Head 2 Head Preview: Week 8

NFL Draft Analyst Chris Steuber gives you a preview of this weekend's top individual matchups between players who are being scouted by NFL teams for the 2008 NFL Draft. Take a look at who you should be watching during this weekend's college football action.

Michigan State (5-2) at #1 Ohio State (7-0)
Saturday, October 20th at 3:30 p.m. on ABC

Javon Ringer (5-foot-9, 200-pounds), RB - Michigan State
VS.
Marcus Freeman (6-foot-2, 236-pounds), OLB - Ohio State

Scouting Report: Javon Ringer is a shifty back who's an explosive playmaker both running and receiving the ball. He sets up defenders well and makes them miss; he's a huge open field threat. The Michigan State junior is exceptionally quick and can outrun defenders to the outside. He runs with great balance between the tackles and is deceptively strong. He's a tremendous situational threat who has the ability to be a featured back. Buckeyes junior linebacker Marcus Freeman is a gifted athlete with a lot of skills and is a playmaker on defense. He shows great awareness in coverage and run defense. He has excellent range and closing speed and makes a lot of plays in the backfield. He's a versatile player that can play all three positions at linebacker.

Head 2 Head: Ohio State will use linebacker James Laurinaitis to contain the middle of the field, but it will be Freeman's responsibility to keep an eye on Ringer around the end. Ringer's explosiveness combined with Jehuu Caulcrick's power will give the Buckeyes' defense trouble. Freeman, who makes a lot of plays in the backfield, will have to use his athleticism to track down Ringer. The Buckeyes defense as a unit has been excellent against the run, allowing just 62 yards on the ground per game. But the combination of Ringer and Caulcrick may be Ohio State's toughest challenge to date.

2007 Statistics:

			Rushing
No	Name	GP	Att	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
23	Javon Ringer	7	132	932	7.1	80	6

			Tackles				Pass D	Sacks
No	Name	GP	Solo	Ast	Total	TFL-Yds	Int-Yds	No-Yds
1	Marcus Freeman	7	27	14	41	41	6-16	0-0

#21 Tennessee (4-2) at Alabama (5-2)
Saturday, October 20th at 12:30 p.m.

Erik Ainge (6-foot-6, 220-pounds), QB - Tennessee
VS.
Simeon Castille (6-foot-1, 193-pounds), CB - Alabama

Scouting Report:  Erik Ainge has great size, skill, and athleticism. He shows good poise in the pocket and makes good decisions. He throws with an over-the-top delivery displaying a strong arm on short passes and has great accuracy on deep throws. He's patient in the pocket and takes what the defense gives him. Simeon Castille is an excellent cover corner who has great size and athleticism. He's a physical corner who defends the run well and isn't afraid of contact. He has great body control going up against taller receivers and is able to box out his opponents in coverage. He's an instinctive player with great awareness and locates the ball well in the air.

Head 2 Head: Ainge will look for his favorite target, junior receiver Lucas Taylor, who last week caught 11 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown, and will try to take advantage of Castille and the Vols secondary. Castille will play physically against Taylor and force him to beat him one-on-one. Ainge will be forced to go through his reads and try to find an alternative option. In a hostile environment at Alabama, Castille's play will affect Ainge's decision-making and force him into making mistakes.

2007 Statistics:

			Passing
No	Name	GP	Cmp	Att	Yds	TD/Int	Rating
10	Erik Ainge	6	147	221	1,554	12-3	140.79

			Tackles				Pass D
No	Name	GP	Solo	Ast	Total	TFL-Yds	Int-Yds
2	Simeon Catille	7	25	13	38	4-9	2-0

 

Miami (Fla.) (4-3) at Florida State (4-2)
Saturday, October 13th at 3:30 p.m. on ABC

Kyle Wright (6-foot-4, 225-pounds), QB - Miami (Fla.)
VS.
Geno Hayes (6-foot-2, 218-pounds), OLB - Florida State

Scouting Report: Kyle Wright is a talented player who's been an inconsistent performer throughout his career. He has great size and shows poise, but has to make better decisions. He's an accurate passer and has nice touch on the ball. He's a great athlete with a lot of promise, but has to have the proper coaching to utilize all of his talents. He has a quick release but tends to hang onto the ball too long and force the issue. Seminoles star linebacker Geno Hayes is a junior who is a tremendous athlete with great instincts and who is always around the ball. He reacts quickly and takes good angles to the play. He has great quickness and makes a lot of plays in the backfield. He plays well in coverage and uses his rangy frame to his advantage.

