Football
Big Ten Preview, Part 2
By Tony Gerdeman

6. Minnesota 7-4 (4-4) (predicted finish)

Two Cent Overview
Minnesota can run the ball on anybody, and with what they've got returning, expect that trend to continue. The defense is another story. There is no real leader, or a consistent standout for the Gophers here. The special teams are on even shoddier standing. They will be splitting kicking duties this year with anybody that brings a coupon and a helmet.
Schedule
Sept. 1 Tulsa (W)
Sept. 10 Colorado State (W)
Sept. 17 Florida Atlantic (W)
Sept. 24 Purdue (W)
Oct. 1 at Penn State (W)
Oct. 8 at Michigan (L)
Oct. 15 Wisconsin (W)
Oct. 29 Ohio State (L)
Nov. 5 at Indiana (L)
Nov. 12 Michigan State (W)
Nov. 19 at Iowa (L)
Something To Look For
Another running back. I'm not talking about Laurence Maroney either. Glen Mason believes in the "Pair and a Spare" philosophy when it comes to running backs. Tellis Redmond left early to make room for Terry Jackson. Terry Jackson transferred to Southern Illinois to make room for Marion Barber and Laurence Maroney. Marion Barber III left early also to make room for Laurence Maroney. Look for Gary Russell or Amir Pinnix to get 400-600 yards rushing this season.
Returning Starters
Ten on offense, seven on defense.
Best Player
Running Back Laurence Maroney. He is one of the top two offensive players in the conference. There really isn't anything he can't do with the ball. Twenty-five carries per game should get him near 1,800 yards. Look for him to return kicks as well.
Most Important Game
Ohio State. It just seems that this will always be the most important game on Glen Mason's schedule no matter what school he is at.
Best Game To Pack Up The Family Truckster And Travel To
at Michigan. I think everybody should travel to Ann Arbor once. It's kind of like how you have to let a baby touch something hot or taste something bad so that they can get that desire out of them at an early age.
Game They Shouldn't Lose But Could
at Indiana. The Gophers get a week off before the Ohio State game. After that heartbreaking loss, they travel to Bloomington the next week. Much like Ron Zook, I'm convinced Terry Hoeppner will "get somebody" this year.
Something They Do Well
Run the ball. I could rename this category "The Only Thing They Do Well, But Sometimes That's All That They Need To Do Because, Frankly Ronnie, They Just Do It Better Than Anybody Else." Mason, for good reason, loves his offensive line, and in particular the quarterback of that line, "I feel that we will have an outstanding offensive line. I feel that Greg Eslinger is the best center in college football." Having running backs like Maroney on your roster don't hurt much either.
Something They Don't Do So Well
Complete a pass. Quarterback Bryan Cupito completed 47% of his passes (44% in conference play), of course many of his passes were low percentage passes (duh) deep downfield trying to connect with Ernie Wheelwright and Jared Ellerson.
Player Most Likely To Own A Restaurant
Willie Van De Steeg. He could open a Der Dutchman-type place in order to bring the broasted chicken prices down, as they have gotten out of control since the shortage in '99.

5. Michigan State 7-4 (5-3)
Two Cent Overview
The Spartans return three offensive linemen, but not all positions are set. The running backs are a bit in flux as well. Still, as long as Drew Stanton is healthy, the offense will be very dangerous. The defense will be replacing two coaches and six starters. There are too many questions on defense to not expect some shootouts in Spartan games this year. They will be breaking in a new kicker as well. Brandon Fields is back punting--hopefully John L. Smith will just let him kick and stop screwing around with the rugby kicks.
Schedule
Sept. 3 Kent State (W)
Sept. 10 Hawaii (W)
Sept. 17 at Notre Dame (L)
Sept. 24 at Illinois (W)
Oct. 1 Michigan (W)
Oct. 15 at Ohio State (L)
Oct. 22 Northwestern (W)
Oct. 29 Indiana (W)
Nov. 5 at Purdue (L)
Nov. 12 at Minnesota (L)
Nov. 19 Penn State (W)
Five Questions Begging For Answers
1. How's quarterback Drew Stanton's hook slide doing?

