CFB Forum

Big 10 Notes

Posted By: Ben Dover
Date: 10 Aug 03, 10:07 am

Illinois: Seriously tempering Turner's guarded optimism was the knowledge that the Illini must make at least part of their 22-day journey to the Aug. 30 opener with Missouri without starting junior linebacker Matt Sinclair. Sinclair, last year's fourth leading tackler, showed up for the team photo Friday, but when he'll show up for his first practice is anybody's guess after his recent recovery from a life-threatening illness that invaded his body last weekend.Besides Sinclair's health, Turner has plenty of other things to worry about. When the Illini check into camp in Rantoul on Saturday, his long list of concerns will include:
1) finding capable replacements for Brandon Lloyd, Walter Young and Greg Lewis from a group of talented but inexperienced wide receiver candidates who have caught a grand total of one pass among them; 2) what to do at cornerback, where the Illini are extremely thin with Eugene Wilson now in the NFL; 3) hoping running backs Morris Virgil and freshman E.B. Halsey can make up for the loss of steady workhouse Antoineo Harris; and 4) finding capable starters from a deep but so far unspectacular group of outside linebackers.

Indiana: Sixty-six and holding DiNardo said IU has 66 scholarship players in camp and 39 walk-on players. Of that 66, 30 players are on defense, 33 on offense and three on special teams.
Only four of those scholarship players are seniors -- Joe Gonzalez, Brian Lewis, Glenn Johnson and Duane Stone. "Since we're only losing a small number of seniors, that means we should be able to get up to 85 scholarship players next season and that will be important for us," DiNardo said. On defense, however, the Hoosiers have some major question marks. Linebacker John Kerr, IU's leading tackler last season, transferred to Ohio State. "But overall," said second-year coach Gerry DiNardo, "we're going to be a better front than we were a year ago. We're going to be a better secondary. The question mark and the part that concerns me the most is our linebacker depth."

Iowa: The defense should be just as good as last season, "probably better," said Sanders, the Hawkeyes' preseason all-America strong safety. The offense - that's another story. Nathan Chandler will replace Banks. David Walker, Eric Rothwell, Kory Borchers and Pete McMahon will replace the departed offensive linemen. Erik Jensen will replace all-American Clark, winner of the Mackey Award as last season's top tight end. Those players were part of an offense that averaged a conference-leading 37.2 points a game. They were part of an offense that averaged 214.2 rushing yards a game, second in the league. They were part of a total offense that averaged 424.5 yards, third in the conference.
Now, they are gone. "We have some talented seniors to replace," coach Kirk Ferentz said. "It's a little similar to where we were last year on defense. It's a matter of the young guys getting their feet on the ground and getting their timing down." At 6 feet 7 inches and 259 pounds, quarterback Chandler is bigger and stronger than the 5-11, 200-pound Banks. Chandler threw only 12 passes last season while playing in the shadow of the guy who finished second in Heisman Trophy balloting, was selected as conference offensive player of the year and received the Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's best college quarterback.
Banks posed the double threat of running and passing. Chandler is mostly a passer. "We probably won't call as many quarterback draws or option plays as we did last year with Brad," Ferentz said. "We won't feature Nathan as a runner, but other than that, you won't see major differences. Pull out the film from two years ago, we'll probably be similar to that." Two years ago, Kyle McCann was a passing quarterback. Last season, Banks averaged 5.2 yards a rush. "I'm not going to try to be Brad Banks," Chandler said. "We might be throwing a little more, but I don't know how much that has with me being a new quarterback. Losing Dallas Clark may make us spread it out a little more with a couple more wide receivers." The ability to pass with success hinges on a protective offensive line. Senior left tackle Robert Gallery started throughout Iowa's 11-2 season of 2002. The other four combined for zero starts. "I think this offensive line can be as good as we've been in the past," Borchers, the right guard, said. "Most of us have been been playing with each other for four or five years, it seems." "Our guys, offensively, believe we can move the ball," offensive coordinator Ken O'Keefe said. "We can run the ball. We believe we can throw the ball and we can score points."

