By Chris Rankin-Special Contributor-Football Reporters Online

UCF (3-2, 1-0 conf) playing their last season in Conference USA, opened up conference play with a 40-20 win over East Division foe East Carolina (3-3, 2-1 conf) on Thursday night in Orlando.

 The Pirates started the game off strong as they took the opening drive 75 yards in 13 plays capped off by a 7 yard rushing TD by QB Shane Carden.  After the Knights went 3 and out getting stuffed on a 3^rd and 1, Carden (23/36, 298, 1 td, 1 int) threw a 76 yard strike to WR Justin Hardy (5 catches 119 yds) to put East Carolina up 14-0 with 6:09 left in the first.

The momentum quickly shifted when Senior WR Quincy McDuffie took the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for a TD.  UCF defense took control and forced East Carolina to punt where Sophomore WR JJ Worton returned it 32 yards to give the Knights good field position at the Pirates 40. The offense didn’t waste any time tying the game up at 14 with a RB Storm Johnson (17 for 53, 1 TD) 4 yard touchdown run at the beginning of the 2^nd quarter.  UCF tacked on 2 field goals later as 2 promising drives stalled inside the Pirates 10 yard line. East Carolina kicked a field goal right before half to trail the Knights 17-20 at the midway point.

UCF and ECU exchanged field goals at the beginning of the 3^rd quarter.  UCF started to pull away when Sophomore QB Blake Bortles (15/21, 269 yards, 1 td) hit McDuffie on a swing pattern where he broke a tackle and out ran the Pirates on a 64 yard td to put the Knights up 30-20.  Bortles would score on a 1 yard keeper to extend the lead to 37-20 during his performance where he finished as the leading rusher for both sides with 62 yards including a career long 33 yarder.

The Knights’ sophomore kicker Shane Moffitt hit a career long 49 yard field goal to push the lead to 40-20 with 6:35 remaining in the game.  Moffitt was 4-for-4 on the day and is 7-for-7 on the year.  This game could have been a lot worse for the Pirates if UCF did not go 2 for 5 in the red zone and have to settle for field goals. After University of Central Florida’s first possession of 3 and out, their next 7 possessions led to 3 touchdowns and 4 field goals.

“Offensively, what got us in trouble early was we were getting down in the red zone and coming away with field goals instead of touchdowns,” said Head Coach George O’Leary. “You’ve got to put the ball in the end zone down there and again, you like to have some of the calls and plays back, but we came away with field goals. I thought the difference in the second half was those became touchdowns.”

UCF looks to go 2-0 in the conference as they host reigning Conference USA champion Southern Mississippi on Oct 13 at 8pm.  The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network.

In addition to contributing with the FRO, Chris Rankin also writes for The Sports Chronicle (www.thesportschronline.com) and  is the co-host of The Student of the Game (www.thesotg.com).  @chrisjrankin, Facebook

English: Logo of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Rafael Garcia
Sr. Contributing Writer
Southeast Region
June 3, 2012

The 2012 spring meetings were held in Destin, Fl. this year. It is when the heads of minds get together to discuss the issues at hand. One of the issues was the structure of a playoff system for the 2014 season. One of the points of contention is what four teams play in the playoffs. The Big Ten is proposing a system in which the top four teams are chosen from conference champions. They want to consider the cream of the crop conferences while also taking into consideration strength of schedule. Another thing they want is for the games to be played on campus sites. Alabama head coach Nick Saban immediately shot that idea down calling them self-absorbed people.

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 10: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide talks to the media during a press conference following the win over Louisiana State University Tigers in the 2012 Allstate BCS National Championship Game on January 10, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

The SEC maintains its position that the top four teams, regardless of whether they won their conference title, to play in the new playoff system. With the proposed Big Ten system the Crimson Tide would not have played for the title last year. That would be ridiculous considering that Alabama was clearly one of the best four teams in the country. With the SEC system not one Big Ten team would have played in the playoffs. Sounds to me like a bunch of football politics getting worse each and everyday. Each conference is looking out for itself so they may put themselves in the best position to get into the playoffs. You can’t blame them for that, but they must find a middle ground. It is true, living in SEC country, that this is the part of the US that has won the last six BCS titles. It would not be fair to have a system that includes two or three teams for here to participate on a yearly basis. Still, we have to remember the little guys as well. Do we really want another system that may appear to be better, yet still leave the TCU’s and Boise State’s out of the hunt?

