The Home Stretch
After this weekend, many teams enter the final month of the season with the hardest part of their schedule behind them.....on paper of course. And games aren't played on paper. Nevertheless, teams like Texas and Florida can breathe at least a small sigh of relief. Florida has wrapped up the SEC East and the most formidable opponent remaining on Texas' schedule is a Kansas team that has been underwhelming this season...and that's an understatement. Alabama's schedule doesn't get much tougher, though they do have LSU and Auburn remaining and those won't be cake walks.
Some could argue that it's precisely that kind of mentality that will get one or both of these teams in trouble and they'd be right. The two trap games I see are Florida State for the Gators and A&M for the Horns. Don't laugh Texas fans, regardless of what the Aggies do the rest of the way (they still get two consecutive road trips at CU and OU), I can assure you with 100% certainty that they will bring a fight. We've got a long way to go, but keep an asterisk on that one.
Now THAT was impressive. I don't mean any disrespect to Okie State when I say this, but that game looked a hell of a lot like a varsity scrimmaging the JV. I couldn't believe all of those interceptions. And I know Robinson didn't have his two best weapons, but he's a good QB. When they would get on those sustained drives in the first half, he would make some pretty big plays with his feet and arm. He's good, he just didn't get much help from his receivers in a number of instances. But that Texas defense? Ridiculous. There's no way you can tell me that there's a defense out there better than this one - as good maybe, but not better. No way. Earl Thomas is going to make A LOT of money playing Sundays when he's done at the 40 acres. Defensive coordinator, head coach, whatever - pay Muschamp whatever he wants.
The most promising thing about this game? It was the first of the year when Colt didn't account for at least one turnover. Hopefully a sign of things to come (and should be considering their opponents). Fozzy Whittaker is definitely a play maker. I like the altering styles of he and Johnson together, they complement each other well. However, I do have (still) one beef and that's with the offensive line. They showed glimpses of good protection on Saturday night (when Colt completed those 13+ he had all day to throw), but it was inconsistent at best. They don't seem to run block or pass block very well - just OK. If Texas were to face off against an Iowa, Florida or Alabama, that may prove to be an issue. Along these same lines, I'm too lazy to actually look this up, but I wonder what the difference is between Colt's gross and net rushing yards (QB sacks count against his rushing yards). I bet it's a larger difference than you think. Anyway, I digress. All in all, the best performance of the year by far...and against a quality opponent which looks good on paper....and unfortunately it matters.
The fall of Troy was loud and violent. Before we talk about the enormity of this game for Oregon, let's quickly remind ourselves of this - there's USC of the last 5-7 years and this year's USC. This is the first time in a LONG time when Carroll has had to actually rebuild a little bit. Reloading works when you recruit well (see Texas, Florida, OU, USC, etc.), but every now and again you it's not that easy. For all intents and purposes, they've had to completely replace the all-world defense they had last year...and it's shown more than once this year. And Barkley is a good QB. I mean, you don't get a scholarship to USC, much less get nabbed to start, without being pretty damn good. But he is a freshman. Asking really good freshman to do big things from time to time is one thing, but asking them to sustain that for 12 games is another.
Now, on to the Ducks. What can you say? They are for real. And don't look now, but we may wake up one day in early December to find that Oregon has found itself in the title game. I know, I know - a lot of things need to happen for that to come to fruition, but it's most certainly possible. We all clearly remember what happened on opening night when Oregon visited Boise State, but since then, the only non-BCS team they've faced was Utah who might as well be a BCS team. In addition to their overall favorable schedule (Boise State, Purdue, Utah out of conference) they've got a quality win and a quality loss. That's not to say that teams should lose (that's absurd), but their lone loss came from a top 8 team.
If you haven't seen Jeremiah Masoli play yet, try and catch him once this year. He's quite an athlete. He amassed 386 total yards by himself. They have an explosive offense and when they get going, they really get going. And defensively, they held the USC offense (the best part of it's game) to 3 points and 130 total yards in the second half. When was the last time someone did that to the Trojans? All in all a very big game for Oregon and now with a 2-game lead, I'd be surprised if they lost 3 games the rest of the way. Consider USC off the radar, but they were just replaced with Oregon. And I don't care what you say, Oregon should be ranked ahead of Boise State. There's nothing you can say to make me thing otherwise based on what we're seeing from these Ducks right now (and who they're doing it to).
Just win baby. That's what we keep saying for the top 3 teams - blowouts or ugly, tight wins, if you're Florida, Bama or Texas, that's the name of the game. But, Iowa seems to be taking this pretty seriously as well. For like the eighth time this year, Iowa has rallied from a deficit to win a game. I didn't get to see this one (saw highlights), but I heard from more than one person that the refs were pretty horrendous in this one as well. If I'm not mistaken, Iowa was losing by 10 heading into the fourth quarter? And they won by 18? Wow. Call them overrated or one dimensional, but at the end of the day, they certainly know how to pull out the tough wins. If they're in in at the end, they can find a way to pull it out and that's scary for anyone playing them.
