NFL Week 5 Quick Hits

Roddy White and the Atlanta offense went head over heels in Week 5

It was an ugly weekend for the bottom tier of teams in the NFL.  While this is almost certainly to be expected, it was rather unfortunate that the winless Rams, Bucs, Titans and Chiefs as well as the one-win Raiders and Lions all found themselves squaring up against powerhouse teams or teams that are aspiring to make deep runs into the postseason.  Aside from a Cowboys team that celebrated as though they had won the Super Bowl after barely squeaking out a win versus the Chiefs, every one of these hapless teams got crushed by their opposition (the final score to the PIT-DET game was closer than the others, but the Steelers led by double digits for most of the game).  Of course I find all of this humorous because I have been preaching the parity of the NFL in a couple of posts prior to this week, but even so the strong looked real strong in Week 5.

-Speaking along those same lines, it seems as though we have a pack of teams really separating themselves from the rest of the league. We have seen the Colts, Giants, Vikings and most surprisingly the Broncos shoot out of the gates to impressive 5-0 starts.   The first three teams had cake walk matchups this weekend versus teams mentioned in the first bullet point.  However, Denver took it upon themselves to perhaps make the biggest statement of any team so far in the early goings of the season as they knocked off the New England Patriots in a matchup that pitted Pats head coach Bill Belichick against his former apprentice and assistant coach Josh McDaniels. Without getting into much of the back story that played into Denver’s locker room this offseason, I think it goes without saying how well McDaniels has this team playing right now.  They are buying everything he is selling.  Wide receiver Brandon Marshall has righted his personal demons and continued his steady improvement with 2 TD catches, rookie running back Knowshon Moreno has looked stronger every week, and quarterback Kyle Orton has played solid, mistake free footbal. Most surprisingly McDaniels has this defense playing at a level that is really unforeseen considering how much the unit struggled in 2008. That all being said, Ireally cant remember another instance where a city (Denver) went from complete AWOL in regards to a situation to absolute love fest in such a short amount of time.  Lots of people were questioning the direction of this team just five weeks ago, all of whom have since been silenced.   It’s amazing what winning games will do.

Big Ups

Miles Austin, WR, Dallas- Whew. That was a performance.  While the rest of the team struggled to get things going against a horrible Chiefs team, Austin took full advantage of the opportunity and torched KC’s D to the tune of 10 catches-a franchise record 250 yards and 2 TD’s.  Not bad for a guy who was coming off the bench the first 4 weeks.  A Roy Williams injury changed all of that and the rest is as they say history.  Look for Austin to get more looks in weeks to come as none of the other Cowboys receivers have looked even remotely consistent.

Jeremy Maclin, WR, Philly- Another receiver who had a big game on Sunday.  Maclin got his first career start after Kevin Curtis was ruled inactive due to injury and boy did he impress.  The rookie hauled in 6 catches for 142 yards and 2 touchdowns.  While his routes are still a bit inconsistent and his polish as an NFL receiver needs work, no one can argue with his game breaking speed and elusiveness. He and Desean Jackson are very similar in their own rights, and if the early goings of the season are any indication Philly has all the makings for a very exciting offense for years to come.

Roddy White, WR, ATL- Yeah, the ATL had some offense going on Sunday.  White showcased his abilities with a fantastic 8 catch, 210 yard, 2-touchdown day against a formidable 49er defense.  The addition of tight end Tony Gonzales seems to have taken away a good amount of targets from White in the early goings but it should be noted that his rapport with Matt Ryan is second to none.  White should be able to use this performance as a catapult and go on a tear here very soon.

Michael Turner, RB, ATL- Its about time he got things rolling a little.  Granted he hasn’t exactly been a huge bust so far this year but the expectations of him are very high following his breakout 2008 campaign. Turner rumbled through the 49er defense for 97 yards and a vintage 3-touchdown performance. He seems to be keeping pace with his penchant for running through sub-par defenses while performing under par versus tougher foes (even though San Fran has played some inspired defense thus far, I don't know if I would go as far as calling them a "tough foe").  Either way, Atlanta needs him to pound the rock with success in order to keep the pressure of Matt Ryan and company.

Low Downs

Derek Anderson, QB, CLE- 2 completions. That’s it. You know nothing too special or anything, I mean after all it was two more than you or I had on Sunday. Right?  No biggie. And oh yeah, Cleveland actually WON the game after Andersons scintillating 2-14, 23 yard performance.   Maybe…just MAYBE this is the new blueprint for winning in the NFL.  Anderson made Jemarcus Russel look like Dan Marino in Week 5 and THAT is saying something.  Congrats to the Browns and Bills for taking part in a game that was sure to knock 30 years off the lives of anyone that watched it. Final score: 6-3. A win is a win right? Only sometimes.

Calvin Johnson, WR, DET- Megatron caught only 1 ball for 2 yards in a game that saw the Lions hang tough against the Steelers. What should really alarm Lions fans is that he left in the 1^st quarter and didn’t return after sustaining an injury to his leg.  Although it doesn’t sound too serious right now, if it was anything more than a cramp the Lions will have to bite the bullet once again after 1^st overall pick Matthew Stafford sustained a leg injury last week.

Washington Redskins- Washington was supposed to be a big player in the NFC (aren’t they always?).  This season the Redskins are once again under achieving and of course all of the blame is being thrown in head coach Jim Zorn’s direction.  Fair or not it is the reality of the situation and it never seems to matter how much talent this franchise brings in.  They are always simply mediocre at best.  Washington barely pulled out victories against winless St. Louis in week 2, gave Detroit their first victory in two seasons in week 3, and barely got by Tampa Bay (16-13) in week 4 before losing to the previously winless Carolina Panthers this past weekend.  If you exclude their season opening matchup versus the Giants (a game that they…well, lost) the cumulative record of all the teams they have played thus far is a paltry 2-17. Two wins between four teams.  The Redskins have no excuse for NOT being at least 4-1 right now. 

