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Notes from the Margins: Come tryout for our kicker spot
By Jason Roberts | November 1, 2008
Week Ten and we at FCB impatiently await a weekend in which we expect the men will be separated from the boys, particularly in the Big XII.
Speaking of the Big XII, check out in this week’s edition of NFTM Robert Griffin’s continued rise to meteoric status in terms of avoiding interceptions at Baylor, Josh Freeman hoping to avoid the rash of turnovers he’s experienced over the last two years against Kansas, the potential nightmare that comes along with a decimated offensive line at Iowa State, and the Cinderella-story of Texas Tech’s Special Teams Player of the Week, Matt Williams.
Yet, don’t think that the Big XII is the only conference rocking this first weekend of November; Florida State looks to take on Georgia Tech out in the ACC, but without the assistance of junior wideout Corey Surrency, for one, while Clemson hopes that C.J. Spiller gets back on his feet in enough time to take advantage of a historically large number of “big plays” on turf fields this weekend against Boston College.
Meanwhile, out in the Big East, Tony Pike reminds us all how good a quarterback he is, even with a non-throwing arm literally hanging by a thread, Louisville looks to honor a fallen comrade in wideout Scott Long, and West Virginia places guessing games with who Connecticut will start under center this coming weekend in a match up of the conference’s two best overall ball carriers.
ACC
Clemson Tigers
The State reports Tuesday that Clemson Tigers redshirt freshman quarterback Willy Korn was cleared to return to practice this week, this after bruising his throwing shoulder against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Korn, says the paper, notes that he expects to play this coming weekend against the Boston College Eagles, but will most likely be used only situationally behind incumbent starter under center, Cullen Harper.
The same article notes that freshman running back Jamie Harper, who saw his first major playing time versus the Yellow Jackets, has already been identified as Clemson’s “best backfield option” when it comes to the Tigers’ keeping a back in for the purpose of pass blocking.
Meanwhile, The State also mentions that tailback C.J. Spiller looks healthy enough to play Saturday versus Boston College; this could be a major plus for Clemson, particularly given, as the article notes, “the shifty junior has historically produced big plays on turf fields.”
Duke Blue Devils
The Winston-Salem Journal for Thursday notes that Duke Blue Devils running back Re’quan Boyette will take a medical redshirt for the remainder of the 2008 season; the senior, who had surgery on his knee back in August, has not been able to recovery sufficiently to allow him to play in Duke’s last five games and will have one year of eligibility left, this according the school officials.
Florida State Seminoles
The Albany Herald shares the insights of Florida State Seminoles wide receiver, Bert Reed, who missed last weekend’s game against Virginia Tech due to a suspension related to having too many unexcused absences from class. Realizing now that the sport he loves can easily be taken away due to personal irresponsibility, the redshirt freshman admits he has “learned a lesson” and will in the future “reflect on the mistakes and not make them again.” Reed will return to the playing field yet again Saturday as FSU takes on Georgia Tech in Atlanta.
Sadly, as Florida State gains back one wide receiver, another - this time, junior Corey Surrency - finds himself suspended for this upcoming weekend’s game against Georgia Tech. Surrency, claims The Florida Times-Union, is being held out of Saturday’s contest due to an undisclosed violation of team rules, this as he’s struggled throughout the last few games the Seminoles have played with dropped passes.
The St. Petersburg Times, in the meantime, reports Tuesday that senior tailback Antonie Smith and freshman Jermaine Thomas were both seen participating in practice on Monday; Smith, who rode an exercise bike for much of the day noted he did not know if he would participate in full contact drills this week, while Thomas said he didn’t feel “any effects” from a concussion sustained Saturday. Both, the Times states, expect to play on Georgia Tech.
Maryland Terrapins
The Frederick News-Post Online points out this week that with regular starting tailback Da’Rel Scott having aggravated a shoulder injury originally sustained against the California Bears, freshman running back Davin Meggett should start to see significant action for the University of Maryland beginning this weekend as the Terrapins prepare to take on the Virginia Tech Hokies Saturday in Blacksburg.
