August 30-31, 2009
THE HUBRISTIC BRONCO
The new coach of the Denver Broncos is already in the HOT seat. I write here and now that Josh McDaniels, the 33 year old coach will be gone after his third season.
Why you ask? Well let me explain. The sport of football is a QB driven sport, with out a QB you have nothing. So what does this guy do when he get a job with a good young QB? He starts throwing his weight around, because he’s young, inexperienced and proud. Oedipus was proud; he would not yield to the King and look what happened to him, he wound up sleeping with his mother, unbeknownst to him.
Pride interferes with many accomplishments; it impedes your progress, for you are too full of yourself. A man who becomes a head coach in the NFL at the age of 32 should be proud, but he must know his limitations as the great Clint Eastwood said in Magnum Force and he should know the value of a good QB.
This Mr. Know it All wants to bring in Matt Cassel…, I’m sorry I had to stop laughing. As if this perennial back up would be better than the incumbent Cutler. Ah, No! He would not, he is average at best. And to think otherwise is foolish, I know this because I’m older and in turn more experienced.
Communication, this is the other essential skill a head coach must posses. GOOD coaches are GREAT communicators. Did McDaniels talk to his QB, NO! He let out some rumor that he wanted a different QB in there, if it was Tom Brady I can understand, but it was Cassel. Right now I’m shaking my head.
So good luck Josh. (3 years tops)
And did I forget to mention the success rate of all those former Patriot assistants.
August 26-29, 2009
A NEW DESERT STORM IS COMING
Mike Stoops the head coach in Arizona is slowly turning things around. It’s been five years but the Wildcats are rising. This program was in the basement of the Pac 10 and Mike Stoops brought them back. This year will be challenging. Willie Tuitama has graduated and took his 23 TDs with him. A new QB must be identified, for this program to continue from where they left off last year.
Matt Scott and Nick Foles are battling for the starting spot and will both go against Central Michigan in the opener. The Chippewas are a very good football team with Dan LeFevour, 21 TDs and should not be underestimated. This opener is intriguing.
The Pac 10 this year will be deeper than in years past. Oregon, Arizona, Arizona State and Cal. are all better. The Trojans are clearly the best in the conference, however, all the players lost last year has to hurt sooner or later. Arizona travels to the coliseum on December 5th and can play spoiler to any national championship aspirations USC may have at that time. A late season loss to UA will end all hopes of a national championship.
I will write this, Mike Stoops’ defense will be ready, they have a relentless pass rush that has improved every year. If the Wildcats have good QB play they will win a lot of games this year, that defense will always keep them in it.
August 25, 2009
THREE IS A CROWD
The saying goes that when you have two QBs you have none. Well what do you have when you have THREE QBs? Negative one? This new football math Rich Rodrigeuz is running over there in Ann Arbor is not adding up.
I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a 3 QB rotation. Rodriguez actually said that “maybe he will have three starting QBs, that would be neat.” He actually said that would be NEAT, and I’m supposed to think that because he’s the coach he knows things I will never understand, as if football is similar to running a hedge fund, as if evaluating talent is similar to evaluating stocks and P/E ratios, Ha! No it will not be NEAT, it will be DISASTROUS. And no, you can’t fool me, football is not that complicated, that we “little” people don’t know what’s going on.
There is no new wrinkle, there is no secret formula and there sure as heck no way a 3 QBs rotation will win football games. Not many anyway. Maybe Rodriguez needs help with the math. I think I have an abacus around here somewhere.
The BIG 11 A.K.A. BIG 10, (there are 11 teams in the BIG 10) is a 3 team conference, currently a two and a half team conference, Ohio State, Penn State and what ever Univ. of Michigan can put on the field. I imagine it’s only half a team. I know Rodriguez needs time to recruit and bring in player who can run his version of the spread offense. But until there is a full compliment of players you still should try to win, and if that means adjusting to the current talent on the roster then that’s what you have to do.
Being able to adjust to your current situation is what makes great coaches great and if that means changing some plays and doing things a little differently then that’s what you have to do.
IT’S NOT THAT COMPLICATED!
AUGUST 24, 2009
THE NOT SO BIG 12
It’s more like the Big 2, at least this past decade. The Big 12 really only has 2 national championship contenders and that’s Texas and Oklahoma. Many will argue that Oklahoma St. and Texas Tech should also be mentioned in that discussion but I say different.
Top to bottom it isn’t as strong a conference as the experts will have you believe. Although the gap has been narrowed, somewhat, there is still a talent gap between the top two teams, Texas and OU and the up and coming teams, “Tech” and those Cowboys from Stillwater OK.