College Football-Week 6 Preview

#1 Florida heads into Baton Rouge to take on #4 LSU

Written by: D. Wash


#1 Florida at #4 LSU

Perhaps the biggest factor in this matchup is still an unknown until game time tomorrow.  Will Heisman winner Tim Tebow play in this game? I doubt Tebow or head coach Urban Meyer knows, and if they do they’re not going to disclose any information before game time. With Tebow, Florida will be able to beat LSU even if they do make a few mistakes. The defense can allow LSU running back Charles Scott to get away on a big run if Tebow is ready and waiting to lead the fast Florida offense onto the field to answer. Receivers can drop a few balls if Tebow is there to chew them out and make sure they catch everything the second time. However, if Tebow doesn’t play everything changes. The Gators can still win.  After all, they do still have one of the best defenses in the country and one of the fastest groups of running backs ever assembled, but no Tebow equals no margin for error. Rainey and Demps can’t hesitate too long on runs and set up 3^rd and long situations. The defense can’t show any weaknesses. If mistakes are made and Tebow isn’t there to make up for them, then LSU will be able to topple the number 1 ranked team in the nation. The Tigers haven’t lost in 32 straight night games at Baton Rouge and I doubt that they will if Brantley starts at QB for the Gators.

#3 Alabama at #20 Ole Miss

With the talent on Mississippi’s roster and the obvious dominance of Alabama, many people expected this matchup to be one of unbeatens. Unfortunately, Ole Miss’ loss in South Carolina ended those dreams, but this matchup still appears to be somewhat entertaining. It’s in Mississippi, which will hopefully make quarterback Jevan Snead more comfortable. Snead, who has thrown 3 interceptions and less than a 50% completion percentage the past two weeks, needs to rebound if the Rebels want a chance at winning on Saturday against one of the top teams in the nation. This Alabama team has done something that the Crimson Tide hasn’t done in over 100 years. They’ve scored over 30 points in their first 5 games of the season, quite an impressive feat for a team that is usually defensively minded. Don’t think though that just because they can now put points on the board, it means that Bama isn’t gonna stop people defensively. Bama has, and always will, be a team that prides defense over just about everything else. They are still one of the better defensive teams in the nation, and should be able to stress out Jevan Snead to force him into a few mistakes. Mark Barron, CB, will probably have a chance to snag an interception in this game if Snead throws it his way. Ronaldo Mcclain will be able to slow the run of the Rebel’s attack, and the combination of subpar passing and stuffed running will make the normally prolific offense of Ole Miss sluggish. And that’s what’s gonna seal the easy victory for Alabama.

Baylor at #19 Oklahoma

Just because Oklahoma is officially out of the national title picture, it doesn’t mean that Sooners, or their fans, should give up on the year. Remember, they haven’t started their Big 12 schedule yet, so despite the two losses early, they can still come away Big 12 champs. If they plan to contend, they need to right the ship at home against Baylor. Sam Bradford will make his first start since the season opener in this game, and will have a chance to remind Heisman voters why he owns perhaps the single greatest piece of hardware any individual athlete could own (In my mind, the Heisman trophy ranks only behind an Olympic medal). Sooners leading wide receiver Ryan Broyles is out for this game, but being a top recruiting team, you know that they always have depth behind him. Demarco Murray and Chris Brown will be the biggest parts of this offense in the game, as it is only Bradford’s first game back from injury. They should be able to run all over Baylor’s defense, which has allowed 168 yards per game this year on the ground. Offensively, Baylor is without their greatest threat (Robert Griffin) for the rest of the season due to a knee injury, but the return of RB Jay Finley should spark some optimism. Unfortunately for Bear fans, that optimism will be short lived as OU’s defense is one of the best in the nation, allowing only 8.7 PPG and 253 YPG. It’ll be an easy Sooner victory, and Bradford should be able to finally get his first win as a starter this season.

Michigan at #12 Iowa

Michigan’s dream season ended last week with a loss at their hated rival, the Michigan State Spartans. Though the loss deflated the Wolverine team and fans, they have to get it out of their mind when they travel to Iowa to play the Hawkeyes. Iowa, though still undefeated, has shown a tendency to play down to teams worse than them. The loss by Michigan may bring out a Hawkeyes team that struggled against Northern Iowa (where they BARELY squeaked out a 1 pt win). We could also see the same team that beat Penn State by 11 points earlier this year.  If Iowa plays down to this Michigan team, then Tate Forcier (who I still believe is one of the top impact true freshman in college football this year) will be able to take control of the game and run the Michigan offense to perfection. For Iowa to win this game, they need to pull ahead early and destroy any hopes Michigan may have of rallying. For Michigan to come away from this still a one-loss team, they’ll need to keep the game close going into the fourth quarter, where they are used to winning games.


If you just finished reading this post, then you should DEFINITELY check out Laz's Blackboard for NFL picks. You need to do it. If not for Laz, then especially for yourself. 

MLB Divisional Series Rundown

Do the Phils' have what it takes to repeat? Postseason baseball is here.

Written by:MJK




Finally, the grueling 162-game regular season has come to a close and the excitement of October baseball is upon us.   After the Twins took down the Tigers in an epic 1-game playoff to determine the AL Central Champion it is time to shift our focus to the Divisional Series.  Here is a breakdown of what we can expect and my personal predictions.

