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Acc Wrap Up Week 4 By Rafael Garcia Sr. contributing writer Football Reporters Online Southeast Region Assisted by William Queen-contributing writer


WEEK 4 ACC Wrap Up
By Rafael Garcia
Sr. contributing writer Football Reporters Online
Southeast Region
Assisted by William Queen-contributing writer-Football Reporters Online

VIRGINIA TECH - 31 MIAMI – 7
The only ranked game of the weekend, Virginia Tech and Miami looked like a promising match-up if there ever was one. However, Virginia Tech wouldn’t let the Hurricanes take advantage of the rain, squandering every aspect of their offensive attack. Tech’s offense pounded the ball for an impressive 272 yards rushing, keeping Jacory Harris and company off the field. And when the Canes did get the ball, Harris never really got a chance to throw. He was under heavy pressure from Tech’s defense, leading to poor throws and only one 3rd down conversion. What else can possibly go wrong? Well, a blocked punt returned for a Hokies touchdown practically sums it up. Miami may have beaten ACC powers Florida State and Georgia Tech, but the Hokies were defiantly a setback for this Hurricanes team.
 
GEORGIA TECH - 24 UNC – 7
Offense has been the story for the Yellow Jackets this season; however, their defense is what really impressed. Allowing only one 3rd down conversion, forcing three turnovers, and ultimately holding UNC to a mere 7 points, Georgia Tech simply manhandled the Tar Heels. The Yellow Jackets got off easy on defense, as their offense may have helped out more than they could have thought. Though they only scored 24 points, Georgia Tech held possession of the ball for a full 42 minutes and 6 seconds! That left UNC just under 18 minutes to work their offense, which was obviously not enough, as quarterback TJ Yates could never find a rhythm. I am very impressed with how Georgia Tech was able to bounce back from a heart-breaking loss to Miami, with a pure sense of dominance against UNC. Now, UNC is ranked last in the ACC. Yes, I know that Virginia and Duke have yet to play an in-conference game. But no matter, this is not a good week for the Tar Heels.
 
TCU – 14 CLEMSON – 10
An intriguing non-conference match up between the Tigers and the Horn Frogs took place this weekend and surprisingly wasn’t very intriguing at all. TCU had a solid advantage in total yards, passing yards, rushing yards, and time of possession, giving them the logical benefit. Many are saying that the story of the game was CJ Spiller’s impressive milestone. Quite frankly, I don’t think that really matters in terms of the game, as my eyes were focused on the fact that neither team had a single turnover. With neither teams not forcing, nor giving up a turnover, I am very impressed. But on the other hand, maybe they played it a little too conservative on offense. Poor 3rd down conversion percentages and a very low scoring match-up basically proves that by itself. ON a totally different note, I think that Clemson fans are too obsessed with their running back CJ Spiller than the Tigers themselves. If he were so good, he would have helped his team to win an important game.
 
BOSTON COLLEGE - 27 WAKE FOREST – 24 OT
Tied at 24, this one went into overtime and was ultimately decided by two plays. One was a 23-yard field goal, giving the Eagles the lead in overtime. As the other was a Wake Forest fumble, forced and recovered by Boston College, giving them the win in overtime.
 
FLORIDA STATE – 7 SOUTH FLORIDA – 17
South Florida proved that it could play with the big dogs Saturday, forcing 4 turnovers and ultimately winning by a 10-point margin over their in-state rivals. A plethora of big plays also helped the Bulls in perhaps the biggest win in South Florida history.
 
MARYLAND – 13 RUTGERS – 34       
A very winnable game for Maryland turned into a disaster, all because of turnovers. The Terps turned the ball over 5 times on Saturday and Rutgers didn’t hesitate to take full advantage.
 
NC STATE – 38 PITTSBURGH – 31
The Wolfpack ran away with this one in the 4th quarter, scoring two touchdowns and holding the Pittsburgh offense to nothing. They simply outmatched Pitt on offense; 550 total yards, decent 3rd down efficiency, and 27 first downs.
 
DUKE – 49 NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL – 14
The Blue Devils scored on their first three drives, practically setting the tone for the whole game. This was an easy win for Duke, setting their record at an adequate 2-2.