And how about Cincy? Another team who just keeps winning and winning big. I know we like to talk about the Big East and it's lack of talent, but they're still a big time conference. Cincy closes the season at Pitt (who's 7-1 by the way) and if they can win that one, like Oregon, could very well find themselves falling ass backwards into the title game (they need more help than Oregon). I'd love to see an Oregon/Cincy match up....but this would only happen in a title game. Otherwise we'll likely see Oregon and Iowa (or OSU possibly) in the Rose Bowl.
More observations and whims from the college football weekend...
Some could argue that it's precisely that kind of mentality that will get one or both of these teams in trouble and they'd be right. The two trap games I see are Florida State for the Gators and A&M for the Horns. Don't laugh Texas fans, regardless of what the Aggies do the rest of the way (they still get two consecutive road trips at CU and OU), I can assure you with 100% certainty that they will bring a fight. We've got a long way to go, but keep an asterisk on that one.
Now THAT was impressive. I don't mean any disrespect to Okie State when I say this, but that game looked a hell of a lot like a varsity scrimmaging the JV. I couldn't believe all of those interceptions. And I know Robinson didn't have his two best weapons, but he's a good QB. When they would get on those sustained drives in the first half, he would make some pretty big plays with his feet and arm. He's good, he just didn't get much help from his receivers in a number of instances. But that Texas defense? Ridiculous. There's no way you can tell me that there's a defense out there better than this one - as good maybe, but not better. No way. Earl Thomas is going to make A LOT of money playing Sundays when he's done at the 40 acres. Defensive coordinator, head coach, whatever - pay Muschamp whatever he wants.
The most promising thing about this game? It was the first of the year when Colt didn't account for at least one turnover. Hopefully a sign of things to come (and should be considering their opponents). Fozzy Whittaker is definitely a play maker. I like the altering styles of he and Johnson together, they complement each other well. However, I do have (still) one beef and that's with the offensive line. They showed glimpses of good protection on Saturday night (when Colt completed those 13+ he had all day to throw), but it was inconsistent at best. They don't seem to run block or pass block very well - just OK. If Texas were to face off against an Iowa, Florida or Alabama, that may prove to be an issue. Along these same lines, I'm too lazy to actually look this up, but I wonder what the difference is between Colt's gross and net rushing yards (QB sacks count against his rushing yards). I bet it's a larger difference than you think. Anyway, I digress. All in all, the best performance of the year by far...and against a quality opponent which looks good on paper....and unfortunately it matters.
The fall of Troy was loud and violent. Before we talk about the enormity of this game for Oregon, let's quickly remind ourselves of this - there's USC of the last 5-7 years and this year's USC. This is the first time in a LONG time when Carroll has had to actually rebuild a little bit. Reloading works when you recruit well (see Texas, Florida, OU, USC, etc.), but every now and again you it's not that easy. For all intents and purposes, they've had to completely replace the all-world defense they had last year...and it's shown more than once this year. And Barkley is a good QB. I mean, you don't get a scholarship to USC, much less get nabbed to start, without being pretty damn good. But he is a freshman. Asking really good freshman to do big things from time to time is one thing, but asking them to sustain that for 12 games is another.
Now, on to the Ducks. What can you say? They are for real. And don't look now, but we may wake up one day in early December to find that Oregon has found itself in the title game. I know, I know - a lot of things need to happen for that to come to fruition, but it's most certainly possible. We all clearly remember what happened on opening night when Oregon visited Boise State, but since then, the only non-BCS team they've faced was Utah who might as well be a BCS team. In addition to their overall favorable schedule (Boise State, Purdue, Utah out of conference) they've got a quality win and a quality loss. That's not to say that teams should lose (that's absurd), but their lone loss came from a top 8 team.
If you haven't seen Jeremiah Masoli play yet, try and catch him once this year. He's quite an athlete. He amassed 386 total yards by himself. They have an explosive offense and when they get going, they really get going. And defensively, they held the USC offense (the best part of it's game) to 3 points and 130 total yards in the second half. When was the last time someone did that to the Trojans? All in all a very big game for Oregon and now with a 2-game lead, I'd be surprised if they lost 3 games the rest of the way. Consider USC off the radar, but they were just replaced with Oregon. And I don't care what you say, Oregon should be ranked ahead of Boise State. There's nothing you can say to make me thing otherwise based on what we're seeing from these Ducks right now (and who they're doing it to).
