SB Nation - Darren Evans

Our 2009 ACC Blogger Awards Ballot

Brian @ BCI — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:45:24 -0000

More photos » by J. Pat Carter - AP

Miami head coach Randy Shannon is BC Interruption's ACC Coach of the Year. Sebastian the Ibis gives us his stamp of approval on this selection. (AP Photo/J. Pat Carter)

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For the second straight year, the SBNation Virginia Tech blog Gobbler Country is hosting a blogger version of the postseason ACC Football Awards. Our ballot is below, and just in time for tomorrow night's ACC Championship Game.

Issues or comments on our ballot go to the comments section.

Coach of the Year - Randy Shannon (Miami Fla.)

With all due respect to Georgia Tech's Paul Johnson, Randy Shannon has our vote for ACC Coach of the Year. Shannon has the Hurricanes back on an upward trajectory, winning 2 more games each year in his first three seasons (5 in 2007, 7 in 2008 and 9 in 2009). Unlike Johnson, Shannon didn't exactly inherit a team that had all the right pieces to work in his system. After putting an end to the Patrick Nix / Robert Marve experiment and installing Mark Whipple as offensive coordinator, the Hurricanes have gone from a team that ranked 89th in total offense in 2008 to 35th in 2009. This year's Miami team is probably a overtime win over Clemson from a BCS bowl at-large berth. Finally, when considering voting for Randy Shannon over Paul Johnson, remember that this matchup was already played on the field with Miami coming away with the 33-17 victory.

Also considered: Frank Spaziani (Boston College), Paul Johnson (Georgia Tech)

Offensive Player of the Year - C.J. Spiller (Clemson)

Although probably not even a top 3 running back in the ACC (Ryan Williams, Jonathan Dwyer, even Montel Harris), Spiller gets the nod for Offensive Player of the Year. Spiller is equally good out of the backfield as he is in the receiving game, and is a game-changer on special teams. We'd go as far to say that Clemson probably doesn't sniff the ACC Championship Game this season without Spiller.

Also considered: Ryan Williams (Virginia Tech), Demaryius Thomas (Georgia Tech)

Defensive Player of the Year - Luke Kuechly (Boston College)

Call us homers ... but what this true freshman did at linebacker is truly remarkable. Not many true freshman get to start at linebacker in a BCS conference program, but Kuechly took his opportunity filling in for Mark Herzlich and Mike McLaughlin and hit a home run. Kuechly's 142 tackles placed him second in the country behind New Mexico's Carmen Messina. Kuechly also found the end zone for the first time in his career off a 28 yard INT return in a 31-10 win over Central Michigan. Kuechly also literally flew through the air on a Maryland 4th and 1 preventing the Terps from continuing a fourth quarter drive. There were certainly other impressive performances turned in by ACC defenders in 2009, but given the shoes he had to fill and the impact he had on the Eagles Top 25 defense, we give Kuechly the nod here.

Also considered: DeAndre McDaniel (Clemson), Derrick Morgan (Georgia Tech)

Rookie of the Year - Ryan Williams (Virginia Tech)

While Kuechly could very well also be the pick here, we'll go with Ryan Williams of Virginia Tech. Williams knocked the ball out of the park filling in for the injured Darren Evans, rushing for 1,538 yards and finishing the regular season 3rd nationally in rushing yards behind Heisman Trophy candidate Toby Gerhart and UTEP's Donald Buckran. Williams rushed for over 100 yards in 9 out of the Hokies 12 games this year, turning in two breakout performances in the Hokies last two regular season games - 120 yards, 4 touchdowns vs. NC State and 183 yards, 4 touchdowns at Virginia. Williams 19 touchdowns on the ground led the conference and placed him tied for fourth nationally.

Also considered: Luke Kuechly (Boston College)

Five Good Minutes: Gobbler Country

Brian @ BCI — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:00:25 -0000

More photos » by Gerry Broome - AP

2 months ago: Virginia Tech's Ryan Williams (34) changes direction as Duke's Chris Rwabukamba (16) defends during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009. Virginia Tech won 34-26. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

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Next up: Virginia Tech. To preview this weekend's matchup between the Hokies and the Eagles, we welcome back Gobbler Country to the blog for Five Good Minutes.

BC Interruption: First question is simple. How do the Hokies continue to do it? Virginia Tech currently sits at 4-1 and has an outside shot at a BCS National Championship Game appearance despite a passing offense that currently ranks 100+ through five weeks. Last season the Hokies repeated as the only team to win a BCS conference with an offense that ranked 100+ in total offense. Is the passing game better this year? Have you liked what you have seen out of Tyrod Taylor thus far?

Gobbler Country: It's incredible that just when I'm ready to give up on Tyrod he always has a game like the ones we've seen against Miami and Duke. I've been pleasantly surprised by our wide receivers this year. But Tyrod's accuracy left a lot to be desired the first three games. I don't know if the passes to Danny Coale and Dyrell Roberts at the end of the Nebraska game made something click for him or what, but he's been a completely different quarterback the last two weeks. He's confident, he's accurate and he trusts his receivers. The first three games he would have had a D- or an F, but his performances the last two weeks have been A+.

What we really haven't seen a lot out of his so far this year is the ability to escape the pocket. Part of that is teams are scheming for it and I think another part of it is he's trying to prove he can throw the ball, too. I think he's going to have to get some yards on the ground in this game. BC's secondary is good and I don't think the Eagles have the same speed from its outside guys as other teams we've seen. He should be able to get yards on the ground if he wants to.

BCI: Even with the loss of Darren Evans, the Hokies have been able to establish a very good running game this season. It seems like the Hokies simply plug and play at running back with a new back stepping up each week. How has the Virginia Tech rushing game been able to be so successful this season? Is it due to a trio of talented backs, a strong offensive line, or a little of A and a little of B?

GC: The offensive line has been great at run blocking this year, but our running backs, particularly Ryan Williams, have shown they are adept at getting through the holes quickly and knowing what they need to do at the second level in order to make guys miss and get extra yards. And Williams is a different back than teams are used to seeing out of Virginia Tech. He can make guys miss and get yards off tackle. Usually when you play the Hokies you expect them to try and get yards up the middle with guys like Evans and Branden Ore.

BCI: Tell us about your game changers on defense. In your opinion, is the defense weaker or stronger than last year’s unit?

GC: I think it's weaker up the middle, which in my mind is the difference between a good defense and a great defense. So to me it's not as good as last year's. The defensive tackles haven't been very impressive so far this year. Jake Johnson and Barquell Rivers are improving every week, but still make mistakes that young players make. Johnson was good in the early games, but had breakdowns in pass coverage. Rivers had an outstanding game against Miami, but still needs to find consistency.

There are no secrets to who our game changers are. If Jason Worilds is having a good game, there's a good chance we're winning. If he can disrupt BC's pass game, I think we'll be fine. Our secondary looked good against Miami because Worilds and guys like Cody Grimm were able to get pressure on Jacory Harris. That wasn't there against Duke and we gave up a bunch of big plays through the air. Stephan Virgil should be close to 100 percent against BC, which is big. He and Rashad Carmichael aren't a concern to me, but the middle of the field definitely is. That's where the coverage breakdowns have occurred.

BCI: Familiarity breeds rivalry. This weekend’s matchup between BC and Virginia Tech will be the sixth game between the two teams in just a shade under three years. What do you think of the Virginia Tech-Boston College series? Nice little rivalry forming between the two schools? Also, are you a fan of having to play us every season with the way the ACC schedule is set up?

GC: Well I'm not a fan of it because you keep beating us. I'd definitely call it a rivalry. Virginia Tech fans are still frustrated by a game I won't mention and I know BC fans are frustrated by being denied the Orange Bowl in consecutive seasons. This is a series that goes back to the Big East and unlike Miami, we're both programs that fans of other teams look down on. We're the gypsies in the palace keeping other teams in the ACC from taking their rightful throne. So there's a lot of common ground and respect between the two fan bases. But at the same time, f*** Matt Ryan.

BCI: Jeff will be in Blacksburg for the game this weekend. Two years ago we didn’t partake in much of the Blacksburg night life and opted instead to tailgate for most of the afternoon outside Lane Stadium (since it was a Thursday night game). Give us a rundown of places to check out for good food and drink.

GC: I don't know many restaurants in the 'Burg because I usually stick to my tailgate, but I sure know the bars:

Backstreets Pizza: Solid place, decent prices. When I went before the FSU game in 2007, there was a buffet and I can absolutely crush a pizza buffet.
Mike's Grill: On Main Street, it's the best place to go for burgers and sandwiches. Be prepared to wait in line on game day.
Top of the Stairs: Colloquially known as TOTS, it's got a good mix of students and alumni and is catty corner to VT's student union. Get a Rail, which is just a mix of everything behind the bar with a splash of grenadine. It's pretty amazing.
Hokie House: You can't miss it because it's painted Orange and Maroon. I'm a big fan of the atmosphere because it's fun and friendly and the place just feels like a college town bar. Service isn't always outstanding if you aren't seated at the bar, but the it's a great place to go before the game.
Champs: Prototypical sports bar. Since Saturday's game is at Noon, this is the place you want to go after the game to watch the rest of the day's slate while waiting for traffic to die down.
Bull and Bones: I've never been but it's been recommended to me by others. Beer Control Offense is a fan and he knows a lot about beer, so it must be decent. They brew their own beer and have steaks.
Sharkey's: Meh.

BCI: Boston College has had Virginia Tech’s number in the regular season the last 3 seasons (although it hasn’t really mattered since the Hokies were able to take the ACC Championship the last two seasons). Tell us why this year’s regular season result will be different.

GC: Easy. I won't be there. I wasn't at the 2005 regular season game in Blacksburg nor the two ACCCGs. But I was at the last three regular season contests. The Hokies have won all three ACC games against BC I didn't attend and lost the three I did. I don't plan on ever attending this game again until Tech loses with me sitting at home.

The real reason I think the Hokies will win is because I don't think BC's defense is as strong as it has been in previous years. Even though it's been playing out of its mind, this defense just doesn't have the talent of BC D's in the pass. Injuries have taken their toll and this is the year the Hokies are finally able to move the ball in the regular season against the Eagles.

BCI: We hope you are wrong in that prediction, but thanks for joining us!

For more information on the Virginia Tech Hokies, be sure to check out Gobbler Country.

Who To Watch And What's Going To Happen vs Virginia Tech

Jon Johnston — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 06:03:20 -0000

More photos » by Don Petersen - AP

Virginia Tech's Ryan Williams (34) looks to use his speed against a Husker defense that's suffered some break downs in their first two games. Stuffing him is a key part to winning.

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Now that Miami has had their way with Georgia Tech, Nebraska - Virginia Tech remains the only game between two Top 25 opponents this weekend. That means the eyes of the nation should be on these teams, so it's a great opportunity for the Huskers to showcase (unless they want to hear more about USC quarterback Matt Barkeley's shoulder) how far they've come under Bo Pelini.

After the jump is who you need to watch from Virginia Tech and a projection of what's going to happen.

Quarterback Tyrod Taylor

Taylor has started 17 games and has a 14-3 record. A dual-threat quarterback, much has been made about how he hurt Nebraska badly in the loss last season. Taylor is a decent quarterback, though not great, even though Frank Beamer has talked him up this week as has Taylor himself. Worry more about the perceived threat Taylor presents and the Hokie running backs will tear holes in the defense.

Running Backs

Ryan Williams

A redshirt freshman, Williams has taken over the starting position as Darren Evans sits the season out due to a knee injury. Williams is one of those guys that will run 40 yards to make 20, juking along the way.

David Wilson

True freshman back that runs a 4.33 in the 40. Wilson isn't about putting on the moves and juking people out of position, but he can stop and start quickly. Both Williams and Wilson are speed backs. Virginia Tech's only power back is.......

Josh Oglesby

The Hokies will use him to bash the Husker defense. There's nothing fancy about him, and he's not a break away threat, but he will gain tough yardage when it's needed and hang onto the football doing it.

Tight End Greg Boone

Boone missed the Marshall game with an injury, but will play against Nebraska. He's a good blocker, has good hands, and will be going up against Nebraska linebackers that so far have struggled this season (although the return of Phillip Dillard and his experience might be the perfect antidote).