Sec Wrap Up Week 4 By Rafael Garcia Sr. Contributing Writer Football Reporters Online Southeast Region


                                                    SEC Wrap Up Week 4
 
By Rafael Garcia
Sr. Contributing Writer Football Reporters Online
Southeast Region
 
South Carolina 16 Ole Miss 10
 
In this day and age of the BCS the one thing you can count on is that the preseason rankings mean nothing. When this season began a team like Ole Miss was in the mix for a top 10 ranking. They were one of the teams to watch for. Well somebody forgot to tell the Gamecocks last Thursday. The Rebels started the scoring with a Joshua Shene 42 yard field goal for a 3-0 lead. That would just about do it for Ole Miss. Their much heralded QB Jevon Snead would be hounded all game long and could never get on track. He missed six consecutive passes at one point and finished 7-21 for 107 yards and one touchdown. His team was having trouble getting first downs in the first half and could not capitalize on any other chances. They were 1-13 in third down efficiency and had nine penalties for 70 yards. A running game that been so productive was only able to get 139 yards. When things seemed to go right they went wrong. Running back Brandon Bolden ran away for a 59-yard touchdown that was negated by a holding penalty. They had to settle for the field goal. In their final four possessions the Gamecocks went three and out and the Rebels could not answer. Snead showed that there can be too much hype given to any player at any time. He does have the ability for a promising future but this is the SEC. Here you have to prove your value every Saturday against some of the best the country has to offer. As for the Gamecocks it was just their second win in 33 tries against a top five team. Their only other win came in 1981 at North Carolina and after this game they partied like there was no tomorrow. It was not an easy win as quarterback Stephen Garcia fumbled to end one drive and a penalty led to their first field goal. They had to settle for two more Spencer Lanning field goals when they could have gotten more. Still it was enough to stop a team that was probably ranked higher than it should have been. Yet, late in the game Ole Miss found itself with a chance to go ahead, but a sack and a batted away fourth down pass sealed the win for South Carolina. The celebration was a big one they could relish but there is still work to do cause one win won’t cut it here. The two teams have work to do now. Ole Miss must regroup as their season is far from over. They have big games at home where they can make some noise. As for the Gamecocks they had a big win here but know that they still have work left. Garcia must put in a better performance week in and week out. He was 16-34 for 220 yards with only one touchdown pass but must improve his completion percentage. The offense will have to do more because teams won’t play as poorly as Ole Miss did on this day. Stay tuned as the national and SEC pictures begin to take shape.
 
LSU 30 Mississippi 26
 This game had a little bit of everything with special teams play as well as mistakes. The Tigers of LSU were looking for a pretty easy game against a team that should not have given them much of a test. Chad Jones returned a punt 93 yards and wide receiver Brandon LaFell caught two touchdown passes from QB Jordan Jefferson. The game came down to the last minutes, as the Tigers needed a goal line stand to preserve the win. It would have been easier for them had they not missed an extra point and a chip shot 19-yard field goal. They could not run on the Bulldogs defense all day as holes were plugged up and back could not break tackles. Senior Bulldog running back Anthony Dixon had a great day as he ran for 106 yards 27 carries with two touchdowns. But when his team needed him the most he could not score given two chances from inside the three. Quarterback Tyson Lee went 15-38 for 172 yards one touchdown and three interceptions. He made the first mistake of the game when Patrick Peterson picked off his pass and ran it back 37 yards on the Bulldogs first offensive play. Another mistake he will have a hard time getting over will be the one he made late. There was 1:12 left in the game and it was fourth and goal with the score 31-24 LSU. Lined up in the wishbone Lee ran the sneak and failed to get the touchdown that could have tied the game late. On the ensuing Tiger possession LSU punter Derek Helton killed a few seconds running around in the end zone and then ran out of it for the safety. With the score now 31-26 State got the ball back but Lee threw four incomplete passes ending any hope of a wild finish. LSU made this game harder for them than it should have been. Mistakes in the kicking game and shabby play all day leaves the Tiger head coach Les Miles wondering if his team is ready to take that leap in the polls they are about to take. The schedule will not get any easier and if LSU hopes to play in Atlanta they cannot afford to continue this type of play on the field.
 
Tennessee 34 Ohio 24
Just when they thought it was safe to get back on the field the Vols nearly laid an egg. It was raining all day and it stopped just in time for kickoff. This was supposed to be an easy win after playing Florida so close to the vest. The defense that showed up in the swamp was mired with injuries to three starters. By games end they lost two more and were unable to stuff the Bobcats. Ohio managed to get 340 total yards mostly on the arm of quarterback Theo Scott who threw for 319 of those yards. The Vols were tough against the run holding Ohio to 21 yards on 17 carries. Vols quarterback Jonathan Crompton threw two touchdown passes but also threw pick number eight on the young season. The running game was a little better with Montario Hardesty rushing for 140 yards on 20 carries including an 11-yard touchdown. Freshman Bryce Brown added 56 yards and 60 receiving to help out. It was still a rather disappointing performance for a team that needs to play with much more consistency to win ballgames. Next week they have Auburn and the defense will be shorthanded. Special teams will have to improve as well. After Hardesty’s touchdown the Vols could be seen celebrating and just like that the ensuing kickoff was run back 95 yards by Ohio’s Chris Garrett for the tying touchdown. Mistakes have been killing the Vols and continued in this game. The defense came in ranked fifth in the nation in total defense but gave up all those passing yards. They must find a way to get better coverage as opposing receivers are still catching the ball a little too wide open. Crompton still has much work to do as he has proven that he cannot be counted on when the passing game is needed. It’s back to the drawing board for the Vols and there is much work to do.
 
