SB Nation - Mike Teel

Preparing For The Chris Crane Incident II: The Shinskieing

Akula Wolf — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:07:50 -0000

More photos » by Winslow Townson - AP

Boston College quarterback Dave Shinskie's famous woozy wobbler. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

What Duke did Saturday was not new; rather, it was merely the latest instance of the Air That Sumbitch Out strategy being used to great effect against the NC State defense. Before Lewis, there was Riley Skinner. Before Skinner, Mike Teel. And before Teel, of course, there was Chris Crane.

Last season, Boston College took a cue from South Florida's game plan and decided that they too would make a point of exploiting the Pack through the air. This seemed a great idea to me at the time, what with the way the Eagles appeared to be so openly inviting disaster. To that point in the 2008 season, the Eagles had struggled to find any sort of passing game, even against the likes of Kent State, Central Florida, and Rhode Island. Y'all bring that shit on, I thought. (As it turned out, it was similar to that time in '04 when I screamed at Devin Hester to bring that shit on; his response was to teleport from one end zone to the other.)

True to their word, the Eagles fired away. The surprising part was how incredibly successful they were. Their impenetrable offensive line gave Crane all sorts of time and opportunities, and for the most part he did not miss. And so: season-highs in attempts, completions, completion percentage, yards, yards per attempt, and passing efficiency were set.

Which is not to say the Eagles will throw the ball 50 times on Saturday, but just as they no doubt saw what Duke did last week, they no doubt remember what they themselves did last year.

Their passing game has been up-and-down (to put it mildly) in conference play so far--good against bad defenses (Wake, FSU), terrible against good defenses (Clemson, VT). Those performances against Clemson and Tech are evidence enough that if you can get Shinskie and his various backups out of their comfort zones, they will crack. I suppose we might manage to do that somehow. But my money is on The Shinskieing.

Season Preview: Big East

Smooty — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:20:34 -0000

The third installment of our conference previews here at ADS is the BIg East. In football, the Big East is comprised of eight teams, unlike the super 16 team conference it boasts in basketball. The Big East has dropped significantly ever since the ACC pulled a little manifest destiny and lured Boston College, Miami, and Virginia Teach to drop the Big East and join the ACC, in 2003.

Of the "Power 6" conferences (ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Pac-10, and SEC), the Big East as of late has brought up the rear. West Virginia spent a few seasons in the national spotlight, when they were led by Pat White, and Steve Slaton. They are gone. Rutgers made a magical run the past couple years with Mike Teel, Ray Rice, and Tiquan Underwood. All gone.

Last year, Cincinnati surprised many by capturing the Big East title. West Virginia, Pittsburgh, and Rutgers finished a game out. This year, in an incredibly close preseason media poll, Pittsburgh was selected to top the conference. That is more of a product of the lack of any elite team in the conference. The difference between first place Pitt and fifth place Rutgers was only 35 points, and the top four teams all received multiple first place votes. Third place Cincinnati received three more first place votes than second place West Virginia. If you like parity, check out the Big East this season.

Big East Football Preseason Media Poll

Pittsburgh (8)
West Virginia (5)
Cincinnati (8)
USF (3)
Rutgers
Connecticut
Louisville
Syracuse

Find a TV for these games:

West Virginia at Auburn - Sept. 19: The BIg East could earn some national cred if the Mountaineers travel to Auburn and steal a game from War Eagle. I said they could.
South Florida at Florida State - Sept. 26: Big non-conference game in Tallahassee.
South Florida vs. West Virginia - Oct. 30: It seems like everyone is sleeping on South Florida. And doesn't it seem like their quarterback Matt Grothe has been there for seven years? How many years of eligibility are they giving out in Tampa?
Rutgers vs. South Florida - Nov. 12: Big game on the road for USF. Rutgers coach Greg Schiano gets the Scarlet Knights ready to play in Jersey.
West Virginia vs. Pittsburgh - Nov. 27: The Backyard Brawl. If the preseason media poll holds true, this game will decide the Big East title.
Rutgers vs. West Virginia - Dec. 5: If West Virginia trips up this season (say, against South Florida?), this may have some huge conference implications.

The Big East has seven bowl tie ins, and up to six will choose a Big East team to participate. The Gator Bowl and the Sun Bowl both have the right to the second Big East team. The Gator Bowl, however, gets to select first between the Big East #2 and the Big 12 #4.

BCS
Gator Bowl
Sun Bowl
Meineke Car Care Bowl
International Bowl
PapaJohns.com Bowl
St. Petersburg Bowl

The Big East is down. Anyone who follows college football knows this. They desperately need a big year, from one of their teams, any of their teams. Pitt was #1 in the preseason, but they have to replace LaSean McCoy. West Virginia has Noel Devine, but no Pat White. Cincinnati won last year, but they have to replace 10 starters on defense. Thanks for playing, Cincinnati. Look for South Florida to climb the Big East this year, especially with defensive end George Selvie returning, as well as quarterback Matt Grothe (seriously, that guy is still there?).

Come back tomorrow for the Big Ten preview.

