NCAA - nesto o timovima pred sezonu 2011

Key Player

Aaron Murray, QB Started all 13 games as a freshman, passing for 3,049 yards — the second-most ever for an SEC freshman.

Orson Charles, TE Averaging 16.2 yards per catch in his career, and at 6'3" and 240 pounds has the speed to make plays in the open field.

Bacarri Rambo, S The junior had 82 tackles last year, along with three forced fumbles and three picks. Can play either safety position.

By Mark Schlabach
ESPN.com


TCU Horned Frogs
The Horned Frogs will have a difficult time duplicating last season's success, after they finished 13-0 and ranked No. 2 in the country to end the 2010 season. TCU lost 26 seniors, including quarterback Andy Dalton and center Jake Kirkpatrick, one of four departing starters from the offensive line. Sophomore Casey Pachall is ahead of redshirt freshman Matt Brown in the race to replace Dalton. Tailback Ed Wesley is back after running for 1,078 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2010. All-America linebacker Tank Carder, the Rose Bowl defensive MVP, leads a rebuilt defense. The Horned Frogs open their final season in the Mountain West Conference (they're moving to the Big East in 2012) with consecutive road games at Baylor and Air Force and play at MWC newcomer Boise State on Nov. 12.

By Ryan Faller (Analyst)

TCU Horned Frogs (2010 record: 13-0)

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Head coach Gary Patterson of the TCU Horned Frogs stands on the sidelines against the Wisconsin Badgers during the 97th Rose Bowl game on January 1, 2011 in Pasadena, California.

Gary Patterson has proven his program is no fly-by-night operation, but he faces the unenviable task of reconstructing a roster that will be hit hard by graduation.

The Horned Frogs return only 10 total starters and lose seven valuable contributors on offense, including quarterback Andy Dalton, wide receivers Jimmy Young, Jeremy Kerley and Bart Johnson, tight end Evan Frosch and offensive tackle Marcus Cannon.

The task appears less arduous on defense, where tackling machines Tank Carder and Tanner Brock return at linebacker, along with defensive end Stansly Maponga.

By Tim Hyland

TCU Horned Frogs

Can it really get any better for TCU than it got in 2010?

Only time will tell.

Though most of the preseason talk heading into the 2010 season focused on Boise State, it was the Horned Frogs who eventually emerged as the year's non-AQ Cinderella story. The Froggies powered their way to an historic 12-0 regular season record, then capped their dream season with a program-defining win over Wisconsin in the grand old Rose Bowl.

Can this team possibly replicate their success and make a return trip to the BCS? Find out here, in our 2011 TCU preview.

OVERVIEW: How did TCU make its march to Pasadena in 2010? Simple: They didn’t allow anybody to score. The Frogs fielded the nation's stingiest defense last season, giving up just 12 points per game, and during one remarkable stretch, they allowed no more than 7 points in six straight games. Patterson has built this program around defense, and defense is the reason why TCU is now considered a national elite; how well the that unit can handle a handful of important departures figures to determine how far this team can go in 2011. Yeah, the offense has some holes to fill, too (quarterback Andy Dalton is finally gone, for instance), but if the Frogs can play anywhere near as well on defense as they have in recent years, they'll be just fine.

THE CEILING: Ten wins. It’s not impossible to imagine the Frogs claiming another BCS bowl bid, but they’ll have to catch some breaks (and beat Boise State) in order to do so. The teams will square off in midseason. TCU doesn't return as much talent as the Broncos, but they'll get their shot to beat them. If they seize it, they could find themselves back in the BCS. But that seems like a stretch.

REASON FOR CONCERN: There is some solid talent back--Tank Carder at middle linebacker, Tanner Brock on the outside--but Patterson's ever-consistent defense needs to replace the heart of the line and half the secondary. When you also take into account the losses along the offensive front, as well, this team seems somewhat gutted up the middle. Can Patterson possibly overcome the losses? His record (98-28 in his time at TCU) would seem to suggest that he can. But there's no question he's got a challenge ahead.

