College Football- Week 3 preview

Georgia Tech DE Derrick Morgan and The U. QB Jacory Harris highlight the weeks most intriguing matchup

Week 3 won't be as exciting as either of the previous two weeks, but it'd be impossible to expect three weeks in a row of incredible football games. Just recall for a moment those past two weeks. The Labor day matchup with Miami and Florida State was epic. The Notre Dame-Michigan game and the USC-Ohio State games last week were some of the most entertaining matchups you'll ever see, with each ending in a scoring drive led by a true freshman quarterback. All not to mention the upset of Oklahoma, the thriller up in East Lansing, and the play of Heisman candidates Tim Tebow and Colt Mccoy. That’s enough drama for 6 weeks of college football, and one hard act to follow. So pardon week three if it’s not quite as exciting as the previous two, but it will be a good week nonetheless.

Thursday Night Game

Georgia Tech at Miami

This game should be the highlight of week 3. Miami burst onto the scene with an impressive win in an awesome game at Florida State. Georgia Tech barely escaped defeat last week at the hands of the Clemson Tigers, an average team with a star at running back in CJ Spiller. They'll need to come back with a strong week to get past this Hurricanes team, which is the best Miami team that Randy Shannon has ever coached. The U (Miami) features lots of speed. I repeat, LOTS OF SPEED. Georgia Tech has Jonathan Dweyer and Anthony Allen in the backfield, the very mobile Josh Nesbitt (more of a runner than a thrower) under center, and pass rushing defensive end Derrick Morgan as the anchors of this team. Who wins? Good question.

Jacory Harris really showed the country what he could do on Labor Day when he threw for a whopping 386 yards against a very solid Florida State defense. Having weapons like Travis Benjamin and Leonard Hankerson to depend on sure do help. When they're in a three wide set, look for wideout Aldarius Johnson to be utilized against the weaker cornerbacks. This team will always look for the pass first so if Harris and his weapons can get started on offense, then Georgia Tech is in some major trouble.

Despite depth in the secondary (four returning starters along with one key backup), the Georgia Tech defense seemed to have trouble stopping the big pass play. Unfortunately for the Yellow Jackets, the big pass play is Travis Benjamin's specialty. Harris should be able to hit Benjamin for a few big plays during the game, if he gets the time to throw. Harris got to show his mobility in and outside of the pocket on Labor Day, and with Derrick Morgan coming off the edge and looking for the sack on every drop back of the quarterback, that mobility will be key to Harris's play making ability. The running game should be a non-factor because while Graig Cooper is good, the Georgia Tech defense is even better at stopping the run. Graig Cooper will have to be a factor in the passing game if he wishes to contribute significantly in this contest.

The Georgia Tech offense is run first, run second, run third, and then maybe think about throwing the ball. With their stable of running backs, I can’t blame them. Jonathan Dweyer had almost 1400 yards last season, and after underperforming last week I'm sure he's been working to have a big game Thursday. Anthony Allen, a transfer from Louisville, really looked scary last week after rushing for 127 yards on only 5 carries. Wow. 25 yards per carry is unbelievable. Look for him to be a bigger factor in this game, getting even more carries than he had last week. Josh Nesbitt isn't quite what I would call a dual threat, he's more of a running back playing quarterback, but he's dangerous with his legs (18 carries for 91 yards last week). If forced to throw however, the threat diminishes greatly. He only completed 3 passes last week on 14 attempts and threw 2 interceptions. If The U's defense can be physical enough to stop the running game on the first two downs, Georgia Tech will be forced to either go for the long run (not unheard of for the Yellow Jackets) or let Nesbitt throw it and pray for the best. The speed of The U's defense will make interceptions on throws very likely, especially considering the lack of accuracy from Nesbitt.

These are two different teams, two different styles, and two different philosophies. Who's gonna win this? My money is on the home team, Miami. Too much speed and too many deep threats equal too many problems for Georgia Tech. It should be fun to watch the continued emergence of Jacory Harris and the masterful running of Jonathan Dweyer and Anthony Allen.

Saturday Games

Cincinnati at Oregon State

I'm gonna officially put 17th ranked Cincinnati on upset alert. Why? Three Major reasons, and the first two have the last name Rodgers. Jacquizz is one of my favorite running backs in the nation this year. One of the few possible Heisman contenders at running back this season, he's a quick and tough runner who refuses to go down. He's also always an option in the passing game. He can carry this team on his back and into the end zone. His big brother is gonna be there to help him out. Senior wide receiver James Rodgers is very good as well. The best receiving threat on this team by far, he should make an impact on the game. Third is the fact that they're playing in Corvallis, Oregon. Remember last year when USC was supposed to go to the national title game and were considered one of the top teams in the country? That was before their trip to Corvallis and loss at the hands of this Oregon State team that tends to be very good at home.

To win, the Cincinnati defense needs to step up and prove themselves. I'm still not convinced by this group that features 9 new starters. Also, senior wideout Mardy Gilyard must also have a huge game to make sure that whatever momentum the Rodger brothers create on offense is killed by big plays given up defensively.

