“Tutoring center aims to help with underlying problems” plus 3 more |
- Tutoring center aims to help with underlying problems
- Starwood Studios would offer place for musical recitals, academic tutoring
- Around the BigTen Conference
- 'Dateline' was shown, but ignored, balance in Detroit
| Tutoring center aims to help with underlying problems Posted: 21 Apr 2010 11:11 PM PDT [fivefilters.org: unable to retrieve full-text content] A nonprofit tutoring center, Learning Insights, is now open in Jefferson City. "Accurate evaluation is the first step in teaching individuals to learn to their full potential," said Michael Flynn, executive director of Learning Insights. | |
| Starwood Studios would offer place for musical recitals, academic tutoring Posted: 21 Apr 2010 10:46 PM PDT Bill Conrad, bconrad@acnpapers.com
Starwood Studios, located at the Offices at Byron Nelson, may soon be open to the public if a zoning change request is approved by planning and zoning and the Southlake City Council. Starwood Studios was formed when a former tenant, the Southlake Training Center, moved out last summer. The 4,300-square-foot space was converted to Starwood Studios and is currently used by the buildings tenants for parties and recitals. If the zoning change is approved, the studio could be rented to the general public. Edmondson was clear that the only changes to the building would be in its usage. No changes will be made to the outside of the building or to the building's parking, said Edmondson. The only changes will be made to what is going on inside. Starwood Studios would only operate after regular business hours and would have several uses such as after-school tutoring, seminars, office parties and receptions. The room features couches, big screen televisions and a DJ booth. This would be a unique little space that Southlake really doesn't have, said Edmondson. We have been using this for our tenants, but this will allow us to offer it during the evening and weekend hours to the general public. Edmondson said she believes the studios would have a capacity of 100-125 people, but that number could be adjusted in order to keep within the parking regulations. Another tenant already in the building, Hall Music Productions, would also put the studio to good use.
David Hall, a Carroll High School graduate and owner of Hall Music Productions, said the studios would be a great addition to Southlake. Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. | |
| Posted: 21 Apr 2010 07:38 PM PDT
| INSIDE SLANT Head coach Ron Zook survived the juggling act and he'll spearhead his sixth spring in Champaign, but his cast of assistants has changed dramatically. Offensive coordinator Paul Petrino was lured away from Arkansas with a big-ticket contract to take the keys to Illinois' offense. While Zook insisted on a spread-option attack his first five years, Petrino is installing the offense that he and his brother, Bobby, utilized at Louisville, Arkansas and other stops. Petrino brought along two former Louisville comrades — quarterback coach Jeff Brohm and tight ends boss Greg Nord — to accelerate the process. Running backs coach DeAndre Smith also makes his debut on that side of the ball. As for the defense, former Clemson czar Vic Koenning relinquished his half-hold on Kansas State's defense in order to bring his brand of ball to the prairie. Koenning, similar to Petrino, brought in a trusted former colleague (Clemson's Ron West) to speed up the teaching of his multi-faceted eight-man front style. If all the Illini had to do this spring was to indoctrinate its players in the Petrino and Koenning ways and means, it'd be a rugged 15-practice set. But Illinois also needs to replace its four-year starting quarterback (Juice Williams), its best receiver (Arrelious Benn) and its best lineman (guard Jon Asamoah) while rebuilding the confidence of a battered defense. Koenning decided to review just one half of one 2009 game so he wouldn't prejudice his judgments this spring. "I think you can get caught up sometimes and make evaluations that aren't as fair to the kids," Koenning told the Champaign News-Gazette. "You want them to all have clean slates and get going with that." Everyone at Illinois hopes to make the most of that clean slate. NOTES, QUOTES Koenning at least has a slew of veteran linemen, linebackers and defensive backs who'll be healthy enough to learn and compete through the four-week stretch. Petrino and new QB coach Jeff Brohm, however, must focus on bringing along the three inexperienced scholarship quarterbacks on his spring roster. Redshirt sophomore Jacob Charest (28 of 56, 382 yards, two TDs, two INTs), who's more of a conventional thrower, started one game and appeared in three others last fall. Redshirt freshman Nathan Scheelhaase, who's more of a spread-option guy, wore a headset and ran the scout team last year. True freshman Chandler Whitmer, a four-star recruit known for his accuracy, showed up on campus in January after graduating a semester early from Downers Grove (Ill.) South High School. One of those three guys will start the Sept. 4 opener against Missouri. Petrino also needs to rebuild a line that lost its best player and featured lots of young, inconsistent players last fall. Right tackle Hugh Thornton, who started the last half of the year as a true freshman, looks like he'll move inside to guard. BUILDING BLOCKS: Not much went right for Illinois in 2009, but junior-to-be Mikel Leshoure's monstrous finish made him look like the second coming of Wisconsin's John Clay — who just so happened to win the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year award. During the season's second half, Leshoure hit Purdue for 122 yards, Michigan for 150 and capped his season with an 11-carry, 184-yard, two-TD performance against Fresno State. Between Leshoure (734 yards, five TDs) and fellow junior Jason Ford (588 yards, four TDs), the Illini have a solid base from the group that finished 17th nationally in rushing. WR Jarred Fayson (16 catches, 218 yards) wasn't right much of last year due to a knee injury, but WR boss Petrino looks for big things from his unit starting with the former five-star Florida recruit. Illinois retains six of its top seven tacklers from a unit that surrendered 30.2 points per game. Linebacker Ian Thomas led the way with 95 stops, but senior defensive end Clay Nurse (5.5 sacks) and junior defensive tackle Corey Liuget (8 TFLs) are two guys who can make it happen upfront. Freshman CB Terry Hawthorne stepped into the lineup late in the year and made several spectacular plays, so he might stay there rather than return to his original wideout spot. QUOTE TO NOTE: "There's as many ways of doing it as there are ants in Africa. There's a lot of them. Whatever works is the best thing to do. If it's not working, then you need to find something that works." — New defensive coordinator Vic Koenning in the Champaign News-Gazette explaining how he's fluent in many defensive styles and won't hesitate to suit his style to his personnel. STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL TOP NEWCOMERS: QB Nathan Scheelhaase — The redshirt freshman was a four-star recruit in the 2009 class who appeared to be the heir apparent to Juice Williams. But with Illinois' switch from the spread option to Paul Petrino's more conventional attack, Scheelhaase finds himself trying to adapt as he battles with sophomore Jacob Charest and true freshman Chandler Whitmer for the starting job. S/LB Trulon Henry — The 25-year-old brother of former Illini Arrelious Benn joined the program at the semester break after two years at College of DuPage (Ill.). Henry is viewed as a fierce hitter who could be the eighth man filling gaps in the new defense's eight-man front. RB Bud Golden — If Illinois intends to use several running backs each game — and Petrino likes to be able to pace his best back so he can go crazy in the fourth quarter — this redshirt freshman from Cincinnati could become a speedy alternative to junior hosses Mikel Leshoure and Jason Ford. He rushed for a touchdown every 8.5 carries during his senior year at Syramore (Ohio) High. ROSTER REPORT: —ILB Martez Wilson won't endure contact drills during spring practice. The redshirt junior missed all but the opener last year after requiring disk surgery to fix his neck. Illinois' braintrust expects him to be fine for the fall. —CB Miami Thomas, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last August, also will be held out of contact drills as he continues to recover from shoulder and knee surgeries. Thomas was a frontrunner for a starting job last fall when he suffered the second knee injury of his three-year Illini career. —Junior DT Josh Brent flunked out of school and switched to nearby Parkland Junior College in an attempt to regain his eligibility. If Brent pulls through, he'll likely regain his starting job, but he cannot participate in spring ball. —S Garrett Edwards underwent shoulder surgery after the season and won't do spring ball. The senior starter should be back in the mix in the fall. _____________________________________________________________ INDIANA INSIDE SLANT On one hand, perhaps IU's offensive line struggled to