You may see Boone taking direct snaps out of Tech's "Wild Turkey" formation out of which the Hokies will run read option plays (not a spread, zone read as you might think).

Defensive End Jason Worilds

Worilds presents a problem for the Husker offense. He'll spend most of the game on the left side of the line against Marcel Jones. Last season, Worilds lead the Tech defensive linemen in tackles 62), lead the team in tackles for loss (18.5), and lead the team with eight sacks, good enough to finish fourth in the ACC despite playing most of the season injured. The season was good enough to earn him second-team All-ACC honors.

If he's not contained, Worilds can change the football game.

Linebacker Cody Grimm

The Gobble Country guys refer to him as deathbacker. There's a good reason for that, as last season Grimm was third on the team in tackles despite starting only one game. He finished second in tackles for loss (14) and tied for second in sacks (7.5).

Lane Stadium - Louder Than You Think

The Hokies' home, Lane Stadium, has a capacity of (only) over 66,000, much less than Memorial Stadium's 85,000, so you might be tempted to think it can't be as loud. However, the stands are close to the field and the stands more vertical, so that all the sound is projected onto the field. That's why Lane Stadium has earned it's reputation as one of the toughest places to play

Noting A Pet Peeve

Can we collectively get over the hand-wringing about the Husker defense? They've given up 12 points in the first two games, but by the sounds of the internets you'd swear they'd nearly lost ‘em.

What Both Teams Want To Do

Both Virginia Tech and Nebraska will focus on stopping the other team from running the ball, but for slightly different reasons.

Nebraska will want to stop the run because that will take Virginia Tech out of their comfort zone, as a key to their success is a good running game. The Huskers will want to force Tyrod Taylor into throwing the ball, to make him prove that he can win a game with his arm. Stopping the run will be tougher than it sounds - it's time for Pierre Allen and Barry Turner to have big games because the Hokies will work their speed backs to get to the edge and take advantage of our youthful linebackers.

Virginia Tech will want to stop the run and force Nebraska into obvious passing downs. They'll want to disrupt the timing of the passing game and get pressure on Zac Lee to force him into making mistakes. In fact, they'll count on it. That's the way they play football. They currently have a 33-game non-conference winning streak at home.

I'm not so sure that by trying to stop the run they'll play right into Nebraska's hands. There's nothing other than history that says the Huskers have to run the ball successfully to win games. Times have changed.

Special Teams

You can't write an article about Virginia Tech without mentioning "Beamer Ball", head coach Frank Beamer's emphasis on using special teams to win ball games. Beamer coaches that unit himself, utilizing many of his best players on special teams.

Punter Brent Bowden is (so far) one of the best punters in the nation, averaging nearly 46 yards per punt. Dyrell Roberts (I wonder if he has two other brothers named Dyrell... sorry, bad and esoteric joke) is ranked fourth in the nation in kickoff returns, averaging 48.75 per return and having scored a kick return touchdown already this season. Jayron Hosley is ranked fifth in the nation in kick returns, with nearly 25 yards pre return and has already returned a kick for touchdown.

All of that, and I haven't even mentioned the Hokies knack for blocking field goals.

What's Going to Happen

If Virginia Tech moves to stop the run, it'll open up the passing game, and I'm not just talking about Mike McNeill and the rest of our tight ends against their linebackers. Niles Paul and Curenski Gilleylen will have big games as the Hokies have struggled in pass coverage.

Virginia Tech's offense will move the ball against our defense well enough to keep them in the game for all four quarters. Tyrod Taylor will make some big plays, but not enough to win the game by himself.

The key question is - who's going to make more mistakes, Zac Lee or Tyrod Taylor? You might be tempted to say Lee due to his youth, but the Hokies offensive line can't pass protect worth a darn, which leaves our man Ndamukong Suh in a great position to make some big plays. Maybe pick up an interception himself.

I like our offense against their defense. Their offense against our defense is about even. That means as long as we stay even or ahead of Virginia Tech in the turnover battle that we should win this game.

Final score prediction will be in the prediction segments we release shortly. Stay tuned.

Don't forget about #25

Hokie20 — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:00:40 -0000

More photos » by Don Petersen - AP

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Nicknames are synonymous with sports. "Thunder and Lightning", "Smash and Dash" and "Mr. Inside & Mr. Outside" quickly come to mind. I saw one yesterday that was kind of creative for Virginia Tech running backs - ".38 Special". The explanation made sense with #34 and #4 added together to make 38.

That's creative and all, but isn't there another tailback in the mix? Josh Oglesby may have not had the stellar performance against Marshall like Ryan Williams or David Wilson, but he did play a major role in a scoring drive in the third quarter.

When Darren Evans went down in the beginning of fall practice with the season-ending knee injury, Oglesby was the one to step up and carry the load for the Hokies. He had the game experience and it showed. The sophomore from Garner, NC stayed healthy from that point on showing his durability and dependability as the other two front-runners suffered slight injuries.

Yes, it was Marshall and the Hokies had their way with running the ball. But, Oglesby had the least to gain in terms of experience. He recorded some key first downs in the opening drive of the third quarter. Oglesby better served the Hokies on the sideline while Williams worked on getting back into a starting role and Wilson recorded his first reps at Tech.

Tech will have no problem running the ball this season. The Hokies were thin at tailback last season but the depth this season stands above any other position.

Virginia Tech football is about playing strong defense and running the football. The defense did the best they could against Alabama two weeks ago and now the running game posted over 400 yards last Saturday.

As Nebraska rolls into Blacksburg this weekend, Tech head coach Frank Beamer will really be able to tell how improved the Hokies are, and that will hinge on the legs of all three tailbacks - not just two.

3k's Eyes on the Prize - College Football Week 1

3k — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:56:34 -0000

Time to get my eyes on the prize - the young studs that annually replenish the NFL with talent... and holdouts. There are some great games this weekend and some not so good ones. I'll throw in a quick recap of last night's action too with enough links to make your eyes water.

While I'm on the subject of blurry vision, LeGarette Blount may have seen his team embarassed in Boise and may have seen his draft stock plummet in a single night, but his stock as a boxer may have risen high. Especially if he continues to go after guys while they're not watching. Check out the evidence after the ad:

I think the Raiders may have found an option for their backfield.

Prizes after the fold.

NOTE: Rankings are taken from the AP poll. All times are central time zone.

Thursday recap

- North Texas @ Ball St., 20-10: This was a huge win for the Mean Green. To go into Muncie after posting a 1-11 season with so many games against the basement of college football, the Sun Belt conference, against a Ball St. team that went 12-0 last season (even if they lost QB Nate Davis and OT Robert Brewster to the NFL) and win is the kind of turnaround the Rams could enjoy with a win at Seattle in week 1. UNT QB Riley Dodge, who spurned Texas to play at UNT for his dad, head coach Todd Dodge, looked like, well, a respectable college QB in the first game of his redshirt freshman campaign; senior RB Cam Montgomery looked studly, racking up 149 yards on just 17 carries. Dodge's and Montgomery's play took the spotlight away from the one legitimate draft prospect going into the game, Ball St. senior RB MiQuale Lewis, who finished with just over 100 yards on 15 carries and a TD.

- South Carolina @ North Carolina St., 7-3: I'm so glad I didn't watch this one. I've got two prospects from these two teams on my radar: Senior SC OLB Eric Norwood (who racked up 2 sacks last night) and NC St.'s senior DE Willie Young. Might have been nice to evaluate these two defenders, but not against offenses as weak as this.

- GAME OF THE NIGHT: #14 Boise St. vs. #16 Oregon, 19-8: The story from this game will be the Blount fallout, but Boise St.'s defense was absolutely dominant. The Broncos allowed just 31 rushing yard to one of the most respected ground games in the country. Blount was in the top tier of RB prospects in what looks like a VERY weak draft for RBs. With him out of the mix for a while, I'll be watching two other Oregon seniors: CB Walter Thurmond (who I mentioned on this week's Turf Show Radio), and TE Ed Dickson. On to Saturday's action...

Saturday prizes

I've got four games I'll be checking in on throughout the day:

- #9t Oklahoma St. vs. #13 Georgia (2:30PM, ABC): Oklahoma St. hopes the opening of the recently renovated Boone Pickens Stadium doesn't end up being a sad day in the record books. The Cowboys are ranked higher than they ever have been in the preseason rankings, and this game has gotten as much hype as an opener possibly can. Few teams can boast an offensive quartet as talented as OSU's: QB Zac Robinson, RB Kendall Hunter, WR/RET Dez Bryant and OT Russell Okung. They could all come out in the draft and go in the 1st round. Scary thought, though I don't think Robinson will go until the middle of the draft. Georgia boasts one of the best DT tandems in the country in Geno Atkins and Jeff Owens. Of course, the NFL Draft will be the last thing on nearly everyone's mind on Saturday. OSU is trying to kickstart a run to the Big 12 Championship while Georgia is trying to open the post-StaffordMoreno era with a big non-conference win in Stillwater. For the Bulldogs, Senior QB Joe Cox will try to go to standout soph WR A.J. Green as much as possible, since their running back committee is one member short given the hamstring injury to Caleb King. Oklahoma St. will lean on the talents they boast on offense to make the crowd a factor early.

Kdiction: OSU 27, Georgia 10

- #3 Oklahoma vs. #20 BYU (6:00PM, ESPN - neutral site): Oklahoma comes to Dallas for a huge opener, just not the biggest game of the college football season, to play Brigham Young in Jerry Jones' wet dream-turned-temple. Oklahoma will be without the best TE in college football, Jermaine Gresham, who will miss several games with a knee injury. Still, with Sam Bradford at the helm making the most of OT Trent Williams' blocking, and the tandem of DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown (the one who beats defenses, not women), BYU will have its hands full. The Cougars have a TE prospect for the NFL themselves in Dennis Pitta, so there's still some talent at the position for the draftniks in this one. From a Rams perspective, one guy I'll be watching is DT DeMarcus Granger; Granger could be a solid mid-round pick for the Rams who I hope are thinking of DTs they can bring on to replace a certain permanently injured lineman whose name I don't feel like typing.

Kdiction: Oklahoma 42, BYU 13

- #5 Alabama vs. #7 Virginia Tech (7:00PM, ABC - neutral site): The lowest average ranking of the two teams of any game this weekend, just having this battle scheduled is a joy for college football fans. This is the kind of non-conference game I wish we had more of every season. They'll both head to Atlanta to open their seasons in the Georgia Dome in front of what will be a rabid crowd. I mentioned CB Javier Arenas on TSR (as well as my mancrush, WR Julio Jones), but keep an eye on DT Terrence Cody as well. If Spags has an inkling of moving to a 3-4, Cody is the mountain of a man (hovering around 400 lbs.) you want at NT. Tech will be without their sophomore rushing star Darren Evans all season, so they're going to need to prove they can still move the ball against the one of the better defenses in the country. I'll be interested in CB Stephan Virgil who also handles some return duties.

Kdiction: Alabama 24, Va. Tech 14

- #11 LSU @ Washington (9:30PM, ESPN): I've got this one on here not so much for Washington who might have a couple guys find their way to the NFL as undrafted pickups (except for a certain junior), but for LSU who is loaded with talent. The top two prospects from the Tigers are easily identifiable: WR Brandon LaFell and OT Ciron Black. Both could end up as first round picks. LSU is coming off an incredibly disappointing season, so I'm sure they want to get things moving in the right direction this year. Now for that mystery junior I referenced -- Washington QB Jake Locker. Locker has everything you want in a QB prospect... except talented targets. After a stellar freshman effort, Locker injured his thumb last year, so it will be interesting to see how he begins the 2009 season. Locker's also a highly-touted baseball prospect, so he might not end up in the NFL. Nevertheless, his talent demands scrutiny this season and in this game to see if he can make diamonds out of dirt.

Kdiction: LSU 38, Washington 18

So what are you interested in yakking for tomorrow? Is it certain games? Matchups in those games? And are you interested in specific prospects or positions? Holler.