Another issue at hand is who decides the four teams that play. The Big Ten is talking about a committee of humans to do this. As I say often, are you kidding me? Are you trying to tell me that we should leave the decision to people that are sure to be biased at one point or another? There is no way I am going to have faith in a system that is supposed to pick teams to play in the playoffs. I would rather go back to the Bleep CS instead of that. In this type of model we may need to trust the computers to decide. A model that has been thrown around is the top three ranked conference champions and a wild card of some sort. Now that might be a little better. At least all teams would have a fair shot. The only drawback would be the case of an Oklahoma St team that lost on a missed field goal the day after their women’s head basketball coach and three others were killed in a plane crash. It would be pretty hard for the computer to take in the team mindset in such a case.

The last piece of the puzzle is where they play the games. The on campus sites seem a bit unfair to me. How do you determine the home team? By record would be one way but then strength of schedule would have to come into play. That would further complicate matters. Teams and fans would find themselves complaining anew over the state of college football. Since they love money so much more than the substance of the games these days, they could do it a few ways. One way I would favor would be to keep the BCS bowls and use them to promote the semifinals. Maybe they could designate the bowl layout in advance so the sites would be preset. Then, they could do the same for the title game. It could be a rotating system in which all the bowl games get their chance. This way they would not pick a campus site that could not house the mass media that would besiege that city. Another suggestion I heard was the games going to the highest bidder. That idea worries me because then the bidding wars would begin. How many times would said bowl get the games in the first five years?

It’s a chess match not checkers. The minds that be have lots of work to do. They need to find a way not to favor the always favored. We finally have the chance to get what we deserve as fans. A system that gives every team that competes a fair shot at winning a championship. A system that does not work to reward those teams that play in the big conferences, but did not earn the shot to play in the playoffs. So strap on those seat belts cause this is gonna be one real bumpy ride folks.

Tonight on the FRO Weekly we had the honor of Visiting with two Great Guests!

English: Franco Harris, Running back, Pittsburgh Steelers (1972-1983) and Seattle Seahawks (1984) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

First Legendary Steeler great Franco Harris joined us In a Pre Recorded session from early today, Then Sports Lawyer/Player Agent John Phillips joined us to discuss the Issues facing the NFL’s Players and retired players today!

Listen Here(follow this link):Listen to my new episode Football Reporters Online weekly at http://tobtr.com/s/3212675. #BlogTalkRadio

Quarterback Matt Barkley during a visit to a USC fall practice before the 2008 USC Trojans football season and his senior year in high school. He is making the traditional USC Trojan "V" for victory hand sign. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Anthony”Mini-Kiper” Carillo -contributing writer/reporter-Football Reporters Online

1)     Quarterback Matt Barkley USC

Matt Barkley is going to be a 4 year starter at USC, which is more than Carson Palmer, Mark Sanchez and Matt Leinhart can say. Barkley has fantastic arm strength arm strength and great accuracy as well. He runs a west coast offense at USC which will help him transition over to the NFL.

NFL COMPARSION-Matt Cassell

2)     Running back Marcus Lattimore South Carolina

Lattimore is an absolute work horse. He can smash it up between the tackles, and he has the breakaway speed to get to the next level. Lattimore will be an instant success in the NFL, and with the right offensive line he will become an all-pro in no time.

NFL COMPARSION-Adrian Peterson

3)     Offensive Tackle Taylor Lewan Michigan

Lewan is a big tackle with long arms and a lot of upper body strength. He needs to work on his footwork a little bit, but at the end of the day he will blossom into a dominant left tackle for whatever team takes him.

NFL COMPARSION-Jake Long

4)     Running Back Montee Ball Wisconsin

Montee Ball is a very elusive runner who is very agile and can make instant cuts and get up the field. He also has great hands for a running back so he is also a threat in the passing game. He was a first team all-american last season and look for him to be even better as he puts on a few pounds of muscle and gets even faster and more elusive.

