DAWGS BACKFIELD BARE, KIFFIN'S WHINING IS CO$TLY & WHAT'S TO COME OF PEYTON MANNING?
In spite of the disciplinary news coming out of the University of Georgia, they should survive facing 3-5 New Mexico State this Saturday. But the news is not good for the overall state of Mark Richt's program. Leading rusher Isaiah Crowell has been suspended for the game. Second leading rusher Richard Samuel underwent ankle surgery & will be out for about a month. Third leading rusher Carlton Thomas has been suspended for the game & Ken Malcome, 5th RB on the depth chart has been suspended for Saturday's game. All three suspended players failed a drug test administered before they played last Saturday. Add to these losses, leading receiver Malcolm Mitchell strained a hamstring & will not play. See how personal selfishness can damage a team?
I told you Saturday night Oklahoma's leading rusher, Dominique Whaley, had suffered a broken ankle on the game's opening kickoff last Saturday against Kansas State. He underwent surgery Sunday afternoon & will be lost for the season. This is a bad news-worse news-really good news story. Whaley was a walk-on, he risked everything to play for the Sooners, his favorite team. Whaley, a JUCO player, passed on full ride scholarships from other Division I schools to go to Norman. Bob Stoops said on Tuesday Whaley would be given a scholarship so he can continue his education at OU & graduate. Stoops said Whaley was going to get his scholarship in December for his outstanding effort & contributions to the team. Good for him, good for OU, good for college football.
I have to do this, it's just too good to be true. I stopped "Real Name of the Day" sometime ago after a couple of people complained. But I just can't pass on this one. In Saturday night's big showdown between #1 LSU & #2 Alabama one of the major impact players could be LSU's #49 Barkevious(Bar-kee-vee-us) Mingo. He's the best Tiger pass rusher & figures to make some noise in this game. I just couldn't pass up such a name.
LSU defensive end Barkevious Mingo
I've pointed out my dislike for USC coach Lane Kiffin, I think he's somewhat unscrupulous & a big whiner. That whining about last Saturday night's game with Stanford will cost him $10,000. He claimed an official lied to him at the end of regulation when Trojan WR Robert Woods chose to run all the way across the field instead of dropping & calling timeout, thereby giving USC a chance at a long field goal to win the game. Woods ran out of bounds as the clock struck 00:00. Kiffin claims he signaled for a timeout & was granted one, then the referee changed his mind & said the game would go to overtime. I watched every snap of this game, saw what transpired at the end of regulation & all I can say is Kiffin is dead wrong. After dropping the $10k fine on Kiffin, PAC-12 Commissioner Larry Scott cautioned Kiffin the next fine could be more significant. In other words, "put a sock in it Lane."
One of my most loyal readers & radio listeners, Beth from Oskaloosa Kansas, reminded me of another officiating mistake in Monday's game. Late in the 4th quarter, Chiefs' RB Jackie Battle was stopped for no gain & as he struggled for yardage a Charger's paw began pulling on Battle's facemask. The fingers stayed locked onto the mask for at least 2 full seconds & not only was there no personal foul penalty, the ESPN broadcast team were too busy jaw-jacking about something else & they missed it as well. The Chiefs were forced to punt on the next play. I was screaming at the TV, I've been known to do that during Chiefs' games, but forgot it when I did the recap later Monday night. Beth, being the consummate Chiefs' fan, went to the game, stayed till K.C. won in overtime & then drove all the way back to Oskaloosa. She then proceeded to watch the game again on her DVR. That's when she saw the facemask infraction that wasn't called. Thanks for keeping me straight Beth!
After his disastrous fumble Monday night, Phillip Rivers said he & center Nick Hardwick had never had a problem in their 6-years of playing together. Hardwick confirmed that they had never had an exchange hit the ground. Talk about your bad timing.
Derrick Johnson became the second consecutive Chief to be named the AFC Defensive Player of the week. His 13 tackles, 4 for loss, sack & an interception were definitely keys in the Chiefs win Monday night. Cornerback Brandon Flowers won the award last week.
