstanding wideout is faced with a tremendous decision—should he stay or should he go?

The Heels definitely need Jones, but he would also benefit greatly from making the decision to leave Division II Valdosta State.

Carolina Still Needs Dwight

Jones' presence alone would immediately improve the depth of the Tar Heels' receiving core. He would also give Butch Davis the big, dynamic receiver that the Heels have been lacking for several years.

Dwight Jones has the ability to step into the role vacated by Greg Little with Little's move to tailback. He could be the target in the middle, second return man, and runner of reverses as Little did in 2007.

Even if redshirted, Jones would give Butch Davis serious insulation against the departure of Brooks Foster, Brandon Tate, and Hakeem Nicks in the next two seasons.

These reasons are pretty clear. While they're important for the program, they pale in comparison to the true reasons why Dwight Jones should enroll at the old NCU.

Dwight Jones Still Needs Carolina

Entering Carolina, Jones has the very real opportunity to contribute as the second return man, as well as the third and fourth receiver.

The move would allow Jones to play on the big stage, nationally televised games for a big name university in collegiate athletics. It also gives Dwight Jones the chance to play against a top tier competition level, as opposed to Division II-quality opponents.

UNC has the strength and conditioning programs, equipment and facilities to allow Jones to improve individually.

Coach Butch Davis knows not only what it takes to be a quality college football player, but to also play at that NFL level.

The academic community of UNC has the resources to help Jones succeed in the classroom. The academic support staff is capable of providing tutors, advisers, and study sessions that smaller universities cannot afford.

UNC has a proven track record in its academic support department. Prep school players such as Justin Phillips and Kareen Taylor have flourished under the guidance of UNC's academic staff and shown that with dedication they can succeed in the classroom and on the field.

Jones also has the examples of Jawarski Pollok and Michael Waddell, two partial qualifiers who worked to graduate on time in order to earn their final season of eligibility.

On the surface it is quite clear that UNC would greatly benefit on the field from the enrollment of Dwight Jones.

However, a look beneath the surface shows that the young man from Burlington would come out the winner in the move.

His education at a top tier university would be paramount as his dreams of the NFL became a real possibility. Hopefully the decision will be made soon, and hopefully the young man will be sitting in Carroll Hall and eating at Lenoir come the fall term.

Here Comes Carolina Tar Heels: Five Players Every ACC Fan Needs To Know

Michael Felder — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 09:16:05 -0400

The Tar Heels are on everyone's short list of teams that are poised to make that big leap ahead during the 2008 college football season. Every preview magazine, television show and newspaper is touting TJ Yates, Brandon Tate, Greg Little and Hakeem Nicks as the player on the cusp of breaking out on the national scale.

On the regional scale players like Marvin Austin, Deunta Williams, Trimane Goddard and Tydreke Powell are getting press on the defensive side of the ball.

Heck, even incoming freshmen Jamal Womble, Kevin Reddick, Zach Brown and Quinton Coples have gotten ink as possible additions contributing to Tar Heel success this upcoming season.

Here are five Heels; mentioned only in passing if at all during the hyping of the Carolina 2008 season, that are incredibly essential to the Tar Heels' successes.

Cam Thomas, Vince Jacobs, Jordan Hemby, EJ Wilson and Ryan Taylor

They're all on the defensive side of the ball and each of these guys has got something to prove heading into 2008.

Cam Thomas (6'3", 330 pounds)

Thomas is a soft-spoken mountain of a man playing his fourth season of college football and has serious designs on truly being the middle of Carolina's defense. While Austin, Mullins and Powell are known for their ability to chase down quarterbacks, Thomas is the truest run stopper of the group.

The redshirt junior isn't a sack man, although he did manage one sack in limited action in 2007, he is the plug within the Tar Heels' interior line. He is capable of occupying two linemen; freeing Quan Sturdivant, Bruce Carter, Chase Rice and Ryan Paschal to flow freely to the football.

Thomas' massive size isn't his largest asset, that title belongs to his unselfish attitude and willingness to sacrifice personal stat sheet successes in exchange for team success on the field. His efforts will go largely unnoticed by most casual fans but, without Cam the Tar Heel linebacking core will struggle mightily to fight off blockers and make tackles near the line of scrimmage.

As a player Thomas has been steadfastly determined to succeed in getting better on a daily basis. During his redshirt season on scout team Thomas was an 18-year-old kid working to lead through hard work, possessing a fun loving but no nonsense approach to the game and an insatiable appetite for improvement.

That situation has created a kid who is a leader from the rear. Pushing himself to be great all the while working to raise the level of play of those around him. Look for #93 this season whenever Tar Heel tacklers are gobbling up ball carriers at the line, he won't be hard to spot.

Vince Jacobs (6'6", 235 pounds)

Jacobs strolled into Chapel Hill as a nationally ranked tight end phenom and one of the overall best prospects in the state. His highly touted status got him in the door but his tweener body style left him out of the musical chair dance that had become the Tar Heel tight end position.

This logjam at tight end saw Richard Quinn and new comers Ed Barham and Zach Pianalto receiving the bulk of the reps and Jacobs was one of the odd men out. He played sparingly in 2007 after redshirting 2006 and it appeared his future was being relegated to the special teams for the remainder of his career.

However, Butch Davis and his staff saw the raw talent and athletic skill set Jacobs possessed, so they took a flyer on moving the talented ex-Providence Day star to defensive end during the spring of 2008. This switch may prove to be genius as Jacobs has already shown a knack for disrupting backfields.

With the departure of Hilee Taylor the Tar Heels have lost their speed-rushing specialist, in Jacobs, it seems they have found another demon to come off the corner and terrorize ACC quarterbacks. Currently listed at 240 pounds and looking to get close to 250, it'll be interesting to see how Jacobs' body handles the extra size. Hilee's frame never truly accommodated the weight gain that might have improved his durability.

Though it is no small task to replace last year's sack leader Taylor, Jacobs does have the physical tools to make a significant impact: An All-State track performer, high jumped 6'6" and a basketball state and AAU champion.

On third and long don't be surprised to see this 6'6" tight end turned defensive end coming off the corner doing his best George Selvie impersonation.

Jordan Hemby (5'10", 185 pounds)

Hemby got to school in 2005 with high expectations. Marvin Sanders, the Heels defensive coordinator, expected him to hit the field and immediately contribute. This was not in the cards for the Morganton Freedom stud, he was instead redshirted.

After a season working with the scout team and a full spring to heal his body and his ego Jordan waltzed into 2006 ready to be the impact player the Heels were looking for in the secondary. Again, it wasn't to be. Hemby tore his ACL in the 52-7 debacle at Clemson.

In 2007 Hemby was a strong contributor for the Heels special teams as he worked to learn the system under Chuck Pagano. Now fully healthy in 2008 the redshirt junior looks to crack the Tar Heel rotation in the secondary.

This will be no small task with established, experienced competition in Charles Brown and Kendrick Burney. However the depth that Hemby is able to provide may be his biggest asset. The junior will finally get to show what he can do in games and after impressing in practice for stretches it will be a treat to see the kid get to perform under the lights.

Expect to see Hemby contribute largely on special teams and possibly in Carolina's special packages such as nickel and dime schemes that put more defensive backs into the game.

EJ Wilson (6'2", 280 pounds)

The lone experience at the end position for Carolina, Wilson's 5 sacks in 2007 were overshadowed by his linemates first round pick Kentwan Balmer and sack leader Hilee Taylor. EJ is a true defensive end, he plays the run and pass equally well and EJ's "well" is quite exceptional.

Before finding this home at the end spot Wilson bounced around between fullback and tight end. He showed his ability at d-end on the scout team during his redshirt year on the Hill. Wilson put his hand down and squared off against Brian Chacos, Charleston Gray and Chris Woods during offensive team periods even though he was still technically a tight end.

Wilson's debut in 2006 was a rocky but promising start, as the kid from Brunswick High School worked to adjust from an offensive player to a defensive stopper. As the season wore on he showed flashes of what he could become if given a more substantial role.

Last season saw EJ play a larger role, yet still was not truly the leader on the defensive line. Even after starting all 12 games last season most Carolina fans don't mention Wilson as the rising star of the defense.

With the upgraded secondary play and increased playing time, including third downs this season, the redshirt junior's stats should increase as they have at every turn in his short Tar Heel career. EJ is already on the NFL's radar and with some polish this kid could become the next great Tar Heel defensive lineman.

Ryan Taylor (6'3", 240 pounds)

There's a lot to be said about the Mount Tabor tight end turned h-back turned linebacker. He's a physical phenom, a great blend of size and speed that wowed folks coming out of high school.

Taylor's growth as an offensive and defensive player has been severely retarded both by the coaching transition and the position switches. Originally recruited during the Bunting Era, Ryan was expected to be a skull cracker of a blocking tight end, capable of stoning ends and linebackers as well as converting third downs and making red zone plays.

Coming to linebacker in the spring didn't help Taylor, he was forced to quickly grasp a scheme and position that was completely alien to him. However, he's been able to settle into his reserve linebacker role and is steadily improving on his contributions.

While the offensive and defensive aspects of his game have struggled his special teams contributions have remained an unwavering constant.

Ryan Taylor is one of those rare breed of players that loves the teams. He takes great pride in his work on all four core teams and he brings an almost savage attitude with him to the field. Taylor is the type of kid who doesn't mind sacrificing his body as long as the other guy gets it a little worse.

While the linebacking position is filled with a host of talented players, expect to see Ryan Taylor #49 flying down the football field in the fall during kickoff, punt, punt return and kickoff return.

With the increase in depth and talent on special teams Taylor's leadership will come in handy in maintaining order during the chaos of the kickoff. He will be the conductor of the brutal symphonies that are Carolina's critical special teams battles.

Here Comes Carolina Tar Heels: 2008 Defensive Preview

Michael Felder — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 09:11:12 -0400

The 2007 edition Tar Heels finished the year ranked 35th in the nation in total defense; a drastic improvement from a year ago and a pleasant surprise for Butch Davis' young squad. In 2008, with twelve significantly experienced returnees, the Heels look to make the jump to a top 20 defensive squad.

While Chuck Pagano has left for the NFL, Davis' new hire Everett Withers has seen plenty of success from the 4-3 scheme. His stint at Texas with Mack Brown from 1998-2000, as well the stint with the NFL's Titans from 2001-2006, have truly proven Withers' worth as a coach.

With Everett Withers at the helm this still young but now tremendously experienced unit, looks to propel the Heels into the top of 2008's NCAA defensive rankings.

Defensive Line

Let's start up front with the foundation of any defensively sound team, the d-line. At the interior spots the Heels have both talent and depth. Marvin Austin showed flashes justifying his status as an elite defensive tackle last season; registering 26 tackles, 6 tackles for loss and 4 sacks in 2007.

Aleric Mullins and Tydreke Powell will help fill out the rotation and should both play as advertised; meaning very well. In Mullins, Powell and Austin the Heels can expect to get a serious surge from the interior line, helping to push the pocket back and disrupt the quarterback.

Another major player in this defensive tackle rotation is redshirt junior Cam Thomas. The 6-3, 325 pound junior is a pure run stuffing tackle who will keep his linebackers clean. Thomas will be one of the key cogs in UNC moving up in the rankings by lowering rushing numbers.

