Bleacher Report - Articles by Matt Boczar

College Football's Top 10 Offensive Trios to Watch This Season

Matt Boczar — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:26:28 -0400

With the college football season less than two months away, it's time to start looking at which teams have the capability of lighting up the scoreboard.

This list only features teams that have a trio of weapons on offense, so teams such as Texas (Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley) and Virginia Tech (Tyrod Taylor and Darren Evans) came up one playmaker short.

And now, without further ado:

10. Nevada: QB Colin Kaepernick, RB Vai Taua, and RB Luke Lippincott

What? A WAC team not from Boise? Longtime head coach Chris Ault is hoping his dynamic offense can prevent Boise State from repeating as WAC champions and winning their fifth title in six years.

Junior quarterback Colin Kaepernick will look to feed off the momentum he gained last season after completing 208 passes for 2,849 yards and 22 TDs. Kaepernick, the reigning WAC Offensive Player of the Year, will have help from running backs Vai Taua and Luke Lippincott.

Lippincott, the 2007 WAC rushing leader, looks to bounce back after suffering a knee injury.

In his sixth year of eligibility, Lippincott will try to improve on his stats from '07, when he rushed for 1,420 yards on 267 carries along with 15 touchdowns. However, his replacement Taua had even better numbers last season while he filled in for the injured back. Taua finished with 1,521 yards on 236 carries and 15 TDs.

The Wolf Pack open on the road at Notre Dame with a chance to gain some national attention as they try to unseat the reigning champion Broncos.

9. LSU: RB Charles Scott, WR Brandon LaFell, and WR Trindon Holliday

After failing to reach a double-digit win total for the first time since '04, coach Les Miles and crew will look to their offense to rebound against fellow SEC opponents Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Ole Miss, and Arkansas.

Sophomore Jordan Jefferson takes over at quarterback after Jarrett Lee proved to be just too mistake-prone last season. With the quarterback position still under question, the bulk of the offense falls onto the strong shoulders of running back Charles Scott.

Scott, who finished with 1,174 yards last season on 217 carries and 18 TDs, will share time with Keiland Williams. Senior Brandon LaFell will be Jefferson's primary target entering the season after he finished his '08 campaign with 929 yards, eight touchdowns, and 63 receptions.

Also, Mr. Versatile Trindon Holliday returns and will look to add onto his 2,229 career all-purpose yards. If the Tigers defense holds strong and Jefferson shows consistency, LSU should improve on their eight-win 2008 season.

8. Houston: QB Case Keenum, RB Bryce Beall, and WR Tyron Carrier

First a WAC team and now a Conference USA team? And it's not East Carolina? Unfortunately for C-USA members, quarterback Case Keenum plays for the Cougars. The reigning Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year finished the '08 season with an astonishing 5,020 yards passing and 44 TDs.

Keenum's 5,020 yards even surpassed Heisman trophy winner Sam Bradford's season total (4,720).

However, if Keenum's arm gets tired, he should have no problem handing off to sophomore Bryce Beall. Beall broke the school's freshman running record and finished third in the conference as he accumulated 1,247 yards including 13 touchdowns.

The player who accounted for over one-fifth of Keenum's 5020 yards last season returns as Tyron Carrier looks to build on his freshman season. Carrier, who like LSU's Holliday is also a track and field star, caught 80 passes for 1,026 yards and nine TDs as he made his case for fastest player in the conference.

Behind Keenum's arm, the Cougars will look to win their first conference title since 2006.

7. BYU: QB Max Hall, RB Harvey Unga, and TE Dennis Pitta

Seventh might be a little low for the Cougars, who are led by Heisman candidate Max Hall. Hall, the 6'1", 201-lb. senior, returns after throwing for 3,957 yards and 35 TDs last season.

Hall, who ranked nationally in the top 10 last season in total offense, must find a new favorite target after the departure of Austin Collie.

Senior tight end Dennis Pitta will try to make the search easier on Hall by looking to improve on his numbers from '08, in which he finished with 1,083 yards on 83 receptions along with six TDs. Pitta was a unanimous first-team all-conference selection in '08.

While trying to find a new target, Hall should feel comfortable handing the ball off to junior Harvey Unga, who is looking to rush for 1,000 yards for the third straight season. Unga rushed for 1,132 yards last season and picked up 11 touchdowns along the way on 240 carries.