One other note about the Chiefs. As I examined all the season stats this morning, one thing jumped off the page at me, the Chiefs are dead last in the league in sacks with 9. At nine, they're three behind Tampa bay who is 31st. Didn't we just go thru this for 2-3 years? Wasn't this supposed to be a top priority for improving this defense? When you consider we played Indy with an injury-ravaged O-line, Minnesota with a revamped line & San Diego, who was missing a 4-time Pro Bowl left guard & two offensive tackles who had noise issues, this is very disappointing. Tamba Hali has 6, two-thirds of the team's total. I think this is a problem that no one is talking about. They're winning, so what? Having only one effective pass rusher will get you beat by good teams, period.
Think winning doesn't factor into the voting for player of the week? Dallas' OLB Demarcus Ware played lights out football Sunday night in Philadelphia but his team got smoked, so no award. Ware had 11 tackles, 5 for loss, 4 sacks & 4 additional QB knock downs. That's a helluva performance.
How much longer will Bill Belichick go with Chad Ochocinco? He can no longer stretch a defense, in fact he can't even get open & he's playing with Tom Brady. Ochocinco hasn't caught a pass in three games & I wonder how much longer he'll be taking the majority of the snaps at WR. The Patriots have the same problem they've had since Randy Moss departed New England, they have zero deep speed on their roster & the good defensive teams just play man-to-man leaving extra defenders to blitz. No deep speed also allows safeties to play closer to the line of scrimmage limiting many running plays. For all his brilliant team-building & ability to accumulate premium draft picks, Belichick hasn't fixed the two glaring weaknesses that have plagued his team for the past two years, no deep speed & an inconsistent pass rush.
One of Chad's former teammates at both Oregon State & Cincinnati, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, was signed by the Oakland Raiders. The wide receiver was brought in at the special request of new quarterback Carson Palmer. He will play in the slot for Oakland, a spot he played for the Bengals when Palmer was his quarterback. Pays to know somebody.
The Steelers play Baltimore Sunday night & how many healthy linebackers they'll have is still up for discussion. OLB James Harrison was cleared to return to practice after missing four games with a fractured orbital bone(eye socket). He will play some Sunday, just not his usual every down work load. OLB Lamar Woodley, Pittsburgh's leading sacker, is doubtful in my mind because he sustained a hamstring strain & if he can't push off, he's worthless as a pass rusher. No word on ILB James Farrior yet.
So let's say you were the type to make a wager on college football games, providing you could do it legally of course, because doing otherwise wouldn't....you know, be legal. Or say you live in the State of Nevada where just about every form of gambling outside of lotteries is legal, who is a good bet? I don't do that anymore, but I'll give you a few stats from this season. Do with them what you will.
Best vs. the point spread
Stanford 7-0-1
Alabama 7-1
Arkansas State 7-1
Oklahoma State 7-1
Worst vs. the point spread
E. Michigan 1-7
Colorado State 1-7
Penn State 2-7
Totals over-under-push
Air Force, Arizona State, TCU, West Virginia 7-1-0
Penn State(1-7-1), Boston College(1-7-0), Duke(1-6-1), Louisville(1-6-1)
The 0-8 Indianapolis Colts have a real dilemma on their hands. Do they really want Peyton Manning to return to action this season? Let's say they continue their losing ways & secure the first overall pick in the draft. Do the Colts keep Manning & trade the pick for multiple 1st round selections & possibly a Pro Bowl player in his prime? Do they keep the pick, select Andrew Luck & sit him like Aaron Rodgers did for three years behind Brett Favre. Don't have any illusions about Manning, he'll treat Luck exactly the same way Favre did Rodgers. There will be very little to no mentoring involved. Last option would be to allow Manning to practice for 3-4 weeks later in the season, proving to other possible trading partners, he's healthy & ready to lead your team for 3-4 more productive years. The Colts would then start Luck immediately, I think the Curtis Painter experiment has run it's course with Indy fans. This is a decision I think will happen down the road because I believe this team will end up with the first overall pick for having a horrible season in 2011. The Colts are easily worse than Miami, the only other winless team in the NFL. The good news is the Colts are run by Bill Polian & he rarely makes personnel mistakes, especially on this level. A lot of the outcome will depend on Manning, his recovery, attitude & desire to move on to another contender. The other component for a successful trading partner is one who has everything but a championship caliber QB, Manning isn't about to go to a rebuilding team, it's serious contender or nothing. Favres' last two stops, Jets & Vikings, come to mind, so does Joe Montana in Kansas City. Both QB's led their teams to conference championship games. It will be interesting to watch how this impending drama unfolds.