American League Divisional Series:

Anaheim Angels (97-65; AL West division champ) vs. Boston Red Sox (95-67; AL Wild Card winner)

Breakdown: The Angels are looking to avoid having their season end at the hands of the Red Sox for the third consecutive year.  

Lineup: The Red Sox. Both the Angels and the Red Sox match up pretty evenly on offense. While the Angels offer more balance up and down the lineup than in seasons past. (4 players with 20+ HR), the Red Sox once again feature one of the games best lineups top to bottom. Jason Bay (36 HR, 119 RBI), Kevin Youkilis (.413 OBP, 27 HR, 94 RBI) and Victor Martinez pose a huge power threat for any opposing pitching staff.  Still, don’t discount the potency of the Angels offense either. The Red Sox definitely get the edge in sexy name value but if Chone Figgins (.395 on-base percentage, 42 steals) and Bobby Abreu (.390 OBP, 30 steals) can get on base anywhere near their OBP clip from the regular season the Angels will be in very good shape. I’d look for them to lean on the long ball a little more than usual while taking advantage of their patented small ball routine whenever possible.  That being said, the Red Sox get the slight edge if for no other reason they feature a deeper, more balanced lineup that not only will work the count, but will also make a pitcher pay with the homerun when a mistake is made.

Rotation: Angels. Everyone tends to fall in love with the story of Jon Lester or the big game pitching of Josh Beckett (probably rightfully so on both counts) but lets not over look what could be the best 5-game series starting rotation in the postseason right now.  This Angels rotation is grossly underrated. When John Lackey is on his game he is the type of pitcher that can put a team on his back for 7+ innings.  He is a true workhorse when healthy. The acquisition of Scott Kazmir from the Rays late in the season was huge. HUGE. Kazmir, though erratic at times, has pitched very well (1.73 ERA, 1.04 WHIP) since coming to southern California. When paired with Lackey and Jered Weaver the Angels boast a very dangerous rotation that is best fit for a 5-game playoff series.  Make no mistake about it. Josh Beckett will pitch well in Game 2 and probably beat the Angels. But the question marks at the back end of Boston’s rotation will be too much to overcome. Look for manager Mike Scoscia to ride his pitchers pitch counts well up into the 100’s if possible in an attempt to keep the game out of the bullpens hands.

Intangibles:  Angels. Both teams will try to take advantage of the speed within their respective batting orders in an attempt to put pressure on the opposing defense. The Angels offer much more speed top to bottom and should use this to their advantage. Boston slugger David Ortiz has really struggled this season and his lack of punch in this offense could be the determining factor in the series. He turned it on a bit in the second half, but he is by no means the Big Papi we have all grown to love.  The Red Sox bullpen is considerably better than the Angels but I would expect Angel manager Mike Scoscia to try his hardest not to tax his bullpen in the early innings of games.  The Angels have defied all odds after the Nick Adenhart tragedy early in the year and I really do think this will play into the hearts of this Angels team.

The Pick: Angels in 4.

New York Yankees (103-59; AL East Champion) vs. Minnesota Twins (87-76; AL Central Champion)

Breakdown: After defeating the Tigers in a 1-game playoff for the rights to get into the postseason, the Twins now have to face off against a Yankee team that has been rolling all season long. 

Lineup: Yankees.  This lineup really hasn’t slowed down at any point all year.  It has been a well-oiled machine and looks to continue its season long success deep into the post season.  Seven players on this team hit at least 20 homeruns, led by off-season prize Mark Texiera (39 HR) and Alex Rodriguez (30 HR).   Along with the power, the Yankees lineup saw 8 of their 9 everyday batters hit .270 or higher as well as 4 everyday players that stole 10 bases or more. Throw in Derek Jeter and Rodriguez’s 400+ OBP and we have THE most balanced offense in all of baseball.  For the Twins it wont be so easy.  Michael Cuddyer (32 HR, 94 RBI) has made huge strides this season and Joe Mauer may very well be the MVP of the league but the loss of Justin Morneau at the end of the season was a huge blow.  The Yankees get the nod here and its not even close.

Rotation: Yankees. C.C Sabathia has once again proven his worth as a legitimate frontline rotation ace, something Minnesota lacks.  However, the Yankees rotation after Sabathia is far from perfect.  The Yankees rotation love in the series is more of a testament to how sub-par the Twins rotation is. Sabathia, A.J Burnett and Andy Pettitte surely can provide the team with enough quality pitching and against this Twins lineup that shouldn’t be too much of an issue. However, the quality of pitching for the Bronx Bombers will be much more of a factor if (or when) they make it to the ALCS. After moving Francisco Liriano to the bullpen late in the year, the Twins will put their faith in a remarkably inconsistent Scott Baker and (gulp) Carl Pavano.  Not really the best-case scenario for any team.  Again, this decision wasn’t even close.

Intangibles: Yankees.  Notice a theme here? Look, I’m trying very hard not to play homer but when you look at these two teams on paper its hard not to drop the house on the Yankees in this series. Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire has once again maximized the value of his team to its fullest extent.  After all, the team needed a strong 2-week stretch to end the season AND a 1-game playoff with the Tigers just to get into the playoffs. I really think the Twins are going to be running on fumes for the remainder of the series.

The Pick: Yankees in 3. Sweep.

National League Divisional Series

Los Angeles Dodgers (95-67; NL West Champions) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (91-71; NL Central Champions)

Breakdown:  The Dodgers have been the best team in the National League all season.  Don’t expect them to stop now.