Official Dawg Sports Glib and Flippant Conference Championship Forecasts

T Kyle King — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 01:38:29 -0000

Each autumn, on the eve of football season, I like to take a stab at picking the winners of the various conferences, as well as offering a few oddball predictions. I will revisit all of these in January to see just how well or poorly---all right, how poorly---I did in forecasting the events of the 2009 campaign. Here now, I offer you my league championship prognostications:

Sun Belt: I decided not to hold you in suspense. Why save the best for last? I’m going with the Florida Atlantic Owls. They’re the ones with Howard Schnellenberger, right?

Mid-American Conference: I’m going with the Michigan Wolverines. I kid, I kid; everybody knows the Maize and Blue aren’t good enough to win the MAC! The Toledo Rockets return a wealth of experience and the coaching change should dramatically improve the team, which I’m picking to win the MAC. Unless, of course, I’m confusing them with the Akron Zips. . . .

Major Independents: Does it look like 1946 in here? There are no major independents remaining in college football. Next, please. . . .

Conference USA: I think the announcement of Brett Favre’s latest return from retirement will give the Southern Miss. Golden Eagles just the encouragement they need to close the deal and win the conference title.

Western Athletic Conference: Derek Dooley is building a program in Ruston, Pat Hill should have his Fresno St. Bulldogs back in contention, and Chris Ault’s Nevada Wolf Pack looks strong with seven starters back on each side of the ball, but the league belongs to the Boise St. Broncos until they lose it. Chris Petersen’s club is like a junior varsity version of Southern California being viewed on a television set with all the colors out of whack (or, I suppose, out of WAC).

Big East: None of the above. All right, since it has to be somebody, I’m sticking with the Pittsburgh Panthers, who are poised to fill the power vacuum left when the Louisville Cardinals lost Bobby Petrino, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights lost Mike Teel, the West Virginia Mountaineers lost Pat White, and the Cincinnati Bearcats lost their entire starting defense. (All right, they have one guy back, but still . . .) Although no one is getting through the league unscathed and multiple tiebreakers are apt to come into play, I believe Pitt will overcome the loss of LeSean McCoy, a trio of Friday night conference road games, and the ignominy of being coached by Dave Wannstedt. Yeah, this pick is crashing and burning, isn’t it?

Atlantic Coast Conference: The one off-the-wall prediction I’ve been making all along in which I actually have confidence is that the Clemson Tigers are poised for a first-place finish in the ACC. The Country Gentlemen have settled on a quarterback, who will benefit from playing behind an experienced offensive line and being able to hand off to C.J. Spiller. Dabo Swinney salvaged a sorry season for the Jungaleers last year, getting the Fort Hill Felines to the Gator Bowl. While Coach Swinney wasn’t the marquee name many among the Orange and Purple faithful wanted, he has the pedigree for success by the shores of Lake Hartwell: Dabo Swinney is the fourth Alabama alum promoted from assistant coach to head coach in the modern history of the Clemson program, and the three who came before him were Frank Howard, Charley Pell, and Danny Ford. The Tigers will win the Atlantic and/or Coastal Division and they will defeat the Virginia Tech Hokies, winners of the Coastal and/or Atlantic Division, in the conference championship game in Jacksonville and/or Tampa and/or Charlotte and/or Baltimore and/or Boston and/or Atlanta and/or Washington, D.C. For crying out loud, could these people get their act together, already?

Mountain West: The Utah Utes will take a step back after last year’s unbeaten run and the BYU Cougars’ stature as a prime time player took a serious hit last year, when Bronco Mendenhall’s squad lost double-digit outings against Texas Christian, Utah, and Arizona in the postseason. The Las Vegas Bowl committee can relax, secure in the knowledge that Sin City won’t be hosting a team that considers drinking a cup of coffee an act of moral turpitude; the TCU Horned Frogs are ready to reclaim the Mountain West with their fifth eleven-win season in a seven-year span.

Big Ten: The Penn St. Nittany Lions have learned how to win again, the Iowa Hawkeyes should field a stout defense, Mark Dantonio has the Michigan St. Spartans moving in the right direction, and the Illinois Fighting Illini can’t go wrong with a tight end named Mike Hoomanawanui. Yeah, whatever. The Ohio St. Buckeyes will finish first in the league and earn the honor of losing a BCS bowl game for their troubles.

Pac-10: The California Golden Bears are loaded, the Oregon Ducks have built a solid (if horribly garbed) program, the Oregon St. Beavers are always feisty, the UCLA Bruins are on the upswing, and the Arizona Wildcats are improving. Yeah, whatever. The USC Trojans will lose to someone they shouldn’t and win the Pac-10, anyway.

Big 12: I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that the winner of the Red River Shootout will represent the South Division in the league title tilt! That would be the Texas Longhorns, who will defeat the Oklahoma Sooners in Dallas and capture the conference crown by beating some team from the Big 12 North that might as well be pulled out of a hat. Hang on . . . I happen to have a monkey with a dart board right here . . . and he likes the Nebraska Cornhuskers to get the honor of being hooked by the ‘Horns. Let’s go with that.