Texas Tech at Texas, Tennesse at Florida

None of these games are overly interesting. Sure, Texas Tech should put up some big passing numbers. Sure, Bryce Brown of Tennessee is very impressive for a freshman. Sure, Eric Berry of Tennessee is the best safety in college football and maybe one of the best defensive players as well. But neither of those teams will be able to beat the top teams that they face. Texas has college football's single most valuable player in Colt Mccoy (without Mccoy making plays, this offense would be stagnant). Florida has dual threat quarterback Tim Tebow along with a lot of fast players around him. Both teams have very good defenses. It'll be interesting to see how these games play out in the first quarter, before either powerhouse can create a rhythm. However, by the time the teams go in for halftime the games should be all but over.

Eastern Michigan at Michigan

This game by all means should be a blowout. But with college players you never know how a top 25 ranking will affect them. You can also never be sure how exactly a true freshman will play, especially when much of the offense depends on his production. If Tate Forcier can put out another good game, it'll show that he is consistent after a big win and should encourage Michigan fans (as well as the country at large) that the win against Notre Dame wasn't a fluke.

-D. Wash.

NFL Week 1: Recap

Some players made big plays. Others lost their teams the game. Some teams dominated their opponent. Others fell flat while a few games went down to the wire. In short: It was the first week of the NFL season. Unlike most Week 1's, there weren't any ridiculous upsets. But there were a lot answered questions, and lots of questions that still need to be answered. All of which will tell us a lot about what to expect this season. Without further ado, lets talk football.

Eagles dominate the Panthers, McNabb breaks a rib

The goal of the offense of every football team is to have no turnovers, play mistake free football, and execute the offense to perfection. Unfortunately for the Panthers, Jake Delhomme seemed to not get this memo. He threw four…count 'em four interceptions. He didn't even play the last 22 minutes of the game because head coach John Fox decided to bench him in favor of two backups who did not fare any better; Josh McCown (1-6, 2 yards) and Matt Moore (6-11, 63 yards, INT).

After opening the game with a DeAngelo Williams rushing TD, the Panthers were only able to get into Philly territory three more times the rest of the game. A lone third quarter field goal was the only other points Carolina was able to put up. They only rushed for 86 yards and fumbled the ball twice, making their total turnovers for the game a whopping 7. Pathetic.

Philly on the other hand played some very good football. They held the Panthers to only 169 total yards and forced those 7 turnovers. Their turnover margin stood at an outstanding plus 5 after committing an INT and a fumble of their own. If the Eagles can keep forcing turnovers while limiting their own, you can expect a Superbowl run. The Eagles offense was also rather productive. They totaled 267 yards, including a whopping 185 rushing yards. McNabb threw for two touchdowns and ran in for another (more on that later). The rushing game for Philly was surprisingly balanced. Westbrook led the team with 13 carries, but rookie Lesean "Shady" McCoy was a close second with 9. This kind of balance could serve Westbrook well in keeping fresh and hopefully minimize any chance of injury, while helping McCoy slowly get used to being a key part of the offense. Desean Jackson also showed why he's so dangerous in special teams with an 85-yard punt return. Philly won the game in dominating fashion 38-10. An impressive victory over a top NFC team.

Now for McNabb. Late in the 3rd quarter, he ran into the end zone for a score, but took a big hit. He immediately left as Kevin Kolb played the last 4 series of the game. Early reports are that McNabb fractured a rib and that they'll evaluate his status later in the week. Though Andy Reid says that McNabb is resilient and heals quickly, a broken rib is an injury that would cause him quite a bit of pain, and could even cause him to split playing time at quarterback. That's almost irrelevant for next weeks game, but could be very interesting for week 3, when Mike Vick will be allowed to play. If McNabb is still hurting, that could be Vick's chance to get in a football game and show the world what he can do. It’s still very early, but definitely something worth watching.

Bufallo Bills at New England Patriots

No one likes Mondays. But games like this one help ease the pain. Despite being 10.5-point underdogs, the Buffalo Bills came into Foxboro and made the game VERY interesting. They took the opening kickoff and marched down the field to the tune of a 6 play-68 yard drive that was capped of by a 11 yard touchdown pass by Trent Edwards. Edwards was responsible for 50 of the 68 yards on the drive.

After the Pats put points on the board for themselves, the Bills scored in the most improbable of ways. On the first play of the Patriots second drive of the second quarter, Tom Brady threw an interception to defensive end Aaron Schobel who ran it in 26 yards for the score. On the play, two things happened that are very uncharacteristic of the Patriots. 1) The offensive line broke down, allowing three Bills defenders into the vicinity of quarterback Tom Brady. 2) After the Bills had penetrated the backfield, Tom Brady made a rare bad decision and threw a pick. Now, I'm not saying that the offensive line for the New England Patriots is a problem (they're usually one of the best in the league) and I'm not saying that Tom Brady is rusty (though he very well could be), but the Buffalo defense didn't really look that impressive throughout the preseason. But they did very well at containing a Patriot offense that has torched them for A LOT of points in the past.

In the fourth quarter, Bills running back Fred Jackson was on the receiving end of another Edwards TD pass and ran in for a score as the Bills took the lead late in the game 24-13. It seemed like all of Foxboro was in awe. With less than 6 minutes left in the game, their beloved Patriots (who many expect to go to/win the Superbowl) were losing to the Buffalo Bills. A team that hasn't been to the playoffs since 1999 (Back when our president was Clinton. Put that into perspective).