Just win baby. That's what we keep saying for the top 3 teams - blowouts or ugly, tight wins, if you're Florida, Bama or Texas, that's the name of the game. But, Iowa seems to be taking this pretty seriously as well. For like the eighth time this year, Iowa has rallied from a deficit to win a game. I didn't get to see this one (saw highlights), but I heard from more than one person that the refs were pretty horrendous in this one as well. If I'm not mistaken, Iowa was losing by 10 heading into the fourth quarter? And they won by 18? Wow. Call them overrated or one dimensional, but at the end of the day, they certainly know how to pull out the tough wins. If they're in in at the end, they can find a way to pull it out and that's scary for anyone playing them.
And how about Cincy? Another team who just keeps winning and winning big. I know we like to talk about the Big East and it's lack of talent, but they're still a big time conference. Cincy closes the season at Pitt (who's 7-1 by the way) and if they can win that one, like Oregon, could very well find themselves falling ass backwards into the title game (they need more help than Oregon). I'd love to see an Oregon/Cincy match up....but this would only happen in a title game. Otherwise we'll likely see Oregon and Iowa (or OSU possibly) in the Rose Bowl.
More observations and whims from the college football weekend...
- When you hear people say, "he plays like a freshman", and you don't understand what it means - go watch Tech and their third-string QB. That's what a freshman QB looks like. Freezes in the pocket and holds on to the ball waaaaaay too long. Kansas should have won that game, but they're just not that good.
- I challenge anyone to name me a division/bottom portion of a conference worse than the Big 12 north. You can't do it. Kansas State still leads the way at 3-2 with Nebraska at 2-2, Iowa State at 2-3, and Mizzou, Colorado and Kansas all at 1-3. The third best team in the division has a losing conference record. Ugh.
- Four games left in the season and Florida has locked up the SEC East - tell me that division isn't down either. They're no where near as bad as the Big 12 north, but they are most certainly down this year.
- Memo to TCU fans - you've got a really good football team currently ranked in the top 8 of the BCS. How about if you actually show up to the games? It's pathetic that there is no fan base to really get excited about. This is why Patterson will ultimately move on to bigger and better things within a couple of years and you will sink back down to mediocrity. Don't believe me? Next time TCU plays an afternoon home game on television, check out the stands.
- It's really sick how the media can and will lock onto any one player a year and just has to raise them above everyone else no matter what. It's like their bonuses depend on it or something. Tebow played a great game, certainly his best of the year, but is he all of a sudden the best player in the land? I don't think so. Lest we forget that he stunk it up the last few weeks? Let's not crucify him or anything, but let's just not pretend like that he has been just ok before now, because he has. Good kid, great player, but settle down - Georgia's defense is a horrible. Let's give some other deserving players the spotlight - you know, because they've earned it.
- I know Iowa State blows, but the Aggies didn't punt all day on Saturday. That's quite a statistic.
- All the Big 12 north bashing aside, KState still controls it's own destiny and in all honesty, seems more impressive than any other team. They made it competitive after getting down big against the Sooners.
- Texas has scored 9 non-offensive touchdowns this year. I don't know how that stacks up, but that sure is high.
- I don't remember if I hit on this last week, but super classy move by West Virginia and it's fans in honoring UCONN's fallen player just a week earlier.
- Tennessee and Georgia get the award for "we're trying to look intimidating in these black jerseys/helmets, but realize we just look silly".
- Something is wrong with these NY Football Giants. Something is horribly wrong. Dropping 3 straight in convincing fashion is not good. They need a bye week in a bad kind of way. What happened to that defense? Philly put up 40. Damn.
- And with that comes the resurgence of Dallas. NFC East is getting tighter by the week. Will be interesting. They've won 3 straight games and have a big match up at Philly next weekend for the division lead heading into the halfway point. That winner is in the driver's seat.
- Hmm...think Tedd Ginn Jr. has been taking all of that criticism personally? That was a redemption performance - 2 kickoffs returned for TDs (both at or more than 100 yards). Unreal.
- Calm down Broncos fans, you just ran into a desperate team at home in a must-win situation. They would have beaten anyone in the league in that game. Still, will be interesting to see how Denver rebounds now that they've notched that lost. Some teams relax and settle back in while others crumble. They close out this brutal stretch with Pittsburgh at home next weekend - a win there and this loss is all but forgotten.
- Nice little showing for VY - nice, efficient game with high percentage completion and no turnovers. Chris Johnson helped tremendously.
- How about this - the Dolphins have swept the big, bad Jets this year. Remember how pissy Ryan was after the first game, dissing the wildcat as a gimmicky joke? I wonder how he'll feel this week...
- Peyton Manning is quietly, but surely locking up the MVP.
posted by The Bearden Wonder at 4:09 PM
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