Defensive end is another story as the only known commodity heading into 2007 is redshirt junior EJ Wilson. Wilson showed inklings of brilliance in 2007, as he was a johnny on the spot defender piling up 5 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries and 9.5 tackles for losses. Wilson, once a reserve fullback and tight end has settled nicely into the defensive end spot and looks to push for an All-ACC season.

Auditioning for the role of Wilson's bookend will be the highly touted trio Darrius Massenburg, Darius Powell and Greg Elleby. Currently the three sophomores' combined production is a pedestrian 18 tackles and 3 tackles for loss. They'll all three need to blossom with more field time in order to rotate fresh bodies at the end position and spell Wilson.

Overall the defensive line is a solid unit, especially at the interior. Should one of the younger ends emerge as the clear dominating force needed opposite Wilson the Heels should cause problems for opposing quarterbacks and running backs.

Linebackers

The loss of Durrell Mapp to graduation and Wesley Flagg to a dismissal have left the Heels thin in terms of linebacking depth with game experience. Only Quan Sturdivant, Bruce Carter, Chase Rice and Mark Paschal have seen true, in game experience.

It'll be up to this group to lead the youthful, inexperienced linebacking corp for the Heels. The cerebral leader Rice, the bull doggedly reliable Paschal and the two athletically gifted, fast learning sophomores Quan Sturdivant and Bruce Carter.

Chase Rice, the cerebral elder statesman returns focused and grounded after a tumultuous offseason, and an injury that caused him to miss 2007, his true senior season.

Paschal is another four-year contributor and is an old school downhill player who could be key in Carolina's run stuffing in 2008. He gets to the line in a hurry and he's at his best playing the run and attacking the line of scrimmage.

Sturdivant and Carter are solid linebackers who also have good wheels, they'll be crucial in the UNC coverage game as well as the blitz packages. These two young guys are converted high school quarterbacks still learning to play the college defensive game. Their continued development will be crucial to Withers' defensive success.

Look for young talent such as Kevin Reddick and Zach Brown to make their way into the rotation as Butch Davis continues to work to put the most talented group of players out there on the field.

Defensive Backs

While Butch Davis' great defensive teams at Miami featured names like Johnathan Vilma, Dan Morgan, Kennard Lang and Vince Wilfork, the secondary play was always the calling card of Davis' teams. Slowly Davis is bringing that to the Tar Heels squad.

Entering 2008 the Heels have arguably the second best defensive backfield in the ACC (Clemson's mature, experienced group is without a doubt the current league gold standard).

Fifth year senior Trimane Goddard returns to anchor this young talented group. Goddard has played in some 35 games in his three seasons on the field and is without question the most experienced Heel on the defensive side of the ball. He's a steady player at the safety spot and is as reliable as they come.

Cornerbacks Kendrick Burney and Charles Brown have emerged as the cocky, confident stoppers at the edge that every successful defense requires. Both are capable of forcing the issue, evidenced in their combined totals of 109 tackles and 9.5 tackles for loss in 2007.

Their coverage ability lives up to their run stopping, as they both were successful in the back end last season. They will need to up both their interception numbers and passes defensed in order to progress to the next level.

But as these sophomores grow into their roles that should not be a problem. Having Withers, an experienced teacher will surely aid in their continued development.

While Goddard, Brown and Burney have improved the Heels' backfield the addition of ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year Deunta Williams has truly galvanized the Tar Heel secondary. The sophomore looks to build upon his successes of a year ago and move into the realm of the elite safeties in the country.

Butch Davis, a man who has been around all-pros Ed Reed and Sean Taylor, knows great safety play and has had nothing but glowing remarks concerning the play of Williams. This sophomore season Williams has to take that major step in living up to the lofty expectations that come following a strong rookie campaign.

The former receiver's versatility in coverage, ball skills and insatiable taste for big hits should give the Tar Heels the lift they've needed in the back end.

As a unit the secondary is the best the defense has to offer and this group has a chance to do something special in Chapel Hill in 2008. Along with the four returning starters expect to see names like Johnny White and Richie Rich, two converted running backs and Jordan Hemby get into the Tar Heels secondary rotation.

White and Rich have shown promise after being switched to defense during the 2007 season. Hemby has battled injury problems, but when healthy has shown serious potential, albeit on the practice fields.

Due Up Next The UNC Special Teams Preview...

Here Comes Carolina: 2008 UNC Football Offensive Preview

Michael Felder — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:00:42 -0400

A three-point loss to ECU. A two-point loss to Virginia. A seven-point loss in Blacksburg to No. 17 Virginia Tech. A six-point loss to then-No. 7 South Carolina. A four-point loss in Raleigh to rivals NC State. A two-point loss in Bobby Dodd to Georgia Tech.

That's right—six losses by a total of twenty-four points. Six losses by a touchdown or less. Six games that were simply a tipped ball, a dropped pass, a made field goal, or a third down conversion away from being Tar Heel wins instead of losses.

In 2008, the Tar Heel offense looks to make these results go the other way.

Similarly to the team entering 2007, this 2008 offensive unit features plenty of talent at every position. The difference is the level of experience.

While 2007 saw only four players with significant experience open the season, this year's edition features some 15 offensive players who've seen a good amount of quality playing time.

Lets take a look at the this older, more experienced 2008 edition of the Carolina Tar Heels.

Quarterback

At the headlining position of the college football world sits the signal caller. Since the departure of Darian Durant in 2004, the Tar Heels have started four quarterbacks in three seasons. Teams live and die with quarterback success, so the emergence of T.J. Yates should restore confidence and stability to this previously shaky position.

Now 21 years old, T.J. Yates had a solid freshman campaign in which he broke the UNC single-season passing yardage record, throwing for 2,655 yards on 218 of 365 attempts. However, his touchdown to interception ratio of 14:18 was one of many direct contributors to the Tar Heels' struggles.

As a 20-year-old kid, new to the college game and extremely inexperienced, Yates struggled late in the season as teams threw different blitz packages, fronts, and secondary coverages at him. The young quarterback also battled through shoulder pain during the second half of the season.

This shoulder pain led to surgery in the offseason, a procedure that forced Yates to watch from the sidelines while redshirt freshman Mike Paulus and redshirt junior Cam Sexton dueled in the spring.

Paulus is the prototypical pocket passer, while Sexton is a slim speedy guy with a big arm. These two highly touted recruits took advantage of Yates' absence to get reps with the first team, experience that will prove invaluable to the Heels as a team.

Sexton and Paulus battled over the 15 practices, with the younger QB inching ahead in the final weeks of spring ball. The battle between these two talents should be exciting entering fall camp, with the winner garnering the number two spot.

Heading into 2008, a healthy T.J. Yates should keep his starting job, maintaining the ever-elusive continuity at the quarterback spot that is so crucial in college football—and a luxury that UNC hasn't been afforded since 2004.

Running Back

Last year saw a running back by committee with Anthony Elzy, Ryan Houston, and Johnny White all seeing significant time at the running back position. None of them were able to truly establish themselves as THE back, and UNC's disappointing run production of 99.5 yards per game clearly reflects this.

Enter Greg Little. Butch Davis believes this wide receiver turned running back has what it takes to become the next in a long line of great UNC running backs. In his two games at the tailback position, Little amassed 243 yards and two touchdowns on a workman's diet of 50 carries.

The kid shows promise, and he's critical to the Heels' success. They need Little to become the first 1,000-yard rusher since Jonathan Linton in 1997 to take the heat off Yates and keep defenses honest.

Over the offseason Little has grown into a running back body, and he showed flashes of brilliance in the spring scrimmage at Kenan. His dynamic playmaking ability has transitioned nicely to the running back position. As a threat to run or catch the ball, Little will be dangerous whenever he is in the backfield.

While last year's leading rusher Johnny White has been moved to defense, both Anthony Elzy and Ryan Houston return to the position. Both are capable runners who excel between the tackles in short yardage situations and don't shy away from contact. Another plus for both players is their ability to pass protect and catch the ball out of the backfield.

Don't be surprised if Devon Ramsay, who had some strong showings in the spring, also contributes in relief of Little. Incoming freshman Jamal Womble may see minutes as well.

Wide Receiver

Stability is the word of the day for Carolina's receiving corps. 218 of UNC's 220 receptions—99 percent—return for the 2008 season. This unit is, without a doubt, one of the strongest in the league.

Hakeem Nicks is the centerpiece of the group. The junior seems sure to shatter every career receiving record at UNC. With two seasons left, he's just over 800 yards shy of breaking Corey Holliday's career mark, and a mere 64 receptions short of Jawarski Pollock's record.

Nicks has truly grown into an elite receiver in every sense of the word. Expect his first 1,000-yard season in 2008 after finishing some 42 yards shy in 2007.

Returning to join Nicks is the duo of Brandon Tate and Brooks Foster. Tate, known primarily for his superb return skills, proved his offensive worth last season, catching five touchdowns and averaging 19.9 yards per catch. Tate is truly a highlight waiting to happen.

Foster, the elder statesmen of the group, is a great athlete who made big catches in spots for the Heels last year but must increase his production in 2008.

For those close to the program, Bobby Brooks Foster's feats of effortlessly fluid athleticism in the weight room, practice, and scrimmages are common knowledge. In his final year on the Hill, he must now bring those spectacular plays to Kenan on Saturdays.

Junior Kenton Thornton and (R) freshman Rashad Mason, two big bodies at 6'4", 230 and 6'5", 220 respectively, need to become reliable options to help keep drives alive and make big red zone plays.

Tight end Zack Pianalto was the biggest receiving threat out of the three-man rotation of Ed Barham, Pianalto, and Richard Quinn. His 24 receptions were good for fourth on the team. This season the experienced sophomore should see his role increase as John Shoop opens up the playbook and gives Yates more options to exploit defenses.

Offensive Linemen

Along with receiver, the O-Line is the most veteran, experienced unit on the offensive side of the ball. Kyle Jolly, Aaron Stahl, Calvin Darity, Garrett Reynolds, and Lowell Dyer, all with starting experience, return for Butch Davis.

Bryan Bishop, a redshirt senior, steps into the guard spot vacated by Stahl's move to center. Having Jolly next to him should bring the senior up to speed quickly and make the left side of the line quite formidable.

On the right side of the line, Darity and Reynolds look to form a terrific power. Darity has started 24 games in a row, while Reynolds has been playing steadily since his freshman season in 2005 and has started 19 games at right tackle.

These two quality linemen are the the backbone of the offense—two seniors leading by example and showing the hard work and dogged determination required to succeed in the ACC.

While solid and experienced up front, the key will be getting younger linemen like Mike Ingersoll, Alan Pelc, Kevin Bryant, and Carl Gaskins into the rotation. These young players need to get reps to insulate the unit against injury and a severe dropoff.

The projected starters have the size (6'4.5", 302 lbs. on average), talent, and experience to turn the tides on Carolina's rushing woes and keep T.J. Yates' jersey clean in 2008.

If the Heels can get some experience for their young O-linemen, this unit should be a force in the ACC this coming season, as well as the years to come.

UNC Defensive and Special Teams Unit Previews Due Out Next...

Every QB's Nightmare: Penn State's Maurice Evans & South Florida's George Selvie

Michael Felder — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:19:59 -0400

Long before their multimillion dollar deals and signing bonuses Dwight Freeney, Julius Peppers, and Jevon Kearse struck fear into the hearts of quarterbacks.

In the world of college football these men kept offensive tackles up for nights, gave offensive coordinators nightmares, and made tight ends and running backs fret endlessly over their max protect assignments.

