GABBERT BLOWS BOWL, PRO BOWL ANALYSIS & WERE THE EAGLES EXPOSED LAST NIGHT?
I know that headline is somewhat provocative, but is there any other way to explain what happened to Mizzou last night in Tempe? With a 1st & 10 at the Iowa 29, Gabbert was flushed from the pocket to his left & instead of throwing the ball away, he tried to get it to Wes Kemp down the near sideline. Micah Hyde was clearly between Kemp & Gabbert but the Tiger QB "got greedy" & tried to loft the ball over Hyde to the waiting Kemp. His pass fell woefully short right into Hyde's hands. He set sail across the field & by the time he reached the far sideline, he had clear sailing, going untouched for what would turn out to be the winning points.
Yes, Gabbert completed 41 of 57 for 434-yards, but what will be etched in the memories of Tiger fans is the interception that changed the game. Leading 24-20, they were already in field goal range & a touchdown probably would've clinched the game. Iowa had run the ball all over Mizzou but except for three long gainers, Ricky Stanzi's passing wasn't very effective. A 2-score lead with about 7-minutes left in the game would've been huge. But Gabbert's "greedy" attempt cost them the game. By the way, it was Gabbert who said he "got greedy."
All season Gary Pinkel's team was very balanced, 414 running plays & 430 passing plays. Last night it was totally lopsided, 57 passes, just 22 called running plays. Yes, the offensive line was handling the vaunted Iowa front on passing plays, LOT Elvis Fisher stonewalled All-American Adrian Clayborn nearly the entire night. But there just wasn't enough emphasis on running the ball.
The only thing Tiger fans have to sweat right now is will DE Aldon Smith or Gabbert make themselves available for the NFL Draft. They will have to declare their intentions by mid-January. I think Smith will be back, but Gabbert might not. Had he not thrown that 4th quarter pick, I think he would have been NFL-bound without a doubt. That interception sticks with a lot of NFL teams, really a very bad decision. Not only was it a bad decision, but it cost his team a game. If Gabbert decides to return to Columbia, the Tigers would have to be co-favorites to win the conference with OU. They would return 10 starters, center Tim Barnes is the only senior starter. The top-6 WR's & top-4 RB's would all be back.
When you consider that before their season began, leading rusher Derrick Washington was dismissed from the team. The "running back by committee" was successful & winning 10-regular season games including upsetting the #1 Sooners, would have to be deemed a very good season. This program has won 40 games over the past 4 seasons. They could be on the brink of taking the next step, being a serious contender for the conference title & BCS bowls. If Gabbert returns, they could well reach that level of performance next season, if he leaves, they'll basically be starting over at the most important position in football.
So the Pro Bowl selections were announced yesterday & for the most part I agreed with most of it. Chiefs' WR Dewayne Bowe, RB Jamaal Charles & G Brian Waters were all selected to play in Hawaii. I did have a real problem with the omission of LB Tamba Hali. He is 2nd in the AFC in sacks, but he has an identity problem with fans outside K.C. Since fan voting is part of the equation, Hali was doomed. No primetime games hurt immensely. Hali should've been on the team. A case for Matt Cassel could also be made, his stats rival any other QB in the NFL except Tom Brady. Peyton Manning, Phillip Rivers & Brady were selected. With this group in front of him, he's going to have to duplicate his 2010 season again & again to make the Pro Bowl. Derrick Johnson faced stiff competition at ILB, so even tho he's had a breakout year, making the Pro Bowl at this position is very, very difficult.
On any given Tuesday? We had the Minnesota-Philly game on while watching the bowl games & it quickly got us off the WVU-NC State game for big-screen viewing. After a quick touchdown drive to open the game, Philly was completely out-coached & out-played. For a team that nothing to play for, the Vikings looked like a team fighting for a playoff berth. Rookie Joe Webb started at QB & quite frankly, he looked so much better than I ever saw Tavaris Jackson play. The Eagles had no answer for the CB blitz. Antoine Winfield came unblocked off the edge all night. He knocked the ball from Vick, scooped & scored, tying the game 7-all in the 2nd quarter. Vick's chances of wresting the MVP trophy away from Tom Brady are all but dead today after fumbling twice & throwing an interception. The Viking DB's dropped 4 other passes that should have been intercepted. DeSean Jackson was a complete non-factor, a combination of excellent coverage & lackluster route running. Adrian Peterson hammered out 118-yards on the ground & WR Percy Harvin caught 7 passes for 100-yards. But the story Minnesota's win was Joe Webb. The rookie was solid throwing the ball, completing 17 of 26 for 195-yards. He added 31-yards on 6 carries with a 9-yard touchdown run. Most importantly, Webb didn't commit a turnover. He showed excellent escapability, leaving defenders in his wake. Is he the Viking's next starting quarterback? We'll need to see more of Webb, but he's off to a good start. Andy Reid's inability to make adjustments in the Eagle pass protection was inexcusable for a playoff team. With this loss, Philadelphia now slips to the #3 seed, they'll be playing Wildcard Weekend. Michael Vick has taken a beating in the last few weeks, after not fumbling or throwing a pick for the first six games he started, he now has nine fumbles, six interceptions & he's been sacked a gaudy 34-times in 12 starts. When you add in all the hits he takes running the ball & his smaller stature(6' 215), Vick is taking quite a beating.
