College Football 2011: 4 Teams That Benefit from Ohio State Football's Mistakes
The reported mistakes that occurred in the Ohio State football program have opened the door for four Big Ten teams to contend for division and conference titles. The resignation of Jim Tressel, quarterback Terrelle Pryor's decision not to return for his senior year of football and the five-game suspension of key players will impact the Buckeyes' on-the-field performance.
Here is a close look at four teams who benefit the most during the 2011 season.
"On, Wisconsin! On, Wisconsin!" Champions of the Leaders Division
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The opening lines of the Wisconsin fight song pretty much capture the abilities of the Badger football team.
On, Wisconsin! On, Wisconsin!
Plunge right through that line!
Run the ball clear down the field,
A touchdown sure this time. (U rah rah)
Wisconsin should be the best team in the Leaders Division, because they can run and run and run the ball some more. It is the heart of the Badger offensive approach: rushing successively equals touchdowns and it wears down the opponent.
Offense
It helps that running backs James White and Montee Ball are returning this year. Ball was just four yards short of 1,000 yards last season. With the help of John Clay, the trio of Wisconsin running backs rushed for over 3,000 yards in 2010.
The running game will also be featured more, because sophomore quarterback Jon Budmayr must replace Scott Tolzien. Tolzien was an excellent leader for the Badgers in 2010. Besides handing the ball off to Wisconsin's trifecta of running backs, he had a quarterback rating of 165, threw for 16 touchdowns and had a 36-to-1 pass attempt-to-interception ratio.
The Badger offensive line should give Budmayr excellent protection and open some holes for the running game. Though they lost two starters on the left side of the line, the three other starters are returning this year and they have four other players who have occasionally started for Wisconsin.
Defense
The biggest challenge on defense is to replace end J.J. Watt, who had 21 tackles for a loss and seven sacks last season. Expectations are linemen Patrick Butrym, David Gilbert and Louis Nzegwu will take up the slack left by Watt's departure to the NFL.
The back seven may be where opponents test the Badgers. Linebackers Mike Taylor and Chris Borland must stay healthy in 2011 and the Wisconsin secondary lost cornerback Niles Brinkley, who was the best player in a secondary that struggled in 2010.
Key Games
October will be the critical month of the schedule for Wisconsin. They start October 1st by playing Nebraska at home. Indiana will face them in Camp Randall on the 15th and then they go on the road to face Michigan State (10/22) and Ohio State (10/29).
They do get a week off after the Nebraska game, but they also have to play their last regular game against Leaders Division rival Penn State on November 26th.
Summary
Wisconsin could still win the Leaders Division title if they lose to Legends Division contender Nebraska. The three "State" games will decide their fate in 2011.
Despite losing Tolzien and Clay, I expect the Badgers to be Leaders Division champions and play in the first Big Ten championship game.
If Penn State Can Settle on Starters, They Could Be Leaders Division Champs
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Penn State head coach Joe Paterno has no plans to retire soon, especially when he has an opportunity to win the Leaders Division title.
Sure, it won't be easy, but "Joe Pa" has been coaching long enough to deal with every type of challenge. It all starts with the quarterback position.
Offense
Junior Matt McGloin looked the most comfortable at quarterback this spring. He is also participating in informal workouts with receivers Derek Moye and Justin Brown.
But being comfortable is no guarantee that you'll be named the Penn State starter at quarterback. Sophomore Rob Boldon started two-thirds of the Nittany Lions' games in 2010 before a concussion pushed McGloin into the starting position. Paterno has craftily decided not to name a starter yet.
The other issues on offense and defense are depth at running back and wide receiver. With Evan Royster and his 1,014 yards rushing gone, the running game has to lean on Silas Redd and hopefully an underclassman to emerge as the core of the rushing attack. Last year Redd had 437 yards on the ground.
Derek Moye is by far the Nittany Lions' best receiver. He caught eight touchdown passes and 53 passes for 885 yards. Justin Brown needs to become the second-leading receiver on the team if Penn State hopes to mount an effective aerial attack.
Defense
The heart and soul of Penn State's title ambitions rests on the defense.