In 2008 there is an incredibly talented group set to terrorize backfields all over the country:

Massive 6-foot-5, 292-pound beast Tyson Jackson at LSU

The returning SEC sack leader Greg Hardy of Ole Miss

Speedy Brian Orakpo of Texas

The prototypical, yet often injured, Tim Jamison of Michigan

The two names that have been bandied about as the most impressive defensive end talents heading into 2008 are George Selvie of South Florida and Maurice Evans of Penn State. They boast two very different styles of end play that both produce tremendous results on the field.

Selvie and Evans, the 2008 Defensive End Battle at the Top.

Maurice Evans (6'2", 264 pounds)

In 2007 Maurice Evans led the nation's most sack-happy defense with 12.5 sacks, and in his 2008 junior campaign he looks to increase that number. Although the Nittany Lions will miss Sean Lee (the outside linebacker is out for all of 2008 with a torn ACL), Evans and the front seven return enough talent to truly wreak havoc on the Big Ten.

While the glamorous 12.5 quarterback sacks won Maurice his national recognition, his dirty work in the trenches is what has solidified his status among the elite.

He is a guy who is extremely stout in the run game.

For the Nittany Lions, Evans is not only capable of holding his edge to keep containment against sweeps and zone blocking schemes, but the junior also does a great job of closing down on the inside power run.

Maurice is powerful enough to push tackles back, getting separation, and quick enough to disengage from the block and make a sure tackle at or behind the line. This was evidenced in his 21.5 tackles for loss in 2007.

In the pass game, Evans is able to use that same combination of power and quickness to get to the quarterback. He has a good repertoire of pass rush moves and is reasonably adept at using the swim move, rip, and straight speed rush to force the issue.

Defensive coordinator Tom Bradley does a great job in his use of Evans as well as the rest of PSU's front with his stunts, games, and blitz packages. Bringing Evans inside from the end position creates gaps the junior is able to exploit for sacks and tackles.

Evans' most spectacular play came on an inside slant against Indiana. He slanted left, inside from his right end position, getting a clear path to the quarterback through the A gap. He pushed up-field for the sack, forcing a fumble, which he promptly scooped and carried 55 yards into Hoosier territory.

Although the statistics are there in his tackles for loss (21.5), sacks (12.5), and forced fumbles (five), the junior is not without deficiencies.

Evans does a tremendous job of putting up numbers physically, but he's not as talented as many of the other defensive ends entering 2008. He's a very compact player with short arms and legs that, at times, hamper his ability to separate from blockers.

His lack of a true, consistent speed burst is a problem that presents itself against quality tackles in the pass game. Against the top four teams in the Big Ten (Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio St.), Maurice Evans was only able to get to the quarterback twice (both against Wisconsin).

Evans is a force at defensive end, and though there are flaws in his game he is definitely the best end in the Big Ten.

George Selvie (6'4", 242 pounds)

While Evans lacks a true speed burst, the only accurate way to describe South Florida Bull George Selvie's pass rush is explosive. The lean junior blasted on to the college football big screen in 2007 with a nation leading 31.5 tackles for loss.

He also racked up 14.5 sacks, good for second in the country.

As the reigning sack master in college football, Selvie is a specimen. In college football lingo, he's a perfect candidate to be the first guy off the bus. Tall, athletic, and with plenty of room to grow, the sky is the limit for this kid.

Selvie's repertoire of moves isn't refined yet, but his spin move and swim are quite adequate for freeing him up to pounce on quarterbacks. He is also capable of running slants and stunts down inside to put quick pressure on offensive fronts and change the pace of the game.

With that said, George Selvie's best move is without a doubt his speed rush off the corner. On the snap of the ball he is shot from a cannon, running the hump before most offensive tackles have a shot at getting a hand on him.

Selvie is truly impossible to block one-on-one.

Although pass rushing is Selvie's forte, the junior is surprisingly strong in his run defense. He plays sound technique football; staying home against runs opposite him, squeezing down the line against inside runs, and holding his edge against runs at his end position.

His game is almost flawless; almost. Selvie's production began to taper off at the end of 2007 due to the excessive amount of double teams used against him and a newly found propensity for teams to run plays away from his position.

These two strategies combined to significantly lessen his impact, and after the UCF blowout Selvie was limited to only three sacks and 10 tackles for loss. Still stellar numbers, but they amount to less than a third of his total production from over half his season.

When given the chance, Selvie is truly a monster, and he'll go into 2008 with weighty expectations atop his shoulders.

The Verdict

Maurice Evans, the high motor guy who at times seems powerful enough to run through a brick wall.

George Selvie, the dynamic athlete who makes a meal out of quarterbacks.

Both guys are special players, and essential to the success of their respective programs. Penn State seems poised to lead the nation in sacks yet again, while South Florida appears to be West Virginia's toughest Big East competition.

George Selvie is a truly talented player who is capable of getting to the quarterback at the drop of a hat, and his speed makes him a threat to disrupt on every play.

Maurice Evans is the anchor of a solid Penn State defense and he is truly a special player in the Big Ten for 2008. This Nittany Lion is definitely going to be spending ample time in backfields across the Midwest.

Despite having a strong sophomore campaign and a great motor, Maurice Evans can't truly be called the best defensive end in college football; not as long as Georgie Selvie lines up for USF.

Selvie is a great blend of size and speed and he is without a doubt the most threatening player to the opposition's quarterbacks. The junior mixes solid technical execution with outstanding physical traits to get the job done.

George Selvie is a great college football player and his blend of great pass rushing, quarterback destroying skills, and run stopping, scheme-specific performance make him college football's Best Defensive End in 2008.

Saturday Night Special: Your 15-Week 2008 College Football Road Map

Michael Felder — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:06:15 -0400

The college football season is fast approaching, and 2008 is packed full of stellar games. After looking at the schedule, the rankings and some of the BCS bowl games and BCS title implications, here is the list of 2008's most significant games. There are BCS top tier matchups and intriguing storylines, as well as BCS busters that should be on everyone's radar.

Aug. 30: Illinois vs. Missouri (St. Louis, MO)

This is the best opening week game by far, featuring two top 20-caliber teams coming off surprisingly successful 2007 campaigns. Juice Williams and Chase Daniel will be the centerpieces of this first Saturday matchup, with Arrelious Benn and Jeremy Maclin served up as an exciting side dish.

The first significant point to note in this game will be seeing Mizzou and Illinois work to replace Tony Temple and Rashard Mendenhall, respectively. Replacing the leading rushers will be no small task, and neither team returns an experienced ball carrier.

Watching two underrated defenses battle to stop the dynamic and potent offenses each team has will shed some light on how the Big XII and Big Ten seasons may progress.

Other games of interest: Clemson vs. Alabama (Atlanta, GA), Utah @ Michigan, Michigan St. @ Cal, Appalachian St. @ LSU

Sep. 6: West Virginia @ ECU (Greenville,NC)

The first of three tough non-conference games for WVU pits them against an ECU team picked to walk away with the C-USA title. Bill Stewart brings his high-powered offense into Dowdy-Ficklen, where the Pirates will be looking to avenge last year's 48-7 embarrassment in Morgantown.

This will be 2008's first real test for the rookie coach Stewart as he enters a hostile environment determined to get Skip Holtz a marquee win against a BCS big shot. The Purple Haze defense returns nine starters and plenty of experience and depth.

Skip Holtz and his quarterback duo of pocket passer Rob Kass and the athletic Patrick Pinkney will look to challenge a young, inexperienced Mountaineer defense. The sixth of September could shape up to be quite an intriguing matchup.

Other games of interest: Miami @ Florida, BYU @ Washington

Sep. 13: Ohio State @ Southern Cal (Los Angeles, CA)

Without a doubt the marquee matchup of the 2008 season, the storylines for this top five showdown write themselves.

Beanie Wells, the preseason All-American running back, facing off against a defense anchored by Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushing, and Taylor Mays.

Mark Sanchez, the unproven talent, against Ohio State's physical and experienced defense.

The fiery, flamboyant, Hollywood Pete Carroll against the stoic, reserved, blue collar Jim Tressel.

The most important storyline is the fact that Ohio State needs this game to retain any hopes for a 2009 BCS title game appearance. Win this game, and perhaps the demons of '06 and '07 will be muted—lose badly, and forget about booking the January flight to Miami.

Other games of interest: UGA @ S. Carolina, Fresno St. @ Wisconsin, UCLA @ BYU

Sep. 20: Georgia @ Arizona State (Tempe, AZ)

Another great non-conference game pitting the uber-talented Georgia team against a sound, quality Sun Devils squad. Dennis Erickson against Mark Richt.

In Matthew Stafford and Rudy Carpenter, you've got two tough, aggressive, and passionate quarterbacks who captain solid pro-style attacks.

This is Georgia's lone quality non-conference contest and should prove to be a good litmus test, especially as the 'Dawgs come off an emotional revenge game in Columbia the week before.

ASU should finish near the top of the Pac-10, and winning this game could serve as a springboard, boosting East Coast recognition and giving the Sun Devils some cache on the national stage.

Other games of interest: Florida @ Tennessee, LSU @ Auburn, VT @ UNC

Sep. 27: Tennessee @ Auburn (Auburn, AL)

This is a serious SEC showdown at Jordan-Hare between two top 20 teams that hope to vie for their respective division titles. Auburn rolls out its new spread attack for Tennessee just a week after playing host to LSU.

Tennessee's Jonathan Crompton will quickly have to learn what a meat grinder the SEC schedule is as he enters this game coming off a home date against the mighty Gators.

Expect Auburn's devastating pass rush to set the tone and Eric Berry and the Vols' D to do the same against an offense that only has five true game weeks in a new scheme.

Other games of interest: VT @ Nebraska, Fresno St. @ UCLA, Penn St. @ Illinois

Oct. 4: Florida St. @ Miami (Dolphins Stadium)

Will either of these teams be ranked in October? Will the game decide the ACC title or preview the Tampa Bay Championship game?

Probably not is the best answer to both questions, but the athletes, talent, and the intensity make this game a must-watch.

There's NFL talent all over the field. Seeing all those 4.4s and 40" verticals creates a game filled with brutal hits, jaw-dropping plays, and a year's worth of bragging rights.

FSU and Miami is never a bad show.

Other games of interest: Ohio St. @ Wisconsin, Oregon @ USC

Oct. 11: Oklahoma vs. Texas (Dallas, TX)

The Red River Shootout winner has gone to the last eight Big XII title games, winning five of them. Under Coach Bob Stoops, the Sooners have really run roughshod through Dallas, having their way with the 'Horns.

This year the pressure will again be on Mack Brown (4-6 against OU) with two disappointing seasons following the '05 national title. The pressure is also on Colt McCoy to perform, but that'll be no small task with inexperience in the backfield and the departure of his favorite target, Limas Sweed.

Sam Bradford, DeMarco Murray, and Jermaine Gresham look to feast on a young Texas defense that gave up 25.3 ppg last season and only returns two starters in their back seven.

Other games of interest: LSU @ Florida, Arizona St. @ USC, Tennessee @ Georgia

Oct. 18: Michigan @ Penn State (University Park, PA)

A quick jaunt into Big Ten country highlights a nice matchup of the old entrenched style of Joe Pa and the new flash that Rich Rodriguez brings to the conference. Rodriguez has high hopes and expectations for his Wolverine squad, and this midseason contest could help him reach more than the seven or eight wins the experts are predicting.