The Cougars open up on Sept. 5 against Oklahoma in the Dallas Cowboys' new facility with a chance to gain national attention, along with shaking up the national title picture in the process.

6. Southern Miss: QB Austin Davis, RB Damion Fletcher, and WR DeAndre Brown

Another C-USA team? And still no East Carolina? Thanks to the return of senior running back Damion Fletcher, the Golden Eagles have a good chance of improving on their 4-4 conference record last season.

Fletcher, one of the nation's best backs, finished the '08 season with 1,313 yards on 219 carries along with 10 TDs. Fletcher also caught 33 passes and finished as Conference USA's top rusher.

The person handing off to Fletcher will be Austin Davis. Davis is coming off a stellar freshman season in which he threw for 3,134 yards and 23 touchdowns while trying to figure out coach Larry Fedora's no-huddle offense.

Davis's favorite target is also coming off an outstanding freshman season. Sophomore DeAndre Brown finished with 1,117 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns as he helped the Golden Eagles break 36 school records and earn the school's 15th consecutive winning season.

If Brown, who is recovering from a broken leg he suffered in last season's New Orleans Bowl, is fully healthy, the Golden Eagles may use another year of experience to break even more records and possibly even win a conference title.

5. USC: RB Stafon Johnson, RB C.J. Gable, and WR Damian Williams

If the quarterback battle was a bit clearer, the Trojans could easily have a top three offense. However, with the potential starter being a true freshman (Matt Barkley), the confidence level cannot be at 100 percent just yet.

However, this is the USC Trojans were talking about here, and Pete Carroll is still the head coach there. With that being said, the '09 Trojans offense will be extremely powerful as usual, led by running backs Stafon Johnson and C.J. Gable. The duo combined for 1,322 yards last season along with 17 touchdowns.

With those types of numbers, it doesn't matter who's throwing the ball. But whenever a starter is named, he will have junior Damian Williams to throw to. Williams had 869 receiving yards last season on 58 receptions and nine TDs.

That's 26 touchdowns from three players, and we haven't even mentioned Joe McKnight yet (659, two).

An early rematch at Ohio State will determine just how high these Trojans can fly in '09.

4. Kansas: QB Todd Reesing, RB Jake Sharp, and WR Dezmon Briscoe

Coach Mark Mangino may have one of the most underrated players in the nation under center for him the season. Senior Todd Reesing returns to the Jayhawks after compiling 3,888 yards through the air last season on his way to throwing 32 touchdowns. Actually, Reesing's touchdown total decreased by one from the '07 season.

If Reesing can put up similar numbers and survive against the two BCS Big 12 contenders (Oklahoma and Texas), he just might hear his name and the word "Heisman" mentioned in the same sentence.

The Jayhawks' ground attack doesn't feature any early season Heisman candidates but does showcase a very productive back by the name of Jake Sharp. Kansas's run game struggled early on last season until Sharp was able to have a breakthrough game in the Jayhawks' Big 12 opener against Iowa State.

Sharp went on to rush for 860 yards on 180 carries along with 12 TDs, all career highs.

The Jayhawks' air attack features one of the nation's best receivers in Dezmon Briscoe. Briscoe caught 92 passes for 1,407 yards and 15 TDs last season while averaging 27.4 yards per return on kick return duty. Briscoe had 14 receptions while helping the Jayhawks defeat Minnesota in last year's Insight Bowl.

Quarterback-turned-receiver Kerry Meier added 1,045 yards on 92 catches last season as well.

If Sharp can reach the 1,000-yard mark and Reesing is able to find Briscoe and Meier as often as he did last season, the Jayhawks may have a double-digit win total for only the second time in six years.

3. Florida: QB Tim Tebow, RB Chris Rainey, and RB Jeffrey Demps

Two words: Tim and Tebow. It's not every season that one player can almost singlehandedly dominate college football. Then again, Tebow has only been playing college football for four years.

Take your pick. If you want passing numbers, you get 2,746 yards on 192 completions and 30 TDs along with just four INTs. If you want rushing, you get 673 yards on 176 carries and 12 TDs. That's 42 TDs by one player. And yes, he's trying to tie the great Archie Griffin by winning his second Heisman trophy.

The Gators also feature a double-headed ground attack of Chris Rainey and Jeffrey Demps. The two combined for 1,257 yards last season along with 11 touchdowns.

Also, there's tight end Aaron Hernandez, who caught 34 passes for 381 yards and five TDs—not to mention senior wide receiver Brandon James returns for a final season.

