Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Best Assh#le in Texas, and other thoughts
Quick hits from the weekend:
-) I think because I can’t stand the guy, I tend to ignore how good he is, but Terrell Owens was the best player on the field Sunday against the Giants. He absolutely killed them—making a couple of tough catches and showing good speed for a man his age (34 next month) and size (6-foot-3, 225). The game was also an illustration of how far Tony Romo has come. He’s a legit Top 5 QB in the NFL right now, perhaps behind only Brady, Manning and Favre this season.
-) The most interesting thing about the Pats going 16-0 is whether they’ll keep playing their starters in the last few games if they’ve already wrapped up home field. The 13-0 Colts from a few year’s back probably proved that it’s not good to rest for the last three games (went 0-3 and lost to the Steelers in Round 1) but what about Week 17? It’s Pats at Giants, and the Ginters may have something to play for. Also to keep in mind, the biggest spread in NFL history is 24 points (Steelers-Bucs in 1976). Jets at Pats in Week 15 figures to test that.
-) There’s a lot of sadness in the Sportsmeat family over St. Louis’ win on Sunday, but I’d rather see the Dolphins go 0-16, so it’s still OK. And why is Shula trying to trash the Pats’ run to 16-0? Even if what he says has merit, it just comes across as the 1972 Dolphins whining more about their record. I’d love to see someone make that team have to chill the champagne for a whole season, I just don’t want it to be the Patriots.
-) The Heisman race is down to two players: Oregon’s Dennis Dixon and Florida’s Tim Tebow. Dixon has his team in the championship race, while Tebow’s team has three losses, but Tebow’s stats are absurd. Tebow is currently second in the passer ratings (Dixon is fourth), leads the nation in passing yards per attempt (Dixon is 11th) and has 23 TDs against five INTs (Dixon has 20 TDs and three picks).
All in all, I’d still say advantage Dixon based on his team’s record, but it’s Tebow’s rushing that could make the difference. Tebow is third in the nation with 19 rushing TDs (by comparison, Darren McFadden has 12) and has 718 yards rushing (Dixon goes eight TDs and 549 yards rushing). Right now, if I had a vote, I’d go 1. Tebow; 2. Dixon; 3. Chase Daniel, Missouri.
-) My current Top 10: 1. LSU; 2. Oregon; 3. Oklahoma; 4. Kansas; 5. West Virginia; 6. Ohio State; 7. Missouri; 8. Arizona State; 9. Georgia; 10. Florida.
Couple of notes here: The Oklahoma-Kansas call is a tough one because while Oklahoma dominates at home (avg. score: 53-15), they’re suspect on the road (avg. score: 33-19), but Kansas has yet to play Mizzou and does not play Oklahoma, Texas or Texas Tech, so they’re tough to judge. As to Nos. 5-7, they could go in any order, and Missouri jumps the pack with a win over Kansas. And as to No. 10, I know Florida has three losses but they also have wins over Tennessee, Kentucky and South Carolina, while USC and Va. Tech are lacking in quality wins (and USC lost to Stanford).
-) I think because I can’t stand the guy, I tend to ignore how good he is, but Terrell Owens was the best player on the field Sunday against the Giants. He absolutely killed them—making a couple of tough catches and showing good speed for a man his age (34 next month) and size (6-foot-3, 225). The game was also an illustration of how far Tony Romo has come. He’s a legit Top 5 QB in the NFL right now, perhaps behind only Brady, Manning and Favre this season.
-) The most interesting thing about the Pats going 16-0 is whether they’ll keep playing their starters in the last few games if they’ve already wrapped up home field. The 13-0 Colts from a few year’s back probably proved that it’s not good to rest for the last three games (went 0-3 and lost to the Steelers in Round 1) but what about Week 17? It’s Pats at Giants, and the Ginters may have something to play for. Also to keep in mind, the biggest spread in NFL history is 24 points (Steelers-Bucs in 1976). Jets at Pats in Week 15 figures to test that.
-) There’s a lot of sadness in the Sportsmeat family over St. Louis’ win on Sunday, but I’d rather see the Dolphins go 0-16, so it’s still OK. And why is Shula trying to trash the Pats’ run to 16-0? Even if what he says has merit, it just comes across as the 1972 Dolphins whining more about their record. I’d love to see someone make that team have to chill the champagne for a whole season, I just don’t want it to be the Patriots.
-) The Heisman race is down to two players: Oregon’s Dennis Dixon and Florida’s Tim Tebow. Dixon has his team in the championship race, while Tebow’s team has three losses, but Tebow’s stats are absurd. Tebow is currently second in the passer ratings (Dixon is fourth), leads the nation in passing yards per attempt (Dixon is 11th) and has 23 TDs against five INTs (Dixon has 20 TDs and three picks).
All in all, I’d still say advantage Dixon based on his team’s record, but it’s Tebow’s rushing that could make the difference. Tebow is third in the nation with 19 rushing TDs (by comparison, Darren McFadden has 12) and has 718 yards rushing (Dixon goes eight TDs and 549 yards rushing). Right now, if I had a vote, I’d go 1. Tebow; 2. Dixon; 3. Chase Daniel, Missouri.
-) My current Top 10: 1. LSU; 2. Oregon; 3. Oklahoma; 4. Kansas; 5. West Virginia; 6. Ohio State; 7. Missouri; 8. Arizona State; 9. Georgia; 10. Florida.
Couple of notes here: The Oklahoma-Kansas call is a tough one because while Oklahoma dominates at home (avg. score: 53-15), they’re suspect on the road (avg. score: 33-19), but Kansas has yet to play Mizzou and does not play Oklahoma, Texas or Texas Tech, so they’re tough to judge. As to Nos. 5-7, they could go in any order, and Missouri jumps the pack with a win over Kansas. And as to No. 10, I know Florida has three losses but they also have wins over Tennessee, Kentucky and South Carolina, while USC and Va. Tech are lacking in quality wins (and USC lost to Stanford).