Elsewhere:
 
Alabama 35 Arkansas 7
Razorback quarterback Greg McElroy has career high of 291 yards and three touchdowns to nine different receivers. The tide is now 4-0 and poised for some votes for the top ranking in the nation. Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett went 12-35 for 160 yards with one touchdown and one pick. Arkansas defense folds once again.
 
Georgia 20 Arizona State 17
A.J. Green had the game of his young career catching eight passes for 153 yards including a beauty of a 56 yarder for his touchdown but it was his blocked field goal that helped the Dawgz win. The game was not decided until kicker Blair Walsh hit the game winner as time ran out.
 
Auburn 54 Ball St. 30
Well this was one of those easy ones folks. QB Chris Todd passed for 287 yards and tied a school record with five touchdown passes. The Tigers got nearly 500 yards of offense and are now 4-0. WR Terrell Zachery showed out with five catches for 122 yards and two touchdowns. Both scores came in the second quarter from 46 and 65 yards.
 
 
Vanderbilt 36 Rice 17
This was one the Commodores needed badly so they ran for 216 yards and four touchdowns for the win. Warren Norman had 11 carries for 119 yards and a 58-yard score. Quarterback Larry Smith bounced back going 23-41 for 268 yards and a rushing touchdown. The Dores got almost 500 yards of offense and moved the ball virtually at will. The win snapped a two game losing streak to put them at 2-2.
 
Florida 41 Kentucky 7
The one thing the Gators worry about is losing AT&Tebow to some sort of injury. It would appear it’s the only thing that could stop them. Well it finally happened when he took a hard hit to the chest and then his head hit the turf. He was taken to the hospital and stayed overnight for observation. The game itself was no contest as Florida jumped out to a 31-0 lead and never looked back. Tebow ran 16 times for 123 yards and two touchdowns. That gives him 48 rushing touchdowns for his career. That is just one short of the SEC record held by Hershel Walker. He also passed for 103 yards and one touchdown before being injured.

The 2009 Liberty Cup-a Recap-By Dr. Bill Chachkes-Football Reporters Online




The 2009 Liberty Cup-a Recap-By Dr. Bill Chachkes-Football Reporters Online

When the schedule came out last winter, I quickly circled the date on the calendar: Saturday the 19th of September, 2009. It would be the day the 8th annual Liberty cup would be played. The benefit game between Fordham and Columbia is a fast growing rivalry between the only 2 division 1-AA (or FCS) teams in close proximity to each other in New York City. Columbia ‘s Morningside campus is close to midtown Manhattan, While Fordham’s main campus is in the heart of the Bronx, surrounded by the Botanical gardens and the Metro North Harlem Line and the Fordham Road shopping district.

This would be my 4th year attending the game, and it’s always a pitched battle between the teams. Each year the game is highly anticipated and there are always several “back stories” about the players and coaches. This year was no different. The Rams return the Skelton brothers to the roster. John is the QB, and a senior, while Stephen is a junior who plays the “Y” position, more or less the tight end spot. Both are 6’5” tall. John has been mentioned in several circles as a pro prospect, and is well deserving of the attention, no matter who is proclaiming what ranking he is or should be. He gained 30 pounds two off seasons ago, and reminds some of a Joe Flacco type of QB, big and strong, yet still mobile. He moves well in the pocket, but is also a threat as a ball carrier as well. He does have an issue with his left knee. While it was never severely injured, he has had some soreness since increasing his size. Skelton was 25-47 for 383 yards, but was sacked twice and threw 3 interceptions to offset his 4 TD performance. Fordham Punter Patrick Murray was named the Patriot League special teams player of the week for his 6 punt, 274 yard performance (45.7yd per kick average). On the defense for the Rams. Isiejah Allen let the unit with 11 Tackles (8 solo), and the unit overall amassed 96 total tackles!

All that said, we expected a quality game from both sides. Columbia has some special players of their own, including at least one player who has gained some recognition as well. WR Austin Knowlin, a 5”11” Senior, has been a first team all Ivy selection in his sophomore season, and a second team as a junior as both a Kick/Punt returner and a Receiver. He has a natural ability to find the “gaps” in a defense when running his routes as a receiver, and has proven time and time again that he can find the end zone as a receiver and return man. Two other players earned player of the week honors for their play Saturday night. Sr. QB M.A. Olawale for his 13-23-167-2TD performance (plus 50 yards net rushing), and Freshman Punter Mike Willamson. Also deserving mention were RB Ray Rangel for his 25 carry 118 yards net rushing performance (1TD), and TE Andrew Kennedy who had 4 receptions for 83 yards and 2 TD’s. The Lions Defense was led by Adam Merher at Free Saftey, with 16 Tackles (7 Solo)!