The list of weapons the Gators possess goes on and on, and unfortunately for the SEC and the rest of the nation, that list is headed by a man named Tim Tebow.

2. Oklahoma: QB Sam Bradford, RB Chris Brown, and TE Jermaine Gresham

Any quarterback whose tight end is a preseason All-American is a happy quarterback. In the Sooners' case, it's the rich getting richer.

Reigning Heisman trophy winner Sam Bradford resisted the temptation created by the NFL and returns to Norman for his junior season. Bradford put up video game-like numbers last season as he threw for 4,720 yards and 50—yes, 50—touchdowns.

The numbers continue to grow, as running back Chris Brown returns for his senior season after rushing for 20 TDs in '08 and piling up 1,220 yards.

But wait—there's more.

Junior running back DeMarco Murray provides the Sooners with a double-headed ground attack as he rushed for 1,002 yards last season along with 14 TDs of his own. That's 84 touchdowns by just three players, and we're still not done.

As Bradford announced he was returning to school, tight end Jermaine Gresham was doing the same. Gresham brings with him 950 receiving yards, 66 receptions, and 14 TDs.

If the Sooners defense holds up and the team can win its Red River Rivalry game against Texas on Oct. 17, Bradford and company should get another chance at becoming BCS National Champions.

1. Oklahoma State: QB Zac Robinson, RB Kendall Hunter, and WR Dez Bryant

When your offense features two Heisman trophy candidates and a quarterback who threw for over 3,000 yards last season, your team should already be penciled in as conference champions, right? Not when your team has to face Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford inside of a month.

Nevertheless, these Cowboys feature an offense that consists of numerous playmakers and scoring options. The player under center for the Cowboys has thrown for 6,233 yards in his career and rushed for another 1,553—and he's not done.

Senior Zac Robinson returns after throwing for 3,064 yards last season along with 25 touchdowns. The fact that he's considered the third-best quarterback in his conference shows how strong the quarterback position in the Big 12 is this season.

The player responsible for catching Robinson's passes is Heisman trophy candidate Dez Bryant. The 6'2", 215-lb. junior caught 87 passes last season for 1,480 yards and 19 TDs.

However, if Robinson gets tired of throwing to an All-American receiver, he can hand off to an All-American running back in Kendall Hunter. Hunter rushed 241 times last season for 1555 yards and 16 TDs. He finished as the Big 12's leading rusher by almost 30 yards.

The Cowboys finish up the month of October by facing two great quarterbacks in Baylor's Robert Griffin and Texas' McCoy.

But if they somehow manage to survive, they'll get to finish up their campaign at Oklahoma with a chance to wreak havoc on the BCS system.

The one thing that is for certain, however, is that the scoreboard at Boone Pickens Stadium will be lit up on much more than just one occasion this season.

There ya have it—a look at college football's most potent offenses for the upcoming season. As always, let the debating begin.

Villanova Basketball: Why Not 'NOVA This Year?

Matt Boczar — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:40:11 -0400

With the NBA Draft less than 24 hours away, there's one thing I've noticed: no Villanova players can be found. That's because none of them decided to dive into the water overflowing with one and done freshmen.

A Sweet 16 team returning all of its players? I'd say it's okay to get excited.

If you're like me, you still remember the amazing trio of Allan Ray, Randy Foye, and Mike Nardi. That group of guards was not only fun to watch, but played exactly how a Philadelphia guard should play—like there's no tomorrow.

So let me ask you this: Why can't a new trio emerge for this upcoming season? I know, I know, it's very early, but let's do some dreaming. Why can't a trio of Scottie Reynolds, Corey Fisher, and Reggie Redding lead the way?

You'd think a team that started last season 10-1 would receive a little more respect. Everyone knows North Carolina is returning more talent in Hansbrough, Ellington, Lawson, and Green. Didn't the experts say Georgetown had a little more talent back in 1985? Hmm. Since when did a Philadelphia team go down quietly?

The last time Villanova lost to the defending National Champions was 2004-2005. I'd say the next season could be classified as successful.

The formula for success involves experience, great coaching, and aggressiveness. I'm not sure Villanova is lacking in any of those categories.

No matter what happens, this team should be extremely enjoyable to watch. Eventually some team will end the Philadelphia title drought. I don't see why an underrated group of basketball players from a great school with a lot of support can't be the team to do it.