Senior Jack Crawford (4.5 sacks in 19 games) and junior Pete Massaro (3.5 sacks and 37 tackles in 2010) form solid bookends as the defensive end starters. Tackle Devin Still (10 tackles for losses) will plug up the middle of the line.
Senior Nate Stupar, who led Penn State in tackles, leads the linebackers. He will be joined by junior Michael Mauti. The remaining linebacker position requires open competition between sophomores Gerald Hodges, Glenn Carson and Khairi Fortt and juniors James Van Fleet and Michael Yancich. It gives Penn State seven linebackers with Big Ten experience.
The secondary may be the deepest area of the Penn State defense. Six defensive backs with Big Ten playing time are on the 2010 squad.
They are led by senior D'Anton Lynn, who will draw NFL draft attention in 2012 as a top-rated coverage cornerback. He had three interceptions and 75 tackles in 2010. Senior Chaz Powell and junior Stephon Morris will battle for the other starting spot at cornerback.
Senior safety Drew Astorino (26 starts) is the most experienced player in the secondary. He had 70 tackles in 2010. The other safety spot features a battle between senior Nick Sukay and sophomore Malcolm Willis. Sukay and Willis split playing time last year, because Sukay was injured halfway through the season and Willis took the spot for the remainder of the year.
Key Games
Penn State faces an early test when they play Alabama at home on September 10th and then they must wade through the schedule to face five consecutive tough opponents at the end of the season.
They end October by playing Northwestern on the road and then play consecutive home games against Illinois and Nebraska. They finish with road games against Ohio State and Wisconsin.
Summary
The Penn State schedule could leave them 7-6 again at the end of football season. The defense is solid and needs to play well if the Nittany Lions are to compete for a Leaders Division title and a berth to the Big Ten championship game.
They will need solid leadership from whoever starts at quarterback and definitely need a running game and a solid receiver to support Moye. You should expect him to be double-covered most of the year.
Penn State could be 4-1 or 1-4 in the last five games. They will need some help from other teams if they plan to contend for the Leaders Division title.
Nebraska Aims for Big Ten Title in 1st Year in the Conference
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Who is more intense? Cornhusker head coach Bo Pelini or Nebraska fans?
While you work on an answer to that question, let's review the 2010 edition of Nebraska football. They did some good things and some bad things.
They tied for first in the Big 12's North Division, but they lost to Oklahoma in the conference title game. They finished the season 10-4, but lost to Washington, 19-7, in the Holiday Bowl.
Nebraska has a lot of returning players back for the 2011 season, so they could contend for the Big Ten title in their first year in the conference.
Offense
The key is surrounding quarterback Taylor Martinez with enough protection to keep him and the Nebraska running backs healthy for the entire season.
Last year Martinez suffered an ankle injury that limited his mobility in the last six games of the season. The Cornhuskers were 3-3 in those games.
The heart of Nebraska's offense is their running game. Last year Martinez, running back Rex Burkhead and a talented team of rushers amassed 3,466 yards rushing and scored 32 touchdowns.
Someone pointed out that Nebraska's passing offense was No. 98 in the nation last year, which is less significant when you consider that Nebraska had 5,474 yards in total offense in 2010 and averaged over 30 points a game.
Returning starters Mike Caputo and Jeremiah Sirles will anchor a strong offensive line that opens up holes for Martinez and Company to run the ball and gives their quarterback time to complete passes.
Defense
Last year Nebraska had the No. 3 defense in pass efficiency and the No. 9 scoring defense. The scary thing is they should be better this year. They have All-America candidates on the defensive line, linebacker and in the secondary.
The defensive line led by tackle Jared Crick is extremely deep. Linebacker Lavonte David leads a group of talented linebackers. And cornerback Alfonzo Denard leads a talented secondary.
The linebackers and secondary are only a concern in that they lack the depth and talent of the defensive line.
Key Games
The Big Ten didn't do Nebraska any favors with the conference schedule. The Cornhuskers go to Wisconsin to face the Badgers in their Big Ten opener.
The game at Camp Randall is followed by a home game against Ohio State, a road game against Minnesota, home games against Michigan State and Northwestern, a trip to Happy Valley to face Penn State and a visit to the University of Michigan's ginormous stadium to play the Wolverines. They wrap up their inaugural Big Ten season at home against Iowa. The Minnesota game may be the only "gimme" in the bunch.