THE SCHEDULE (key games in bold): 9/3 at Baylor; 9/10 vs. Texas Tech ; 10/1 vs. SMU; TBA; TBA; TBA vs. Boise State ; TBA vs. Colorado State; TBA vs. New Mexico; TBA vs. UNLV; TBA at Air Force; TBA at San Diego State; TBA at Wyoming.

THE PREDICTION: Cody Pachall will surprise some people over on offense, making up for his lack of experience (especially compared to Dalton) with pure skill. He'll be helped along by the presence of tailback Ed Wesley (1,078 yards in 2010). To be honest, I think the offense will be fine, relatively speaking. As for the defense? While talented, and while schematically sound, it just doesn't seem possible that this rebuilding group can replicate their 2010 success. TCU will be good again. And TCU will make some noise again. But I still see them losing at least two games, maybe three. The BCS, it seems, will be out of reach. At least for one year. REGULAR SEASON PREDICTION: 10-2

By Amy Daughters (Texas Tech Featured Columnist)

TCU


Regardless of who's coming back and and the strength of the recruiting class, TCU's magical 2010 season will be, at the very least, difficult to repeat in 2011.

The Rose Bowl champions return only 10 starters in 2010, and though they will refill the holes with talented players, how long it will take new on-field leaders to emerge is impossible to predict.

In the Horned Frogs' favor is their final Mountain West Conference schedule, which is doable regardless of road trips to Air Force, Baylor and Boise State.

At the end of the day Gary Patterson will have his team ready to play in 2011 but it's realistic to expect a drop of some sort from last season's perfection and glory.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
2011 PRESEASON TOP 25


TCU Horned Frogs
NATIONAL FORECAST #15
Mountain West PREDICTION #2

HEAD COACH: Gary Patterson, 98–28 (11 years) | OFF. COORDINATOR: Jarrett Anderson, Justin Fuente | DEF. COORDINATOR: Dick Bumpas

OFFENSE

The face of the Horned Frogs will have a new look. Andy Dalton has moved onto the NFL, which leaves the reins to Casey Pachall, a sophomore who arrived at TCU as a highly touted recruit in January 2009. Pachall has the skills, but it remains to be seen whether he can come close to replacing Dalton’s leadership.

Pachall has big-play receivers in Josh Boyce and Antoine Hicks, plus the speedy Skye Dawson. Boyce led TCU in receiving with 646 yards as a freshman in 2010. The Frogs may use their tight ends more to give Pachall time to develop his sea legs early in the season with shorter, high-percentage passes to big targets Logan Brock and Corey Fuller.

Ed Wesley leads a stacked group of running backs that includes Matthew Tucker and Waymon James, who were the Frogs’ second- and third-leading rushers last season, and two backs with a ton of hype — redshirt freshman Dwight Smith, who shined in the spring, and Aundre Dean, a one-time UCLA Bruin and a former 4-star recruit.

A bigger area of concern than the loss of Dalton is the offensive line. Only guard Kyle Dooley returns as a full-time starter to a unit that held opponents to just nine sacks in 2010. Left tackle James Dunbar and center James Fry are tasked with replacing All-Americans Marcus Cannon and Jake Kirkpatrick, respectively.


DEFENSE

TCU’s defensive line should be a strength, led by ends Stansly Maponga and Braylon Broughton. Maponga showed his potential as a redshirt freshman in 2010, while Broughton, now a senior, could finally live up to the advance billing that began when he was named the Mountain West Conference Preseason Freshman of the Year in 2008. Defensive tackle D.J. Yendrey and nose tackle Jeremy Coleman had good springs, too.

The entire linebacker corps returns, including starters Tank Carder and Tanner Brock, the soul of the Frogs’ 4-2-5 scheme. Carder, a first-team All-American in ’10, did not practice during the spring after undergoing shoulder surgery in early January, but coaches know what to expect from the experienced senior.