The Eagle loss boosted the Bears right into the #2 playoff seed with a 1st round bye. Not that the Bears will lay down for their arch rival Packers on Sunday, but the urgency to win this game no longer exists in Chicago. If Green Bay wins Sunday, it looks like they'll play the Eagles in the first round. The Packers beat the Eagles opening day in Philadelphia 27-20. Right now, I'd rather play the Eagles than the Packers.
Coaching legend Mel Tjeerdsma(pronounced church-muh, I swear) retired today after 17 seasons at Northwest Missouri State. In his first season at the Bearcats' helm, his team was winless, 0-11. In the next 16-years, NWMSU made the Division II playoffs 15-times. They played in 7 National Championship games, 6 in a row, winning 3 titles.
Three bowl games today with two I'm interested in, the Texas Bowl between Illinois & Baylor & the Alamo Bowl featuring Oklahoma State & Arizona. I love watching Baylor QB Robert Griffin & the OSU offense coupled with their pathetic defense should provide plenty of fireworks in the Alamo Bowl. Kansas State was able to practice yesterday at the Giants indoor facility & will have a run thru at the Jets practice complex today in preparation for their appearance in the first-ever Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium versus Syracuse.
I was asked what the Chiefs' playoff record is since they won Super Bowl IV in 1970. It's not good, 3-11. Two victories were after the 1993 season with Joe Montana at the helm. The other was in 1991 over the Raiders, 10-6. Beginning with the Christmas Day double-overtime loss in 1971, they've added playoff losses in 1986, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2003 & 2006. See why I'm a cynic?
I watched the Buckeye-5 give their "I'm sorry" news conference yesterday from Tattoo-gate. I'm surprised Terrelle Pryor didn't burst out laughing. The whole thing was a joke. All five will be suspended for 5-games next season, but will be allowed to play in the Sugar Bowl next week. I wonder what Georgia receiver A.J. Green was thinking if he watched this B.S.? He was suspended immediately for selling his bowl game jersey on eBay. This is the same infraction the Buckeye players have admitted to, trading or selling championship rings, jerseys & awards to get discounted tattoos. What about Dez Bryant's 8-game suspension last year for lying to an NCAA investigator about a lunch date at the home of Deion Sanders? There's no consistency in the NCAA's punishment, it's like they make up these rules as they go along. When several of these Ohio State players file for the NFL next month, they will have admitted their guilt, played in the Sugar Bowl & then gotten off Scott-free. No accountability for either the players or the university. Beautiful.
Yes, Gabbert completed 41 of 57 for 434-yards, but what will be etched in the memories of Tiger fans is the interception that changed the game. Leading 24-20, they were already in field goal range & a touchdown probably would've clinched the game. Iowa had run the ball all over Mizzou but except for three long gainers, Ricky Stanzi's passing wasn't very effective. A 2-score lead with about 7-minutes left in the game would've been huge. But Gabbert's "greedy" attempt cost them the game. By the way, it was Gabbert who said he "got greedy."
All season Gary Pinkel's team was very balanced, 414 running plays & 430 passing plays. Last night it was totally lopsided, 57 passes, just 22 called running plays. Yes, the offensive line was handling the vaunted Iowa front on passing plays, LOT Elvis Fisher stonewalled All-American Adrian Clayborn nearly the entire night. But there just wasn't enough emphasis on running the ball.
The only thing Tiger fans have to sweat right now is will DE Aldon Smith or Gabbert make themselves available for the NFL Draft. They will have to declare their intentions by mid-January. I think Smith will be back, but Gabbert might not. Had he not thrown that 4th quarter pick, I think he would have been NFL-bound without a doubt. That interception sticks with a lot of NFL teams, really a very bad decision. Not only was it a bad decision, but it cost his team a game. If Gabbert decides to return to Columbia, the Tigers would have to be co-favorites to win the conference with OU. They would return 10 starters, center Tim Barnes is the only senior starter. The top-6 WR's & top-4 RB's would all be back.
When you consider that before their season began, leading rusher Derrick Washington was dismissed from the team. The "running back by committee" was successful & winning 10-regular season games including upsetting the #1 Sooners, would have to be deemed a very good season. This program has won 40 games over the past 4 seasons. They could be on the brink of taking the next step, being a serious contender for the conference title & BCS bowls. If Gabbert returns, they could well reach that level of performance next season, if he leaves, they'll basically be starting over at the most important position in football.