2009 Virginia Tech Football: What to Watch vs. Alabama

furrer4heisman — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:00:16 -0000

The Team

The Hokies need to respect the Crimson Tide, but not be intimidated by them. Alabama is a great team, but Virginia Tech can win this game.
Virginia Tech can't resign itself to defeat if things don't go its way early in the game. The Alabama-Clemson game was over after the first quarter.
The coaching staff can't freak out just because the Hokies can't get easy rushing yards against Alabama. The Crimson Tide want teams to abandon the run early and be afraid to run between the tackles against their incredibly talented front seven.

Virginia Tech Offense vs. Alabama Defense

Don't expect a lot of rushing yards between the tackles. If Virginia Tech's running backs can average 3.5 ypc, I'd consider it a huge victory.
We've discussed Alabama's front seven ad nauseum, but that's only because this is the best front seven we've ever faced or will face the rest of this season. Hokie fans are used to salivating when the opponent runs a 3-4 defense. Not so this time around.
Everyone points to Terrence Cody as the reason Alabama's front seven is so effective. But as big, powerful and physical as he is, it's Alabama's linebackers that make the difference. While teams are busy double-teaming Cody, Rolando McClain and Dont'a Hightower are able to use their speed and strength to make tackles for minimal or no gain.
A lot has been made of the loss of Darren Evans for the season. But I really don't think Evans would have made that much difference in this game. It would have been nice to have him for short-yardage situations, but he wasn't going to be a game breaker. Instead, the loss of Evans will force Virginia Tech to not rely on wearing down the defense by continually throwing Evans at the opponent's front seven. Instead, Bryan Stinespring will be forced to get creative against Alabama. Do I trust him to do this? Hell no. But I'm willing to be surprised.
With Evans out, the good news is Alabama doesn't know what we're going to do on offense.
The bad news is neither do we.
The X factor will be Tyrod Taylor's ability to scramble for rushing yards. Alabama will have a game plan for keeping Taylor in containment, but if he can still break free and pick up first downs to keep drives alive, the Hokies have a chance to put points on the board.
The Hokies have a lot of experience in their receiving corps, but no home run threats. The one deep threat we thought we had, Jarrett Boykin, was beaten out for the split end job by redshirt freshman Xavier Boyce. The Hokies do have solid possession options in flanker Danny Coale and tight ends Greg Boone and Andre Smith.
How much of the Wild Turkey formation do you think we'll see Saturday? I don't think we'll see it that often, if at all. Maybe two or three plays.
Don't underestimate how big a loss Evans is to our pass protection. He won the starting running back job last year by being the best pass blocker of the running backs.

Virginia Tech Defense vs. Alabama Offense

The Hokie defense should have a lot of practice against the Alabama offense because its style is very similar to ours.
Virginia Tech will try to get pressure on Greg McElroy, who begins his first year as Alabama's starter. The Crimson Tide are also breaking in new offensive linemen, including left tackle James Carpenter.
While I expect the Hokies to get pressure on McElroy, I'm not certain that pressure is going to turn into a lot of sacks. McElroy is excellent at checking down quickly and getting rid of the ball before he gets into trouble. At least that's what I saw in their spring game.
If the Hokies want to have a chance, they'll need a big game from Jason Worilds. However, Worilds can't have a big game unless the Hokies are able to stop the Alabama rushing game and force the Crimson Tide into obvious passing downs.
I am really impressed by Alabama running back Mark Ingram. He never goes down on the first hit and is always getting yards after contact.
Julio Jones is a freak of nature. Tech coaches compare him to Calvin Johnson. And we all know what happened the last time the Hokies faced him.
The knock on new starting LB Jake Johnson is he isn't very good in pass coverage. We had a lot of miscommunication between the free safety and rover in the middle of the field last year. We're breaking in a new field corner and our boundary corner didn't play that position last year. Uh-oh.
Virginia Tech needs Kam Chancellor to have a big game. He had his best game of 2008 when we needed it most in the Orange Bowl. He gave up a touchdown on the first drive, but was spectacular the rest of the way. We need Kam 2007 to show up Saturday in the Georgia Dome and deliver big hits and big plays. He needs to be the leader of the defense.
Javier Arenas isn't just a solid cornerback, he's a gifted playmaker on special teams. Minimizing Areans' effect on kick and punt returns will be a big key in winning the field position game.

Outcome

I just don't see the Hokies scoring enough points to win this game. The defense will keep us in it, but Alabama will keep us at arm's length the whole game.

Watch the Box Score For:

Turnovers
Virginia Tech Sacks
Tyrod Taylor Rushing Yards
Julio Jones Receiving Yards

Virginia Tech Players to Watch:

5 - Tyrod Taylor, Jr., QB
70 - Sergio Render, Sr., OG
17 - Kam Chancellor, Sr., FS
6 - Jason Worilds, Jr., DE

Alabama Players to Watch:

8 - Julio Jones, So., WR
77 - James Carpenter, Jr., OT
62 - Terrence Cody, Sr., DT
28 - Javier Arenas, Sr., CB

Final Score:

Alabama 20, Virginia Tech 13

The Virginia Tech Preview: Tide Defense v. Hokie Offense

outsidethesidelines — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:00:18 -0000

Editor's Note: This is the second installment in a four-piece series that will give an in-depth preview of the individual unit match-ups, as well as a special teams preview, and finally ending on Friday with a final wrap-up before the two teams face off on Saturday night.

Part 1: Tide Offense vs Hokie Defense

The Virginia Tech Offense

Any in-depth analysis of the Virginia Tech offense must begin with proper consideration given to one man: Tyrod Taylor. What makes the Virginia Tech offense unique really has nothing to do with it's formations, it's passing concepts, it's run blocking schemes, or anything of the sort. No, what makes the Virginia Tech offense unique is because the entire offense completely and totally revolves around Taylor. When you watch the film of this unit, it's almost nothing short of amazing just how much of a linchpin that Tyrod Taylor is to the entire unit. Everything is predicated upon him; even when he performs the most fundamental of duties -- handing off to the tailback, direct snaps that go to other players, etc. -- the offense nevertheless somehow goes through him.

And with Taylor as the centerpiece, the Virginia Tech offense has changed quite a bit in recent years. Offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring is still in Blacksburg -- he was given the title of defensive coordinator in late 2001 -- and has remained a constant for almost a decade, but his offense is fundamentally different with Taylor at the helm. In years gone by, the Hokies tended to be a run heavy team that operated out of very conventional formations. They spent much of their time either in the I-formation or with two tight end sets, trying hard to establish the interior running game, and much of the passing game became a by-product of the playaction pass. But again, that's all different now with Taylor at the helm. They still spend a good deal of time in the I-formation and also with two tight end sets, but they are not limited in that regard any more. With Taylor, they also really like to spread the field and put Taylor back in the shotgun, thus taking full advantage of Taylor's athleticism in space.

Given Taylor's extreme importance to the offense, we should take a closer look at him as a player. From the outset, Taylor was a bona fide super recruit coming out of Hampton, Virginia's Hampton High School, a dynasty in Virginia high school football circles, with seventeen state football championships. When he came out of Hampton High on 2007, Taylor had been a three-year starter and was a consensus five-star recruit. Rivals.com had him as the #1 dual threat quarterback in the country, and he chose to stay in-state with the Hokies, turning down a scholarship offer from the Florida Gators, whose head coach Urban Meyer recruited him heavily to run his spread option.

The reason everyone wanted the 6'1 and 215 pound Taylor was simple... his legs. In a day and age where 40 times are often outright lies, Taylor is a legitimate 4.40 player, and it is his unbelievable speed and athleticism that makes him the player that he is, and it is also what makes him the focal point of the Virginia Tech offense. Because of his ability to make big plays with his feet at any given time, opposing defenses must always be aware of his positioning on the field, and that is why the Virginia Tech coaching staff ensures that their entire offense runs through him. Stinespring and company love to always make you account for Taylor even when the ball doesn't go to him. For example, in simple dive plays out of the I-formation, after giving the hand-off, Taylor generally makes very, long sweeping retreats from the location of the exchange as if he's keeping the ball and going out for a run. This is done, of course, to ensure that one defender must account for Taylor, even though it's an inside hand-off to a tailback. This is just one of many ways in which the Virginia Tech coaching staff constantly keeps the offense running through Taylor, regardless of what is actually going on.

And no Alabama fan should underestimate just how deadly Taylor's athleticism can be. Many like to paint Taylor as a typical run-happy quarterback with no real passing skills, and in all fairness that might be true, and in many ways is true. Still, nevertheless, even if that is completely accurate, Taylor is nevertheless such an elite athlete that he is still a very dangerous player. In today's game we often have mobile quarterbacks playing the position with good athleticism, but Taylor isn't just a mobile quarterback, nor does he just have good athleticism. I've been following Alabama football closely since 1990, so this is my 20th year, and I feel confident in saying that we have never faced an opposing quarterback with the kind of ultra-elite speed and athleticism that Taylor brings to the table. Again, he's not just a mobile quarterback, he's the kind of elite athlete who will certainly play in the NFL one day -- and probably be a fairly high draft pick at that -- thanks to that athleticism.

Soundtrack Warning: Crunk

Fortunately, the good news for Alabama fans and our coaching staff is that for all of Taylor's frightening athleticism, he's still a very incomplete player as a pure quarterback, and the rest of the Virginia Tech offense is riddled with holes and shortcomings. This unit finished 90th in the country last year in scoring offense, and 103rd in total offense, continuing a downward trend in recent years in their ability to move the football. From 2005, when Tech finished 17th in the country in total offense, they have fallen to 49th, to 53rd, to 103rd. Far from being a one year anomaly, the Hokies are a team that has seemingly struggled to move the football almost forever.

The Hokie Offense: A Critical Look

Given the struggles of the Tech offense, you don't have to look far to find its weaknesses.

Since we gave Tyrod Taylor so much focus in the overview, perhaps it's best we start with him, because for all of his greatness as a runner, he really struggles throwing the football. Truth be told, as a passer, he's just not much, period. Last year as a passer he completed only 57% of his passes, averaged under 6.0 yards per attempt, threw two touchdowns against seven interceptions, and his QB rating of 103.2 put him somewhere around 110th in the country. Making matters worse, the coaches have really simplified the passing game as a whole to help Taylor, effectively reducing it to a smattering of dink and dunk passes. You watch the Hokie offense and you see countless curls, hitches, screen passes, square-ins, and the like, and even so he cannot complete 60% of his throws. Furthermore, the few times that Taylor did actually play pretty well as a passer, it was predictably against bad defenses. The four highest individual game quarterback ratings that he posted in 2008 came, not so surprisingly, against a Division 1-AA team (Furman), a team still trying to make the jump to Division 1-A (Western Kentucky), a 5-7 ACC team (Virginia), and a team that finished 89th in the country in pass defense (Nebraska). Factoring out those four games and looking at the rest of the season, Taylor had a paltry QB rating of 82.0, averaged under five yards per attempt, and didn't throw a single touchdown pass (though he did throw seven interceptions).

And the vertical element of the Hokie passing attack with Taylor in the game is simply non-existent. By my count, only about six of his passes went for more than 20 yards a year ago, and in the rarity that he does hit a deep pass, it's usually ugly and even then not exactly ideal. For example, in their Orange Bowl victory last year against Cincinnati, Taylor hit receiver Danny Coale for a 34-yard completion, but a closer look reveals that Coale had gotten wide open on a post, and a ball that even hits him remotely in stride is a touchdown. Unfortunately, the ball sails wide, Coales has to lay out to make the catch, and the sure touchdown turns into a 1st and 10 at the Cincinnati 14. Unable to pick up a first down from there, the Hokies have to bring on the field goal unit, and with a missed kick a sure touchdown becomes a turnover on downs thanks to an inaccurate, though still completed, pass.

The results, though terrible, shouldn't be the least bit surprising. This time a year ago, Frank Beamer announced that the Hokies were actually going to redshirt Taylor in 2008, so truthfully had the coaching staff had their way Taylor wouldn't have played at all last year. Unfortunately for Tech, though, Sean Glannon was terrible in the opener, and after a surprising loss to East Carolina in Charlotte, the Hokie coaching staff had to reluctantly take the redshirt off Taylor and put him into action.