Then the inevitable occurred. Tom Brady took over. With less than six minutes left in the football game, Tom Brady marched the Pats down the field, going 9 for 11 and 81 yards, including a TD pass to tight end Ben Watson. After failing on a two-point conversion, the Pats were faced with a decision. Trust your defense and go with a regular kick deep or risk it all and go for the onside kick? Its decisions like these that decide games. Head coach Bill Bellichick, always trusting in his players in thee spots, opted for the first option and it paid off dividends. On the kickoff, Buffalo set up in an onside kick formation, leaving only Leodis Mckelvin back to receive. After the Pats kicked it deep, Mckelvin took the ball out of the endzone (mistake number one) and ran into a pack of Patriot defenders. Once they had him wrapped up, Mckelvin tried to fight for a few extra yards (mistake number two) and had the ball stripped from him. The ball was recovered by the Pats at the Buffalo 31 yard line and that essentially was the game. You can't give Tom Brady the ball with 2 minutes left in a close game and still expect to win. It only took 3 plays for Brady to find Ben Watson once again in the end zone for the game winning score.

So this game ended in the way we all thought it would, a Patriots win. It was a much closer game than anyone could've imagined despite Terrell Owens being a non factor and Marshawn Lynch's suspension. Trent Edwards played an excellent, mistake free game. Fred Jackson (starting for the aforementioned Lynch) ran surprisingly well. When Lynch returns, this team can win some games (and perhaps step above .500 for the first time since 2004). If TO starts performing like the hall of famer that he is, then this team could sneak into the wildcard picture.

Washington Redskins at New York Giants

What if I told you that minus a 34-yard run from running back Clinton Portis, the Washington Redskins would only rush for 51 yards. How do you think the game would end? A blowout Giants victory? A shutout due to lack of Redskin offensive production? Probably. And you would be wrong. Despite a virtually non existent rushing attack in a hostile Meadowlands environment the Redskins used a fake field goal and an interception deep in Giants territory and to keep this game close. If it wasn't for a fumble by quarterback Jason Campbell (which was forced, recovered, and scored by Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora), the Skins could've pulled out a victory. The defense played solid against the run as they limited this very talented Giants backfield to only 103 yards. This team still has potential to make some noise if their defense remains stout and they are able to get the running game going on offense.

The Giants on the other hand looked like legit contenders. Eli Manning looked poised and under control as he would go 20 for 29 with a TD and an INT. As previously mentioned, the running game never got off the ground and that’s something that they will need in order to compete in the NFC. The defense played well forcing two turnovers while holding Washington under 300 total yards. Defense wins championships, and this Giants defense is of the caliber to produce another championship season.

Quickies

Adrian Peterson-Minnesota

You can't say enough about how good this guy is. He is CLEARLY, the best running back in the league. 180 yards and 3 scores is the second most impressive stat sheet from week 1. A healthy Peterson makes the Vikings a real Superbowl contender.

Drew Brees-New Orleans

When you see 6 touchdowns in a box score, you pause for a moment. You need to do a double take to make sure you read it correctly. Brees hit 8 different receivers for completions and 5 different guys for TD passes. Wow. Though the numbers will continue to be impressive, don't get your hopes up about the Saints. Remember, Brees did this to a very poor Detroit Lions secondary.

Sproles/LT- San Diego

The Chargers look like they've already begun to faze LT out of this offense. LT had 13 carries to Sproles’ 9. With seconds left in the 4th quarter it was Sproles, not LT that the Chargers trusted to run in the game winning TD. By the end of the season LT's dominance of years past will be a distant memory and the Darren Sproles era in San Diego will begin.

Raiders

Despite the loss, the Raiders should be optimistic for the season to come. Their defense and more specifically the secondary looked much improved. The addition of defensive end Richard Seymour was great and paid off immediately as he went on to sack quarterback Philip Rivers twice. Jemarcus Russell showed some heart by returning to the game after suffering a minor injury and threw what was almost the game winning TD pass to rookie wide receiver Louis Murphy. Against the Chiefs, Broncos, Bengals, and Browns, they should have a solid chance at winning some games this year.

49ers

Looks like Samurai Mike Singletary really does know how to coach. The defense looks significantly improved as they hit Kurt Warner 8 times, sacking him 3 and picking him off twice. All of that equaled a road win against last years NFC champions, the Arizona Cardinals. Impressive Mike, impressive. As long as Shaun Hill doesn't lose the team any games, these guys should be able to succeed in a weak NFC west.

-D. Wash.

Quick Hits

Week 1 is not over yet…but here are some tidbits from Sunday before a full on recap is unveiled.

- Congratulations Bruce on hitting the first pick of the year! You might have us all fooled now…only time will tell.

- I must take this opportunity to strongly encourage the posting of comments and any other form of feedback anyone may have. These things not only help us in providing material but will also lead to interesting discussions and debates. Chime in! Also, an easier way to look through posts is via the blog archive that can be found on the right hand side of the page. It allows you to quickly access posts without having to scroll down and up the lengthy homepage. Every post can be found in the archive.