2. Who will be in the backfield with Stanton?

3. Will another playmaker on offense emerge?

4. Will the defense stop anybody?

5. Not even Penn State?

Something To Look For
The wide receivers. Yes, they lose Agim Shabaj, however, they do return plenty of depth. Given the nature of the offense, they don't need one or two guys to step up with sixty or seventy catches. They can have three or four guys with thirty or forty catches and be just fine. And watch out for Kyle Brown, he impressed all spring long.

Returning Starters
Eight on offense, five on defense and the punter.

Best Chance For a Bad Loss
at Notre Dame. This will be Michigan State's third game of the season, but I don't know that their defense will be set yet. It will also be Notre Dame's third game, but their first at home. Given Michigan State's trouble in the secondary and Charlie Weis' love for the passing game, this one has a chance to get out of hand if the Spartans aren't careful.

Most Important Game
Michigan. Drew Stanton was naming his score against Michigan last year before he had to leave the game. As long as he stays healthy, I just don't see how Michigan can win this one. Especially when you consider who's running the clock.

Best Reason They Will Be Undefeated
Quarterback Drew Stanton. When he's in the lineup, the are a top twenty team. When he's not, they are Indiana. Even John L. knows the deal, "If we keep Drew Stanton healthy, then we're gonna have a chance to win some football games because we will be able to put some points up on the board."

Something They Do Well
Run the ball. They were second only to Minnesota in rushing last year. And they finished 800 yards ahead of Northwestern, who finished third in the conference.

What's improved?
Quarterback Drew Stanton's outlook on health. Now that Drew knows that it's necessary for him to play for them to win, expect him to be a little more careful.

Player Most Likely To Own A Restaurant
Jehuu Caulcrick. Ditch-based wildlife cuisine. The slogan? "If it crawls from a crick, it's at Caulcrick's!" There would also be a catchy jingle sung by a guy in a crawdad suit. Maybe Lee Majors, if he's available.

4. Purdue 8-3 (5-3)

Two Cent Overview
Brandon Kirsch is back starting again at quarterback for the Boilers full time now, after spot duty in 2002 and 2004. Expect more running from both the running back position and the quarterback position. Probably some option as well. They return all sorts of skill players and three-fifths of their offensive line. And that's not even the good news. They return eleven starters on defense and figure to have more depth everywhere. Don't sleep on the Boilers. In their five losses last season they lost by three, two, three, two, and four points.

Schedule
Sept. 10 Akron (W)
Sept. 17 at Arizona (W)
Sept. 24 at Minnesota (L)
Oct. 1 Notre Dame (W)
Oct. 8 Iowa (L)
Oct. 15 Northwestern (W)
Oct. 22 at Wisconsin (W)
Oct. 29 at Penn State (L)
Nov. 5 Michigan State (W)
Nov. 12 Illinois (W)
Nov. 19 at Indiana (W)

Five Questions Begging For Answers
1. Will Mike Stoops derail Purdue's "dream season" in Week Two when Arizona hosts the Boilers?

2. Is Redshirt Freshman quarterback Curtis Painter ready to play when starting quarterback Brandon Kirsch's running gets him knocked out of the lineup?

3. Will Joe Tiller improve upon his 14-16 record in games decided by eight points or less since 2000?

4. Will eleven straight weeks of football take its toll on the Boilermakers in 2005? (Because it did last year.)

5. Why are my questions concerning Purdue so negative?

Something To Look For
Purdue defensive ends in the backfield. Ray Edwards had eight sacks last year. Anthony Spencer had seven and a half. Rob Ninkovich--who doesn't even start--had eight sacks as well (even if four were against Indiana).

Returning Starters
Seven on offense, eleven on defense and both the placekicker and the punter.