The one area of concern for the defense is the secondary, if not in athletic ability then in sheer experience. Only one full-time starter returns, cornerback Greg McCoy, though weak safety Tekerrein Cuba logged five starts in 2010. The rest of the spots will be first-time starters, although coach Gary Patterson was pleased with their progress during spring practice.


SPECIALISTS

Placekicker Ross Evans and punter Anson Kelton return for their fourth seasons as starters and should be a strength. Dawson and McCoy will try to fill the void left by Jeremy Kerley, who was always a threat for a big return.


FINAL ANALYSIS

If the offensive line jells enough to give Pachall time to relax, he could survive the growing pains associated with first-year starting quarterbacks and be very effective. Wesley and Boyce are legitimate big-play weapons who could help take the pressure off the new quarterback. TCU should be as dominant as ever on defense with several key players returning.

The question is not whether the talent level is the same as 2010 (it is), but whether the Frogs can find a similar mix of leadership and magic. With a favorable schedule, TCU, although likely not a BCS-caliber team in 2011, should lose no more than two games and earn its eighth consecutive bowl appearance.

FANTASY IMPACT

Casey Pachall seems to be the clear successor at quarterback to Andy Dalton, but TCU’s offense will likely take a step back in 2011. With Dalton and four line starters departing, there will be an adjustment period in the passing attack. Expect running back Ed Wesley to figure into the offensive gameplan even more this season, but the junior will share carries with Matthew Tucker and Waymon James. Wesley is a solid RB4 with some upside, but the changes up front and competition for carries holds back his fantasy value from entering starter status every week.

Key Player

Tank Carder, LB Others may have more tackles but no one personifies the TCU defense more than Carder.

Josh Boyce, WR His two first-quarter TD receptions shocked Utah and led to a 47–7 blowout last November.

Stansly Maponga, DE The sophomore has the natural tools to be the next Jerry Hughes.

Dobar tim. Posle Oregona,najvise volim njih.

TCU je fenomenalan primer kako izgraditi program.

Bio sam kod njih na kampusu na klinikama 2 puta 2001. godine, to je godinu dana nakon sto je Patterson preuzeo ekipu. Jos tada se videlo da grade fenomenalan program.

Uvek sam ih voleo jer nisu koristili modele drugih ekipa vec su gradili program po onome sto imaju. Pogotovu mi je bila gotiva da su nahvatali gomilu dobrih igraca koji su rankirani kao 3. i 4. klasa HS regruta, iz nekih cudnih razloga (tipa nemaju idealnu visinu i tezinu i sl.). U svakom slucaju jedan od mojih omiljenih NCAA programa.

trebalo bi da nastave sa dobrim rezultatima.

da dodam da im non stop prigovaraju da su u slaboj diviziji da imaju slabe protivnike. e sada evo rasporeda za sezonu pa nek svako oceni to.

2011 Schedule
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 2nd at Baylor
Sept. 10th at Air Force
Sept. 17th UL Monroe
Sept. 24th Portland State
Sept. 30th SMU
Oct. 8th at San Diego State
Oct. 22nd New Mexico
Oct. 28th BYU (Arlington, TX)
Nov. 5th at Wyoming
Nov. 12th at Boise State
Nov. 19th Colorado State
Dec. 3rd UNLV

pa nije baš ni tako slabo

By Mark Schlabach
ESPN.com


Florida Gators
If Will Muschamp is going to build an SEC contender in his first season as a head coach, the Gators will have to find playmakers on offense. Quarterback John Brantley had mixed results during spring practice, but the Gators were excited about tailback Chris Rainey's work in offensive coordinator Charlie Weis' pro-style attack. Former quarterbacks Trey Burton and Jordan Reed also adjusted well to their new roles on offense. The Gators suffered a big blow on defense when All-SEC cornerback Janoris Jenkins was dismissed from the team last week following his arrest on marijuana charges. Jenkins was arguably the Gators' best player on defense and top NFL prospect.

