America East Big Apple Battle: Boston University vs. Albany, 2/10/11
America East Big Apple Battle: Boston University vs. Albany, 2/10/11
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Tag Archives: East
Cowboys Dangerously Close To Last Place In NFC East
The Dallas Cowboys are dangerously close to capping off their disappointing 2010 season by finishing as the last place team in the NFC East. If Dallas winds up at the bottom, it would mark the first time they finish in the NFC East cellar since 2002.
In order for Dallas to stay out of last place, they need to win next Sunday afternoon against the Eagles and have the New York Giants beat the Redskins.
If Dallas marches into Philadelphia and loses, they would finish the season at 5-11 in last place. The only positive would be a higher draft pick. The [...]
The Landry Hat | A Dallas Cowboys blog
George Washington (SID): Men’s Basketball Holds Off East Carolina, 82-80
George Washington (SID): Men’s Basketball Holds Off East Carolina, 82-80
WASHINGTON (AP) — Tony Taylor scored a career-high 26 points and Bryan Bynes banked in the game-win…
Big East Philosophy: Cincy and Rutgers breakout on Step Up Saturday
Pittsburgh, West Virginia, and even Connecticut separated themselves on what I coined (rather successfully mind you) Step Up Saturday! Week 12 in the Big East was as big a weekend the conference has had all year. All eight league teams were in action against each other and, every game but one (the lone exception happened [...]
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Fantasy College Blitz
Big East Philosophy is to give thanks before previewing Week 13
In this the season of Prelude to Christmas Shopping (which incidentally used to be known as Thanksgiving) I thought we would stop and give thanks for the blessings of fantasy Big East football. Yes, there have been fantasy players to be thankful for in the Big East. Without further delay, because I know the anticipation [...]
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Fantasy College Blitz
Big East Philosophy: A celebration of UConn Huskies and Jordan Todman
With one more week to go in the regular season, the Big East is Connecticut’s to lose.
Jordan Todman stiff-armed many defenders, not just the Orange, on his way to a Doak Walker Award snub (Icon SMI)
The Huskies need a win at South Florida this weekend and Connecticut, only a few short years removed from D-1AA (now known as FCS) competition, will head to a BCS Bowl.
Of course Connecticut has lost it’s fair share of games this season. That fact is likely to cause some outrage amongst the elitist elite of college football. The Huskies have lost to Michigan (the very same Michigan with Greg Robinson as it’s defensive coordinator) and Temple (I don’t care how much better the Owls are, losing to Temple is never a good thing).
Say what they will, and they will say a lot, Connecticut has a lot of talent and the Huskies are rolling. Let’s take a look at the make up of the likely 2010 Big East Champion (Is this a reverse jinx? Do I put a lot of parentheses in a paragraph?)
Connecticut Offense – If you think I am going to put anything else under a category of ‘Connecticut Offense’ than Jordan Todman, then you are unfamiliar with this space on Fantasy College Blitz. Despite the fact that the Doak Walker Award committee didn’t see Todman fit, the Husky junior has rushed for 1,481 yards and 14 TDs. In Connecticut’s win over Cincinnati on Saturday Todman carried the ball 31 times (his fourth time with over 30 carries this season) for 175 yards and 3 TDs. Considering that Todman missed some game action with an injured hand, those numbers are even more impressive. It’s important to note that the Connecticut offensive line is one of the best run blocking fronts in the country.
There isn’t much to the Connecticut offense. Head coach Randy Edsall isn’t much for the spread options, the shotgun formations, or that fancy dancy passing the ball thing. There are three reasons behind the bland Husky offensive philosophy. First, to paraphrase the legendary Syracuse basketball head coach Jim Boeheim, if you had Jordan Todman at running back why would you give the ball to any else?
Secondly, Connecticut has played roulette with a bunch of crappy QBs. Zach Frazer was ineffective and benched for Cody Endres who was ineffective and benched, and kicked off the team too, for Frazer. For all the great RBs that Connecticut has had lately, Edsall seems to forget about that whole quarterback position thing.
Lastly, Edsall has been and always will be a run first type of guy. The Husky coach played for Dick MacPherson at Syracuse. Coach Mac taught Edsall the ways of run.
Connecticut Defense – In the latest BlitzIndex defense rankings the Husky D comes in at No. 25. Connecticut held Syracuse to 6 points at the Dome two weeks ago and this past Saturday the Huskies kept Cincinnati at 17. That’s the same Bearcat team that put up 69 points against a supposed good defense in Rutgers. In the preseason most thought the Huskies defense would be a reason the team would contend in the Big East, but it took until November before Connecticut started to round into form on that side of the ball. Of course, UConn opened at Michigan and Denard Robinson! That could stunt the growth of any defense. The defense is rising for Connecticut and their special teams have returned punts and kickoffs for scores this season as well.
There isn’t much to the potential Big East champions, but what’s there is rolling right now. As for the nation, they’ll have their way with the Huskies (and not in a good way), but we in Big East Land know they are boring enough and sneaky talented enough to beat an over-hyped Big 12 team.