run the football and was forced to pass more to pick up yardage. After all, the two scrimmage squads at the spring game combined to throw for 356 yards on 77 passes in a sloppy game while combining to rush for 37 yards on 51 carries. Perhaps the juggling along the offensive line was the reason for the offensive brownout. Or, and this is the option the Hoosier coaching staff is praying is the case, IU's defense has improved dramatically and is in position to become a strength. In reality, it's probably a combination of both. Head coach Bill Lynch fully admits that he doesn't put a lot of stock in the spring game because he considers it nothing more than a fun outing for the players, a reward for their hard work during spring practice. And to be fair, Indiana's defense showed a lot of promise during practices, with a renewed energy being shown on the defensive side of the ball. There is a lot of hunger along the defense, where a lot of players have been waiting a few years to get onto the field. Throw in the fact the Hoosiers have shifted to playing more 3-4 defensive schemes, and IU has a new look to throw at opponents. That said, Indiana's offensive line was shaky all spring, and although the coaching staff was conservative when it came to dealing with injuries, there's no question the O-line will be the biggest concern heading into preseason camp in August. The Hoosiers seem to be in good shape at the skill positions and have potential on defense, which puts pressure on new offensive line coach Mo Moriarty to whip his group into shape. This much is certain. Indiana appears to have better leadership overall this spring, and Lynch is excited about his team's prospects. The Hoosiers feature more depth on both sides of the ball than they have in years, which is a good sign that Lynch has the program headed in the right direction. Whether that plays out remains to be seen, but the pieces are in place from a talent standpoint to give Indiana a bit of a boost in 2010. NOTES, QUOTES —The Hoosiers have to replace no fewer than seven starters on the defensive side of the ball, but if the spring is any indication, IU could take a step forward in that area this season. Indiana's defenders showed a marked improvement in speed during the spring, and the Hoosiers' secondary could take a step forward with the move of former wide receiver Matt Ernest to cornerback and the addition of JUCO transfer Lenyatta Kiles to the roster. Ernest and Kiles both had their moments during the spring and show a lot of potential. SPRING MOVERS: WR Tandon Doss — Doss established himself as the Hoosiers' go-to guy in the passing game last season, but he has focused on polishing his game and managed to add muscle to his frame without sacrificing speed. Doss' routes were more precise in the spring, and he's looking to take a huge step forward in the fall. DE Kevin Bush — Bush raised some eyebrows, and not just because of his interesting story. He's a 2005 graduate of Homestead High School who started his college career at Toledo before heading off to the Army. He spent time in Korea and Iraq before enrolling at IU last year, and he sat out the 2009 season due to NCAA transfer rules. Bush's leadership stood out during the spring, and his speed as a stand-up defensive end in the Hoosiers' new 3-4 scheme will give Indiana a boost off the edge. WR Duwyce Wilson — The Hoosiers are already blessed with a bevy of quality wideouts, but redshirt freshman-to-be Duwyce Wilson is going to provide IU with even more balance. Wilson is big, quick and has great hands, and his ability to burst upfield after making the catch will be a positive for the Hoosiers. CB Matt Ernest — Ernest is a converted wide receiver who saw limited time on the field during spring due to an elbow injury suffered as a pitcher for the IU baseball team, but when he was on the field, he showed good instincts in the secondary. Ernest broke hard on passes, and his speed will make him a player to watch in the fall. RB Antonio Banks — Banks is a special case in that he graduated from high school in December to enroll at IU, and instead of planning to attend his Senior Prom, he's playing football for IU. Although Darius Willis is clearly the Hoosiers' top running back, Banks wowed observers with his ability to find holes and break tackles. The question, of course, is whether Banks will be redshirted next season, and that decision could come down to how healthy the injury-prone Willis is next fall. QUOTE TO NOTE: "You need to know when you come out of the spring who the guys are that you can really count on once you come back in August. In August, it's not open tryouts. In the spring, in a lot of ways it is. You give a lot of guys a lot of reps and a lot of chances." — Head coach Bill Lynch on what he hoped to get out of spring practice this season. STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: Indiana didn't lose a single key contributor at the skill positions, and the development of QB Ben Chappell will be critical. Chappell was solid last season, but the Hoosiers need him to become a playmaker with his arm next season. WRs Tandon Doss, Damarlo Belcher, Terrance Turner and Duwyce Wilson provide plenty of options in the passing game, and RB Darius Willis is a star in the making, as long as he stays healthy. IU still faces some questions along the offensive line, but there is potential there, as well, in the forms of OG Justin Pagan and OT James Brewer. The Hoosiers also hope to use their tight ends more next season, and Charles Love III has emerged as a big target in the passing game. SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: Indiana is replacing a lot of individual talent on defense, but that "D" didn't always play well as a unit, and opponents racked up big play after big play last season. IU faces a lot of question marks, but Indiana is going to turn to more 3-4 schemes on defense to provide different looks in the fall. DTs Larry Black, Jr., Adam Replogle, Mick Mentzer and Nick Sliger all are impressive run stoppers, and Replogle is versatile enough to play defensive end as well. The question comes in the secondary, which is inexperienced but features some speed. LB Tyler Replogle and S Mitchell Evans will be the leaders for the defense and will have to enjoy big years for IU to be successful next year. SCOUTING THE SPECIAL TEAMS: Indiana's punting game is in good shape with the talented if still mildly inconsistent Chris Hagerup in the mix, but the same can't be said of the kicking game. Nick Freeland showed promise last season, but he's inconsistent, and redshirt freshman Mitch Ewald has yet to prove himself. In the return game, Tandon Doss showed talent last season, but he may be relieved of his return role in favor of Jerimy Finch, Nick Turner or Dre Muhammed. ROSTER REPORT: —RB Darius Willis sat out the spring game after undergoing ankle surgery April 16. The surgery, which was planned before the spring workouts started, was moved up due to a hip injury suffered by Willis in the team's first scrimmage. With Willis out of action, the coaching staff decided to do the ankle procedure earlier than planned to give Willis the maximum amount of time to recover before August. Willis is expected to be 100 percent by the time summer camp opens. —LB Tyler Replogle sat out the last week of spring practice after suffering a concussion, and the injury has raised some eyebrows because he has suffered concussions on at least two other occasions. The IU training staff will be monitoring Replogle very closely next fall. —WRs Damarlo Belcher and Terrance Turner both sat out the spring workouts to nurse injuries, but they both are expected to return at 100 percent in the fall. —Jack Denton, an early enrollee who graduated from high school in December, entered spring practice as a linebacker, but he has been moved to tight end. —OL Cody Faulkner suffered an ankle injury early in the spring and missed almost all the workouts. Although he is expected to recover in time for fall practice, the missed time won't do any favors for the oft-injured Faulkner. —CB Lawrence Barnett, who likely will be one of the Hoosiers' starting cornerbacks next season, sat out most of the spring with an elbow injury. —Through April 17, the Hoosiers have already received seven commitments from the Class of 2011. OL Ralston Evans, OL Kirk Harris, LB Kyle Kennedy, TE Jake Reed, LB Mike Replogle, QB Tre Roberson and LB Zack Shaw have all committed to the Hoosiers. _____________________________________________________________ IOWA INSIDE SLANT The only obstacle between the Hawkeyes and a serious chance at dethroning Ohio State as league champs is a line with just two starters returning — tackle Riley Reiff and guard Julian Vandervelde. That makes the work up front this spring critical. Luckily, offensive lines just happen to be coach Kirk Ferentz's specialty. "We probably have eight or nine guys competing for the top spots. It's going to be interesting and we are equally interested to see who is going to emerge," Ferentz said. "We have a lot of guys on pretty equal footing as far as the competition goes." Iowa has all of the other pieces in place for a memorable journey in 2010. Stanzi is back