Offense: Dodgers.  When looking at the Dodgers lineup I see a little bit of everything. Even with a fertility drug-less Manny Ramirez looking rather human this lineup is extremely balanced and dangerous.  Ramirez, budding superstar Matt Kemp (26 HR, 101 RBI, 34 SB) and Andre Ethier (31 HR, 106 RBI) anchor a squad that top to bottom has almost no weaknesses.  On the flip side, the Cardinals feature a 3-4 punch that rivals some of the best in the game. NL MVP Albert Pujols (47 HR, 135 RBI, 16 SB) and Matt Holliday make this lineup extremely top heavy with out much supporting substance. 

Rotation: Cardinals.  The St. Louis staff is led by two Cy Young award candidates in Chris Carpenter (17-4, 2.24 ERA, 1.00 WHIP) and Adam Wainwright (19-8, 2.63 ERA).  What a luxury this must be.  This duo combined for 36 of the teams 91 wins this season, over a third of their victories. A fantastic ratio.  Throw in #3 starter Joel Piniero’s 15 wins and that ratio gets even more impressive. These three pose as much of a threat to offenses as any top of the rotation in baseball.   If the Cardinals have any aspirations of making it to the NLCS, these three will have to pitch exactly as they did in the regular season.  The Dodgers rotation was not nearly as productive on paper as the above mentioned but in a short series they can be every bit as dangerous. Young phenom Clayton Kershaw features a filthy arsenal of pitches that is highlighted by his knee-bending curve ball.  If Chad Billingsly can harness some of his early season form and Randy Wolf continues his stellar season than the Dodgers should be able to match St. Louis pitch for pitch.

Intangibles: Push.  Neither team offers much in the form of speed.  This series really could go either way.  On paper the Dodgers have a much deeper team, but if they fail to keep Albert Pujols in check then he alone will be able to turn the series around with one swing of the bat.  Personally, I don’t think Joe Torre will give him many pitches to hit.  Both Torre and St. Louis manager Tony LaRussa offer their teams a ton of experience and their players trust in their strategies. Still, you gotta stick with the best team.

The Pick: Dodgers in 5.

Philadelphia Phillies (93-69; AL East Champions) vs. Colorado Rockies (92-70; NL Wildcard winners)


Breakdown: Can the Rockies spoil Philadelphia's plans for a repeat?

Offense: Phillies.  Both of these teams feature very good offenses but the Phillies brings a lot more to the table.  This season the usual suspects have done their part for this offense.  Studs Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins have been fixtures in this lineup for quite a few seasons now.  But the offseason addition of Raul Ibanez as well as the emergence of Jayson Werth has really helped take this offense to another level.  I find it hard to imagine the Rockies having enough quality pitching to slow down this high-powered offensive machine.

Rotation: Phillies.  Philadelphia really did themselves a favor when they went out and added Cliff Lee at the trade deadline.  Cole Hamels has struggled to regain his 2008 form and Lee was the perfect complement.  He is a stopper that should be able to go deep into games. J.A Happ and the ageless Pedro Martinez should prove to be more than worthy as they look to form one of the more complete rotations of the postseason. 

Intangibles: Rockies.  It seems to happen every season. The Rockies catch magic in a bottle and ride an unforeseen hot streak into postseason immortality.  Earlier in the year, Colorado was almost left for dead as the division leading Dodgers looked as though they were going to pull away.  But the Rockies took them down to the final week before they were eliminated from Division Champion contention.  Can they ride on the coattails of yet another late season rally? On paper, conventional wisdom says no. Outside of pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez they really don’t have much to offer in the way of quality arms. There always seems to be a little bit of magic that happens up in the thin Colorado air. If the Rockies can win a game in Philadelphia then the trip to Colorado will not be easy for Philadelphia.

The Pick: Phillies in 5.

NCAA Mid-Week Report

Nebraska looks to march into Missouri and prove their worth in a mid-week Big 12 treat

Written by: D. Wash.

Offensive Showdown in Missouri

Thursday night will provide a treat for everyone that loves high scores and tons of offense as #21 Nebraska travels 266 miles to play #24 Missouri. Missouri is undefeated, but has yet to gain a win over a quality team. Nebraska is 3-1, but the 16-15 loss they suffered at the hands of Virginia Tech helped their ranking more than it hurt them as nobody gave them a chance in the game. Though instinct may be to side with the undefeated home team, Nebraska is truly the better team in this matchup. Why? I’m Glad you asked.

When Nebraska’s offense is on the field, they’ll be able to move the ball with ease against a Missouri team that has never had a strong defense. The Cornhusker’s running back Roy Helu Jr. has shown that he has the talent to run well against good defenses. A 100+ yard rushing performance against Virginia Tech is almost unheard of, and yet Helu pulled out a 169-yard performance against the Hokies defense. He leads the Big 12 in rushing yards per game, and should have a great game against a Missouri defense that is used to running nickel (5 defensive back) or dime (4 defensive back) packages.

In addition to the great running back, Nebraska also has a quarterback that has completed 65% of his passes in junior Zac Lee. Lee may not have the flash of a Mccoy, Bradford, or Clausen, but he’s a solid quarterback who doesn’t lose games. While the Cornhuskers don’t have a single superstar receiving option, Curenski Gilleylen is pretty close. They are about seven guys deep on receiving options. That’s more than you’ll find on most teams, and it will help to prevent double coverage on any of their receivers.