Texas Tech did beat Texas last year in one of the most exciting games of the season but came up very short against the Sooner and OSU had a close game against Texas a 28-24 loss but lost by 20 pts to OU.
So it comes down to the two historic power houses, both with great QBs, good coaching and talent on both sides of the ball. I think the edge goes to OU, they have a better defense. When the dust settles it will be OU again in the Championship game against Florida and may be this year they get it done. Oh and by the way, we still NEED A PLAYOFF!
AUGUST 22-23, 2009
GOOD COACH, BAD COACH
There is no denying that Nick Saban is an excellent football coach. There is also no denying that he goes a little too far. Case in point, last year in the loss to Utah in the Sugar Bowl I watched Saban berate his young players, while being irate on the sidelines. There is nothing wrong with a little yelling but there is a limit.
To be upset is one thing but to humiliate your players is something different. It may be that this behavior is standard operating procedure and no one really pays attention when you win, but it is completely uncalled for. From where I was sitting, however, it looked to me that a selfish coach was trying to save face and mitigate the damage to his credibility. After all the Utes were not supposed to be any where near the one loss Alabama team on the score board. Utah, however, manhandled the overrated TIDE.
The entire fault can not rest with the players, someone is coaching them and that someone gets paid a great deal of money. With that kind of money they expect results in Tuscaloosa. So the pressure is on Saban to win and win quickly. But there is simply no excuse to call out your 19 or 20 year old players like that, perhaps the loss had something to do with the coaching, I’m just throwing that out there.
Perhaps the players underestimated those Mormons from the west or perhaps they were just not as good as advertised, sometimes you should not read your own press clippings. Either way it was up to Saban and staff to prepare the team and keep them grounded.
I watch coaches on the side lines and they all have their own approach. Greg Schiano puts his hand on the players shoulder pads and explains, very calmly, what the player did wrong. Ultimately college coaches are teachers and these are YOUNG men.
And no matter how hot that coaching seat gets, sometimes, you have to look at yourself for answers.
AUGUST 21, 2009
PRO - U
I miss the old Hurricanes, I miss the old swagger. What has happened to the once storied program, that earlier this decade could do no wrong? The same program that produced Clinton Portis, Jeremy Shockey, Frank Gore, Willis McGahee, Sean Taylor the list goes on.
I call Miami PRO – U because so many pros came out of that program, but not recently. Something has gone wrong, the talent is not as plentiful as it once was. The school hit bottom in November 2006 when D-Lineman Bryan Pata was killed in a shooting. The program lacked discipline, there was no commitment to winning as there was with the CANES of old. Randy Shannon, Head Coach is slowly turning things around. It is impossible not to have talent on your team when your team is in Florida and you have as rich a history as the Hurricanes do. So although it’s not easy it’s a lot easier when you’re Miami. Thus the talent will be there, but you have to put it together.
Shannon has preached discipline and commitment to the rules, which is what the program needed. Many coaches say the right thing but it’s another thing to actually deliver on your promises, and Shannon is doing just that. I have not heard or read about any violations, players in trouble, shootings or anything really. This quiet rebuilding through work ethic and a zero tolerance for any deviation from the rules set in place is exactly how you get back to reestablishing Miami football as a relevant program.
This year’s schedule, at least the first four games, maybe the toughest in all of college football. Miami opens with, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech and Oklahoma. It’s going to be tough, rebuilding jobs always are, at least the right guy is on the job.
AUGUST 20, 2009
RESURRECTION OF THE BIG EAST
If you have not been paying attention I’m here to inform you that the Big East is alive and well thanks to two programs. UCONN, it’s not just a basketball school anymore and the State University of New Jersey, A.K.A RUTGERS.
4 players were drafted from Connecticut, including Donald Brown in the 1st round by the Colts. If that is not a testament to the success of the football program, then I don’t know what is.
What I’m most impressed with is the way the EAST was rebuilt. In particular the first rate job Greg Schiano has done. The Rutgers head coach has impressed me. I grew up in New Jersey and the Rutgers football program, was awful, it was non existent really. But then some 9 years ago Schiano took over at Rutgers and what grabbed my attention was something I never heard of until that day. Schiano threw state wide dinner for all the high school football coaches in the state.
Schiano really cared about rebuilding the program. He told those coaches that he needed their help, he told them to ask their football player to stay home, in New Jersey. And it worked. Brian Leonard, Ray Rice, Mike Teel just to name a few did stay and put Rutgers back on the college football map.
