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Philadelphia (5-4-1) Eagle fans – a warm and cuddly bunch by nature – have been screaming for heads since their crew finished with a 13-13 tie on Sunday at Cincinnati in which Coach Andy Reid continued to ignore the running game (23 passes vs. 5 rushes first half) and QB Donovan McNabb (227 of 382 for 2711 yards, 14 TD, 8 INT) threw 30 incomplete passes (28 of 58 for 339 yards, TD, 3 INT) including 3 caught by Bengals plus added a lost fumble. Further fueling the fire was the fact that many Philadelphia players – not just 10-year veteran McNabb – had no idea that no second overtime was waiting after the first extra frame expired in a deadlock! OK, with many connections to pro and college players over the years we can attest that these guys know more about coverages, systems, and schemes than what 98% of the viewers think they are seeing during a play but when it comes to the more geekafied points like statistics, records, and the more esoteric rules they are clueless compared to the average Arm-Chair Charlie. Counting ourselves in the Charlie group, combined with time spent around these guys, this seemingly odd hole in their knowledge came as absolutely no surprise to us. The comparisons of football to the military have been done (ground attack, aerial assault, gridiron, scrimmage, the bomb, flanker, field general, and many more) and these players see their job as playing the game, with the best teams those that most consistently and without question execute the strategy of the coaching staff whom holds the responsibility for these finer points. Anyway, every Charlie knows you have to run the ball in this league to win championships and Philadelphia just doesn’t consistently. 95.3 yards per game on the ground ranks 25th in the NFL and with an offensive line led by 6’7” 335 LT Tra Thomas (160 career starts) and 6’7” 330 LT Jon Runyan there’s just no lack of talent or beef to pound out the yards. Sure, 3rd-year 6’3” 338 RG Max Jean-Gilles is playing for Shane Andrews (out recovering from back surgery) but with a solid 4-0 yards per rush through 11 games, play calling is the only thing stooping RB Brian Westbrook (123 for 508 and 6 TD) and RB Correll Buckhalter (57 for 233 and 2 TD). At least Reid gets this pair of superb all-around athletes the ball in the passing game (combined 53 catches for 465 yards and 3 TD) but there just is no substitute for lining up and pounding the ball for what it can yield later in the game. As one would expect, the stat sheets for most of Philly’s receivers are filled but we are impressed by the job done by backup 6’4” 255 2nd-year TE Brent Celek (17 for 239 yards) and 5’10” 175 rookie WR DeSean Jackson (42 for 652 and TD receiving, 12 for 80 and TD rushing, 10.3 per punt return and TD) who has seized a starting job over Reggie Brown (13 for 192 and TD) and others.
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Buffalo (5-3) dropped a 17-26 home loss at Ralph Wilson Stadium last week to the Jets, managing just 30 yards rushing on 17 attempts and committing 3 turnovers – including an interception returned for a score and another inside their own 10 yard line. First place is a still a nice place to be but with New York and New England also at 5-3 and Miami just a game back at 4-4, the Bills’ tie-breaking 0-2 divisional mark makes this week critical. Consistent production on offense has been an issue for Coach Dick Jauron’s crew this season and you need to look no further than the offensive line for the reason. The NFL loves big guys but LT Peters, LG Derrick Dockery, C Melvin Fowler, RG Brad Butler (missed last pair but should go this week), and RT Langston Walker are basically overfed (332 pounds per man) under-performers. All ranging between 3 and 7 season of NFL experience, this group should be in it’s prime but 93.8 rush yards per game at just 3.6 yards per rush – despite quality 2nd year backs Marshawn Lynch (132 for 466 and 6 TD, 27 for 19 receiving) and Fred Jackson (56 for 223 and TD rush, 21 for 179 receiving) – isn’t getting the job done and 23 sacks allowed hasn’t done any favors for 6’4” 231 QB Trent Edwards (151 of 22 for 1725 yards, 6 TD, 5 INT). Finding the Bills’ small wide receivers 5’10” 197 Lee Evans (35 for 678 and 3 TD), 5’9” 171 Roscoe Parrish (13 for 133 and TD), and 5’10” 210 Josh Reed (26 for 288, missed last week with ankle) isn’t easy over this behemoth line and nearly impossible while running for your life. TE Robert Royal (24 for 251 and TD) has been a strong producer underneath as have been backs Lynch and Jackson but this rushing game must produce to get more done downfield. 18 turnovers bring Buffalo into this week with a –5 margin.