Quick Injury Hits- Ouch baby, very OUCH!

-Brian Urlacher, LB, Chicago- Urlacher, who is as important to any team defense as anyone in the NFL, will reportedly miss the rest of the season after sustaining a wrist injury during last nights loss to the Packers. This is a tough blow to a Bears team who a mere 24 hours ago must have been feeling REALLY good about their shot at making a run in the NFC. Whatever happened to throwin a cast on and getting back on the playing field? For as much love as Urlacher gets, he sure hasn’t shown a high tolerance for pain throughout his career. Of course this is coming from a guy who cries when Mufasa dies in the Lion King. The loss of Urlacher coupled with Jay Cutler’s atrocious performance has left the Windy City scrambling for answers.

-Donovan McNabb, QB, Philadelphia- This really seems to be an annual occurrence. I don’t know how Philly fans sleep at night during the NFL season with the oft-injured Brian Westbrook and McNabb constantly missing time. McNabb is the first to go down with a fractured rib and his status for Week 2 is currently uncertain. If McNabb is forced to miss extended time there will be storylines abound in Philadelphia. Michael Vick is set to return Week 3 and if the rib injury hampers McNabbs abilities at all we could have a firestorm on our hands much sooner than anticipated. For now the Eagles will turn to second year man Kevin Kolb if McNabb cant go.

-Troy Polamalu, S, Pittsburgh- This has already been blogged about here. Still it’s worth adding to this list. Man, the week 1 injuries could comprise almost 1/3 of a potential All-Pro team. Kind of a shame to see such injuries take place so early…but then again it happens EVERY year.

-Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Indianapolis- In what was supposed to be his break out year after the departure of Marvin Harrison, Gonzalez now finds himself nursing a strained knee ligament that will keep him out 2-6 weeks. Surely, this is a loss for a Colts team that always takes advantage of its offensive weapons but I hesitate to say that this will greatly effect the teams performance moving forward. This really bodes well for fellow wide receiver Reggie Wayne as he and Peyton Manning look to restore some of that old charm from Wayne’s 2007 breakout season. Look for tight end Dallas Clark to get more involved as well.

Speed Round- 30 words or less:

Jay Cutler, QB, Chicago- Debut to forget. The interception troubles that plagued him in Denver followed him to Chicago. Personally, I enjoyed watching the awkward scene play out, however, my fantasy team did not.

Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans- 353 yards. 6 touchdowns. That’s all I should have to say, right? Good.

Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota- “All-Day” is livin up to the name…and the hype. 180 yards and 3 touchdowns. A 2,000 yard season shouldn’t surprise anyone.

Reggie Wayne, WR, Indy- The Birdman is flying high. This was a vintage Wayne performance and one we can expect more of moving forward. 10 catches-162 yards-1 touchdown.

Tim Hightower, RB, Arizona- 12 catches for a running back is certainly eye opening. The Cardinals were missing some weapons on offense and Hightower tried to take advantage. It wasn’t enough.

New York Jets Defense- Stifled the Houston Texans, who boast one of the leagues more potent offenses. The Rex Ryan scheme had blitzes coming from all over, keeping the pressure on and the points off.

Cedric Benson, RB, Cincinatti- OH, hell no…moving along now.

Tony Romo, QB, Dallas- No more T.O. and no more Jessica Simpson. Claims to be more comfortable in the huddle than ever and it showed. 353 yards-3 touchdowns-0 picks.

The Rookie Quarterback Conundrum:

When the Detroit Lions and New York Jets selected Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez in last Aprils draft both teams were looking for their next franchise quarterbacks. Unfortunately for Stafford all of the similarities between the two ended on that day.

Stafford finds himself in the most precarious of positions. The Lions are coming off a dubious season in which they did not win a single game. Not one. 0-16. A team that may have struggled against many college teams last year. This speaks volumes for the type of talent…errrrr, lack thereof that Stafford finds himself surrounded by. The offensive line is in shambles, the running game is very much a work in progress and the defense could not get off the field on Sunday. Granted it was versus Drew Brees and a high-powered Saints offense, but even so Lions fans could not be encouraged by what they saw.

On the flip side, Sanchez has been given the gift of low risk offense. While Detroit may find themselves asking Stafford to do entirely too much this season, the Jets don’t have to ask Sanchez to do much of anything at all. Control the clock, manage the game, let the running game and defense take you to the promised land. It is a mantra that has been deployed by many teams that have gone on to achieve season long success. As long as Sanchez can continue to make smart decisions with the football this team will fare better and better as the season rolls along.

Stafford was rattled all day long by a Saints defense that really should pose no threat to any offense. He went on to throw 3 interceptions and zero touchdowns. Sanchez showed moxie and poise as he converted nine third downs via the pass and was able to elude pressure all day long with his mobility. It turned out to be quite the contrast.

Stafford may very well be the better NFL talent, but the situations as they currently present themselves have given Sanchez the best opportunity to succeed right now.

