NEBRASKA/MIZZOU RECAP, VICK ON TV & INJURED QB'S STATUS
When Nebraska Coach Bo Pelini told my girl, Erin Andrews just before he swam to the locker room at half, "we just need to stay close, there's a lot of football left to play". I told my wife & bro-in-law that is the way he plans to coach in close games, stay close, anything can happen. I thought the Tigers were completely out-coached. Nebraska had thrown the ball on first down repeatedly with very little success, the routes were all less than 15 yards, every single one of them. The 4th quarter starts with the Huskers down & they throw the ball deep as Mizzou's safety comes up to double the tight end & WR Niles Paul ran right by him. Paul caught Zac Lee's perfect throw & the momentum had swung. Gabbert threw his first-ever interception to the ever-present Ndamakong Suh & the Lee to Paul connection clicked again to put the Huskers in the lead. It was pretty obvious Gabbert, who had gutted it out with an ankle sprain he suffered in the first quarter, was rattled. He then proceeded to throw his 2nd pick on Mizzou's 1st play after the kickoff & even the most loyal Tiger faithful knew it was over.
Nebraska had 160 yards of total offense in the 4th quarter, 58 more yards than they had amassed in the entire game up till then. The driving rain which had stifled the Huskers wasn't a problem anymore. The Cornhuskers played a brilliant 4th quarter, "just stay close, there's a lot of football left to play". There was, 27-12 final score, all 27 in the 4th.
Kentucky will be without both starting cornerbacks, Trevard Lindley & Paul Warford, for Saturday's trip to South Carolina. Gamecock coach Steve Spurrier is 16-0 lifetime versus the Wildcats. Losing both corners only makes an already leaky defense worse. Kentucky is 107th in the nation in running yards allowed. The 9 1/2 S.C. has to lay looks good to me.
Here's an impressive stat concerning the Florida-LSU game. The Tigers have won 32 straight games played in Baton Rouge on Saturday nights. This would be the definition of "homefield advantage" right? Supposedly this stadium is the loudest in college football, at least it is on Saturday nights. The Tigers are an 8-point underdog to the Gators. There are so many reasons to like Florida, they're simply a better team, but it's tough to buck a trend as strong as 32 straight. I'm going to check the number Saturday after the Tebow decision is made & I will probably take the Tigers.
So much for Michael Vick keeping a low profile. BET announced today they were going to launch "The Michael Vick Project" right after the first of the year. The reality show, scheduled for 8 episodes to start with, will follow Vick in his everyday life. Instead of worrying about a TV show, how about worrying about being the best QB he can be, so when the Eagles cut him in February(there's no way they will pay him the $5 million he's scheduled to get), he can get a job, with the Raiders most likely.
Steeler running back Willie Parker will sit again this Sunday with turf toe. If Rashard Mendenhall repeats his 165-yard, 2 TD performance from last week, Parker may find it tough to get back in the lineup. Pittsburgh plays the Lions, so it could happen.
I listened to CBS Sports play-by-play man, Kevin Harlan, on sports talk radio yesterday & he really trashed Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson. Harlan said "the word is out all over the league about Derrick. They say he's soft, he's lazy, that's what I've heard from scouts all over the league". I was wondering how a guy who has started for years doesn't even put up a fight when he's benched. Johnson said yesterday he hadn't spoken to coach Todd Haley regarding his benching. He said he would just practice harder & hope Haley put him in the game more often. Hardly a whimper.
Also regarding the Chiefs, the NFL sent the team & safety Jarrad Page a note telling them the 'helmet to helmet' personal foul called against Page Sunday, was in error. There was no infraction. Lot of good that does Page & the Chiefs now. Thanks.