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Oregon (6-2, 4-1 PAC 10) pounded Arizona State 54-20 last trip out, doing what they do best – running the ball with authority – but also saw improvement in the passing game led by JUCO-transfer quarterback, 5’11” 214 sophomore QB Jeremiah Masoli. A series of serious injuries at the position gave the former City College of San Francisco standout a shot and his wheels (56 for 391 yards and 2 TD rushing) plus his improving ability to get the ball downfield (68 of 122 for 726 yards, 6 TD, 2 INT) have kept the starting role his, even though 6’5” 204 sophomore QB Justin Roper (44 of 80 for 570 yards, 3 TD, 4 INT) is back from a knee injury. At Arizona State, Masoli even earned PAC 10 Offensive Player of the Week honors partly due to his 17 completions in 26 attempts for 147 yards and a score before handing the reigns to Roper for the fourth quarter. Offensive Coordinator Chip Kelly’s teams have racked 600+ yards in a game 6 separate times since coming on at the beginning of 2007 and he could be happier with the added option of attacking through the air again. With all the injuries at the trigger, Kelly has employed all of his top receivers plus 6’5” 243 junior TE ED Dickson (23 catches for 310 yards and TD) in the rushing game just to get these athletes touches and as the ability to get vertical improves we expect 6’5” 242 senior WR Jaison Williams (25 for 331 and 3 TD), 6’1” 175 sophomore WR Jeff Maehl (28 for 263 and 2 TD), and 6’0” 171 senior WR Terence Scott (29 for 383 and 3 TD) to balance out this offense at make the Ducks even more dangerous than the 41.5 points and 479.9 yards per game they average heading into this week. Of course, when you talk Oregon football, you still have to address their simply dominating ground attack. Four seniors man a line that busts holes for a 5th in the nation 278.8 yards per game rushing at 6.0 yards per attempt and 30 touchdowns. The Ducks have bested the 300+ yards rushing mark in 5 of their 8 games this season led by the tandem of 5’10” 200 speedy senior RB Jeremiah Johnson (98 for 573 yards and 9 TD) and 6’2” 229 bruising junior RB LeGarrette Blount (90 for 650 and 12 TD). Past late seasons have been short-circuited by Duck injuries at the quarterback position…this one may be helped by them.
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Vanderbilt (5-1, 3-1 SEC) took their first loss of the season last week, 14-17 at Mississippi State, in which they scuffled badly on offense with just 107 totals yards, prompting Coach Bobby Johnson to make a change at the trigger. Out is 6’1” 212 senior QB Chris Nickson (36 of 70 for 311 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT) who’s rushing skills (73 for 317 yards and 6 TD) have earned him all 6 starts this season. In is 6’3” 215 junior QB Mackenzi Adams (21 of 37 for 231 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT) who’s superior arm earned 6 starts in 2007 (101 of 182 for 1043 yards and 9 TD) and has sparked the Commodores offense off the bench repeatedly this season. He sure can’t hurt a Vanderbilt passing game that is averaging a measly 90.3 yards per game on just 5.0 yards per attempt. This is good news for receivers Sean Walker (15 for 198 and TD), Jaime Graham (6 for 40) and Justin Wheeler (11 for 105 and TD) plus tight end Brandon Braden (10 for 93 and 2 TD). Each of these kids is a quality player and have been underutilized with Nickson under center. Coordinator Ted Cain needed to draw up running plays for Walker (10 for 108 yards and TD) and Graham (6 for 49 and TD) just to get the ball into the hands of his best athletes. Still, the ground game that has averaged 159.8 yards per game at 4.1 yards per attempt will be the centerpiece of Vandy’s attack. The line of 6’5” 275 sophomore LT Reilly Lauer, 6’3” 295 junior LG Ryan Custer, 6’3” 292 junior C Bradley Vierling, 6’2” 290 junior Nick Forte, and 6’7” 305 junior RT Thomas Welch make up the best group this team has fielded in years, paving the way for 5’10” 202 junior RB Jared Hawkins (79 for 333 yards and 3 TD rushing, 4 for 22 yards and TD receiving) to lead a squad that has banked 12 rushing scores in 2008. Against Georgia’s brutal rush defense, this unit must get off first.
