Tell Me Where I'm Wrong--Big East Initial Power Rankings

[RJ Esq]

WVU
2007 Closing PR: 100
2008 Pre-season PR: 94

WVU returns 12 starters, brings in a "new" coaching staff and some changes to the existing schemes, and returns 41 lettermen (19,19,3).

Offseason losses: Starting SS Charles Pugh.

On offense, they will make some modifications to the RichRod system that will make it a bit more conservative. They return Heisman candidate QB White, but lose Slatton and WR Reynaud. They #2 threat is now Noel Devine who is crazy fast but I have concerns whether he can be the #2 running threat behind White (projected: 38-39 ppg, 295-305 rypg, 6.2-6.5 ypc, 150-160 pypg). I also think they will miss Schmitt alot. On D, they return only 4 but that includes 3 of their top 5 tacklers. The strength will be the LBs which means the front 3 and the back 4 are the concerns--particularly on pass D (projected: 21-22 ppg, 110-120 rypg, 3 ypc, 200-230 pypg).

WVU also benefitted from +13 in TOs.

USF
2007 Closing PR: 89
2008 Pre-season PR: 95

USF is my favorite to take the Big East this year. They return 17 starters, bring in 3rd year QB Grothe, and return 62 lettermen! (32,25,5). USF has also become the #2 Florida recruiter behind UF and supplanting FSU and Miami.

No notable offseason losses.

On offense, they return 10 and the only loss is at RT. I look for similar numbers and slight improvement (projected: 35-36 ppg, 185-200 rypg, 4.3-4.6 ypc, 230 pypg). On D, they return 7 and with the exception of Moffitt they return 5 of their top 6 tacklers. The concern that I see is at CB. USF likes to blitz alot from the safeties so if the CBs can step up and play on an island, the D will be sick (projection: 20-22 ppg, 115-130 rypg, 3-3.3 ypc, 220-240 pypg).

Pitt
2007 Closing PR: 77
2008 Pre-season PR: 86

In the Wannstache's LAST SEASON, Pitt returns 15 starters, returns a starting QB but will most likely start QB Stull, and 53 lettermen (23,26,4).

Offseason losses: Backup WR Maurice Williams.

On offense, they return super-soph LeSean McCoy at RB and their #2 and #3 rushers. They also bring in their top 2 receivers. The questions are at QB and on OL where they must replace 3 OL including the center (projection: 24-27 ppg, 150-175 rypg, 3.6-3.9 ypc, 210-225 pypg). On D, they return 7 including 3 of their top 5 tacklers. The concern that I see is at DE where they start 2 new players and have to replace their top sack artist (projection: 22-23 ppg, 120-130 rypg, 3.2 ypc, 155-180 pypg allowed).

 

[Cherry Picker]

Pitt blows and always will, bet on that. May sound weird coming from a Pittsburgh guy but this team has just never done it for me.

 

[RJ Esq]

Rutgers
2007 Closing PR: 85
2008 Pre-season PR: 89

This MAY be Schiano's last year as he MAY be going to PSU after this year. RU returns 15 starters, a 4th year QB, and their top 4 receivers. They do lose RB Rice and 2300 all purpose yards. They do return 50 lettermen (20,29,1).

No notable offseason losses.

On offense, the two big concerns are RB and OL. I anticipate a great deal more passing and just hope that they can provide enough protection for Teel and open up holes for Rice's successors (projection: 30-32 ppg, 160-180 rypg, 4.3-4.7 ypc, 270-310 pypg). On D, they return 8 including their top 3 tacklers. The D looks very strong overall with no glaring places of inexperience. I look for similar or better numbers (projection: 22-23 ppg, 130-140 rypg, 3.3 ypc, 170 pypg allowed).

L-ville
2007 Closing PR: 85
2008 Pre-season PR: 83

Kragthorpe and the AD have both said that this is a rebuilding year and they look like they are at least one more year away of going up the ranks. They return only 9 starters, return Hunter Cantwell at QB who is not a starter but could have been, and 50 lettermen (27,21,2).

Offseason losses: Backup RBs George Stripling and Dale Martin, backup WR JaJuan Spillman, incoming DL Randy Salmon.

