2010 Big 10 Preview – Part 1
August 11th, 2010 by Mike Ware
Well Buckeye fans, this is the year the Buckeyes take the BCS title. They are loaded with weapons and ready to unleash their destruction upon anyone that steps in their way. If the Terrelle Pryor (featured on the right, thanks SMI) we saw in the Rose Bowl shows up this season, the Buckeyes will be unstoppable. It is time for the Buckeyes to take the next step and become national champions.
Head coach Jim Tressell has a team with plenty of experience and weapons. This year he will utilize those weapons more efficiently than ever. Expect to see better passing numbers from Terrelle Pryor. The QB has shown he knows how to use his legs to open up the passing game and he was throwing lasers in the Rose Bowl. His completion percentage should take a huge jump this season and his rushing yards should decline a little as Tressell attempts to get the QB to throw more this year.
That is good news for RB Brandon Saine, who rushed for 739 yards and 4 TD’s last year. Saine should get more work this season and come closer to posting 1,000 yards. Dan Herron should also see increased carries this season and improve on his 600 yards from 2009.
The Buckeyes have two of the top Big 10 receivers returning this year. Expect to see big numbers from DeVier Posey who posted 828 yards and 8 TD’s last season. Dane Sanzenbacher will also see an increase in numbers over last years 570 yards and 6 TD’s. Both receivers will benefit from breakdowns in coverage created by Pryor scrambling around in the backfield. Tight End Jake Stoneburner is a great blocker and has the ability to get down the field.The Buckeye defense will be one of the best in the nation this year. Ross Homan, Brian Rolle, Chimdi Chekwa and Cameron Heyward anchor this defensive unit. The only weakness for now is concerning the safeties. But when you have big monsters attacking the offense and keeping the opposing QB on his heels, it should keep the pressure off your safeties.
The good news for the Iowa Hawkeyes is that QB Ricky Stanzi is back for his Sr. year and it should be a great one. He finished last year with 2,417 yards and 17 TD’s. The downside, he also threw 15 interceptions. He has to reduce that number for the Hawkeyes to have a real chance at contending for the Big Ten title against Ohio State. The offensive line has some questions with the loss of three big men from last year. With a rebuilding line and a tendency to play close games, as well as falling behind early in games, it may put pressure on Stanzi to produce those numbers again this year.
The bright side is the running game will take some of the heat off Stanzi. Adam Robinson should see an increase in his number over last years 834 yards and 5 TD’s. Brandon Wegher compiled 641 yards last year and 8 TD’s. Jewel Hampton, who tore his ACL last August, also returns to give coach Kirk Ferentz a triple threat running attack. Expect the bulk of the carries from Robinson but Wegher and Hampton should split the rest of the work load.
Stanzi does have the luxury of throwing to two familiar faces at the wide receiver position. Derrell Johnson-Koulianos hauled in 750 yards last year and 2 TD’s while Marvin McNutt pulled in 674 yards and 8 TD’s. Expect to see similar yardage numbers from these guys and an increase in TD’s for Johnson-Koulianos. Tight End Andy Reisner returns and should see a better year than last years 143 yards and 1 TD.
The Defense should be tested this season after an impressive 2009 campaign. They should be able to fill many of the holes and build on an already strong and experienced defensive core.
The big question is who is that playing QB this year for the Penn State Nittany Lions? Kevin Newsome is expected to be the guy. He has good size and is mobile enough to buy time as he learns how to run the Spread HD attack. Newsome will be a gamble in fantasy leagues this year but will be one with lots of upside potential considering the weapons he has at his disposal.
It doesn’t hurt to have one of the best running backs in the conference in your backfield. Evan Royster should build on last years numbers (1169 yards and 6 TD’s) as he carries more of the load this year. Royster is one of those backs that can be fed the ball 20 or more times a game and do well. Something Newsome can use in his first year.
The receiving game is one of the best in the Big Ten with Derek Moye (785 yards and 6 TD’s) and Graham Zug (600 yards and 7 TD’s). Chaz Powell also had 28 catches last year. All three may see a slight decline in numbers this year with a new QB. From a fantasy perspective the tight end spot is a gamble. Andrew Szczerba is expected to be the starter but he caught just one pass last year. Add in the fact that he has a new QB and it is a tough call on what to expect from the TE spot.
The defense has some big holes to fill this year but Joe Pa has always had good defensive units. Bani Gbadyu and Nathan Stupar should provide solid replacements at linebacker. The defensive line has Ollie Ogbu and Jack Crawford returning to a strong line. The safeties are strong as well with the return of Drew Astorino and Nick Sukay.
I have the Wisconsin Badgers ranked 4th in the Big Ten mainly due to their defense and concerns over the way the team struggled after tough losses in 2009. They could be a surprise team this year though since they don’t have to play Penn State and their toughest games are back to back against Ohio State and Iowa. The rest of the schedule is not that bad.
Scott Tolzien returns to lead the Badger air attack where he compiled 2,705 yards and 16 TD’s in 2009 and led the Big Ten in passing efficiency. He should improve in accuracy, passing yards and TD’s this year as well as cut down on those pesky INT’s.
The key to the Badger attack though is all about RB John Clay, the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year last year. Clay racked up 1,517 yards and scored 18 times. Expect big numbers again from Clay as he makes a run for the Heisman behind his big offensive line. All five offensive lineman return for another season to pave the way for Clay.
At the receiver spot Tolzien will have one of the best Big Ten wide outs in Nick Toon to throw too again. Last year, Nick caught 54 balls for 805 yards and 4 TD’s. Look for Nick to improve on those numbers this year. Isaac Anderson will also return and should improve on last years 480 yards and 2 TD’s. Lance Kendricks should fill in well at Tight end and improve on last years 356 yards and 3 TD’s.
The Defense is a big question mark for the Badgers. Three of the front four have left and there are some really big shoes to fill at end. In total, five starters on defense have to be replaced and that is a little alarming. Last year the Badger defense yielded an average of 21.8 points a game. I’m not sure this Badger defense will be better than that. I would try to find another defense to draft.
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