So the Pro Bowl selections were announced yesterday & for the most part I agreed with most of it. Chiefs' WR Dewayne Bowe, RB Jamaal Charles & G Brian Waters were all selected to play in Hawaii. I did have a real problem with the omission of LB Tamba Hali. He is 2nd in the AFC in sacks, but he has an identity problem with fans outside K.C. Since fan voting is part of the equation, Hali was doomed. No primetime games hurt immensely. Hali should've been on the team. A case for Matt Cassel could also be made, his stats rival any other QB in the NFL except Tom Brady. Peyton Manning, Phillip Rivers & Brady were selected. With this group in front of him, he's going to have to duplicate his 2010 season again & again to make the Pro Bowl. Derrick Johnson faced stiff competition at ILB, so even tho he's had a breakout year, making the Pro Bowl at this position is very, very difficult.
On any given Tuesday? We had the Minnesota-Philly game on while watching the bowl games & it quickly got us off the WVU-NC State game for big-screen viewing. After a quick touchdown drive to open the game, Philly was completely out-coached & out-played. For a team that nothing to play for, the Vikings looked like a team fighting for a playoff berth. Rookie Joe Webb started at QB & quite frankly, he looked so much better than I ever saw Tavaris Jackson play. The Eagles had no answer for the CB blitz. Antoine Winfield came unblocked off the edge all night. He knocked the ball from Vick, scooped & scored, tying the game 7-all in the 2nd quarter. Vick's chances of wresting the MVP trophy away from Tom Brady are all but dead today after fumbling twice & throwing an interception. The Viking DB's dropped 4 other passes that should have been intercepted. DeSean Jackson was a complete non-factor, a combination of excellent coverage & lackluster route running. Adrian Peterson hammered out 118-yards on the ground & WR Percy Harvin caught 7 passes for 100-yards. But the story Minnesota's win was Joe Webb. The rookie was solid throwing the ball, completing 17 of 26 for 195-yards. He added 31-yards on 6 carries with a 9-yard touchdown run. Most importantly, Webb didn't commit a turnover. He showed excellent escapability, leaving defenders in his wake. Is he the Viking's next starting quarterback? We'll need to see more of Webb, but he's off to a good start. Andy Reid's inability to make adjustments in the Eagle pass protection was inexcusable for a playoff team. With this loss, Philadelphia now slips to the #3 seed, they'll be playing Wildcard Weekend. Michael Vick has taken a beating in the last few weeks, after not fumbling or throwing a pick for the first six games he started, he now has nine fumbles, six interceptions & he's been sacked a gaudy 34-times in 12 starts. When you add in all the hits he takes running the ball & his smaller stature(6' 215), Vick is taking quite a beating.
The Eagle loss boosted the Bears right into the #2 playoff seed with a 1st round bye. Not that the Bears will lay down for their arch rival Packers on Sunday, but the urgency to win this game no longer exists in Chicago. If Green Bay wins Sunday, it looks like they'll play the Eagles in the first round. The Packers beat the Eagles opening day in Philadelphia 27-20. Right now, I'd rather play the Eagles than the Packers.
Coaching legend Mel Tjeerdsma(pronounced church-muh, I swear) retired today after 17 seasons at Northwest Missouri State. In his first season at the Bearcats' helm, his team was winless, 0-11. In the next 16-years, NWMSU made the Division II playoffs 15-times. They played in 7 National Championship games, 6 in a row, winning 3 titles.
Three bowl games today with two I'm interested in, the Texas Bowl between Illinois & Baylor & the Alamo Bowl featuring Oklahoma State & Arizona. I love watching Baylor QB Robert Griffin & the OSU offense coupled with their pathetic defense should provide plenty of fireworks in the Alamo Bowl. Kansas State was able to practice yesterday at the Giants indoor facility & will have a run thru at the Jets practice complex today in preparation for their appearance in the first-ever Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium versus Syracuse.
I was asked what the Chiefs' playoff record is since they won Super Bowl IV in 1970. It's not good, 3-11. Two victories were after the 1993 season with Joe Montana at the helm. The other was in 1991 over the Raiders, 10-6. Beginning with the Christmas Day double-overtime loss in 1971, they've added playoff losses in 1986, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2003 & 2006. See why I'm a cynic?
I watched the Buckeye-5 give their "I'm sorry" news conference yesterday from Tattoo-gate. I'm surprised Terrelle Pryor didn't burst out laughing. The whole thing was a joke. All five will be suspended for 5-games next season, but will be allowed to play in the Sugar Bowl next week. I wonder what Georgia receiver A.J. Green was thinking if he watched this B.S.? He was suspended immediately for selling his bowl game jersey on eBay. This is the same infraction the Buckeye players have admitted to, trading or selling championship rings, jerseys & awards to get discounted tattoos. What about Dez Bryant's 8-game suspension last year for lying to an NCAA investigator about a lunch date at the home of Deion Sanders? There's no consistency in the NCAA's punishment, it's like they make up these rules as they go along. When several of these Ohio State players file for the NFL next month, they will have admitted their guilt, played in the Sugar Bowl & then gotten off Scott-free. No accountability for either the players or the university. Beautiful.
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