Missouri’s defense has shown a lot of weakness throughout the season, allowing 21 points against Nevada and 20 against Bowling Green. If they can’t stop those two team’s offenses, there is no way that they’ll be able to stop Nebraska’s balanced attack.

Missouri does have a lot of firepower offensively. Derrick Washington and Kendial Lawrence are like Thunder and Lighting when it comes to running the ball. Washington, the big junior, will always carry the majority of the load. If Lawrence can work his way in for a few carries, he can provide a good change of pace in this running game. However, the running game is never the focus of the Missouri offense. It is only there to set up the Tigers passing offense, which is as always, one of the tops in college football (#10 in Passing YPG this year). Sophomore quarterback Blaine Gabbert is quietly having a spectacular year. Despite having thrown the ball 131 times, he boasts a completion percentage of 66% and a big old zero in the INTs column (only 2 starting quarterbacks are still interceptionless this year). That’s placed him at number 4 in passer rating in all of college football, an impressive, but expected feat for the top pro style QB prospect for the class of 2008 (according to rivals.com). 

He also has three very good wide receivers, all of which should end up with 60+ reception seasons. Despite the talent on the Mizzou offense, the Nebraska defense WILL be able to stop them from being as productive as they are accustomed to. Nebraska’s defense has managed to lead college football in scoring defense, allowing only 28 points in 4 games. They won’t be able to hold Missouri at 7 points (Nebraska’s points allowed per game), but even holding Mizzou under 20 would be a great accomplishment that will most likely result in a Nebraska victory (Since’01, the Tigers have gone 2-23 when held under 20 points). Can the Cornhuskers do it? You better believe it.

This should be an exciting football game, and at least one team will put up huge scoring numbers. My money is on Nebraska to win decisively, and I truly think that the Cornhuskers are underrated as a team. With an impressive win at Missouri, Nebraska will fly up the rankings into the teens and to a spot that they are more deserving of.

The Top 10 Teams That Noone is Talking About

Most of the top 10 teams have garnered some sort of excitement and talk about them. Florida and Texas both have Heisman candidates. Alabama has an offense that has looked better than just about any Alabama offense in the past 100 years. LSU is still undefeated despite a thriller against Georgia last week. Boise State is recognized as the yearly “BCS buster” frontrunner. And of course, VT, USC, and Ohio State are all working their way back into the national title discussion after early season losses. However, there are two teams that no one seems to be looking at, Cincinnati and Texas Christian University (TCU).

Cincinnati is stacked with talent, especially on offense. The Bearcats QB Tony Pike is one of the top pro QB prospects in the nation (probably the third QB drafted after Bradford and Mccoy). He’s thrown for just short of 1500 yards and 13 touchdowns (ranking him at numbers 5 and 3 in those respective categories). They also feature a star wideout in Marshawn Gilyard, who is tied for the lead in college football with 7 receiving touchdowns so far on this still young season. The two back system of Jacob Ramsey and Isaiah Pead is also rather efficient, as the two backs have combined for 500 yards and 6 TDs on the ground. Their pass defense is also good as this squad is ranked second in the nation in both sacks and interceptions.

TCU has a run first offensive unit, and it has created one of the most efficient (yet still underrated) offenses in college football. The true key to this team however is its defense. They’ve held teams to an average of 47 yards per game on the ground (best in the nation) and have recorded 16 sacks on the year (tied for number 4 in the nation). They will continue to stuff teams on the ground and frustrate offenses and coaches across the country.

Though these teams have different methods of winning games, they have a few things in common. One, they’re both undefeated. Two, they’re both solid, winning teams. Three, they will both give the voters a dilemma if they continue to win. TCU looks like they can easily coast through the rest of their season, and Cincinnati looks like that feat won’t be difficult either if they can get past South Florida.

Dez Bryant Ruled Ineligible

Oops, my bad. That’s what Dez Bryant (Jr. WR, Oklahoma State) should be telling his team. The NCAA has ruled him ineligible for the rest of the year for not disclosing a conversation that he had with former NFL star Deion Sanders. What the conversation entailed is, at this time, unknown to the public, but if it violated NCAA rules it was likely about Dez Bryant’s future at Oklahoma State. Widely considered the one of the best wide receiver prospects in college football, Bryant now will have no more games to prove his worth to NFL scouts. That of course is assuming that he declares for the NFL draft, which was the assumption before the year began but now is bathed in uncertainty. I think that considering the injuries this year to Bradford, Gresham, and Tebow (all players that decided to come back for a senior season, all got injured), Bryant will choose to throw his name into the draft. It makes some sense, no one wants to get injured because they came back for another year, and at the same time hurt his draft stock. Bryant better keep in shape and get ready for a great performance at the combine if he wants to maintain his early-mid first round draft status.

Tebow is a “Gametime Decision”

Tim Tebow, who suffered a concussion two weeks ago against Kentucky, is going to be a “gametime decision” for the big SEC, top 5-ranked matchup on Saturday against #4 LSU. Tebow’s presence can change the game completely. He has become less vital in the passing game since his Heisman winning season two years ago, but he is extremely important due to his intangibles such as leadership and his willingness to get guys pumped up for the game. Without him playing, Florida still may have enough talent to win, but without that coach on the field to chew them out and hold them responsible for their mistakes they may lack a bit of fire during the game and be easily discouraged by failures. Redshirt Sophomore John Brantley is Tebow’s backup and Urban Meyer would really like to avoid throwing him into his first career start against a good SEC defense like this LSU team, but he may have no choice. If Tebow doesn’t play, LSU is instantly my favorite to win because despite Chris Rainey and Jefferey Demps, a Gator team without Tebow is like Barack Obama without a blue tie. It can still function pretty well, but it loses a big piece of its identity.

