An early look at the Big Ten-Part 2

An early look at the Big Ten-Part 2

Brock Murphy continues his breakdown of the teams in the Big Ten in Part Two of his early look at the Conference.

Michigan State:  The most glaring offensive vacancy was created by receiver Devin Thomas' early declaration for the NFL Draft. Depending on Malcolm Kelly's ability to impress scouts coming off of his recent injury, Thomas could become the first pass-catcher taken in the draft.

The Spartans picked up a shade below 200 yards per game on the ground en route to producing the nation's 25th-ranked running attack.  Most of that production was courtesy of Javon Ringer (1,447 yards, 6 touchdowns). Ringer is back, but will not participate in spring ball in order to recover from a shoulder procedure. His vacancy this spring has allowed redshirt-freshman Andre Anderson to pick up some valuable snaps with the first-team offense. On advice from Ringer in a recent scrimmage, Anderson kept on eye on cut-back lanes and turned one pinched play into a 97-yard score.

Anderson was quick to point out that his defense kept him in check on his other thirteen carries (net one yard) and described a defense with a very strong defensive line and excessive speed at linebacker. Of course, speed can kill both ways and the defensive staff will no doubt use Anderson's cut-back score to hammer in the importance of controlling backside pursuit speed. Overall, though, the defense dominated the scrimmage, stoning the offense in its first eight possessions.

The front seven to which Anderson referred is rebuilt to account for the loss of ends Jonal Saint-Dic and Ervin Baldwin, nose tackle Ogembi Nwagbuo, and mike-linebacker, Kaleb Thornhill.  Trevor Anderson followed Dantonio to Michigan State and looks to take over one of the open end spots.
This spring, the staff has often moved Greg Jones from strongside linebacker to the middle.  Sometimes, 3-4 formations will be moved and Adam Decker will then move inside.  Jones and Decker have each had shining moments in spring scrimmages and, as Anderson pointed out, there is speed-galore when the starting 4-3 set of Brandon Denson, Jones and Eric Gordon is on the field.  The beauty for Spartan fans is that none of them is a senior.

Minnesota:  Head Coach Tim Brewster had other things on his mind than having his first Golden Gopher team finish 1-11. The offense had proper balance and averaged more than 400 yards per game (407). Not necessarily high-octane. But the production of that unit was too often destroyed either by turnovers (29 total) or, more often, the utter inability of the defense to stop anybody.

The Gophers were, literally, the lowest-ranked defense (119th of 119 teams) in the land last year (591 ypg). The futility was on both sides of the ball - the rushing defense finished ranked 114th (229 yards per game) while the pass defense finished 115th in the nation (289 yards per game).

The defensive backfield was dangerously thin in 2007 and that problem continues this spring. Including JUCO-transfer Tramaine Brock, who reported early, only six defensive backs were available this spring. Brock seems to have a lock on the free-safety spot.

The staff prays that help makes its way to Minneapolis this fall as several of the Gophers' top recruits were defensive backs, including speedy safeties Keanon Cooper (6-0, 190) and Simoni Lawrence (6-0, 207) and JUCO-transfer Traye Simmons (Rivals' #30 JUCO prospect) at cornerback.

The Gophers' recruiting gem was probably MarQueis Gray (Rival.com's #2 scrambler in '07). Of course, Gray must perform like every other player in the fall. However, if he is half as good as his potential, then, whether in narrow packages (Read: Tim Tebow's freshman season) or for entire series, fans should expect to see Gray introduce a new dimension to the offense in 2008.

Three of the linemen from the unit that allowed the fewest sacks in the Big Ten are back and that should help whoever lines up under center, including Brewster's own son, Clint, who led all passers in an April 11th scrimmage but that was only a 50% showing (seven of 14) for 102 yards.

Northwestern: Former Wildcat linebacker Pat Fitzgerald hired former-Wisconsin defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz to revive a defense that allowed 410 yards per game. The pass defense, in particular, needed an overhaul after allowing a 63% completion rate, nearly 12 yards per completion and 24 scores while managing to pick off only nine balls.

The offense must first rebuild the center and entire left side of its line. Not an enviable situation. Fortunately, experience abounds in the skill areas as quarterback C. J. Bacher, tailbacks Tyrell Sutton and Omar Conteh (combined 204 carries, 969 yards and nine touchdowns) and receivers Ross Lane (seven scores) and Eric Peterman (66 catches, 744 yards) return.

Bacher will work on consistency next season. He had an unbelievable two game stretch against Michigan State and Minnesota in the middle of last year (combined 990 yards, 9 touchdowns and no picks) but he ended the season by throwing 11 picks against only five scores in his last four games.

Middle linebacker Adam Kadela led the 'Cats in tackles last year and his graduation left a hole most likely to be filled by senior Malcolm Arrington (6-2, 235), a player with a reputation as a fierce hitter.

Ohio State: What else can you say than that they lost one consistent offensive starter (OL, Kirk Barton) and two defensive starters after competing for the national championship two consecutive times.

When linebacker James Laurinaitis and cornerback Malcolm Jenkins announced that they would return for their senior year, the Buckeyes launched themselves into contention as a preseason favorite to win it all in 2008.  Sophomore Thad Gibson (6-2, 240) has been a beast off the edge this spring and that could help the team quickly recover from the loss of Vernon Gholston, the only Buckeye who declared early to the NFL.

Gamebreaking speed was not pervasive in Ohio State's receiving core in 2007 but, this spring, bad luck has been. Brian Robiskie had his knee scoped, Ray Small rolled his ankle. Sophomore Taurian Washington was getting some good snaps this spring but he, too, rolled his ankle this spring.

Brian Hartline, however, is healthy and has been having a spectacular spring - both as a player and as an on-the-field leader. He and quarterback Todd Boeckman have obvious playmaking chemistry.
Brandon Saine is a player that Buckeye fans are licking their chops to see in action next season. He has not disappointed this spring. In one spring scrimmage, he showed mind-blowing potential when he caught a pitch, showed fantastic inside and outside cutting ability and then turned on a solid power game to complete a 23-yard touchdown run.

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