# posted by EJ @ 2:12 PM 
Comments:
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Speaking of "bests," the best game you can't get on TV without a dish: Harvard-Yale this Saturday, which will be on something called HDNet. Both teams are undefeated in the Ivy League (first time since '59).
Moving on to more important things, it is a shame that the Rams won, but there is a silver lining. In describing the game on PTI Monday, Jaworski used the phrase "Marc Bulger was stroking it from the pocket." (giggle)
On the Heisman race, do you think Tebow's youth hurts him? I mean, will voters look at him and say, 'Well, he's got two more years, and he'll be making a run at a national championship in at least one of them. I'd rather vote for the senior'? I think so. Plus, there seems to be an overflow of love for the PAC 10 this year (much but not all deserved).
Moving on to more important things, it is a shame that the Rams won, but there is a silver lining. In describing the game on PTI Monday, Jaworski used the phrase "Marc Bulger was stroking it from the pocket." (giggle)
On the Heisman race, do you think Tebow's youth hurts him? I mean, will voters look at him and say, 'Well, he's got two more years, and he'll be making a run at a national championship in at least one of them. I'd rather vote for the senior'? I think so. Plus, there seems to be an overflow of love for the PAC 10 this year (much but not all deserved).
1) Romo is the third best QB in the NFL by a fairly wide margin.
2) I don't follow college ball that closely, but isn't McFadden at least in the running? Another dude who has gotten no recognition whatsoever is Sam Bradford at Oklahoma - 28 TDs, 6 Ints, 70% completions, 9.5 yards per pass (best in the country). Not too shabby.
But the best player I've seen is Tebow. A classic leader even as a sophomore. And yes, his 42 combined TDs through the air and on the ground is ridiculous.
3) Can I inquire as to why it is seemingly unanimous that LSU is #1? I love hearing about their talent on paper, but everytime I look up they are either squeaking out of a close game (Alabama, Florida, Auburn -- they should have lost at least two of these games, if not all three) or losing (Kentucky). I respect that the SEC is loaded, but they have yet to wow me.
I understand that they have had difficulties with injuries (and suspensions), but that is part of the team that is being ranked. It just seems that they are ranked #1 based on "potential" or "talent."
Also, if Kansas is undefeated, they have to be in the title game. If they are not, I am boycotting college football.
2) I don't follow college ball that closely, but isn't McFadden at least in the running? Another dude who has gotten no recognition whatsoever is Sam Bradford at Oklahoma - 28 TDs, 6 Ints, 70% completions, 9.5 yards per pass (best in the country). Not too shabby.
But the best player I've seen is Tebow. A classic leader even as a sophomore. And yes, his 42 combined TDs through the air and on the ground is ridiculous.
3) Can I inquire as to why it is seemingly unanimous that LSU is #1? I love hearing about their talent on paper, but everytime I look up they are either squeaking out of a close game (Alabama, Florida, Auburn -- they should have lost at least two of these games, if not all three) or losing (Kentucky). I respect that the SEC is loaded, but they have yet to wow me.
I understand that they have had difficulties with injuries (and suspensions), but that is part of the team that is being ranked. It just seems that they are ranked #1 based on "potential" or "talent."
Also, if Kansas is undefeated, they have to be in the title game. If they are not, I am boycotting college football.
I agree with Budds on the senior thing. It's not an accident that no freshman or sophomore has ever won the Heisman. Also, people like to reward a winning team and Florida does have three losses. I think if Oregon wins out, Dixon wins. But I think, at least at this point, Tebow deserves it.
McFadden is a tough case. He may be the best player in college football but he plays for a team that may not even be bowl eligible and his 12 TDs at this point don't stack up with the nation's leaders. All that said, his numbers are pretty impressive and would be more so if he didn't have to split carries with Felix Jones and if Arkansas could throw the ball. I think he'll get a lot of third-place votes.
I agree that LSU isn't a clear No. 1, and I think you can make a good case for Oregon. I put LSU on top because it has some really impressive wins (Virginia Tech, Florida, Auburn, Alabama and South Carolina have all been ranked this year) and its only loss was at Kentucky, a pretty good team. No other team in college football has as many quality wins and the Kentucky loss fares well against any other one-loss team.
As to Kansas, I agree they should be in the BCS champ game if they win out. But as it currently stands, they have yet to play a ranked team and their non-league opponents were Central Mich., SE Louisiana, Toledo and Fla. Int'l. Given, they beat them all badly, but it's hard to gauge whether a team should be in the Top 2 when the best team they've played is Oklahoma State.
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McFadden is a tough case. He may be the best player in college football but he plays for a team that may not even be bowl eligible and his 12 TDs at this point don't stack up with the nation's leaders. All that said, his numbers are pretty impressive and would be more so if he didn't have to split carries with Felix Jones and if Arkansas could throw the ball. I think he'll get a lot of third-place votes.
I agree that LSU isn't a clear No. 1, and I think you can make a good case for Oregon. I put LSU on top because it has some really impressive wins (Virginia Tech, Florida, Auburn, Alabama and South Carolina have all been ranked this year) and its only loss was at Kentucky, a pretty good team. No other team in college football has as many quality wins and the Kentucky loss fares well against any other one-loss team.
As to Kansas, I agree they should be in the BCS champ game if they win out. But as it currently stands, they have yet to play a ranked team and their non-league opponents were Central Mich., SE Louisiana, Toledo and Fla. Int'l. Given, they beat them all badly, but it's hard to gauge whether a team should be in the Top 2 when the best team they've played is Oklahoma State.
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