While the final was 40-28 Columbia, this game was closer then the score would indicate. An early missed XP conversion, as well as a late two point try after RCB Jared Morine’s Interception return for a TD kept the final score under a two Touchdown difference. The performance of both teams was a fitting tribute to the Charities supporting 9/11 victims from the NYC Police and Fire departments and the Port Authority Police attending the games, as well as settingan example for the Youth football programs and H.S. teams’ Players enjoying a Saturday evening Honoring the game of Football as well.

The 38th Annual NY Urban League Classic-A recap By The Gambler [J.Gamble] Contributing Writer-Football Reporters Online


The 38th Annual NY Urban League Classic-A recap

By The Gambler [J.Gamble] Contributing Writer-Football Reporters Online
 
East Rutherford, N.J. -- The first half of Morgan State’s 16-10 OT win over Winston-Salem State in the 38th annual NY Urban League Classic should have been renamed The Exuse Caboose Classic.
 
Each team had credible and understandable exuses as to why despite the huge stage – 25,000 Giant Stadium fans, an epic battle of the bands and the Deputy Mayor of New York sitting front endzone – they played sloppy and uninspired football.
 
“We have to get back and work on our timing on offense, said MSU coach Donald Hill-Eley, “and we have to create an identity for our offense.”
 
The Bears were without the services of their offensive identity, junior sensation Devan James. James, out with an abdominal strain, is an All- MEAC First Team tailback. He rushed for a whopping 1,337 yards last season as a sophomore. And 219 of those were in one big game against Howard !
 
Quarterback Carlton Jackson seemed to be battling two fronts. The lingering effects of an injury that caused him to miss some key games at the end of the 08’ season, and the 41-0 beating MSU suffered in a season-opening loss to Akron. The negative effects of James absence was obvious, as MSU’s offense sputtered. The ground game was non-existent. The passing attack was limited.
 
WSSU entered the game in the midst of turmoil and disheartening circumstances.  The Rams, in their fourth year of a five-year transition into Div 1 football, found out on Thursday that the school’s chancellor has abandoned the ambitious plan, and will return the school to Div II status next season.
 
“Its been tough for the whole team not only football team but whole athletic program,” said Rams sophomore defensive end Stephen Young, whose college will suffer a loss in scholarships from 53 to 38 as well as exclusion from high-profile Div I games, like the Urban League Classic.
 
“We feel the freshman and sophomores deserve better than that. We came here with the intention of playing DIV I football. The whole team was sad and upset. A whole lot of emotions were going through our minds.”
 
There were even rumors around the WSSU campus of an organized boycott of games. But Young says the team had a meeting and never considered quitting on the season.
 
With the halftime score an offensively stifled 7-3, Hill-Ely looked at the scoreboard and realized there was a game up for grabs that neither team seemed to want. He needed a few good men to stop feeling sorry, and will his team to victory.
 
Senior quarterback Carlton Jackson and widereciever Ed Baptiste seized the moment.
 
Down 10-7 late in the fourth quarter, Jackson found a groove with Baptiste and they connected on pass plays of 36 and nine yards to fuel a 5-play, 39-yard drive, capped with a  42-yard field goal that tied the game and sent it into an overtime shootout.
 
On MSU’s first OT possession Jackson -- who at this point had transformed into Doug Williams -- withstood a vicious hit in the pocket and connected with Baptiste, who outhustled a leaping defender in the end-zone, sealing victory for the Bears. MSU evened its record at 1-1, and can look forward to trying to play up to the team’s high preseason MEAC Conference and FCS [Football championship Subdivision] expectations.
 
“Me and Baptiste we work everyday for moments like this,” said Jackson, who completed an efficient 16 of 21 passes for 146 yards and two TD's. “I been playing with Devan James since five years old and he is a vital part of our offense and he is missed, but that doesn’t stop the show. We got to keep trucking.”
 
WSSU, on the other hand, is just stunned. Stunned by the news of going back to Div II. Stunned by the likelihood of falling to 0-4 with a meeting against FCS No. 1 South Carolina State a week away.  Stunned by the way they relinquished a 10-7 lead. Stunned by the fact that they had 188 rushing yards to MSU’s 43. And 79 more total yards. And still lost.
 
The future of the Rams athletic program is in limbo. Coach Kermit Blount has re-written the record books at WSSU in his 17 years there. He is confident the university and its football team will end up on its feet.
 
 “We just didn’t make the plays” said Blount. “We’ll make the proper adjustments. I won’t blame it on the transition back to Div II. The kids were hurt and the coaches were hurt [by the news], but the things we control are in between the lines. We have to move on.”
 