NFL COMPARSION-Ryan Matthews

5)     Wide Receivers Robert Woods USC

Woods is a great receiver who can jump through the roof and stretch the field. He has great hands and runs crisp clean routes. He will need to work on getting physical off the line of scrimmage but he is going to be a pro bowler within the first few years he is in the league.

NFL COMPARSION-Santonio Holmes

6)     Running Back Knile Davis Arkansas

Davis is powerful as well as speedy. The only questions surrounding his draft stock is how he bounces back from his leg injury he had last year. If he can bounce back and have a stellar season, some team would be glad to take him because he is a playmaker and will be a spark for whatever offense he goes to.

NFL COMPARSION-Shonne Green

7)     Offensive Tackle/Guard Barrett Jones Alabama

Jones is a big powerful lineman who has great technique. He has a sturdy base and can get off blocks and move to the next level quickly. A very explosive lineman who also has great hands and good lower body strength.

NFL COMPARSION-David Diehl

8)     Quarterback Tyler Wilson Arkansas

Wilson is a quarterback with a very powerful arm and great pocket awareness. Do not be surprised if Wilson shoots up and challenges Barkley for the top quarterback spot after this season. He is a talented quarterback who will excel at the next level.

NFL COMPARSION-Phillip Rivers

9)     Wide Receiver Marquess Wilson Washington State

Wilson shatter almost all the receiving records at WSU, and he is going to be an impact player in the NFL. With a tall lanky frame he is a great red zone threat due to his height, and he has great hands to be able to make the tough catches.

NFL COMPARSION-Larry Fitzgerald

10)  Running back Joseph Randle Oklahoma State

Randle is a fast running back who has great field vision and can make defenders miss. He played in a run and shoot offense at Oklahoma State but he will definitely be able to transition into a NFL running back. He also is a great pass catcher so he can be used almost as a slot receiver.

NFL COMPARSION-Felix Jones

11)  Quarterback Landry Jones Oklahoma

Landry Jones is a big, strong armed quarterback that can move in the pocket and deliver the football wherever the ball needs to be. He also has great field vision and great accuracy.

NFL COMPARSION-Sam Bradford

12)  Offensive Tackle DJ Flukner Alabama

Flukner is a big tackle at 6’6’’, and can move very well for his size. He has long arms and he keeps his feet moving through blocks. He has great hands and upper body strength. A very explosive player, he can work off his blocks and move to the next level quickly.

NFL COMPARSION-Ryan Clady

13)  Wide Receiver Tayvon Austin West Virginia

A short, shifty receiver who makes plays in open space and in an absolute burner. He can stretch the field and get the ball at its highest point. He can take a five yard pass and make one or two moves and turn it into a seventy yard touchdown.

NFL COMPARSION-DeSean Jackson

14)  Wide Receiver Keenan Allen California

Allen is a great receiver with good size to be physical at the line of scrimmage. He has good hands and has the necessary speed to out run defenders. The one thing he needs to work on is sharpening up his route running and coming out of breaks clean.

NFL COMPARSION-Dwayne Bowe

15)  SLEEPER PICK-Running back Rex Burkhead Nebraska

Burkhead is a great running back that teams will pass on solely because of his size, but in reality he is going to be a great compliment running back in the NFL. He is powerful, elusive and fast and would be a great third down running back or a great option for the screen game, almost just like how the Patriots use running back Danny Woodhead.

NFL COMPARSION-Danny Woodhead

By Anthony “Mini-Kiper” Carillo-Contributing Writer-Football Reporters Online

1)    Matt Kalil-Southern California/6’7’’/306 Lbs./4.99 40/30 Bench Reps/Junior

Kalil is the top tackle prospect in this year’s draft after anchoring the USC offensive line for two years. He has great upper body strength and has excellent feet. He has great hands and is has no problem getting off the blocks and moving to the next level in the run game. He will be a great player in the NFL and will anchor an offensive line for years to come.