Of course, as should probably be expected, many Hokie fans are drinking the Kool-Aid talking about the incredible progress Taylor has supposedly made this off-season. In an objective light, though, there's little reason to expect any real, considerable improvement. From the outset, Taylor has never been a particularly accomplished passer, even in high school. Even as the quarterback for Hampton High -- where, again, he was playing on a very high caliber team with a lot of talent surrounding him -- he still only averaged about 125 yards per game as a passer, and barely completed 50% of his passes. Moreover, in terms of physical skill set, Taylor doesn't have a great arm, and is not very accurate to boot, plus he's short for the typical pocket passer. His delivery is a tad bit odd, and he's very inconsistent with his footwork. And his route progression, well, there is no route progression. As a general rule, he looks immediately towards his primary target, and if he's not open he takes off running. Anything might happen, of course, but I see no objective reason to believe that Taylor will take a major step forward this year as a passer. He has never been a particularly good passer before, and truth be told he will probably never be one in the future either. All such Hokie hopes to the contrary are just that, hopes, unsupported by any other objective factual basis.

Unfortunately for the Hokies, the problems are even worse up front with the offensive line. As a group, the offensive line seemingly run blocks well (though that's somewhat up for debate, too), but the pass blocking has been so horrendously atrocious the past couple of years that even an Alabama fan who lived through the Chris Capps / Kyle Tatum era could not understand. Last year the Hokies gave up a whopping 42 sacks on a mere 291 passing attempts for an adjusted sack rate of 14.43%. That literally put them dead last in the country in terms of adjusted sack rate, 119th out of 119 teams. And it wasn't just a one year anomaly, either. The year before -- despite having Duane Brown starting at left tackle, who would be a first round NFL Draft pick the following April -- they gave gave up 54 sacks on 379 passing attempts, for an adjusted sack rate of 14.24%. I'm not positive that was dead last in the country, but for the sake of the all the other quarterbacks in the country, I certainly hope no one struggled to protect the passer more than that. And perhaps not too surprisingly then, offensive line coach Curt Newsome had to undergo a double bypass heart surgery on June 19th. He himself said stress played a role in the near 100% blockage of his arteries, and while he was almost certainly addressing that more towards the high amounts of stress inherent in being a collegiate football coach, I'm sure as hell that having to watch this unit play for two consecutive years did no favors for his health.

Moving forward to the 2009 season, three starters return, but returning starters from a unit that has been consistently that terrible is rarely a good thing. I wouldn't expect it will be for this year's Hokies, either. Ed Wang returns at left tackle, and Blake DeChristopher returns at right tackle, plus Sergio Render returns at guard (though he has swapped guard positions). Those guys look physically okay, but obviously something is not right. Jaymes Brooks, a redshirt sophomore, is taking over at right guard, with an undersized Beau Warren taking over at center. Warren is listed at 288 pounds, and frankly just looking at him that might be a bit of a stretch.

What the Hokie offensive line did well in 2008 was run block, or at least it would seem that way on the surface, even if it's not necessarily true. Darren Evans ran over 1,200 yards a year ago, averaging almost 4.5 yards per carry, and put together a great season. Before really watching the Hokies on film, I thought it was just the typical case of a decent back behind a good, mauling offensive line, but seeing Evans on film I was very impressed with him as a player. He displayed good speed and a good short-yardage bust, but he also had good balance and field vision to boot. Perhaps most impressive of all, he could consistently drive his hips low for a quick change of direction, something quite rare for a back of almost 220 pounds. To put it mildly I became impressed, and he exceeded my expectations.

TE Greg Boone

Which brings us to a pressing question, did he do well because of the Hokie offensive line, or did he do well in spite of the offensive line? In most cases I normally give the credit to the offensive line because their importance to the running game tend to get undervalued a bit, but if you look closer at the splits, the Hokies have a huge drop-off in rushing production when backs not named Darren Evans were given the ball. Kenny Lewis, Jr. and Josh Oglesby combined to get 102 carries for only 325 yards, right at 3.1 yards per carry, a significant step down from the production that Evans posted. On the surface, it seems like there was a very big gap between Evans and the rest of the tailbacks on the roster, and it certainly seems like Evans' torn ACL was indeed a huge injury for the Hokies. Perhaps Frank Beamer was being all too honest when he spoke of the impact that Evans absence would have on the Tech offense.

The rest of the Hokie offense looks to be generally solid, even if not spectacular. The wide receiver corps is nothing overly special, and there are no Julio Jones type players. That said, the group as a whole is a solid one, and several players have the ability to get the job done. Their biggest problem, honestly, more than anything else is that they simply haven't had a quality quarterback to be able to consistently get them the football. Also, one more weapon does exist on the roster, and he's one to keep your eye on, Greg Boone. A truly massive player, Boone is a 6'3 and 280+ pound tight end with good athleticism, and naturally he's as strong as a bull. The Hokies can often use him in a variety of ways, too, including even in the wildcat.

All in all, though, despite Taylor's elite athleticism, plus having a very unique player on the roster in Boone, this Tech offense simply isn't a very good one. Taylor can indeed be deadly with his legs, but aside from that there is just generally very little to fear. Taylor has the track record of a terrible passer, and the offensive line probably couldn't pass block competently if their lives literally depended on it. The running game would be pretty strong with Darren Evans, but he's not going to be playing this year, and if the track record from a year ago holds up, they may very well be struggling to run the ball this year. Not much else needs to be said... you finish at the bottom of nearly every statistical offensive category for a reason.

The Alabama Defense

Nick Saban brought with him to Tuscaloosa a reputation as a builder of big, physical defenses built on speed and aggression, and just over two years since he arrived, Saban is well on his way to building exactly that kind of monster. The roster that he inherited in January of 2007, built for Joe Kines 3-3-5 scheme, was nowhere near the type and / or caliber of personnel Saban needed to operate his 3-4 scheme at a high level, but thankfully a renewed focus on the S&C program and a recruiting juggernaut have allowed Saban to quickly construct his defense.

The Nick Saban 3-4 scheme is, for all of us 'Bama fans, are pretty well known commodity at this point. In many ways it's a typical 3-4 scheme, one that relies heavily on zone blitzes and the inherent lack of unpredictability built into the scheme. The 3-4 is a highly flexible scheme, and Nick Saban takes full advantage of that by constantly changing his fronts, cover schemes, and blitz packages. Making things even better, Saban's specialty of coaching defensive backs generally makes his unique version of the 3-4 that much more effective once it actually takes the field.

After experiencing some struggles at times in his debut 2007, the defense quickly came together for the 2008 season. Saban found the space eater he needed to play the nose in Terrence Cody, Rolando McClain carried his game to the next level, Dont'a Hightower made a huge impact as a freshman, and several other players improved as well. The impact of it all quickly became evident. The Tide run defense was nearly impossible to run on with a healthy Terrence Cody in the lineup, and very stout against the run even when he was out with less than 100% with his knee injury. The pass rush never materialized, but even so the Tide led the SEC in pass efficiency defense, and allowed a stingy average of 5.8 yards per passing attempt.

Moving into the 2009 season, things continue to be on the rise in Tuscaloosa. Eight starters return from the 2008 defense, and quality depth has increased dramatically everywhere. As of this writing, we legitimately have somewhere around 25 players who can legitimately be contributors to this defense. With little doubt, if we can stay even remotely healthy, this should be the most productive defense we've had in years.

The Alabama Defense: A Critical Look

At the risk of being deemed a homer, I must nevertheless objectively say that when taking a critical look at this defense, there are really just very, very few flaws to even legitimately address. Bottom line, it's a very well coached defense, and one that is loaded with not only experience and top-end talent, but quality depth throughout the roster at almost every single position. If you were looking for an ideal defensive unit, you'd be hard-pressed to find one much more attractive than this one.

In the short-term, the biggest problem the Tide has is overcoming the likely loss of Brandon Deaderick, who was tragically shot outside his apartment Monday night in Tuscaloosa. Fortunately for Deaderick and the Tide, the shooting effectively went as well as it reasonably could have -- just puncture wounds in the arm and hip; no damage to bones, arteries, or nerves, no surgery required, and released from the hospital approximately 16 hours later -- but even so I imagine he's unlikely to play against the Hokies. Deaderick was going to start in 2009, just like he did last year, at defensive end, and his loss is not what anyone hoped to see. Fortunately, if there was any year to have this sort of a tragedy, it was this year. His back-up, Luther Davis, is good enough to start for about any other SEC team, and he should transition into the starting role without any real trouble, if needed, but don't discount the possibility of Marcel Dareus -- who normally backs up Lorenzo Washington at the end-tackle combo position -- moving over and starting in Deaderick's absence. Dareus has the best long-term upside of any defensive lineman we have, and he is likely the #3 defensive end on the pecking order, regardless of position, so he may very well move over to the natural end position. Either way, as much as Saban and company rotate the defensive linemen, Davis and Dareus were going to see a lot of meaningful playing time regardless, so this won't be a major transition for either one. Darrington Sentimore now has a much better chance of playing as a true freshman, and Damien Square will likely be moved back from Jack linebacker, and both should provide quality reps at the position as well. Time will tell, but rationally speaking it seems we should be able to pick things up in Deaderick's absence with no major drop-off in production.

LB Eryk Anders

Aside from the Deaderick shooting, the Tide defense has remarkably few concerns. Pass rushing was a major problem a year ago, but even so we still played very effective pass defense, and things look improved this year. The linebacker corps is more athletic than a year ago, we're getting our best edge rusher (Eryk Anders) on the field more often, and Sal Sunseri has brought with him a renewed focus on pass rushing techniques. Thus, our pass rushing attack ought to improve this year, and frankly even if it doesn't, we showed last year that an inability to rush the passer was not fatal to the success of our overall pass defense.

Our biggest weakness, of course, assuming that we continue to be unable to rush the passer with any degree of consistency, is probably against spread teams with accurate quarterbacks who can consistently spread the field with quality receivers to boot. But again that may be a problem we fix anyway in 2009, and even if not, the Hokies don't have anywhere near the pieces in place to power such an attack. Yes they do spread things out occasionally, but it's to maximize Taylor's running ability, not to emphasize the passing game. Taylor isn't a very accurate quarterback, Tech might not have the receivers in place to do it effectively, and even if they did the offensive line probably wouldn't be able to hold up regardless, so even that is a moot concern in this particular game.

Aside from that, the rest of the concerns are really more nit-picking and the luxuries of riches than anything else. Many 'Bama fans would probably still complain about Marquis Johnson, but what is that really? At worse, it's a complaint that we only have a serviceable SEC level player (and a senior to boot) as our nickel corner, and a player that at any rate who will see his playing time getting major challenges from two five-star recruits currently on the roster. Geez... how will we ever manage to get by? Again, it's basically nit-picking from that point on.

The truth of the matter is that unless 'Bama gets unexpectedly hit very hard by a run of injuries, there is absolutely no reason to expect that the Tide won't field a great defense in 2009.

What To Look For

In the aggregate, this looks to be an good match-up for those who bleed crimson. The Hokies do not have a very good offense, and the Alabama defense should at the least be in the discussion with regard to who has the top defense in the country. It doesn't take any real, in-depth analysis to figure out that when two units of those respective abilities collide, it's likely to result in the offense scoring very few points and the defense dominating the day. When factoring out defensive and special teams scores, the Hokies offense only averaged 19 points per game last year, and it would probably be a surprise to see them score that many against what should be a very stingy Alabama defense. And making matters worse for the Tech offense is that the one true weakness of the Tide defense -- which, it should be said, is something that might not even be a weakness this year at all -- is something that the Hokies do not have the right personnel in place to exploit.