 
 

Close Win For SBU Over The Brown Bears By Douglas Speigel-Contributing Writer-Football Reporters Online

Close Win For SBU Over The Brown Bears

By Douglas Speigel-Contributing Writer-Football Reporters Online

Sure it was only a one point victory, but if you want an early prediction, here it is, Chuck Priore: FCS coach of the year. After quipping “We needed it” during his entrance to the post game conference he went on to explain, what could be clearly seen, as the mental and philosophic fever that is spreading throughout this team’s players.
Tonight at LaValle Stadium, Brown was in town to play their first game of the season vs.-The Seawolves. Ticklish excitement from home-based fans could be felt the moment you entered the parking lot, and moved beautifully into the first plays of the game.
The Browns stability and togetherness, throughout the first half, could be clearly seen as they marched down the field, between a series of flags drawn by the very patient Stony Brook.
These periods, of well played football, lead to a beautiful roll-out pass from Caballero, to the man in the end zone, Matthew Sudfeld. A successful kick and it is 7-0.
Stony Brook immediately answered back with a 51-yard kick-off return by WR #80 Matthew Brevi, a well-choreographed five yard pass to Porter, and hand off to Edwin Gowins, who hesitated not at all, and broke to the outside for an explosive 27 yard touch down run.
The game tied 7-7, it was Browns turn to score again, and Kyle Caballero, did just that. Locating #46 Buddy Famham for the touch down.
#80, does it again, with a 36-yard kick off return, giving the Seawolves great field position. With SBU looking for the end zone, they go to the air a lot for what had to be seen as a bunch of nearly gotten beautiful plays.
SB Freshman Justin Blake intercepts a pass in the end zone. Tides still not being sturdy the Seawolves #46 Schwicke intercepts a deflected pass and takes it for a nice run leaving SBU at the 44.
This series of action culminated with a gorgeous Coulter pass, on a gorgeously orchestrated play, and a gorgeous reception by Number 25 Jordan Gush, putting Stony Brook on the board again. Skiffington makes the second of his first two extra point attempts and leaves the game tied 14-14 at the half.

The marching band graces the crowd with the classic White Rabbit and an early 70’s Don’t Fear the Reaper.. and it is on to the second half.

Who else to start it off, but the sophomore Matt Brevi. #80. Gaining yet another 53 yards, moving like a barracuda’s chewing at his heels and leaving his daily kick off return total at 140 yards.
Kyle, with a nothing less then relentless performance, showed his ability to run, picking up 22 important yards on foot, and earning 267 yards passing for the game. However, getting to Alex Prestly for The Bears third touch down, proves to be the turning point as the third of Plitcha’s field goal attempts flies right and leaves the score, Bears 20 SBU-14.
With 47 seconds left on the clock, The Seawolves come up strong again as Coulter connects with WR Donald Porter(#6) in the end zone, setting up Skiffington for the potential game winning extra point. The kick is good and after enough 47 seconds of play to keep us all interested, including a failed 43 yard kick by Brown, Stony Brook walks away with their first victory of the season.

I felt a quite sense of strength in the Browns locker room after the game, a sense of brightness on the rise, and heard a lot of silence. While I am a reporter, I also respect privacy. I know it is not best to put a word in a person’s mouth, but I do believe If I had gotten up the momentary rational to ask the The Bears coach Phil Estes for comment, he undoubtedly would have spoken of hope for their next game on September the 25th.

Next week, look to see the Bears come out strong and for Stony Brook to try many new things in Massachusetts, and as Chuck put it “be what they need to be to win that game.”

Week 4 NCAA FBS Predictions By Max Baez Contributing Writer-Football Reporters Online



Week 4 NCAA FBS Predictions
By Max Baez Contributing Writer-Football Reporters Online


The marquee story of the third week of the college football season were clearly the events in Seattle, where an uberconservative approach by USC caused them to lose to Washington. Aaron Corp showed why Matt Barkley was named their initial starter, and many are still wondering what in the world happened to Mitch Mustain. Lots of teams are starting up their conference schedules this week, which makes for a solid weekend of football. Now, for the five games to watch this weekend, at least in my mind:

Ole Miss @ South Carolina

I don’t know what’s up with South Carolina and playing on Thursday night, but this is already their second appearance there this year. Ole Miss is already ranked number four in the nation, and this is their first true test. South Carolina looks like they can be solid on both sides of the ball. Against North Carolina State, they were great defensively, while the offense looked great against Georgia. They haven’t put it together on both sides of the ball in a big game yet this year (they’ve only had two), but if they can, they can definitely pull the upset at home. Stephen Garcia looks like he will be a great QB for the future, but while part of me wants to take South Carolina and the upset, my gut is just telling me that the talented Rebels will pull out a close win.

Ole Miss 24, South Carolina 20


North Carolina @ Georgia Tech

These are definitely two rising programs, and you can say Georgia Tech has already risen after their performance last year. Georgia Tech was embarrassed last week at Miami, and took a major hit by the pollsters, falling out of both polls. While North Carolina is ranked, I don’t think they are the better team. They looked pretty flat in their one semi-difficult game this year, a road game at UConn, while Georgia Tech still has a strong run game and defense, outside of last week’s mishap. Georgia Tech gained a reputation as a tough team last season, and I think they are going to be real hungry this week, so expect them to run all over the Tar Heels.

