Wilson

What to look for in the Saturday January 2nd bowl games.

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football

PAPAJOHNS.com BOWL South Carolina 7-5 Connecticut 7-5

Despite losing a key player to tragedy and being out-manned regularly, UConn has played a handful of ranked teams close only to lose heartbreaking game after game. Starting CB Jasper Howard was murdered on Oct. 18th. The team carries his memory and his jersey as a rally flag. The heart and hard work was rewarded with an overtime win over Notre Dame followed by a couple of wins to end the season.

UConn’s O scores 31 points per game and is fairly balanced between the run and the pass. The running tandem of Todman and Dixon provide a good ground attack despite not having even an average O line. QB Endres took over half way through the year and has done fairly well completing 64% with 6 TDs and 4 picks. His favorite target is WR Easley (5th round). The D has gotten better over the year but still is young. It is led by DE Witten (4th) and FS Vaughn (5th).

The Ol’ Ball Coach Spurrier still throws the ball all over the place. “Running backs, we don’t need no stinkin’ running backs” seems to … Read more at FryingPanSports

The Cards' season will depend on how the D plays.

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The Cardinals remarkable run in the 08 playoffs had little to do with the offense. It was the much improved play of the D that made the run possible. The only way the team makes the playoffs in 09 will be if the D continues to improve. So far in the preseason, that is not happening.

Kurt Warner is one of the great stories in football over the last few years. He continues to play at a very high level even though he is 38 years old. He has to stay healthy for the team to have any chance at a winning record. The protection he has gotten for the last 4 season in Arizona has been poor to average. If he is healthy, he will have another pro bowl year and is a great pick in the fantasy draft. Matt Leinart has had a good preseason and looks like he is finally able to read D and use his obvious physical abilities. He has clinched the backup position. The 3rd QB will be between Brian St. Pierre and undrafted Tyler Palko. That will depend on which has looked better in camp. St.Pierre was given a chance to … Read more at FryingPanSports

The Dolphins will be a better team with a worse record.

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The 08 Dolphins improved every game last year and will probably do the same thing this year. But because they have a tougher schedule and more competition within the division, they may not win as many games as in 08.

I wrote a couple of years ago that Dolphin starting QB Chad Pennington has the brain of a coach, the heart of lion but the arm of a chicken. The truth hurts. But in the revamped Miami O, Pennington works well. He is extremely accurate and reads coverages like an offensive coordinator. But the lack of arm strengthen reduces the value of super speed WR Ted Ginn Jr. The Dolphins have two outstanding backup QBs as well. Chad Henne is a pocket passer with the potential to be an NFL starter. Pat White is the wild card in the Wild Cat. He is more accurate than people think, and is among the best athletes on the team.

The running game has both depth and quality. The combination of Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams ran for over 1,500 yards and 14 TDs. Both would start on a lot of NFL teams. Brown is fully recovered from his ACL and Williams from … Read more at FryingPanSports