after proving last season he is the ultimate gamer (and winner), the tailbacks are again deep with Jewel Hampton healthy and added to a combination of Adam Robinson and Brandon Wegher. The defensive line might be the best in the Big Ten and ballhawking safety Tyler Sash, while he'll miss spring camp, gives the Hawkeyes the best centerfielder in football. Last season's dream season crumbled only when Stanzi suffered an ankle injury in the 10th game. That makes protecting him even more paramount this season. "We are pretty much just flipping coins right now and depth charts don't mean a lot at this point," Ferentz said. "Hopefully we'll be further along here in four weeks, and more importantly, hopefully by September, we'll have a good idea where we are heading." NOTES, QUOTES Barring something unforeseen, Reiff will take over at left tackle for Bryan Bulaga, who is expected to be a top-10 pick in April's draft. Reiff is only a sophomore with limited experience for such a key position, but the Hawkeyes like his potential and have few other options. The real questions are the other three positions, most particularly center. Fifth-year senior Josh Koeppel is the likely choice, but he's right around 6 feet and only about 270 pounds. Sorting through the candidates at guard will be a goal this spring, although it will likely come down to Adam Gettis and Nolan MacMillan, whose real future lies at tackle. Woody Orne, a transfer from South Dakota State, will get a look at right tackle. So will junior Markus Zusevics and senior Kyle Haganma. Redshirt freshman Brett Van Sloten is probably a year away, but a strong offseason could push him into the mix. The linebacker situation is a bit clearer. Two starters must be replaced, but Jeff Tarpinian will take over in the middle and Tyler Nielsen is a strong candidate on the outside. The spring will be spent getting the three to play together. Tarpinian is a fifth-year senior who is ready, while Nielsen is a junior who has flashed tremendous speed on special teams. Both Adam Robinson and Brandon Wegher return at tailback, and now Jewel Hampton's knee is healthy. But Iowa must improve on a rushing attack that ranked 10th in the league (114.2 ypg). That makes the formation of the offensive line even more critical. Robinson and Wegher should be better as sophomores, but they need protection up front. Daniel Murray was last seen limping off the field at the Orange Bowl. While he insists he's healthy, there could still be competition from Trent Mossbrucker. Murray has been inconsistent and will be pushed by the redshirt freshman this spring and summer. BUILDING BLOCKS: While most of the focus will be on the return of QB Ricky Stanzi and the depth at tailback, the true strength of this team should again be the defense. Iowa might boast the best defensive line in the league with DEs Adrian Clayborn (70 tackles, 20 TFLs, 11.5 sacks) and Broderick Binns (63 tackles, 10 TFLs, 6 sacks) and DTs Karl Klug (65 tackles, 13 TFLs, four sacks) and Christian Ballard (54 tackles, 9 TFLs, 5.5 sacks). That's 202 tackles and 27 sacks just from the linemen. The secondary must replace lockdown corner Amari Spievey, but Tyler Sash is the best ballhawk in the league at safety and sidekick Brett Greenwood is a good complement. Linebackers will be low on experience, but that doesn't always equal talent. Pat Angerer and A.J. Edds are gone, but Jeremiha Hunter is back after finishing second on the team in tackles last year (89) and Jeff Tarpinian is finally ready to be a starter as a fifth-year senior. Tarpinian was once ahead of Hunter on the depth chart, but injuries set him back and Hunter exploded. Iowa may struggle offensively until the issues up front are sorted out. But the defense, as usual, should keep the Hawkeyes in contention for a championship once again. QUOTE TO NOTE: "We have some very good players back and that will drive expectations. ... I think preseason rankings are based on your experience level, your success level and then maybe the name of your school, too. But really don't have much to do with how we play next year and our 12 games." — coach Kirk Ferentz, on preseason expectations STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL QB Ricky Stanzi is the leader of this team, which was evident during the time he missed last season. With Stanzi healthy now and a strong supporting cast around him, the Hawkeyes should again be one of the best teams in the Big Ten. TOP NEWCOMERS: —OL Woody Orne is eligible after sitting out a season following his transfer from South Dakota State. He'll likely get on the field, perhaps as the starter at right tackle, after playing there his last five games at SDSU. Originally a basketball recruit, Orne is now close to 300 pounds. —TE C.J. Fiedorowicz — An immediate contender to replace Tony Moeaki who should develop into the same type of deep threat down the middle of the field. Fiedorowicz could follow the same path as Dallas Clark and Moeaki. Iowa plucked the freshman recruit away from home-state school Illinois late in the recruiting season after he verbally committed to the Illini. —QB A.J. Derby — The hometown product from Iowa City graduated early and will take part in spring ball. Coach Kirk Ferentz called Derby a "Tim Tebow" type and could design packages to get him on the field, much like Tebow did as a freshman the year the Gators won the national championship. —OL Andrew Donnal — With all the uncertainty surrounding the offensive line, Donnal is the type of freshman who could immediately work his way onto the depth chart. He has the size at 6-foot-7 and 285 pounds. He was a four-star recruit. ROSTER REPORT: —Sophomore RB Jeff Brinson has decided to transfer rather than get caught in the traffic jam in Iowa's backfield. Brinson, a highly-touted recruit from Florida in 2008, is looking at schools closer to home. He redshirted in '08 and a foot injury limited him to one carry last season. He most likely would've started next season at least fourth on the depth chart behind Adam Robinson, Jewel Hampton and Brandon Wegher. —Safeties Tyler Sash and Brett Greenwood will again miss spring ball after undergoing shoulder surgeries for the second consecutive offseason. They missed spring practice last year after the procedures, too. Iowa signed safety candidates Don Shumpert (6-3, 185), Anthony Hitchens (6-1, 200) and Tanner Miller (6-2, 195). Coach Kirk Ferentz said the lack of depth behind Sash and Greenwood leaves it likely at least one of the freshmen will contribute next season. —DB David Cato and RB Josh Brown both transferred after the season. Cato, a sophomore from Arlington, Texas, made six tackles in 12 games last season. Brown, a freshman from St. Petersburg, Fla., did not have a carry. The loss of Cato is a blow to a safety position already thin behind starters Sash and Greenwood. —Junior Cody Hundertmark made the switch from defensive end to offensive line before the Orange Bowl. He's around 6-foot-4 and 280 pounds, so he has a good frame and he's fairly athletic. But there are a lot of bodies on the depth chart between he and the field. —DE Adrian Clayborn pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct stemming from an incident in Iowa City in January 2009. Clayborn was originally charged with assault after allegedly striking a cab driver. Ferentz said Clayborn has been a model citizen during his time with the Hawkeyes. If anything, he may be suspended one game for the incident. —DL Dominic Alvis, a redshirt freshman, will be limited during spring drills with a sore groin. Ferentz was unsure at the start of camp how much he would get out of Alvis. _____________________________________________________________ MICHIGAN INSIDE SLANT Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez went to work on the defense first, since that unit was soft and so vulnerable last season that it frequently put the Wolverines in situations where they had to win a scoring contest, in order to win the game. Major changes were in order. The Wolverines used the month of spring practice to install a new 3-3-5 defensive system, hoping that will make Michigan flexible and capable of stuffing the run and reining in fleet receivers. It's no big deal, since the Wolverines will still need good players making plays no matter what defense they play. With Greg Robinson entering his second season as defensive coordinator, his familiarity with the personnel and their comfort level with him calling the shots, should both be moving up the chart. The real test won't come until the fall, but Michigan leaves spring ball feeling guardedly optimistic that things are getting better. On the offensive side, things got more interesting and less clearly defined at the quarterback position, where returning starter Tate Forcier is being seriously pressed for the top job by fellow sophomore Denard Robinson. Since last season, Robinson has made a significant jump, and his performance in the spring game reinforced the popular notion that he could well be starting for Michigan when September rolls around. NOTES, QUOTES —Mark Moundros was moved from fullback to linebacker this spring, and played with the defense in the spring game. But after a score, Moundros