Big 12 braces for the end of an era

[carlfense]

LINK

[knapplc]

I like his unit rankings.

 

 

OFFENSIVE BACKFIELD

 

1. Texas A&M: Jerrod Johnson passed for more than 3,500 yards and two running backs ran for more than 750 last season.

 

2. Oklahoma: Coach Bob Stoops predicts a big year for RB DeMarco Murray.

 

3. Missouri: Blaine Gabbert and Derrick Washington provide passing and rushing threats, respectively.

 

4. Texas Tech: There are two good passers and three capable running backs.

 

5. Nebraska: RBs Roy Helu and Rex Burkhead are good, but quarterback play must get better.

 

6. Iowa State: Dual-threat QB Austen Arnaud is better than most realize.

 

7. Texas: The Longhorns have to boost a lackluster running game while breaking in a new quarterback.

 

8. Oklahoma State: Look for RB Kendall Hunter to come back strong from injury.

 

9. Baylor: Robert Griffin is the fastest quarterback in the country.

 

10. Colorado: RB Rodney Stewart is solid, but quarterback play has been mediocre.

 

11. Kansas State: Fingers crossed that RB Daniel Thomas can make up for poor quarterback play.

 

12. Kansas: The Jayhawks have a so-so running game and also are breaking in a new quarterback.

 

RECEIVERS

 

1. Texas A&M: Three returning receivers had more than 40 catches in '09 and they combined for 17 touchdown catches.

 

2. Texas Tech: Red Raiders receivers will put up big numbers. So what else is new?

 

3. Oklahoma: WR Ryan Broyles is a big play waiting to happen, but the Sooners need a reliable alternative target.

 

4. Texas: The Longhorns have great speed and some heralded freshmen coming in.

 

5. Missouri: WR Jerrell Jackson may be on the brink of a breakout season. The same goes for Rolandis Woodland.

 

6. Nebraska: The tight end position is solid. WR Niles Paul must be more consistent.

 

7. Colorado: Dependable WR Scotty McKnight is close to setting the school career receptions record.

 

8. Baylor: WR Kendall Wright had 66 catches in '09.

 

9. Iowa State: The Cyclones' receivers corps is solid but unspectacular.

 

10. Oklahoma State: As with Iowa State, this receivers corps is solid but unspectacular.

 

11. Kansas: The top two receivers are gone.

 

12. Kansas State: Transfers Chris Harper and Brodrick Smith must give the Wildcats a boost.

 

OFFENSIVE LINE

 

1. Nebraska: Coaches hope the addition of junior college transfer Jermarcus Hardrick at tackle helps this Huskers line resemble the powerful ones of old.

 

2. Oklahoma: Finally over injuries, the Sooners should be solid.

 

3. Texas: G Michael Huey and T Kyle Hix have All-Big 12 potential.

 

4. Missouri: C Tim Barnes heads a list of four returning starters up front.

 

5. Kansas State: The Wildcats had a 1,000-yard rusher last season and four line starters are back.

 

6. Kansas: T Tanner Hawkinson is the best of an experienced group.

 

7. Iowa State: Allowed only 16 sacks last season and blocked for a 1,000-yard rusher.

 

8. Colorado: Injuries were an issue in '09, when the Buffs ranked 113th in rushing and 117th in sacks allowed. T Nate Solder is a legit star.

 

9. Texas Tech: The Red Raiders are huge up front, but only two starters return from a group that allowed 31 sacks in '09.

 

10. Texas A&M: The Aggies have new starters at both tackle spots, including a true freshman.

 

11. Oklahoma State: The Cowboys have to replace four starters, including All-America T Russell Okung.

 

12. Baylor: The bigger Bears have to prove they're better Bears.

 

DEFENSIVE LINE

 

1. Nebraska: T Jared Crick and E Pierre Allen anchor what should be one of the country's best front fours.

 

2. Texas: Look for Sam Acho and Alex Okafor to lead a pass rush that is among the nation's fiercest.

 

3. Oklahoma: Excellence at ends, but questions at tackle.

 

4. Kansas State: Brandon Harold's return from injury gives immediate improvement.

 

5. Missouri: E Aldon Smith has all-conference ability. The tackles are unproven.

 

6. Oklahoma State: There is potential at end, but there are questions about the tackles.

 

7. Colorado: A lot of experience up front should foster improvement against the run.

 

8. Texas Tech: No lineman had more than three sacks a year ago.

 

9. Kansas: E Jake Laptad is coming off a strong season in '09.

 

10. Texas A&M: Already mediocre against the run, the Aggies now are going to a three-man front.

 