2)    Riley Reiff-Iowa/6’6’’/313 Lbs./5.23 40/23 Bench Reps/Junior

This tackle is a powerful blocker and excels in pass protection. He is a fluid runner who can seal the edge on run plays, as well as explode to the linebacker level and pick up blocks in the run game.  He is a durable player who uses his hands perfectly and will be an instant upgrade to any team that picks him up.

3)    Johnathan Martin-Stanford/6’5’’/312 Lbs./5.29 40/Junior

Martin only missed two games in his whole Stanford career, which means he is a very tough player. He carries his weight very well and has great technique. He is an excellent pass blocker and is an aggressive blocker against the run. One thing he will need to work on is staying balanced on his feet in the run game, and he needs to get more explosive off the ball when going against the top NFL pass rushers.

4)    Mike Adams-Ohio State/6’7’’/323 Lbs./5.40 40/19 Bench Reps/Senior

Adams has a good frame and just-good enough footwork to not get beat at the collegiate level. He employs a decent pass set to get back and anchor himself against the bull rush, and has the footwork to shuffle and keep his feet chopping when blocking to drive a man downfield in the run game. His big-game experience playing so many years and games at Ohio State helps his value.

5)    Nate Potter-Boise State/6’6’’/303 Lbs./5.36 40/22 Bench Reps/Senior

Potter is quick off the ball and can sustain blocks in the run game. He has excellent strength and balance, which helps him with his technique. He is good to get up the field and onto the second level and play with guards, which will make him valuable to also play guard. Potter needs to work on his explosiveness off the ball.

6)    Zebrie Sanders-Florida State/6’6’’/320 Lbs./5.41 40/28 Bench Reps/Senior

Sanders is very athletic who can hold his own in the run game, but he excels as a pass blocker by using his hands and size. He has good feet and is very smooth in movements and pass sets. He has good agility and can get his body on defenders up field in the screen game. He is an average explosive player, but needs to work on those impact blocks and really moving people off the line.

7)    Mitchell Schwartz-California/6’5’’/318 Lbs./5.45 40/23 Bench Reps/Senior

This tackle plays with great technique, and he is an effective pass rusher by sitting back and letting the eager pass rushers come to him, and then he uses his hands and technique to move them to the side. He needs to work on his flexibility because he is a little stiff coming out of his stance.

8)    Brandon Mosley-Auburn/6’6’’/314 Lbs./5.21 40/30 Bench Reps/Senior

Mosley is great as mirroring his defenders to wall them off in the pass game. He is a violent blocker, but he needs to work on a lot of things since he has not played the position for long. He also has played in a spread offense at Auburn so he will need some time to transition into a normal NFL offense.

9)    Tony Bergstrom-Utah/6’5’’/313 Lbs./5.27 40/32 Bench Reps/Senior

He has great hands and is great movement in space. He looks natural in his pass sets and his kick steps are fast and he gets himself positioned to take on rushers quick. He is not explosive almost weak tackle. He needs a lot of help in the run game and needs to learn how to get off the ball quickly.

10)  Jeff Allen-Illinois/6’4’’/307 Lbs./5.28 40/26 Bench Reps/Senior

Allen has shown that he is a very versatile player and can play both tackle and guard. He has decent footwork in pass sets, and also has great steps when he is asked to pull down the line. He is a good shield blocker and is not a flashy blocker, but you will rarely see a defender get around him. He is a solid and strong blocker; a kind of blocker that a lot of teams in the NFL want.

11) Matt Reynolds-BYU/6’5’’/302 Lbs./5.37 40/25 Bench Reps/Senior

Great run blocker who can move quickly and has great leg drive. He is very explosive off the ball but gets slower moving up the field.

12) Matt McCants-UAB/6’6’’/308 Lbs./5.52 40/17 Bench Reps/Senior

A very good positional blocker who has great, flexible hips. He is a good pass blocker and is very athletic.

13) Andrew Datko-Florida State/6’6’’/315 Lbs./5.23 40/Senior

Fast off the line of scrimmage and quick to his blocks. He can struggle sometimes in the pass protection, but excels in the run blocking game.

14) Tom Compton-South Dakota/6’5’’/314 Lbs./5.11 40/20 Bench Reps/Senior

Quick off the ball and uses the right angles to get upfield and onto the second level of blockers, but he needs to work on his balance in the pass game.