Watch Out Orlando Cabrera, Gordon Beckham Is on His Way

Matt Boczar — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 05:09:56 -0400

Between the Regionals, Super Regionals, and the actual World Series itself, College Baseball's postseason goes on for weeks. However, this year seems to be the most enjoyable in recent years, mainly in part to one extraordinary player: Gordon Beckham.

This right-handed hitter with the sweetest swing is currently taking Omaha by storm. In the opening game of the College World Series (where Georgia is still undefeated), Beckham led the eighth-inning comeback with a two-run home run to left field. Beckham hit the ball precisely on the sweet spot of the bat and the sound that echoed through Rosenblatt Stadium was incredible.

Beckham, followed by his newly inspired teammates Matt Cerione and Joey Lewis, completed an amazing comeback to put the Cinderella-story Fresno State Bulldogs back in their place.

Gordon was drafted by the Chicago White Sox earlier this month, and Kenny Williams must be drooling every time he turns on ESPN. How can a player who has already hit 52 collegiate home runs, finished the regular season with a .404 batting average, with 108 hits, 74 RBI, and a .956 fielding percentage stay focused?

Pure love of the game.

In this day and age, when Toronto's GM J.P. Ricciardi can accuse Cincinnati Reds' outfielder Adam Dunn of just going through the motions, a player who plays because he loves the game is a rare commodity.

Whether it's been tearing up the competition in the Cape Cod Summer league, dominating high schoolers back at Westminster, or putting on a display of his impeccable hitting skills in the SEC, Gordon Beckham has been second to none.

With a 33-year-old player currently manning the infield dirt between third and second, Beckham has a shot at reaching the bigs within the next two years. When he does, you better get used to it, because he will be there to stay.

Throughout his career, as the skill level of the competition increased, so did his own. That's a scary thought, when he will be competing against the likes of Derek Jeter, Michael Young, and Julio Lugo for starting A.L. All-Star shortstop in 2010.

But for now, let's just watch Gordon Beckham try and cement his collegiate legacy with a National Championship for his Georgia Bulldogs. Because, when someone loves the game as much as he does, they are second to none.

Chase Utley: The Ideal Role Model

Matt Boczar — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:04:33 -0400

How many times do professional athletes garner attention for all the wrong reasons? Athletes such as Barry Bonds, Terrell Owens, Chad Johnson, Chris Henry, Mark McGwire, Carmelo Anthony, and Pac Man Jones gained publicity more for their off the field issues than they did for their in-game performances.

Athletes are meant to be seen wearing their jersey, warm-ups or Wrangler jeans (there's always room for a Brett Favre compliment), not on the steps leading to a court house wearing a suit.

Barry Bonds is not supposed to testify before Congress. Pac Man Jones is not supposed to have more mug shots than media guide photos. Terrell Owens is not supposed to be doing sit-ups outside of his thirty-million dollar mansion, because I'm sure there's a room inside where he could be doing them.

However, there are those athletes that know their place. There are those athletes that don't look at their sport as a business but rather as the same game they loved when they were toddlers. It is thanks to these athletes that role models still exist. Otherwise, Charles Barkley could have spoken on everyone's behalf.

Now, I know we're only two and a half months into the baseball season, but Chase Utley of the Philadelphia Phillies can't be denied. He is off to one heck of a start and the MVP talk is already beginning. Let me ask you something, have you ever heard Chase Utley speak? What's his voice even sound like? I'm sure he's given tons of interviews, but how does he stay so quiet?

Can a superstar have a minor personality?

I guess so. Utley is currently leading the N.L. All-Star balloting but he doesn't need it. He's already dealing with All-Stars. Just take a look at his charity, "Utley Animal All-Stars." Chase and his wife Jenn love animals dearly. They are also proud supporters of the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

You mean Chase doesn't participate in dog or cock fights? Nope, that's the one time his voice can actually be heard.

Chase tries to live life according to what his father told him: "If you're really good at something, you don't have to tell people. They will tell you."

Doesn't look like Chase will have any youtube videos out this summer pleading for All-Star votes. He'll most likely be driving his hybrid car to some convention about global warming. Or maybe he'll spend an evening with his wife and their seven month old puppy of whom they paid the medical bills and rehabilitation after it was beaten and tortured.

Whatever he does, he'll be doing it the only way he knows how: the right way.

If there is one athlete to look up to, it is Chase Utley. Not just as an athlete, but as an all around remarkable human being.