Defensive Coordinator Bruce Fowler loves to send them and the results through 6 games have been big plays aplenty. The pressure that has racked up the SEC’s best 19 sacks has also been key to generating a whopping 11 interceptions and 4 fumble recoveries. 6’5” 272 junior LDE Steve Stone (14 T, 4 TFL, 3 S), 6’4” 290 junior LDT Greg Billinger (14 T, 3 ½ TFL, 2 S, BLK), 6’4” 285 sophomore RDT Adam Smotherman (7 T, 2 S), and 6’5” 230 Broderick Stewart (9 T, 4 TFL, 2 S, FF) plus backup end 6’3” 278 freshman TJ Greenstone (12 T, 4 ½ TFL) all have chased down quarterbacks this season as have each member of the speedy linebacking corps of 6’0” 220 junior WLB Patrick Benoist (44 T, 5 ½ TFL, 2 S), 6’0” 225 freshman MLB Chris Marve (33 T, 2 TFL, S, FF), and 6’5” 228 sophomore SLB John Stokes (8 T, 1 ½ S) plus backup 6’3” 218 junior LB Brent Trice (8 T, 2 S, FF, FR). No less than 12 different Commodores have recorded sacks this season and this front 7 is here to tell you that Vanderbilt isn’t the laugher on your schedule that it used to be. Maybe the best player Coach Johnson has to work with is 5’10” 182 senior RCB DJ Moore. Not only has Moore averaged 19.7 yards per punt return and 22.5 yards per kick return but he has been all over the ball on defense. 17 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and a sack, a forced fumble, a recovered fumble, and 2 picks fill up the stat sheet even though opponents rarely choose to test Moore. 6’3” 202 junior LCB Myron Lewis (31 ½ T, 4 TFL, 3 S, 2 INT) has been more than up to the task he takes on with a physical style. Fielding the middle are 6’2” 212 senior SS Reshard Langford (31 T, 2 INT) and 6’2” 210 FS Ryan Hamilton (33 T, 2 TFL, S, 3 INT, 2 FR, FF). Each of these kids brings major pop and dynamite ball skills to the table. By the numbers, Vanderbilt’s defense has allowed 16.3 points on 318.7 yards per game and the way they turn the ball over, they have the ability to shock any team in the nation on any given Saturday.
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Penn State (6-0, 2-0 Big 10) maintained their standing as the Big 10’s #1 offense and #1 defense in a grind it out 20-6 win at Purdue last week, the first of 4 road trips over 5 weeks that will be critical to the Lion’s National Championship hopes. Balance is the key for Coach Joe Paterno’s (378-125-3 in 43rd season) offense with 256.7 yards of rushing (at 6.1 yards per carry and 21 TD) versus 243.0 yards of passing (at 8.6 yards per attempt and 12 TD) combining for the nation’s 7th best mark of 44.8 points per contest. With first year starter 6’2” 235 junior Daryll Clark (80 of 124 for 1116 yards, 9 TD, 1 INT) at the trigger, offensive line play was going to be key and this crew is one of the better in the country. 6’1” 300 senior C A.Q. Shipley leads a squad of 4 returning starters joined this season by 6’3” 294 sophomore RG Stephan Wisnewski who brings the same intensity as his father and uncle (Raiders standout Steve) – each former All Americans. Both 6’1” 211 sophomore RB Evan Royster (84 for 659 and 8 TD) and 5’10” 294 freshman RB Stephon Green (53 for 368 and 4 TD) have run wild behind this crew but it’s the trio of veteran Nittany Lion senior receivers that set this offense apart. 6’0” 190 Derrick Williams (19 for 240 and TD), 5’10” Deon Butler (19 for 311 and 2 TD), and 5’11” 171 Jordan Norwood (18 for 318 and 4 TD) have combined for 422 career catches and each has a season to set the school record before season’s end. The game plan so far has been conservative to allow QB Clark the opportunity to develop but these kids without a doubt represent another gear that will be unleashed down the homestretch and gives Paterno a legitimate shot and going out on top.