Miami Hurricanes
The Orlando Sentinel highlights this week that since returning to the playing field over the span of the Miami Hurricanes’ last two games, tailback Javarris James has struggled greatly to make things happen statistically, with a total of nine rushing attempts going for a combined total of 27 yards in contests against the Duke Blue Devils and Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Subsequently, a majority of Miami’s carries have been handled by sophomore Graig Cooper, making the native of Memphis, Tennessee a much more favorable option for fantasy owners heading into the latter portion of the Hurricanes’ 2008 schedule.
North Carolina Tar Heels
Coach Butch Davis of the North Carolina Tar Heels told reporters at The State Monday that sophomore quarterback T.J. Yates would be doing some “light throwing” during practices this week but has in no way healed enough to play November 8th versus Georgia Tech. If cleared by team doctors later on in the bye week for the Tarheels, Davis suggested that Yates might engage in seven-on-seven drills, but that in and of itself would be a stretch.
Virginia Cavaliers
The news station website NBC29.com writes Wednesday that starting fullback for the Virginia Cavaliers, RaShawn Jackson, has been placed under arrest and faces felony charges for a break-in at a campus dorm room in November 2007 in which Jackson is accused of stealing a video game console. The junior turned himself into police Tuesday afternoon, but is currently free on bond. Jackson now makes the fifth football player with the University of Virginia which has been arrested so far in 2008.
Virginia Tech Hokies
Strange happenings at Blacksburg this week, this as the website Fredericksburg.com informs readers that tight end for the Virginia Tech Hokies, Greg Boone, is currently seeing time during practices at the quarterback position and will serve as the back up to fifth-year senior Cory Holt, forced into action this past Saturday against Florida State when both Tyrod Taylor and Sean Glennon went down with series high-ankle sprains. A former starter under center at Oscar Smith High School in Chesapeake, Virginia, the highly-recruited prep standout threw for 1285 yards, rushed for an additional 949 on the ground, and accounted for 35 total touchbacks as a senior. As a collegiate tight end, the native of Chesapeake, Virginia has grabbed 26 receptions for 351 yards a pair of touchdowns over his firs three years of active playing time.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
The Free Lance-Star writes on Thursday that senior kicker for Wake Forest, Sam Swank, continues to be bothered by a lingering strained quadriceps in his kicking leg; he has not subsequently participated fully in practice this week and may not be available for kicking duties this upcoming Saturday versus Duke. Should Swank be relegated to the sidelines yet again, freshman Shane Popham will handle both kicking and punting duties against the Blue Devils.
Big XII
Baylor Bears
As the clock on the 2008 season continues ticking, freshman quarterback for the Baylor Bears, Robert Griffin, continues his record-breaking streak of passes without an interception; this past week against Nebraska, reports the website Big12Sports.com, Griffin extended that number to 175, a school record originally held by Shawn Bell over the 2004 and 2005 seasons. The freshman is also the first Baylor quarterback ever with three 100-yard games rushing in a career.
Colorado Buffaloes
Head coach for the Colorado Buffaloes, Dan Hawkins, told reporters from the Boulder Daily Camera this week that he took inspiration from the fact that freshman running back for CU, Darrell Scott, was able to carry the ball this weekend eight times for 34 yards while also grabbing three catches for 12 yards in this past Saturday’s contest with the Missouri Tigers. That, says the head coach, does represent “awe-inspiring numbers,” but suggests that Scott refuses to let a number of injuries which have sidelined him this season affect him enough to drastically influence his play. “I’ve just been so impressed with his attitude about everything since coming here,” Hawkins commented earlier this week. “That, to me, has been awesome, been great. He’s going to have many days on Folsom Field where he tears it up. He’s going to be a great player. He will. His time will come.”
Meanwhile, the Reporter Herald provides a set of statistics which effectively outline why Colorado has seen some of the problems it has in terms of putting together a win-loss record of 4-4 so far this year and 1-3 in Big XII conference play. Notes the Herald, “The Buffs remain last in the Big XII in total offense, passing offense and points. They’re also last in passing efficiency, kickoff coverage, red zone offense and red zone defense.”
