Big East Football: Your Complete Guide To the 2010 Season

The themes for the 2010 Big East season is change.  

Out of it’s eight teams, three have new head coaches: Charlie Strong (Louisville), Skip Holtz (South Florida), and Butch Jones (Cincinnati). Also, many fresh faces are replacing former league stars in key positions. A total of eighteen Big East players were taken in the NFL Draft, including three in the first round.

Quarterback play will also be something to keep an eye on as six of the eight teams have quarterback questions.  Only Cincinnati and Louisville won’t have a new signal caller or a quarterback controversy.

With the emergence of the Mountain West Conference the last few seasons, the Big East now must answer the question of weather it really deserves to be a BCS conference and get an automatic bid to a BCS Bowl Game.

The Big 10 had shown some interest in many current Big East schools, but the conference managed to stick together. While the Big East is the least talked about of the BCS Conferences, there is still some quality talent; including two legitimate Heisman contenders in Dion Lewis and Noel Divine.

This could be the strongest the league has ever been. With Syracuse improving and Charlie Strong at Louisville, there isn’t likely to be a true dog in the lot. Cincinnati, Pitt, Rutgers, and West Virginia will all be very good, while Connecticut and South Florida have just enough going their way to be in the Big East title hunt for the entire season.

Coach of the Year: Randy Edsall, Connecticut

Randy Edsall has done wonders at UConn. He should have the Huskies on the verge of a Big East title in 2010. It won't be long before Edsall is coveted by much bigger schools.

Offensive Player of the Year: Dion Lewis, Pitt

Dion Lewis has a realistic shot to win the Heisman Trophy. After a spectacular freshman season, Lewis should have an even bigger sophomore campaign leading Pitt to a Big East title.

Defensive Player of the Year: Greg Romeus, Pitt

Greg Romeus won the award a season ago and should do so again in 2010. The Panthers led the nation in sacks a season ago and the duo of Romeus and Jabaal Sheard are back for Pitt.

You can't double team them both. One of them, possibly both, is going to have a big season in 2010.

Projected Order of Finish

1. Pittsburgh (9-3, 6-1): The Panthers were one play away from winning the conference title last year and should get the job done this season. Once Dave Wannstedt made the transition from Walt Harris' players to his own recruits, the Panthers have improved every season. The Panthers return big time playmakers in Dion Lewis and Jonathan Baldwin and also return a defensive front four led by Greg Romeus that led the nation in sacks a season ago.

The Panthers have quarterback questions and a tough non-conference schedule but should be fine in conference play. The conference road schedule will be tough as Pitt heads to UConn, South Florida and Cincinnati. The “Backyard Brawl” could end up determining the Big east Champ and this season Pitt gets WVU at home.

2. West Virginia (9-3, 5-2): The Mountaineers have quarterback questions like pretty much every other team in the league, but also have a ton of talent at every other position on the field. They have a couple game breakers in Noel Divine and Jock Sanders and an outstanding all-around defense.

For a change, the Mountaineers aren’t playing a cupcake non-conference schedule as they head to LSU on Sept. 25th. The conference schedule plays in West Virginia’s favor as the only two tough games on the road are at Connecticut and Pitt.

Projected Order of Finish

3. Connecticut (9-3, 5-2): Randy Edsell has quietly built the Huskies into contenders. Edsell’s teams always have speed and this season will be no different. The Huskies have a veteran bunch and will contend for the conference championship. They will rely on running back Jordan Todman and a very fast and talented defense.

Last season, UConn lost three heartbreaking games in a row by a combined ten points and had to deal with the tragic death of Jasper Howard. The veteran Huskies likely will win more close games this season than lose them and will be a factor all season.

4. Cincinnati (7-5, 4-3): Butch Jones replaces Brian Kelly as a head coach for the second time in his career. After back-to-back Big East crowns, look for the Bearcats to fall back a bit. They still have a ton of talent all over the field. They have a great receiving core and Zach Collars should do fine taking over for Tony Pike.

