College Previews

[Box_O_Rocks]

Miami Hurricanes Preview 2007
http://cfn.scout.com/2/639684.html

Best Defensive Player: Junior DE Calais Campbell and junior S Kenny Phillips. These might be the two best players in America and each could go in the top five in the 2008 NFL Draft. Playing like a modern-day Ted Hendricks, the 6-8, 275-pound Campbell enjoyed a breakout season last year, collecting an ACC-high 20½ tackles for loss and 10½ sacks. Still somewhat raw with his technique and pass-rushing skills, he’s got a chance to contend for every national defensive honor with more seasoning and reps, and is an almost certain first-round draft pick whenever he’s able to come out. Phillips has been compared to Ronnie Lott and Ed Reed with a total package of smarts, toughness and range.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Wisconsin Badgers Preview 2007
http://cfn.scout.com/2/643686.html

Best Defensive Player: Junior CB Jack Ikegwuonu. While still somewhat young and raw, Ikegwuonu has all the ingredients of an elite defensive back and could wind up a first-day NFL Draft choice two years from now. A true lockdown corner who’s only going to get better with more experience, he’s a 6-1, 200-pound greyhound who’s not afraid to fill the lanes and support in run defense.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

South Carolina Game****s Preview 2007
http://cfn.scout.com/2/642872.html

Best Offensive Player: Senior RB Cory Boyd. Mitchell might be the star of the offense this year, but Boyd is the best all-around player. After spending all of 2005 off the squad after violating team rules, Boyd got back in the mix early last season and finished as the team’s leading rusher with 823 yards while finishing third on the team in receptions. He’s a tough between-the-tackles runner who should be the workhorse of the ground game. If he can take advantage of defenses geared up to stop the Game**** passing game, he should be a lock for 1,000 yards.

Best Defensive Player: Senior LB Jasper Brinkley. If he’s not one of the three best linebackers in America, he’s not far off. The former JUCO transfer had a tremendous first year with 107 tackles, often doing the job by himself. He’s a hard-nosed hitter in the middle who’s also an elite pass rusher when he gets an opening.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Utah Utes Preview 2007
http://cfn.scout.com/2/633818.html

Best Offensive Player: Brian Johnson. Arguably the Mountain West’s best player in 2005, he was just starting to blow up with 1,425 passing yards and 11 touchdown passes in a four-game stretch before tearing his ACL late in the year. After choosing to sit out all of last season to let the knee heal, he now knows the offense better than ever and should become a national name if all goes as well as hoped. He has the potential to be very, very special.

Best Defensive Player: Senior LB Joe Jiannoni. Part safety, part linebacker, all hitter, Jiannoni was the main man on the defensive front seven finishing second on the team with 92 tackles and second in sacks. He can move with the speed to play on the outside, but his sideline-to-sideline range, and his instincts to get into the backfield, make him a natural in the middle.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

LSU Tigers Preview 2007
http://cfn.scout.com/2/636844.html

Best Defensive Player: Senior DT Glenn Dorsey. An almost-certain first-round pick had he left early, and a possible top-15 selection, the 300-pound All-American will be the anchor of one of the best lines in America. He missed spring ball with a leg injury but is expected to be more than fine by the time the season starts. As long as he keeps his weight in check, he’ll be a sure-fire All-American.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://bigrednetwork.com/archives/2007/05/the_importance_of_defensive_li.html

If defense wins championships (and the numbers say it does), then the defensive line is quite simply the most important part of a football team.

http://bigrednetwork.com/archives/2007/05/defensive_line_xs_and_os_1.html

It is “Defensive Line Week” here at Big Red Network. And, it is time to examine some of the “Xs and Os” or defensive line strategies employed by NU. In doing so, it is important to first define some of the very basics of defensive line strategy and terminology. And then, we can examine how NU may use different formations and techniques from last year to maximize the personnel they will likely have on the field.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://bigrednetwork.com/archives/2007/05/the_2007_defensive_line_1.html

Outlook
Only injury will stop Suh from being a quality starter. Beyond that, the sky’s the limit. Assuming Turner comes back to peak form, he’s also going to be a quality starter.

 

[PATSNUTme]

Thanks Box for the info.

There is no off season for Box. While some of us have adopted a more casual attitude toward football now that the draft is over and the TC roster moves are almost done, Box continues to slug along.


So while I'm teeing up my ball at the Homerville Golf Club, I'll know that Box is digging up good football info to share.:rocker:

 

[Remix 6]

speaking of South Carolina's Cory Boyd

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s46c9SkYgM8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LiSmRgRgDM

2 great clips

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Colorado 2007
http://cfn.scout.com/2/645061.html

Best Offensive Player: Senior RB Hugh Charles. The lightning-fast 5-8, 190-pound senior did everything he could to carry the offense in a dying season, rushing for 779 yards despite no passing game. He’s a great receiver who’s dangerous when he gets the ball on the move.

There's one possible Faulk clone to consider as a complement to Maroney...

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

San Jose State 2007
http://cfn.scout.com/2/643953.html

Best Offensive Player: Senior QB Adam Tafralis. No one made a bigger leap in production than Tafralis, who went from being an erratic, inconsistent passer who couldn’t hit half his throws and gave away the ball too often, to a smart decision-maker who took care of the ball, finishing 11th in the nation in passing efficiency. He has decent size, a good enough arm and can run a little, when necessary.