Iowa State Cyclones
The Des Moines Register comments this week that in an effort to lessen the wear and tear on sophomore quarterback Austin Arnaud’s throwing arm (he has averaged 39 pass attempts over the past four games), head coach Gene Chizik is looking to institute some “trickery” this coming Saturday in order to keep the Oklahoma State Cowboys’ defense “off balance,” as the paper writes. A major reason for such a need rests in the fact that Iowa State has still to this point in the year to produce a 100+ yard rusher, forcing Arnaud to throw repeatedly, as he did last weekend with a season-high 371 yards passing against the Texas A&M Aggies.
In further news: the Tulsa World reveals to readers that Iowa State may in fact be in a for a much longer weekend than expected, as the Cyclones prepare to face Oklahoma State with both Mike Knapp, ISU’s starting center, and Ben Lamaak, right tackle, unlikely to play. Should both Knapp and Lamaak remain on the sideline as is expected, Iowa State will, writes the World, “be trying to snap a six-game losing streak without 40 percent of their starting front five.”
An impressive stat provide by the Sioux City Journal this week: it has already been mentioned that sophomore quarterback for Iowa State, Austen Arnaud, had a career-day this past weekend against Texas A&M, passing for 371 yards and rushing for additional 67. What is not nearly as well advertised, however, is the fact that the youngster under center completed passes to 10 different receivers, with senior wideout R.J. Sumrall netting nine receptions for 143 yards.
Kansas Jayhawks
Discussing just what exactly makes tailback for the Kansas Jayhawks, Jake Sharp, as dangerous a player had he has been and currently is, the website KansasCity.com concludes that it is speed which has proven his primary weapon. Having arrived at campus running an already impressive 4.53 40-yard dash, Sharp, notes the article, has “spent the last two years chipping away at that disappointing [in Sharp's mind] 40 time,” and this past May, was clocked at 4.38. That deduction is very likely the reason why Sharp, who started the season being funneled back and forth between first, second, and, yes, even third string running back, is now carrying the ball nearly twice as much as the next man on the Kansas depth chart for his position and is averaging 5.1 yards per carry over his last four games.
Kansas State Jayhawks
The Salina Journal talks this week about the fact that the Kansas Jayhawks seem to have had no problem in handling Josh Freeman, junior quarterback for Kansas State, over the last two years the schools have played their annual rivalry game. In 2006, KU forced six turnovers - three fumbles, three interceptions - in a 39-20 win for the Jayhawks, while last year, in a 30-24 win for Kansas, Freeman was picked off three times. So, is Freeman worried about this weekend’s matchup in Lawrence? Not so much. The junior tells the Journal that he feels that the team’s offensive line is the best it has been since his arrival on campus, and head coach Ron Prince has allowed Freeman much more room to take off down field and make plays happen with his feet. As well, Freeman states, “I have more understanding for what we’re trying to do offensively in every situation, throwing the ball and where it needs to go. I think my maturation has come with a lot of guys on the team stepping up . . .” That, coupled with a bevy of outstanding wide receivers and an emerging ground game for the Wildcats, has the native of Kansas City, Missouri feeling much more confident than normal in facing off against KU and should have him avoiding the same mistakes which cost his team victories over the Jayhawks in both 2006 and 2007.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
The Nebraska State Paper mentions Thursday that head coach for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Bo Pellini, acknowledged that senior tailback Marlon Lucky has completed his second week of practice after spending Monday with a boot on his foot. Lucky appears to have “practiced well” and, subsequently, is expected to play in Saturday’s key matchup with the Oklahoma Sooners.
In related news, the State Paper also notes that redshirt freshman tailback Marcus Mendoza of Houston has continued to see work with the Nebraska receiving corps in practice this week, this as junior Menelik Holt has been identified by the NU coaching staff as unable to “handle the whole offense right now”; interestingly enough, Mendoza is regarded as “one of the fastest, if not the fastest, player on the team,” and would add some much-needed talent and depth at wideout if a more permanent switch from running back is made.
Oklahoma Sooners
The Tulsa World notes that Oklahoma wide receiver, Manuel Johnson, is “getting closer” to returning once more to the playing field, and could, possibly, see action this coming Saturday in a key matchup between the Sooners and the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Head coach Bob Stoops noted this week that Johnson “caught some balls, did some drills,” and, subsequently, ” . . . it should be just how comfortable he is at the end of the week and how much of the game plan, meaning in practice, he’s able to execute” that will determine whether or not he suits up against Kansas.