Ranked in the top 25, Joe Pa's team is going to have to overcome the injury to Sean Lee, as well as the loss of Dan Connor to graduation. After underachieving in recent years, Paterno's going to have to capitalize on the talent he's got on the lines and at skill positions before the game and the Rich Rodriguez era pass him by.

Other games of interest: Missouri @ Texas, GT @ Clemson, Kansas @ Oklahoma

Oct. 25: Illinois @ Wisconsin (Madison, WI)

This game highlights the battle for second place in the Big Ten and a very real shot at a BCS bowl bid. Barring slip-ups, both teams should enter this game with one loss and a ton of momentum.

Wisconsin, by late October, should have established a solid option at quarterback to compliment P.J. Hill. Allan Evridge is the leader, and having Travis Beckum as a safety blanket should keep Bret Bielema from going insane.

Illinois needs to find their running back to compliment Juice Williams, and having Arrelious Benn will definitely loosen up eight-man fronts.

In late October, this Big Ten battle should feature solid, fundamentally sound football and stingy defenses pushing to stay in the Big Ten title picture.

Other games of interest: Georgia @ LSU, Oregon @ Arizona St.

Nov. 1: Georgia vs. Florida (Jacksonville, FL)

The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party—aside from Ohio St. at SoCal, this is the most anticipated game of the year as Richt's antics have only served to stir up all the ire of Gator nation.

Even without field storming, mud slinging, and the proximity of the schools, this game would be tops on any list. Four Heisman candidates in Matthew Stafford, Knowshon Moreno, Tim Tebow, and Percy Harvin, along with two aggressive, highly talented defenses and fiery young coaches that push the all the right buttons.

Get ready for mayhem—this game should not only decide the SEC East Champion, it will have serious SEC title and BCS championship implications.

Other games of interest: Nebraska @ Oklahoma, Clemson @ Boston College

Nov. 8: Clemson @ Florida State (Tallahassee, FL)

The Bowden Bowl should be special this year as the tables are turned and Clemson looks to have designs on an Orange Bowl bid. Bobby Bowden and Jimbo Fisher will need this game to try and secure a quality second tier bowl berth.

Both teams will trot out attacking, physical defenses, but only Clemson has the offensive fire power to be a threat on every play. Cullen Harper and company are going to to be the biggest test to date for the 'Noles, and it'll take all of Mickey Andrews' faculties to thwart a Clemson offensive outburst.

Should Christian Ponder to Greg Carr emerge as a formidable duo and Antone Smith build upon last year's success, FSU could make this a very troubling game for Tommy's Tigers.

Other games of interest: Alabama @ LSU, Kansas @ Nebraska

Nov. 15: Georgia @ Auburn (Auburn, AL)

Back in the SEC for yet another weekend, and with good reason—UGA vs AU looks to be a very probable preview of the SEC title game. The Tigers, settling into their spread attack, are talented and fast enough to give the Bulldogs defense a lot of problems.

On the flip side, Auburn also has the depth on the defensive line and the experience at linebacker to try and make Georgia one-dimensional. If Paul Rhoads is able to stop Moreno on the ground, he won't think twice about pinning back Antonio Coleman's ears and sending him after Stafford.

This game will be a heavyweight fight, with both teams limping in proudly after running through a brutal SEC schedule.

Other games of interest: Ohio St. @ Illinois, USC @ Stanford, Texas @ Kansas, Rutgers @ USF

Nov. 22: Brigham Young @ Utah

This battle of the two Utah powers is a great game off the BCS conference path and could have some serious BCS possibilities. There's a chance, albeit unlikely, that both teams can navigate their first eleven games successfully and head into this final week undefeated.

Should Utah escape Michigan in their opener, and BYU not stumble against a questionable UCLA squad, this game would be for all the marbles, making it must-see TV.

Either way, the Mountain West's two best programs will be squaring off in Salt Lake City, and with BYU's potent offense against Utah's solid pass defense, this Saturday should be a true battle in the Rockies.

Other games of interest: Texas Tech @ Oklahoma

Nov. 29: Missouri vs. Kansas (Kansas City, MO)

It wasn't long ago that this game was completely irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. Now it will undoubtedly be deciding who earns the right to return to KC for the Big XII Title Game.

Todd Reesing and Chase Daniel will have to prove to be more than one-year wonders. This game will pave the way to solidifying their legacies in the Big XII North.

The defenses will have their hands full as both teams look to spread the field and create mismatches between linebackers and safeties, as well as get players into space. Expect safety William Moore of Mizzou to play a major part if the Tigers look to repeat as Big XII North Champions.

Other games of interest: Florida @ Florida St., GT @ Georgia, Auburn @ Alabama, South Carolina @ Clemson

Dec. 6: SEC Title Game (Atlanta, GA)

If you're only going to watch one of the Conference Title Games this Saturday, watch the SEC's. An event averaging well over 70,000 spectators, the atmosphere and the pageantry of the SEC is on full display at the title game.

Expect some combination of Florida or Georgia out of the East to play LSU or Auburn from the West for all the chips down in Hot-lanta. The biggest draw for this game is that the last two years the BCS Champion has emerged from the field down in Georgia.

Other games of interest: Big XII Conference Championship Game (Kansas City, MO), ACC Championship Game (Tampa Bay, FL), Cincinnati @ Hawaii, USF @ WVU

Coming soon: Weeknight Games Worth Watching...

Major Wright and Gator Secondary Are Key to 2008 BCS Title

Michael Felder — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:20:12 -0400

Tim Tebow? The reigning Heisman winner and quarterback of the unanimous top five Florida Gators? Yeah, you've heard of him.

You've also heard of preseason All-American receiver Percy Harvin, All-American linebacker Brandon Spikes, and preseason All-SEC performers Brandon James and Cornelius Ingram.

If you watch ESPN you've probably even heard of the Gators' newest weapon, speed demon Chris Rainey.

We know who these players are, we know they're good, and we know that with this core the Gators have 6-1 odds to win the BCS Title. Only USC (7-2), Ohio State (4-1), and Georgia (5-1) have better chances according to Vegas.

While every prognosticator has heaped praise upon the Gators' potent offensive attack, they've also made it their job to highlight Florida's 2007 defensive struggles. More specifically, they've called into question the Gators' ability to defend in the passing game.

Perhaps rightfully so as the 2007 Gators' rankings were abysmal against the pass:

98th in passing defense (258.5 ypg)

71st in pass defense efficiency

73rd in interceptions (11)

54th in quarterback sacks (13)

In 2007 Major Wright, Wondy Pierre Louis, and Joe Haden were the problem in Gainesville. Entering the season they had zero combined starts and only Pierre Louis had seen any collegiate playing time; Haden and Wright played as true freshman.

This debacle has been well documented as the Gators gave up 25.5 ppg and were reduced to a reacting, passive, and confused operation. A far cry from the 2006 National Title Gators who surrendered only 13.5 points per game and 114 passing yards per game under the direction of first round draft pick Reggie "The Eraser" Nelson.

2008 will be a different story as the secondary seems poised to return the swagger to the Gators' defense. Three of last year's four starters return, and with Dorian Munroe stepping into Tony Joiner's role the Gators have gone from a young, inexperienced secondary to an SEC tested veteran unit in less than 12 months.

With 34 starts under their belts the quartet's success is paramount to the defensive success in Florida. Their upgrade in play will have a tremendous trickle down effect on the pass rush and the overall aggressive attitude defenses need to succeed in the gauntlet that is the SEC.

Major Wright's second year should see him blossom into a commanding center fielder with an improved nose for the ball and better command of his elite athleticism. With experience comes shorter reaction times, and shorter reaction times translate into a lot of big plays for a defense.

Wright is the centerpiece of this secondary and having him a year better frees up Urban Meyer and Charlie Strong in their defensive schemes. The Gators will show more man coverage, blitzing schemes, and disguised coverages in year two of the Major Wright era.

Cornerbacks Wondy Pierre Louis and Joe Haden were solid against the run and pass in 2007, but the shaky play of their inexperienced safety left the two exposed for scores and big chunks of yardage. 2008 should see a more aggressive approach and increased playmaking out of these two talented corners.

The question mark is Dorian Munroe, a redshirt with plenty of special teams experience but only two starts at safety under his belt. The plus to Munroe is his play in the 2006 SEC Title game in which he substituted for an injured Tony Joiner. Recording six tackles, one for loss, is no small task under the lights of the SEC Championship game with the BCS Title looming on the horizon.

Last year's flashes of brilliance will grow into sustained production and the Gators' defensive playbook will open up to full capacity. With a cocksure attitude in the back end comes aggressiveness from the front four.

As an old football maxim states, "Pressure gets picks" and "coverage gets sacks."

The idea that one hand washes the other is exemplified when an aggressive d-line is teamed with a quality, talented secondary. Expect both sacks and interceptions to increase as the Gators secondary covers down receivers and the defensive line gets to the quarterback in a hurry.

Increased freedom on defense with less reacting and more dictating will force opponents into compromising situations, lifting the Gators from the 88th spot in turnovers forced.

Another problem this improved secondary presents to opposition is the addition of blitz packages to the Gators' defensive arsenal. By bringing linebackers from the box, corners from the perimeter, and safeties from depth, the Gators can get more athletes to the point of attack and wreak havoc on opposing offenses.

The four men covering Urban Meyer's back end are incredibly talented and experienced a year in which they were the black eye of a tremendously capable Gator squad. 2008 will be much different as Major Wright leads his secondary into the season with expectations of excellence and all the tools needed to execute at the highest level.

You can count on more confusion in '08, only this time it won't be in the Gators' secondary, it'll be on the faces of opposing teams and fans as the Major makes yet another drive killing and demoralizing pick-six.

Duke Robinson and Ryan Stanchek: The Best of College Football's Big Uglies

Michael Felder — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:47:45 -0400

There are reasons no one ever talks linemen: They don't get fantasy stats or make "Top Plays," and the majority of college football fans don't focus on them for a single play—unless they happen to give up a sack or a tackle for loss. Then they stink, they're too slow, and are basically just idiots.

But offensive lines can turn average talents like Ken Dorsey, Craig Krenzel, and Major Applewhite into world beaters. Linemen can turn Ki-Jana Carter, Rashaan Salaam, and Cedric Benson into Heisman candidates and first round picks.

Centers, Guards and Tackles—the thick-necked enforcers in the trenches of the gridiron. Five Atlases shouldering the load that is any potent offensive attack. O-Linemen are the bricks and the mortar of the college football mansion.

This year, college football features a strong crop of NFL prospects along the offensive line, including names such as Michael Oher of Ole Miss and Alabama's Andre Smith.

However, as is generally the case in college, few prospects are polished enough to truly be deemed the best in the nation on the offensive front. Ryan Stanchek of West Virginia and Duke Robinson of Oklahoma are two such candidates.

Unlike Oher and Smith, Stanchek and Robinson are not projects for the future—they're invaluable proven commodities who are already operating at the highest level in college football. These trench warriors spearhead two of the nation's best offensive lines and protect elite quarterbacks.

With two very different playing styles, which offensive lineman can truly be considered the best of the 2008 college football world?

Ryan Stanchek (6'4", 303 pounds)

To the average person, a man of Stanchek's stature is a massive mountain of muscle and bone—but in the world of college football, the left tackle from West Virginia is a smallish figure. Luckily, under the WVU system he's the prototypical offensive lineman.