Southeastern Conference: The Georgia Bulldogs, of course! Except . . . no, not really. The Florida Gators will face the LSU Tigers in the Georgia Dome and the Sunshine State Saurians will get the better of the Bayou Bengals for the second time this season. Trust me, I’m not any happier about this fact than you are.

There they are, ladies and gentlemen . . . my ill-informed, knee-jerk, doomed prognostications concerning the upcoming football season. I’m confident of being dead wrong on at least half of that, but I leave it to you to tell me which half. Where have I hit the nail on the head and where have I missed the boat? Feel free to unmix my metaphors and correct my misconceptions in the comments below. In the meantime, I’ll be preparing my specific forecasts for the fall, which should be coming your way tomorrow.

Go ‘Dawgs!

Football Outside of the Big Ten - The Big East

Bama Hawkeye — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:05:46 -0000

From time to time, it's important to look outside the Big Ten and remind ourselves that there is football being played by other teams in other conferences. The Rivalry, Esq. continues its look at those other conferences with the league that better be watching its back, the Big East.

The Big East survived the ACC raids and found itself thriving in the new college football landscape. In the 2005 season, West Virginia stunned SEC Champ Georgia in the Sugar Bowl (played in Atlanta, no less). In 2006, West Virginia, Rutgers and Louisville played some of the most compelling football games of the season. If not for the biggest kick in Rutgers history, Louisville, not Florida, would have played for the national title against Ohio State. In 2007, South Florida was ranked as high as number two in the country, and West Virginia needed only to beat a weak Pitt team in their finale to play Ohio State for the MNC. Pat White got hurt, and the Panthers sprung the upset. The Mountaineers still crushed the Big 12 Champion Oklahoma Sooners in the Fiesta Bowl.

But last year, the league seemed to take a step back. It's not that the league was bad. It just didn't have an elite team. In fact, the case could be made (and was made) that team-for-team, the Mountain West had surpassed the Big East. It certainly had at the top. So the question remains, is there a team that can dominate the league and be discussed for a national title, or is it another year of a solid conference without an elite team?

Greatest QB in Big East History? I'll say yes.

The Rivalry, Esq. has already looked at these conferences:

Sun Belt MAC Independents WAC

Conference USA Mountain West

1) 2008 Recap

a. Who Won the League?

The Cincinnati Bearcats came out of nowhere to finish with a 10-2 (6-1) record and their first Big East crown. They all but locked up the title with a 28-21 win over Pitt at Nippert Stadium.

b. Games of Note

The Big East champion Bearcats showed the distance between Big East Champ and Big XII Champ during their 52-26 loss at Oklahoma. West Virginia lost a game at Colorado that they should have won, but turned around and beat Auburn (which pretty much ended the Tommy Tubberville Era on the Plains). Pitt and Syracuse both scored dramatic victories over Notre Dame in South Bend.

One of the wins took longer than the other.

c. Games Against the Big Ten

Shonn Greene won the RB-battle against LeSean McCoy, but Pitt won a close victory over the Hawkeyes. Syracuse looked bad in both of their games.

Date	Big East Team	Score	Big Ten Team	Score	Location
August 30, 2008	Syracuse	10	Northwestern	30	Evanston, IL
September 13, 2008	Syracuse	13	Penn State	55	Syracuse, NY
September 20, 2008	Pitt	21	Iowa	20	Pittsburgh, PA

d. Bowl Games

The Bearcats didn't seem too over-matched by Virginia Tech, but they also didn't seem to be of the same caliber in their 20-7 Orange Bowl loss. In the five other Big East bowl games, the Big East had four winners: UConn pummeled Buffalo 38-20 in the International Bowl, Rutgers won the Papa Johns's Bowl 29-23 over NC State, South Florida crushed Memphis 41-14 in the St. Petersburg Bowl, and West Virginia defeated North Carolina 31-30 in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. The West Virginia win would be Pat White's fourth bowl win as a starting quarterback.

Donald Brown was really good and got far too little attention.

Meanwhile, Pitt faced Oregon State in a Sun Bowl that left Verne Lundquist crying for the SEC game of the week. 3-0, the Beavers won on a second quarter field goal. Dave Wannstedt tried a 58 yard field goal rather than go for it with two minutes left and the Panthers facing a 4th and 8 at the OSU 41 yard line. That pretty much sums up Dave Wannstedt (says this life-long Bears fan).

2) 2009 Preview

a. Games of Note

Pay attention to West Virginia and South Florida. They'll say a lot about the Big East. The Mountaineers play two games against mid level teams from the SEC and Big XII. They can win both. Will they? The Bulls travel to Florida State and host Miami. Winning either of those would be huge.