Florida Gators
By Tim Hyland

So Urban Meyer is gone, and the Will Muschamp era is upon us. Though I have my doubts about the Muschamp hire—good luck working with Charlie Weis, coach—the Gators probably stand to benefit from a fresh voice; one has to wonder, honestly, whether or not Meyer’s heart was really in it this past season. Weis’ experience should bolster the offense, and the defense should improve upon a less-than-stellar 2010 performance. Of course, the loss of star cornerback Janoris Jenkins won't help any.

By Amy Daughters (Texas Tech Featured Columnist)

Florida


When you think of the Gators next season, it's pretty easy to get caught up in the coaching changes, which are definitely worth dissection.

But beyond leadership and sideline stalkers Florida is a team that returns 13 starters in 2011 and is very young and largely inexperienced (but scarily talented).

Add in a schedule with a four-game run that includes a visit from Alabama, a road trip to LSU, a visit to Auburn and the annual meeting with Georgia and Jacksonville, and you have a huge question mark going into 2011.

It may take Muschamp and company more than a year to get it all sorted out in Gainesville, but watch out for this group in 2012

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
2011 PRESEASON TOP 25


Florida Gators
NATIONAL FORECAST #18
SEC East PREDICTION #2

HEAD COACH: Will Muschamp, First Season | OFF. COORDINATOR: Charlie Weis | DEF. COORDINATOR: Dan Quinn

OFFENSE

While there is a lot new about the 2011 Gators, there are some songs that remain the same. For one, there is the chirping about the quarterback. John Brantley returns for his senior season after the disaster that was 2010. Brantley was the recipient of much of the blame as the Gators stumbled to an 8–5 record. He ended up sharing the position with two other players for the last half of the season.

New coach Will Muschamp has made it clear that Brantley will be the starter despite a brutal performance in the spring game. Florida is hoping that new offensive coordinator Charlie Weis can salvage a good season out of his quarterback, who waited for his chance behind Tim Tebow, flopped badly and now has to learn a whole new offense.

Brantley will be playing behind a re-tooled offensive line and throwing to a group of receivers who have done little in their college careers. But Florida’s coaches believe players like wide receiver Quinton Dunbar and running back Chris Rainey are on the verge of something special. Rainey missed five games because of suspension last year and only had 366 yards, but he averaged 7.2 yards per carry. He will be featured in Weis’ offense. “I can see the field so much better and pick out the spots where I want to run,” Rainey says.

Last year’s other two quarterbacks have found a home, Jordan Reed at tight end and Trey Burton at fullback


DEFENSE

The Gators could very well be a team that relies on its defense, even though seven starters must be replaced. The backups a year ago received plenty of playing time and are poised to take on leading roles.

Florida should be better up front with sophomores Sharrif Floyd and Dominique Easley at tackles and Ronald Powell playing the hybrid end-linebacker Buck position — which Muschamp used when he was with the Miami Dolphins and had Jason Taylor.

Jelani Jenkins may be the key to the defense, because he’s got the talent to be an All-SEC player as an outside backer. The middle will be manned by Jon Bostic, who made a big impact last season. The secondary is a concern, especially after All-SEC cornerback Janoris Jenkins was dismissed from the team in late April following his second arrest in three months on possession of marijuana.

A year ago, Florida fared well statistically on defense, but some of the numbers were misleading. The Gators failed to make big plays when it mattered most in losses to Alabama, LSU, Mississippi State, South Carolina and Florida State.

SPECIALISTS

The biggest challenge on special teams will be to replace Chas Henry, the nation’s best punter a year ago who doubled as the field goal kicker. Caleb Sturgis returns from a back injury to be the placekicker, and freshman Kyle Christy is expected to handle the punting duties. Florida can be dynamic in the return game, with Andre Debose handling kickoffs and Rainey running back punts.


FINAL ANALYSIS

Florida has a team with young and mostly unproven talent and a coach who is in his first year. You add in one of the nation’s toughest schedules, and it could be a recipe for disaster. Of course, the last time Florida had a such a tough stretch the media nicknamed it “The Gauntlet.” That was in 2006, the year of Urban Meyer’s first national championship.

