We began this season with the race for the national title wide open. No more USC Heisman winners, no more Vince Young. Well, 2007 will be filled with more uncertainty and intrigue. Here's an early top 10, which obviously will change throughout the offseason:
1. USC: The Trojans are loaded on defense, and as we saw in Glendale, a quick, aggressive defense can take you a long way. Offensively, QB John David Booty never got enough credit for his play this season. There's too much to like about the Trojans -- including an incoming freshman class that could be coach Pete Carroll's best ever. Think about that.
2. Wisconsin: Why the Badgers? Let's begin with 19 starters returning from a team that won a school-record 12 games. Yeah, the Crawl Ball style is ugly, but let's not dismiss the fact that the Badgers have beaten two very good SEC teams (Auburn, Arkansas) in the last two Capital One Bowls. That's more than Ohio State and Michigan can say. This team is ready to take the next step under rising young coach Bret Bielema.
3. Florida: The defense loses a ton, but the offense will be even more dynamic under sophomore QB Tim Tebow, who will be able to run the entire spread option package. Freshmen LBs Brandon Spikes and Dustin Doe and freshmen CBs Markihe Anderson and Wondy Pierre-Louis are future stars, and Urban Meyer's success in recruiting is beginning to have a Pete Carroll feel to it.
4. Virginia Tech: The Hokies are a quarterback away from being the most complete team in the nation. The problem: there is no more important position on the field. Sean Glennon, meet Grant Noel -- there is no difference. If QB Ike Whitaker can turn around his off-field problems (he's in alcohol rehab) and develop in the offense, Tech will be as dangerous as any team in the country.
5. Ohio State: It looks like WRs Ted Ginn and Anthony Gonzalez and TB Antonio Pittman will leave early for the NFL. Which, of course, means WRs Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline and TB Beanie Wells step right into place. There will be little dropoff at the skill positions, and the defense will be stout again (watch young LB Ross Homan and CB Andre Amos). But who plays quarterback -- Todd Boeckman or Rob Schoenhoft -- and can he manage the game with little experience?
6. UCLA: Believe it, people. The Bruins will be good -- very good. A stingy defense returns 10 starters (DE Justin Hickman is gone), and the offense loses only C Robert Chai. QB Pat Cowan did a nice job managing the game in the second half of last season, but the job belongs to Ben Olson, who was 4-1 as a starter before injuring his knee. He is an elite quarterback, and the offense will blossom next season if he stays healthy. Young LB Reggie Carter will be the best at his position in the Pac-10 -- better than anyone on USC's star-filled group.
7. LSU: It'll be interesting to see how the Tigers develop without offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher, the one constant through the transition from Nick Saban to Les Miles. TB Keiland Williams is a future star, and watch how well steady, consistent QB Matt Flynn plays. I don't care what the NFL computers say: JaMarcus Russell plays poorly in big games. The Tigers don't lose to Auburn this season if Flynn is the starting quarterback, and at the very least, would've scored more than 10 points against Florida.
8. Florida State: Fisher was a big addition to the offense -- but not as important as new offensive line coach Rick Trickett. FSU's problems the past two seasons have revolved around the horrible play of the offensive line. Not only will Trickett straighten out the sad sack of a unit, the former Marine will light an emotional fire within the entire team. QB Drew Weatherford's regression can be traced to the play of a line that gave him little help. When Weatherford can set his feet and square his shoulders, he throws a nice, accurate ball.
9. California: The Bears are loaded on offense -- QB Nate Longshore, WR DeSean Jackson, RB Justin Forsett -- but could have problems replacing some key players on defense. CB Tim Mixon hopes to gain a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA, and that will go a long way in strengthening a shaky secondary.
10. Michigan: Don't let the talking heads fool you: this team isn't a strong as it looks. Michigan can score on anyone -- hey, Michigan State could, too -- but the defense will be a major concern. Especially considering the great defense this season played no team of consequence until the final two games, and then gave up a combined 74 points and 961 yards to Ohio State and USC. The unit will be revamped (as many as eight starters are gone depending on NFL early entries), and won't be nearly as great as the '06 edition
Original Story:
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/vie....