Unlike traditional offensive schemes, bigger linemen aren't better in West Virginia's spread. Stanchek's strengths lie not only in his feet and mobility, but also in his understanding of leverage and body positioning in conquering defenders.

In terms of foot quickness, Stanchek is the best in the nation at coming off the ball and getting to his assignments in a hurry. As a tackle in the spread, he's often pushing to the second level, and he attacks linebackers with a vengeance.

Even at 6'4", the redshirt senior does a phenomenal job of keeping a solid, low base and squarely attacking his targets. He's a heads-up player in his body positioning, very adept at engaging defenders and angling his hips to open holes for WVU's potent rushing attack.

In the passing game, Stanchek's quickness and body control solidify his ability to protect Pat White. The Mountaineers' passing game consists almost exclusively of roll outs, bootlegs, and half rolls to the left, and Stanchek's task of holding the edge is the most galvanizing role on the line as the quarterback moves in his direction.

Stanchek is active in the screen and short passing game where his speed and quickness come in handy. He's got a knack for getting out in front of the ball carrier and making defensive backs pay for taking on his blocks.

While extremely proficient in running the spread offense efficiently, Stanchek and his mates on the line truly earn their keep in coping with the frantic roller coaster ride that is protecting a dual threat quarterback.

For defenses, Pat White's hesitating between passing and running, sideline to sideline movement, and deciding to run than rising up to throw create serious headaches. The story is the same for offensive lines.

Dealing with shifting fields, possibility of run and pass on the same play, and specialized defenses all create the potential for missed assignments and drive-killing penalties. Stanchek is able to navigate the minefield of the dual threat quarterback with an unmatchable savvy.

Although solid on the surface, there are several holes in Stanchek's game, most notably his inability to truly move large defenders. Against linebackers he gets a decent drive in the trenches, but against defensive ends and defensive tackles he's forced to positional block because of his lack of size.

Ryan had 103 knock downs in 2007, but due to his lack of punch off the ball and inability to muscle interior defenders, Stanchek's KDs are largely relegated to second- and third-level defenders. Knocking down safeties and corners while screen blocking is a given—taking out tackles and ends is impressive.

Duke Robinson (6'5", 335 pounds)

Stanchek got his weight up to 300—Robinson, the Duke of Norman, battles to keep his weight down around 335. Oklahoma's linemen are the polar opposite of their Mountaineer counterparts.

Duke Robinson is a mauler in the run game: He washes down nose tackles, flattens three techniques, and is a defensive end's worst nightmare when he pulls around the end. Teaming with Phil Loadholt, Robinson no doubt anchors the best left side in the nation.

Robinson shows tremendous determination in finishing off his first assignment to get to the second level, where he feasts on linebackers he outweighs by a cool hundred pounds. He's got a relentless motor and is a joy to watch as he brings enthusiasm and a true passion for performing a publicly thankless job.

In the passing game, Duke is a marvel to watch. He's got a tremendous punch, is capable of stopping defenders in their tracks, moves his feet well, and does a solid job of riding opponents out of the play.

Bob Stoops has taken notice of Robinson's versatility as well, utilizing the senior in the Sooners' active screen game to pull for tunnel screens, as well as getting out in front and leading running backs and receivers downhill for six.

This season Robinson is going to have to battle the pressure of being the nation's top lineman and the beckoning of the NFL if the Sooners are going to win their first BCS bowl game of his career. By continuing to polish his footwork and hand skills, Robinson can help Stoops and OU silence the critics.

Another of Duke Robinson's issues will be his weight control. The senior is more agile and affective when south of 330, and with partner Loadholt circling 350, the Sooners' staff have their hands full controlling the left side of their offensive line.

The Verdict

Both candidates are quality offensive linemen. Stanchek is the best college tackle running the spread scheme, while Robinson is the embodiment of what a guard is supposed to be.

Duke is a monster of a man who displays real bravado and an extremely palpable pride in getting dirty on the line of scrimmage. Like Stanchek, he obviously enjoys running down the field and making the last block to spring a teammate.

In the new world of college football, the spread offense is a deadly weapon that Ryan Stanchek helps execute to perfection. His ability to play through the whimsical movements of Pat White in order to protect his team's star only serve to increase his overall value.

BUT

Duke Robinson is the best lineman for 2008. He's an in your face mauler who not only stops linemen in their tracks, but sends them back to where they came from.

Sure, his 97 knock downs in 2007 were fewer than Stanchek's, but the bulk of Duke's KDs came against interior defenders, not 180-pound defensive backs. Robinson not only possesses the talent and technique to get to his spots, he's also got that little extra oomph that Stanchek is missing.

Bob Stoops, and more importantly Sam Bradford, have got a monster of man protecting the Sooners' pride—and behind Robinson, don't be surprised if the Sooner Schooner rides out of Miami with a national title.

Oklahoma's Jermaine Gresham, Wisconsin's Travis Beckum: 2008's Best TE

Michael Felder — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 06:40:12 -0400

Every team has them—guys who know their role, play hard, and get the job done efficiently. They're not the stars, but without them, the wheels would fall off the team.

Billy Raftery and Fran Fraschilla would call them "Glue Guys" on the hardwood, but in college football these players are simply called tight ends.

Tight ends are the utility players of the football world—when called upon they don't hesitate to:

Convert third downs to move the chains.

Cut the defensive end to open up the screen pass.

Take on linebackers to run up the middle.

Catch crucial red zone passes.

Their job description is a limitless list of tasks that are incredibly critical to the success of any football team. A popular adage states a tight end is a quarterback's best friend, and though they go largely unnoticed by casual fans, their importance inside the game cannot be overstated.

Troy Aikman, Joe Montana, and Peyton Manning can all attest to the significance of Jay Novacek, Dwight Clark, and Dallas Clark in their championship successes. The world of college football is no different, as TEs are truly the grease for the gears of any potent offensive scheme.

Although Florida's Cornelius Ingram, Missouri's Chase Coffman, and Oklahoma State's Brandon Pettigrew will be among the nation's elite tight ends, Wisconsin's Travis Beckum and Oklahoma's Jermaine Gresham are the leaders in the Tight End battle at the top.

Travis Beckum (6'4", 235 pounds)

Beckum's on-field production in terms of yards and catches is without a doubt the class of his position, as he totaled 75 catches for 982 yards and six touchdowns in 2007. He's a long, rangy, athletic tight end who uses his talents to get open at any spot on the field.

Being the Badgers' primary receiver has lent itself to the development of Beckum, as he punishes defenses with his 4.5 speed and outstanding leaping ability.

He's a matchup nightmare, as he's too quick for the Big 10 linebackers, yet too tall and athletic for the safeties to cover confidently. In zone coverage, Beckum does a solid job of finding the holes and makes defenses pay by making sure-handed catches and getting first downs.

After switching to TE from DE entering 2006, his understanding of how to get open against zones has truly blossomed. This was highlighted by his shredding of the top Big Ten defenses in 2007.

Man coverage presents a terribly difficult predicament, as Beckum's 6'4" frame allows him to use his basketball background to get open and make tough catches. He's got great leaping ability, and the senior not only understands but practices the art of high pointing the football.

The kid has great hands and a concentration that is lacking in many major college receivers. He not only makes the incredible catch but stays tuned in to make the routine catch as well. Watching him climb the ladder for the football is a treat, as he's got superb body control and unique fluidity to his athleticism.

He plays well in big games, going for over 100 receiving yards against the Big Ten's upper tier of Michigan, Michigan State, Illinois, and Ohio State. Posting nine catches for 140 yards in the Columbus is no small task.

However, Beckum suffers mightily in the blocking game, as he's not powerful enough to move defenders, rarely altering their route enough to prove beneficial. He comes off the field in a lot of running downs due to this liability in the ground game.

Another drawback to the slightly built tight end is his lack of red zone production. A 6'4", 235 pound target is gold in the end zone and Beckum needs to become a factor to truly up his status. Six touchdowns on 75 catches for a tight end is a paltry number that needs to improve in 2008.

Jermaine Gresham (6'5", 264 pounds)

Gresham is the prototypical tight end—a wide body with great feet, soft hands, and a mean streak in the run game. Although he only ranked third in catches for the Sooners with 37 catches for 518 yards, Gresham finished 14th in the nation in touchdown receptions, hauling in eleven scores.

In the run game, Gresham is a surprisingly aggressive blocker who is capable of stoning defensive ends, washing down defensive tackles, and engaging linebackers and defensive backs in space. He shows a propensity for blocking downfield on long gains, something lacking in a large number of college and professional players.

Jermaine Gresham is capable of operating from motion, the flex position, or out of the backfield as well as the traditional on-line position. The junior has ample speed to be a factor in OU's screen game, and has shown the ability to take the ball to the house from distance.

Under Stoops, Gresham fulfills his role in extraordinary fashion, being an every-down tight end capable of stretching the defense vertically. He makes tremendous catches in traffic, and at the seams of a cover-2 or cover-3 he is a nightmare to defend because of his deceptive speed.

From twenty to twenty, Gresham is a pretty good football player, with blocking and receiving abilities that score quite high. However, once the team hits the red area, he becomes an elite force deserving of special defensive attention. Neglecting to focus on Gresham from the twenty in is an automatic six points for the boys in Norman.

The Texas Longhorns can attest to this fact, as Gresham punished them by scoring two wide-open touchdowns in the red zone during the Red River Shootout. Against divisional foe A&M, Gresham rang up just five catches for 86 yards but torched the Aggies with four scores.

Without Malcolm Kelly to open the field, Gresham should expect more attention entering 2008, and the added pressure will truly test the twenty-year-old. His biggest hurdle entering the season will be the expectations heaped upon him by Sooner nation and the national press.

The Verdict

Jermaine Gresham is the traditional tight end—a red zone threat who blocks well and understands his role on the team.

Travis Beckum is a new, hybrid tight end—Wisconsin's primary receiver who poses mismatches across the board and punishes defenses with his speed and athleticism.

While Beckum's numbers are gaudy in general, his lack of scoring production and inability to be a quality blocker leaves much to be desired. He lacks the tenacious, aggressive approach to blocking that solidifies a tight end and would be better suited losing weight and playing full time at wideout away from the chaos of trenches.

Gresham is the nation's best tight end, without a doubt. He blocks, he catches, and he is the most dangerous red zone threat in the nation. As a player, he's a guy who seems to be as happy stymieing defensive ends at the goal line as he is skying over safeties to score six.

Sam Bradford has a security blanket most of the nation's quarterbacks envy in Jermaine Gresham, and I fully expect the junior TE to improve upon his already impressive numbers.

With the absence of an established deep threat opposite Joaquin Iglesia, don't be surprised if Gresham takes on a larger role in the passing game and again leads the Sooners in touchdown receptions.

Jermaine Gresham, college football's best tight end for 2008.

Percy Harvin, Michael Crabtree, and Jeremy Maclin: 2008's Biletnikoff Battle

Michael Felder — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 08:47:52 -0400

For the most part, my battle at the top series has been one on one battles between two of the nation's elite players to determine who is the clear-cut number one—Maualuga versus Laurinaitis, Tebow versus White, and Wells versus Moreno.

However, wide receiver is a three-headed monster this year in college football, with Jeremy Maclin of Mizzou, Percy Harvin of Florida, and Michael Crabtree of Texas Tech all pushing to be THE number one threat in America.

The differing skill sets of these kids, coupled with the abject mediocrity of their nationwide receiving peer group, truly make these three a hot commodity in college football.