Muschamp put together a great staff to work with a team that is not short on talent. Don’t look for the Gators in a BCS bowl this year, but they will be a factor in the SEC East race.


FANTASY IMPACT

John Brantley was expected to become Florida’s next star at quarterback last year, but nothing on offense seemed to work. With a struggling offensive line and inconsistent play from the receivers, Brantley didn’t get much of a chance to succeed. New coordinator Charlie Weis should be a great fit for Brantley’s talents, assuming the line and receiving corps show improvement from last year. Consider the senior passer a QB4 or QB5 in fall drafts, with starting potential in select matchups.

With a new offensive scheme and coaching staff, there is a lot of uncertainty about Florida’s fantasy prospects after Brantley. Receiver Quinton Dunbar was the star of the spring and if he emerges as Brantley’s go-to target, will be worth a pickup off the waiver wire. Tight end Jordan Reed also has starting potential, but be sure to grab a good backup if he’s your No. 1 option at that position.

Key Player


John Brantley, QB The senior has all the tools and has a year’s worth of experience, but you have to wonder about his confidence level.

Chris Rainey, RB After a tumultuous 2010 season, Rainey returns with a new offense that will feature his many attributes.

Jelani Jenkins, LB Gator defense needs a big year from the talented but inconsistent outside linebacke

Florida Gators 2011

By Mark Schlabach
ESPN.com


Ohio State Buckeyes
There are so many off-field distractions at Ohio State that it's hard to imagine them not becoming an issue this coming season. Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel is suspended for the first five games of the season and might face even more punishment from the NCAA for witholding information concerning allegations that his players sold memorabilia to the owner of a tattoo parlor. Co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Luke Fickell will coach the Buckeyes during Tressel's absence. Quarterback Terrelle Pryor, receiver DeVier Posey, running back Dan Herron and two other starters also are suspended for the first five games for selling memorabilia. Senior Joe Bauserman will probably start at quarterback until Pryor is eligible to return at Nebraska on Oct. 8, although freshman Braxton Miller was OSU's most exciting quarterback during spring practice.

By Tim Hyland

Ohio State Buckeyes

There's no question the Buckeyes have talent—more talent than anyone in the Big Ten, actually. The only problem? A huge chunk of that talent won’t be available until Week 6. Terrelle Pryor (who may or may not play another game for the Buckeyes) and the Tattoo Five will serve five-game suspensions starting with Week 1 of the 2011 season, and while the Buckeyes don’t figure to need those guys early on (the only potential challenge will come from Michigan State), one has to wonder how the suspensions will impact the overall team chemistry. Oh, and then there's this little matter: Jim Tressel has been forced out, leaving Luke Fickell to pick up the pieces of a program in shambles. Not exactly a winning formula.

By Ryan Faller (Analyst)

Ohio State Buckeyes (2010 record: 12-1)

Foot surgery just may have kept Terrelle Pryor in an Ohio State uniform for another season.

If so, the Buckeyes should be in good shape for another run at a Big Ten title, despite high-profile suspensions and heavy losses on defense, particularly on the back end. Chimdi Chekwa is one of four starters in the secondary to leave.

By Amy Daughters

Ohio State

Well, at least we know now that Coach Tressel's successful (and now scandalous) 10-year tenure at Ohio State is finished; what we don't know is how many asterisks will be added to the record book due to failed compliance.

We also know that the "Tat Five" will miss the first five games of 2011; beyond that we are pretty sure that the Buckeyes return 13 starters from the 2010 team that went 12-1.

Regardless of what happens next and who is the new coach in Columbus, you have to figure Ohio State can manage at least eight wins, which keeps them in the Top 25, but a seventh consecutive BCS bid may be out of the question.