-MJK

A coupla things real quick

First- I would like to thank and introduce a new writer that will begin contributing to the blog on a regular basis. D. Wash will provide the Sports Bar with fresh analysis, reviews and previews of college and NFL football. I posted his College Football Week 2 preview. The preview was written a few days ago, but I felt as though it was important to post it so readers could follow up with his Week 2 recap a little more fluidly. The Week 2 recap is posted thereafter.

Second- Mr. Brian Bruce in all of his glory will begin making picks at his discretion. He is no professional. Consider yourself warned. The picks can be found at the top right of the blog. The section will be called "This One's On Me." And no Bruce, cow tipping IS NOT Americas past time. YEEHAW...good luck buddy.

Thank you to all who have tuned in this past week. The blog is still very much a work in progress and we will continue to tinker with it ever so slightly. Happy NFL Sunday to all.

-MJK, D.Wash., Bruce.

College Football-Week 2 Preview

One player punched another in the jaw on national television. Navy took Ohio State down to the wire and almost embarrassed the number six team in the nation on their home turf. Oklahoma State proved that they're the real deal in a win over Georgia. USC started a true freshman at QB for the first time in school history. Iowa had to block 2 field goals to escape defeat at the hands of Iowa State. Notre Dame proved that they deserve to be ranked. Oklahoma lost its Heisman winning quarterback and All-American tight end to injury and were defeated as a result. Alabama won their top 10 matchup against VT. And all of this was topped off by an old school Florida State-Miami game (a game that Bobby Bowden said was one of the greatest he has ever coached with a team that he claims is the fastest he has ever coached) that ended in a dropped pass that could've won the game for Florida State. And that was just week 1.

Week 2 might not appear to feature the same matchups that week 1 did, but remember this, this is college football. Teams that look like they aren't gonna accomplish anything end up doing alot. Title contendors lose to no name schools. In short, shit happens. So without further ado, lets look at the week to come and matchups that should be entertaining (or interesting at the very least).

#3 USC at #8 Ohio State

This is the biggest name matchup of the week. Last season it looked like the winner of this game would be assured a spot in the national title game. Though that wasn't the case, this game remains interesting and something to watch. USC, led by Joe McKnight (aka Reggie Bush version 2.0) and true freshman Matt Barkley on offense as well as Taylor Mays on defense, are looking to dominate the Trojans again. Last year they embarassed Ohio State. But remember, that game was in Pasadena. And also remember, at that point of the season Terrelle Pryor wasn't a major part of the offense. Also remember, the offense last year was led by a redshirt junior named Mark Sanchez. All of that means that this game will be alot closer than the 35-3 blowout last year. If Terrelle Pryor can get into a rhythm and the USC defense can't stop him, then Ohio State could win this game. If the USC offense gets firing (especially Joe McKnight, Damian Williams, and Anthony McCoy) than USC will get the victory.

#18 Notre Dame at Michigan

Despite the storied histories of and between these two programs, before last week this game didn't look that interesting. It appeared that Michigan was gonna go for another embarassing losing season and Notre Dame would have an average one that would end in the firing of Charlie Weis. However, after Notre Dame spanked Nevada 35-0 and Michigan did likewise to Western Michigan with a 31-7 victory, this game gets alot more interesting and entertaining. Michigan needs to be able to get a solid pass rush on Clausen with Brandon Graham and be Obi Ezeh (linebacker) needs to be the playmaker that he has the potential to be. Notre Dame needs to find someway to stop this one two punch at quarterback with Tate Forcier (the passer) and Denard "Shoelaces" Robinson (who looks like a Pat White before he developed his passing). If the two true freshman for Michigan can have solid games and wideout Junior Hemmingway is ready when Forcier throws the ball, then Michigan definetly has a shot to upset this ranked Notre Dame team in the Big House. Notre Dame mustestablish that running game if it plans to set up the pass from Clausen to one of his spectacular recievers, Golden Tate or Michael Floyd.

#19 North Carolina at UConn

This is a game that I sincerely doubt many of you were planning to watch, but it would be worth your time to do so. Despite the top 25 ranking for this North Carolina team, they could easily lose this game and fall out of the top 25 with their trip to UConn. UConn features a two back rushing attack (it rhymes, i know) with sophomore Jordan Todman and senior Andre Dixon. Even though they lost Donald Brown last year, the rushing game for this team will remain very good and the key to their offense. Quan Sturdivant, linebacker for North Carolina, will really to stop the run to prevent the UConn offense from getting on a roll and running all over them. Bruce Carter (linebacker) and Kendric Burney (cornerback) could also help in this capacity. Without a solid, dominant rushing game, North Carolina should be able to dominate UConn. Thats a fact. Whether North Carolina can actually follow through and dominate this UConn rushing attack is a different matter.

- D.Wash

College Football-Week 2 Recap

Again I say, week 2 didn't appear to have the same caliber matchups that week 1 did. And again I remind you, This is College Football, shit happens. The games that were suppossed to be huge were huge. There were also games that were suppossed to be blowouts that became upsets. There were overtime thrillers, and (perhaps most importantly of all) we witnessed the maturation of two true freshman quarterbacks as they won big games on big stages.