Harvin, Crabtree, and Maclin are the best of the best heading into 2008, and while names such as Aaron Kelly and Kenny Britt may make some splashes ,these three have the market cornered.

With their dynamic capabilities, each is a terrorizing foe for defenses in the Big XII and SEC—however, only one can truly be considered the best wide receiver in college football.

Percy Harvin (5'11", 178 pounds)

Looking at his size, Harvin seems too small to be a serious contender in an era where bigger is better, but a look at his numbers tells the true story of his larger-than-life contribution to the Gators. In 2007, Harvin caught 59 balls for 858 yards and carried 83 times for 764 yards on the ground.

Percy Harvin is a more than capable receiver—he's a true deep threat who was exposed to the nation during his performance in the national title game two years ago. At 5'11", Harvin has the great hands a receiver needs and the fearless nature that makes him a true asset to the Florida squad.

Harvin has the best stop-and-go speed in the nation—he cuts on a dime, and his elusiveness in traffic is eerily similar to the college greats Peter Warrick and Reggie Bush. The difference for Harvin is that his speed comes with an innate toughness.

His 858 rushing yards were truly running-back-styled yards. Although he ran reverses like other receivers, a large portion of Harvin's yards came hitting the hole and taking on linebackers to get tough yards.

He's not afraid of contact, whether it's running a dig into a linebacker covering the curl or taking a handoff off tackle and absorbing a blow to get a first down.

As great as Harvin is on the ground, he's equally exceptional when the ball is in the air. He's a legitimate deep threat who is not only capable of breaking short passes, but who has also shown the ability to go upfield and catch the deep ball in traffic.

Lee Corso puts it like this, simply describing Harvin as "the finest, most exciting football player in the nation."

With any luck, Harvin's junior campaign will be less about running and more about catching, as he was forced into too much of a running back role for his slight frame to comfortably accomodate, as evidenced in his absence from two late-season games against FAU and USC.

By sticking to receiver he'll save his legs, limit the bruises, and perform solidly with a thousand-yard season in the air and five hundred on the ground.

Michael Crabtree (6'3", 208 pounds)

Coming off a Biletnikoff-award-winning season in which he racked up NCAA freshman records by totaling 134 catches, 1,962 yards and 22 TDs, Crabtree seems poised to defend his title as the best receiver in the nation.

The guy is the prototype NFL receiver, from the tall, well-muscled frame to the large, powerful hands. Crabtree is an excellent route runner and has shown a tremendous ability to high point balls in traffic, a skill that makes NFL scouts drool.

On the college level, the redshirt sophomore is a serious deep threat, capable of running the post, deep dig, and corner routes to perfection. His explosion off the line and ability to handle physical corners gives him an edge as soon as he lines up to go deep.

In the short passing game, Crabtree has proven equally dangerous with his ability to break the big one. He doesn't have the tremendous deceleration and acceleration of a Harvin, but he does have the vision to get yards in bunches.

The most impressive aspect of Crabtree's game is his proclivity to show up big in big games. Against divisional foes he averaged 9.4 catches and 163.4 yards a game. Even more importantly, against Oklahoma and Texas the freshman showed up for 12 catches for 154 yards and nine catches for 195 yards, respectively.

There are still some unknowns heading into 2008 following Crabtree's breakout freshman year. The most basic argument presented by Crabtree detractors is that Texas Tech passes more than 97 percent of DI-A, skewing the sophomore's numbers and the public opinion.

However, the biggest hurdle for Crabtree will be his ability to handle the pressure, both real and perceived, of being the returning Biletnikoff award winner.

Defenses will focus on using nickel, dime, and specialized schemes in an attempt to neutralize Crabtree. He will also face physical pressure at the line and downfield in an attempt to throw him off his game.

Jeremy Maclin (6'1", 200 pounds)

Crabtree set the receiving records last year, but Maclin dominated another freshman record—total yards. His 2,776 all-purpose yards loudly introduced the freshman to the Big XII and the nation.

Piling up 1,055 receiving yards, 375 rushing yards, 307 punt return yards, and 1,039 kick return yards was no small task as he ran to a total of 16 touchdowns.

As a return man Maclin is a true All-American, possessing the ability to break the big one from wherever he gets the ball in his hands. Though most of his accolades were gained in the return game, his receiving skills are nothing short of spectacular.

Maclin's receiving yards come in chunks as he punishes defenses with tunnel, bubble, and quick screen passes from Chase Daniel. He's got the best cut and go speed in the country, and if he gets a seam you can put six on the board.

Jeremy Maclin's biggest asset is his field vision. Gary Pinkel cuts him loose with short passes in space, returns, and reverses to allow Maclin to improvise and create as he sees fit.

The hangups for Maclin at this stage in his career are his deficiencies both in route running and against physical defenses. While great at running screens and short quick hitters, the crispness of his deep routes leaves much to be desired.

He uses speed exclusively instead of coupling his speed with cuts and positioning to gain an increased advantage. This works in college but translates to Ted Ginn, Jr. in the NFL.

2008 will be a struggle for Maclin as he's now a well known commodity to the Big XII. His return numbers will plummet with teams using the sky kick and directional techniques to keep the ball out of his hands.

Defenses such as Oklahoma and Texas will continue to pound on him at the line, rendering him largely ineffective unless he improves the physicality of his game.

In the end, Chase Daniel will depend upon Maclin to convert third downs, and he'll be crucial to making the Tigers tick.

The Verdict

Maclin, Harvin, Crabtree. The top three receivers heading into 2008, each bringing their own special touch to the same critical position in the spread offense. Each represents his role in stellar fashion, but adding it up the three guys play out like a three course meal.

The light, versatile Harvin serves up as an appetizer—a quality guy who is good by himself but is even better paired with a dynamic centerpiece, in this case Tim Tebow.

In all his flashiness, Maclin serves as the dessert of this receiving feast. He looks good, draws you in, but still leaves you wanting more, like third down receptions and big time catches in traffic.

Michael Crabtree is the entree of this ensemble. Crabtree is the 32-ounce porterhouse of the college football world. He's great with help, but the guy can get it done all by himself.

Crabtree is without a doubt the best of the best. He's an elite receiver who, I feel, will respond admirably to the pressures placed upon him entering 2008. His numbers may go down with the double and triple teams, but in the red zone expect Crabtree to come through as he did in 2007.

Mike Leach has a real player in Lubbock, and with Graham Harrell tossing the ball around, expect Michael Crabtree to repeat as the 2008 Biletnikoff winner—something receiving greats Randy Moss, Calvin Johnson, and Larry Fitzgerald never did.

Florida State, Miami Football: Situation Critical in the Sunshine State

Michael Felder — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 10:57:06 -0400

Two men separated by 37 years and almost 500 miles. Two men at opposite ends of their coaching career. One man a national coaching legend, the other a little known local coaching commodity.

Two men, united in one goal—restoring the luster to the Sunshine State Triumvirate.

Florida, with the hire of Urban Meyer, has shown the ability to hold up its end of the Florida Football Trio. However, Miami and Florida State have been less than impressive in the last five years. As the Gators surge, the 'Noles and 'Canes have looked incredibly pedestrian.

Is Talent the Problem?

Overall talent isn't the issue here—both the 'Noles and the 'Canes have graded out at the top of the college football world in terms of recruiting, as well as sending players to the next level.

Since 2002, FSU averages the No. 9 or No. 11 and Miami the No. 8.9 or No. 8 recruiting class, according to Rivals and Scout respectively.

During that same period, here's how other schools fared in terms of average recruiting rankings: USC (2.3, 4.6), Oklahoma (7.3, 9.6), LSU (8.9, 8.1) and Notre Dame (18, 13.3), again from Rivals and Scout respectively.

Talent in recruiting isn't the issue here—FSU and Miami are running neck and neck with the LSUs and Oklahomas of the college football landscape.

If it's not talent, then what is the issue?

The rosters of these teams are littered with talent and more speed than 95% of the teams in the college football world. There is one reason they haven't been able to win, and one way they can return to prominence.

Developing a Quarterback

For FSU the skid began when Mark Richt took the Georgia job in 2001. Since Chris Weinke's senior Heisman campaign, the Seminoles have struggled mightily to find a viable quarterback option.

Chris Rix, Drew Weatherford, Xavier Lee, and Wyatt Sexton all stumbled through the last seven years, never achieving a completion percentage above 57 percent.

The low point was during the 2007 season with the Lee and Weatherford tag-team disaster project. Lee threw for a 53.2 percent completion rate while Weatherford boasted a 118.5 AB rating—both less than admirable.

Down I-95 in Miami, the problems began after the departure of Ken Dorsey in 2003. The Hurricanes quarterback merry-go-round has consisted of Kyle Wright, Kirby Freeman, Brock Berlin, and even Derrick Crudup.

The highly-touted quartet has been unable to produce a conference championship for Coral Gables, the longest drought the 'Canes have seen since the 1970s. Much like in Tallahassee. the problem hasn't been reeling in the talent—it's been developing the quarterbacks to produce the proper results.

Enter Patrick Nix and Jimbo Fisher—two men tasked with the most important job during the process of restoring Miami and FSU to national relevance.

These offensive coordinators come from very different backgrounds—one an SEC star quarterback, just cutting his teeth in big time coaching; the other a legend of sorts, set to take over for the Godfather, Bobby Bowden.

Nix enters Randy Shannon's staff from Georgia Tech after the firing of Chan Gailey. The former Auburn quarterback helped lead the Yellow Jackets to a first place finish in touchdown receptions in 2006 and bowl games each of his three seasons as offensive coordinator.

Jimbo Fisher is a proven teacher in the world of the college football. He's tutored All-SEC performers JaMarcus Russell, Josh Booty, Rohan Davey, and Matt Mauck. Fisher also boasts three 3,000-yard passers on his resume, and his offenses have produced five first round draft picks at the skill positions.

Both Bowden and Shannon get solid players on both sides of the football—their skill position coffers are loaded with some of the top talent nationwide. The lines are quality, with the defensive lines being the focal point of an always solid defense.

Their most glaring issue is the inability to develop a collegiate quarterback since the 2002 season.

College football is truly about the quarterback. With the same skill and talent levels, the 'Noles and 'Canes used to be contenders. The difference in the '80s, '90s and early 2000s—they were playing with Heisman candidates at quarterback.

The U and Bobby Bowden went from Charlie Ward, Chris Weinke, and Ken Dorsey to incredibly underdeveloped Kyle Wright, Xavier Lee, and Kirby Freeman.

The onus is on Fisher and Nix to bring big time quarterback play back to this anchor of the college football world.

Redshirt sophomore Christian Ponder looks poised to take the reins for the Seminoles. Under the tutelage of Jimbo Fisher, and armed with a strong skill set, Ponder has a chance to restore the winning tradition in Tallahassee.

In Miami, Robert Marve is set to be the first Hurricane freshman since Bernie Kosar to assume the starting role. The talented freshman hopes to restore Miami to its days of Quarterback U when talents like Jim Kelly, Gino Torretta, and Vinny Testaverde were the norm.

Ponder and Marve have a slew of four- and five-star recruits stationed throughout the skill positions to assist them in resurrecting the programs. They need their respective OCs to help slow the game down, set attainable goals, and hopefully reduce the pressure of being "the guy" at Miami and FSU.

Richt and Coker were the keys to the success of the QBs in years past, and their successors must waste no time in rising to the occasion and restoring the luster to the lagging members of the Florida Football Triumvirate.