Oklahoma State Cowboys
The Oklahoman hosts a great piece this week on Oklahoma State Cowboys Brandon Pettigrew and the fact that position coach Doug Meacham is telling NFL scouts that the senior is “a classic tight end.” Pettigrew, like many tight ends in the college game today, still remains “more of an oversized receiver,” notes the article, but remains able to “go down inside and grind with best of’em,” states Meacham. That’s an important component of the Cowboys’ offensive game plan, particularly considering that OSU runs the ball nearly 50 times a game; with a 6′6″, 265-pound frame, his “brutally physical blocking,” writes the Oklahoman, “makes him a likely first-round draft choice,” but gives the added incentive of both an “athletic ability and soft hands” in catching passes down field. Little wonder then that ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Jr. has Pettigrew ranked the ninth-best player in the 2009 NFL draft class.
Texas Longhorns
The Brownsville Herald reports Thursday that former Texas Longhorns’ tailback, Henry Melton, is now thriving at defensive end, this after being moved over to the position after the 2006 season. After watching his production wane throughout the 2006 season (he produced 10 touchdowns as a freshman back in 2005), the decision was made to move Melton to the other side of the ball, a transition which has morphed the former Longhorns ball carrier into what the Herald describes as “a pass-rushing force to complement Brian Orakpo” heading into this weekend’s contest with the #6 Texas Tech Red Raiders. In fact, the junior’s production has been so good at defensive end that head coach for the Longhorns, Mack Brown, is quoted as having said recently, “It’s probably where he should have been the whole time.”
Texas A&M Aggies
An interesting debate is currently taking place on the Texas A&M football squad between brothers Terrence McCoy and the elder Jamie McCoy over who sit he better overall player. The former, a sophomore wide receiver for the Aggies, admits this week to the Daily Camera that his older brother, a tight end, had the better game last week against Iowa State - seven catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday’s 49-35 win for TAMU. But can he keep up that type of pace? Jamie seems to think so, telling the paper that Terrence has “always been a step slower than me in everything.” The younger McCoy responds, “No, its not true,” but finds himself fifth on the team for overall yardage on the year, while brother Jamie at tight end currently ranks third.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
The gamble paid off. According to the website, RedRaiders.com, Matt Leach’s crazed attempt to improve his team’s placekicking by allowing a student - Matt Williams - who won a halftime contest in Lubbock in Texas Tech’s second game of the year against Massachusetts the opportunity to start this past Saturday versus Kansas, netted the Red Raiders a perfect nine-of-nine PATs in a 63-21 win over the Jayhawks. The performance, adds the article, was good enough to land Williams the Big XII Conference Special Teams Player of the Week recognition.
Big East
Cincinnati Bearcats
Despite literally playing with a welded together non-throwing arm (a plate and six screws), junior quarterback for the Cincinnati Bearcats, Tony Pike, passed for 20-of-28, 281 yards and two touchdowns; showing his mental and physical toughness, Pike, notes the website Cleveland.com, had to in the fourth quarter move from taking snaps as normal from a shotgun formation to directly under center in order to soften the force of receiving snaps, a necessity which changed the manner in which head coach Brian Kelly ran a majority of his offensive plays.
Connecticut Huskies
The News-Times reports this week that Connecticut tailback Donald Brown last weekend acquired the school record for most rushing yards in a season, needing only eight games to reach his current number of 1324. The senior has now pushed to second place for Huskies’ rusher Tory Taylor, who ran for 1262 yards back in 1995, and done in so having surpassed the 100-yard mark in each of the contests he’s played to this point in the season.
Meanwhile, The Times West Virginian notes that this week’s opponent for the Connecticut Huskies, West Virginia, heads into Saturday’s game not knowing what to expect from the opposing team at the quarterback position. UConn, notes the piece, could utilize either Cody Endres, a redshirt freshman from Washington, Pennsylvania (18-for-42 for 192 yards last week versus Cincinnati), or Zach Frazer, who suffered a concussion two weeks ago against Rutgers. The West Virginian informs readers that Frazer was in practice this week, but adds that head coach for the Huskies, Randy Edsall, felt that Endres “did a really good job” against the Bearcats; “He went in and managed the game and moved the ball for us,” Edsall says of the redshirt freshman, adding, “and didn’t turn the ball over. It’s a situation where we’ll see how things go.”