1. USC: The Trojans are loaded on defense, and as we saw in Glendale, a quick, aggressive defense can take you a long way. Offensively, QB John David Booty never got enough credit for his play this season. There's too much to like about the Trojans -- including an incoming freshman class that could be coach Pete Carroll's best ever. Think about that.
2. Wisconsin: Why the Badgers? Let's begin with 19 starters returning from a team that won a school-record 12 games. Yeah, the Crawl Ball style is ugly, but let's not dismiss the fact that the Badgers have beaten two very good SEC teams (Auburn, Arkansas) in the last two Capital One Bowls. That's more than Ohio State and Michigan can say. This team is ready to take the next step under rising young coach Bret Bielema.
3. Florida: The defense loses a ton, but the offense will be even more dynamic under sophomore QB Tim Tebow, who will be able to run the entire spread option package. Freshmen LBs Brandon Spikes and Dustin Doe and freshmen CBs Markihe Anderson and Wondy Pierre-Louis are future stars, and Urban Meyer's success in recruiting is beginning to have a Pete Carroll feel to it.
4. Virginia Tech: The Hokies are a quarterback away from being the most complete team in the nation. The problem: there is no more important position on the field. Sean Glennon, meet Grant Noel -- there is no difference. If QB Ike Whitaker can turn around his off-field problems (he's in alcohol rehab) and develop in the offense, Tech will be as dangerous as any team in the country.
5. Ohio State: It looks like WRs Ted Ginn and Anthony Gonzalez and TB Antonio Pittman will leave early for the NFL. Which, of course, means WRs Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline and TB Beanie Wells step right into place. There will be little dropoff at the skill positions, and the defense will be stout again (watch young LB Ross Homan and CB Andre Amos). But who plays quarterback -- Todd Boeckman or Rob Schoenhoft -- and can he manage the game with little experience?
6. UCLA: Believe it, people. The Bruins will be good -- very good. A stingy defense returns 10 starters (DE Justin Hickman is gone), and the offense loses only C Robert Chai. QB Pat Cowan did a nice job managing the game in the second half of last season, but the job belongs to Ben Olson, who was 4-1 as a starter before injuring his knee. He is an elite quarterback, and the offense will blossom next season if he stays healthy. Young LB Reggie Carter will be the best at his position in the Pac-10 -- better than anyone on USC's star-filled group.
7. LSU: It'll be interesting to see how the Tigers develop without offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher, the one constant through the transition from Nick Saban to Les Miles. TB Keiland Williams is a future star, and watch how well steady, consistent QB Matt Flynn plays. I don't care what the NFL computers say: JaMarcus Russell plays poorly in big games. The Tigers don't lose to Auburn this season if Flynn is the starting quarterback, and at the very least, would've scored more than 10 points against Florida.
8. Florida State: Fisher was a big addition to the offense -- but not as important as new offensive line coach Rick Trickett. FSU's problems the past two seasons have revolved around the horrible play of the offensive line. Not only will Trickett straighten out the sad sack of a unit, the former Marine will light an emotional fire within the entire team. QB Drew Weatherford's regression can be traced to the play of a line that gave him little help. When Weatherford can set his feet and square his shoulders, he throws a nice, accurate ball.
9. California: The Bears are loaded on offense -- QB Nate Longshore, WR DeSean Jackson, RB Justin Forsett -- but could have problems replacing some key players on defense. CB Tim Mixon hopes to gain a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA, and that will go a long way in strengthening a shaky secondary.
10. Michigan: Don't let the talking heads fool you: this team isn't a strong as it looks. Michigan can score on anyone -- hey, Michigan State could, too -- but the defense will be a major concern. Especially considering the great defense this season played no team of consequence until the final two games, and then gave up a combined 74 points and 961 yards to Ohio State and USC. The unit will be revamped (as many as eight starters are gone depending on NFL early entries), and won't be nearly as great as the '06 edition
Original Story:
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/vie....
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