Todd Boeckman, Matthew Stafford: Premier Pro-Style QBs

Michael Felder — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:48:16 -0400

With the proliferation of the various forms of the spread offense, the pro-style passers' prevalence has decreased dramatically in the last five years.

The increase in influence of dual threat, spread option, and shotgun spread systems have only served to make the dropback, pro-style passer an endangered species in college football.

Of the Athlon Preseason Top 25, only eight schools (Ohio St., USC, UGA, Wisc., ASU, Tenn., Va. Tech and Rutgers) run legitimate pro-style offenses. With Terrelle Pryor poised to take the OSU reins as a dual threat in 2009, it would appear another pro scheme will temporarily bite the dust.

Todd Boeckman, Matthew Stafford, and Mark Sanchez headline this year's crop of pro-style passers in college football. Each of them has a BCS title within reach.

Sanchez is the least experienced of the group, although USC offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian has high hopes for him:

"I’m anxious to watch Mark become the guy...I’m anxious to see him to do that because he’s very, very talented."

Sanchez is not yet on the level of Boeckman and Stafford, the two elite talents heading into the 2008 season. The two players are night and day in their on-field personas, and the contrast is what makes choosing between the two truly difficult.

Todd Boeckman (6'5", 243 lbs)

In his first year as a starter, Boeckman was faced with the challenge of replacing a Heisman trophy winner who led the Buckeyes to a BCS title game appearance. He not only accepted the challenge but outperformed all the expectations that were heaped upon him.

Throwing for 2,379 yards, 25 TDs, and a passer rating of 148.95 will get you into the good graces of Columbus quite quickly.

As the 2008 season approaches, the expectations have increased for the senior, and Boeckman appears ready to face the challenges.

He returns his leading receivers, Brian Hartline and Brian Robiskie, as well as his leading rusher in Chris "Beanie" Wells as the Buckeyes look poised to make the leap from pretender to contender.

Fundamentally, Boeckman is as solid as they come. He has quality footwork in his dropbacks while his release and arm angle are textbook form.

In running the pro-style offense under Tressell, Todd Boeckman has proven himself to be not only an extremely efficient passer, completing almost 64 percent of his passes, but also a calm, even-tempered quarterback.

Although Boeckman can make all the throws required of him, the senior appears to be the most comfortable in play action sets. He carries out fakes well, gets good depth after the fake, and is able to quickly diagnose the coverage situation and deliver the football accurately.

For all that Boeckman does correctly, there is a glaring flaw within his game that could cause problems in Columbus this season.

It is his inability to truly win a game. Although Boeckman will never lose the game for you, he will also never win the game. He's a role player, albeit a significant one, in Jim Tressell's system.

Tressell's inability to rely on his quarterback reared its head first in the loss to Illinois, as Boeckman struggled to the tune of three interceptions and an 87.41 QB rating.

The following week in the Michigan game, after a first half consisting of an interception and two fumbles, Tressell limited Boeckman to two pass attempts in the second half and rode Beanie Wells for 39 carries.

Boeckman has to prove he can be a quarterback who wins games, not a guy who has to get out of his team's way for it to be successful. This season Boeckman has some added pressure to succeed with Terrelle Pryor waiting on the Buckeye sidelines.

Matthew Stafford (6'3", 237 lbs)

Stafford, the Dallas, Texas native, grew up a lot after his mediocre freshman season. That maturity manifested itself in his 2,523 yards, 19 TDs and 128.92 QB rating for the 2007 season.

He has grown from a gunslinging, me against the world guy into a D-I quarterback. Though still a risk taker, Stafford makes better decisions and gets better results (19 TDs to ten INTs).

The junior possesses pro-style quarterback physique, talent, and most importantly, a bazooka of an arm. Stafford's arm, easily his best physical asset, is put on display with the big-time throws he makes down the field in games and the X's he puts on his receivers' chests in practice.

While not as polished technically, Stafford is a solid pro-style quarterback who can pick apart a defense and make teams pay for putting eight in the box. He has the tools to truly get the job done on the big stage.

Unlike Boeckman, Stafford is a guy who wants the ball late in games. He is without a doubt the fiery emotional leader of the Georgia Bulldogs who relishes the role.

One look at Georgia's overtime win at Alabama shows you this. The big throw, and the tremendous celebration that ensued, showcases Stafford's ability to be the Lead Dawg in Athens.

Stafford's low completion rate of 55.7 percent is troubling as he needs to be more accurate heading into his junior campaign. The errant passes are the biggest issues surrounding the Georgia quarterback, and rightfully so, as he should definitely be at least a top 25 passer.

The Verdict

Boeckman or Stafford? Calm and reserved or passionate and aggressive?

Boeckman has all the tools to be a quality quarterback that can help lead his Buckeyes into the national title game. The same can be said for Matthew Stafford and his Georgia Bulldogs.

Both are quality quarterbacks with tons of talent who have the skill players around them to make defenses suffer on the ground and through the air.

Taking everything into account, Matthew Stafford has to be the top pick for the 2008 season.

Boeckman is a really nice player who has the tangible tools to be a successful quarterback. However, he doesn't seem to have the mental fire needed to drive the BCS-bound Mack Truck that is Ohio State.

His big game performance shook his own coach's confidence. Unless Boeckman develops into a strong leader over the summer, Buckeye fans may be in for a roller-coaster season with Todd at the helm.

Stafford has the tools both physically and mentally to lead Georgia through their hellacious schedule to the BCS title game. Although critics will argue that his QB rating and completion percentage are low, here are two very telling stats.

In the two most critical games down the stretch last year, the sophomore had a 206.27 QB rating, three TDs and one interception against Florida, and a 186.89 QB rating, two TDs and one interception against Auburn.

The young man shows up huge in big games, and there is no denying that he has the moxie needed to captain a BCS title team. With Stafford leading the way, plenty of opponents will feel the Bulldog bite.

Hardcore Headbangers: James Laurinaitis or Rey Maualuga Best Linebacker in 2008?

Michael Felder — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 11:42:05 -0400

While quarterbacks may be the face of football, linebackers are truly the heart and soul that powers a team. Linebackers are the centerpieces of the defense—and while their offensive counterparts get all the glory, linebackers do all of the dirty work necessary to win championships.

The 2008 season is setting up to be a special one with serious depth and talent at the linebacker position across the country. Brandon Spikes, Brian Cushing, Davie Philistin, and Darry Beckwith are set to have some special seasons flying around to the ball.

At least six linebackers are playing for first round money, and the best two of the bunch are Ohio State's James Laurinaitis and USC's Rey Maualuga.

Maualuga and Laurinaitis are both quality linebackers anchoring supremely talented defenses of true title contenders. Only one of them can ultimately be considered the best backer in college football going into 2008.

Rey Maualuga (6'3", 250 lbs)

The "Sting Rey" is a punishing linebacker that evokes thoughts of Junior Seau flying around the Coliseum. Maualuga truly epitomizes a Mike linebacker—he plugs the middle, not only takes on but also sheds blockers with ease, and plays almost exclusively downhill.

Maualuga recorded 79 tackles in 2007, 10.5 for loss. Although the number seems low for the mike backer of a top tier program, it must be noted that he split tackles with 2008 first round pick Keith Rivers, and 2009 probable first rounder Brian Cushing.

Rey gets his tackles in the flow, but also does a tremendous job of hammering and splattering plays to his weakside and strongside help.

Maualuga's biggest strengths lie in his ability to stop the run. He plays well laterally but excels flying into the line hitting fullbacks, tackling ball carriers, and disrupting plays at or behind the line. Rey diagnoses the run very well—he flies to the point of contact and collides with the ball carrier.

While he is incredible at stopping the run, he is lacking in his pass covering abilities. Maualuga's problem isn't speed in coverage as much as it is his inability to recognize play action pass and recover.

He's so intensely focused on getting downhill for the run that he often gets to the line before he identifies the pass. Once back into coverage he has adequate skills to play zone but lacks the flexibility to be consistently successful in man to man.

James Laurinaitis (6'3", 242 lbs)

While Maualuga splits tackles with two stellar mates, James Laurinaitis has been given carte blanche under Tressell to do as he pleases. The "Little Animal" lines up at traditional linebacker depth, but also aligns on the edge and at the line of scrimmage.

This free form style perfectly accents the biggest positive of Laurinaitis—his lateral speed. James is a monster sideline to sideline who is hands down the best rundown defender in the country. He's got a stellar nose for the ball that manifests itself in his 121 tackle total in 2007.

Laurinaitis' speed not only aids in his sideline to sideline movement but it also gives him a leg up in pass coverage.

The experienced senior is more than adept at covering backs, tight ends, and slot receivers down and across the field. He possesses the unique body control needed to not only take away passes by positioning but also to make the interception.

As great as Laurinaitis is at using his speed, he is highly vulnerable in the running game.

Running fullbacks and guards at the linebacker neutralizes him as he struggles to take on and defeat blocks. His game is largely predicated on avoiding blockers and running down plays from the inside out, not plugging holes and disrupting plays.

The Verdict

Rey Maualuga is one of the best pure linebackers in the college ranks, similar in talent and skill to Andy Katzenmoyer and Dan Morgan. James Laurinaitis is a new prototype of linebacker, a Brian Urlacher type who can play the pass as well as the run.

Their contrasting styles highlight two very different schools of thought: The pure linebacker—whose job is to stop the run and blow up blockers—or the versatile backer, who can line up inside or out and get up and down the field.

While I'd rather have Rey Maualuga on my team and use substitions to get my nickel and dime packages in for passing downs, in the world of college football today, James Laurinaitis is the better choice.

Laurinaitis' speed and ability to play all over the field, coupled with his nose for the ball and success in the Tampa two, make him an every down player. These skills are what make him the best linebacker in college football today.

Will Bobcats' Futility In The NBA Draft End?

Michael Felder — Fri, 23 May 2008 10:57:20 -0400

The Charlotte Bobcats are quagmired in abject mediocrity for yet another year. The bright lights of the playoffs seem light years away from this fourth-year franchise. With only eight players signed through the 2008-09 season and a big draft day creeping up, the Bobcats need to make some major moves to revamp the franchise and produce a winning product for the Queen City.

Adam Morrison, Sean May, Jarred Dudley, Raymond Felton, Matt Carroll, Jason Richardson, Gerald Wallace and Nazr Mohammad currently make up the Bobcats' 2008 roster.

Emeka Okafor's re-signing is paramount and a crucial step in pushing the franchise in the right direction. Assuming Michael Jordan does the right thing and gets a deal done with the Bobcats' top big man, Larry Brown will have six roster spots to fill through the draft and free agency.

Therein lies the problem. The NBA Draft: Where Bobcats Futility Happens.

Of the six draft picks on the 2007-08 roster, only Felton, Okafor and Dudley were regular contributors. May and Morrison have played very sparingly due to an assortment of injuries, while Ryan Hollins has proven to be little more than six guaranteed fouls to give a game.

Though the roster is riddled with holes, there is a positive in Jason Richardson. The lone upper echelon player on the roster, he has proven to be a quality, reliable shooting guard for the 'Cats with incredible athleticism and that jaw-dropping "WOW" factor that NBA cities love.

Some would argue that Gerald Wallace is a plus, but he's become a constant liability due to the very reason he signed his $57 million contract. Wallace's "Crash" style of play makes him too injury-susceptible to be counted upon for an entire 82-game season, as evidenced by his never playing more than 72 games in his six NBA seasons.