Date	Big East Team	Opponent	Location
September 12, 2009	UConn	North Carolina	East Hartford, CT
September 19, 2009	West Virginia	Auburn	Auburn, AL
September 19, 2009	Cincinnati	Oregon State	Corvallis, OR
September 26, 2009	South Florida	Florida State	Tallahassee, FL
September 26, 2009	Louisville	Utah	Salt Lake City, UT
October 1, 2009	West Virginia	Colorado	Morgantown, WV
November 14, 2009	Pittsburgh	Notre Dame	Pittsburgh, PA
November 28, 2009	South Florida	Miami	Tampa, FL

b. Games Against the Big Ten

Syracuse coach Doug Marone gets welcomed into the Big Ten before he ever sees the Big East.

Date	Big East Team	Big Ten Team	Location
September 5, 2009	Syracuse	Minnesota	Syracuse, NY
September 12, 2009	Syracuse	Penn State	State College, PA
September 19, 2009	Syracuse	Northwestern	Syracuse, NY
November 28, 2009	Cincinnati	Illinois	Cincinnati, OH

c. Bowl Affiliations

The Big East alignment stays the same as last year. My guess is that the Big East team will be the last one selected by a BCS bowl, which would land them in the Sugar Bowl. A Big East bowl team will go to the Gator Bowl...unless Notre Dame finished with 7-9 wins. In that case, they won't be good enough to go BCS, but they'll be eligible to be picked over the second place Big East team. The Papa John's Bowl now selects an SEC team (if available) instead of a Conference USA team to face a Big East squad.

3) 2009 Projections

a. Who Will Win the League?

No one knows. Seriously, this is the most uncertain league in the nation. Pittsburgh seems to have the most talent coming back, but they also have Dave Wannstedt as coach. West Virginia has the biggest shoes to fill; will someone step up at quarterback? South Florida has been unable to take the next step. Cincinnati has lost a ton from their champs from last year. Rutgers no longer has Mike Teel at QB. Louisville is intriguing, but I'm not gutsy enough to push them all the way to champs. Connecticut and Syracuse are not up to the level of the other teams. So who do you pick? How do you pick?

I'm going with the best offensive and defensive lines, but I've got to be honest. This is a pick against the field more than a vote for the Scarlet Knights. I would bet that the league champ, whether it be Rutgers or someone else, has at least three losses and will be the subject of at least five "The Big East doesn't deserve a BCS Bid" articles.

b. Any Wins Against the Big Ten?

Syracuse is now playing a game short of half of a Big Ten schedule. I don't see them winning any of these. If they snag one, it will likely say a lot more about their opponent than the Orange. Or, Greg Robinson was just that bad.

Michigan, this is your new defensive coordinator.

I like the Illini, but Illinois better be careful. It's always tough to go out of conference after the Big Ten season has concluded, and a young Bearcat squad should have a good idea as to what they're doing by November.

c. Who Goes Bowling?

I'm putting Rutgers in the Big Easy. I think that Notre Dame is a BCS team, which means that Pitt goes to the Gator Bowl. West Virginia goes to Birmingham to play an SEC team in the Papa John's Bowl; Louisville (who takes a couple of big steps forward this year) heads to Charlotte to face an ACC squad in the Car Care Bowl. South Florida returns to the St. Pete's Bowl (and complains about it), while the Bearcats head north to the International Bowl.

Somebody who hopes these predictions are accurate.

d. Any MNC Hopes?

It's not that it can't happen; it's just that I don't see the team capable of doing it in 2009. Louisville was an offsides penalty away from the 2006 BCS Championship game. West Virginia was a Pat White injury away from the 2007 game. So it can happen, but I don't see the Big East team that can do it this year.

e. The Rivalry Notes

This is a question posed to one of the site's founders that relates the conference at hand with the Big Ten. Graham Filler is up again...

Would Penn State be in a better or worse place if in 1993 they joined the Big East instead of the Big Ten?

Worse. 3 words: continuity, longevity, cash. Penn State could have been the Big East's 9th team and ensured the in-conference continuance of "rivalries" that weren't really rivalries (West Virgina? Penn State leads 48-9-2 all time. Temple? Hasn't beaten PSU since WWI. Pitt? Nice game, but not close in the 1980's). Instead, the Nittany Lions chose a conference with schools that are generally happy to be where they are and a cash cow TV deal. In comparison, the Big East offered more upheaval, crowded/tiny football markets, and less opportunity to create a national brand.

One ironic thing...If PSU had joined the Big East and Miami (FL) and VT had made their eventual departure, PSU would be complaining that their weak conference schedule is causing them problems in the national spotlight. This is, of course, similar to what happened last year...in the Big 10. So some things are unavoidable.

Seattle Seahawks 2009 Draft Recap

John Morgan — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:30:46 -0000

More photos » by Jason DeCrow - AP

Seattle's draft was about the future. Seattle lost Julian Peterson and formerly franchised linebacker Leroy Hill is now a free agent. In light of that, drafting Aaron Curry is a lateral move at best for 2009. Check back in 2012, when Peterson is approaching retirement and Curry is terrorizing the league.

Browse more photos »

Draft coverage continues on Monday. We'll do full tape analysis of every Seahawks pick. Tomorrow we start with Max Unger and discuss his potential and his potential at guard.