The Bearcats quite simply just tried to outscore teams in the past. This season they may have to play some defense and there are just too many questions on that side of the ball. They do catch a break though by having Pitt, Rutgers, and South Florida at home.

Projected Order of Finish

5. Rutgers (7-5, 4-3): The Scarlet Knights could be the sleeper in the conference and have the talent to win it. They are young, but there is a lot to like for Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano.

Tom Savage has a chance to be very good under center and he is surrounded by young playmakers now. The Scarlet Knight defense should also rank right up there with the likes of Pitt, WVU, and UConn. They are likely a season away from contending for the Big east crown, but can’t be counted out.

6. South Florida (6-6, 3-4): Bulls new head coach Skip Holtz should have his team in contention for a Big East title soon, but this isn’t likely the year. They have a talented quarterback in B.J. Daniels, but there isn’t much depth at many positions. The defense also lost players at each position, so there are more questions than answers on that side of the ball.

Projected Order of Finish

7. Syracuse (4-8, 1-6): Doug Marrone took over at Syracuse last season and nearly had the Orange bowl eligible. He’s getting better talent than years past, but they are still thin. Look for the Orange to continue to improve this season. 

They likely will finish towards the bottom of the Big East, but with an upset or two could finish middle of the pack and contend for a bowl game.

8. Louisville (4-8, 1-6): The Cardinals are in the middle of a rebuilding project and lack top notch talent at pretty much every position.  New head coach Charlie Strong brings a defensive mentality, which should help some, but he just doesn’t have the horses to compete this season.

Ranking the Coaches

1. Greg Schiano, Rutgers: One of the more talented coaches in the nation. To make Rutgers competitive is a feat of it’s own. Expect Schiano to be coaching at a big time program in the near future.

2. Dave Wannstedt, Pitt: Wannstedt has made Pitt a factor again on a national level again, which wasn‘t an easy job considering the team he took over. While they are still far away from a national title threat, Pitt now gets better recruits and has improved every season under Wannstedt.

3. Randy Edsell, Connecticut: Quickly made the Huskies a player in the Big East. No where for the program to go but up under Easel, who also could find himself at a bigger school sometime soon.

4. Bill Stewart, WVU: Still keeps the fans in Morgantown happy after Rich Rodriguez left for Michigan. He still gets good talent and wins. A cupcake non-conference schedule usually pads his win total, but that changes this season.

5. Skip Holtz, South Florida: Did very well at East Carolina and now gets a shot in a BCS Conference. It won’t be long before Holtz has the Bulls a major player in the Big East.

6. Butch Jones, Cincinatti: Jones replaced Brian Kelly at Central Michigan, now he replaces him at Cincinatti. Jones will focus more on the defensive side of the ball than his predecessor, but for now, he may still have to try and outscore teams.

7. Charlie Strong, Louisville: The cupboard is bare for Strong at the moment, but Cardinals fans were really excited about his hiring. His teams will be defensive minded which could get the Louisville program back in contention in the very near future.

8. Doug Marrone, Syracuse: Marrone seems to be for real but still has a ton of work to do at Syracuse. The talent level improved a great deal last year, but he will need a couple more good recruiting classes to compete in the Big East

Ranking the Quarterbacks

1. Zach Collaros, Cincinnati: Could be a big playmaker and has a ton of weapons on the outside. Proved he can play at the college level when he filled in for injured Tony Pike last year.

2. Tom Savage, Rutgers: Will build off successful freshman campaign.

3. B.J. Daniels, South Florida: Tons of talent. Will he be consistent enough?

4. Zach Frazier, Connecticut: Big arm and a big playmaker.

5. Tino Sunseri, Pitt: Has Pitt fans excited but with a tough out of conference schedule, he could struggle early..

6. Geno Smith, WVU: Likely to win the starting job in Morgantown.

7. Ryan Nassib, Syracuse: Nassib would have been the starter last season until Syracuse brought in Greg Paulus for a season.  He has some talent, but his first year behind center could be a rough one.