Louisville Cardinals
Readers of this column are likely already familiar with the fact that Louisville Cardinals wide receiver Scott Long was lost for the season with a torn knee ligament. Sadly, just three days prior, the junior had proven himself recovered enough from a broken foot to light up the USF Bulls with a five-catch, 134 yards and two touchdown day last Saturday. In honor of their fallen comrade, the Courier Journal points out Thursday that there was sighted in practice Wednesday a Cardinal wideout - Trent Guy - wearing Long’s #84 jersey, the start of a rotation that will see Guy donning the number Saturday night at Syracuse, then moved on to others such as Doug Beamont, Josh Chichester, and Troy Pascley over the span of Louisville’s remaining five games.
Pittsburgh Panthers
A healthy debate is published this week in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, with readers of the paper and staff writer Paul Zeise arguing whether or not junior college transfer at quarterback, Greg Cross, should be seeing more time than he has in favor of the struggling Bill Stull or inexperienced underclassman, Pat Bostick. Zeise points out that it seems odd that head coach Dave Wannstedt would burn the redshirt of Bostick by letting him come in for a handful of plays in “mop up” duty against Navy, but use so minimally a junior player that has significant knowledge of the game, plus a level of athleticism that burned holes through the Panthers’ defense during spring and fall camps. Concludes Zeise, Cross “has not been a factor save for one touchdown run against Iowa. It is one of those head-scratching decisions because Cross was a junior college player, meaning, he only has two years of eligibility and those kinds of players — especially at the skill positions — are usually not brought in to sit on the bench.”
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Shamar Graves, recently promoted to starting tight end for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, could have, says the website MyCentralJersey.com, “taken it personally” this week as head coach Greg Schiano complained that Graves’ particular position needed to step things up, considering that the junior, along with Kevin Brock, have only accounted for 35 catches, 294 yards and two touchdowns so far this season. Instead, the 6′3, 220 pound Graves made a point of agreeing with Schiano when interviewed by local media this week, noting, “We need to take everything to hear and judge it ourselves . . . . the receivers are doing good, the quarterbacks are doing good and the tight ends need to be more productive.” When asked if there was one particular area he though the position could improve, Graves responded “physical play”; “I just need to be more physical at the point of attack,” the junior concludes, “and not think about anything else. Thinking slows me down a lot.”
Syracuse Orangemen
The Daily Orange writes this week that Delone Carter, halfback for the Syracuse Orangmen, should be back on the field this coming weekend versus Louisville, this after missing the last four weeks with a pulled left hamstring. “On Sunday,” notes head coach Greg Robinson, “I thought he looked very, very good. So, it sounds like all systems are go with him.” To this point in the season, Carter has played in three games, rushing for 139 yards on 21 carries in those contests, but has been cut short for most of the year given that he has suffered from a number of health-related problems.
Meanwhile, the website Syracuse.com writes that junior Cameron Dantley will remain the Orangemen’s starting quarterback this weekend versus the Louisville Cardinals, this even though SU is 1-5 under Dantley and arguably saw him play the worse half of football so far this season last two weeks ago against the University of South Florida Bulls.
West Virginia Mountaineers
The Times West Virginian notes Thursday that wide receiver Alric Arnett feels practices held this week by the West Virginia Mountaineers in preparation for Saturday’s contest against Connecticut have been “more intense” than last week’s lead-in to a 34-17 win over the Auburn Tigers. “We’ve picked up were we left off,” Arnett, who has caught 17 passes for 210 yards and three touchdowns this season, comments. “Coach has pointed out to us that for noon games, we need to pick up the intensity because we haven’t come out like we should. He’s making practices more intense so that we are ready to go Saturday.”
Topics: ACC, Big 12, Big East, College Football, Jason Roberts, Notes From the Margins |
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