was called on to move across the line and block for the offense as it tried for the extra point. —Under a directive from head coach Rich Rodriguez, sophomore quarterbacks Tate Forcier and Denard Robinson practiced most of the spring without green "non-contact" jerseys, forcing them to face live game situations, and be hit on a regular basis. SPRING MOVERS: QB Denard Robinson — The sophomore demonstrated significant improvement as a passer this spring, and thus enhanced his position in the competition for the starting job. Robinson had three touchdowns in the spring game, two via the pass, and one rushing. He added two more scores in a staged overtime period that ended the spring scrimmage. DB Cam Gordon — The redshirt freshman seems to have made a smooth transition from the offensive side, where he played wide receiver, to the defense. Gordon demonstrated a knack for physical play at safety. LB Craig Roh — Roh has put on 20 pounds since last season, and seems more comfortable in the hybrid linebacker role on the UM defense. QUOTE TO NOTE: "What we're trying to do is tweak a few of our packages to fit the different types of schemes that we're facing offensively. I think we've gotten better, but there's still work to do." — Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez on re-tooling his defense. STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: The Wolverines hope they will benefit from the intense and protracted competition at quarterback, and the end result will be a more competent individual leading the huddle. They expect both Denard Robinson and Tate Forcier to play since they give the offense variety, but the alternating act might be wearing on the team, and the combatants. Senior Perry Dorrestein and Stephen Schilling, and juniors Mark Huyge, David Molk, and Kevin Koger, give the Wolverines a potent bunch up front, which should make Michigan's offensive operation smoother and more productive. SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: The crisis on this side of the ball continues, but the hope in the Michigan camp is that a change to a 3-3-5 configuration will let the Wolverines make better use of the talent on hand. Michigan saw CB Troy Woolfolk and DL Ryan Van Bergen excel this spring, and found roles for DT Will Campbell and CB Justin Turner. The lack of depth that haunted the Wolverines last season was addressed, and Michigan should be able to roll in fresh players regularly, and keep its edge. SCOUTING THE SPECIAL TEAMS: With no experienced punters or kickers on the roster, spring made for an interesting time for the Wolverines. All-American Zoltan Mesko's likely replacement at punter is incoming freshman Will Hagerup, while redshirt freshman Brendan Gibbons will get first crack at the place-kicking job. The return game is solid with Darryl Stonum bringing back kicks and Junior Hemingway returning punts. Junior Tom Pomarico returns as the long-snapper, giving the Wolverines a solid starting point for forming this unit. ROSTER REPORT: —RB Vincent Smith sat out contact this spring while recovering from surgery. —WR Roy Roundtree scored a touchdown in the Michigan spring game on a 97-yard pass from QB Denard Robinson. —QB Devin Gardner, an incoming freshman who enrolled early and took part in spring ball, threw an interception in the spring game, but also had several nice runs in his debut. —CB Troy Woolfolk had a strong spring, but was forced to sit out the spring game due to a hand injury.
==== _____________________________________________________________ MICHIGAN STATE INSIDE SLANT "I think it's important to note that guys make mistakes, guys pay the consequences, they move forward," Mark Dantonio said Tuesday after announcing that six involved players have been reinstated for spring ball — with one still in limbo and the other eight gone from the program. On the field, spring ball is mostly about repairing a defense that took a major step backward in 2009. Even with first-team All-America LB Greg Jones — who had Dantonio wiping his brow in January when he announced he'll return for his senior season — the Spartans were too porous too often last season. Defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi will employ more 3-4 fronts in 2010, or at least the viability of that approach will be explored during the spring. This staff is stockpiling versatile, speedy linebackers, making such a switch logical. The Spartans say farewell to some good players, such as defensive end Trevor Anderson, safety Danny Fortener and cornerback Jeremy Ware — plus DT Oren Wilson, one of the players charged in the Nov. 22 fight at Rather Hall, who is transferring with one year of eligibility remaining. That leaves a lot of promising talent. Jones and Eric Gordon lead the LB corps, with sophomore Chris Norman poised to bust out for a big year. Incoming freshman William Gholston, a five-star recruit, could see time at DE or LB right away. Jerel Worthy is the star of a defensive line that has more questions than answers. Cornerback Chris L. Rucker — one of the six players reinstated after being suspended — is the standout of a secondary with a lot of ability but a lot to prove. The Spartans hope to feel better about that defense after spring ball, and the same can be said of an offensive line that loses three fifth-year seniors. As for the offensive skill, the Spartans feel great about it — and just need to make sure it's all still healthy by the end of April. NOTES, QUOTES Nichol, who battled Kirk Cousins for the starting QB job all last season, entered spring practice as the starter at X receiver. That's mainly because incumbent starters Mark Dell and B.J. Cunningham are low on the depth chart, having just been reinstated in the wake of their role in an off-campus fight. Still, Nichol will be used in a variety of ways. The Spartans will throw to him, snap to him in the wildcat and use him at QB as well. He is listed as co-backup behind Cousins, along with redshirt freshman Andrew Maxwell. Sophomore Denzel Drone and redshirt freshman Tyler Hoover are the starting ends as spring ball begins, but incumbent Colin Neely is out after having minor shoulder surgery. On the offensive line, starters D.J. Young and Joel Foreman return. Young moves from RT to LT. The other three spots are wide open. BUILDING BLOCKS: Michigan State's strength in 2010 will be a collection of offensive skill players that ranks among the best in the Big Ten. Junior QB Kirk Cousins leads the way after a mostly terrific sophomore season. RBs Larry Caper and Edwin Baker should be better after good freshman seasons — and heralded speedster Nick Hill arrives to compete for snaps. Keshawn Martin, Mark Dell and B.J. Cunningham return, and although Blair White will be missed, converted QB Keith Nichol can do some of the same things. TE may be this team's best position, with Charlie Gantt, Brian Linthicum and Dion Sims back. All could be future pros. Defensively, DT Jerel Worthy and LB Greg Jones fit the destined-to-play-on-Sunday bill. The Spartans have a lot of team speed and talent on that side of the ball, but a lot of it is young. QUOTE TO NOTE: "I would prefer he have ball in his hands. However it would get there." — Mark Dantonio, asked if he expects Keith Nichol to play more WR or QB in 2010 STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL TOP NEWCOMERS: DE/LB William Gholston — At 6-7, 250, William Gholston seems like the perfect DE, a nightmare off the edge. But the Detroiter wants to play LB, and the Spartans will accomodate him, at least some of the time. This is a guy who was offered by USC, Alabama and just about everyone else in college football, so he'll probably get what he wants. RB Nick Hill — A close friend of former Michigan star Mike Hart, the Ann Arbor-area standout Hill also is said to play just like Hart. The Spartans expect him to come in right away and challenge for carries, along with potentially taking over part of the return game. LB Max Bullough — He is the grandson of former MSU great and NFL coach Hank Bullough; the son of former MSU LB great Shane Bullough; the nephew of former MSU LB great Chuck Bullough; so yeah, this kid comes in with some expectations. All indications are he's too good to keep off the field as a true freshman. ROSTER REPORT: —Of the 15 players involved in the Nov. 22 Rather Hall fight, eight are gone. Glenn Winston and Roderick Jenrette were immediately kicked off the team. Ashton Leggett, Oren Wilson, Myles White, Jamiihr Williams, Brynden Trawick and Ishmyl Johnson are transferring. —The other seven — Mark Dell, B.J. Cunningham, Chris L. Rucker, J'Michael Deane, Donald Spencer, Chris D. Rucker and Fred Smith — are still with the team, and all but Smith are reinstated for spring ball. Smith has to serve five days in jail for his role in the Rather Hall fight. Spencer and Chris D. Rucker were not charged but were suspended by Dantonio for being at the fight. He said Tuesday that they have been reinstated for weeks. —Two defensive starters, DT Jerel Worthy and DE Colin Neely, won't take part in spring ball after offseason shoulder repairs. TE Brian Linthicum will take part after minor knee surgery kept him out of MSU's Alamo Bowl loss to Texas Tech.
