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Tuesday, May 6, 2008
LSU (12), Tennessee (15) make the TB Top 30
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Yesterday we gave you the bottom 10 in the TB Top 30 for the summer of 2008. Today we give you 11-20. Often this can be a tough group to pick because there are several who can quickly jump into the Top 10 with a couple of breaks.
Are there some teams here who absolutely deserve to be in the Top 10? If so, tell me why.
Come back on Wednesday for our Top 10, when we’ll crown our No. 1 team going into the summer.
11. Texas (10-3, 7 offense, 5 defense): New defensive coordinator Will Muschamp was hired away from Auburn to make the Longhorn defense a little meaner. So far, so good. If junior QB Colt McCoy regains his freshman form, Texas could beat Oklahoma in Dallas (on Oct. 11) to reach the Big 12 championship game.
12. LSU (12-2, 7 offense, 5 defense): The dismissal of QB Ryan Perrilloux won’t help in the short term, but if LSU finds a pair of reliable cornerbacks, the defense might carry this team back to the SEC championship game. But the road trips to Auburn (Sept. 20) and Florida (Oct. 11) look a little scary.
13. BYU (11-2, 10 offense, 3 defense): The Cougars will likley be this year’s Coalition conference entry into the BCS. Junior quarterback Max Hall (3,848 yards passing in 2007) threw for over 300 yards five times last season. Yes, there is work to do on defense but the schedule, which includes weak Pac-10 teams UCLA and Washington, is set up for a run at the BCS.
14. Arizona State (10-3, 7 offense, 7 defense): QB Rudy Carpenter (3,202 yards passing, 25 TD, 10 INT) is back to lead an offense that averaged 32.3 points per game last season. There are two glaring weaknesses that must be fixed. Arizona State gave up 55 quarterback sacks last season with a veteran offensive line. So rebuilding that unit won’t be a bad thing for the Sun Devils. Arizona State must also get better on defense. Based on spring practice it appears that has happened.
15. Tennessee (10-4, 8 offense, 6 defense): The Volunteers have a new offensive coordinator (Dave Clawson) and a new quarterback (Jonathon Crompton) but the offense looks good with a veteran line and at least four quality running backs. The concerns are on defense where the Volunteers cannot afford any injuries at tackle. The Volunteers get Florida and Alabama at home but must play Auburn and Georgia on the road.
16. Wisconsin (9-4, 8 offense, 9 defense): If RB John Clay, the gem of the 2007 Badger recruiting class, is the real deal, Wisconsin could be ranked much higher. Clay (6-2, 230) took a redshirt last season and is now ready to back up sophomore P.J. Hill to give the Badgers quite a 1-2 punch a running back. Wisconsin gets Ohio State at home (Oct. 4).
17. Texas Tech (9-4, 10 offense, 8 defense): With QB Graham Harrell (5,298 yards, 45 TD) and WR Michael Crabtree (125 catches, 1,861 yards) returning, we know that the Red Raiders are going to put up a lot of yards and a lot of points. What we don’t know is whether or not they’ll be able to play defense well enough to beat Texas or Oklahoma. JUCO transfer McKinner Dixon, who started at Texas Tech in 2005, could turn the defensive line from a weakness to a strength.
18. Pittsburgh (5-7, 8 offense, 7 defense): After closing last season with the stunning upset of No. 2 West Virginia, this is finally going to be the breakout season at Pittsburgh under coach Dan Wannstedt. Bill Stull returns as the starting quarterback after missing almost all of 2007 with a thumb injury. His experience combined with RB LeSean McCoy (1,328 yards as a freshman) should put the Panthers in position to challenge for the Big East title.
19. Virginia Tech (11-3, 6 offense, 4 defense): The Hokies have to rebuild one of the nation’s best defenses from last season. They kicked their best running back (Brandon Ore) off the team and the next two backs (Kenny Lewis, Jahre Cheesman) both got hurt during spring practice. Still, Virginia Tech will probably be picked to win the ACC Coastal again.
20. Kansas (12-1, 6 offense, 9 defense): Nine starters are back on defense but gone are coordinator Bill Young (to Miami) and CB Aquib Talib. The Jayhawks believe they can win beat Missouri (Nov. 29 in Kansas City) and win the Big 12 North because of QB Todd Reesing (3,486 yards, 33 TD) and wide receiver Dexton Fields (63 catches, 834 yards). The Jayhawks will miss RB Brandan McAnderson, a 1,000-yard rusher.
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