11. Iowa State: The Cyclones are soft vs. the run and lack a pass rush.

 

12. Baylor: T Phil Taylor has been a major disappointment since transferring from Penn State.

 

LINEBACKERS

 

1. Oklahoma: The Lewises (Travis and Ronnell, no relation) are beasts.

 

2. Texas: Keenan Robinson is an emerging star on the outside, and Emmanuel Acho is solid, too.

 

3. Nebraska: Sean Fisher and Will Compton were good as redshirt freshmen and should be even better as sophomores.

 

4. Texas A&M: Von Miller gives the Aggies perhaps the country's best pass rusher coming off the edge.

 

5. Missouri: Even without the departed Sean Weatherspoon, the Tigers are solid here.

 

6. Kansas State: The Wildcats were solid against the run in '09, but Troy Butler is only returning full-time starter at linebacker.

 

7. Kansas: Drew Dudley aims to build on an 88-tackle output.

 

8. Oklahoma State: Orie Lemon is back from injury, but everyone else is unproven.

 

9. Texas Tech: The Red Raiders are counting on Brian Duncan to excel in a switch to the 3-4.

 

10. Baylor: Despite losing two starters, the Bears could be solid here.

 

11. Colorado: Former backups have to distinguish themselves as starters.

 

12. Iowa State: There will be new starters at all three positions.

 

SECONDARY

 

1. Texas: Elite CB Aaron Williams and two other starters are back from a top-20 pass defense.

 

2. Nebraska: CBs Prince Amukamara and Alfonzo Dennard have pro potential. Both safeties will be new starters.

 

3. Oklahoma: The safeties are strong, especially FS Quinton Carter, but there are two new starters at corner.

 

4. Texas Tech: The Red Raiders allowed only 12 TD passes last season and three starters return.

 

5. Colorado: CBs Jimmy Smith and Jalil Brown each were credited with at least 10 pass breakups.

 

6. Kansas State: Although there are holes in the secondary, FS Tysyn Hartman will contend for postseason honors.

 

7. Iowa State: SS David Sims and CB Leonard Johnson are trying to build on solid seasons, but a pass rush would help.

 

8. Missouri: A switch to a 4-2-5 figures to boost the Tigers' pass defense.

 

9. Baylor: Freshmen Prince Kent and Ahmad Dixon need to make immediate contributions.

 

10. Kansas: The Jayhawks managed a league-low seven interceptions last season.

 

11. Oklahoma State: The Cowboys are counting on newcomers to improve a struggling secondary.

 

12. Texas A&M: The Aggies were last in the Big 12 in pass defense last season.

 

SPECIAL TEAMS

 

1. Nebraska: Alex Henery is an elite kicker and punter, and Niles Paul is dangerous on returns.

 

2. Oklahoma: The kicker is a concern, but punt returner Ryan Broyles and P Tress Way are tremendous.

 

3. Missouri: K Grant Ressel has great accuracy and the return teams are strong.

 

4. Oklahoma State: P Quinn Sharp is exceptional and K Dan Bailey is accurate inside 40 yards.

 

5. Texas: The return teams are dynamic, but the Longhorns have a new kicker.

 

6. Texas Tech: Eric Stephens set a school record with 823 yards on kickoff returns last season.

 

7. Kansas State: Kicking and punting are set, and the Wildcats always seem to find a dangerous return man.

 

8. Baylor: P Derek Epperson is a Ray Guy Award contender.

 

9. Kansas: K Jacob Bransteter has a strong leg, but he needs to improve his accuracy.

 

10. Iowa State: The kick coverage is good. Nothing else really is.

 

11. Colorado: K Aric Goodman is woefully unreliable.

 

12. Texas A&M: Did you see the Independence Bowl? Yikes.

 

COACHING STAFFS

 

1. Oklahoma: Six conference championships under Bob Stoops says it all.

 

2. Texas: Mack Brown consistently produces 10-win teams, DC Will Muschamp is elite and OC Greg Davis is under-appreciated.

 

3. Nebraska: In three years, Bo Pelini and Co. have transformed the Huskers from losers to title contenders.

 

4. Kansas State: Bill Snyder has 142 wins as Kansas State coach. Enough said.

 

5. Texas Tech: Tommy Tuberville won at Ole Miss and won big at Auburn.

 

6. Missouri: Gary Pinkel has led Missouri to the most successful five-year stretch in school history.

 

7. Oklahoma State: Dana Holgorsen on offense and Bill Young on defense form an impressive set of coordinators.

 

8. Texas A&M: The addition of new DC Tim DeRuyter offers hope.

 

9. Iowa State: In one year under Paul Rhoads, the Cyclones won a bowl game and beat Nebraska.

 

10. Baylor: Under Art Briles, the Bears no longer are a pushover.

 

11. Kansas: Though Turner Gill won a MAC championship at Buffalo, his record still is just 20-30.

 

12. Colorado: The Buffs have no winning records in four seasons under Dan Hawkins.

[HuskerNBigD]

Found it fairly satisfying that Gabbert was most overrated quarterback.....