15) Lamar Holmes-Southern Miss/6’5’’/323 Lbs./5.41 40/22 Bench Reps/Senior

Great natural strength and can stand his ground. He can move his feet well for his size and mirror the quicker rushers, but has a habit of stopping his feet after contract.

16) Donald Stephenson-Oklahoma/6’6’’/312 Lbs./4.94 40/19 Bench Reps/Senior

Quick out of his stance, and has great feet and excellent lateral movement, but lacks strength despite his big 6’6’’ frame.

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17) Marcel Jones-Nebraska/6’6’’/320 Lbs./5.67 40/13 Bench Reps/Senior

18) Dustin Waldron-Portland State/6’5’’/305 Lbs./5.34 40/29 Bench Reps/Senior

19) Jeff Adams-Columbia/6’6’’/306 Lbs./5.18 40/19 Bench Reps/Senior

20) John Cullen-Utah/6’5’’/297 Lbs./5.34 40/23 Bench Reps/Senior

21) Landon Walker-Clemson/6’5’’/301 Lbs./5.18 40/Senior

22) Markus Zusevics-Iowa/6’5’’/303 Lbs./5.08 40/Senior

23) Mike Ryan-Connecticut/6’5’’/319 Lbs./5.38 40/Senior

24) James Carmon-Mississippi State/6’6’’/334 Lbs./5.43 40/Senior

25) Josh Oglesby-Wisconsin/6’7’’/338 Lbs./5.80 40/22 Bench Reps/Senior

26) Chandler Burden-Kentucky/6’4’’/315 Lbs./5.06 40/Senior

27) Bradley Sowell-Mississippi/6’7’’/316 Lbs./5.26 40/Senior

28) Bryce Harris-Fresno State/6’6’’/300 Lbs./5.27 40/Senior

29) Blake DeChristopher-Virginia Tech/6’5’’/305 Lbs./5.10 40/Senior

30) Trevor Olson-Northern Illinois/6’6’’/302 Lbs./5.29 40/Senior

By Dr. Bill Chachkes-Exec. Editor-Football Reporters Online

Grade: A-

This is probably the strongest class of offensive linemen overall in a few years, and no one sub-group shows that level of talent more then the guards in this draft class.

Mr. DeCastro is possibly the most complete player in the group, and could probably play any position on the line except left tackle.  He is also the one of the few players that fits both a man on man and a zone-type blocking scheme, which is a huge plus for the team drafting him. He might be the second lineman off the boards on draft day 1. Some of the “glossy” publications like to rank Guards and Centers together, but we prefer to rate them in separate sections as they are different positions.

1)   David DeCastro-Stanford (Jr.) 6’5.0”-312lbs. 40-5.22  Bench-34 reps-Gr. 6.5

A dominating, punishing run blocker, as well as a very good pass protection blocker. Also pulls and traps very well. Highly mobile for his size, but could stand to add a little bit of lower body strength. Can be a success in any scheme. Will also block down field as much as 8 yards off the line, while successfully engaging targets. Rarely gets beat in pass coverage assignments. Would be even better if he gained 7 or 8 pounds, but could stay where he is and remain effective. We’d be surprised if he fell past the middle of the 1^st round.

2)   Cordy Glenn-Georgia 6’ 5.5”-346 lbs. 40-5.15(comb.) Bench-31 reps-Gr. 6.4

Cordy played mostly tackle for the Bulldogs, but will move to guard at the next level. Needs to drop some weight to increase his foot speed, but extremely physically strong and sound technically as a lineman. Has exceptionally long arms and big hands, and is strong at the point of attack. Very strong lower body as well, but could play “meaner” at times, and should keep his arms up more often. Could get tired early at times when double teamed by defensive players. We are looking forward to seeing Mr. Glenn at the next level.

