Taking Stock

We're officially into nut-check time of the season where the competition gets tougher and fatigue begins to become a factor - injuries and lack of focus can be a huge detriment to any team on any given Saturday.

Some interesting developments this weekend - here are my thoughts and observations from a very telling week 6.

There are really two teams that have clearly separated themselves from the competition, in my humble opinion...and those teams are Alabama and Virginia Tech. The polls aside, I really think these two teams are playing a much higher level than anyone else right now. Th next "tier" of teams would likely be Florida, Texas and Miami. After that it gets murkier with teams like Oklahoma, Oregon, TCU, Penn State, Iowa, Ohio State, USC, etc., etc. Bottom line, the Hokies and Crimson Tide are two very impressive teams.

Be worried Texas fans. I'm not yet ready to get into it, but I've heard just a little bit too much of "we'll be fine". I'll reiterate this next week, but Oklahoma has NOTHING to lose. They aren't competing for a title and that's pretty much that. What they can do is knock off Texas and continue to frustrate Horns' fans by winning ANOTHER Big 12 title.

Love the Texas defense - love it. They're aggressive which means they may give up a big play here or there, but they'll get it back. Always. Special teams, with Shipley and Monroe back there, they've got a chance to score every single time. Offense, you ask? Not so much. Our offensive line is mediocre at best and Colt McCoy has turned into a turnover machine. Yes, I know, he's completing like 73% of his passes - he's also turning the ball over like 1.1 times a game. He's guaranteed to have a turnover when he steps on the field. Championship QBs don't do that. Chew on this, Colorado ranked 111th in run defense coming into the game - Texas had like 45 yards rushing...for the game. Our "leading rusher" went for 20 whopping yards. This team drastically needs someone not named Colt McCoy or Jordan Shipley to step up and make some plays on a consistent level. And yet again, they've got like 7 situational running backs who are big play makers...IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. But, we have no every-down back. They haven't had one since maybe Jamaal Charles, but probably more like Cedric Benson.

We'll see, I need to noodle on this a bit this week, but I'm not overly confident right now.

Other quick-hit thoughts...

• One more thing on Shipley/Colt - Take Colt off of these absurd heisman lists that are updated weekly and put Jordan Shipley on there. Shipley is hands down the MVP of this Texas team right now. His weekly stats are ridiculous and he is carrying this team offensively.
  
• I'm pretty sure both A&M and Oklahoma State are pretty mediocre teams.
  
• Hoos and I had the exact same question on Saturday night - how is it possible that a program like LSU has such a bad quarterback? That dude is terrible. They are going to lose at least 2 more games with that dude running the show. They had opportunities and they couldn't capitalize...not even close. Top 5 teams don't throw up only 3 points at home on a Saturday night when they've won the previous 32.
  
• I'm sorry, but I'm still not near as impressed with Florida's offense as I was last year. They're defense is wicked, but they are beatable.
  
• I don't know what happened to Jeavan Snead and Ole Miss, but they are not good....not at all.
  
• Damnit UCLA, you had Oregon right where you wanted them.
  
• There's only so many games I can keep saying, I just don't trust Iowa. If they keep winning, we're going to look up and see them sitting at 10-0.
  
• I think Kansas may be secure in the "worst undefeated team" category.
  
• Nice comeback for the Auburn Tigers, though it was a bit short. They just ran into an Arkansas team who was in a must-win situation at home - that's tough no matter who the opponent is an Arkansas looked like a much better team than even a week ago. You've got to start thinking that Petrino and company have figured out the defensive shortcomings of this Razorback team - they had impressive defensive performances in two straight weeks against some high-octane offenses in the Aggies and Auburn.
  
• One more thing about Texas - they're lack of running game is really going to hurt them next week. It's not like OU is churning out yards on the ground either, but Texas seems to treat the running game like some gimmicky formation. You have to commit to the run - linebackers know they aren't going to run a lot so they can sit back into a zone and wait for Colt to throw it. AND McGee and Newton may be out (top 2 RBs). Like I said Texas fans, if this game doesn't worry you, you haven't been paying attention.
  
• Every time Cody Johnson came into the game, the defense knew he was getting the ball - never once did he come in and they faked it to him and passed it. Literally, never once. And please stop with the John Chiles taking a direct snap and running with it. No one's buying it and it doesn't work for sh*t.
  
• I'm not sure Rodriguez made the right call by pulling Forcier - now he's got a QB controversy and that's never good. When you have 2 QBs, it means you have none.
  

Insights, Observations and Musings from the NFL...

• You're going to hear a few "broken record" comments from me today, but Kyle Orton, Josh McDaniels and the Denver Broncos are just fine, thank you. In fact, they are better than fine right now. Of course they could fall apart and lose 7 of their next 8, but I doubt it. They're focused and Orton simply moves the chains. I've said this a thousand times, but I think (nay, I know) McDaniels knew exactly what he was doing when he was looking at Cassell and then immediately took the Orton trade without much hub-bub. Orton plays his style of game well and Cutler does not.
• Here's something, the Titans and Panthers were divisional winners last year and both had byes in the playoffs. One of them is winless and the other notched its first win on Sunday. There's that turnover you see every year in playoff teams coming to fruition.
  
• The Bengals are for real guys. Pure and simple. Beating the Ravens in Baltimore secured that. This Cincy defense was able to contain a white-hot Joe Flacco, which no other team has been able to do. And remember, they are one fluke play away from beaig 5-0. That fluke play coming against those above-mentioned Broncos who, conversely, are one fluke play from being 4-1. Regardless, both teams are real good and both teams are in control in their respective divisions.
  
• There's an enormous difference between being happy with a win and being relieved with a win - just ask Dallas. That was a pitiful showing in Kansas City. I mean, pitiful. The only glimmer of hope was the explosive (and game saving) day by Mile Austin. He made Tony Romo look about a thousand times better than he really is - kind of like TO used to do.
  
• No, you aren't crazy and that as not a misprint, the Cleveland Browns beat the Buffalo Bills 6-3. Nice.
  
• Another broken-record moment here - how can Russell continue to steal a paycheck from the Raiders? And more importantly, how can Al Davis continue to do the same thing over, and over, and over again knowing it's not now, nor will it ever work? Tom Cable should be barred from the NFL forever if even half of what is alleged against him is true. What a complete piece of crap. If I'm the Raiders faithful, I'm boycotting spending one dime on this organization.
  
• There are two races that are all but over (yes, even this early in the season). Those awards being MVP (Peyton Manning) and Defensive POY (Jared Allen).
  
• This may sound crazy, but could Brady Quinn already be done with the NFL? Small possibility.
  
• Dick Jauron won't have a job in Buffalo come November 1. You can take that to the bank.
• FANTASY UPDATE: We'll see how the final scoring shakes out (tallied on Wednesday), but as of now, it looks like I was able to pull out a 1-point victory. Donovan McNabb's huge return helped pave the way - and Fitzgerald waking up with 2 scores was huge. And, this was with my tight end (Kevin "I'm the" Boss) being out for the game.
  
• Welcome back Demarcus Ware.
  

That's what I got gang - enjoy the week. I'll be back with a HUGE preview later this week.