[knapplc]

Found it fairly satisfying that Gabbert was most overrated quarterback.....

I don't agree with that assessment, by the way. He played each of those four games they talked about (against top-35 defenses) with a banged-up ankle on his plant foot. I think the kid did fine for his first major starting gig, and I think he'll be a handful this year in Lincoln.

[HuskerNLimbo]

4. Kansas State: Bill Snyder has 142 wins as Kansas State coach. Enough said.

 

I guess this is true. . .but odds are you are going to have a lot of wins when you're 108 years old.

[Malth]

How is Muschamp a better D coordinator than Pelini?

[Danny Bateman]

I was SHOCKED that they had us as the No. 1 O Line in the Big 12. Special Teams, D Line, and Secondary I understood, but the O Line and the Linebackers rankings shocked me quite a bit. This is one of those articles where you can tell Rivals has a pretty good idea about the league as a whole, but doesn't know some of the smaller details about each team.

 

Also, I just LOLd about Texas being one spot below ISU in the offensive backfield ratings. Take that GG! (gayest nickname ever)

[knapplc]

I was SHOCKED that they had us as the No. 1 O Line in the Big 12. Special Teams, D Line, and Secondary I understood, but the O Line and the Linebackers rankings shocked me quite a bit. This is one of those articles where you can tell Rivals has a pretty good idea about the league as a whole, but doesn't know some of the smaller details about each team.

 

That was the main thing that stuck out to me. I'd like to think they're right about our O Line, and we're hearing good things (aside from the Smith injury ), but until they line up and creamolish some people, I'm going to remain skeptical.

[mmmtodd]

I was SHOCKED that they had us as the No. 1 O Line in the Big 12. Special Teams, D Line, and Secondary I understood, but the O Line and the Linebackers rankings shocked me quite a bit. This is one of those articles where you can tell Rivals has a pretty good idea about the league as a whole, but doesn't know some of the smaller details about each team.

 

That was the main thing that stuck out to me. I'd like to think they're right about our O Line, and we're hearing good things (aside from the Smith injury ), but until they line up and creamolish some people, I'm going to remain skeptical.

[knapplc]

I was SHOCKED that they had us as the No. 1 O Line in the Big 12. Special Teams, D Line, and Secondary I understood, but the O Line and the Linebackers rankings shocked me quite a bit. This is one of those articles where you can tell Rivals has a pretty good idea about the league as a whole, but doesn't know some of the smaller details about each team.

 

That was the main thing that stuck out to me. I'd like to think they're right about our O Line, and we're hearing good things (aside from the Smith injury ), but until they line up and creamolish some people, I'm going to remain skeptical.

Cream + demolish = creamolish

 

It's science.

[808Husker in KCMO]

I was SHOCKED that they had us as the No. 1 O Line in the Big 12. Special Teams, D Line, and Secondary I understood, but the O Line and the Linebackers rankings shocked me quite a bit. This is one of those articles where you can tell Rivals has a pretty good idea about the league as a whole, but doesn't know some of the smaller details about each team.

 

That was the main thing that stuck out to me. I'd like to think they're right about our O Line, and we're hearing good things (aside from the Smith injury ), but until they line up and creamolish some people, I'm going to remain skeptical.

Cream + demolish = creamolish

 

It's Etymology

FYP

[knapplc]

I thought the "FYP" thing died years ago. Are people still doing that?

[808Husker in KCMO]

If by people, you mean me, then yes.

 

I like portmanteaus. FYP.

[zoogs]

I was SHOCKED that they had us as the No. 1 O Line in the Big 12. Special Teams, D Line, and Secondary I understood, but the O Line and the Linebackers rankings shocked me quite a bit. This is one of those articles where you can tell Rivals has a pretty good idea about the league as a whole, but doesn't know some of the smaller details about each team.

 

That was the main thing that stuck out to me. I'd like to think they're right about our O Line, and we're hearing good things (aside from the Smith injury ), but until they line up and creamolish some people, I'm going to remain skeptical.

Cream + demolish = creamolish

 

It's a portmanteau

FYP

 

FYFYP

[knapplc]

If by people, you mean me, then yes.

I don't know, man. Do you really think you fit the qualifications of a person? Let's see some ID, and two references.