Collaros was quoted last month that Teague is the most impressive freshman he has ever seen; the kid knows the playbook, has all the moves and is thick from the waist down. I expect big things from Ohio's 2010 Mr. Football.
As far as this season goes, I think UC rebounds to have an 8-4/9-3 type season. I think this defense is going to play with a huge chip on its shoulder. This is the first time in three years the defense has the same coaching staff so there is not that learning curve. As to the offense, as long as UC holds onto the ball I don't see anyone in the Big East to stop them. I find it hard to believe that UC will have as much difficulty holding onto the ball as they did last season. The turnover margin last year was so awful it was comical.
Another reason I think UC reubounds this year is that I have serious questions about the rest of the league. It is funny to read other teams boards to see them crow about how good their squad is (I think the WVU fans have already determined they will win every game by 3 TDs or more). Her is what I see in a nutshell
1- UCONN- They will have a solid defense returning but what offense? Their QB, RB and WR positions still have yet to be filled at this time. They have a new coach who has not been a HC in about five years.
2- Louisville- Like WVU, here is another fan base that is a bit delusional. They have made major strides since the Kragthorpe years, but don't quite go calling yourself the new Miami Hurricanes just yet. They lost 24 seniors from last year. The major talent Strong has reeled in are still either true or redshirt freshmen for the most part.
3- Pitt. New coach with a major overhaul on offense. Last year, many assumed UC would not miss a beat because Butch Jones followed BK at CMU and took the Chips to new heights. Graham will have to re-invent the wheel here, moving from a pro formation to a spread formation. I think we all know to well the growing pains that come from this major kind of overhaul.
4- Rutgers. Rutgers is Rutgers. Schiano recruits as well as anyone in the conference but until Rutgers actually lives up to their potential, I am not ready to take them seriously. Maybe this is the year they prove me wrong, but all I know is UC has put up 117 pts on them in two years.
5- Syracuse. I think they are better than they were in the past (god knows that is not hard). I do think they got a few lucky bounces their way last year which catapaulted them to the Pinstripe Bowl. However, I am not ready to say the Cuse is back to the Donovan McNabb era just yet. They had a rough off season where they had players kicked off the team for off the field incidents, another player stabbed and just today lost their starting safety to a broken jaw. These sort of things have a way of coming back to haunt you during the regular season.
6- USF. Looks like Skip Holtz did last year what Jim Leavitt could never do- win football games in October and November. I think the Bulls could make a run for the conference championship but I still think BJ Daniels has not shown consistency just yet. Last year Holtz pulled Daniels for the back-up.
7- WVU. New HC and new playbook. Their OL was questionable last year and they lost RB Noel Devine. They might be starting a true freshman RB this year. The lose 7 starters on defense. Sorry Mountaineer fans, you probably have enough talent to win a lot of games in this conference, but I question whether you are good enough to win the Big East.
