Now that we've hit the quarter mark for the 2013 season there is plenty to talk about. All the spring predictions are long gone with a new look and perspective on each team in the Big Ten after the first four weeks. Some of those perspectives are virtually the same way we looked at them in before the season like Ohio States domination so far, Nebraska's ability to put points on the board, and Wisconsin is still good at running the ball.
You have to be impressed so far with how successful this conference has been on paper in the little time they've played. Four teams are 4-0 (Buckeyes, Gophers, Wolverines, and the Wildcats) while six teams have just one loss (Spartans, Badgers, Nittnay Lions, Cornhuskers, Fighting Illini, and the Hawkeyes). The key factor we must keep in mind however, is that most of the success we've seen has come from weaker non-conference opponents as the real tests will start piling on in the on going weeks. Until then let's check out how each team has graded out on paper thus far...
Teachers' Pet
Ohio State: A+
If you were to tell me at the beginning of the season their star quarterback and heisman hopeful Braxton Miller would be injured for two and a half of the first four games and running back Carlos Hyde would be suspended the first three games yet they still earned an A+, I would then ask you how you snuck in the teachers lounge and hacked into the computer system you dirty rat. Fifth year senior Kenny Guiton has been flawless filling in for the injured Miller. He set a Buckeye record with six first half touchdowns against Florida A&M Saturday as they went on to win 76-0 (largest shut out in Ohio State school history).
Urban Meyer has this team clicking on all cylinders both offensively and defensively as they have lived up to their own hype so far this season. They have put up 40,42,56,76 points in their first four games as their defense is averaging just 16 points allowed during that same time frame. They will be the team to beat for conference title there is no doubt about that, but will still have to earn it. They get their first real test this Saturday however, against a still bitter Wisconsin Badger team who for all intense purposes should still be undefeated (we'll get to that later). After the Badgers, then on the road to Northwestern (4-0), and the Wolverines to end their season is a tall task for any team, but rest assured there will not be a shortage of confidence the Buckeyes sideline for the remainder of the season.
Honor Roll (On A Roll..)
Northwestern: A-
The Wildcats finished their season last year 10-3 and returned 15 starters back to the team. So far they've started their season who the same way they left off, on a roll. They possess a unique balance on offense largely in part of the best 1-2 punch of quarterbacks Kain Colter and Trevor Sieman. Colter in the dual-threat do-it-all guy from the 20 yard line to the 20 yard line who marches the ball down field in large chunks (having rushed for three touchdowns and passing for the same). While Sieman is subbed in the game while in the red-zone using his accuracy, touch, and vision to help punch the ball from their. This game plan has worked effectively and efficiently so far this season and is making head coach Pat Fitzgerald look like a genius.
Their defense has been a big part of their success as well forcing turn overs during critical parts of games and being stingy giving up yards on the ground. Currently ranked 16th in the AP Poll, Northwestern now has a week off to prepare for what will be their biggest game of the season on October 5th against the powerhouse of the Big Ten, the Ohio State Buckeyes. Win that game and I have no choice but to crown a new "Teachers Pet".
Wisconsin B+
Although their ranked higher than some teams with zero losses I can't help but feel for the Badgers. After getting screwed with a capital S on prime time television against Arizona State, Wisconsin fell down in the polls. They should be undefeated, but they're not. They have played tremendous football four weeks in a row though. Led by defensive studs like linebacker Chris Borland and nose tackle Beau Allen Wisconsin has averaging just 10.5 points allowed per game. Throw in a running game that just won't quit and you've got the recipe for a Big Ten contender.
The two headed monster of Melvin Gordon and James White looks down right unstoppable at times this season. Gordon already has seven rushing touchdowns and is averaging 11.8 yards every carry! White isn't too far behind rushing for 442 yards on 61 carries (7.2 average) and three touchdowns. He also is averaging over 10 yards per reception as he has been used effectively out of the backfield. Badgers have great personnel and the right game plan to win in this conference and will match up well next week against Ohio State in what should be the best game of the week.