Week 13 RECAP -
Bilal Powell – Louisville RB – Welcome back Mr. Powell! After missing a game and barely playing last weekend due to injury, the senior back ran 23 times for 123 yards and one score. Powell also caught two passes in a blowout win over Rutgers.
West Virginia Defense – The ‘Neers keep rolling! West Virginia held Pittsburgh to 10 points at Heinz Field on Saturday. Pitt’s Jon Baldwin and Dion Lewis, likely players to be working Sunday’s soon, were both held in check a bad loss for the Panthers.
Special Shout Out No. 1 – South Florida has now beaten Florida State and Miami on the road in back to back seasons. The Bulls beat the Hurricanes 23-20 in OT for another one of those ‘Program Changing’ wins. Not only did first year head coach Skip Holtz beat the in-state ‘Canes, he did so with Bobby Eveld at QB. Who? Eveld is a true freshmen walk-on who replaced the injured B.J.Daniels and made several massive plays in the second half. Also, USF’s win got Miami’s head coach Randy Shannon fired, so there’s that.
Special Shout Out No. 2 – Louisville beat Rutgers 40-13 on Saturday to officially become bowl eligible! This is the same Louisville program that had hit rock bottom under former head coach Steve Kragthorpe, but new head man Charlie Strong has the Cardinals playing good football. With Powell at running back and a top 25 defense U of L will be a tough opponent for a third tier BCS conference foe in a middle of the day, middle of the week, random bowl game.
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- Big East Preview: UConn Huskies
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Big Easties Awards: Players of the Year in Big East Football
As we did in the mid-season, with the unbelievably popular Big Easties, today we hand out the end of season Big Easties (we’re nothing if not creative)!
Jordan Todman stiff-armed many defenders, not just the Orange, on his way to a Big Eastie Nomination (Icon SMI)
In awards handed out earlier in the evening…
Special Teams Player of the Year Big Easties -
Returns – Lindsey Lamar – South Florida – Lamar returned two kickoffs for touchdowns this season and in 24 returns he averaged 29.0 yards per.
Kicker – Dave Teggart – Connecticut – Kickers are weekly waiver wire pick up plays, but Teggart at least gave his new team points each week. With Connecticut loving to run the ball, their red zone offense usually consisted of; run, run, run, and then kick. Teggart averaged, averaged, 9 points per game.
Punter – Psyche! - In fantasy terms punters are like the ‘Vice Presidents to Football Operations’ people in the NFL. They are apart of football, and even matter from time to time, but you still don’t understand why the game needs them.
On to tonight’s awards, including Offensive Player of the Year Big Easties!
Receiver
Armon Binns - Cincinnati – Binns caught 72 balls for over 1,000 yards and he grabbed 10 TDs. Binns along with fellow wide out DJ Woods (who took this award at midseaon) were vital in the Bearcats point producing offense.
Running Back
Jordan Todman – Connecticut – When drafting, or picking up via the waiver wire, running backs you are looking for three things out that back. The first aspect is you want this player to score TDs. Then you look for yards per game, and even carry. Lastly, you want a running back to get enough touches to validate you picking him up. Todman covers each category and then some! Todman lead the Big East in yardage (1,481), carries (269), and TDs (14). In fact, the simple reason Connecticut is on the threshold of their first Big East championship is due to Todman.
Quarterback
Zach Collaros – Cincinnati – I love me some Geno Smith of West Virginia, but Collaros lead the Big East passing yards and TD passes. In fact, Collaros’s 7.8 yards per throw also lead the conference. Consider this too, despite missing time due to an injury, the junior Bearcat actually lead the league in attempts too. That means, much like Todman, he is getting the reps and producing with those reps, key for fantasy football.
Defense
West Virginia - The ‘Neers have been in the top three of the BlitzIndex for a better part of a month, and they rank in the top five nationally in total defense and in scoring defense. They have a player leading the Big East in picks (Keith Tandy) and a player tied for the lead in sacks (Bruce Irvin). Without any question, in a year for defenses in the Big East, West Virginia’s leads the way.
Surprise Player of the Year
Bilal Powell – Louisville – Powell won this award at the midseason too and, honestly, back then I half expected the senior back to fade away. Despite an injury that didn’t happen as Powell, and the Cardinals defense, is the reason the U of L is going to a bowl game this season. 10 TDs and second in the league in rushing to Todman is one heck of a year for a player that was thought to be his team’s back up prior to the season starting!
Disappointing Player of the Year
Dion Lewis - Pittsburgh – There is no question Lewis wins this award. Lewis wasn’t just a top rated Big East player, following his breakout freshmen campaign, Lewis was a top target for national fantasy players. His follow up to last season’s 1,799 and 17 TDs was an anemic 695 and 8 scores. That, my fantasy friends (hmm, that sounds weird), is a disappointment.
Player of the Year
Jordan Todman – Connecticut
See above, or for a quick summary, dude is good.
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Related posts:
- Mid-Season Big Eastie Awards
- Big East Philosophy: Cincy and Rutgers breakout on Step Up Saturday
- Big East Philosophy: A celebration of UConn Huskies and Jordan Todman
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