Last note, we lost our boy Chief yesterday may he rest in peace. Thanks to all of you who sent prayers, condolences or both. Linda I appreciate the sentiments.
I told you Saturday night Oklahoma's leading rusher, Dominique Whaley, had suffered a broken ankle on the game's opening kickoff last Saturday against Kansas State. He underwent surgery Sunday afternoon & will be lost for the season. This is a bad news-worse news-really good news story. Whaley was a walk-on, he risked everything to play for the Sooners, his favorite team. Whaley, a JUCO player, passed on full ride scholarships from other Division I schools to go to Norman. Bob Stoops said on Tuesday Whaley would be given a scholarship so he can continue his education at OU & graduate. Stoops said Whaley was going to get his scholarship in December for his outstanding effort & contributions to the team. Good for him, good for OU, good for college football.
I have to do this, it's just too good to be true. I stopped "Real Name of the Day" sometime ago after a couple of people complained. But I just can't pass on this one. In Saturday night's big showdown between #1 LSU & #2 Alabama one of the major impact players could be LSU's #49 Barkevious(Bar-kee-vee-us) Mingo. He's the best Tiger pass rusher & figures to make some noise in this game. I just couldn't pass up such a name.
LSU defensive end Barkevious Mingo
I've pointed out my dislike for USC coach Lane Kiffin, I think he's somewhat unscrupulous & a big whiner. That whining about last Saturday night's game with Stanford will cost him $10,000. He claimed an official lied to him at the end of regulation when Trojan WR Robert Woods chose to run all the way across the field instead of dropping & calling timeout, thereby giving USC a chance at a long field goal to win the game. Woods ran out of bounds as the clock struck 00:00. Kiffin claims he signaled for a timeout & was granted one, then the referee changed his mind & said the game would go to overtime. I watched every snap of this game, saw what transpired at the end of regulation & all I can say is Kiffin is dead wrong. After dropping the $10k fine on Kiffin, PAC-12 Commissioner Larry Scott cautioned Kiffin the next fine could be more significant. In other words, "put a sock in it Lane."
One of my most loyal readers & radio listeners, Beth from Oskaloosa Kansas, reminded me of another officiating mistake in Monday's game. Late in the 4th quarter, Chiefs' RB Jackie Battle was stopped for no gain & as he struggled for yardage a Charger's paw began pulling on Battle's facemask. The fingers stayed locked onto the mask for at least 2 full seconds & not only was there no personal foul penalty, the ESPN broadcast team were too busy jaw-jacking about something else & they missed it as well. The Chiefs were forced to punt on the next play. I was screaming at the TV, I've been known to do that during Chiefs' games, but forgot it when I did the recap later Monday night. Beth, being the consummate Chiefs' fan, went to the game, stayed till K.C. won in overtime & then drove all the way back to Oskaloosa. She then proceeded to watch the game again on her DVR. That's when she saw the facemask infraction that wasn't called. Thanks for keeping me straight Beth!
After his disastrous fumble Monday night, Phillip Rivers said he & center Nick Hardwick had never had a problem in their 6-years of playing together. Hardwick confirmed that they had never had an exchange hit the ground. Talk about your bad timing.
Derrick Johnson became the second consecutive Chief to be named the AFC Defensive Player of the week. His 13 tackles, 4 for loss, sack & an interception were definitely keys in the Chiefs win Monday night. Cornerback Brandon Flowers won the award last week.
One other note about the Chiefs. As I examined all the season stats this morning, one thing jumped off the page at me, the Chiefs are dead last in the league in sacks with 9. At nine, they're three behind Tampa bay who is 31st. Didn't we just go thru this for 2-3 years? Wasn't this supposed to be a top priority for improving this defense? When you consider we played Indy with an injury-ravaged O-line, Minnesota with a revamped line & San Diego, who was missing a 4-time Pro Bowl left guard & two offensive tackles who had noise issues, this is very disappointing. Tamba Hali has 6, two-thirds of the team's total. I think this is a problem that no one is talking about. They're winning, so what? Having only one effective pass rusher will get you beat by good teams, period.