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By Don Stokes-Senior Writer-Mid-West-Football Reporters Online

GAINESVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 13: Alshon Jeffery #1 of the South Carolina Gamecocks smiles after winning a game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 13, 2010 in Gainesville, Florida. The Gamecocks beat the Gators 36-14. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)By Don Stokes Senior Mid- West Region Writer-Football Reporters Onine

As we are well aware there have been those Wide Receivers who have all of the natural ability in the world but for some unknown reason do not adjust to the pro game or are allowed to grow in the right system for their talent set. Some of these young men in this group will have long careers or become consistent NFL Pro Bowl players. Maybe one will receive a yellow jacket to Canton. But in reality in a few seasons some will be looking for other job occupations. Here is my top 40 list. Enjoy.

1. Justin Blackman WR Oklahoma State University

Born 1/9/1990 6’1 207lbs,

40 time   4.48    reps: 14    R-Jr.

Considered by most to be the very best wide receiver of this draft, Justin Blackman is the first non- QB in 12 seasons and the first WR to earn the honor on the Big 12 Offensive Player of the year in 2012. During the 2011 year Blackman finished the 2011 regular season with 113 catches for 1,337 yards and 15 touchdowns. After becoming the Fiesta Bowl MVP Blackman made his declaration to the 2012 NFL Draft. Has great physical presence of the line that can be worked in the slot formation but would be better suited outside. He will also not be outworked for a pass because Blackman has the hands that most NFL wide outs would kill to have.  He has the un-coachable ability to catch the deep pass over either shoulder with ease although at times too often relies on catching passes with pads and chest. Not pure breakaway speed but very agile and strong after the catch. He’ll probably be the fourth or fifth player chosen overall in the draft.

RATING 9.0

2. Michael Floyd WR Notre Dame 6’3 220lbs

Born 11/27/2012

40 time   4.42    reps: 16     Sr.

Buyers beware because this is a wide receiver that has either Hall of fame potential or could flame out after a few seasons. With his overall talent Michael Floyd is regarded as one of the best WR prospect of this class. Floyd, who has had issues with driving while impaired in his past which caused a recent school imposed five month suspension from ND began his 2011 season on schedule and on time. Floyd played all 13 games for the 8-5 Irish in 2011 and finished with 100 receptions for 1147 yards and 9 TD. He’s a good stop and drop in a zone type WR who would do better in a “West Coast” type offense. Not blessed with pure speed but can separate from most defensive backs Michael Floyd has all of the physical skills one would covert as a first rounder. But with three different alcohol related arrests during his college career a NFL GM should wonder is he worth a first rounder top 10 type money or not?

RATING 8.8

3. Kendall Wright WR Baylor 5’10 190lbs

Born 11/12/1989

40 time 4.61   reps: 14    Sr.

Every NFL club wants that burner on the outside who can make the game changing reception. If you’re that NFL GM then Kendall Wright could be that difference maker for your club. Although limited by size (5’10) and weight (190lbs) Kendall Wright makes up for it with explosiveness, heart and desire. A four year starter at Baylor University, Wright receiving numbers improved each season from 50 catches with 649 yards as a freshman to 108 catches and a career high in yardage with 1,663 with 14 TD as a senior in 2011. Quick, explosive and will go get any pass. Kendall tends to snatch throws out of very tight windows for his QB. Can make the acrobatic circus catch seem routine, Wright has a knack of finding open spots on the field which will make him a QB’s best friend at the next level but can drop the easiest throws. He should go during round one.

RATING 8.5

4. Ruben Randle WR LSU 6’3 210lbs

Born 5/7/1991

40 time 4.55   reps: 15    Jr.

You’re playing the BCS Championship game in your home state of Louisiana. Your team, the LSU Tigers is playing for the national championship vs. the University of Alabama and your QB throws for the ungodly total of 53 yards for the entire game, a 21-0 Alabama whitewash. After starting LSU QB’s Jordan Jefferson struggled against the Crimson tide stout defense Junior WR Ruben Randle had made his decision. He indeed would enter upcoming 2012 NFL Draft. Despite a season long revolving door at QB (Lee-Jefferson-Lee-Jefferson) Randle set career highs in catches (53) yards (917) and touchdowns with 8. He’s become a very smooth runner who understands how to “set up” the opposing DB with shoulders dips. He does a good job getting inside of a DB and uses his long arms and hands well, although does lets the ball hit him in the chest too often. Can run the deep route well but could use his hands and arms a bit more often for separation.

RATING 8.4

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