========= _____________________________________________________________ MINNESOTA INSIDE SLANT As spring practice begins in 2010, Minnesota has many questions to answer, both on the field and the coaching staff. How effectively those questions are answered will go a long way in determining if the Gophers can improve on last season's 6-7 record. Minnesota will field a young and inexperienced team. A total of 22 redshirt freshmen and 16 sophomores are on the spring roster. They will be joined by 27 true freshmen from the latest recruiting class who will hit campus this summer. While 10 starters are back on offense, only two return on the defensive side of the ball, which was Minnesota's strength last season. The Gophers finished sixth in the Big Ten in defense in 2009 and many holes must be filled, including replacing the entire front seven, for a repeat performance to occur. While the offense has some continuity with so many returning players, two new coaches added to the staff will lead to some adjustments. Offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch and receivers coach Richard Hightower returned to the NFL after only one season on the job in Minnesota. Jeff Horton, a former head coach at UNLV and Nevada, will take over as offensive coordinator, while Steve Watson, a former All-Pro wide receiver with the Denver Broncos, is the receivers coach. NOTES, QUOTES Big things were expected from Weber last season, but he completed only 52 percent of his passes for 2,582 yards. Even more troubling, he threw for only 13 touchdowns with 15 interceptions. The Gophers need Weber to perform like did in 2008, when he was named second team All-Big Ten after completing 62 percent of his passes for 2,761 yards with 15 touchdowns and only eight interceptions. Horton, who spent the last four seasons coaching in the NFL, was the quarterbacks coach at Wisconsin from 1999-2005, where he helped develop Brooks Bollinger. Although Weber isn't guaranteed a starting spot, his experience gives him an edge. Sophomore MarQueis Gray and Moses Alipate could step in if Weber falters. While he tinkers with Weber, Horton must also straighten out the Gophers' running game, the worst in the conference in 2009. The Gophers scored a league-low 13 rushing touchdowns and ran for only 99.5 yards a game. Minnesota was 111th in the country in rushing offense so it's obvious Horton and the other offensive coaches have a lot of work to do this spring. Duane Bennett is at the top of the depth chart at tailback going into spring ball, but DeLeon Eskridge is right behind him and Kevin Whaley is waiting for an opportunity. Horton is the Gophers' third offensive coordinator in the last three years. He inherits a unit that was dead last in the conference in points per game, touchdowns and yards. BUILDING BLOCKS: The good news on defense is Kevin Cosgrove returns for his second season as the unit's coordinator. The bad news is only two starters are back from last season's defense that did a good job keeping the Gophers in games while the offense struggled. Free safety Kim Royston and strong safety Kyle Theret are the only returning starters. The spring practices will be devoted to filling those holes and seeing which young players step up and grab starting jobs. "I think Kevin Cosgrove and our defensive staff has really taken the steps toward us being a very good defensive football team," Brewster said. "What's going to be exciting is to see the young guys." QUOTE TO NOTE: "The thing that I'm most excited about with our team is the competition that we're going to have this spring. We've got competitive situations across the board on offense and defense. There is going to be daily competition. Basically what I've told our team is 'If you want to be a starter on our football team, go win the job.'" — Tim Brewster on spring practice. STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL USC visits on Sept. 18 for a marquee non-conference matchup. The month of October will be especially grueling. After a visit from Northwestern, the Gophers travel to Wisconsin and Purdue before Ohio State and Penn State come to town. The offensive players will have to adjust to the new coaches while the young players up and down the roster will have to come together quickly for Minnesota to have some success. The Gophers' depth on both sides of the ball will also be tested in the face of such a heavyweight schedule. TOP NEWCOMERS: DE Ra'Shede Hageman — A former tight end who has been switched to defensive end earned praise from Brewster before spring drills began. At 6-foot-6 and 292 pounds, Hageman could put some much-needed heat on the quarterback if he develops. OT Ed Olson — The redshirt freshman will compete for playing time during spring ball. DE Kendall Gregory-McGhee — Another redshirt freshman who will push for playing time in spring ball and could get that time once the season begins. ROSTER REPORT: —A redshirt freshman and native of Bloomington, QB Moses Alipate could move up the ranks if starter Adam Weber continues to struggle and MarQueis Gray doesn't develop. —The lack of experience on defense has left several jobs wide open. Junior college transfers Christyn Lewis and Dwight Tillman could push for jobs in the backfield. —The receiving corps struggled when star senior Eric Decker went down with an injury last season. Coach Tim Brewster would like to see Da'Jon McKnight fill Decker's shoes as the Gophers' primary target. Brewster is challenging McKnight, who was inconsistent last season.
====== _____________________________________________________________ NORTHWESTERN INSIDE SLANT But this fine run has not included the finest running attack. In 2008, an injury to Tyrell Sutton helped to limit the Wildcats to 141.8 rushing yards per game. In 2009, with Sutton having moved on to the NFL's Carolina Panthers, NU's massive cast of replacements teamed up to provide just 117.5 rushing yards per game. Freshman Arby Fields led the squad in rushing with a paltry 300 yards. None of the six Wildcats who had at least 10 carries averaged 4 yards per tote. That's the bad news. The good news is that the top four rushers (Fields, senior Stephen Simmons, junior Scott Concannon and junior Jacob Schmidt) return this spring with a chance to better themselves. The better news is that redshirt sophomore Alex Daniel, who missed last year with an ankle injury, and redshirt freshman Mike Trumpy jump into the mix and figure to increase the competition even more. Then, in the fall, highly touted recruit Adonis Smith (Oakland, Calif.) joins the hunt. While the Cats searching for more production at running back, projected improvement at that position figures to go hand-in-hand with Northwestern's likely improvement at quarterback and the offensive line. The Wildcats welcome back all five starters along the O-Line — though guards Doug Bartels and Keegan Grant will miss spring ball due to injury — and likely quarterback Dan Persa showcased some terrific running skills during lengthy late-season cameos against Penn State and Iowa. Northwestern also will utilize spring ball to find five new defensive starters and, perhaps more important, the next wave of youngsters who'll provide critical depth on that side of the ball as well as on special teams. Coach Pat Fitzgerald and his staff believe they brought in strong classes during 2008 and 2009, but now's the time to find out where a lot of those guys fit in. Some names to watch? Redshirt sophomores Demetrius Dugar (CB), Jared Carpenter (S), Hunter Bates (S), David Nwabuisi (LB) and Stone Pinckney (LB) along with redshirt freshmen Anthony Battle (DE), Davon Custis (DE), Tim Riley (LB), Damien Proby (LB), Davion Fleming (S) and Cooper Gerami (CB). NOTES, QUOTES This is a roundabout way of saying while Northwestern needs to identify its next quarterback, a few go-to receivers, two new defensive linemen and two new secondary starters, there's a feeling in camp that the Wildcats have the talent to fill these gaps and there will be relative unknowns ready and willing to step forward. There are just two choices at QB: Junior-to-be Dan Persa and redshirted freshman Evan Watkins. Persa, an explosive dual-threat type who's just as willing to run as throw, offered intriguing glimpses last year against Penn State and Iowa. Kafka offered his stamp of approval for Persa on his way out the door and the coaches are confident he'll become the offense's new leader. The defensive staff must find replacements for a decorated fivesome (DE Corey Wootton, DT Adam Hahn, CB Sherrick McManis, S Brandon Smith and S Brad Phillips) that combined to make 196 career starts. That won't be easy, but Smith and Phillips missed enough time due to injury last year that junior-to-be Brian Peters could almost be considered a returning starter. Starting outside linebacker David Arnold also is moving back to safety. McManis' replacement could be Justan Vaughn, who entered the 2008 season as the starter before suffering a season-ending injury. BUILDING BLOCKS: Northwestern retains all five of its starting offensive linemen — including third-year starters LT Al Netter, C Ben Burkett and RG Doug Bartels — while also welcoming back all of its linebackers. OLB Quentin Davie (team-high 90 tackles, five sacks) heads into his senior season with 26 career starts while MLB Nate Williams (86 tackles), who'll miss spring ball after surgery, has started 18 of the last 19 games. Junior superback Drake Dunsmore (47 catches, 523 yards, three TDs) and senior Sidney Stewart (42 catches, 470 yards, two TDs) are the leading skill-position returnees while sophomore Arby Fields (team-high 300 yards) leads a big pack of running backs who earned experience last year. QUOTE TO NOTE: "Danny's strengths are similar to Mike's. What Mike (Kafka) really developed last year, and I see the same development in Danny (Persa), when C.J. (Bacher) matriculated out, Mike and Danny took a step up. Now Mike is gone and I've seen Danny kind of take the next step, and I've seen Evan (Watkins) kind of come along with him. So, yeah, for obvious reasons it's Danny's job. He's got the most experience in the offense, the most reps. But I think Evan's going to develop and improve and where they're at (at the end of spring ball) will be different from today." — Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald discussing the team's quarterback situation on nusports.com. STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL TOP NEWCOMERS: RB Mike Trumpy — The redshirt freshman split his first season between battling nagging injuries and producing big plays on the scout team. With no clear-cut leader at running back, Trumpy will have ample opportunity to carve out a role. QB Evan Watkins — He's not likely to catch Dan Persa in the race to replace Mike Kafka, but the redshirt freshman is the only other scholarship signal-caller in camp. Unlike Persa, he's more of a trademark-sized quarterback (6-6, 235) who has a different skill set than the dual-threat Persa. The coaches expect him to make a big jump this spring. DEs Davon Custis and Anthony Battle — With four-year starter Corey Wootton off to the NFL, the Wildcats need to fill that spot and this pair of redshirt freshmen bring an intriguing athleticism as they seek playing time. They're a little underweight now, but that could change by the fall. ROSTER REPORT: —Senior MLB Nate Williams underwent offseason surgery and won't take part in spring ball. Williams, who has 18 career starts under his belt, should be good to go in the fall. —Junior RG Doug Bartels, a two-year starter, will sit out spring ball due to injury. Senior LG Keegan Grant, who made seven starts a year ago, also will miss spring ball due to injury. —Junior David Arnold started his career at safety, but moved up to outside linebacker last fall and made five starts there. Now he's moving back to safety as the Wildcats graduated their top two players there. —Junior Jeravin Matthews, who moved from wide receiver to running back last season, has made official his bowl-practice move to cornerback. He'll compete for the job left open by the graduated Sherrick McManis.