Now for the quarterback injury update. Florida's Tim Tebow has practiced this week & could play Saturday. The one stumbling block could be the noise in LSU's Tiger Stadium, if it gives him a headache, he will not be able to play as this is a sign his concussion isn't completely healed. Oklahoma's Sam Bradford is still a question mark, but OU coach Bob Stoops said a final decision on his playing status for the Baylor game will be announced on Friday, so stay tuned. Detroit Lion QB Matthew Stafford is listed as questionable but I don't see him playing Sunday against the Steelers. His knee is still swollen & he hasn't practiced all week. Giant Eli Manning hasn't practiced either due to his plantar faciitis in his right foot. But he could still play against the Raiders, I just don't see the need. The G-Men have more than their share of injuries & keeping Manning in the lineup should be a priority #1. I think backup David Carr can lead New York to victory over Oakland without a lot of trouble, allowing Manning to try to heal up for their showdown in New Orleans the following week.
Today's real name of the day; Tydreke Powell, defensive tackle, North Carolina.
Nebraska had 160 yards of total offense in the 4th quarter, 58 more yards than they had amassed in the entire game up till then. The driving rain which had stifled the Huskers wasn't a problem anymore. The Cornhuskers played a brilliant 4th quarter, "just stay close, there's a lot of football left to play". There was, 27-12 final score, all 27 in the 4th.
Kentucky will be without both starting cornerbacks, Trevard Lindley & Paul Warford, for Saturday's trip to South Carolina. Gamecock coach Steve Spurrier is 16-0 lifetime versus the Wildcats. Losing both corners only makes an already leaky defense worse. Kentucky is 107th in the nation in running yards allowed. The 9 1/2 S.C. has to lay looks good to me.
Here's an impressive stat concerning the Florida-LSU game. The Tigers have won 32 straight games played in Baton Rouge on Saturday nights. This would be the definition of "homefield advantage" right? Supposedly this stadium is the loudest in college football, at least it is on Saturday nights. The Tigers are an 8-point underdog to the Gators. There are so many reasons to like Florida, they're simply a better team, but it's tough to buck a trend as strong as 32 straight. I'm going to check the number Saturday after the Tebow decision is made & I will probably take the Tigers.
So much for Michael Vick keeping a low profile. BET announced today they were going to launch "The Michael Vick Project" right after the first of the year. The reality show, scheduled for 8 episodes to start with, will follow Vick in his everyday life. Instead of worrying about a TV show, how about worrying about being the best QB he can be, so when the Eagles cut him in February(there's no way they will pay him the $5 million he's scheduled to get), he can get a job, with the Raiders most likely.
Steeler running back Willie Parker will sit again this Sunday with turf toe. If Rashard Mendenhall repeats his 165-yard, 2 TD performance from last week, Parker may find it tough to get back in the lineup. Pittsburgh plays the Lions, so it could happen.
I listened to CBS Sports play-by-play man, Kevin Harlan, on sports talk radio yesterday & he really trashed Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson. Harlan said "the word is out all over the league about Derrick. They say he's soft, he's lazy, that's what I've heard from scouts all over the league". I was wondering how a guy who has started for years doesn't even put up a fight when he's benched. Johnson said yesterday he hadn't spoken to coach Todd Haley regarding his benching. He said he would just practice harder & hope Haley put him in the game more often. Hardly a whimper.
Also regarding the Chiefs, the NFL sent the team & safety Jarrad Page a note telling them the 'helmet to helmet' personal foul called against Page Sunday, was in error. There was no infraction. Lot of good that does Page & the Chiefs now. Thanks.
Now for the quarterback injury update. Florida's Tim Tebow has practiced this week & could play Saturday. The one stumbling block could be the noise in LSU's Tiger Stadium, if it gives him a headache, he will not be able to play as this is a sign his concussion isn't completely healed. Oklahoma's Sam Bradford is still a question mark, but OU coach Bob Stoops said a final decision on his playing status for the Baylor game will be announced on Friday, so stay tuned. Detroit Lion QB Matthew Stafford is listed as questionable but I don't see him playing Sunday against the Steelers. His knee is still swollen & he hasn't practiced all week. Giant Eli Manning hasn't practiced either due to his plantar faciitis in his right foot. But he could still play against the Raiders, I just don't see the need. The G-Men have more than their share of injuries & keeping Manning in the lineup should be a priority #1. I think backup David Carr can lead New York to victory over Oakland without a lot of trouble, allowing Manning to try to heal up for their showdown in New Orleans the following week.
Today's real name of the day; Tydreke Powell, defensive tackle, North Carolina.
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