Head 2 Head: Miami has a balanced offensive attack and will try to exploit a steady Seminoles defense. The Hurricanes will try to run the ball against a solid FSU front, but it will be up to Wright to get things going offensively for the Hurricanes. The Seminoles have an outstanding front four that require a lot of attention, which gives Hayes a lot of room to roam and rattle Wright

2007 Statistics:

			Passing
No	Name	GP	Cmp	Att	Yds	TD/Int	Rating
3	Kyle Wright	6	82	132	1,152	9-8	145.81

			Tackles				Pass D	Sacks
No	Name	GP	Solo	Ast	Total	TFL-Yds	Int-Yds	No-Yds
10	Geno Hayes	6	26	18	44	12-39	0-0	3.0-11

 

#5 Oklahoma (6-1) at Iowa State (1-6)
Saturday, October 20th at 12:30 p.m.

Allen Patrick (6-foot-1, 196-pounds), RB - Oklahoma
VS.
Alvin Bowen (6-foot-2, 218-pounds), OLB - Iowa State

Scouting Report: Allen Patrick is an explosive running back who displays toughness running inside and elusiveness running around the end. He has quick feet and a great burst through the line. He's most effective as a situational back who can cause problems for defenses with his track speed. He's a patient runner that has great vision and gets thorough a seam in a flash. He runs with a lot of finesse and makes defenders miss. Cyclones linebacker Alvin Bowen is an athletic, playmaking linebacker who has excellent instincts. He has tremendous quickness and makes plays sideline-to-sideline. He diagnoses the action well and positions himself to make a play. He's a disciplined defender who plays well in coverage and shows great range.

Head 2 Head: This will be a game where the Sooners can control the game offensively. The Cyclones are allowing 134 yards rushing and 236 yards passing a game and have been horrendous on defense all season long. Patrick, along with Sam Bradford, Malcolm Kelly, and Juaquin Iglesias, will have a chance to have huge games. Bowen can only do so much for Iowa State, and it will be a long day for the Cyclones, as this is an obvious mismatch.

2007 Statistics:

			Rushing
No	Name	GP	Att	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
23	Patrick Allen	6	74	455	6.1	69	5

			Tackles				Pass D	Sacks
No	Name	GP	Solo	Ast	Total	TFL-Yds	Int-Yds	No-Yds
15	Alvin Bowen	7	42	19	61	6.5-29	1-12	1-0

Army (3 - 4) at Georgia Tech (4 - 3)
Saturday, October 20th at 12:00 p.m.

Caleb Campbell (6-foot-2, 224-pounds), SS - Army
VS.
Tashard Choice (6-foot-1, 205-pounds), RB - Georgia Tech

Scouting Report: Choice is a gifted running back with a lot of skills. He has good size, speed, and strength. He has the ability to carry the load and picks up tough yards running between the tackles. He's a patient runner who uses his vision to find the best seam to hit. He's a shifty, elusive back that can beat you with finesse or strength, and is dangerous in the open field. He runs with excellent body control and balance and seems to always pick up positive yards. He has good hands and quick feet that make him a dangerous weapon as a receiver. Army's Caleb Campbell is an intelligent, hard working safety that can defend the run and has good coverage skills. He's an aggressive player that looks to make the knock out punch. He has excellent instincts and a nose for the ball. He understands the game and plays with a lot of passion. Although he doesn't possess natural athletic ability, he's an outstanding leader and a tremendous competitor that leaves it all on the field.

Head 2 Head: Campbell plays well in run support, but when he's in the box, defending Choice is a tough task. Choice, over the last three games, has averaged 34 carries for 164 yards and has led Georgia Tech to a 2-1 record. Army is allowing 169.3 yards a game on the ground and will struggle to contain Choice.

2007 Statistics:

			Rushing
No	Name	GP	Att	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
22	Tashard Choice	7	158	840	5.3	73	6

			Tackles				Pass D	Sacks
No	Name	GP	Solo	Ast	Total	TFL-Yds	Int-Yds	No-Yds
13	Caleb Campbell	7	32	13	45	2-4	0-0	0-0

A member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of America, Chris Steuber has provided his analysis of the NFL and NFL Draft prospects on the web and on the radio since 1999.