NFL Week 4: Quick Hits

Rashard Mendenhall topped all Week 4 rushers with his 165 yard performance in his first career start

Written by: MJK

Prima Donna or Pre-Madonna? 

Much like parity in the NFL being such a constant, the NFL wide receiver always finds a way to dominate headlines a few times per season. Wide Receivers are notorious for carrying on a persona that at times can be very cocky (not always a bad thing), selfish and immature.  Two receivers that have made waves so far this season are San Francisco 49er rookie Michael Crabtree and newly acquired New York Jet, Braylon Edwards. As of this morning, both players find themselves in new and potentially exciting scenarios. 

Crabtree began causing a ruckus earlier this season when he refused to sign a contract that he deemed unfair and not up to par with the type of talent he (and others) thinks he is.  After a heralded college career that was highlighted by a game winning catch versus a then #1 ranked Texas team, Crabtree headed into this years draft almost unanimously tabbed as the best wide receiver available.  The 49ers selected him as the 10^th overall pick after many teams passed on him amid questions regarding his attitude, speed (has never ran a timed 40-yard dash in front of NFL scouts) and health (had ankle surgery in March).  The 49ers eventually offered the receiver a contract of 5 years-$20 million with a healthy $16 million in guaranteed money.  Yes, $16 million in GUARANTEED money.   Due to the slotting of players picked in front of Crabtree, San Francisco viewed this deal as fair and just in comparison to the contracts that had been given to higher picks. The contract was not relative to the public perception that Crabtree should have been taken much higher due to his world-class skill set.

For months, Crabtree and his legal entourage (I refuse to deem it a ‘legal council’ because of the reported conglomeration of has-beens that Crabtree has been consulting with that includes non-other than the esteemed M.C Hammer and Deion Sanders) have laughed at San Francisco’s proposal and in turn have insisted that Crabtree not only refuse to show up for training camp but would also sit out the entire season and re-enter the draft in 2010 with the hopes of getting drafted higher and getting the big payday he thinks he deserves. This threat, coupled with a November 17^th eligibility deadline imposed by the NFL and it seemed like Crabtree’s debut would indeed have to wait until the 2010 season. What a shame that would have been.

It all became moot conversation this morning as the two sides agreed to a contract.  While the financial terms have not been completely disclosed, the new deal is for a reported 6-years, $32 million with $17 million guaranteed.  specific performance clauses in the contract could see Crabtree earn up to $40 million.

This is very good news for San Francisco.  The team finds itself atop the NFC West with a 3-1 start.  They have rallied behind head coach Mike Singletary and his hard working, no nonsense approach and they have done this without any sort of offensive cohesiveness. It is definitely going to take a good amount of time for Crabtree to come in and actually produce, but at least now it is a matter of when and not if.   It’s hard to determine exactly what Crabtree’s value to the team will be going forward.  If he is able to come in, work hard and learn the nuances of an NFL playbook with any sort of promptness than he could have an impact much sooner than I think anyone would have anticipated.  That being said, it is ALWAYS difficult for a rookie receiver to have success in the NFL and he has not done himself any favors by missing so much time.  One thing is for sure, now is the time for the receiver to prove to everyone that he was right in making a fuss about his self-worth.

As for Braylon Edwards, his season has been almost as unproductive but for reasons on the contrary. Edwards has played in all four games this season, but has produced at a level that is unwarranted for the natural game breaking abilities he does possess. Edwards broke out with the Browns in 2007 after posting a ridiculous 80-catch, 1289-yard, 16-touchdown season.  Everyone was ready to anoint him as the next elite wide receiver.  But in 2008 he regressed mightily. Not only did his numbers tumble a great deal (55-catches-873 yards-3 touchdowns) but he dropped almost one ball per four catches (14 drops, 55 catches), a horrible ratio.  The start to the 2009 season for Edwards has been anything but special and all of this culminated with an altercation at a Cleveland nightclub that saw Edwards allegedly assault a friend of NBA superstar Lebron James.  Cleveland (although they refuse to admit it had any bearing in the decision to trade him) had no choice and Edwards' ride with the Dog Pound had to come to an end.  Wednesday morning they shipped their troubled receiver east to the New York Jets.

For the Browns, the move is a bit head scratching. Edwards provided the team with the only sort of offensive spark any opposing defense had to game plan around.  Even so, I think they were justified in making the deal.  For the Jets, the move seems to be the final piece to the puzzle for an already stacked football team.  Think of the Jets like a fine art museum.  They house a number of works of art that are nice enough to draw a crowd but not necessarily sexy enough to keep people coming back. Take for example their top ranked defense, or their rookie quarterback or two-running back approach.  All good enough to win games but not in the most exciting of ways. Now throw in a game breaking wide receiver to accommodate and suddenly we have a Mona Lisa.  A Van Gogh. A Rembrandt. 

The Jets were winning without a great deal of balance before this trade.  The run would set up the pass, rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez would bootleg to out routes down the sideline and they would take the occasional shot down field once defensive safety help started to crowd the box to stop the run. All of this just to watch the offense lean on the defense series after series in the hope that they would come up with enough big stops to win the game. 