Best Player
Defensive end Ray Edwards. Due to the rotation at defensive end, expect Edwards to always be fresh and aggressive. His eight sacks last year should find some way of becoming ten or twelve this year.

Most Important Game
at Minnesota. The Boilers start their Big Ten season on the road, and while the Iowa game may present more of a challenge, the Minnesota game will be the table-setter.

Best Reason They Won't Be Undefeated
Joe Tiller. I mentioned earlier the closeness of their losses last year--that's not always a silver lining.

Player People Will Be Pleasantly Surprised By
Quarterback Brandon Kirsch. He looked like a more mobile Drew Brees back in 2002, before inexperience found him on the bench and behind Kyle Orton for three years. Can run and throw. Expect to see some option this year as well. Tiller calls him "game savvy", so don't look for Kirsch to be coddled.

Player Most Likely To Own A Restaurant
Jake Standeford. He'll take over his brother John's restaurant, and even though they've only been open for six years now, it'll seem more like twelve.

3. Iowa 8-3 (6-2)

Two Cent Overview
A team slowly acquiring the talent on the field to match the talent on the sideline. There is tremendous skill on offense (for Iowa), and there are plenty of unproven running back candidates. The back seven on defense will be fine as well. It'll be up to the front four to act as a speed bump for Hodge and Greenway. Kyle Schlicher is back kicking. He's not Nate Kaeding, but he's still pretty good. They are breaking in a new punter, however.

Schedule
Sept. 3 Ball State (W)
Sept. 10 at Iowa State (L)
Sept. 17 Northern Iowa (W)
Sept. 24 at Ohio State (L)
Oct. 1 Illinois (W)
Oct. 8 at Purdue (W)
Oct. 15 Indiana (W)
Oct. 22 Michigan (L)
Nov. 5 at Northwestern (W)
Nov. 12 at Wisconsin (W)
Nov. 19 Minnesota (W)

Something To Look For
Kirk Ferentz gets the best out of everybody on his team, so expect the inexperienced players to get better quickly and the good players to pick up where they left off last year. Iowa is 9-1 in games decided by seven points or less the last three years. The Hawkeyes never panic and they always stick with the plan. Expect more of the same. As long as Ferentz is at Iowa, the bad players will play well; the good players will play great; and the great players will play a smidge better than great.

Returning Starters
Seven on offense, five on defense, and the placekicker.

Second Best Player
Linebacker Chad Greenway. NFL scouts love his size and speed. He's good enough to overshadow Abdul Hodge and two very good senior cornerbacks in Jovon Johnson and Antwan Allen. It will be interesting to see how he performs behind an entirely new starting defensive line.

Best Road Game to Pack Up The Family Truckster And Travel To
at Ohio State. I would've said at Purdue, but it's impossible to get out of there after a game, and if you have a Family Truckster full of screaming brats, the last thing you need to deal with is the mess known as West Lafayette. Then I was thinking at Wisconsin. However, I don't know if children should be subjected to the Madison fans. Then Northwestern came to mind, but I quickly dismissed my own thought. The answer is clear: bring the family to Columbus. Take the kids to the Out-R-Inn and let them stand outside on the sidewalk while you enjoy yourself. You brought your kids all the way from Iowa, you've earned some time away from them.

Best Reason They Will Be Undefeated
Drew Tate. He's one of those guys that does it when it needs to be done.

Game On The Schedule That Glen Mason Is Jealous That He Didn't Schedule
September 17: Northern Iowa at home.

Something They Do Well
Find a way to win. Last year Iowa ran for half of the yards that Ohio State ran for, and in spite of those 72.6 yards per game, they still won ten games. Ferentz is, however, expecting continued improvement from his offensive line and his running game, so look for them to find those ways to win a bit easier than they did last year.

Player Most Likely To Own A Restaurant
Ed Hinkel. Tell me you couldn't go for a Turkey Bacon Club at Hinkel's Deli.

Coming Monday - Teams One and Two

Installment I - Teams 11, 10, nine, eight, and seven.

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