Field Gulls Draft Day Coverage:

Aaron Curry by John Morgan

Aaron Curry by Doug Farrar

Courtney Greene, Nick Reed and Cameron Morrah

Seattle's Free Agent Signings

Gut Reaction: Seattle adds some talent to put itself back into contention, if outside contention, but Tim Ruskell mostly defers to the future. Aaron Curry is the near-consensus best player in this entire draft, with some calling him a once in a decade linebacker talent. In the short term, with the loss of Julian Peterson and the free agency possible loss of Leroy Hill, this is a lateral move. Curry will be a pro and in his prime when Peterson retires. I love Leroy Hill. I love his ability to explode the screen, blow up the lead blocker and explode into rushers before they achieve positive yards. Curry may never be as good as Hill, but he probably. He'll probably be amazingly better.

Max Unger is another nod to the future. Unger is a center by designation, but an offensive lineman by trade. His slightness might force him to stick at center, but I prefer him at guard. If he's a guard he can be an improvement right away and really solidify Seattle's move to a zone blocking scheme. If he sticks at center, that means the end of the Chris Spencer era, and I know many are saying "not soon enough".

Seattle added some talent at wide receiver and quarterback. Wide receiver Deon Butler is a burner with good route running skills. People are comparing him to Deion Branch and fellow Penn State alumni Bobby Engram, but his skill-set and talent is more like Lee Evans. Butler is a tenacious blocker who added almost 20 pounds before going pro. Mike Teel is a legend at Rutgers. He looks like a David Greene pick.

The big move of the draft, bigger even maybe that selecting Aaron Curry, is Seattle trading their second round pick for Denver's first round pick in 2010. Before losing Jay Cutler, the Broncos were likely to decline. Given that loss and their coaching instability, Seattle's pick could be in the top ten.

Finally, Seattle wrapped it up with three project picks. Nick Reed is a pass rush specialist that needs to get up to NFL speed and NFL size. Courtney Greene is a big upside strong safety that will need time on the practice squad to learn how not be made foolish my NFL offensive coordinators and NFL quarterbacks. Cameron Morrah is an athletic tight end that might play something closer to a wide receiver role in Seattle.

All in all, like it or not, Tim Ruskell is looking towards the future. To better tomorrows.

Seattle Selects Quarterback Mike Teel with the 178 Selection in the NFL Draft

John Morgan — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 20:34:48 -0000

With the 178 selection in the NFL Draft, Seattle selects Mike Teel, quarterback, Rutgers. Teel is a three and a half year starter at Rutgers and is their all-time touchdown (98) and passing yardage (9,398) leader. He was twice named team captain. Teel has good size and a decent arm. He improved his completion percentage every year at Rutgers. Despite suffering a rushing collapse after losing Ray Rice, the Scarlet Knights offense stayed strong. They ranked 23^rd in the Fremeau Efficiency Rating, but were ranked 80^th in rushing yards per game and 18^th in passing yards per game.

NFL Draft Scout provides this condensed scouting report:

Positives: Good size for the position, tall enough to survey the field. Quick setup and delivery. Adequate arm strength, throws with some zip on short and intermediate passes over the middle. Gets good air on deep balls, stands tall and delivers. Drops to sidearm when needed, has touch on shorter throws so receivers can run after the catch. Anticipates wells, throws where his receiver will be. Experienced taking snaps from center or via shotgun. Good intangibles, a team leader. Played through a broken right (throwing) hand in 2007.

Negatives: Lacks the mobility to consistently make plays outside the pocket. Throws too many interceptions because he takes chances and tends to stare down and stick to his primary receiver. Gets the ball in the vicinity of his receiver but is not deadly accurate. Deep throws and fades will float inside instead of reaching the outside shoulder. Puts everything into his deep outs, lowering his release point by dipping his left shoulder. Must learn to deal with pressure in a tighter in a tighter NFL pocket.

I have not scouted this guy one lick. Here's a highlight video to tease, but obviously heavy duty scouting will have to wait until I get some tape.

A little bio:

And here's a twist. Think you know a Ruskell guy? Think he's fiery? Well how fiery?

Being Billy Devaney - QB

Tackle Box — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 17:27:35 -0000

Well, here we are, trying to fill out the roster, create some depth, and maybe even try to build some potential for the future. If things go as planned, by the time the Rams draft in the 5th round, we'll have all (well, maybe most) of our most pressing needs filled and will be looking to make a great steal late on the 2nd day.

While the subject of Marc Bulger is controversial (to say the least) around here, can we all accept he's going to be our quarterback this season? You might not like it, but there's about a .00001% chance there will be someone other than Bulger lining up under center when the Rams take the field for their season opener.

I for one fall into the category of a Bulger supporter. I'm just putting that out there. However, I'm not blind to the fact that he'll be 32 when the season starts and isn't going to be any younger the following season. We've got a young offense (2nd youngest in the league at press time) so it makes sense that we're going to have to start developing a quarterback, right? Is this the year to start that? I'm not sure. A lot of it depends on what is available in the later rounds, and is what is available going to be a better bet than what will be available at the top of the draft next year? That's a good question, no?

So, let's start with looking at our roster after the jump.

