Most of it is pretty good, except one glaring error at the top of the biggest shoes to fill.
1) 5 fearless predictions for the Big Ten
1. The Big Ten will play the best defense in America. Penn State and Purdue's great defenses get just about everyone back, Michigan and Ohio State will have their usual strong Ds, Wisconsin and Iowa will be more than fine when they get their lines in order, and Michigan State, Minnesota and Northwestern's defenses will be better.
2. You'll get sick of the "why can't all the Big Ten teams play each other" beef until Purdue loses. There's not a game on the schedule, with the possible exception of the home date with Iowa, that the Boilermakers will be the underdog and doesn't play Ohio State and Michigan.
3. Penn State will get just enough offense to pull off at least one huge win and get to a bowl game, but won't have enough to be a player in the Big Ten race. That doesn't mean Joe Paterno's team can't be in the mix for a little while thanks to its defense, but it's asking way too much of true freshmen Derrick Williams and Justin King to make the attack night-and-day better.
4. Northwestern will be the best team in college football with a horrible record. The offense is fantastic and there's enough talent on defense to stick around with just about anyone, but the schedule is too painful to push for a winning season.
5. Ohio State will be going to Ann Arbor on November 19th for a shot at the Rose Bowl and the national title. The Buckeyes aren't a be-all-end-all national title contender, but outside of the September home dates with Texas and Iowa, the slate isn't all that bad until the season finale.
2) 5 non-conference games that Big Ten teams had better take very, very seriously
1. Bowling Green at Wisconsin, Sept. 3 - Yeah, everybody respects Omar Jacobs and the Bowling Green offense, but a Badger loss to the Falcons would still be a Big Ten home loss to the MAC.
2. Purdue at Arizona, Sept. 17 - The potential dream Boilermaker season could go kaput early on against Desert Swarm II. The Arizona defense has the secondary to make life difficult for Brandon Kirsch.
3. Wisconsin at Hawaii, Nov. 26 - Even with bowl games on the line, tired teams let down their guard when they make the jump across the pond in late November. Just ask Northwestern and Michigan State.
4. Miami University at Ohio State, Sept. 3 - Miami might be the MAC's best team, while Ohio State will be looking ahead to the showdown with Texas the following week.
5. Iowa at Iowa State, Sept. 10 - With a trip Ohio State looming, September could be an ugly month if Iowa has problems with the rivalry road game in Ames.
3) 5 best Big Ten pro prospects
1. Purdue DE Ray Edwards,Jr. - The prototype NFL defensive end, Edwards is 6-6, 270 pounds and speedy. He's strong enough to be like a third tackle against the run, and quick enough off the edge to be one of the Big Ten's most dangerous pass rushers.
2. Iowa LB Chad Greenway, Sr. - Greenway went from being a good tackler to a great all-around player with three interceptions and another defensive back in pass coverage. He never, ever missed a one-on-one tackle and is strong at shedding blocks and stopping the run.
3. Ohio State WR/KR Ted Ginn Jr., Soph. - One of the nation's most talented players, Ginn Jr. is pure lightning as a kick returner, corner, quarterback, runner and receiver. He's being mostly used on offense, but the defensive coaches are desperate to get him on their side as a shutdown defensive back. Ginn has been lobbying for the role as well. He was second on the team with 25 catches for 359 yards and two touchdowns, ran 13 times for 113 yards and two scores, and returned four punts for touchdowns. Expect him to once again be a jack of all trades and the coaching staff to find a way to get the ball in his hands at least 10-15 times per game.
4. Minnesota RB Laurence Maroney, Jr. - One of the nation's best running backs, the 5-11, 205-pound junior has rushed for 2,469 yards and 22 touchdowns in his first two years mainly as a backup behind Marion Barber III averaging 6.5 yards per carry. Even so, he led the team in rushing and is a better home run hitter than the departed Barber. With speed, quickness and workhorse ability, he should be in for a huge season as the team's featured player.
5. Michigan OT Jake Long, Jr. - One of the most talented prospects to hit the Michigan line in a while, the 6-7, 338-pound junior will be a first day draft pick, and likely a first round selection. He has the talent to be an All-American this if he continues to progress and becomes more consistent.
4) 5 biggest Big Ten shoes to fill
*1. Michigan WR Steve Breaston for Braylon Edwards - After all of the hype and all of the shenanigans, it's finally time for Michael's little brother to make a name for himself for doing something on the field. While he's not Michael (no one is), he's an electrifying runner and showed this spring that he's an improved passer. He started off listed third on the depth chart after returning to the team in January, but he was named the starter after spring ball being handed the reins to the attack.
2. Wisconsin DE Jason Chapman for Ersamus James - The 6-4, 280-pound Champan is big enough to be counted on as a reliable tackle behind Justin Ostrowski or get the start at left end in place of James. He's quick and strong enough to be a strong run stopper.