Featured Games of the Week

USC at Ohio State

Last year this game was billed as the biggest game of the national season. It didn't come close to living up to the hype. This year though, the game exceeded all expectations that anyone could ever have had for it. The excitement that this game would lead to was built up by a totally even first half of play, each team heading in for the half with 10 points on the board (Stafon Johnson of USC and Daniel Herron of OSU each rushed in for a short score). That in itself was stunning as USC features a high powered offense and the Ohio State defense had trouble dealing with Navy last week.

In the second half, the results became even more surprising. During a punt attemept deep in their own territory in the third quarter, USC let off a high snap that the punter was forced to fall on in the end zone to prevent Ohio State from getting a touchdown out of it. With the score 12-10 at that point, Ohio State took the ball and marched it all the way down to the USC 7 yard line and kicked a field goal to make the score 15-10. Thats how the score was heading into the 4th quarter, where USC started with the ball and needed a touchdown to get the victory. After a quick three and out by each team to start the 4th, USC had the ball and something spectacular happened. True freshman quarterback for the Trojans Matt Barkley took command of this team like he was a redshirt senior. During the drive he worked the offense down the field, completed a 22 yard pass and a 26 yarder, and was even forced to sneak on 4th down to get the 1st down twice. Don't get me wrong, he wasn't alone on this drive, Joe McKnight was running like a madman. But Barkley was undoubtebly the star. He had poise like a senior despite being in one of the most unwelcoming enviroments in college football, and proved to everyone why he was so highly touted.

After getting the ball all the way down withing the OSU 5, Barkley simply handed it off to Stafon Johnson who was able to walk it in for a score. To make sure that Ohio State couldn't beat them with a field goal, the Trojans went for two and converted with a pass from the star freshman at QB to the star junior RB, and the Trojans sealed the victory.
Damn this was a good game. When Barkley is one day competing for the heisman within his college career, people will look back at the day that he marched his team into the Horseshoe in Columbus, Ohio and beat the Buckeyes as his first great game as a USC quarterback. Sure, his numbers weren't the best you'll ever see (15-31, 195, 0 TD's and 1 INT), but he did what alot of guys who put up big numbers cant do. He finished the game. He executed a game winning 4th quarter drive to perfection. He was clutch. He was tough. And he's well on his way to living up to his hype.

Notre Dame at Michigan

Remember how the Florida State vs Miami matchup on Labor Day looked and felt like an old school matchup when both schools were powerhouses? Thats how this one felt too, but midwest style. Everyone knew that Notre Dame was good, especially that passing game featuring Clausen, Tate, and Floyd (who proved that he's not gonna have a sophomore slump). But a game on the road against a rival is always different from a game at home against Nevada. Noone was quite sure exactly how good Michigan was. Sure, they took care of business last week against Western Michigan, but that was against Western Michigan, not Notre Dame. This game would tell us how good Michigan was, and whether this Notre Dame team would produce in a big game.

Notre Dame started the game off on the wrong foot. Despite a 70 yard drive all the way down to the Michigan 10 yard line, Notre Dame came away scoreless due to a missed field goal. Shortly after that, Michigan took the ball all the way from their own 21 yard line into the end zone and took the lead 7-0. After scoring a field goal it appeared that Notre Dame might get a chance to get a rythm going, but Michigan immediately took the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown. All of that was in the first quarter. In the second quarter, Notre Dame appeared that they had begun to take control of the game as Clausen connected with both Floyd and Tate for scores and the teams traded field goals to go into the half 20 Irish, 17 Wolverines.

However, something that Rich Rodriguez said at halftime must have taken an effect on this Michigan defense as they limited Notre Dame to 2 three and outs during the 3rd quarter and recovered a fumble as well (Notre Dame only got to execute 9 plays in the whole 3rd quarter). Not only did they prevent Notre Dame from scoring, but Michigan also executed their own long (86 yard) drive for a TD pass by Forcier. In the early 4th, Michigan again scored on a 31 yard run from non other then the true freshman quarterback Tate Forcier, giving michigan a 31-20 lead. Notre Dame refused to quit though and rallied in the fourth, scoring a TD on a pass to Tate (2 point conversion was no good), getting an interception, and running it in with Armando Allen (2 point conversion was successful here).

So again, here's another true freshman quarterback, with his team down and time running off the clock (there was only 2:19 left when Michigan recieved the ball), attempting to lead his team to victory. And again, the freshman mans up and showed everyone why he was chosen to start. On the last 57 yard drive from Michigan, Forcier accounted for 52 of the yards. With 22 seconds left on the clock, Forcier dropped back and threw a perfect pass into the end zone... just to have it dropped by his reciever. No matter, Forcier dropped back again on the next play and threw another strike that was caught by his reciever (Greg Matthews) with only 11 seconds left in the game. After one play by the Notre Dame offense (a catch by Golden Tate accross the middle that ran out the clock), Forcier was cheered and surrounded by reporters. He was the most impressive player on the field, more impressive than top recievers, running backs, and the top quarterback recruit from 3 years ago. Sure he wasn't highly touted like Clausen or Barkley were, but he's good and believe me, this Michigan crowd will sing "Hail to the Victors" after many, many more wins due to the gutsy performance of this kid.