It is these small things, like the state dinner, that make a huge difference. It showed that Schiano is serious and wanted to succeed by giving an effort, and little by little it is paying off.
Schiano has resurrected a Rutgers program that was dead and buried. In 2009 five players were drafted by the NFL in 2009 including Kenny Britt (1st round Tenn. Titans) and there are more to come.
AUGUST 19, 2009
WILL THIS BE THE YEAR?
Will this finally be the year that NEBRASKA reclaims its elite status in College Football. Things have not gone well for over 5 years. Who am I kidding, things have not gone well ever since Tom Osborne retired. Solich didn’t pan out, neither did that guy from the Raiders (Bill Callahan). Now it’s Bo Pelini’s turn.
The Cornhuskers finished 9-4 last year, respectable and there is reason to be excited this year. Nebraska has 2 RBs who can get yards in bunches. Roy Helu Jr. 6’0” 215lbs 6.4 yds/carry and Quentin Castille 6’1” 235lbs. are very good back and could both have outstanding years. However, you will not score a lot of points running the ball against those great defenses in the Big 12 SOUTH, and that’s just what you will have to do to win the Big 12. That’s why Zack Lee, QB will be a key element in propelling Nebraska’s passing game to that elite status.
Pelini is a defensive coach and he understands the “BLACK SHIRTS” need to emerge as a force to have any success. Suh Ndamukong, DT 6’4” 300lbs maybe the best DT in all of the Big 12. But can Big Red win the NORTH much less the Big 12. The North isn’t very strong top to bottom. Kansas is gaining and seems to be the clear favorite, with Missouri and Colorado not too far behind. Nebraska’s chances are good.
But as for the Big 12 there is just way to much fire power in the SOUTH. The first big test will come on the road in Blacksburn versus Virginia Tech on September 19th. If Nebraska can pull of the upset then we can start talking a little louder. The Cornhuskers can win the South this will give them immediate credibility but they are just not ready yet to take the championship from Texas or OU. But if they get to the Big 12 Championship they are one step closer to regaining that elite status in college football.
AUGSUT 18, 2009
BUCKEYE BLUES NO MORE?
Terrelle Pryor!!! The new QB in Columbus is the answer that Jim Tressel has been searching for.
I don’t think much of Tressel, he is completely uncreative, ultra conservative and those other things that make you an average coach. But because he coaches in the below average Big 11 (the Big 10 actually has 11 teams) he stands out.
Can you remember the last great QB to be drafted from Ohio State?….(The sound you hear is the Final Jeopardy music playing.) Neither can I.
The point is that Tressel is so ultra conservative that no good QB wants to go there.
QBs want to throw not watch the run game, Tressel’s offense is RUN left, then RUN right and to change things up he will RUN up the middle. The word Pass is not part of his offensive vocabulary.
Things maybe different this time around. Pryor is the real deal. We all know he can run but it’s his arm that will decide if OSU will win the National Championship. He may be better than Vince Young. And it was Vince Young’s ARM that beat OSU in Columbus on their way to a national championship.
Pryor must become an opportunistic passer, just like Young was. It’s the selective passing that will enable him to beat the teams that will line up 9 or 10 in the box.
We’ll see if some passing plays in the spring practice will blossom into a wrinkle to the old run game.
AUGUST 16-17, 2009
NFC EAST PREVIEW 2009
N.Y. Giants, Philadelphia, Dallas, Washington
Historically this is a very competitive division and for the top 3 spots it will continue to be, but the last spot will be occupied by the Redskins again. Washington will compete with no one for this honor. The Cowboys will come in third because I don’t think they can handle the pressure of what is expected of them (and I just don’t like them). Philly just signed the “Dog Killer” Vick, that’s a head scratcher. Last year the Giants were the best team in football from September to December, but they collapsed without Burress. What does this all mean, Philly wins the EAST with NY and Dallas close behind. Oh, Washington, yes they will win maybe 7 games.
PHILADELPHIA
This is the 2nd best coached team in the league. But, the Vick signing, I don’t know what to make of that. Andy Reid developed McNab into an actual QB, who throws and not runs as he did in college.
The Eagles added Jeremy Maclin WR, Missouri and LeShan McCoy, RB Pitt. to compliment DeSean Jackson, 62 rec. as a rookie and Brian Westbrook. Reid can coach and is actually running the “West Coast” offense where numerous receivers get to touch the ball, that’s music to a receiver’s ears. McCoy is solid he carried that Pitt. team last year. He would not need to start in Philly and that is tremendous advantage when you can ease a player into a position. Same goes for Maclin. The offense should be much improved. Any time you have an established QB he will make sure everyone is in the right position.