Coordinator Tom Bradley’s defensive unit has been stiff throughout, allowing the nation’s 9th best mark at 11.7 points per game on 80.2 rushing yards (2.5 yards per rush and 4 TD) and 170.2 passing yards (5.4 yards per attempt and 4 TD), despite being without one of the country’s most productive players much of the young season. 6’2” 262 junior DE Maurice Evans (7 T, S) tallied 21 ½ tackles for loss and 12 ½ sacks in 2007 but a marijuana bust benched him for 3 games. In his absence, 6’4” 245 sophomore LDE Aaron Maybin (23 T, 9 TFL, 7 S) has exploded opposite of 6’1” 273 senior RDE Josh Gaines (20 T, 5 ½ TFL, 3 ½ S) leaving Evans in a part-time role since his return – likely costing him millions. Tackles Odrick and Ogbu each tip the scales around 300 pounds plus 6’2” 238 senior OLB Tyrell Sales (31 T, FF) and 6’2” 239 junior MLB Josh Hull (32 T, INT, 2 TFL) are each strong tacklers but the young kid to watch this front 7 is Navorrow Brown. The 6’1” 228 sophomore OLB has seemingly been everywhere with 52 tackles, 7 ½ tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and a pick! Get past these kids and a dynamite secondary is waiting led by 6’0” 197 senior FS Antonio Scirrotto (29 T, FR, INT). 6’2” 220 senior SS Mark Rubin (24 T, TFL, INT), 5’10” 192 senior LCB Tony Davis (13 T, INT), and 6’1” 197 junior A.J. Wallace (11 T) round out the base set but Penn State might be even better in the nickel. Sales comes out and 5’10” 190 sophomore CB Drew Astorino comes in where he has racked up 21 tackles including one for loss plus 2 of the team’s 9 interceptions.
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Oregon (4-1, 2-0 PAC 10) crushed Washington State last week by the score of 63-14 while racking up 507 yards of total offense – a mark that actually drops their season average to 531.6 yards per game (47.4 points per game), despite being forced to play 4 different quarterbacks due to numerous injuries. The Ducks have actually lost 5 QBs to injury over their last 9 games and that doesn’t include this season’s projected starter Nate Costa who was lost to a knee injury in fall practice. Sophomore QB Justin Roper (40 of 76 for 484 yards, 2 TD, 4 INT) was expected to be back after partially tearing his MCL on September 13th but a flu bug is complicating the return so we expect 5’11” 214 sophomore QB Jeremiah Masoli (28 of 48 for 381 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT) to get the call. Masoli’s junior college transfer from City College of San Francisco, where he won the 2007 National JUCO Championship, didn’t seem big news at the time but he’s spread the ball around well enough to 6’5” 243 junior TE Ed Dickson (20 for 266 and 2 TD), 6’5” 242 senior WR Jaison Williams (20 for 188 and 3 TD), 6’1” 175 sophomore WR Jeff Maehl (18 for 205 and 2 TD), and 6’0” 171 senior WR Terrence Scott (18 for 271 and 2 TD) to keep 14th-year Coach Mike Belotti’s crew on top the Pac 10. Four seniors on the offensive line, led by 6’5” 300 C Max Unger’s 43 consecutive starts, have been strong in pass protection with 4 sacks allowed and have simply dominated on the ground by punching holes for 308.6 rush yards per game at 6.3 yards per carry with 21 rushing touchdowns scored by 8 different Oregon players. 5’10” 200 senior RB Jeremiah Johnson (65 for 440 yards and 6 TD) and 6’2” 229 junior RB LeGarrette Blount (66 for 481 yards and 8 TD) each racked 3 scores against the Cougars with Johnson slippery on the edges and Blount a physical tackle-breaker. 11 turnovers has plenty to do with the quarterback situation in Eugene and may improve as they go.
