We’ve talked about players to watch and non-conference scheduling grades, now it’s time to take a look at surprise teams.
Q. Which team will be the biggest surprise in the Big Ten this year?
Bart Doan
On Twitter @TheCoachBart
It’s always nice when “surprise” meets “team that needs it most” meets “oh, yeah, a positive surprise, not a negative one.”
With that in mind, look out for a pretty good campaign for recently forlorn and forgotten Purdue. A lot of folks are down on Purdue, circling the buzzards around Ross-Ade, but one has to understand that the staff was left barren by the previous group and while the optics of it have been an Eli Roth film in Darrell Hazell’s first few years, that’s bound to change this time around.
The big kicker will be the ongoing boil that seems to be incapable of being lanced within the program, and that’s the inability to find a starting quarterback. Hazell hasn’t had a quarterback he’s stuck with even half the season, and it was a fly in the ointment in the later stages of the Danny Hope era as well.
David Blough took his lumps last year, going 1-7, but getting valuable playing time in the process. Redshirt freshman Elijah Sindelar is supposedly pushing him. Whoever wins, the staff would be well advised to just stick with the decision and bet the house that stability would be a key to a few more wins.
The linebacking corps is the best unit on the team. The offensive line should be better after being second worst in the conference in giving up sacks, and overall, they return 16 starters. While they lack flash at the receiver position, they have the most veteran group probably in the conference led by DeAngelo Yancey.
And then there’s that schedule. All three out of conference games are at home, though Cincinnati and Nevada are gamely opponents. But they miss Michigan, Ohio State, and Michigan State from the Big 10 west and get home tilts with Iowa, Penn State, Northwestern, and Wisconsin. They’re an upset away from probably reaching a bowl game, which would be a fine surprise as the mortar continues to dry on this rebuild.
Terry Johnson
On Twitter @SectionTPJ
I’ll go with Illinois.
Make no mistake about it: there’s plenty of talent on the Illini roster. Yet, for whatever reason, the team never seemed to click under the leadership of former head coaches Tim Beckman and Bill Cubit.
Things will be different this season under the leadership of Lovie Smith. A successful NFL head coach, Smith guided the Chicago Bears to three division titles and a trip to Super Bowl XLI in nine years with the team. That’s quite an accomplishment given the competitive balance in the NFL.
He inherits a team that was better than its win-loss record would show. Illinois returns five starters – including Duwaune Smoot (15 TFL, 8 sacks) and Chunky Clements (11.5 TFL) – from a unit that ranked in top 30 in both total defense (30th, 350.8 ypg) and yards per play (23rd, 4.90) last season. And while the team loses TJ Neal at middle linebacker, they do pick up Hardy Nickerson, who recorded 82.5 tackles at California last season.
There’s also plenty of reasons for optimism on offense. Garrick McGee takes over as offensive coordinator after leading some explosive units at Louisville, UAB, and Arkansas – where his Razorback offense finished 8th nationally in total offense in 2010. He’ll have plenty of talent to work with in Wes Lunt (5,632 career passing yards), Ke’Shawn Vaughn (723 yards, 6 TD), and a seasoned offensive line with 61 career starts.
Under the new coaching staff – especially McGee’s leadership on offense – Illinois will be one of the most improved teams in the country this year. While it may not translate into a West division title (this season), the Illini will win at least seven games for the first time since 2011.
Eli Hershkovich
On Twitter @EliHershkovich
Following a disappointing 6-7 campaign, head coach Mike Riley and the Cornhuskers will rebound in 2016.
Nebraska faced numerous heartbreaking losses in 2015, considering its first five defeats were by a total of 13 points. However, following an offseason of maturation for quarterback Tommy Armstrong, who tossed 16 interceptions last campaign, the offense should create extra separation on the scoreboard. The senior also has started employing the read option in practices, giving his side of the ball additional options to take advantage of his speed.
Armstrong boasts one of the best receiving cores in the nation, too, led by Jordan Westerkamp, who collected 918 yards and seven touchdowns a year ago.
Defensively, the Cornhuskers’ run defense shut down its opponents, holding them to just 109.8 yards per game (ninth in Division I). Yet, passing attacks found plenty of success, posting 290.5 yards per contest. Safety Nate Gerry and cornerback Joshua Kalu, who combined for seven interceptions and 14 pass breakups, must preach a sense of composure to their teammates, as Nebraska allowed 7.5 yards per pass attempt in ‘15 (No. 84 in the country).
If Armstrong shakes off his turnover-prone ways, along with the defense generating more of them, Nebraska could challenge for the Big Ten West crown.
Kevin Causey
On Twitter @CFBZ
Last year for this question, I tabbed the Iowa Hawkeyes (mainly because of their schedule) and that worked out pretty well for me. After finishing 12-2 in 2015, Iowa isn’t surprising anyone this year.
I like Terry’s pick of Illinois. They made a gutsy, even if it was poorly timed, hire of Lovie Smith and I think it will pay off for them but I’m not sure it will pay off this year.
However, I like Eli’s pick better. Maybe the Huskers won’t be a surprise but make no mistake about it: they will be the best turnaround team in the Big Ten this season. They were a dreadful 6-7 last season. There is simply no where to go but up for the Huskers.
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