Other Games

North Carolina at UConn

You hate to see it when a team gets beat by themselves. UConn was SO very close to beating this ranked North Carolina team. They led the game 10-0 going into the fourth quarter and from there they should have worked hard to play perfect football to win this game. They didn't. This UConn defense allowed first a field goal and then a touchdown on long drives (78 and 76 yards) to let North Carolina tie the game up in the 4th (the offense had a measly 3 and out between North Carolina's two scoring drives). Then, the UConn offense did one of the stupidest thing that it could possibly do with a game tied late in the 4th quarter. Deep in their own territory and faced with a serious pass rush, the UConn offensive line got caught with a holding call in their own endzone. That my friends, is a saftey. 2 points and the ball went to North Carolina as a result of that, and the Tar Heels simply ran out the clock for the remainder of them game. Without lapses in concentration or defensive laziness and compliance, UConn could've made the papers for winning over a ranked team. Instead, they'll make the papers for losing due to a saftey because of a holding call in the end zone. They say that there's no such thing as bad press, but that's bad press.

Houston at Oklahoma State

This game was expected to be a shootout (Both teams have prolific, top 5 in yards gained offenses), and it was. NOONE expected the shootout to end in an Oklahoma State loss, but that's what happened. How did Houston do it? Simple. They took complete advantage of all the weaknesses on this Oklahoma State defense and they executed their gameplan on offesne. What did they do this week that Georgia couldn't do last week? They shut down Oklahoma State's greatest weapons, Dez Bryant and Kendall Hunter. Bryant only caught five passes for 86 yards (NO TOUCHDOWNS) and Hunter only ran for 29 yards. To shut down two of the best players at their position is incredible, impressive, and makes Houston all deserving of going home with this victory. After this loss, Oklahoma State should abandon any hope of winning, or even getting to, a BCS bowl game. If they can't beat Houston, how are they gonna beat Texas? What was Oklahoma's biggest mistake? Trying to take on Texans in a shootout.

Quick Thoughts

-Central Michigan did work against Michigan State in East Lansing. Dan LeFevour (QB for CMU) is very able to take a whole team on his shoulders. He is now the MAC all time leader in total offense (he surpasses Byron Leftwitch during the game).

-Badger fans should consider themselves lucky. Wisconson BARELY snuck away with the W after 2 overtimes against Fresno St in Madison.

-Texas was barely leading at the half against Wyoming. If it wasn't for a late first half Colt McCoy TD, they would've gone into the half down 6-10. Not a big deal, but something to watch. Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Baylor, and every other team that thinks they have a chance against Texas is gonna study up on that first half of the game to search for a weakness.

-Whats with Big Ten teams losing or almost losing at home? Does home field advantage mean nothing anymore?

- D.Wash

Sensory Overload

The hair that stands up on the back of your neck. The chills that run down your spine. The goosebumps that encompass every inch of your body. Uncontrollable and instinctive bodily functions that happen when you reach sensory overload. Personally very few THINGS bring about these occurrences in my life. Excitement in sports happens to be one of them. The eruption of a crowd in unison with a game changing moment. A walk-off homerun in baseball. A devastatingly hard tackle in football. A game winning buzzer beater in basketball, so on and so forth. Michael Jordan was the only ATHLETE to instigate these emotions in my life. Players like Bo Jackson and Barry Sanders come very close, but Jordan brought out these feelings almost nightly as a child. Everyone has their own memories and experiences of what Jordan did or did not mean to them. To me, the Bulls of the '90's were not the Chicago Bulls, they were Jordan’s Bulls. For as much as I loved the smooth play of Scottie Pippen, the Zen like presence of Phil Jackson, or the natural unselfishness of role players like Ron Harper, John Paxson and Dennis Rodman…they were always Jordan’s Bulls and they played by Jordan’s rules. It wasn’t just his competitive arrogance that left me in awe. It was his ability to back it up. A true superstar rises to the occasion and never looks back. Jordan defied every occasion and took it to the next level. Few athletes of my time have possessed this uncanny ability to blend everything so naturally into one and leave the crowd wanting more. For Jordan, it was expected night in and night out.

A Stroll Down Memory Lane

Many moments of Jordan’s illustrious career happened a bit before my visual brain span was allowed to comprehend what was going on. So I can really only base personal experiences off of what I remember. Still, I feel as though there are too many to name. Two distinctly come to mind.

After securing three consecutive championships from 1991-93 tragedy struck when Jordan’s father, James, was murdered in the summer of 1993. That October, Jordan abruptly and shockingly announced his first retirement from the NBA. He cited a “loss of desire to play the game,” much of which surely was attributed to the passing of his father. After briefly playing minor league baseball, Jordan returned to the Bulls late in the 1994-95 season only to have the team lose to the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.

Entering the 1995-96 season the Bulls seemed to be on a mission. With the addition of bad boy rebound machine Dennis Rodman, the team seemed to have all the pieces in place for another championship run. The Bulls went on to win an NBA record 72 games and it culminated with Jordan’s fourth NBA title. Ironically enough the series clinching game was played on Fathers Day and was the first title Jordan had won since the passing of his father. After the game an over-emotional Jordan could be seen sprawled across the court and then later in the locker room clenching the game ball, crying and seemingly wishing what could have been had his father been there. For myself, the image was unforgettable. The realization that sports had a much more complex meaning than wins and losses. A time when raw emotion spoke louder than words ever could.