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Atlanta (2-1) stuffed the hapless Chiefs for 6 consecutive three-and-outs to open the game and added 3 picks of 2nd-year QB Tyler Thigpen to secure a 38-14 victory last week at the Georgia Dome. Veteran safeties Erik Coleman (21 T, FR, INT) and Lawyer Milloy (22 T, INT) can certainly hold their own but this was a breakout game for Emmitt Thomas’s young cornerbacks. 5’10” 185 1st-year LCB Brent Grimes (11 T, INT) and 5’11” 175 2nd-year RCB Chris Houston (7 T, INT) each recorded their first career interceptions against Kansas City while 5’11” 185 rookie nickel back Chevis Jackson (5 T) is catching on for a unit that has allowed just 170.0 yards passing per game at a stingy 5.5 yards per attempt. The numbers are good so far but these kids will still likely take their lumps this season. Up front, defensive linemen Anderson (9 T), Babineaux (10 T, S), and Jackson (6 T) have not been great against the rush at 136.7 yards per game at 5.0 yards per carry but 6’4” 266 John “The Predator” Abraham (8 T, 2 FR) has been terrorizing the pocket, registering his 5th and NFL-best 6th sacks last week. Behind Abraham, WLB Coy Wire (6 T) has been decent in heavy substitution for Michael Boley (15 T), who has been battling a knee injury. Keep your eye on this situation. 6’0” 248 rookie MLB Curtis Lofton (18 T) has been up to stuffing the run in front of him but the key to success here will be the health of Boley and 11th-year SLB Keith Brooking (20 T) in space. The offense of 1st-year Coordinator Mike Mularkey has averaged 27.0 points per game but 34 and 38 at home against the defenses of Detroit and Kansas City don’t get us too excited. 6’4” 220 rookie QB Matt Ryan (34 of 64 for 511 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT) has done a surprisingly good job at getting the ball downfield effectively (8.0 yards per pass attempt) including a 70-yard TD strike to underrated WR Roddy White (11 for 232 and TD) but the emphasis for first year Head Coach Mike Smith will wisely be the run. The Falcons lead the league with 203.0 yards rushing per game at 5.7 yards per carry and 6 scores on the ground led by the Human Hammer that is 5’10” 244 Michael Turner (59 for 366 and 5 TD). Turner wears on defenses by refusing to go down without giving at least as good as he gets and is paired with a superb all around back in 5’11” 202 RB Jerious Norwood (31 for 186 and TD), who has added 4 grabs for 44 yards and is averaging 24.1 yards per kickoff return. All this behind a young offensive line that includes 6’5” 312 rookie LT Sam Baker is impressive but we just can’t help but come back to the level of competition so far. In their lone road game, the Falcons were schooled 24-9 by Tampa Bay.
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Michigan (1-1) Michigan got in the win column last Saturday with a 16-6 win over Miami-Ohio by getting back to the basics of rushing the football and relying on your defense to get stops and provide field position. Replacing your starting wide receivers, running back, quarterback, and 4 of 5 offensive linemen wasn’t going to be easy for 1st season Coach Rich Rodriguez and it showed in the Wolverine opener, losing 23-25 vs. Utah, but Big Blue may have found it’s new offensive identity behind the line of junior LT Mark Ortmann, junior LG Tim McAvoy, freshman C David Molk, junior RG David Moosman, and sophomore RT Steven Schilling. O-Line Coach Grey Frey’s crew returns only Schilling and can’t boast of a single 300-pounder (6’5” 288# average) but they are athletic and punched holes for 178 yards and 2 scores on the ground against the Red Hawks, led by the freshman back tandem of 5’11” 185 Sam McGuffie (25 for 82 and TD) and 6’0” 177 Michael Shaw (4 for 46) who were also key leaking out to combine for 9 grabs for 74 yards and a touchdown. For now, 6’1” 207 sophomore Nick Sheridan (15 of 24 for 138 yards, TD, INT) and 6’6” 230 freshman Steven Threet (14 of 32 for 132 yards, TD) will split time at the trigger with 5’9” 168 freshman WR Martavious Odoms (8 for 64) the favorite target. Run the ball, dump off the ball, and run the ball some more will is the plan for now in Big Blue’s quest for their 34th consecutive Bowl bid. The present is much brighter for Michigan’s defense with 7 returning starters including the defensive line of 6’3” 265 senior LDE Tim Jamison, 6’5” 282 senior LDT Will Johnson, 6’0” 308 senior RDT Terrence Taylor, and 6’2” 273 RDE Brandon Graham who have registered 7 of the squads 9 sacks so far. This front is equally stout against the run allowing 83 total yards on the ground through their first pair, supported by a man in the middle to keep your eyes on in 6’2” 248 sophomore MLB Ezeh (20 T, 1 ½ TFL, INT). Safeties Brandon Harrison and Stevie Brown are new starters that have looked pretty physical with 24 combined tackles while corners 6’1” 193 senior Morgan Trent (31 consecutive starts) and 6’0” 185 sophomore Donovan Warren (10T) should pile up big numbers behind the Wolverine pass rush. Senior K K.C. Lopata has already connected from 47 and 50 yards while junior P Zoltan Mesko (41.9 yards per) is one of the best in the nation.