Michigan B
Bottom line is their 4-0. They won the game they had to against Notre Dame in week two and did so convincingly winning 41-30 in front of the largest NCAA crowd in history and might have locked up the top recruit in the nation all at the same time (http://www.edraft.com/college-football/news/the-michigan-wolverine-story-landing-top-recruit-dashawn-hand/). So why just a B grade? Dual-threat quarterback Devin Gardner has been a roller coaster and the teams play has followed suit. After the victory over the Irish, the Wolverines gave themselves a heart-attack in Ann Arbor, surviving the four turnovers by Gardner and a goal line stand at the end of the game to escape the Akron Zips, a game that they gave the Zips nine-hundred thousand dollars to play (sign me up). They followed that up with another scare against UCONN this past week needing 14 unanswered points in the second half to win 24-21, again due to Gardners inconsistent play with zero touchdowns and two interceptions.
Brady Hoke has done a great job with recruits since he was hired and has a long list of top talent coming in the nest couple years. However, as it stands now, the team will only go as far as Gardner lets them. When he is on his game this team looks unstoppable, whens he's off though they look like a middle of the conference "trying to figure things out" kind-of-team. Gardner has all the tools and has shown he can lead his team to big victories in big time games. The question Wolverine fans want to know is: When will he start doing it consistently?
C's Get Degrees
Penn State C+
I am truly enamored with what Bill O'Brien has been able to do in his short time at Penn State. After all the turmoil and pressure he walked into taking the head coaching job just one year ago you cant help but be impressed. Starting the year off 3-1 is another encouraging sign for the team that's moving in the right direction. A big handicap that will hold them back from truly competing in the conference however, is the lack of scholarships they're able to give to recruits due to NCAA sanctions. But O' Brien has made his count choosing quality over quantity. Christian Hackenberg was the number one high school recruit last year and chose Penn State over schools like Florida and Alabama because of a strong relationship he grew with his now head coach.
The move is paying off already for both parties. Hackenberg looks like the real deal with his rocket arm, athletic ability, and combination of physical size and brains that make NFL General Managers giddy. He has already thrown for over a thousand yards and five touchdowns in a pro-style offense that he looks very comfortable in. O' Brien looks to have nabbed what could be the best quarterback in the conference in due time for the next four seasons. Hackenberg has had plenty of help from his supporting cast thus far as well. 6-3 Allen Robinson, who came into the year as one of the best wide-outs in the Big Ten, has solidified himself in that role and as the go-to receiver for the true freshman Quarterback he already has 26 receptions for 448 yards and three touchdowns while averaging a gaudy 17.2 yards per catch. The Penn State running game has been all business as usual as well with Zach Zwinak piling up eight touchdowns on just 67 carries in the young season. This team will continue its bumps in the road this season as they learn what it takes to be a powerhouse in a tough and competitive conference. However, in time this will be one of the better units consistently because of Hackenberg and Bill O' Brien.
Michigan State C
It would be tough to be a fan of a team with such an amazing stout defense with such a horrendous offense. It's tough to watch at times, the defense so in control and flat out dominating their opponent ranking 15th in the country with just 13.3 points allowed per game while scoring more touchdowns so far then their offense. The disarray of quarterbacks the Spartans have tried to plug in has been useless thus far. Andrew Maxwell and Connor Cook have both had more than their fair share of opportunities to show they can manage their squad with no luck. Coaches aren't asking them to light up the scoreboard either, just move the ball effectively, convert on third downs, limit turnovers, and be the leader. Nope. Cook did throw five touchdown passes week three against Youngstown only to have his momentum pulled up underneath him by the Fighting Irish last Saturday in an offensive struggle they lost 17-13.