= _____________________________________________________________ OHIO STATE INSIDE SLANT Certainly a seventh straight title seems within reach and maybe, just maybe, even more. Ohio State will spend the spring sorting through a handful of personnel decisions, but more importantly will try to fine-tune what could be an explosive offense, all while ensuring quarterback Terrelle Pryor doesn't suffer any setbacks following knee surgery. Tressel has always been cautious with players coming off winter surgeries, but sounds like a man who will let Pryor loose this spring, two months after arthroscopic surgery on his left knee to clean up a slight tear in his PCL. Although Pryor said the surgery was a little more complicated than expected because of unforeseen damage, Tressel deemed his budding star 100 percent healthy for spring camp. "He's fine," Tressel told a Pro Football Hall of Fame Luncheon club in early March. "We had a 6 a.m. workout this morning. He was there and did the whole workout wearing a weighted vest. Now I'm starting to worry about his intelligence." Pryor is hoping his explosion in the Rose Bowl last year is the first step in his long-awaited coming out party. Pryor set career-highs in attempts (37), completions (23) and passing yards (266) all while rushing for 72 yards in the Buckeyes' huge 26-17 win over Oregon. It was a much-needed win in a marquee game for a program that had become the focal point of the Big Ten's collapse. Despite all the league titles, the Buckeyes have been a punch line nationally since getting hammered in the national championship game against Florida following the 2006 season. The Buckeyes hope the win over Oregon was the first step in a new direction. Beginning this spring, the offense will be more explosive than at any point since Troy Smith was winning the Heisman during that '06 season. "Since we've been here, we've had the capable talent to become anything we wanted to become," Tressel told the Columbus Dispatch. "Sometimes we did the things we needed to do and sometimes we didn't. I think we're very capable, talent-wise, with this team. Now we need to make sure we make the right moves and learn the right lessons. And, of course, you have to have some good fortune." NOTES, QUOTES Defensively, the Buckeyes must find a new pair of safeties after the departures of Anderson Russell and Kurt Coleman. Jermale Hines is one obvious replacement after taking over for Russell early last season when Russell was struggling in coverage. Hines has been good enough to start for the last two years. The other safety will come from a group that includes sophomores Orhian Johnson and Travis Howard and sixth-year senior Aaron Gant. Austin Spitler leaves a hole at middle linebacker, but junior Etienne Sabino has that all but locked up as his replacement. BUILDING BLOCKS: This offense has the potential to be just as explosive as the 2006 team that went undefeated throughout the regular season and produced a Heisman Trophy winning quarterback in Troy Smith. QB Terrelle Pryor is ready to prove the Rose Bowl was his coming out party and not a fluke. The Buckeyes have perhaps their deepest backfield under Jim Tressel and the four top players in receptions all return. With minimal losses up front, the only question is whether or not Tressel trusts Pryor enough to let him drive the offense. His progression with Smith was slow and steady until his senior year, when Smith exploded behind the No. 1 team in the country. Pryor could be on the verge of a similar type of breakout. QUOTE TO NOTE: "He's fine. We had a 6 a.m. workout this morning. He was there and he did the whole workout with a weighted vest on. Now I'm starting to worry about his intelligence." — coach Jim Tressel, speaking to a Pro Football Hall of Fame Luncheon Club in early March about Terrelle Pryor's surgically-repaired knee STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL Quarterback Terrelle Pryor returns to lead a group of skill position players that includes RBs Dan Herron and Brandon Saine and receivers DeVier Posey and Dane Sanzenbacher. The defense lost DE Thaddeus Gibson early to the NFL, but DL Cameron Heyward is a budding superstar and LB Ross Homan returns after leading the defense with 108 tackles. If Ohio State can successfully replace both starting safeties — and it has plenty of worthy candidates to pick from — the Buckeyes could be well on their way to a remarkable sixth consecutive conference championship. TOP NEWCOMERS: —OL Andrew Norwell — Might be the best overall recruit of this incoming class. Norwell is still recovering from a broken leg, but should be fine by the fall. —WR James Louis — A little more polished than the other receivers in Ohio State's freshman class, Louis could get onto the field in four-receiver sets. The Florida native has already drawn comparisons to Santonio Holmes, another OSU receiver from the state of Florida who went on to win a Super Bowl MVP award. —LB David Durham — The coaches like him to eventually be a hybrid defensive end/linebacker, but he could also have a future as a middle linebacker. For now, his quickest path to the field is on special teams. —RB Carlos Hyde — Being around for spring ball helps, but Hyde has a long road ahead of him. The Buckeyes are loaded at tailback this year. Those early high school graduates who show up for spring ball at Ohio State typically find ways to slip onto the field as freshmen. ROSTER REPORT: —QB Terrelle Pryor had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in February to clean up a PCL injury suffered prior to the Rose Bowl victory. Pryor told The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer that the knee was worse than expected. He said he'd be 100 percent by spring ball, but coach Jim Tressel tends to err on the side of caution when dealing with spring surgeries. —RB Jaamal Berry is healthy this spring after nagging hamstring injuries forced him to miss all of last year. Berry will begin the spring fourth on the depth chart behind Dan Herron, Brandon Saine and Jordan Hall. He'll also have to combat freshman recruit Carlos Hyde, who is already enrolled and on campus. —S Aaron Gant is back for a sixth season after the NCAA awarded him a medical redshirt for last season. Gant, who has been limited by injuries throughout his career, missed all of last year to a serious knee injury that required two surgeries.