The second came against the Portland Trailblazers during the first round of the 1992 NBA finals. Jordan dropped 35 points and 6 three-pointers… in the first half, both NBA records. After making the sixth three-pointer Jordan turns to jog back to his end of the court only to glance to the crowd and shrug innocently in what would possibly prove to be the most renowned and recognizable clip of “His Airness,” To hear the crowd roar with every made shot was simply breathtaking. Jordan showcased his talent to the world on the largest of stages time and time again.

“Your mind is the mountain before you. You’ve reached the summit. Now transcend the skies”

On Friday September 11, 2009, Michael Jordan was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame. This is by no means the defining moment of his career. Think of it as a refreshing dessert after a hearty main course. It would be hard pressed to find anyone that questioned his desire to win. His popularity could have been a target for others to exploit but Jordan had his own agenda. He still talks as if he could come back and play at any moment. Mentally, he claims to be sharper than ever. His age old determination only adds to the intrigue of his legacy. No other person transcended the skies quite like "Air" Jordan. And to that I say “Thank you." Here is a cheers and a congratulations.

-MJK

Evening Tidbits

Before I get to my thoughts on the game tonight I have to bring something up that I have been really trying to avoid if for no other reason than to keep this blog as a non-violent sanctuary of sports love. But as the days (or seasons go by) it becomes increasingly more difficult to a) not keel over and vomit thinking about the Raiders b) not to arrange a murder for hire and plot it against Al Davis as I am convinced at this point in time he is immortal and c) comprehend a single organizational move the team has made in recent memory.

When the Raiders took Darius Heyward-Bey in this past NFL draft, they reached on a player with the 7^th overall pick that many scouts had billed as a late first round pick at best. At best. With acclaimed receiver Michael Crabtree sitting there for them to take, they essentially reached 20 picks on a player that had more question marks than the Riddlers’ outfit in Batman Forever.

It’s not fair at all to say that Heyward-Bey wont pan out and my complaint certainly isn’t with the kid. He impressed the Raiders. He got paid. Nice work, son. But what I don’t understand is why couldn’t Oakland trade out of the 7^th pick and wait on the kid to fall to them later in the draft in order to maximize his value. This is old news now and rather moot, but a gripe nonetheless. And all this followed a season in which they traded a second and fifth round pick to the Falcons for overrated cornerback DeAngelo Hall, inked him to a seven-year, $70 million deal and cut him 8 games later…throwing the picks and about $8 million down the toilet.

The most recent Raider move to potentially, and I must stress potentially, blow up in their face is the recent acquisition of former New England defensive end Richard Seymour for a 2011 first round draft pick. Seymour was a stud with the Pats. He has been to the pro-bowl five times and is a three-time Super Bowl champion. So obviously talent is not the issue here. What concerns me is the trade took place five days ago and Seymour has yet to report to the Raiders. The only thing that continues to run through my head is Oakland just traded a first round pick for absolutely nothing. Zilch. Nada. I don’t think I could handle it. I really don’t. Head coach Tom Cable has assured the public that he has spoken with Seymour and that he wants to be with the team but that just sounds like a bunch of tabloid speak. If he wanted to be there, he would be there. Who the hell wants to go from a perennial super bowl contender to a bottom feeder anyways, can’t say I blame the guy. As of Thursday evening the Raiders sent a letter to the Seymour camp stating that he had to report within five days or face possible suspension from the team. Unreal. It’s already become a circus and the guy hasn’t even played a down for the team. The Raiders make Barnum and Bailey look like a pre-school nap hour. But then again this has been the most redundant theme in the NFL for the past 6 years, so I shall stop now.

Was that a football game or the opening scene to Saving Private Ryan?

That was a slugfest. The NFL season opened up tonight and the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Tennessee Titans in overtime 13-10. The game was very much back and forth as each team relied heavily on their stellar defenses to keep them in the game. But as the game wore on the physicality began to take its toll and was highlighted by an injury to superstar Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu. Did the Madden cover jinx really just strike again? Initial reports are a sprained MCL and a 3-6 week recovery period. The Steelers are loaded on defense but the loss of Polamalu is one that could shift things around in the AFC if teams can figure out how to exploit the loss of one of the smartest and most explosive defensive game changers. Tennesee also lost a key cog to their offense when tight end Bo Scaife left the game with a sprained knee after hauling in 5 catches for 48 yards.

I was definitely surprised at how ineffective the Steelers were running the ball tonight, but I think a lot of that can be attributed to the defense of the Titans. Still, it’s something to keep an eye on as we move forward. It is after all just the first game. Wide receivers Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward picked up for the lack of a ground game and combined for 234 receiving yards, which proved to be just enough firepower to aid in the victory. The Titans offense featured a much more balanced attack but the teams lack of a consistent means of stretching the field should pose somewhat of a concern. When Titan running back Chris Johnson isn’t bustin long runs all over the place, the Tennesee offense looks awfully dull and bland. The defense on the other hand was very impressive and didn’t look like they missed the departed Albert Haynesworth at all.

Looking forward to a full slate of weekend games as the ball on this season really starts to roll.

-MJK