Georgia Tech 28, North Carolina 10


Cal @ Oregon

Many have given up on Oregon after the bad start to the season against Boise State (and then losing LeGarrette Blount for the season), but Oregon has recovered nicely, with wins against Purdue and Utah. Cal is a solid all around team, but this game is going to be a test. Autzen Stadium is a very tough place to play, and you can guarantee that the Ducks don’t want to start the season 2-2. However, Cal matches up well against Oregon. The Oregon offense won’t be able to pass at all on Cal’s stellar secondary, and Cal will be able to stack the box and make themselves more effective against the run. My guess is that we will see Cal pull out the solid road win and put itself in a great position to start the Pac-10 season.

Cal 24, Oregon 13


Miami @ Virginia Tech

And here goes my upset of the week. Virginia Tech is good all around, just like they tend to be. Very well coached, good defense, solid offense – they are a very good team. They’ve also been tested, already playing Alabama and Nebraska. However, Miami looks electric this year. Jacory Harris is the real deal at QB (and looks better than his adversary in this game, Tyrod Taylor), and while the defense didn’t look good against Florida State, they really showed up strong against the vaunted Georgia Tech run offense. Miami has already won two big games, and they are filled with confidence. They’ve had two extra days than Virginia Tech to prepare for this one, and I think it will pay off, with Miami winning a close one. Jacory Harris could become a darkhorse Heisman candidate with a win here, if he hasn’t already.

Miami 23, Virginia Tech 20


Iowa @ Penn State

With a schedule featuring the likes of Akron, Syracuse, and Temple, Penn State better have the record it currently has: 3-0. Now, their first conference game of the year has Iowa coming to town, and the stars are well aligned for a Penn State win. Iowa has gotten off to a 3-0 start, but nearly lost to FCS team Northern Iowa, and simply doesn’t have the talent that Penn State has on either side of the ball. Also, Penn State will surely be out for revenge against the Hawkeyes. Penn State lost one game last year, which was at Iowa, and if they had won out, Penn State would have played for a national title. The circumstances simply favor a Nittany Lions victory.

Penn State 24, Iowa 7


Five more to watch: TCU @ Clemson, Arkansas @ Alabama, Arizona State @ Georgia, Texas Tech @ Houston, South Florida @ Florida State

Last week’s record: 5-0

Max Hall-BYU QB-Early Scouting Report-By Will Osgood-Contributing Writer-Football Reporters Online



Max Hall-BYU QB-Early Scouting Report-By Will Osgood-Contributing Writer-Football Reporters Online

When the BYU Cougars took the field last Saturday night, against Florida State, they were the number seven team in the country. They had a legitimate chance to play in a BCS Game. They also possessed perhaps the best chance of any non-BCS Conference team ever to play in the National Championship Game. As a result of all this, their quarterback Max Hall also looked like a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender.

But by the end of Saturday night, it all looked like a distant pipe dream, as the Cougars were trounced by the Seminoles. Gone are the BCS or National Championship aspirations, and likely the Heisman Trophy consideration for Max Hall as well. So that leaves me with this question alone: Is Max Hall a legitimate NFL quarterback prospect?

To make a determination I got a look at four games of his—last year versus Washington, and the three from this year—Oklahoma, Tulane, and of course Florida State. I charted out every throw he made in those games, 142 in all. But I didn’t only chart the throws, because there’s more to being a quarterback in the NFL than being accurate and strong when throwing the football. I looked at his throwing motion, his decision-making, his athleticism, his perceived leadership skills (which are tough to see on t.v., but you can at least make some generalizations). Of course, the height and weight issue is going to be a knock on him, as he stands just 6”1’ and 200 pounds (my guess is that’s a generous listing).

But it isn’t fair for scouts to write him off simply because he lacks the necessary height or weight. If they did that, they would’ve written off Drew Brees, Jeff Garcia, Doug Flutie, even Michael Vick. There’s a whole lot more that makes a good QB than his height. And those examples prove it’s possible to overcome a lack of height to have success as a professional football player.

The scout must look objectively at game film, chart out his throws, look at his athleticism, decision-making, and leadership skills and from that determine whether he can be a successful quarterback. I’ll admit right now, I’m glad I don’t have to make a decision today, because if I did, it would be very difficult. So I’ll give you some information that I gathered and allow you the reader to make a decision if you want to.

Accuracy

Out of 142 total throws (four games), I graded him as being accurate on 103 of those throws. Percentage-wise that is 72.5 percent. If you grade him on throws of five yards or less, he was 49 of 60, which is about 81.5 percent. Throws between six and ten yards: only 30 of 45, for 67 percent. Eleven to fifteen yards: 12 of 15 for 80 percent. And all throws deeper than fifteen yards he was 12 for 20, which is 60 percent.