Think winning doesn't factor into the voting for player of the week? Dallas' OLB Demarcus Ware played lights out football Sunday night in Philadelphia but his team got smoked, so no award. Ware had 11 tackles, 5 for loss, 4 sacks & 4 additional QB knock downs. That's a helluva performance.
How much longer will Bill Belichick go with Chad Ochocinco? He can no longer stretch a defense, in fact he can't even get open & he's playing with Tom Brady. Ochocinco hasn't caught a pass in three games & I wonder how much longer he'll be taking the majority of the snaps at WR. The Patriots have the same problem they've had since Randy Moss departed New England, they have zero deep speed on their roster & the good defensive teams just play man-to-man leaving extra defenders to blitz. No deep speed also allows safeties to play closer to the line of scrimmage limiting many running plays. For all his brilliant team-building & ability to accumulate premium draft picks, Belichick hasn't fixed the two glaring weaknesses that have plagued his team for the past two years, no deep speed & an inconsistent pass rush.
One of Chad's former teammates at both Oregon State & Cincinnati, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, was signed by the Oakland Raiders. The wide receiver was brought in at the special request of new quarterback Carson Palmer. He will play in the slot for Oakland, a spot he played for the Bengals when Palmer was his quarterback. Pays to know somebody.
The Steelers play Baltimore Sunday night & how many healthy linebackers they'll have is still up for discussion. OLB James Harrison was cleared to return to practice after missing four games with a fractured orbital bone(eye socket). He will play some Sunday, just not his usual every down work load. OLB Lamar Woodley, Pittsburgh's leading sacker, is doubtful in my mind because he sustained a hamstring strain & if he can't push off, he's worthless as a pass rusher. No word on ILB James Farrior yet.
So let's say you were the type to make a wager on college football games, providing you could do it legally of course, because doing otherwise wouldn't....you know, be legal. Or say you live in the State of Nevada where just about every form of gambling outside of lotteries is legal, who is a good bet? I don't do that anymore, but I'll give you a few stats from this season. Do with them what you will.
Best vs. the point spread
Stanford 7-0-1
Alabama 7-1
Arkansas State 7-1
Oklahoma State 7-1
Worst vs. the point spread
E. Michigan 1-7
Colorado State 1-7
Penn State 2-7
Totals over-under-push
Air Force, Arizona State, TCU, West Virginia 7-1-0
Penn State(1-7-1), Boston College(1-7-0), Duke(1-6-1), Louisville(1-6-1)
The 0-8 Indianapolis Colts have a real dilemma on their hands. Do they really want Peyton Manning to return to action this season? Let's say they continue their losing ways & secure the first overall pick in the draft. Do the Colts keep Manning & trade the pick for multiple 1st round selections & possibly a Pro Bowl player in his prime? Do they keep the pick, select Andrew Luck & sit him like Aaron Rodgers did for three years behind Brett Favre. Don't have any illusions about Manning, he'll treat Luck exactly the same way Favre did Rodgers. There will be very little to no mentoring involved. Last option would be to allow Manning to practice for 3-4 weeks later in the season, proving to other possible trading partners, he's healthy & ready to lead your team for 3-4 more productive years. The Colts would then start Luck immediately, I think the Curtis Painter experiment has run it's course with Indy fans. This is a decision I think will happen down the road because I believe this team will end up with the first overall pick for having a horrible season in 2011. The Colts are easily worse than Miami, the only other winless team in the NFL. The good news is the Colts are run by Bill Polian & he rarely makes personnel mistakes, especially on this level. A lot of the outcome will depend on Manning, his recovery, attitude & desire to move on to another contender. The other component for a successful trading partner is one who has everything but a championship caliber QB, Manning isn't about to go to a rebuilding team, it's serious contender or nothing. Favres' last two stops, Jets & Vikings, come to mind, so does Joe Montana in Kansas City. Both QB's led their teams to conference championship games. It will be interesting to watch how this impending drama unfolds.
Last note, we lost our boy Chief yesterday may he rest in peace. Thanks to all of you who sent prayers, condolences or both. Linda I appreciate the sentiments.
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