Marc Bulger - 6'3" 212 - Signed through 2013 - Bulger still has a lot of guaranteed money left which will count against the cap this year and next ($22.5M in 2009 and $18M in 2010). I can now tell you how he's still a good quarterback, but ultimately that's my opinion. He's been battered for the past couple of seasons and that's definitely taken its toll on him. How he responds to much better protection and a run-centric offense is still a mystery, but at this time the team can't afford to not bet on him to succeed.
Brock Berlin - 6'1" 215 - Signed through 2009 - Berlin is a backup quarterback, plain and simple. Anyone who thinks or tells you he deserves a legit shot to win the starting job at any point in the next year is letting their disdain for Marc Bulger interfere with rational thinking. There's nothing special about Berlin other than maybe he's fun to be around. If the Rams have to turn to him at any point this season, then a top 5 draft pick is definitely in our future.

After Bulger and Berlin, the Rams are suspected to be interested in and on the verge of signing Gus Frerotte. Sexy? Not in the least bit. But he can pick up offenses quickly, is a professional about himself, and played in a similar offense last season to what the Rams are going to install this year. He's a one year filler. Nothing more, nothing less. He's not here to compete for the job but can do the job if he has to and at age 38, he's a much better option than turning the reigns over to Brock Berlin.

And that's our Quarterbacks. Not pretty, but with Bulger hopefully we have some upside to look forward to. If he fails this season (or falls short of expectations), it's not the end of the world. I expect a major improvement this season, but I'm realistic. That improvement should result in a better record (how could it not, right?), but we're going to have to watch the games to see the little things. Simply looking at the record and forming an opinion is being short-sighted.

So, with that being said, should the Rams draft a quarterback this year? Is it worth it? We've already got a full stable of QBs (assuming they sign Frerotte) so they wouldn't be filling out the roster. If they do draft a QB, you can kiss Mr. Berlin goodbye but I don't think there will be any demonstrations at the Dome or demands of season ticket money being returned as a result.

But, I ask again, is it worth it to draft a Quarterback this year when drafting for depth on either of the lines or at Cornerback or Tight End or Running Back or wherever might benefit the team much more? Well, one reason might be that you can start to teach the new QB the system and get him some time with the team. Is that a benefit? Eh. Matt Ryan doesn't seem to think so, but then again he was a 1st round draft pick. We won't have that luxury here of such a high profile addition, so maybe it is better. Who really knows, right? Either way, let's see what's going to be available in the later rounds of this year's draft (rounds 5 through 7).

Rhett Bomar - Sam Houston State - 6'2" 215 - Had a pretty good season for the Bearkats with 3,355 yards, 27 TDs, and 13 INTs. Was originally an Oklahoma Sooner (when he was the top quarterback recruit in the nation) but was kicked off the team after taking money from boosters. Resurfaced at Sam Houston and salvaged his career. He has the ability to play in the NFL, but comes with some character question marks, I suppose.
Nate Davis - Ball State - 6'2" 217 - Once considered to be a possible 2nd round lock in this year's draft, Davis has seen his stock slip over the last month or so. Many are questioning his decision to leave school early especially after his struggles in his last two games at Ball State. He has a big arm and is extremely athletic but apparently many teams doubt his ability to lead an NFL team. Only one team (Indianapolis Colts) sent a representative to Davis' Pro Day workout (Muncie is like an hours drive away from Indy). Scouts also have concerns about his height, but in my opinion 6'2" isn't all that short. Just ask Drew Brees.
Mike Reilly - Central Washington - 6'3" 214 - The 49ers seem pretty interested in Reilly saying he's "Not a high-round guy, but a middle-round guy that's got some upside" Had a great season for the Wildcats compiling 3,706 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 6 INTs. He's got a big arm and has plenty of confidence. Also has a lot of upside. If he's available in the 6th round (he probably won't be), it'd be hard for the Rams to pass him up if they're serious about developing someone with great talent and tons of upside.
Nathan Brown - Central Arkansas - 6'1" 217 - Put up great numbers through his career at Central Arkansas (10,558 yards, 100 TDs) and has been considered by some to be the best college quarterback to ever play in the state of Arkansas. That's one heck of a compliment for a guy virtually no one has ever seen play. Could be a great pick late in the draft.....could be nothing more than a backup. It's hard to tell.
Mike Teel - Rutgers - 6'4" 220 - Was red hot to end the season for the Scarlet Knights who has the size NFL teams covet at this position. He struggled for about the first half of last season, but the finish he put up might have convinced some teams he can play at the next level. Frankly, it's guys like this that concern me. I'd prefer a QB who very rarely struggled and didn't take half a season to get it figured out before I went and spent a draft pick (and every pick of ours this year are extremely valuable to the rebuilding process) on him.

After Teel, you'll be looking at guys like Graham Harrell (Texas Tech), David Johnson (Tulsa), Hunter Cartwell (Louisville), Cullen Harper (Clemson), and Tom Brandstater (Fresno State). Some of these guys might even go un-drafted, which means you could pick them up as a free agent. Personally, outside of maybe Nate Davis or Mike Reilly, I'd probably pass on this bunch. I just feel we'd be wasting a pick on a backup quarterback when someone who could play special teams might be more valuable.