Over the 2007-08 season, the Bobcats played considerably more consistently without the reckless stylings of Gerald Wallace. The team even recorded a franchise-record five straight wins with Wallace suffering from a concussion.

There are two clearly glaring needs for the Charlotte Bobcats an Offensive Big and a Point Guard. Regardless of how the Felton experiment turns out having one point guard on an NBA roster is unacceptable and getting at least one more quality ball handler is crucial.

Offensive Big

Okafor is a quality defensive asset (eighth in rebounds, 13th in blocks) to have on the floor, but he is incredibly limited offensively. His parochial skill level, coupled with timidity, creates instances when he becomes completely invisible offensively for quarters, halves and on multiple occasions whole games.

Nazr Mohammad is a quality NBA big with championship experience, the body and the skill to compete at a high level for several more quality years in the league. He'll do in a pinch, but he's not a go-to guy by any means. Nazr is more of a PJ Brown, Kurt Thomas or Antonio McDyess type player than a centerpiece. On the plus side, Larry Brown and Mohammad have experience together and his veteran leadership may help the young players adapt to the demanding style of Brown.

Hollins and Jermareo Davidson provide Mohammad and Okafor time to rest and give defensive assistance, though neither has the bulk needed to adequately defend NBA frontcourts. The free 12 fouls they allow is their biggest asset to the team.

Point Guard

Raymond Felton hasn't become the marquee point guard he was expected to be when he was drafted No. 5 overall, just behind All-Stars Chris Paul and Deron Williams. He's a serviceable point guard at this stage in his career who would start for about a third of the teams in the league. The questions surrounding his future will be answered this year, as Larry Brown is notoriously fastidious in relation to his point guards.

Brown will criticize, chide and push Felton into either becoming a solid upper level NBA point guard or being relegated to the bench in favor of another option. Both become possibilities, since Felton is the only point guard under contract for the 2008 season. He'll play as the emerging team leader, or his minutes will come as a bench point guard to spell the new first-round pick.

After looking at the state of the Bobcats' current needs, they are both in remarkably bad condition. In year four of the Felton experiment, it's too early to call it quits, especially since the top point guards in the draft will be drafted well ahead of the No. 9 spot. The Bobcats can sign one or two quality veteran guards to spell Felton as he works with Larry Brown to take the reins of the franchise.

Drafting a big with offensive skill is the direction the club needs to take, especially with divisional foes Atlanta and Orlando becoming quality teams. The Bobcats need a player that forces the likes of Dwight Howard, Joe Johnson and Al Horford to work defensively and will be able to battle them inside.

Names such as Anthony Randolph, DeAndre Jordan, Kosta Koufos, Darrell Arthur, Kevin Love and JaVale McGee are names that come to mind. Each is somewhat of a work in progress in terms of size, but they possess offensive skills and a strong upside that easily surpasses the ability of the bigs currently employed in Charlotte.

NBA Draft: Why Derrick Rose Has Supplanted Michael Beasley as the No. 1 Pick

Michael Felder — Fri, 16 May 2008 11:22:34 -0400

From January through March, there was no doubt that Michael Beasley would be the number-one draft pick in the 2008 NBA draft. He led the nation in rebounds, was atop the leaderboard in points, and was without a doubt the best player in the nation.

Beasley's numbers were staggering, as he dominated the always-solid Big XII conference while leading K-State to its first NCAA tournament appearance since 1996. But then two things happened:

1) The world got exposed to Derrick Rose

After Beasley's Wildcats lost in the first round of the tourney, the nation got to take a long hard look at another freshman phenom—Derrick Rose. The gritty Chicago point guard for the tough Memphis squad led the way as the Tigers answered all the questions about how playing in C-USA would affect their preparations for March.

A team picked by all the "experts" and "sportsnation" as the first number-one to lose; Memphis, led by Rose's herculian effort, finished just a Mario Chalmers miracle three-pointer away from an NCAA title.

While this drama was playing, out folks realized not only how legit the Memphis team was, but that this Rose kid was a special player. Not a Tyler Hansbrough drooling-magazine, "will exceeds his skill" special—but the Chauncey Billups, Derron Williams, "head and shoulders above everyone else" type of special.

Although this revelation started to build support for Rose as the first pick. the second event is what truly caused him to jump ahead of Beasley.

2) The NBA playoffs

Generally, the NBA playoffs have little bearing on the teams drafting in the lottery. But this year is different, as it has signified a changing of the guard in terms of the most critical element to a successful team.

Tony Parker, Chauncey Billups, Derron Williams, and Chris Paul have reduced a long running NBA maxim to dust. The idea that big men are the cornerstones of a franchise has been dethroned by the era of the point guard.

Yes, Tim Duncan, Rasheed Wallace, and Carlos Boozer matter—but not nearly as much as Parker, Billups, and Williams. Simply put, when the guards show up their teams win.

This increase in point guards' importance owes many thanks to the no-handchecking rule and the incredible difficulty that this creates for defenders. Strong guards like Williams and Billups beat up opposing guards and bully their way to the bucket, while quick, shifty guards such as Paul and Parker dribble through double teams and get to any sport they want on the floor.

Derrick Rose is all of these guards rolled into one. With the ball in his hand, he's as fast as any point guard not named Chris Paul. And his ability to muscle to his spots and rebound his position make him a threat from the defensive glass to the offensive rim. The kid can flat-out play, and with the draft lottery quickly approaching for many teams Rose is the most coveted prize.

Aside from the Nets, Warriors, Bobcats, Grizzlies, and Bulls, every lottery team needs the top-tier point guard that Rose will become more than the all-pro power forward that will be Michael Beasley.

Don't confuse this to mean that Beasley's draft stock is falling. He's still, hands down, the best all-around player in the draft. The simple fact of the matter is that Derrick Rose's stock is soaring, as point guards' importance becomes more and more prominently stated during these NBA playoffs.

With that said, don't be surprised when David Stern reads Rose's name first on June 26th.

Sunday's NBA, PGA Reports Impossible: Inclement Weather Shuts Down Charlotte TV

Michael Felder — Tue, 13 May 2008 02:56:36 -0400

On Sunday, for the third time in four days, weather suspended the programming of the three major television networks—ABC, NBC, and CBS.

No problem, right? We've all got cable with a million channel options and nobody really watches the network broadcasts anymore. Therein lies the problem: of the three days they decided to suspend programming, Thursday and Sunday were two of them.

With the loss of Thursday we missed The Office and Lost, which in and of itself was bad enough. But then Sunday afternoon Charlotte made the worst decision in weather history. They cut away from not only the TPC at Sawgrass, but also the Lakers at Jazz game.

Now I know all of you in "normal" markets are thinking "We get weather advisories all the time for blizzards, tornado sightings, hurricanes, and floods." But the weather event responsible for the suspension of programming was none of the above. The weather event was a series of thunderstorms.

Nothing more, nothing less. And these weren't breaks in coverage; here in North Carolina we do our weather BIG.

By big I mean cutting into coverage not for the two or three minute updates every 15 or 20 minutes. I'm talking three straight hours of storm coverage with weather buffs Chris Suchan and Larry Sprinkle.

The latter rolled into the station from home donning the latest in the Paul Bunyan Flannel spring collection. He looked like he fell off the set of a Seattle grunge band video shoot circa 1994.

Being the concerned citizen that I am, I watched the coverage only to discover that there were sparse sightings in Lincolnton, NC. Never heard of it? Don't worry you're not alone. No one in Charlotte could find it without our Acu-Weather First Warn Doppler radar, either.

Well, it's a tiny town about an hour or so away from the megalopolis that is Charlotte, NC. These yahoos were reporting, and I quote, "golf ball to baseball sized hail." Chris Suchan's advice for those without carports or garages? Get in your car and try to out-run the storm.

Another thing that baffled me as I watched this coverage—the use of the newest phrase in meteorologists' lexicon: "funnel clouds." Not tornadoes or tornado sightings, these are clouds shaped like funnels, looking a lot like they could be somewhat similar to a tornado. Awesome.

With all of the weather hullabaloo surely it was raining in Charlotte, you say? Absolutely not.

It was a great Carolina blue skies type day. Sports decided to work with the weathermen to only infuriate us more as they decided to go the distance and then some.

That's right my friends, a playoff at the TPC and overtime for the Jazz game. It was like taking a gut punch from Tyson while the Undertaker kicked you in the balls from behind. The Double Whammy.

On a good note, my WGN was still going strong and I was privy to the great Tony Romo debacle. To comment on that, every self respecting person in America should know all the words to "Take me out to the ball game." It's like "Happy Birthday," for Pete's sake. And if you can't sing, don't act like you can.

Mike D'Antoni: Just the Medicine the Chicago Bulls and NBA East Need!

Michael Felder — Thu, 01 May 2008 03:08:38 -0400

Imagine, if you will, a world where the NBA Eastern Conference regular season is just as exciting as the NBA Western Conference season has been the last four years. Teams running up and down the floor, games regularly played above one hundred points and regular season mid-week games sold out without having Kobe or Lebron come to town.

Mike D'Antoni in Chicago would be the first step.

It must first be admitted that the Eastern conference needs a shot in the arm. Since the departure of Michael Jordan, the East has seen a continuous drop-off in talent and quality of game. Although two of the NBA's premier teams and two of the three most recognizable and marketable stars are located in the East, as a conference, its been putrid.

The Knicks and Heat debacles and the fall of Chicago, Indiana and New Jersey have only served as catalysts to speed the decline. Now is the time for Bulls GM John Paxson to save the east by hiring Mike D'Antoni.

Sure there are other jobs floating around out there for D'Antoni and other candidates to interview for the Bulls job, but this is a match made in heaven. The Bulls went from an unexpected playoff run a year ago to relative obscurity this season with essentially the same team.

The table is set for instant success in Chicago and the city is hungry for a winner to return to town. The Bears Super Bowl success was fleeting, the Cubs are the Cubs and though they won the 2005 Series the White Sox aren't truly the team of Chicago. Mike D'Antoni can help quench Chicago's thirst for W's.

The Suns roster, on average, is 29.6 years old, the Bulls is 24.1. Youth is what D'Antoni had when he moved over to Phoenix and what he'll get moving to the Bulls. Young athletic players to run his high speed offense. The roster in Chicago is set up for D'Antoni to take over and hit the ground running.

Kirk Hinrich at the point guard running the screen roll and kicking out to Ben Gordon and Andres Nocioni for the open three. Luol Deng, Thabo Sefolosha and Tyrus Thomas growing into the roles of Shawn Marion, Grant Hill and Boris Diaw over the next couple years. Drew Gooden and Joakim Noah pairing to run the pick and pop with Hinrich hitting the open 17-footers or rolling to the basket for the throw down.

Quality depth including Chris Duhon, Aaron Gray and Larry Hughes would help round out the roster and give D'Antoni a couple roster spots to add or subtract pieces to increase the potency of his system.

Not only would we see the Chicago Bulls win total increase we'd see the second NBA revolution of this early twenty-first century.

D'Antoni started the first in 2004 when he was hired by the Suns. The NBA West went from slow and plodding to exciting and athletic. While this has been going on, the East has been largely neglected, quagmired in poor basketball. D'Antoni can lead this revolution, forcing the NBA East to adapt to him by becoming younger, faster more athletic teams and give fans a much more enjoyable product to watch.

Please make the call John Paxson, get D'Antoni into the East, your box office and every other team's Owner will thank you.