The Virginia Tech running game, in particular, seems to be in for a long night. With Darren Evans out for the year, it's a running game of arguably questionable quality to begin with, and going up against the Tide's incredibly stout run defense is a tough task for even a team with a strong rushing attack in their own right. The Hokies might try to run the football inside a good bit on the Tide -- then again, if Beamer and company think it's futile, they'll probably move away from it pretty quickly -- but it's highly unlikely that it will yield any real success. Beau Warren, at least 60 pounds lighter than Terrence Cody, will need help with the gargantuan nose guard, so Cody should command double teams every single time the Hokies plan to run inside. That alone plays right into our hands. Moreover, even without Brandon Deaderick, our deep rotation of big, strong, and physical defensive ends -- Lorenzo Washington, Luther Davis, Marcel Dareus, Damien Square, and others -- will be able to hold their own at the point of attack throughout the course of the game. That alone will eat up the bulk of the Hokies' blocking unit, and it will largely allow a great linebacker corps to roam free all night long, looking to make plays, and the same goes for two good run defenders at safety in Justin Woodall and Mark Barron. Making the match-up even more advantageous for the Tide is the Hokies' complete lack of a vertical threat in the passing game, which will allow the Tide to stack the box when needed. Bottom line, if the Hokies can have any considerable degree of success in the running game, it will come as a legitimate surprise to any objective observer.

The Hokie passing game looks to fare little, if any, better. The Tech passing game will likely be one of the worst in the country yet again, and the Tide pass defense will likely be one of the best. Again, do the figurative math. Taylor is a below average passer, and while the Virginia Tech wide receiver corps is a solid group filled with more than a few quality targets, they likely aren't as good or as experienced as their counterparts in the Alabama defensive backfield. All in all, it's simply a match-up that heavily favors the Tide.

All of the aforementioned, though, is pretty basic stuff. No real analysis is needed to discover that a very good defense is likely to shut down a bad offense. The real strategy in this game will be how the Tide chooses to defend Tyrod Taylor and his abilities as an elite runner.

Many would advocate playing man coverage on the receivers and trying to rush Taylor with all you have. Given how much Nick Saban loves to give different looks from his 3-4 defensive scheme, I'm sure we will do that a few times, but as a general strategy it's probably not as ideal as many would initially think. To begin with, from the outset, bringing a lot of pressure on Taylor isn't necessarily a good strategy. Taylor is unbelievably elusive, and if you bring a lot of rushers and he slips out of it -- which I can guarantee you he will do on more than one occasion -- you have very few defenders left downfield, and he's going to turn it into a very big play. Don't misinterpret what I'm saying... getting pressure on Taylor is a good thing, but having to bring a lot of defenders on blitzes in order to generate it quickly becomes a very risky strategy with a runner like Taylor that can get you burned. Furthermore, consistently playing man coverage against the Hokie wide receivers fails to exploit one of Taylor's biggest weaknesses as a quarterback, which is reading defenses. If you predictably play man on the outside, Taylor's almost complete inability to read a defense completely goes away because he can correctly assume the overwhelming majority of the time that he will be throwing against man coverage.

Spying Taylor is also an attractive option to many, but again it's probably not ideal as a general strategy. Putting a spy on a mobile quarterback is generally a good strategy, but that generality only holds up well against quarterbacks who have good mobility, not great mobility. Trying to spy such an elite athlete like Taylor is a fundamentally difficult task because you really don't have an equal caliber athlete to put on him. To be sure, we have some guys with Taylor's athleticism, but they are playing corner, and it's very difficult to spy with a corner. Corners are forced to line up so far away from the quarterback (and that goes even for the nickel corner) that the spy himself can effectively be eliminated by the offensive coordinator just sending the play in the opposite direction. What you need in order to have an effective spy is someone who is going to be able to consistently line up relatively close to the quarterback -- without giving away his responsibilities with his pre-snap alignment -- someone like a safety or a linebacker. But, again, who do we have at safety or linebacker that can legitimately go toe-to-toe with Taylor in the open field? Arguably no one. Jerrell Harris, Mark Barron, and Robby Green would probably be our best candidates, but even they would likely face a speed and agility deficit to Taylor. Again, it's an attractive option to many as an initial matter, but a closer look reveals such a strategy can be problematic when dealing with a truly elite athlete like Taylor.

A better strategy, and one I expect we will probably be using frequently, is to employ a wide variety of zone and rush packages. Playing a wide variety of heavy zones against Taylor is an ideal option because it great limits his ability to run with the football, which in truth is when he is at his most dangerous. At the end of the day, what we really want is for Taylor to throw the football, and even Rolando McClain explicitly said yesterday that the assignment of the defense is to contain Taylor and make him throw the football. Playing a heavy zone helps accomplish that because it largely removes the possibility of a big run, and also helps to ensure that when Taylor does take off to run, he'll quickly be met with a host of defenders arriving with bad intentions, both of which are incentives for him to stay in the pocket and throw the football. Furthermore, by constantly mixing up zone blitz packages, we can more effectively exploit Taylor's inability to read defenses. Also, it should be kept in mind that with Tech's complete lack of a vertical threat in the passing game, and it's reliance on short, dink and dunk throws, we can play heavy zones that almost solely attack the short and intermediate routes, thus creating some very narrow windows for Taylor to throw the football into, which can easily lead to a slew of incomplete passes and a chance at interceptions. Truth be told, we could probably play Cover Zero most of the night and still not give up a big passing play, and that alone provides us with a competitive edge over the Hokie offense.

Now, to be sure, I do imagine we will see some spying on Taylor, and I also imagine we'll see some heavy blitzes. The base defense, I think, will frequently use the heavy zones that I described earlier, but Nick Saban likes his defenses to be multiple in their approach and inherently unpredictable. That alone will ensure that Taylor sees a little bit of everything come Saturday night. Either way, in terms of individual assignments and responsibilities, three words must be effectively tattooed into the foreheads of every Alabama defender... contain, contain, contain. Keep Taylor in the pocket, limit his big runs, and make him beat you throwing the football. If you can consistently do that, you've won the battle.

On the other side, the Virginia Tech offense will probably have a few things up their sleeve, and they might not operate exactly how we think. Even though they haven't been a very good offense, the Hokies are a well-coached football team, and they are perhaps a bit more imaginative than you would at first think. If we really can shut down their interior running game with no problem, this isn't a staff dumb enough to keep futility running it straight into the line. They will mix things up and try something else, probably with Taylor operating almost solely from the shotgun. Moreover, again, they have used Boone in the Wildcat in the past (even with him throwing a pass once), and have at times lined Taylor up out wide and brought him down on jet sweeps. And, of course, with a mobile guy like Taylor, a bit of the option game is never out of the question. One way or the other, If things aren't going well, don't expect this coaching staff to just lay down and take it, they'll probably try a few things outside the box in an attempt to muster some offensive production.

That notwithstanding, though, it nevertheless looks to be a very tough night for the Hokie offense. For all of Taylor's dynamic athleticism and Boone's unique physical skill set, this is still a poor offense, and one that struggles to move the ball effectively. They have no real big play ability aside from Taylor's runs, and they cannot muster the kind of consistent production needed to methodically march the football down the field to put points on the board. Rest assured Taylor will make some big, incredibly frustrating plays -- at least frustrating for the 'Bama fans -- he's just too good an athlete not to. Likewise, Boone could be a tough match-up, and a few more guys in the Hokie rotation can get the job done. That will result in some good things happening, but again it's hard to see this unit having the consistent success needed to put any considerable number of points on the board. By all objective measures, this is a bad offense going up against a potentially great defense, and the strength of the Crimson Tide defense should dominate the night.

The Obligatory Predictions Competition

Law Buckeye — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 03:19:19 -0000

College football's smartest picks contest.

You might have heard, we at The Rivalry, Esq. are not above the sort of self-declared polity that comes with crowning ourselves psychic masters of the college football universe and certifying our predictions each week. Then again, you're not either.

It's back...The 2009 Obligatory Predictions Competition.

This is how we do it. Each week we select five interesting match-ups and predict the outcome. If you don't buy our "expert" opinions, or think you can do better -- enter your picks for all five games in the comments section of the article at least an hour before kickoff (EST) of the first match in question. At the end of the week we'll tally the score and declare a winner. The weekly winner gets to write 500 words on the site about anything college football.

But that's not all.

in 2009...

Season Scoreboard. This is no longer just a temporary thing. Each time you earn points, we'll carry them over to the next week in a season-long race to the top. (Sure, this means you'll probably want to try to play each round. But don't sweat it if you miss a few. We'll still crown weekly winners -- so you can defend your fanhood).

Here's how to run up the score:

One (1) point is earned for a correctly picking the winning team.

If you pick the winning team, earn an additional two (2) points for correctly identifying the winning spread by seven points or less.

If you pick the winning team, earn an additional two (2) points for picking a perfect spread (i.e. The PATERNOSGRANDDAUGHTER Bonus)

Two (2) bonus points are awarded for the "upset pick" -- an upset being defined as predicting: 1. Any AP/BCS Top 25 ranked team to defeat any opponent of higher rank, which in fact does occur, or 2. Any non-ranked AP/BCS Top 25 team to defeat any ranked opponent, which in fact does occur.

Without further adieu, here are our Week 1 Predictions:

1. No. 13 GEORGIA at No. 9 OKLAHOMA STATE, 3:30 p.m. EST (9/5), ABC

GRAHAMFILLER10 predicts OKLAHOMA STATE by 10

You want me to pick OSU because of their returning weapons and the homefield advantage. You want me to pick OSU because Joe Cox throws an ugly ball and doesn’t have oodles of experience. You want me to pick OSU because no one else will and you think I’m an idiot to believe in a Big 12 team with no defense (is there any other kind of Big 12 team?). You win.

LAW BUCKEYE predicts OKLAHOMA STATE by 7

This is the hardest game of the week to predict, and we're not wasting any time by tackling it first. On one hand, Georgia is without perhaps their two most recognizable playmakers of the last decade (Stafford/Moreno). On the other, I have trouble shaking my belief that the Big 12 South is a one-dimensional mirage: high octane offenses propped up by abysmally poor defenses.

I think the Cowboys are the exception to the rule, and I think that because running back Kendall Hunter, wide receiver Dez Bryant, and quarterback Zac Robinson will score enough points to make up for a shaky defensive backfield. The Bulldogs will score too, behind one of the best offensive lines in the country and a stable of backs, but they won't be able to keep up on a pistol whip of a trip outside conference lines.

2. WESTERN MICHIGAN at MICHIGAN, 3:30 p.m. EST (9/5), ABC

GRAHAMFILLER10 predicts MICHIGAN by 7

Oh boy. I envision Michigan struggling early on offense and watching in shock as Tim Hiller drives the Bronco’s down the field methodically for an early touchdown. I also envision the Bronco’s hurdling themselves at Forcier and praying he gets nicked early, if only to get Nick Sheridan on the field as fast as possible. Yes it’s true – Michigan’s 4 star defensive recruits should overwhelm Western in the Big House. But the Wolverines are facing tremendous pressure to win this game. Go Blue...

LAW BUCKEYE predicts MICHIGAN by 14

Two years in a row the Wolverines have tanked in their opener. Let's just say the third time will be a charm for an embattled Rich Rodriguez and a much-improved squad. I see a vaunted spread offense that clicks against a Bronco defense that returns just three starters and an unripe secondary. Meanwhile, Obi Ezeh and Brandon Graham -- stars under the tutelage of Greg Robinson -- will anchor a stronger, more consistent 3-4 defense.

Still, Michigan fans shouldn't breathe a sigh of relief. The true test for the Wolverines remains a week away when Charlie Weis comes to town.

3. MISSOURI v. ILLINOIS, 3:40 p.m. EST (9/5), ESPN

GRAHAMFILLER10 predicts ILLINOIS by 10

For awhile, I’ve had a problem with that T-Pain/Jamie Foxx song "Blame It." I love it, but there’s one line that says Blame it on the Jews and I just felt that was inappropriate. That wonderful culture/people shouldn’t be blamed for your muddled one-night stands. Anyways, I’ve been informed that it’s actually a reference to the Illini’s struggles last year. Apparently T-Pain attended school in Champagne-Urbana and believes JUICE Williams was the cause of last year’s problems. Well Phil Steele and I both believe Williams and Co will improve this year. This turnaround starts against the Tigers from Mizzou. (Sorry Mary Schultz!)