Depending on how the season plays out, it's probably a better idea to wait until next season to draft a QB. I'm not overly excited about the 2010 class of QBs, but next year we should have a better handle on the roster and much less holes to fill making a reach or a high draft pick much easier to swallow. Plus, we will still probably have Bulger on the roster in 2010 so you probably wouldn't expect any of these guys to step in on day one.

Anyway, here's a look at what's probably going to be available next year.

Sam Bradford (Oklahoma), Jevan Snead (Mississippi), Tim Tebow (Florida), Colt McCoy (Texas), Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame), Pat Devlin (Deleware), Tim Hiller (Western Michigan), Zac Robinson (Oklahoma State), Dan LeFevour (Central Michigan), Jake Locker (Washington), Juice Williams (Illinois), Jarrett Brown (West Virginia), and Daryll Clark (Penn State)

I have to admit right now of my man crush on Dan LeFevour. I've probably seen him play 3 or 4 times (once in person) and he has always impressed. He's got good size, a heck of an arm, and has great feet. He can beat you in so many ways.

So, what do you guys think? I know there are probably people who would love to see the Rams trade for Jay Cutler but a move like that would totally hamstring any chances the team has of having any roster flexibility for the next 3 years. So....do we draft this year and if Bulger falls on his face we can then replace him next sesaon, or do we put our faith in our curent QB and look at acquiring his replacement next year when we can pick a guy a little higher in the draft?

Game Day: Louisville at Rutgers

Mike Rutherford — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:05:17 -0000

LOUISVILLE CARDINALS (5-6, 1-5) At RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS (6-5, 4-2)

Game Time: 7:30 p.m.

Location: Rutgers Stadium: Piscataway, N.J.

Television: ESPN

Announcers: Chris Fowler/Craig James/Jesse Palmer/Erin Andrews

Favorite: Rutgers by 11

All-Time Series: Rutgers leads 5-2

Last Meeting: Louisville won 41-38 in 2007

Excitement Level (1-10): 2.9

There's a very solid chance I may have to miss the first 15 or so minutes of this game, and I informed the involved parties that I was OK with this. Not a statement I've been able to make many times over the last 24 years.

Game Attire: Black "The Ville" shirt

Hasn't been worn since the New Year's Day loss to Cincinnati almost a year ago, so why not throw him out there tonight.

Predicted Star of the Game: Victor Anderson

Why the hell not?

Obscure and Bold Prediction(s): Either Kenny Britt or Tiquan Underwood goes for more than 200 yards receiving.

Notable and Quotable

--Rutgers is riding a five-game win streak, and has outscored its opponents 114-36 in the month of November.

--Kenny Britt leads the nation in receiving yards per game and ranks sixth in total receptions.

--Rutgers leads the Big East in conference play in scoring offense (29.5), pass efficiency (144.5), third-down conversions (44.8%). red zone offense (17-of-19, 89.5%) and fewest penalty yardage per game (41.8).

--Louisville needs a victory to avoid its first losing season in ten years.

--“We’re frustrated with productivity in terms of points.” --Steve Kragthorpe

--"It's real important for us to finish this season at least at .500. It will get everyone's confidence back so we can go into next year with our heads up." --Jon Dempsey

--"I think it's dangerous for players to start reflecting when you have a game to play. You take your eyes off the prize. Sometimes I've seen guys get too emotional for their final game, and then the only emotion they'll have for the rest of their lives is regret because they didn't play well in their final game." --Greg Schiano

“If you look at what’s gone on over the course of the year, you’d probably say we do (have an advantage). But I don’t think so, because the guys that are playing are extremely talented. They might not be as experienced as they’d like but No. 19 is one of the best we’ll see all season and No. 7 (Karldell Dunning) is learning as he plays but he’s a talent.” --Mike Teel

Big East Power Poll: Week Four

Mike Rutherford — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:30:05 -0000

Since I spent last week helping kittens down from trees and rescuing old ladies being accosted in dark alleys, the number you see in parentheses will be the team's ranking two weeks ago.

1. South Florida (1) (4-0, 0-0)

Last Week: Beat Florida International (17-9)

This Week: At North Carolina State

Even with a hangover after opening the season with wins in a pair of intense games, there's no excuse for the Bulls not sleep walking to at least a two score victory over FIU. A loss at NC State would make it impossible to name a clear-cut favorite in the league.

2. Connecticut (3) (4-0, 0-0)

Last Week: Beat Baylor (31-28)

This Week: At Louisville

The good news for the Huskies is that Hunter Cantwell doesn't move as well as Robert Griffin does. The bad news is that Donald Brown probably won't be able to win this one by himself.

3. Cincinnati (4) (2-1, 0-0)

Last Week: Beat Miami of Ohio (45-20)

This Week: Off

If I allowed ties then the Bearcats probably wouldn't be alone here. At least they know Tony Pike can hold his own in the Brian Kelly system.

