When kickoff happens tonight, we'll already been on Week Three of the college football season. Doesn't it go so fast? Before we move on to Week Three, it is time to review Week Two's quarterback performances using the Positive Impact Factor (what's this?). The Big East didn't perform as I expected last week but the problem was not so much the Big East quarterbacks as the Big East defenses against opposing quarterbacks that seemed to be an issue in the games.
Although national ranks aren't yet complete, here's how things looked in Week Two for the Big East (click here to review Week One's PIF):
Rank
QB
Team
Touches
Total TD
Neg Play
X Neg Play
X Pos Play
PIF
Geno Smith
West Virginia
37
4
40.5
0
10.8
70.3
Zach Collaros
Cincinnati
41
2
39
0
4.9
65.9
B.J. Daniels
South Florida
44
1
27.3
18.2
2.3
56.8
Ryan Nassib
Syracuse
40
3
27.5
25
7.5
55
Will Stein
Louisville
56
2
33.9
15.4
3.6
54.3
Chas Dodd
Rutgers
52
2
50
0
3.8
53.8
Tino Sunseri
Pittsburgh
45
0
46.7
28.6
0
24.8
Johnny McEntee
Connecticut
31
0
71
85.3
0
-56.3
Now for the defenses:
Rank | Team | Opponent | Touches | Total TD | Neg Play | X Neg Play | X Pos Play | PIF |
Rutgers | North Carolina | 32 | 1 | 25 | 100 | 3.1 | -21.9 | |
Connecticut | Vanderbilt | 37 | 1 | 56.8 | 49 | 2.7 | -3 | |
South Florida | Ball State | 42 | 0 | 40.5 | 57.1 | 0 | 2.4 | |
Syracuse | Rhode Island | 45 | 1 | 42.2 | 25 | 2.2 | 35 | |
Pittsburgh | Maine | 55 | 3 | 38.2 | 0 | 5.5 | 67.3 | |
West Virginia | Norfolk State | 44 | 0 | 31.8 | 0 | 0 | 68.2 | |
Louisville | FIU | 23 | 2 | 34.8 | 0 | 8.7 | 73.9 | |
Cincinnati | Tennessee | 43 | 5 | 16.3 | 0 | 11.6 | 95.3 |
There was plenty of movement in the defensive ranks as the competition changed from last week. Cincinnati did a 180. After holding Austin Peay to a near -100 PIF, they dropped from 1st to 8th this week by allowing Tyler Bray to put up a 95.3. Rutgers has been in the top 2 both weeks of the season but did not find a way to convert UNC's handful of turnovers into enough points. Blame the rushing game's lack of production, not QB Chas Dodd. South Florida really impressed me as they held Ball State's QB Keith Wenning to a 2.4 rating after he posted a 91.9 against Indiana last week. Syracuse won a close one against FCS Rhode Island in part by keeping their quarterback in check. Pittsburgh had a rough outing against Maine's Warren Smith, but the Panthers had the running game working in a win. West Virginia has prevented opposing QBs from scoring touchdowns this season, but have allowed them to move the ball on the defense with some efficiency. FIU's Wes Carroll had an easy night against Louisville when they didn't cover his favorite target T.Y. Hilton.