Ohio State is just too deep and talented to expect a free-fall to complete and utter mediocrity, under any circumstances.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
2011 PRESEASON TOP 25


Ohio State Buckeyes
NATIONAL FORECAST #9
Big Ten Leaders PREDICTION #1

HEAD COACH: Jim Tressel, 106–22 (10 years) | OFF. COORDINATOR: Jim Bollman | DEF. COORDINATOR: Jim Heacock, Luke Fickell

OFFENSE

Technically, the offense returns seven starters, but questions abound for this unit, especially considering the team’s decorated quarterback (Terrelle Pryor), 1,000-yard rusher (Dan Herron), top returning receiver (DeVier Posey) and best blocker (Mike Adams) all are slated to miss the first five games of the season because of an NCAA-imposed suspension.

At quarterback, for example, the coaches could opt for weathered backup Joe Bauserman, hot shot freshman Braxton Miller, pocket passer Taylor Graham or dual-threat Kenny Guiton in Pryor’s absence. The quartet will compete for the job well into fall camp.

“They all have their days,” tailback Jordan Hall says. “Some days some look better than the others, but they’re all working.”

Hall could lead the Buckeyes in rushing attempts, but the depth behind him is abundant. Jaamal Berry is ready to contribute regularly, and redshirt freshman Rod Smith appears poised to take over as the team grinder with Herron out.

Up front, Mike Brewster is the centerpiece. He’ll be flanked by physical, developing players who are more athletic than past OSU linemen. Tight end Jake Stoneburner also helps in the trenches, but he should be a more viable receiving option this season given the cast of no-names after Posey at wideout.


DEFENSE

Even with a relatively unproven defensive group, the coaches like the depth and athleticism on this side of the ball and believe the Buckeyes can improve on the totals of 23 sacks and 30 takeaways recorded last season.

Nate Williams and John Simon give the Buckeyes a pair of highly active and disruptive defensive linemen, and young Johnathan Hankins excels at plugging up the middle. Andrew Sweat and Etienne Sabino lead the linebacking corps and should lead the team in tackles.

The secondary typifies the whole defense — raw, athletically gifted and hungry. Travis Howard assumes the role of OSU’s top cover corner, and Tyler Moeller and Christian Bryant are playmakers. Safety is a bit of a concern, though, with Orhian Johnson and C.J. Barnett yet to put together a full season of consistent production.


SPECIALISTS

Once again, coach Jim Tressel will have a new placekicker. Once again, the Buckeyes should be productive from this spot. This time the top leg belongs to Drew Basil, who already has proven his worth on kickoffs. Ben Buchanan is back at punter and needs to improve on a rather weak average of 41.0 yards per kick. The return game was middling last season, and kick protection and coverage units were dreadful, which simply can’t continue.


FINAL ANALYSIS

This is a mystery team, to be sure, as even Tressel won’t be available on game day until Oct. 8 — and that’s when the Buckeyes visit Big Ten-newcomer Nebraska. Who Tressel will tab to run the offense is up in the air, and the wide receiver spot is, quite frankly, a mess.

Look for the Buckeyes to once again rely on an aggressive defense, work to get more consistent results on special teams and hope to find some sort of offensive identity by the time they travel to Miami (Fla.) in Week 3. The passing game could be pedestrian, but there is quality depth in the backfield. And OSU may finally have a versatile offensive line that can open holes in and out of the box.

Are the Buckeyes a BCS bowl team? It’s possible, even with all of the off-the-field drama. This is still Ohio State — it’s not as if the cupboard is bare.


FANTASY IMPACT

Fantasy players looking to Columbus for options in 2011 took a hit when Terrelle Pryor, Dan Herron and DeVier Posey were suspended for the first five games of 2011. In addition to the five-game suspension, the players didn’t catch a break with their first game back in the lineup against Nebraska. With essentially six weeks of the fantasy season out of the picture, Pryor, Herron and Posey each slide from a potential top-20 option at each position into the middle rounds of fall drafts.

With Posey sidelined, Ohio State will likely turn to tight end Jake Stoneburner and receiver Corey Brown as the top options for quarterbacks Joe Bauserman or Braxton Miller. Stoneburner should be one of the top sleeper picks at tight end this year. Filling in for Herron could be done by committee, with Rod Smith and Jordan Hall the ones to target in fall drafts as five-game rental