4. West Virginia (2) (1-2, 0-0)

Last Week: Lost to Colorado (17-14, OT)

This Week: vs. Marshall

Time will tell just how bad the losses to East Carolina and Colorado were, but the Pirates' performance over the last two weeks certainly hasn't made life in Morgantown any better. Again, if Marshall wins on a blown coverage in the last minute, go ahead and take the next 12 months or so off.

5. Louisville (7) (2-1, 0-0)

Last Week: Beat Kansas State (38-29)

This Week: vs. Connecticut

Like West Virginia's losses, it's too early to tell how much stock we should put into a win over Kansas State, but the Cards certainly looked better than most of their conference brethren in week four. A win over Connecticut would likely vault them up to at least position three.

6. Pittsburgh (6) (2-1, 0-0)

Last Week: Beat Iowa (21-20)

This Week: At Syracuse

The Panthers have a golden opportunity to prove the first two weeks of the season were a fluke by pounding Syracuse on Saturday and then upsetting South Florida on national television five days later.

7. Rutgers (5) (0-3, 0-0)

Last Week: Lost to Navy (23-21)

This Week: vs. Morgan State

Rutgers instantly jumped to the top of the "Big East Program Most Mired in Chaos" power poll the moment its senior quarterback took a swing at a teammate just after the final gun sounded in a loss to previously 1-2 Navy.

8. Syracuse (8) (1-3, 0-0)

Last Week: Beat Northeastern (30-21)

This Week: vs. Pittsburgh

Yeah, but the real season starts on Saturday.

Big East terror alert level hits orange

Mike Rutherford — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:30:05 -0000

If the current state of Big East football were a movie character, it would be that poor first Germanian barbarian set on fire in the opening scene of Gladiator: certainly rendered incapable of ever living up to his full potential, but still existing in a condition too ambiguous to be irrefutably pronounced dead.

On the eve of the third weekend of the 2008 college football season, the conference lays claim to a 3-8 mark against FBS schools, and an 0-4 record against other teams from BCS conferences. In the latter category, the Big East has been outscored 153-50.

The latest blow came Thursday night when Rutgers, considered one of the hottest programs in the country as recently as a year ago, was stomped at home by a North Carolina squad picked to finish somewhere in the middle of the pack of the perhaps equally scorned Atlantic Coast Conference. Mike Teel looked like the same cluelessly talented freshman who tossed ten interceptions to just two touchdowns in 2005. The running back duo of Mason Robinson and Jourdan Brooks didn't look ready to start for Rice, let alone supplant Ray Rice. And a vaunted Scarlet Knight secondary led by two-time All-Big East performer Courtney Greene made Tar Heel signal caller TJ Yates look like Sammy Baugh.

The final score was 44-12, immediately joining the ranks of 30-10, 52-26 and, of course, 27-2.

The saddest thing about all of this is that it - ag least in their minds - validates the Big East detractors who haven't altered a line of their arguments since Utah shellacked Pitt in the '05 Fiesta Bowl. Never mind that the league had the best non-conference record in 2006, that it swept its five bowl games that postseason, or that it's the only conference to go undefeated in BCS games over the past three seasons. To many people, this young season is just another example of how the Big East sucks, has always sucked and will always suck.

It's hard to admit, but if you take out "always" and add "in the foreseeable future" to the end of that last claim, you might actually be making a point difficult to refute. This postseason's all-conference squads are on track to be disturbingly senior-laden. It's the collegiate swan song for quarterbacks Pat White, Hunter Cantwell, Teel, Dustin Grutza (a loss whose severity will be determined shortly) and Tyler Lorenzen. This is also the final year of eligibility for standouts like Scott McKillop, Mike Mickens, Tiquan Underwood, Eric Wood, Terrill Byrd and possibly for talented underclassmen like George Selvie and Kenny Britt.

The team appearing poised to best withstand the unavoidable graduation hit is South Florida, which also holds the distinction of being the Big East's lone representative in the current pair of top 25 polls. The Bulls are one of just two squads in the league who remain unscathed, a label in jeopardy of being falsified with No. 13 Kansas headed to Tampa for a clash this evening. If USF goes down, the torch is passed to Connecticut, who needed a second half comeback and an overtime period to beat Temple last weekend.

South Florida helped establish the reputation of their program and conference a year ago by going on the road and beating Auburn, and now a year later they'll be looking to protect both on their home field against the reigning Orange Bowl champions. For a Friday night non-conference game in mid-September, there's a great deal on the line.

Should the Bulls slip up, West Virginia will be looked upon to re-assume the role of redeemer. The Mountaineers have high-profile games remaining with Colorado and Auburn, a pair of victories which, coupled with a strong conference and postseason showing, would likely make outsiders forget about the giant egg they laid last weekend at East Carolina.

If USF goes down, WVU's Cardinal-esque fall from grace continues and the rest of the league stays true to their early form, then October through December becomes a bunch of teams who couldn't beat anyone else beating up on each other for the right to be beaten up by someone else in early January.

This is where the league gets recast as the page whose head was cut off and returned as a denial of peace.