========= _____________________________________________________________ PENN STATE INSIDE SLANT Joe Paterno will stalk the sideline for the 45th season, and he will watch a first-year starter play his old position. True sophomore Kevin Newsome, who enters 2010 with 11 career passes to his credit, will look to hold off freshmen Paul Jones and Robert Bolden for the starting job and lead an offense that returns quality players at most every other position. All of Penn State's wide receivers, including Derek Moye (48 catches, six touchdowns in 2009) and Graham Zug (46, seven) return, as do four offensive linemen who made at least seven starts in 2009. The Nittany Lions will also boast one of the Big Ten's best running backs; Evan Royster decided to bypass the NFL and return for his senior season. There are more questions, if not any quite as pressing as the quarterbacks issue, on defense. Penn State must replace all three of its starting linebackers, including studs Navorro Bowman and Sean Lee, at least one cornerback and find someone to create the same kind of havoc up front that defensive tackle Jared Odrick did. There are concerns in the kicking game as well. Three-year starting punter Jeremy Boone must be replaced and the status of incumbent Ryan Breen is unknown heading into the start of spring practices. Penn State's coverage units were already shaky even with the consistent leg of Boone. The Nittany Lions will achieve quite a feat if they can pull off their third straight 11-win season — they'll face defending national champion Alabama and BCS bowl participants Ohio State and Iowa on the road this season. NOTES, QUOTES Penn State lost all-conference left tackle Dennis Landolt as well as right tackles Ako Poti and Nerraw McCormack to graduation. Junior DeOn'tae Pannell, who had a shaky debut at right tackle and wound up as the starting left guard at the end of the season, and redshirt freshmen Eric Shrive and Adam Gress figure to be in the mix. The battles at linebacker should be intriguing as well. Sophomore Michael Mauti returns from an ACL injury, most likely in the middle, and could be flanked by veterans Bani Gbadyu and Nathan Stupar or youngsters Gerald Hodges and Mike Yancich. BUILDING BLOCKS: The experience, savvy and ability of Evan Royster, who has run for 2,918 yards in the last three seasons, and a solid interior of the offensive line — center Stefen Wisniewski and guards Lou Eliades and Johnnie Troutman — should help Penn State run the ball with some consistency. Wide receivers Derek Moye and Graham Zug were consistently productive in their first year as starters and should again be solid for the young quarterbacks. Electric sophomores Curtis Drake and Justin Brown also need some more touches. The departure of Big Ten defensive lineman of the year Jared Odrick will sting, but with tackles Ollie Ogbu, Devon Still and Brandon Ware and ends Jack Crawford, Eric Latimore, Sean Stanley and Pete Massaro, Penn State should once again be in good stead up front. There are a couple of holes in the secondary, and strong safety Drew Astorino will use the spring to recover from shoulder surgery, but free safety Nick Sukay and cornerbacks D'Anton Lynn and Stephon Morris should provide a solid foundation. STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL It will be in many ways a "rebuilding" season for the Nittany Lions but one that could end impressively if a few of the inexperienced players round into form during the second half. TOP NEWCOMERS: QB Kevin Newsome — The fast, powerful sophomore played in 10 of the 12 games last season and looked a little shaky on several of those occasions. He's the front-runner at the position, though, and should be more comfortable more than a year into the program. OT Eric Shrive — Big, (6-foot-6, 300 pounds), sturdy and agile, Shrive is the left tackle of the future. But a lack of depth at the position might mean he'll have to be the right tackle of the present. CB Derrick Thomas — The departures of A.J. Wallace and Knowledge Timmons give Thomas, who redshirted last season, a great chance to step in and contribute this fall. WR/DB Christian Kuntz — The Nittany Lions are excited about what this athletic 6-foot-4 redshirt freshman can do. He could spend spring practice on either side of the ball. ROSTER REPORT: —LB Michael Mauti is progressing nicely and should be able to participate in some capacity after tearing an ACL in his knee last August. —RB Brandon Beachum, who tore an ACL in November, will be held out of spring practices. —OL Chima Okoli, a non-factor at defensive tackle for the past two seasons, will be given a shot on the offensive line this spring. —SS Drew Astorino will be held out of spring drills after undergoing shoulder surgery this winter.
============ _____________________________________________________________ PURDUE INSIDE SLANT That followed an explosive ending to life in South Florida, when he was twice suspended from the Hurricanes, struggled academically and arrested for breaking a car mirror and then fleeing police. Those charges were eventually dropped. He finally stormed out following the 2008 season when he was suspended for the Emerald Bowl that year for missing a class. Purdue coach Danny Hope is optimistic all of that is behind him. The coaching staff thoroughly investigated Marve before accepting him into the program. Now after sitting out a year and regaining full strength in the knee, Florida's former Mr. Football is ready to win the starting job at a school known for producing quarterbacks. Hope isn't about to just hand the job to Marve, particularly after his stormy past. Sophomore Caleb TerBush and redshirt freshman Rob Henry will both get long looks this spring. "We'll mathematically figure out a way to divvy up the reps (during the spring) among our top guys," Hope said. "But if it turns out one guys is emerging, he might get more reps. We'll see. We have to have a chance to evaluate them." In order for Purdue to explode offensively, Marve will have to win the job. And he will. Marve, who has two years of eligibility remaining, had little choice after the knee injury but to dig into the playbook and learn about his teammates. Miami coach Randy Shannon only agreed to release Marve from his scholarship after replacing huge restrictions on where he could go. Shannon wouldn't let Marve transfer to any other ACC school or SEC powers LSU, Florida and Tennessee. He couldn't transfer to any other school in Florida, either. With such limited options, the flashy Florida quarterback who broke an assortment of Tim Tebow's high school records opted for the cornfields of Indiana. Now he will try to lead a Purdue team that stumbled to a 1-5 start before winning four of its last six games in 2009. Trying to capitalize on that end-year momentum begins this spring as the Boilermakers attempt to make that long trip back to bowl eligibility. If they are going to get there, Marve will likely have to be the one to lead them. "There's some firepower here," Hope said. "We have to develop it." NOTES, QUOTES Finding four defensive backs is easily the toughest task for the coaching staff between now and September. Gavin Roberts, Josh Johnson, Charlton Williams, Chris Quinn, Ishmael Aristide and junior college transfer Michael Eargle will get the first looks to fill some pressing needs. While that is being sorted out, Purdue must find three new starters across the offensive line. Since center is also included in that group, it automatically becomes the most important. Sophomores Rick Schmeig and Andrew Brewer are the most likely candidates. Schmeig was the backup to Jared Zwilling last season and played in seven games, primarily at guard. Brewer bulked up to now 300 pounds and is just starting to feel comfortable at that size. He'll push Schmeig this spring. The loser at center could easily shift to guard. BUILDING BLOCKS: If the Boilermakers can patch a couple holes up front, the offense should be explosive — even by Purdue's lofty standards. Miami (Fla.) transfer Robert Marve has quickly grasped the playbook and hasn't shown a reason yet why he shouldn't be considered the starter. Keith Smith won't play this spring with a wrist injury, but his 91 catches and 1,100 yards last season were tops in the Big Ten. He's joined by Kyle Adams, Keith Carlos, Antavian Edison and Cortez Smith to give Purdue what coach Danny Hope believes is of its deepest sets of receivers and tight ends in years. Ralph Bolden surprised everyone last year with his 78 rushing yards per game, which ranked third in the league, and Al-Terek McBurse showed explosiveness last year on special teams. He'll be Bolden's backup as a sophomore. The only question on offense is protecting the quarterback. With only two returning starters up front, there are plenty of jobs available. QUOTE TO NOTE: "You don't have to lead the nation, but you can't be at the bottom." — coach Danny Hope, on making ball security an issue this spring after Purdue's 29 turnovers last year ranked 109th in the nation STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL TOP NEWCOMERS: —DB Michael Eargle — The junior college transfer has perhaps the best chance of anyone to contribute immediately. There are plenty of jobs available in the secondary and Eargle has the benefit of two years of college football already, plus the 15 practices this spring. He is already on campus taking part in spring drills. —QB Robert Marve — The Miami transfer has some competition, but should easily win the starter's job by fall. He has plenty of talent around him to be successful. —CB Ricardo Allen — Coach Danny Hope said Allen was the No. 1 high school cornerback on the Boilermakers' board. Being able to land him is big, given the amount of turnover coming in Purdue's secondary. At 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds, Allen is a strong candidate to contribute immediately. —DT Bruce Gaston — Hope said Gaston has the potential to be iconic — huge praise for a high school kid that hasn't even put the pads on yet. With Mike Neal off to the NFL, Gaston could fit right in along Purdue's defensive front. ROSTER REPORT: —WR Keith Smith (wrist), LBs Jason Werner (Achilles) and Antwon Higgs (wrist), S Albert Evans (ankle) and DT Nick Mondek (ankle) will miss spring practice with an assortment of injuries. Smith led the team in receptions last year, but the most notable name is Werner because of his long history of back trouble. Only it's his heel keeping him out of spring ball. —Colton McKey has switched from tight end to offensive tackle. He is now listed as No. 71.