3. Michigan SS Brandent Englemon for Ernest Shazor ... He isn't all that big, but he's strong with decent range and good hitting ability. He should grow into one of the team's top tacklers after a few weeks of work.
4. Iowa DE Ken Iwebema for Matt Roth ... With good quickness, the 246-pound Iwebema will be asked to be one of the team's better pass rushers right away. He didn't see a whole bunch of time as a freshman and will have to work through young mistakes through the early part of the season with most coming against the run.
5. Northwestern RB Terrell Jordan for Noah Herron - The senior has averaged 5.1 yards per carry over the last few years with 568 yards rushing for 315 yards and three scores last season. He has great quickness, good power and decent hands, but he's trying to get over a hamstring problem and has to prove he can be a workhorse.
5) 5 Big Ten breakout players
1. Wisconsin RB Brian Calhoun, Jr. - Call this the year to make amends. The Milwaukee native slipped through Barry Alvarez's recruiting fingers and went to Colorado where he had moderate success as a change-of-pace speed back rushing for 1,108 yards. He sat out last year transferring to Wisconsin where he'll add a bit of Anthony Davis-like flash to the backfield.
2. Michigan LB Prescott Burgess, Jr. - The former safety spent last year as a backup linebacker on the inside. He has the range and speed to be a tone-setting star on the outside. Expect him to be one of the team's leading tacklers.
3. Iowa RB Marques Simmons, Sr. - The former Nebraska transfer started off well with 194 yards and a team-leading three rushing touchdowns in six games before getting knocked out for the year with an ankle injury. The 5-8, 202-pound pinball it tremendously fast as one of the Big XII's best sprinters when he was with the Huskers. Now he'll bring that speed to the full-time role for Iowa where he'll be expected to become a home-run hitter.
4. Ohio State RB Erik Haw, RFr. - Haw could have the best combine skills of any Buckeye running back since Robert Smith. He's a strong 6-1 and 210 pounds with 4.3, track star speed. Used as a scout teamer last year, he'll be given every shot at taking over the starting job.
5. Ohio State LB Marcus Freeman, Soph. - A starter just about anywhere else, the 230-pound freeman will wait his turn on the strongside behind Bobby Carpenter and will play on special teams. He's a lightning fast defender with great tackling skills. He needs to be more in the mix.
1) 5 fearless predictions for the Big Ten
1. The Big Ten will play the best defense in America. Penn State and Purdue's great defenses get just about everyone back, Michigan and Ohio State will have their usual strong Ds, Wisconsin and Iowa will be more than fine when they get their lines in order, and Michigan State, Minnesota and Northwestern's defenses will be better.
2. You'll get sick of the "why can't all the Big Ten teams play each other" beef until Purdue loses. There's not a game on the schedule, with the possible exception of the home date with Iowa, that the Boilermakers will be the underdog and doesn't play Ohio State and Michigan.
3. Penn State will get just enough offense to pull off at least one huge win and get to a bowl game, but won't have enough to be a player in the Big Ten race. That doesn't mean Joe Paterno's team can't be in the mix for a little while thanks to its defense, but it's asking way too much of true freshmen Derrick Williams and Justin King to make the attack night-and-day better.
4. Northwestern will be the best team in college football with a horrible record. The offense is fantastic and there's enough talent on defense to stick around with just about anyone, but the schedule is too painful to push for a winning season.
5. Ohio State will be going to Ann Arbor on November 19th for a shot at the Rose Bowl and the national title. The Buckeyes aren't a be-all-end-all national title contender, but outside of the September home dates with Texas and Iowa, the slate isn't all that bad until the season finale.
2) 5 non-conference games that Big Ten teams had better take very, very seriously
1. Bowling Green at Wisconsin, Sept. 3 - Yeah, everybody respects Omar Jacobs and the Bowling Green offense, but a Badger loss to the Falcons would still be a Big Ten home loss to the MAC.
2. Purdue at Arizona, Sept. 17 - The potential dream Boilermaker season could go kaput early on against Desert Swarm II. The Arizona defense has the secondary to make life difficult for Brandon Kirsch.
3. Wisconsin at Hawaii, Nov. 26 - Even with bowl games on the line, tired teams let down their guard when they make the jump across the pond in late November. Just ask Northwestern and Michigan State.
4. Miami University at Ohio State, Sept. 3 - Miami might be the MAC's best team, while Ohio State will be looking ahead to the showdown with Texas the following week.
5. Iowa at Iowa State, Sept. 10 - With a trip Ohio State looming, September could be an ugly month if Iowa has problems with the rivalry road game in Ames.