LAW BUCKEYE predicts ILLINOIS by 10

Don't let the absence of rankings fool you. This St. Louis showdown is a huge game for Illinois and the conference. Mighty Mizzou has firebombed Ron Zook two years in a row. It's time for some revenge. Star Tigers linebacker Sean Witherspoon has promised to "squeeze the pulp out of Juice [Williams]." He might get a few good licks in, but this game belongs to the stronger, more disciplined Illini. Talented, but virgin quarterback Blaine Gabbert will struggle early to synchronize Gary Pinkel's signature offense. Arrelious Benn will eat Missouri's shoe-string secondary alive.

4. NORTHERN ILLINOIS at WISCONSIN 7:00 p.m. EST

GRAHAMFILLER10 predicts WISCONSIN by 14

The Badgers, starting a non-Dustin Sherer quarterback and a non-John Clay running back, will lean on the Huskies until they fall over. Every year, there's a team that can't contain the Badgers rushing attack and ends up surrendering about 400 yards on the ground. This won’t quite be that game, but Bielema wins convincingly. Watch for Chandler Harnisch though – he’s the MAC’s Jake Locker, complete with Melrose Place sounding name. As I wrote here:

Huskies quarterback Chandler Harnish can run...and throw...and lead. He proved this in 2008 as A FRESHMAN. Is he the next Dan Lefevour or Tim Hiller, MAC quarterbacks sure to get NFL hype?

LAW BUCKEYE predicts WISCONSIN by 10

Bret Bielema doesn't want your pity, he wants your respect. Free from illusions of grandeur, this is a Wisconsin team that's ready to start anew. Although they'll face a respectable opponent in the Huskies, they'll grind a solid ground attack and tight end audibles to victory.

5. No. 5 ALABAMA v. No. 7 VIRGINIA TECH 8:00 p.m. EST, ABC

GRAHAMFILLER10 predicts ALABAMA by 7

This is the matchup of the week. Roll Tide Roll says:

Of course the easy answer -- and in all fairness, perhaps even the correct answer for 2009 -- is that we will try to replicate the basic strategy employed a year ago: physically dominate our opponents in the trenches in the running game, run it right down their throats, and only throw the football when and where we want to. But the problem with that is that there is no guarantee that the pre-requisites needed.

I have enough faith in that gigantic defense residing in Tuscaloosa to believe the Tide can triumph over a Darren Evans lacking VT team. Bama shows its power in ATL.

LAW BUCKEYE predicts ALABAMA by 7

Two weeks ago I would have said the opposite. But that was before star running back Darren Evans suffered a season-ending injury. The loss of Evans, and his 1,265 yards of production in 2008 will shackle the Hokies. Nick Saban and his ahead-of-schedule Crimson Tide will continue their track record of demonizing ACC favorites in season-openers. Just don't expect this game to look anything like last year's pulverizing of Clemson.

The Hokies deserve to be here, they just will fall a little short.

Future Foe Scenarios: A Weekly Glance at the Crimson Tide Schedule

Todd — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:00:17 -0000

During the season we're going to start keeping a cursory eye on the entire schedule to help us both better judge our own strength relative to the performances of our past opponents (a la the Clemson win last year looking less and less impressive as the weeks wore on) and how the teams on the rest of the schedule are performing as well. Since no one has played a game yet this week's edition will be a little skimpy, but future editions will have the benefit of game results, emerging playmakers, injury issues, and the like. I will also not be including UT-Chattanooga in this thing for obvious reasons. Without further ado:

***

WEEK ONE

Virginia Tech - 0-0 (0-0)

Ranking: AP - #7 * Coaches - #7 * BlogPoll - #9

Offensive Rankings	Actual	NCAA Rank	Conf. Rank
Rushing Offense	174.36	35	3
Passing Offense	129.07	111	11
Passing Efficiency	108.12	99	10
Scoring Offense	22.07	90	8
Total Offense	303.43	103	11
Defensive Rankings	Actual	NCAA Rank	Conf. Rank
Rushing Defense	104.43	14	2
Passing Defense	175.00	16	5
Passing Eff. Defense	112.68	28	5
Sacks	2.50	26 (T)	3
Tackles for Loss	6.43	37	6
Scoring Defense	16.71	9	1
Total Defense	279.43	7	2

Key Players
Offense:

Tyrod Taylor - QB

With the unfortunate loss of Darren Evans to injury during fall camp, the offense is now squarely on the shoulders of junior QB Tyrod Taylor. Though he's an athletic player that can make defenses pay with his feet (7 rushing TDs last year to 2 passing), Taylor has been inconsistent over the past two years due to injury concerns and has rotated in and out with Sean Glennon his whole career. With Glennon having graduated, it's all up to Taylor now. Two factors will make or break his season: 1) Can he stay healthy? and 2) can the skill positions finally give him some help?

WR Jarrett Boykin

Jarrett Boykin - WR

Last year's leading receiver as a freshman, Boykin caught 30 passes for 441 yards and 2 TDs. If he can step up this season and provide more consistency (along with fellow sophomores Danny Coale and Dyrell Roberts) for Taylor then the Hokies might actually add "passing" to their offensive philosophy.

Defense:

Stephan Virgil - CB

With Macho Harris in the NFL, it's up to Virgil to fill his hard hitting shoes. Virgil finsished last season with 6 INTs (tied Harris for the most) and will keep the Hokie pass D as dangerous as ever.

Cody Grimm - LB

3rd on the team in tackles last year and tied for second in sacks, the awesomely named Grimm is the only returning starter at LB for the Hokies.

Schedule:

09/05	vs Alabama (Georgia Dome)
09/12	vs Marshall
09/19	vs Nebraska
09/26	vs Miami (FL)
10/03	at Duke
10/10	vs Boston College
10/17	at Georgia Tech
10/29	vs North Carolina
11/05	at East Carolina
11/14	at Maryland
11/21	vs NC State
11/28	at Virginia

Best Win So Far:

Sadly, not applicable at this point.

Worst Loss/Performance So Far:

Sadly, not applicable at this point.

What Does a Win Here Mean for Alabama?

Starting the season against a quality BCS opponent like Virginia Tech has three built in advantages for the Crimson Tide:

1. It gives the team a real goal to work towards in the offseason

If the repetition and drudgery of fall camp isn't bad enough, imagine doing all that work just to face off against Charleston Southern. With an opponent like Virginia Tech coming right off it gives the team that much more of a sense of urgency in their preparations.

2. National Exposure

This is arguably the biggest game of the first weekend and a win immediately catapults whoever comes out on top into the "dark horse" national title contender conversation. A loss here doesn't necessarily end the Tide's season since a one loss SEC champion has a pretty good shot at making the MNC game anyway, but a win here goes a long way towards answering the more frequent criticisms of the Tide's chances. If we can knock off a quality squad like the Hokies with our rebuilt line and inexperienced QB, imagine what we can do after a few weeks of real live game experience?

3. Quality Game Experience

Saban is very fond of talking about how the only way to really know what sort of team you have is testing them against the best opponents, and facing off against a team that is as hard nosed on defense as Va. Tech is will pay huge dividends as far as gaining game experience goes for our offense, while dealing with a mobile QB that forces you to account for his feet on defense can't hurt a unit that is certainly licking their chops at the prospect of one more shot at Tebow.

***

Florida International - 0-0 (0-0)

Ranking: AP - NR * Coaches - NR* BlogPoll -NR

Offensive Rankings	Actual	NCAA Rank	Conf. Rank
Rushing Offense	98.67	107	8
Passing Offense	218.25	56	5
Passing Efficiency	125.82	58	4
Scoring Offense	24.67	68	5
Total Offense	316.92	96	8
Defensive Rankings	Actual	NCAA Rank	Conf. Rank
Rushing Defense	156.17	80	4
Passing Defense	212.92	67	4
Passing Eff. Defense	121.34	52	3
Sacks	1.50	89	4
Tackles for Loss	6.75	21 (T)	3
Scoring Defense	28.33	79	4
Total Defense	369.08	71	4

Key Players
Offense:

WR T.Y. Hilton

Paul McCall - QB

McCall led the Golden Panthers to their only win in his lone start in 2007 and guided them to a much improved 5-7 last year finished the season with 2,332 yards and 15 TDs as a full time starter last year without much help from the ground game. All five starters are back on the offensive line and the top five pass catchers from last year are all back.

T.Y. Hilton - WR

As a freshman, Hilton finished the year with 1,013 yards receiving, a team high seven TDs, and was named Sun Belt Freshman of the Year.

Defense:

Anthony Gaitor - CB

An all conference selection last year as a sophomore, Gaitor grabbed 5 INTs and returned two of them for scores.

Scott Bryant - LB

The team's leading tackler last year, Bryant was an honorable mention all conference selection and will help anchor a front seven that is thin on experience, especially on the line.

Schedule:

09/12	at Alabama
09/19	at Rutgers
09/26	vs Toledo
10/03	at Louisiana-Monroe
10/10	at Western Kentucky
10/17	vs Troy
10/24	at Arkansas State
10/31	vs Louisiana-LaFayette
11/07	at Middle Tennessee State
11/14	vs North Texas
11/21	at Florida
12/05	vs Florida Atlantic

Best Win So Far:

Sadly, not applicable at this point.

Worst Loss/Performance So Far:

Sadly, not applicable at this point.

What Does a Win Here Mean for Alabama?

In games like these, wins don't mean much but losses are unforgivable. The most we can take out of this game really depends on how well we do against Va. Tech. If we beat the Hokies and then limp along half heartedly against FIU, then that says bad things about our team, just like a loss to the Hokies and then a middling performance against FIU would. If we come out and dominate what should be a pretty woefully outmatched Golden Panther team no matter what the outcome of the Va. Tech game, then we know the team has bought in and is giving it all on every down.

***

North Texas - 0-0 (0-0)

Ranking: AP - NR * Coaches - NR* BlogPoll -NR

Offensive Rankings	Actual	NCAA Rank	Conf. Rank
Rushing Offense	127.33	82	6
Passing Offense	235.67	44	4
Passing Efficiency	111.13	94	8
Scoring Offense	20.00	102	8
Total Offense	363.00	57	5
Defensive Rankings	Actual	NCAA Rank	Conf. Rank
Rushing Defense	207.08	105	6
Passing Defense	275.50	115	8
Passing Eff. Defense	164.87	118	8
Sacks	1.00	112 (T)	7
Tackles for Loss	4.42	111	8
Scoring Defense	47.58	119	8
Total Defense	482.58	119	8

Key Players
Offense:

Cam Montgomery - RB

Running behind an offensive line that returns all five starters, Montgomery, who rushed for 928 yards and 9 TDs last season, is about the only proven commodity for North Texas on offense.

Riley Dodge - QB

A redshirt freshman (and the coach's son), Dodge is a former Longhorns commit that could possibly bring a much needed spark to the Mean Green passing game.

Defense:

Tobe Nwigwe - LB

With a defense that finished at or near dead last in the country in every major category, the Mean Green need someone, anyone, to step up on that side of the ball. SR linebacker Nwigwe led the team last year with 111 tackles and three INTs. He leads a linebacking corps that returns all three starters, but with only one starter back on the line it remains to be seen if they can improve on last year's performance.

Schedule:

09/03	at Ball State
09/12	vs Ohio
09/19	at Alabama
09/26	vs Middle Tennessee State
10/10	at Lousiana-LaFayette
10/17	vs Florida Atlantic
10/24	at Troy
10/31	vs Western Kentucky
11/07	vs Louisiana-Monroe
11/14	at FIU
11/21	vs Army
11/28	at Arkansas State

Best Win So Far:

Sadly, not applicable at this point.

Worst Loss/Performance So Far:

Sadly, not applicable at this point.

What Does a Win Here Mean for Alabama?

Like FIU, the Mean Green aren't much more than an extra home game to keep the revenues up. Also like FIU, we can judge how far the team has come along by their performance here. If we come out and dominate early on and never let up, then you know the team is clicking and on the right page. If we come out flat and scrape by...

