Other parts of the CFN Big East preview

[Jim Johnson]

The summary was written by Richard Cirminiello... Stampede him at cirmrt@mindspring.com

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Aside from the 7-5 prediction, there were some other things to read...

Everyone knows West Virginia, Louisville, and even Rutgers will be big national players, but the Big East is more than just those three, as Ben Moffitt and South Florida will show throughout the year.

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The league has two budding national powers in West Virginia and Louisville, two programsâ€â€Rutgers and South Floridaâ€â€with enormous upsides, a second division that’ll be more competitive and a wicked head of steam.     

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Quarterback Matt Grothe is one of 16 starters back for South Florida which will continue laying bricks to its foundation.  West Virginia and Louisville must travel to Tampa, so the Bulls will play a key role in the league race.

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Bold Predictions

3. South Florida will be one of just a handful of defenses to allow fewer than 10 touchdown passes all year.  With a strong push up front and one of the country’s tightest secondaries, passing downfield on the Bulls is going to be a weekly nightmare. 

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5 Non-Conference Games the Big East had better take very, very seriously

3. North Carolina at South Florida, Sept. 22

5 Best Pro Prospects

4. CB Mike Jenkins, Sr., South Florida 

5 Big-Time Players Who Need a Bigger Spotlight  ...

2. LB Ben Moffitt, Sr., South Florida

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Unit Rankings:

Offenses

5. South Florida

Quarterbacks

3. South Florida

Running Backs

7. South Florida

Receivers

5. South Florida

Offensive Line

5. South Florida

Defenses

1. South Florida

Like all teams from Florida, the USF defense pursues well and is built on speed.  Wally Burnham’s unit is well-coached, prevents the big play and is vastly underappreciated and unnoticed on a national level.  That could change if the Bulls crack the top 10 in total defense in 2007, a distinct possibility.  Next level corners Trae Williams and Mike Jenkins allow the defense to sell out on occasion, and the front four, led by sophomore rush end George Selvie, returns seven linemen that started games in 2006.  Importing defensive line coach Dan McCarney and linebacker Tyrone McKenzie from Iowa State were coups that’ll pay immediate dividends.

Defensive Lines

3. South Florida

Linebackers

1. South Florida

Normally, you don’t get better by losing Stephen Nicholas and Pat St. Louis, but with Ben Moffitt surrounded by the next generation of baby Bull linebackers, the corps should be stronger than ever.

Defensive Backs

1. South Florida

After Louisville’s Brian Brohm, the Big East has no truly top-notch passers.  That reality combined with the loaded USF secondary will land the Bulls among the nation’s top 10 or 12 teams this year in pass efficiency defense.

Special Teams

7. South Florida

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Top 30 Big East Players

6. CB Trae Williams, Sr. South Florida

7. QB Matt Grothe, Soph. South Florida

9. LB Ben Moffitt, Sr. South Florida

26. CB Mike Jenkins, Sr. South Florida

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2007 Preseason All-Big East Defense

LB – Ben Moffitt, Jr. South Florida

DB – Mike Jenkins, Sr. South Florida

DB - Trae Williams, Sr. South Florida

P – Justin Teachey, Jr. South Florida

ALL-BIG EAST SECOND TEAM DEFENSE.

DL – George Selvie, Soph. South Florida 

LB - Tyrone McKenzie, Jr. South Florida 

LB - Chris Robinson, Soph. South Florida 

(No South Florida on first or second All-Big East Offenses)

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Team Capsule

5.  South Florida

Predicted record: 7-5  Conf. record: 3-4

Best Offensive Player: QB Matt Grothe, Soph.

Best Defensive Player: CB Trae Williams, Sr.

Offense: This is Matt Grothe’s offense, but unlike last season, he shouldn’t have to do everything short of crafting the weekly gameplan in order to make the unit hum.  Although he led the offense in passing, rushing and scoring, the program realizes it needs to protect its most important commodity and give him more support.  Can freshman Mike Ford live up to the hype?  Plenty is expected from a back that should ignite a rushing attack that did little in 2006 when Grothe wasn’t slithering through opposing defenses.  Originally headed to Tuscaloosa, he’s the highest-profile recruit to ever sign with USF.  The Bull receivers are a dynamic bunch that’s loaded with size, speed and underachievers that need to get their act together.

Defense: Like all teams from Florida, the USF defense pursues well and is built on speed.  Wally Burnham’s unit is well-coached, prevents the big play and is vastly underappreciated and unnoticed on a national level.  That could change if the Bulls crack the top 10 in total defense in 2007, a distinct possibility.  Next level corners Trae Williams and Mike Jenkins allow the defense to sell out on occasion, and the front four, led by sophomore rush end George Selvie, returns seven linemen that started games in 2006.  Importing defensive line coach Dan McCarney and linebacker Tyrone McKenzie from Iowa State were coups that’ll pay immediate dividends.