======== _____________________________________________________________ WISCONSIN INSIDE SLANT The Badgers welcome back 10 offensive starters, six defensive starters and both specialists in their pursuit of a Big Ten title and a Bowl Championship Series berth. Several of those valuable veterans — including Big Ten offensive player of the year John Clay — aren't participating in spring practice. But that can't stop Bielema from setting the tone with those healthy enough to participate. "Well, it's good since you have players that are returning, but the bottom line is the players from last year need to improve and be better," Bielema said at the news conference that kicked off spring ball. "I think we've seen that before, where if we don't make ourselves better, even though we're coming back, it doesn't do anybody any good. It's good from an experience standpoint, but also it's a different coaching method, because now you have to take players to a new, higher level. "A lot of times when we have younger players, that learning curve is huge; you can see those improvements literally day to day. As they get older, the way they improve the best is to make them address their weaknesses, and sometimes that's not the most enjoyable part of coaching is to make them do something that they don't do well, better. I think this group has really bought into that, and hopefully we'll see that come out." Guys like senior quarterback Scott Tolzien understand spring ball from both perspectives. Last spring, Tolzien made the leap from third-string and became the starter for all 13 games. He knows he's not in danger of losing his job — especially after backup Curt Phillips tore the ACL in his right knee during the first week of camp — but he recognizes he doesn't know it all and understands how much improvement can be made. "I still take the approach that it is open competition," Tolzien told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "You can't get complacent." Bielema couldn't have said it better. NOTES, QUOTES If there is a position group that needs some spring clarification, it's on the defensive line. Dominant DE O'Brien Schofield and three of the squad's top four defensive tackles are gone, which leaves lots of snaps to be claimed. Patrick Butrym is the only DT with experience while David Gilbert, who shone on special teams as a true freshman, will compete with junior Louis Nzegwu (3.5 sacks) for prime DE time. Wisconsin also uses this spring to break in two new assistants. Chris Ash handles the secondary (Kerry Cooks moved to Notre Dame) while Greg Jackson will work with linebackers and nickel types after Randall McCray left to become Middle Tennessee's defensive coordinator. BUILDING BLOCKS: Wisconsin retains all of its offensive starters except NFL-bound tight end Garrett Graham, which means the Badgers could rank with the nation's most explosive teams. Redshirt junior tailback John Clay, who won the Big Ten's offensive player of the year award, will try to improve on last year's 1,517 yards and 18 TDs. He's a bull of a runner who displayed surprising speed despite a handful of nagging injuries that eventually led to ankle surgery. The Badgers build their offense around Clay's talents and they keep defenses off-balance with a ton of play-action stuff. Senior quarterback Scott Tolzien started all 13 games last year and played virtually mistake-free for much of the year. He finished with 2,705 passing yards with 16 TDs vs. 11 interceptions. He'll have all kinds of veteran targets, including WR Nick Toon and TE Lance Kendricks, eager to catch his throws. The defense lost its most decorated player in DE O'Brien Schofield, but coordinator Dave Doeren welcomes back several playmakers including OLB Chris Borland (the Big Ten freshman of the year) and junior DE J.J. Watt. QUOTE TO NOTE: "The thing that excites me about his injury is I think you're going to see an even better John Clay down the road. The issues he had are going to give him a lot of relief and allow him to be an even better football player. That makes me excited." — Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema discussing TB John Clay's ankle surgery that's keeping him out of spring ball. STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL TOP NEWCOMERS: QB Jon Budmayr — The redshirt freshman is in the midst of his second spring practice (he graduated early from high school) and has been thrust into the spotlight with Curt Phillips' ACL injury. At the minimum, Budmayr figures to be Scott Tolzien's top backup when the season starts. DL Tyler Dippel — The redshirt freshman from Slinger, Wis., has a chance to battle his way into a role at either end or tackle. He doesn't yet have the weight to move inside, but he has the frame and the Badgers have bigger issues at tackle than end. TE Brian Wozniak — With stalwarts Garrett Graham and Mickey Turner having been graduated, the Badgers need a few good men to fulfill their usual complement of tight ends. Wozniak was highly regarded coming out of Loveland (Ohio) High School and appears to be a dual-threat type. ROSTER REPORT: —QB Curt Phillips tore the ACL in his right knee March 20 during a scrimmage and will undergo surgery later in the spring. His availability for the 2010 season is uncertain. Phillips spent all of last year as Scott Tolzien's top backup. His absence gives redshirt freshman Jon Budmayr the chance to be the second-stringer. —TB John Clay won't participate in spring ball after undergoing ankle surgery. Coach Bret Bielema said he expects Clay to be ready to handle conditioning drills in June. —OLB Chris Borland underwent shoulder surgery after the Champs Sports Bowl and won't do spring ball. Fellow OLB Mike Taylor, whose torn ACL injury allowed Borland to jump into the starting lineup at midseason, also isn't doing spring practice. —C Peter Konz, who started most of the year before doctors found blood clots in his lungs, isn't expected to return until after spring practice concludes as he continues to heal. —WR Kraig Appleton, LB Nick Hill and DE Shelby Harris were suspended from the team during the winter for "violation of team rules" and won't participate in spring ball. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel went so far as to suggest they won't return to the program at all.
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| 'Dateline' was shown, but ignored, balance in Detroit Posted: 22 Apr 2010 12:17 AM PDT Painfully, I have to admit that all the heartbreak presented in the "Dateline NBC" special "America Now: City of Heartbreak and Hope" was true, and that it's incumbent on Detroiters to rectify the situation. But what's also painfully clear is that the piece sorely lacked balance, rehashed cliches and presented Detroit as a place filled exclusively with desperately poor, struggling people. It suggested the city is doing little to solve its problems. I can draw no other conclusion after spending nearly four hours with reporter Chris Hansen and the "Dateline" crew showing them, as I was requested, "the good, the bad and the ugly" of Detroit but seeing only the bad and the ugly, and none of the good, make it into the final cut. Starting with Palmer Woods, which the camera crew and producers all commented was beautiful, and going through parts of Sherwood Forest, West Outer Drive and Rosedale Park, I showed "Dateline" a number of solid, strong neighborhoods with good, well-cared for homes with strong community associations and block clubs. This was done to give them a balanced picture of the totality of Detroit -- not just the well-chronicled blight of the city that was given most of the camera time. Hansen asked me who lived in these neighborhoods. I told him doctors, lawyers, professionals and business owners, among others. None of it was used. In great detail, in response to Hansen's questions, I talked about why I and others choose to live in Detroit. I talked about what many community groups and foundations were doing to attack the problems and why I was hopeful about Detroit's future in spite of the city's challenges. None of my comments, reflecting optimism and hope, were included. I also took "Dateline" to troubled neighborhoods like the Brightmoor area and showed the devastating impact of urban decay, as well as new housing built by nonprofit development groups. The young woman who has adopted and raised numerous abandoned children, featured in the special, is a saint. The outpouring of response to her plight as she struggles is well deserved. Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
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