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2011 Big East Prospectus Part 3: Louisville

0 Comments Published on 9.01.2011 by Brian Harrison

Editor’s Note: This is part three of an eight part series giving analysis of each of the eight teams in the Big East Football Conference, proceeding alphabetically, but ending with Syracuse. Feel free to use the comment section to supplement the facts and analysis presented, however the opinions will stand. Enjoy and I hope you are looking forward to the new Big East football season as much as I am. Part two can be found here.

Louisville

Preview – The Cardinals overachieved last season, earning a postseason bid and a bowl win. The good news is that the talent they have this year will be about the same as last year. That means that overachievement is again necessary to find success. The biggest question is if Junior Will Stein will shine at the quarterback position. The offense will take a hit from last season with the loss of Bilal Powell as well. The defense will be a solid unit that should play well together, seven starters return to patrol the field. This will make this team tough to move on. Be ready for a defensive struggle.

Key Returning Players – RB Victor Anderson, C Mario Venavides, WR Josh Bellamy

Key Losses – RB Bilal Powell, WR Doug Beaumont, QB Adam Froman,

My Thoughts – Louisville may be the toughest team in the league to predict. My gut says that their offense takes a huge step back, while their defense will remain fairly solid. They could finish anywhere from 4th to 7th, depending on their luck and which opponents show up on any given weekend.

Will We Beat Them? – Syracuse’s luck has to change right? Just brutal games to watch versus Louisville the past few years. I do think Syracuse has the advantage this year in that the Louisville offense will not be as good, while Ryan Nassib is ready to break out. Not only that, but Syracuse has extra motivation against Louisville. I like Syracuse’s chances in this one.

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2011 Big East Prospectus Part 2: Connecticut

0 Comments Published on by Brian Harrison

Editor’s Note: This is part two of an eight part series giving analysis of each of the eight teams in the Big East Football Conference, proceeding alphabetically, but ending with Syracuse. Feel free to use the comment section to supplement the facts and analysis presented, however the opinions will stand. Enjoy and I hope you are looking forward to the new Big East football season as much as I am. Part one can be found here.

Connecticut

Preview – Coach Paul Pasqualoni returns to college coaching after a six year stint in the NFL. To make matters more interesting he is taking over Connecticut after being the head coach at Syracuse for 14 seasons, ending in 2004. Coach P lost his job at Syracuse after sinking into mediocrity his final four years, culminating in an ugly bowl loss. Meanwhile Connecticut is coming off their best season in history, outright winning the Big East and heading to the Fiesta Bowl, where they were promptly trounced by Oklahoma in front of only a few Connecticut faithful. Gone is their stud running back, star defensive players, and starting quarterback. This makes the recipe for a massive fall off from the previous year. Some serious rebuilding and getting the most out of his players is the only way Coach P and UConn will find success on the field this season.

Key Returning Players – DT Kenday Reyes, RB DJ Shoemate, K Dave Taggart

Key Losses – RB Jordan Todman, QB Zach Frazer, LB Scott Lutrus

My Thoughts – Connecticut is looking for a Grand Canyon type fall. Think Cincinnati last season. While they probably won’t go from first to worst, sixth or seventh place at the end of the season is not unthinkable and probably expected. While I would have loved another crack at Randy Edsall, a chance to beat the old ball coach is a fun proposition, especially since he is now running a hated rival program.

Will We Beat Them? – This game, in East Hartford, has the recipe for everything a Syracuse fan could want. The chance to face the old coach, the chance to win for the first time The Rent, and the chance to earn another statement win for Doug Marrone in saying that Syracuse is back and we are on the rise. I think Syracuse does finally earn that victory if the weather is even remotely reasonable and the defense comes to play. Ryan Nassib will do his part, and the defense should as well, especially since Connecticut has barely picked their starting QB. Game on UConn.

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2011 Big East Prospectus Part 1: Cincinnati

0 Comments Published on by Brian Harrison

Editor’s Note: This is part one of an eight part series giving analysis of each of the eight teams in the Big East Football Conference, proceeding alphabetically, but ending with Syracuse. Feel free to use the comment section to supplement the facts and analysis presented, however the opinions will stand. Enjoy and I hope you are looking forward to the new Big East football season as much as I am.

Cincinnati

Preview – Cincinnati laid a huge stinker of a season last year, going 4-8 on the year. The good news for Cincy is that they return all 11 starters on defense, including stud linebacker Schaefer, a second team All-Big East selection. The defense will be stout, but can the offense match? QB Zach Collaros (225/383, 2902yds, 26 TD, 14 INT) will be back behind center for his senior season and will look to go out far better than he endured last season. They also have a big time RB in Isaiah Pead (157att, 1029yds, 6.6avg, 6 TD) returning to help distract the defense from just Collaros’ powerful arm. While they will probably not clime to the top page of the Big East standings, they will have a fairly respectable year and certainly have an upset or two along the way.

Key Returning Players – QB Zach Collaros, RB Isaiah Pead, LB JK Schaffer

Key Losses – WR Armon Binns, C Jason Kelce, TE Ben Guidugli

My Thoughts – They were really bad last year. They should be better this year. The key is keeping Collaros healthy. They failed to do so last season, and they definitely faltered. The secondary has to improve as well. They are all back with experience, but they aren’t that great to start. Look out if Pead gets hot though. They should be better, but I still picked them to finish on the second half of the standings.

Will We Beat Them? – Syracuse went into Cincinnati last season and absolutely dominated the game from start to finish. It certainly didn’t hurt that Collaros was not in the game. This season that score will be a little closer. However, Syracuse returns a solid defense, and Ryan Nassib is better that he was before. He passed over the same 11 players last season as he will attempt to this year. Syracuse should earn a victory in the Carrier Dome, but it will be a bit closer and less comfortable than the route in Ohio last year.

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