Best Defensive Player: Senior CB Dwight Lowery and/or Senior LB Matt Castelo. They both belong. Castelo is the nation’s leading returning tackler after cranking out 165 last year from his spot in the middle, while Lowery will combine with Christopher Owens to give the Spartans the WAC’s best cornerback combination. With good size at 6-1 and 185 pounds and decent speed, the former JUCO transfer will be avoided at all costs after picking off nine passes last year and breaking up seven.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Kenny Phillips might be the guy the Pats take with the San Fran pick. That kid is a freak.

http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=1082821

Phillips would make a great duo with Meriweather. Rodney won't be with us forever. But I think he'll be around long enough to teach the new kid the ropes.

 

[PATSNUTme]

Maybe this thread could be "stickied" and added to through out the year? (not by me but others = Box).

 

[zippo59]

Go Florida.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Wake Forest Demon Deacons Preview 2007
http://cfn.scout.com/2/637846.html

Key player to a successful season: Senior OT Louis Frazier. Steve Vallos was arguably the key to the tremendous 2006 season as the leader and rock on the line. The All-America left tackle was the man the offense ran behind when it needed a key yard, and Wake got consistent pass protection from him. Frazier is a veteran who has to step up and become a star on the veteran line.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

2007 Oklahoma State Preview
http://cfn.scout.com/2/632522.html

Best Offensive Player: Senior WR Adarius Bowman. With tight end size, decent speed and enough athleticism to be a part of the basketball team Bowman likely would’ve been one of the top 100 players taken in this year’s draft. He averaged a whopping 19.7 yards per catch with 12 touchdown grabs, and now he has the potential to do even more now that he has a year of experience in the system.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

2007 Utah Preview
http://cfn.scout.com/2/633818.html

Best Offensive Player: Brian Johnson. Arguably the Mountain West’s best player in 2005, he was just starting to blow up with 1,425 passing yards and 11 touchdown passes in a four-game stretch before tearing his ACL late in the year. After choosing to sit out all of last season to let the knee heal, he now knows the offense better than ever and should become a national name if all goes as well as hoped. He has the potential to be very, very special.

Best Defensive Player: Senior LB Joe Jiannoni. Part safety, part linebacker, all hitter, Jiannoni was the main man on the defensive front seven finishing second on the team with 92 tackles and second in sacks. He can move with the speed to play on the outside, but his sideline-to-sideline range, and his instincts to get into the backfield, make him a natural in the middle.

Key player to a successful season: Senior DT Gabe Long. A top recruit for USC in 2005, Long ended up sticking with the JUCO route before ending up in Utah. At 6-3 and 300 pounds, he’s a big presence inside and a key piece of the defensive line puzzle. With the bulk of the defensive interior gone, Long has to live up to his potential.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

2007 Maryland Preview
http://cfn.scout.com/2/634844.html

Best Defensive Player: Junior LB Erin Henderson. After sitting out 2004 as a redshirt freshman and 2005 with an ACL tear in his left knee, Henderson proved well worth the wait in 2006, leading the Terps in tackles, interceptions and forced fumbles. The younger brother of former Butkus Award winner E.J. Henderson is a 6-3, 242-pound tackling machine who pursues exceptionally well and can deliver the payload when he reaches his target.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

2007 Iowa State Preview
http://cfn.scout.com/2/635941.html

Best Offensive Player: Senior WR Todd Blythe. Is this the year Blythe goes from very good to special? The 6-5, 209-pound senior has 124 career catches for 2,317 yards and 26 touchdowns, averaging an impressive 18.7 yards per grab, but he wasn’t as much of a deep threat last year (mostly because Bret Meyer didn’t have time to throw), and was hurt for a late stretch. While he’s consistent, there’s no excuse for him to go another season without a 100-yard game.

Best Defensive Player: Senior LB Alvin Bowen. Despite being a safety-sized 6-2 and 216 pounds, Bowen held up against the run all season long, making a whopping 155 tackles, highlighted by a 20-stop performance in the overtime thriller against Toledo. "Ace" spent all of last year needing to focus on the run, but with his speed he has the potential to be a terror in the backfield while making more plays against the pass.

Key players to a successful season: Sophomore OT Doug Dedrick and senior OT Lee Tibbs. The skill players are in place to quickly improve the offensive production; now they need time to work. New starters to the line, Dedrick and Tibbs have to be an upgrade after the front five had an awful year in pass protection. Meyer never had room to breathe, getting sacked 38 times and hit way too often, even when he did get rid of the ball.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

2007 Arkansas State Preview
http://cfn.scout.com/2/636551.html

Best Defensive Player: Senior SS Tyrell Johnson. The three-time All-Sun Belt selection can do a little bit of everything well with the speed to play free safety and the hitting ability to be a superstar at strong safety. He has 269 career tackles with seven interceptions and 11 broken up passes.

Key player to a successful season: Senior C Heath Lockley. The ASU O line loses three starters, but it should be fine as long as the production is there in the middle. JUCO transfer Brandon Ciaramitaro could end up winning the job when all is said and done, but Lockley will likely start the season trying to replace Tanner Jenkins as the leader in the middle of the line.