There is still hope though, the Spartans have a nice four game stretch against the weaker half of the Big Ten playing Iowa, Indiana, Purdue, and Illinois. If they can show revive their offense with a just a pulse of life they may be able to get enough momentum to be a big time spoiler against teams like Michigan, Nebraska, and Northwestern at the end of the year. The defense will continue to play lights-out, but they can't depend on them to keep scoring points for them like they have. Whether it be Cook, Maxwell, or a wild-card that we don't know about, someone needs to step up and be a guy they can count on.
Nebraska C-
I know they've only lost one game and I know they can put up points with the best of them but the broken record of the Big Ten seems to be this Cornhuskers defense just can't stop A-N-Y-B-O-D-Y.
Senior quarterback Taylor Martinez has been great as expected throwing for nine touchdowns to just one interception. Behind him running back Ameer Abdullah has been equally impressive rushing for 465 yards and three touchdowns. The achilles heel for Bo Pelini and his team is his defense. They let a 21-0 lead slip away to UCLA in week three giving up 38 unanswered points losing 41-21. In week one the defense let Wyoming come back from 17 down in the fourth quarter and snuck on due to a failed onside kick attempt with a score of 37-34. When a team starts to lose like the way they did there is always turmoil. It was apparent after the game and in the week of press conferences in not just the players voices but Pelini himself. The defense just doesn't have the talent they need to be competitive for a full season in a smash-mouth conference like the way Big Ten is built.
In the mean time they will continue to get in shoot-out style of games with unexpected opponents. Some they will win, others they will lose, and they will be a middle of the pack team with all the potential in the world on offense with an under-acheiviing defense that won't do them any favors. Someone should call Michigan State and see if they can't help each other out, swapping some offense for defense would be a win-win for both teams.
The Special Class Down The Hall
It's just not fair to grade all teams on the same scale due to the drastic talent drop from one team to the other. It doesn't happen in school and it won't happen here. After all it's not their fault they were born this way...
Illinois - 5 Gold Stars
This team won just two games last season and has already matched that win total after just three games. Hats off to Tim Beckman for turning around the momentum in Illinois after just one full season. Large credit this season must go to the hot-handed quarterback Nathan Scheelhasse who has thrown for 728 yards in his first two games and has seven touchdowns and just two interceptions thus far. Hopes were high until 19th ranked Washington knocked them back to reality with a 34-24 win two weeks ago. Illinois will be a much improved team when the season is over and may even triple their win total from a year ago, but will still be at the bottom of the conference due to the lack of overall talent on the team. Still encouraging signs from a team with momentum going in the right direction.
Minnesota - 5 Gold Stars
Hey they're 4-0, just don't tell head coach Jerry Kill that or he might get too excited and wind up in the hospital again. Injuries are a typical concern for most teams but its usually the players that get hurt. In all seriousness Kill has done a great job coaching his team in all four wins. Freshman quarterback Mitch Leidner came out of the woodwork last Saturday and rushed for four touchdowns as he beat highly touted quarterback David Fales and San Diego State 43-24. Time will tell how improved this team is as they play on the road against Michigan and Northwestern in the next couple weeks. He is fine now, but we wish Jerry Kill all the best wishes that he can stay healthy from here on out.
Iowa - 4 Gold Stars
The Hawkeyes just put up 59 points on Western Michigan and now have just one loss which came to the comeback kid Jordan Lynch and Northern Iowa. At 3-1 they look stout on defense with a powerful group of linebackers and have been efficient on offense running the ball and moving the chains. Next weeks match-up against the Gophers will tell us how good each team is and what direction their momentum is in.
Indiana - 3 Gold Stars
The Hoosiers have been a tough team to figure out so far. They brought back 18 returning starters and started out the season putting 73 points up on Indiana State. Their 2-2 now after they couldn't stop Missouri's offense on Saturday losing 45-28. Nate Sudfeld has been a bright spot for the team already throwing for over 1,100 yards and 11 touchdowns. The defense is a work in progress but looks like they have the pieces and ability to be competitive if they can put it all together. If not, it could be another disappointing season for Indiana with the high expectations they had going into the year.
Purdue - 1 Gold Star
Everyone gets a gold star for trying. That is all.