Summary
I would have put Nebraska earlier in these slides except for one major factor: They are members of the Legends Division and not the Buckeyes' Leaders Division.
The Cornhuskers could lose to Ohio State and still win the Legends Division. But if the offense clicks, then Big Ten opponents: Be afraid. Nebraska has a defense as strong as the Boilermakers and Badgers.
Circle October 29th and watch the Michigan State-Nebraska game. It should decide who wins the Legends Division.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Michigan State Wants Back-to-Back Big Ten Titles
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This year there will be no co-champions of the Big Ten and head coach Mark Dantonio and the Michigan State Spartans prefer it that way.
Last year MSU shared the title with Ohio State and Wisconsin. They also got routed by Alabama, 49-7, in the Capital One Bowl in Orlando, Florida. Minnie Mouse probably said "Oh, my!" several times during the game.
Michigan State was 11-2 in 2010, but I'm sure Dantonio has reminded his team that the two losses were blowouts. The 37-6 road loss to Iowa cost them sole ownership of the Big Ten title.
Offense
Are there any NFL teams looking for a pocket quarterback in the 2012 draft? They should take a look at the Spartans' Kirk Cousins.
The senior quarterback is so well respected among his teammates that he begins the 2011 season as a third-year captain. He can throw the ball down field and his quarterback rating is second only to Northwestern's Dan Persa among quarterbacks returning to the Big Ten this year.
Though the Spartans have a new offensive coordinator in Dan Roushar, they will continue to lean on the running game. Running back Edwin Baker is No.1 returning rusher in the Big Ten. He could be an even bigger gamebreaker this season.
Opposing defenses may become nauseous when they realize big Le'Veon Bell and Larry Caper will also be part of the running game. There are probably plenty of Division I teams that wish they had Bell or Caper as starters.
The Spartans are equally deep at wide receiver with B.J. Cunningham and Keshawn Martin. Martin proved last year that he can be used effectively both catching and running the ball.
Though MSU needs to replace some starters on the line, Dantonio seems to be able to recruit the personnel to reload the offense. It helps that their starting guards, Joel Foreman and Chris McDonald, are returning this year.
Defense
The Spartan defense has taken a "Jekyll and Hyde" personality during Dantonio's term as head coach. The good news is they will have a very strong defensive line. The potential bad news is how reliable will the back seven be on defense.
Jerel Worthy and Tyler Hoover anchor the defensive line. Defensive end William Gholston is definitely a player to watch this year. He has the potential and ability to be the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
Due to graduation, Michigan State lost a determined leader and great linebacker in Greg Jones. Max Bullough, who comes from a family of MSU linebackers, is being challenged to fill the middle linebacker spot.
Chris Norman made several big plays as the Spartan weak-side linebacker. This year he moves to strong side, while the coaches go through a list of candidates to fill Norman's former spot.
Safety Trenton Robinson proved last year that he could be a team leader in the secondary and he will be joined by another veteran in cornerback Johnny Adams. Sophomore safety Isaiah Lewis is expected to be the hard-hitting complement to teammate Robinson.
Key Games
Michigan State's fate will be decided in October. They begin October going to Columbus to face the Buckeyes. The game could be a toss-up, because Ohio State will not be able to start some key players who are serving a five-game suspension.
After facing the Buckeyes, they face cross-state rival Michigan and the Wolverines' new head coach Brady Hoke. They remain at home on October 22nd to face the Wisconsin Badgers and finish October on the eve of Halloween, when the Spartans go to Lincoln to face fellow Legends Division contender Nebraska.
Summary
The Spartans should enter the Horseshoe with a 4-0 record. A win over Ohio State would be a great momentum builder in their push for the Legends Division title and a spot in the Big Ten championship game.
It will come down to how strong the Spartan defense plays in 2011. On paper, Nebraska's defense is better than the Spartans and their offenses may be evenly matched.
As I wrote in the previous slide, circle October 29th and watch the Michigan State-Nebraska game. It should decide who wins the Legends Division.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