3) 5 best Big Ten pro prospects
1. Purdue DE Ray Edwards,Jr. - The prototype NFL defensive end, Edwards is 6-6, 270 pounds and speedy. He's strong enough to be like a third tackle against the run, and quick enough off the edge to be one of the Big Ten's most dangerous pass rushers.
2. Iowa LB Chad Greenway, Sr. - Greenway went from being a good tackler to a great all-around player with three interceptions and another defensive back in pass coverage. He never, ever missed a one-on-one tackle and is strong at shedding blocks and stopping the run.
3. Ohio State WR/KR Ted Ginn Jr., Soph. - One of the nation's most talented players, Ginn Jr. is pure lightning as a kick returner, corner, quarterback, runner and receiver. He's being mostly used on offense, but the defensive coaches are desperate to get him on their side as a shutdown defensive back. Ginn has been lobbying for the role as well. He was second on the team with 25 catches for 359 yards and two touchdowns, ran 13 times for 113 yards and two scores, and returned four punts for touchdowns. Expect him to once again be a jack of all trades and the coaching staff to find a way to get the ball in his hands at least 10-15 times per game.
4. Minnesota RB Laurence Maroney, Jr. - One of the nation's best running backs, the 5-11, 205-pound junior has rushed for 2,469 yards and 22 touchdowns in his first two years mainly as a backup behind Marion Barber III averaging 6.5 yards per carry. Even so, he led the team in rushing and is a better home run hitter than the departed Barber. With speed, quickness and workhorse ability, he should be in for a huge season as the team's featured player.
5. Michigan OT Jake Long, Jr. - One of the most talented prospects to hit the Michigan line in a while, the 6-7, 338-pound junior will be a first day draft pick, and likely a first round selection. He has the talent to be an All-American this if he continues to progress and becomes more consistent.
4) 5 biggest Big Ten shoes to fill
*1. Michigan WR Steve Breaston for Braylon Edwards - After all of the hype and all of the shenanigans, it's finally time for Michael's little brother to make a name for himself for doing something on the field. While he's not Michael (no one is), he's an electrifying runner and showed this spring that he's an improved passer. He started off listed third on the depth chart after returning to the team in January, but he was named the starter after spring ball being handed the reins to the attack.
2. Wisconsin DE Jason Chapman for Ersamus James - The 6-4, 280-pound Champan is big enough to be counted on as a reliable tackle behind Justin Ostrowski or get the start at left end in place of James. He's quick and strong enough to be a strong run stopper.
3. Michigan SS Brandent Englemon for Ernest Shazor ... He isn't all that big, but he's strong with decent range and good hitting ability. He should grow into one of the team's top tacklers after a few weeks of work.
4. Iowa DE Ken Iwebema for Matt Roth ... With good quickness, the 246-pound Iwebema will be asked to be one of the team's better pass rushers right away. He didn't see a whole bunch of time as a freshman and will have to work through young mistakes through the early part of the season with most coming against the run.
5. Northwestern RB Terrell Jordan for Noah Herron - The senior has averaged 5.1 yards per carry over the last few years with 568 yards rushing for 315 yards and three scores last season. He has great quickness, good power and decent hands, but he's trying to get over a hamstring problem and has to prove he can be a workhorse.
5) 5 Big Ten breakout players
1. Wisconsin RB Brian Calhoun, Jr. - Call this the year to make amends. The Milwaukee native slipped through Barry Alvarez's recruiting fingers and went to Colorado where he had moderate success as a change-of-pace speed back rushing for 1,108 yards. He sat out last year transferring to Wisconsin where he'll add a bit of Anthony Davis-like flash to the backfield.
2. Michigan LB Prescott Burgess, Jr. - The former safety spent last year as a backup linebacker on the inside. He has the range and speed to be a tone-setting star on the outside. Expect him to be one of the team's leading tacklers.
3. Iowa RB Marques Simmons, Sr. - The former Nebraska transfer started off well with 194 yards and a team-leading three rushing touchdowns in six games before getting knocked out for the year with an ankle injury. The 5-8, 202-pound pinball it tremendously fast as one of the Big XII's best sprinters when he was with the Huskers. Now he'll bring that speed to the full-time role for Iowa where he'll be expected to become a home-run hitter.
4. Ohio State RB Erik Haw, RFr. - Haw could have the best combine skills of any Buckeye running back since Robert Smith. He's a strong 6-1 and 210 pounds with 4.3, track star speed. Used as a scout teamer last year, he'll be given every shot at taking over the starting job.
5. Ohio State LB Marcus Freeman, Soph. - A starter just about anywhere else, the 230-pound freeman will wait his turn on the strongside behind Bobby Carpenter and will play on special teams. He's a lightning fast defender with great tackling skills. He needs to be more in the mix.
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