On offense, they return 4 but lose their top rusher and their top 4 receivers. I'm concerned about 3 things: depth at RB, WRs, and the OL. I believe that the numbers will stay about the same to last year (projection: 35 ppg, 150-160 rypg, 4-4.2 ypc, 320-340 pypg). On D, they return 5 but only one of their top 5 tacklers. I'm particularly concerned about the LBs and the back 7 as they got slaughtered last year on pass d (projection: 24-28 ppg, 140 rypg, 3.7-3.9 ypc, 220-230 pypg allowed).

Cincy
2007 Closing PR: 91
2008 Pre-season PR: 87

Cincy returns 12 starters, loses Mauk at QB, replaces him with Demetrius Jones from ND, returns their top 4 receivers, enters Kelly's 2nd year of coaching, and brings back 44 lettermen (20,21,3).

No notable offseason losses.

Cincy benefitted from +16 TOs last year and only lost 2 starts to injury.

On offense, the concerns are at QB and RB. They return 3 on the OL and I do not expect them to match last year's stats (projected: 33-35 ppg, 150-170 rypg, 4 ypc, 250-260). On D, they return 6 but lose their top tackler. The two areas of concern are at DE and safety. They lost their top sack artist (projected: 20-23 ppg, 110-130 rypg, 3.2-3.6 ypc, 220-250 pypg allowed).

UConn
2007 Closing PR: 86
2008 Pre-season PR: 87

Huskies return 17 starters, bring back a 2nd year QB, return their top 2 RBs, and their #2 and #3 receivers. However, outside of the starters, the concern will be depth as they only return 35 lettermen (18,15,2).

No notable offseason losses.

On offense, they return 9 and have no glaring weaknesses compared to last year. I expect their numbers to improve (projected: 30 ppg, 180 rypg, 4.5 ypc, 220 pypg). On D, they return 8 but lose their top tackler. The concern will be the DBs and the front 7 should do a very good job stopping the run (projected: 19-22 ppg, 140 rypg, 3.7 ypc, 190-200 pypg allowed).

Syracuse
2007 Closing PR: 69
2008 Pre-season PR: 74

In Greg Robinson's LAST SEASON, they return 12 starters, their top 3 RBs, and a 2nd year QB. However, they only return 37 lettermen (17,18,2).

They bring in a new OC that will focus on the run.

Offseason losses: Starting WR Mike Williams, starting DE Brandon Gilbeaux, and backup kicker John Barker (injured).

On offense, they return 6 after the loss of their top WR and only AA candidate Mike Williams. This is a huge loss. Given this loss and the change in offensive scheme, the passing numbers will drop significantly (projection: 18-20 ppg, 120 rypg, 3 ypc, 170-180 pypg). On D, they return 6 and only 2 of their top 5 tacklers. Looking at the D, the strength should be the LBs and I do have some concerns about the DBs (projection: 28 ppg, 185 rypg, 4.3-4.5 ypc, 215-240 pypg allowed).

 

[RetroVK]

uconn higher than pitt ?

Rutgers at 89 ?

We have some disagreements in this conference.

 

[RJ Esq]

uconn higher than pitt ?

Rutgers at 89 ?

We have some disagreements in this conference.

Figured. The Beast is tough from #3-#7. I'm not sold at all on Pitt.

 

[RetroVK]

Figured. The Beast is tough from #3-#7. I'm not sold at all on Pitt.

At that rating you must be giving bowling green a good look.

Not sold on uconn myself. Thought they were the luckiest team in division one football last year. temple thievery , fair catch for td , catching every opponent in a good spot it seemed.

 

[RJ Esq]

At that rating you must be giving bowling green a good look.

Not sold on uconn myself. Thought they were the luckiest team in division one football last year. temple thievery , fair catch for td , catching every opponent in a good spot it seemed.

I agree with that assessment of UConn. They were very lucky last year in a number of spots. I dropped them down as the year went on. But where they are now with the number of starters they return, I have to keep them about where they finished at either 86 or 87.

 

[RetroVK]

I agree with that assessment of UConn. They were very lucky last year in a number of spots. I dropped them down as the year went on. But where they are now with the number of starters they return, I have to keep them about where they finished at either 86 or 87.

i could have them underrated. like you said .. bigeast is tough 3-7

 

[G-Man]

There isnt one team in the Big FEast that can carry a PR over 90, IMO to start the season.

 

[johnci]

UConn does have a couple notable off-season losses, including their leading receiver.

 

[RJ Esq]

By offseason loss, I mean something that wasn't mentioned in Steele because it has happened since the publication date.

 

[RJ Esq]

Lowered UConn to 86 and Rutgers to 88.