Michigan State: "For the most part, the want is there," Smith said of his team, which he inherited Dec. 19. "I think these guys really want to erase that nasty taste they had." Depth is a concern everywhere, particularly at defensive back, linebacker and receiver. There are newcomers Smith plans to quickly initiate, including junior college transfer Daryl Melvin (6-foot-6, 227 pounds) at defensive end and freshman Greg Cooper, a former Michigan recruit, at defensive back. Smith still hasn't revealed all the tricks in his spread offense. And his defense, which involves more attacking and man coverage, also hasn't been fully installed. Both should be "about 70 percent there" for the opener, Smith said. By the end of the season, Smith expects both packages to be entirely available. It's up to his players to master them.

Minnesota: Undersized and inexperienced last season, the Gophers begin camp bigger, stronger and older. That won't guarantee better results, of course, but the Gophers do not consider their defense to be the weak link on a team with high expectations.It starts, of course, up front. The Gophers' undersized linemen wore down by season's end, and opponents took advantage on the ground. The Gophers gave up more than 1,000 yards rushing in their final three Big Ten games, including a whopping 416 to Wisconsin. The Gophers redeemed themselves against Arkansas, but it did not completely rinse away the bad taste. "There was no excuse for that," Reid said. "When I look back on it, I'm like, 'What were we doing?' That definitely could have been avoided." The Gophers believe they addressed those problems this summer. A number of linemen added size and strength through an intense weight-training regimen designed to help them hold up through a 12-game season. The projected starting line now averages 276 pounds, anchored by 315-pound nose tackle Anthony Montgomery. The Gophers did not enter camp completely healthy, however. Wide receiver Paris Hamilton did not participate in team drills or in the running test Wednesday. Hamilton, the top-ranked junior college receiver last season, had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee last month after injuring it in a workout. Coach Glen Mason said last week that the coaching staff would evaluate Hamilton's agility early in camp to determine whether he needs additional surgery. A decision could come soon. Neither Mason nor Hamilton was available for comment. What will help Abdul-Khaliq is the best offensive line the Gophers have had since Mason took over. Some of these linemen will play in the NFL.
Mason didn't hold back when asked how the Gophers compare to his 1995 Kansas team that finished 10-2 and ranked No. 9 nationally. "This team looks a heck of a lot better than that Kansas team did in '95," he said. "Now, the challenge is will they be that good?"

Northwestern: Overall, Walker was pleased with the effort his 'Cats put forward and understands that things tend to be a little less organized in the early going than he would like. "At times we looked a little disheveled, but we'll be alright," he said. "I'm really pleased with the level of physical conditioning we've showed, especially with our guys up front -- they really look good."

Penn State: Paterno discussed a wide range of topics in Beaver Stadium, but about the only news that dripped out is unrelated to the game itself. Fullback Paul Jefferson will not be with the team until school begins, offensive lineman E.Z. Smith (underage drinking could be back) "has got his problems," and outside linebacker LaMar Stewart's status is precarious because of his grades and personal issues. Paterno said he's looking for offensive linemen he "can trust who are not going to make mistakes." He said he needs the same thing on the defensive line, which lost Anthony Adams and All-Americans Jimmy Kennedy and Michael Haynes to the NFL. Junior John Bronson (6-foot-3, 266 pounds) is the only returning starter and Paterno said he is "a little concerned about their size." "We don't have a 330-pounder like Kennedy," he said. "The kids we're going to play will be 280, 275, in that range, and that's big enough if they can learn enough technique." Paterno expressed confidence in his wideouts, which will be led by senior Tony Johnson, the running backs, tight ends and the secondary.
Wisconsin: areas of concern in order of importance as: Punter, LT, Secondary. Allen looked exceptional in the spring. I don't think his play will be an issue. This team still won't be good enough to get away with losing the field-position battle each week, which makes finding a punter a priority. I suspect they are wary of LT but I think they'll eventually find the answer, even if it means starting freshman Joe Thomas.

Messages In This Thread

Big 10 Notes -- Ben Dover -- 10 Aug 03, 10:07 am

Why is Indiana's schol # so low? -- Bob Milo -- 10 Aug 03, 4:16 pm

Coaching transition sheds bad apples (nt) -- Ben Dover -- 11 Aug 03, 3:36 am

Valid point. Probably similar to Kansas situation. (nt) -- Bob Milo -- 11 Aug 03, 8:51 pm

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