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Oregon State (0-1) The Beavers opened a very tough schedule (face 8 bowl teams) with a 28-36 loss at Stanford despite out-gaining the Cardinal 490 yards to 301 with mistakes (3 turnovers and 100 penalties) the deciding factor. A real issue in the early going for Coach Mike Riley’s (47-39 in 8th season) team will be a defense that replaced its entire front 7 (combined 9 career starts) and was pushed around for 210 rush yards and 2 scores in their opener. Blazingly DEs 6’2” 238 senior Victor Butler (Hendricks Watch List) and 6’3” 245 senior Slade Norris give up anchor in favor of quickness leaving DTs 6’1” 302 senior Pernell Booth and 6’1” 293 sophomore Stephen Paea to hold the point in front of an undersized linebacker corps led by 6’1” 233 senior MLB Bryant Cornell (11 tackles vs. Stanford). Maybe this group will mature but for now the veteran backfield must lead. 6’1” 196 senior LCB Keenan Lewis (35 starts) is a big hitter that can support the run while 5’11” 178 senior RCB Brandon Hughes’s (32 starts) cover skills earn him a place on both the Thorpe and Lott Watch Lists. The return of 5’11” 212 junior FS Al Afalava (suspension, 25 starts) gives this unit a huge boost alongside of 5’10” 208 senior SS Greg Layborn. Offensively, Oregon State is much better positioned and will soon get even better. 6’3” 317 senior LT Andy Levitre (Outland, Lombardi, 26 starts) and 6’3” 286 senior LG Adam Speer (14 starts) have the blind side handled and may be joined this week by the 26 career starts of NFL prospect senior RG Jerry Perry (Outland, Lombardi) who missed Stanford with a knee injury and senior C Marcus Henderson who is recovering from mononucleosis. We’ll keep our eyes on the situation. At the trigger this season is 5’11” 220 junior QB Lyle Moevao (34 of 54 for 404 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT last week) who started and won the final four games in 2007 and has trimmed down considerably in the off-season. Targets are aplenty with returning starters 5’11” 179 sophomore WR Darrnell Catchings and 6’0” 186 senior WR Sammie Stroughter (12 for 157 and 2 TD last week) plus 6’1” 209 senior WR Shane Morales who lit the Cardinal up for 12 catches, 151 yards, and a score. Twin brothers 5’7” 193 freshman Jacquizz and 5’7” 180 sophomore James Rodgers are each threats to catch the ball out of the backfield, in the return game, and perfectly compliment the raw power of 6’1” 240 starting RB Ryan McCants. Posting another 9-4 season is out of the question and a new kicker (Kahut) and punter (Hekker) could cost the crew from Corvallis close games.
Michigan State (0-0, 0-0) improved greatly over the course of the 2007 season (7-5), moving from 88th in the nation to 32nd on defense while racking up 33.1 points per game, culminating with a pair of wins over bowl-bound Purdue and Penn State to finish the Big 10 season before giving Boston College and Matt Ryan all they could handle in a 21-24 Spartan loss in the Champs Sports Bowl. Back on offense is senior QB Brian Hoyer who started all 13 games last season as is 3-time team rush leader and senior RB Javon Ringer who looks to best his 1447 rush yards in 2007 behind an offensive line that averages 6’5” 311 and returns their entire power right side of 6’3” 297 junior C Joel Nichman, 6’5” 330 senior RG Roland Martin, and 6”6” 316 senior RT Jesse Miller. If coach Mark Dantonio (7-5 in 2nd season) can develop another Devon Thomas (2nd round NFL draft) out of either Mark Dell (8 starts), Deon Curry (10 starts), or B.J. Cunningham (huge spring) at wide receiver this will be an attack to be reckoned with. Keep your eye on 6’4” 252 sophomore TE Charlie Gantt. All of Coach Dantonio’s top tight ends both at Cincinnati and here in East Lansing have graduated to the NFL. On defense, developing the Spartan front 7 will be key. 1st year starters 6’0” 286 senior LDE Dwayne Holmes, 6’3” 273 sophomore RDT Oren Wilson, and 6’1” 248 sophomore RDE Collin Neely will get plenty of help from strong backup ends Brandon Long (played in 13 games in 2007) and Trevor Anderson (transfer from Cincinnati) by replacing the 10 sacks of defensive end Jonal Saint-Dic will not be easy. At backer, young returning starters WLB Eric Gordon and SLB Greg Jones look primed for breakout sophomore seasons. If the “seven” holds, the Michigan State defensive backfield will put up big numbers and be represented during Award Season. 9 returning letter winners make up the core of this group including all 4 returning starters led by 6’2” 210 senior SS Otis Wiley who moves from free safety and 6’1” 202 junior FS Kendall Davis-Clark. Throw in a returning punter and place kicker and Sparty will be bowl bound again!