Braylon Edwards changes all of this. His ability to stretch the field will now open up everything for this offense. He is the sort of deep threat that teams will now look to double team on a consistent basis. This does a multitude of things. Safeties will no longer be able to crowd the box. The Jets feature one of the games best offensive lines, a big reason why Sanchez has been able to keep his jersey clean for the most part and why the team has such success running the ball. The double teams of Edwards will allow even more holes in the defense as teams will look to stop the big play downfield. Running backs Leon Washington and Thomas Jones should be salivating. Wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery will now be able to move to a more comfortable and natural #2 receiver spot that will allow him to flank Edwards and utilize his fantastic hands as a possession receiver. Tight end Dustin Keller will find himself with more room to work between the hashes to get open and continue his already growing rapport with Sanchez.  And of course, Sanchez now has what every quarterback in the NFL covets: A true game breaking wide receiver.

All of this adds up to the Jets now looking to give their cross-town rivals the Giants, the Vikings and to a lesser extent the Patriots and Ravens a run at being THE most complete team in the NFL.   I do not think the Jet’s will lose their identity and start forcing throws downfield right away but given the current maturation process of Sanchez, New York now finds themselves with plenty of weapons for the ball to go around. Of course much of Edwards and the teams success will fall on Sanchez’s ability to eliminate those dreaded rookie mistakes. Pair those concerns with Edwards potential discipline from the NFL for his scrap over the weekend and a faith that he will be able to shake the knack for all those dropped balls that have plagued him throughout his career and we will have to temper our expectations for the time being. Personally, I think those drops had more to do with his not wanting to be in Cleveland as well as the Browns inconsistent quarterback play in recent seasons. Only time will tell, but it looks like the Jets now have all the pieces in place to make a run at the super bowl this season and in future seasons.

Whew. That was a long one- how about a speed round for the duration of the post? Lets Go!

Speed Round: 40 words or less

Big Ups:

Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Pittsburgh- This was a long time coming but Mendenhall finally got his chance and broke out in a big way. 29 carries-165 yards-2 touchdowns. Fast Willie Parker's days may be numbered.

“The Other” Steve Smith, WR, NYG- This train keeps on rollin as Smith hauled in another 11 catches for 134 and 2 touchdowns. He now leads the NFL in receptions (34) and yards (411).

Matt Forte, RB, Chi- After struggling to get going for most of the season Forte finally got over the hump. 12 carries-121 yards-2 touchdowns. Good for an impressive 10.1 yards per carry versus the hapless Lions.

Brett Favre, QB, Minn.- He is making the national love fest impossible to ignore. My predication of 0 TD’s and 2 INT’s now sounds worse than egg and mayonnaise pizza. Or not. Thanks Brett.

Low Downs:

Tennessee Titans- The Titans fell to 0-4 after a 37-17 beat down by Jacksonville.  The defense is struggling and quarterback Kerry Collins has already received the dreaded vote of confidence.  Let’s see some Vince Young action!

Green Bay Packer Offensive Line- The word offensive serves as a double entendre here. This unit has given up 20 sacks in 4 games. If Aaron Rodgers cant stay on his feet, the Cheeseheads wont be sniffing the postseason.

0-4 Teams- Dear the Chiefs, Bucs, Browns, Rams and aforementioned Titans.  See ya next season.

Signed,

Rational Thinking

Injury Hits:

Eli Manning, QB, NYG- Diagnosed with the artist formerly known as a bruised heel, plantar fasciitis.  Status for this week is uncertain. David Carr will get the start if Manning cant go.

Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit- "It just kind of slid out.”  That’s what Stafford had to say about his minor knee dislocation he suffered versus the Bears.  Not the best thing to hear. Daunte Culpepper will get the start if Stafford can’t go.

Roy Williams- WR, Dallas- Took a shot to the ribs after Tony Romo left him high and dry on a throw. Say’s he will play this weekend but something to keep an eye on.

Play of the Week:
Brandon Marshall's game winning 51-yard catch and run touchdown

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College Football-Week 5 Recap

A Michigan State victory over undefeated Michigan in East Lansing highlights an exciting Week 5

Written by: D. Wash.

#4 LSU holds off against #21 Georgia.

Through the third quarter, it looked like a traditional SEC matchup with defenses dominating the game. Then early in the fourth quarter, Joe Cox led the Bulldogs 60 yards down the field to score on a 1-yard TD pass and Georgia took the lead 7-6. The suspense built as LSU couldn’t score on two straight drives and the seconds peeled off the clock.

Finally, with 7 minutes left, the LSU Tigers momentarily changed their offensive philosophy to end their scoring drought. Instead of running the ball down Georgia’s throat, they decided to depend on their quarterback to win the game. Their faith in Jordan Jefferson would pay dividends. Jefferson completed 4 passes for 54 yards and also was able to reel off a 26 yard run to put the Tigers in Georgia’s red zone. A few Charles Scott runs later and LSU regained the lead with less than 3 minutes left in the game.

Georgia answered with their passing game, as their superstar wideout AJ Green caught one over an LSU defender for a touchdown. Down again, LSU needed a quick scoring drive to win the game and stay undefeated. After an impressive kick return put the Tigers up on the Georgia side of the 50, Jordan Jefferson made the kind of decision that separates winning quarterbacks from losing ones in games like this. Instead of going for the glory himself and passing the ball down the field, Jefferson convinced the coaches to allow him to hand it off to star tailback Charles Scott. On the second play of the drive, Scott made Jefferson look like a genius as he busted loose for 33 yards to score a touchdown and put the Tigers ahead once and for all.

With only seconds left in the game, Georgia was in desperation mode. Despite the stellar game that he was having, Joe Cox won’t be happy with his performance because of the interception he threw on this last drive of the game that sealed the victory for LSU. This win sets up a great game next week between the LSU Tigers and the Florida Gators. Though previous poor performances had given people reason to doubt LSU, this win on the road over a good Georgia team should fill people with confidence. LSU has the potential to beat the Florida Gators.