Defensively the Eagles are always tough, but this year the heart and soul of that “D”, Brian Dawkins is in Denver. It is very difficult to replace a player of that caliber. We’ll have to see who steps forward to claim the spot. Because this is a well coached team there should not be too much of a drop off.
The Eagles should win the EAST although by the slimmest of margins.
N.Y. GIANTS
Eli won the Super Bowl 2 years ago and was having a good year until it all went bad. The numbers won’t wow you 3000+ yds, 21 TDs and 10 pics. but they get win in the Meadowlands. I don’t like Tom Caughlin but he wins, so I can’t argue with the results, just the means by which he get there.
On offense the Giants have good balance with Brandon Jacobs 5.0 ypc and Ahmad Bradshaw. But they are thin at receiver, Burress is gone, so is Toomer Seems like a pretty bad move to have gotten rid of Jeremy Shockey, Kevin Boss’ 33 rec. is not enough. But I still think the Jersey Giants will have a good year they may win the EAST but more realistically they will come up a game behind the Eagles.
On defense the coordinator, Spagnuolo, is gone but Osi Umenyiora returns from a knee injury. Last year they had 42 sacs that’s above average. This defense is young and deep. They should continue putting on the pressure and be very good.
This will be a very tight race for the top spot in the EAST and the G-Men will never be out of it because of that defense which brings the pressure every Sunday.
COWBOYS
Dallas has but a few years left to do something with the talent they have. Romo has been disappointing in the clutch. Wade Phillips just doesn’t seem tough enough to handle all the personalities on this team, he often seems tired to me at press conferences. Now maybe it’s because of the players of maybe his owner, Jerry “you will pay $90 for pizza at the new stadium” Jones. Dallas does have enough talent to win the EAST but I think Romo still doesn’t get the intensity you have to play with in December and the playoffs and they come up a game or two short.
On offense it all begins with Romo and the boys upfront. The Cowboys have a good O-Line and Romo is capable but will he be there when it counts the most in the big games. He does have some help. Marion Barber is a very good back, he needs to start running around those linebackers and not thorough them if he wants to last the whole season. In case he doesn’t Felix Jones is a nice compliment he will fill in nicely. Other than Jason Witten 81 rec. there are no receivers on this team. Roy Williams, 19 rec. UNACCEPTABLE. Wade Phillips needs to find another receiver. If another pass catcher is not found, it’s going to be difficult.
On defense Dallas is more settled, but will need help in the secondary to be a top defense again. Greg Ellis has departed and he took his 8 sacs with him. DeMarcus Ware, 20 sacs, outstanding work, has remained. Bradie James added 8 more. Terence Newman is a good corner, but he’s it.
If these problems can be solved then big D has a chance to win the EAST, but I have my doubts.
WASHINGTON
There are no doubts, however, who will come in LAST. The Washington Redskins will be last by a mile, they will not win more than 8 games. The ‘Skins have one of the worst O-lines in football, all of football, that includes college, United Football League, you name it. Jim Zorn is in his second year and he doesn’t trust his QB. Thus Jason Campbell may not be in Washington much longer. I may not be a fan much longer. The management, starting with the owner, Dan Snyder and GM, Vinny Cerrato is the worst in pro sports. Cerrato was answering emails for ESPN before that football genius Snyder scooped him up. These guys are really stupid, e.g. Jason Taylor last year, NEED I WRITE MORE? I can go on and on.
I read the Redskins injury report this year the offense was listed on the report it read that the offense was ”DOUBTFUL” Washington will struggle on offense. Zorn’s play calling in the second half of the season was terrible. Where is the “WEST COAST” Jim? When your offense of line can’t hold you have to adjust with shorter quicker passes, Zorn didn’t the team lost. Enough said.
On defense the ‘Skins will be better but not by much Haynesworth is an upgrade but how long will he last. He already had to sit out due to a knee problem. The linebackers are thin, there is no true strong side backer on the roster and no depth. The 1st. round draft pick Brian Orakpo is being tried at that position, I just don’t see it. The secondary is good at safety but weak at corner. DeAngelo Hall couldn’t play “man” with the Raiders so they waived him, or may be it was his attitude that was the problem. I sure hope it’s the later, he can always adjust his attitude. Carlos Rogers had a great year but it was his first as a pro and he’s been a pro for 3 years prior to that. Maybe he’s finally arrived and maybe it’s an aberration.
The best those Redskins do is 8-8.
Tags: Nebraska Bigred Cornhuskers Bama Tide Saban