***

Arkansas - 0-0 (0-0)

Ranking: AP - NR * Coaches - NR* BlogPoll -NR

Offensive Rankings	Actual	NCAA Rank	Conf. Rank
Rushing Offense	113.50	97	10
Passing Offense	259.58	23	2
Passing Efficiency	122.19	68	5
Scoring Offense	21.92	91	7
Total Offense	373.08	49	4
Defensive Rankings	Actual	NCAA Rank	Conf. Rank
Rushing Defense	170.75	90	12
Passing Defense	204.42	54	10
Passing Eff. Defense	127.26	62	12
Sacks	2.08	50	7
Tackles for Loss	5.75	58	7
Scoring Defense	31.17	93	12
Total Defense	375.17	72	12

Key Players
Offense:

Michael Smith - RB

Following in the extremely large footsteps of Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, Smith made a big splash for the Hogs as a 1,000 yard rusher and the SEC leader in all purpose yardage.

Ryan Mallett - QB

A Michigan transfer, much of the Hogs hopes for the season rest on his shoulders. Though Petrino was able to get more out of Casey and Nathan Dick as QBs than Houston Nutt ever did, they weren't the pocket passer types that typically thrive in his offense. Mallett is, though, and with a redshirt year in the system he should be able to give what was already a pretty solid passing attack an even bigger boost.

Defense:

Malcolm Sheppard - DT

The Hogs were simply awful on defense last season and with injuries mounting over the fall to an alread suspect secondary, its up to the front seven to help keep them in games. Every starter on the line and at LB is back, and Sheppard is arguably the best of the bunch. A 2nd team All-SEC selection, Sheppard will have to help anchor the line if they are going to show any improvement.

Schedule:

09/03	vs Missouri State
09/19	vs Georgia
09/26	at Alabama
10/03	vs Texas A&M (Arlington, TX)
10/10	vs Auburn
10/17	at Florida
10/24	at Ole Miss
10/31	vs Eastern Michigan
11/07	vs South Carolina
11/14	vs Troy
11/21	vs Mississippi State
11/28	at LSU

Best Win So Far:

Sadly, not applicable at this point.

Worst Loss/Performance So Far:

Sadly, not applicable at this point.

What Does a Win Here Mean for Alabama?

As the first conference game, a win here is an absolute must for the Tide to keep a trip back to Atlanta in the works. Arkansas has been a thorn in our side ever since they joined the conference, though two straight wins have given us a little bit of breathing room as far as keeping a winning record goes. Though last year's match ended up being a total second half rout, the first half was much closer than was comfortable. Their offense moved the ball pretty well on us and it took a goal line stand going into the half to really set the Tide up for the second half beat down. With Ole Miss and LSU still looming in the west, getting by the Hogs with a W puts the Tide at least that much closer than the other two to securing the division.

***

Kentucky - 0-0 (0-0)

Ranking: AP - NR * Coaches - NR* BlogPoll -NR

Offensive Rankings	Actual	NCAA Rank	Conf. Rank
Rushing Offense	127.46	81	8
Passing Offense	171.85	96	8
Passing Efficiency	102.40	105	9
Scoring Offense	22.62	87	6
Total Offense	299.31	106	9
Defensive Rankings	Actual	NCAA Rank	Conf. Rank
Rushing Defense	139.23	55	9
Passing Defense	193.15	40	9
Passing Eff. Defense	121.01	51	11
Sacks	2.46	30	2
Tackles for Loss	6.62	29	2
Scoring Defense	21.46	35	8
Total Defense	332.38	40	11

CB Trevard Lindley

Key Players
Offense:

Mike Hartline - QB

If Hartline is going to be the Wildcats QB, he better get it done now. Pulled for four games last year in favor of the far more athletic Randall Cobb, Hartline rebounded with a strong showing against East Carolina in the Liberty Bowl, going 19 of 31 for 204 yards against a pretty solid Pirate defense. He's supposedly improved a good deal over the spring and fall.

Randall Cobb - WR

Cobb saw most of his work at WR during the spring and fall and has shown he can be an electric playmaker from any position. He'll also probably still see time at QB in their Wildcat package (sucks for UK that they can't come up with something original for that).

Defense:

Trevard Lindley - CB

Probably the only football player in Lexington that is a truly elite talent, Lindley is one of only five returning starters from last year's unit and has his work cut out for him in the secondary.

Schedule:

09/05	vs Miami (OH) (Cincinnati)
09/19	vs Louisville
09/26	vs Florida
10/03	vs Alabama
10/10	at South Carolina
10/17	at Auburn
10/24	vs Louisiana-Monroe
10/31	vs Mississippi State
11/07	vs Eastern Kentucky
11/14	at Vanderbilt
11/21	at Georgia
11/28	vs Tennessee

Best Win So Far:

Sadly, not applicable at this point.

Worst Loss/Performance So Far:

Sadly, not applicable at this point.

What Does a Win Here Mean for Alabama?

Last year's game in Tuscaloosa was a little close for comfort; though the Tide managed to move the ball at will turnovers and missed field goals kept the Wildcats in it until the very end when a busted coverage gave them another spark of hope to pull the upset. Thankfully we recovered the onside kick and put it away, but it just goes to show how there is a thin margin for error in games like these if your players aren't executing like they should and can. As a winnable conference game, this one is just one more step closer to getting to Atlanta.

***

Ole Miss - 0-0 (0-0)

Ranking: AP - #8 * Coaches - #10 * BlogPoll- #11

Offensive Rankings	Actual	NCAA Rank	Conf. Rank
Rushing Offense	186.46	28	2
Passing Offense	221.15	53	4
Passing Efficiency	144.31	22	3
Scoring Offense	32.08	28	2
Total Offense	407.62	29	3
Defensive Rankings	Actual	NCAA Rank	Conf. Rank
Rushing Defense	85.54	4	2
Passing Defense	221.69	81	12
Passing Eff. Defense	120.47	49	10
Sacks	3.00	4	1
Tackles for Loss	8.62	1	1
Scoring Defense	19.00	20	5
Total Defense	307.23	19	5

Key Players
Offense:

Jevan Snead - QB

The Texas transfer worked his way into the offense by mid season and generally put on a show during the latter half of the year, throwing for 2,762 yards and 26 TDs to 13 INTs (most of which came during the first half of the year). If he can continue to put up those kind of numbers behind a rebuilt line, the Rebels will have an incredibly potent offense.

Dexter McCluster - WR

The do everything athlete, McCluster will line up at WR, RB, and QB in the "Wild Rebel." At only 5'8", 165lbs, McCluster managed over 1000 all purpose yards last year and seven total TDs. With Mike Wallace gone to the NFL, McCluster and Shay Hodge will be the two go to guys at WR.

Defense:

Greg Hardy - DE

If he's healthy and shows up, Greg Hardy is one of the best rush ends in the country. That's two big question marks, though, so we'll have to see where he's at when Alabama heads to Oxford.

Kendrick Lewis - FS

Last year's Rebel secondary gave up passing yards like nobody's business, finishing dead last in the league. Lewis led the team last season with 85 tackles and had four picks, and if the secondary is going to be better it's likely up to his senior leadership to get it done.

Schedule:

09/06	at Memphis
09/19	vs Southeastern Louisiana
09/24	at South Carolina
10/03	at Vanderbilt
10/10	vs Alabama
10/17	vs UAB
10/24	vs Arkansas
10/31	at Auburn
11/07	vs Northern Arizona
11/14	vs Tennessee
11/21	vs LSU
11/28	at Mississippi State

Best Win So Far:

Sadly, not applicable at this point.

Worst Loss/Performance So Far:

Sadly, not applicable at this point.

What Does a Win Here Mean for Alabama?

This is going to be one of the games that shapes the SEC West this year and a win over the Rebels would give our hopes for Atlanta a leg up on LSU at this point. Must win.

***

South Carolina - 0-0 (0-0)

Ranking: AP - NR * Coaches - NR* BlogPoll -NR

Offensive Rankings	Actual	NCAA Rank	Conf. Rank
Rushing Offense	94.08	112	12
Passing Offense	222.46	50	3
Passing Efficiency	111.50	93	7
Scoring Offense	20.77	96	8
Total Offense	316.54	97	7
Defensive Rankings	Actual	NCAA Rank	Conf. Rank
Rushing Defense	132.69	43	7
Passing Defense	159.23	2	1
Passing Eff. Defense	111.13	23	5
Sacks	2.38	35	4
Tackles for Loss	5.46	70	9
Scoring Defense	21.08	31	7
Total Defense	291.92	13	4

Key Players
Offense:

Stephen Garcia - QB

Looking at the projected depth chart, there's just not a lot about the SC offense that makes me think they are going to take a big leap forward this year. They were a horrible rushing team last year, the receiver position is up in the air, and the line gave up 39 sacks last year. The oft troubled Garcia is either going to make or break the 'Cocks this year.

Defense:

Eric Norwood - LB

Norwood will likely rotate back and fourth between LB and DE, where he played his first two years in college, and is back for his senior year after flirting with the NFL draft. His 22 career sacks are just four shy of the school record.

Schedule:

09/03	at NC State
09/12	at Georgia
09/19	vs Florida Atlantic
09/24	vs Ole Miss
10/03	vs South Carolina State
10/10	vs Kentucky
10/17	at Alabama
10/24	vs Vanderbilt
10/31	at Tennessee
11/07	at Arkansas
11/14	vs Florida
11/28	vs Clemson

Best Win So Far:

Sadly, not applicable at this point.

Worst Loss/Performance So Far:

Sadly, not applicable at this point.

What Does a Win Here Mean for Alabama?

Much like Kentucky, this is a winnable conference game and therefor a must win.

***

Tennessee - 0-0 (0-0)

Ranking: AP - NR * Coaches - NR* BlogPoll -NR

Offensive Rankings	Actual	NCAA Rank	Conf. Rank
Rushing Offense	122.92	88	9
Passing Offense	145.83	107	11
Passing Efficiency	99.79	107	11
Scoring Offense	17.33	110 (T)	10
Total Offense	268.75	115	11
Defensive Rankings	Actual	NCAA Rank	Conf. Rank
Rushing Defense	103.08	12	3
Passing Defense	160.42	4	2
Passing Eff. Defense	102.42	11	2
Sacks	1.92	58	8
Tackles for Loss	6.58	31	3
Scoring Defense	16.75	10	3
Total Defense	263.50	3 (T)	1 (T)

Key Players
Offense:

Jonathan Crompton - QB

Crompton was a highly sought after recruit, yet floundered all season last year, looking like he'd never played QB before in his life. He's been named the starter for UT and has been praised for his efforts in practice, so we'll have to see if Kiffin and his staff are better at developing talent than Fulmer and Co. were.

Bryce Brown - RB

He's eligible, and as a true freshman is already listed as a co-starter with Montario Hardesty. If he lives up to his recruiting hype like Julio Jones did his, then he could be something special.

Defense:

Eric Berry - FS

The SEC Defensive Player of the Year, Berry grabbed 7 INTs last year and likely took a couple of years off of several players lives with his brutal hits.

Rico McCoy - LB

87 tackles and the sexiest name in the SEC. Also the only returning starter at LB.

Schedule:

09/05	vs Western Kentucky
09/12	vs UCLA
09/19	at Florida
09/26	vs Ohio
10/03	vs Auburn
10/10	vs Georgia
10/24	at Alabama
10/31	vs South Carolina
11/07	vs Memphis
11/14	at Ole miss
11/21	vs Vanderbilt
11/28	at Kentucky

Best Win So Far:

Sadly, not applicable at this point.

Worst Loss/Performance So Far:

Sadly, not applicable at this point.

What Does a Win Here Mean for Alabama?

Its the Third Saturday in October, and win here means much more than just another step towards Atlanta. With UT already having faced Florida, UCLA, Auburn and Georgia, we'll have a pretty good picture of just how far along they are with implementing Monte Kiffin's defense and whether or not the Lane Kiffin hire has gone from "risky" to just plain "bad."

***

LSU - 0-0 (0-0)

Ranking: AP - #11 * Coaches - #9 * BlogPoll - #8

Offensive Rankings	Actual	NCAA Rank	Conf. Rank
Rushing Offense	166.77	43	4
Passing Offense	201.31	71	6
Passing Efficiency	117.44	80	6
Scoring Offense	30.92	30	4
Total Offense	368.08	55	5
Defensive Rankings	Actual	NCAA Rank	Conf. Rank
Rushing Defense	110.15	17	5
Passing Defense	215.38	73	11
Passing Eff. Defense	116.62	42	8
Sacks	2.15	46	6
Tackles for Loss	5.77	56	6
Scoring Defense	24.15	56	9
Total Defense	325.54	32	9

Key Players
Offense:

Jordan Jefferson - QB

Jefferson finished last year with a .49 completion percentage, 419 yards and four TDs as a true freshman, but his athletic ability and extra time to learn the playbook make him the best hope for LSU in trying to find some stability under center.