What do those numbers tell us? First off, 72.5 percent is good, but does not compare very favorably to QBs of the past such as Mark Sanchez, Kevin Kolb, or even his predecessor John Beck. That being said, it is better than such players as Matthew Stafford, Matt Ryan, and Joe Flacco. So maybe it doesn’t really mean anything.

For any QB prospect, he must be accurate short, and he is. That is a good thing. His six-to-ten yard percentage though is something to be a little concerned about. A lot of NFL throws take place in that range of the field, and that happens to be his weakest accuracy range.

Although it’s a small sample size, his accuracy from 11 to 15 yards, and the way he throws those balls most of the time, with some zip, is very encouraging.

But the true test for a future NFL QB is how he handles pressure, since he’ll be getting hit almost every time he drops back to throw. Unfortunately for Hall, he struggles greatly under pressure, as he was accurate on only 11 of the 26 passes he made. This is just 42 percent. At least he hits his throws when on the run at more than 60 percent.

It is encouraging to see Hall throw accurately to all three sections of the field—right, middle, and left. This proves he is able to make fairly quick decisions and set his feet. It also shows he has an ability to go through his route progressions and not just lock onto one receiver.

Decision-Making

Hall is the leader of his offense, as he should be. He is allowed to check out of bad play calls, and when he does, generally makes good decisions. This I think is a very underrated aspect of being a quarterback in the NFL.

Because of the look offense in college, many QBs are not being trained how to read defenses pre-snap and figure out how to get their offense into a better play. But at the NFL level, there is no look offense. It is the quarterback’s job to get his team into a better play. For me Hall has an advantage in that he has already done this for a couple years.

Another aspect of decision-making of course is the quarterback’s decision of who and where, and when for that matter, to throw the football. Hall makes those decisions very quickly and almost never gets sacked. You could say there are times he could hold on just a little longer to allow his receivers more time to get open, but of course I’d rather him be a quick decision-maker than a slow decision-maker.

Throwing Technique

At 6 feet—we’ll give him that much credit—Hall must make up for his lack of height with a flawless release in order to avoid potential trouble, such as tipped balls and bad ball trajectory.

With shorter quarterbacks, like Hall, it is a double-edged sword, as you want them to be able to get that ball over taller linemen, but knee bend remains important so that they can get everything behind their throw. For a shorter QB, Drew Brees does this so well. Hall is still a work in progress. I wouldn’t call his release a three-quarters, but I also wouldn’t say it’s fully over-the-top. It’s maybe 7/8.
He needs to get more bend in the knees which allow him to really drive into his throws. The thing is there are times he does, and he generally gets a lot of zip on the ball. His arm is definitely not the issue. But he needs to stride into all his throws, which he generally does not do when facing pressure.

And although he is accurate on the run, he fades away from the throw. That is going to cause some inaccurate throws down the line, especially when the speed of the game is faster.

Pocket Presence

One area I did not mention earlier, but may actually be the most important area, or one of them, is pocket presence. I did touch on this above, saying that Hall does not step into his throws when facing pressure. But it is more than that. It’s moving within the pocket, being able avoid a sack, sometimes even leaving the pocket, but keeping his eyes downfield.

Hall does not excel in this area of the game. He is a good athlete, but when he scrambles, he generally decides he is going to simply run and make as many yards as possible. At the NFL level, a QB will not be able to gain very many yards so they must keep their eyes downfield looking for a receiver to come open.

Within the pocket, he does not step up into the pocket and make throws, but instead tries to throw everything off his back foot. That is a big part of why he is so inaccurate against pressure. If he has any chance to become a good NFL QB, he must improve in this area over the course of this season and in the NFL.

Summary

Despite his size, Hall has a lot of positive attributes that lead me to believe he could be a good NFL QB. Among them are his decision-making and experience in audibling and calling some of his own plays. I didn’t talk a lot about his footwork, but it is better than many spread QBs, and that is what allows him to be accurate to all three sections of the football field. Also his ability to make quick decisions and go through his progressions help in his overall accuracy as well.

Things that hurt his cause are his size, his difficulty to be accurate against pressure, and lacking a big-time arm like a Matthew Stafford or Jay Cutler. I’m still not sure where I stand on him, but I do believe he’s at least worth a late-round pick. You never know what he could turn into with some good coaching and the right system.

By John Kelly Football Reporters Online Senior Writer Midwest/Northeast Correspondent



WEEK 2 College Football Recap- Big 10, Big 12, and Big East
By John Kelly
Football Reporters Online
Senior Writer
Midwest/Northeast Correspondent
Thrillers in the Big House and at the Shoe, Big 12 national title contender flounders and other conference players keep a steady heading.