#8 Oklahoma loses to #17 Miami.

In what was essentially an elimination game as far as national titles are concerned, The U showed that their wins over Florida State and Georgia Tech weren’t just flukes. The Hurricanes were able to hold an Oklahoma offense that had gained 1093 yards in the past 2 games to only 341 yards.

Landry Jones, who threw for an Oklahoma record 6 touchdowns two weeks ago, only threw for 188 and 1 score against Miami’s speedy defense. While Miami’s offense wasn’t overly productive, it was efficient enough. Javarris James ran for 150 yards, embarrassing the OU front seven. Jacory Harris executed a 200 yard performance, and his 3 touchdowns were the scores that sealed the game for ‘canes. Oklahoma now has only one role to play the rest of the season, spoiler. They can still ruin the Texas Longhorns season with a win on October 17^th and Kansas’s season on the 24^th.

Two losses will be insurmountable and will keep them out of any BCS bowl game. Miami on the other hand still has a chance to make a BCS bowl, most likely the Orange Bowl, if they are able to go undefeated throughout the rest of their schedule.

#7 USC at #24 Cal (It Was Over at The Half…)

This was supposed to be the year that Cal beat the Trojans. They were playing them at home, where their defense has excelled. They have the best running back in all of college football.  Their receivers are skilled and experienced and should’ve been able to clear up the box for the dominant Cal running game. Well… there’s always next year.

Though they marched the ball down the field on their first possession of the game, USC stud safety Taylor Mays was able to intercept the ball in the back of the end zone.  This killed Cal’s rhythm. When the Trojans got the ball, they executed their offense almost to perfection. Joe McKnight ran for 119 yards, including a highlight reel score early in the first quarter. Matt Barkley threw for almost 300 yards, with 100 of them going to star receiver Damian Williams. This game was already a snoozer at the half. 

It has to make you wonder what would have been if Kevin Riley hadn’t thrown that interception on the first possession of the game. How would the game have ended up? Would Cal’s offense gain confidence and continue to execute? Would the Trojan defensive swagger been crushed by the ease of which Cal scored? Unfortunately, no one knows. All we know is how it did end up, and that was a dominant 30-3 USC victory.

#22 Michigan at Michigan State University (Spartans! Prepare for Glory!)

Michigan looked good this year with an exciting dual threat quarterback and plenty of speed on offense. Michigan State looked bad with three losses in their first four games. It didn’t matter. Michigan State redeemed themselves with a big win at home against their biggest rival, Michigan. They took control early in the game and had an impressive 20-6 lead early in the fourth quarter. Michigan looked to mount a late game comeback as they had the past few weeks against Notre Dame and Indiana, and it looked like they could pull it off once again.

First, UM quarterback Tate Forcier completed a 60 yarder for a score to Darryl Stonum. Then, after holding MSU to a 3 and out, Forcier led the team down the field and threw another touchdown pass with 2 seconds left in the game to send it into overtime. It looked like all the momentum was on Michigan’s side and the Maiz and Blue looked as if they could get another win over their rivals. But then, Forcier threw an interception on Michigan’s forst possession of the overtime. Three plays later, Michigan State running back Larry Caper ripped off a 23 yard run for a touchdown to get the Spartans the win. East Lansing went crazy and the Wolverines trotted off the field, deflated and disappointed.

Michigan is still a solid team, but their tendency to allow subpar teams (like this squad from MSU) to get ahead early finally cost them their undefeated record and top 25 ranking. They better put this loss behind them quick and fix their mistakes if they expect to have any chance against #12 ranked Iowa next week.

#6 Virginia Tech at Duke (The Hokies Get Back in it)

With a win at Duke, The Hokies of Virginia Tech have quietly snuck back into the national title picture. Tyrod Taylor pulled off his very first 300 yard passing performance on Saturday and threw two touchdown passes. Taylors most important stat isn’t the amount of yards he threw for or the two scores. His most important stat was the big zero in the interception column. He’s looked very mobile in the pocket, not surprise considering his athleticism, and seems to have overcome his old interception habits. The Hokies were also able to hold Duke’s rushing offense to a measly 38 yards on 31 carries. The Blue Devils were able to throw for 359 yards, exposing some weaknesses in the VT defense. If they can limit any mistakes in the passing defense and stay flawless throughout their schedule, they should be able to get to a BCS bowl later this year.

Washington at Notre Dame (Jimmy Clausen: The Dark Horse of the Heisman Race)

With 422 passing yards on the day, Notre Dame needed Jimmy Clausen to play like a Heisman candidate and wide receiver Golden Tate also had to play out of his shoes with his 244 receiving yards to lock up this victory. I'll recognize that it should never have been that close of a game, but that was the fault of the Notre Dame defense, not the offense.

And did someone mention Heisman? With Bradford’s injury and Jahvid Best’s poor performances the past two weeks, there is an opening as the number three Heisman candidate. A number of people are vying for this spot, including Jimmy Clausen. Clausen has already thrown for over 1500 yards and 12 touchdowns this year, despite being out for much of the Purdue game. He leads college football in passer rating, and has the potential to break 4000 yards on the season if the Notre Dame running game continues to struggle. Does that make him a Heisman candidate? Possibly. Heisman voters must at the very least consider the kid in South Bend for the prestigious award. If Tebow or Mccoy slip up then Clausen may be able to sneak into one of the top two spots and be considered a front-runner for the most esteemed trophy in all of college football.

Credit the AP for all photos included in this and previous posts