Brandon LaFell - WR

LaFell has been LSU's leading receiver the past two seasons, catching 63 for 929 yards and an SEC best 8 TDs last season. Both he and Terrance Tolliver will give Jefferson playmaker targets to keep the offense humming.

Defense:

Patrick Peterson - CB

Peterson grabbed the starting job for the last four games last year and has yet to look back. With a new DC to help turn all the talent LSU has into a dominant unit, Peterson should be a star.

Charles Alexander - DT

The only returning starter on the d-line (though DE Rahim Alem saw significant playing time), Alexander will have to be the anchor for an unexperienced front four.

Schedule:

09/05	at Washington
09/12	vs Vanderbilt
09/19	vs Louisiana-LaFayette
09/26	at Mississippi State
10/03	at Georgia
10/10	vs Florida
10/24	vs Auburn
10/31	vs Tulane
11/07	at Alabama
11/14	vs Louisiana Tech
11/21	at Ole Miss
11/28	vs Arkansas

Best Win So Far:

Sadly, not applicable at this point.

Worst Loss/Performance So Far:

Sadly, not applicable at this point.

What Does a Win Here Mean for Alabama?

Depending on how the Ole Miss and Arkansas games go, this is the last hurdle before Atlanta for the Tide. A win here either punches our ticket or spoils theirs.

***

Mississippi State - 0-0 (0-0)

Ranking: AP - NR * Coaches - NR* BlogPoll -NR

Offensive Rankings	Actual	NCAA Rank	Conf. Rank
Rushing Offense	100.58	105	11
Passing Offense	174.33	94	7
Passing Efficiency	102.81	104	8
Scoring Offense	15.25	115	12
Total Offense	274.92	113	10
Defensive Rankings	Actual	NCAA Rank	Conf. Rank
Rushing Defense	150.92	73	11
Passing Defense	176.58	17	4
Passing Eff. Defense	115.44	36	7
Sacks	1.58	84	12
Tackles for Loss	5.00	90	12
Scoring Defense	24.67	60	11
Total Defense	327.50	35	10

Key Players
Offense:

Anthony Dixon - RB

About the only good thing State did last year on offense was put Dixon on the field. After a 1000 yard year, he'll probably have to shoulder much of the offensive load this year.

Defense:

Jamar Chaney - LB

Chaney was granted a medical redshirt last season after a broken ankle against La. Tech ended his season, and the senior will be the bedrock of the front seven at MLB.

Schedule:

09/05	vs Jackson State
09/12	at Auburn
09/19	at Vanderbilt
09/26	vs LSU
10/03	vs Georgia Tech
10/10	vs Houston
10/17	at Middle Tennessee State
10/24	vs Florida
10/31	at Kentucky
11/14	vs Alabama
11/21	at Arkansas
11/28	vs Ole Miss

Best Win So Far:

Sadly, not applicable at this point.

Worst Loss/Performance So Far:

Sadly, not applicable at this point.

What Does a Win Here Mean for Alabama?

I think Mullen can probably be moderately successful at State if he can start bringing in some solid recruits, but I'm not expecting much from them in his first year. It will probably a hard fought game for us, but its a winnable contest and one that we'll have to make sure ends up as a W.

***

Auburn - 0-0 (0-0)

Ranking: AP - NR * Coaches - NR* BlogPoll -NR

Offensive Rankings	Actual	NCAA Rank	Conf. Rank
Rushing Offense	137.50	69	6
Passing Offense	165.42	99	10
Passing Efficiency	102.05	106	10
Scoring Offense	17.33	110 (T)	10
Total Offense	302.92	104	8
Defensive Rankings	Actual	NCAA Rank	Conf. Rank
Rushing Defense	138.92	54	8
Passing Defense	178.83	19	5
Passing Eff. Defense	113.78	30	6
Sacks	1.75	76	11
Tackles for Loss	6.25	43	4
Scoring Defense	18.00	14	4
Total Defense	317.75	29	7

Key Players
Offense:

Chris Todd - QB

Like it or not, Auburn fans, this man is your starter at QB. If his shoulder really is back to normal and the Malzahn offense clicks right away, he should be successful. A dearth of quality skill players is not something that will help, though.

Ben Tate - RB

Malzahn has made it a point to use his version of the spread as a means to run the ball, and Tate is the kind of bruising back that can take advantage of a spread out defense.

Defense:

Josh Bynes - LB

There's not a lot of depth at LB for the Tigers, but the starters are all capable and Bynes will have to be their leader.

Antonio Coleman - DE

A monster pass rusher, Coleman was a Lindy's 2nd Team All-American and will have to help carry the front seven with two new starters on the interior.

Schedule:

09/05	vs Louisiana Tech
09/12	vs Mississippi State
09/19	vs West Virginia
09/26	vs Ball State
10/03	at Tennessee
10/10	at Arkansas
10/17	vs Kentucky
10/24	at LSU
10/31	vs Ole Miss
11/07	vs Furman
11/14	at Georgia
11/27	vs Alabama

Best Win So Far:

Sadly, not applicable at this point.

Worst Loss/Performance So Far:

Sadly, not applicable at this point.

What Does a Win Here Mean for Alabama?

That all is just and right with the world.

Two weeks to go

BoilerTMill — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:08:54 -0000

In two weeks, we will know what we are dealing with. Toledo is a team that, in my opinion, we should beat easily. They are the weakest team on the schedule. If we struggle with them or even lose, we should expect a down year. A comfortable win allows us to breathe a sigh of relief and think that maybe, just maybe, a win is possible at Oregon. I still think a win over the Ducks is quite possible, but for now we must concern ourselves with Toledo.

I haven't had many comments about practice so far because most of you read GBI. They have kept us up to date on what is going on, so I don't want to be a source of regurgitating their information. If the Indianapolis Star bothered to recognize there are two major universities in this state rather than one we might have more coverage, but apparently they don't realize it is the same distance to Bloomington as it is to West Lafayette. In this case, I miss Michael Pointer.

Still, what news from practice we have heard has been very encouraging. Some of this is mere inference based on what we have heard (or have not heard) but I think things are shaping up.

Look! A receiver wearing #1 that isn't catching a knife in the chest or a pellet in the eye!

Multiple receivers are developing - To be honest, I was a little concerned when only Antavian Edison was being mentioned as a positive among all our new receivers. Over time, however, it is good to see names like Gary bush, Cortez Smith, and Keith Carlos reach the land of glowing positives. With each name that makes the list our offense will grow more and more potent. The drawback right now is that we have virtually no size. Xavier Reese at 6'3" is the tallest while Keith Smith at 226 pounds has the most bulk. Because of his bulk, I wouldn't mind moving Keith Smith outside and putting one of the speedier guys in the slot.

The tight ends also seem to be getting involved more and more in the offense. Think about this for a moment: What has made our last three NFL quarterbacks even better? A good tight end. Drew Brees had Tim Stratton. Kyle Orton had Charles Davis. Curtis Painter had Dustin Keller. These guys open up our offense underneath, and that element was missing last year. I don't think we'll have Kyle Adams, Colton McKey, Jeff Lindsey, or Jeff Panfil make us forget Keller in week one, but this position should be a huge upgrade over last season. We also still have Jordan Brewer coming next year and Gabe Holmes if he can get eligible.

On Holmes, I would like to see him get officially cleared just so he can stay and practice on campus. He is probably going to redshirt anyway at this point. If he doesn't get cleared he has some options and can still play four years as long as he is 80% of the way to his degree at the end of his third season (fourth academically).

The silence of Caleb TerBush - Coach Hope spoke before camp that TerBush would see plenty of playing time this year along with Elliott. This concerned me greatly, as I am not a fan of quarterback platoons. Look what happened in 2002 when we played musical quarterbacks between Kirsch and Orton. I want TerBush to be ready to play if we need him, but I would feel much better if we had Elliott designated as "the Man" from game one. I think we are starting to see that too.

I think Elliott will be ready. The press has some doubts, but we doubted Billy Dicken back in 1997. With the running game we have I don't think we need Elliott to throw for 400 yards per game. We just need a guy that will be a leader in the huddle and one that doesn't make mistakes. Elliott wants to go into coaching once his career is over. He views this season as kind of an audition for that role, and I like that a lot. I have talked often how we have missed a certain leadership quality since the departure of Drew Brees. Curtis Painter and Kyle Orton were great players of course, but I always felt they missed that extra leadership element that set Brees apart. I think Elliott has some of that, while Rob Henry behind him has it a whole lot more.

If I were Joey Elliott or one of our running backs I would be very happy to see this large gentleman protecting me.

Defensive developments - This is the area that I think is going to make a major difference this year. All three areas of the defense have improved and we're actually developing a little depth at all three as well. Everyone just assumes we will struggle as we have the past several years, but I beg to differ. Mike Neal seems to be a difference maker at defensive tackle. Even the press is raving about him, while Kawann Short next to him gives us two very good interior defensive linemen. Ryan Kerrigan, Nickaro Golding, Nick Mondek, and even a very raw Kevin Pamphile have been mentioned as contributors along the line. Again, this is an issue of multiple names being mentioned, much like at wide receiver. If we can play seven guys on the D-line that will make everybody fresher late in games. The most exciting thing is that among all the defensive linemen in practice, only two (Keyon Brown and Neal) are seniors. All that depth is going to be here for awhile. 11 defensive linemen are either true or redshirt freshmen too.

At linebacker, I honestly don't know what it is like to have five solid linebackers at once. All five could be back next year as well if Jason Werner pursues a sixth year of eligibility because of his injuries. Dwayne Beckford and Antwon Higgs continue to get mentioned as valuable pieces. They also get to learn slowly since Joe Holland, Werner, and Chris Carlino are entrenched as starters. I really like Carlino late last season. Starting at middle linebacker as a true freshman in the Big Ten takes some talent. Establishing all five of these guys this year will only help next season when we get guys like Gilliam, Lee, and Lucas.

Finally, we knew the defensive backs were going to be a strength, but I think some of their minor injury issues have been a blessing. It is great to have four seniors back there, but with virtually no proven experience behind them we are only a couple of injuries away from being back in 2006. Josh Johnson's development here has been huge. Getting more from Charlton Williams and Josh McKinley, who each played a bit in 2007, will help provide depth this year and ease the transition into next year.

As good as the defense is going to be this season, it has the potential to be fantastic in 2010 and 2011. For the first time since probably 2003 we have a defense that I feel can get a critical stop and win a game or two for us that we have no business winning when the offense struggles. They have depth we have been missing, and it comes at all three levels.That game or two could mean the difference this year between a bowl game and no bowl game.

Let's talk injuries and the schedule

Naturally, you are going to have some injuries in fall practice. Fortunately, we haven't lost anybody to anything major yet. The most significant injury is to Colton McKey, who will probably miss a few games at the start of the season. Eric Hedstrom is also battling a shoulder problem, but we knew that already. Look everywhere else in college football. Virginia Tech suffered a huge blow when it lost Darren Evans to a torn ACL. Wisconsin, a huge swing game on our schedule, is battling injuries and can't settle on a quarterback, either. Other teams in our own conference are having similar issues.

This is the time of year when it is better to have a team coming together and answering questions rather than answering new ones. That is what I think we are doing. Because of that, I think we are going to shock someone, be it Oregon or Notre Dame, in the non-conference season. I love this team's attitude so far. Danny Hope has them believing they can beat anyone, anywhere. If they are keeping score you might as well go out and win the damn thing.

Are we going to win the Big Ten this year? Highly unlikely. I do like that we trade off two proven, solid teams (Iowa and Penn State) for two teams that are talented, but very shaky (Illinois and Wisconsin). That is a plus in my book. I also like the challenging non-conference schedule and how it will prepare us for those games. I want people to underestimate us. We'll let them know, beginning in two weeks, how wrong they are.