8. Adam Froman, Louisville: Froman will return as the starter, but the Cardinals don’t have much around him at the moment.

Ranking the Running Backs

1. Dion Lewis, Pitt: Workhorse and legitimate Heisman contender.  Should have an even better sophomore season.

2. Noel Divine, WVU: Home Run hitter and also a Heisman contender, but can he be an every down type of back?

3. Jordan Todman, Connecticut: Possibly would be the best back in some other conferences. For now has to play third fiddle behind Lewis and Devine.

4. Isaiah Pead, Cincinnati: Very talented and should see the ball more this season.

5. Delone Carter, Syracuse: Due to his suspension, his status is up in the air, but if he gets on the field for the Orange, he is a difference maker. If not, the Orange have a talented replacement in Antwon Bailey who can be an explosive home run hitter.

6. Joe Martinek, Rutgers: Martinek is reliable for the Scarlet Knights, but isn’t much of a big play guy and lacks speed. He will get most of the carries until freshmen Casey Turner and Jawan Jamison are ready.

7. Victor Anderson, Louisville: Anderson averaged 5.6 yards a during his first two seasons at Louisville, but was limited to only 89 carries last season due to injury.He’s a smaller back so he won’t get 20 plus carries a game and will likely share the ball with Darius Ashley and Bilal Powell

8. Moise Plancher, South Florida: Plancher was granted a sixth season of eligibility and finally gets the chance to be the guy. His previous high was a 581 yard season, but that was with the Bulls practically living from the shotgun. It remains to be seen what he can provide on an every down basis.

Ranking the Wide Receivers

1. Jonathan Baldwin, Pitt: Legitimate first round talent and big play threat. Likely the best play maker in the conference.

2. Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers: Will just get better after outstanding first season.

3. Armon Binns, Cincinnati: Somebody has to replace Marty Gillard and the Bearcats have a ton of weapons, but Bins will likely be the go-to-guy.

4. Jock Sanders, West Virginia: Has serious talent, but quarterback play in Morgantown could be an issue.

5. Vidal Hazleton, Cincinnati: Transfer from USC just gives the Bearcats even more weapons.

6. Dontavia Bogan, South Florida: The Bulls took a hit in recieving depth, but Bogan will be their go-to-guy. Being that the receiving core is so thin, he could see a lot of footballs thrown his way.

7.  D.J. Woods, Cincinnati: Woods was third on the team in receiving a season ago and should catch even more balls this season.  Not many teams are going to be able to matchup with all the Bearcats receivers, so Woods should have favorable match ups playing in the slot.

8. Kashif Moore, Connecticut: Moore is a reliable pass catcher who’s numbers should explode this season. The Huskies suddenly have some weapons and speed. They will run the ball a lot, but Moore should still have a big season.

Ranking the Defenses

1. Pittsburgh: Led the nation in sacks last year and pretty much everyone returns. Secondary has been a question, but that should be much improved. Dan Mason is a future star at middle linebacker.

2. Connecticut: Very fast and aggressive at all spots.

3. West Virginia: Very talented secondary and line backing core. A couple questions up front though.

4. Rutgers: Young and fast. Could easily top this list next season.

5.  South Florida: The Bulls are athletic and fast on the outside and big in the middle. They have possibly the best pair of corners in the conference in Kayvon Webster and Quenton Washington, but lack overall depth at each position.

6. Cincinnati: Expect the Bearcats to attempt to play some defense this season.  They have a very talented secondary, but are young and unproven everywhere else.

7. Syracuse: They have some talent at linebacker with Derrrell Smith and Doug Houge. They also have a pretty good secondary, but lack size and talent on the line. They are another team that lacks all around depth, but Marrone has them headed in the right direction.

8. Louisville: Louisville was last in the league stopping the run a season ago, which doesn’t bode well for the Cardinals, considering the top half of the league can all run the ball very well. They need a major upgrade of talent at each position on the defensive side of the ball.