Just when you thought it could not get any better. Week 2 in College Football provided more drama than General Hospital.
Two freshmen led their teams to victory in front of hostile crowds. One had Wolverine Nation believing again after an offseason of turmoil. The other had Buckeye nation all over Jim Tressel.

After an impressive showing in week one, the Big 12 suddenly looks vulnerable. Oklahoma State’s reservations for Pasadena are suddenly put on hold thanks to Houston.

After an impressive first week the MAC embarrasses Colorado and gives Missouri all they can handle. Kansas State barely beats UMASS. UConn loses to UNC on a holding call for a safety after dominating them for three quarters. Syracuse hangs around with the Nittany Lions despite losing 28-7. West Virginia shreds an impressive East Carolina defense. South Florida rolls and Rutgers recovered versus Howard.

Michigan’s exciting win over Notre Dame has flipped Rich Rodriguez’s image from a cheater to savior. The Wolverine’s victory is the main story in the Big Ten. Freshman quarterback Tate Forcier did not flinch when adversity struck. Actually the thought of forgetting to brush his teeth according to Rich Rodriguez was his only concern.

It was the breath of the Notre Dame defense that stunk up the atmosphere at the Big House. The unit yielded 21 points in the second half. Forcier made Darius Fleming look foolish on a 31-yard touchdown scamper. Forcier also proved to be high effective throwing on the run and looked like Jeff Garcia versus the Giants in the NFC Divisional Playoffs at times. No matter how many guys came at him Forcier broke loose and made plays. Forcier finished the day 23-33 for 240 yards two passing Tds and one on the ground.

In another 100,000 seat venue the crowd was louder for USC true Freshman Matt Barkley. Backed up at his own end zone he calmly fired a crucial 3rd down pass to Joe McKnight and a NFL-like throw to Anthony McCoy down the seam. While Stafon Johnson won the game Barkley’s poise only made life easier. Barkley like Forcier enrolled in the spring at USC and has impressed the coaches from day one. Well I guess the nation finally saw what Pete Carroll saw in April.

Forcier and Barkley saved the day for their programs and left the losing ones questioning their play calling. Weis berated by fans for passing instead of running out the clock. His previous predecessors took a conservative approach and got burned most of the time. Weis went for the win and if Shaq Evans stopped 2 yards shorter on his hook pattern, this would not be a discussion. If Armando Allen didn’t get injured after his first down run we would be having this discussion?

It seems that Jim Tressel’s conservative nature is no longer accepted like it once was in 2002. Tressel has always been too conservative and he has done a terrible coaching job with star QB Tyrell Pryor in my estimation. USC’s defensive weakness is mobile quarterbacks. Instead of watching Vince Young’s Rose Bowl tape and implementing a similar game plan, Tressel went his own way. Pryor is a dual threat quarterback and should be running and throwing short passes like Pat White did at West Virginia. The passing routes should have made Pyror’s life easier. Brandon Saine is faster than Ramance Taylor at Texas was for Young. Taylor was young’s best receiving back out of the backfield. Jake Ballard and Jake Stoneburner are quality-receiving threats as well who were ignored throughout the night. They could have been effective on shallow crosses, quick outs, and drags underneath. Sticking to Pryor’s strengths and kicking a 52-yard field goal to put the game is the mentality of an elite coach. When your in need of a big time victory you go for the W. Tressel punted and set the stage for the coming of Matt Barkley.

Ohio State can still win the Big Ten. However, the run defense has played subpar the last two weeks. An inept offense will also make it tough to unseat Penn State in early November and their archrival up north.
The press clippings pertained to both showdowns in Columbus and Ann Arbor. However, the rest of the Big Ten was unimpressive.

Wisconsin nearly lost to Fresno State and Penn State was not as dominant versus Syracuse.
Wisconsin to me was the 6th best team in the conference and despite losing PJ Hill and Travis Beckum the offense looks manageable. However, they are never able to put it together for a whole game and Chris Marago’s interception in overtime saved them.

Penn State’s patty cake schedule is a flat out embarrassment. It’s even more of a shame when Syracuse hangs in with you for four quarters. Despite a 21-point victory the Nittany Lions are faced with a ton of issues. Their offensive line cannot block as well as a year ago, the receivers are not the same, and the defense has some big holes along the d-line and at corner. Everyone is circling Iowa as Penn State’s toughest game before facing Ohio State. I think the Nittany Lions are in for a surprise when they travel to Illinois and Ann Arbor where they have dropped previous contests.

No other team in the country blows up more against an inferior opponent than Michigan State. Under Mark Dantonio we thought State was over this. Not exactly. Central Michigan’s Dan Lefevour, the conference’s all time leader in total offense, and a potential NFL Draft prospect carved up the Spartan’s secondary for 300 yards and 3 touchdown passes. This was Michigan’s states strength last year besides the Linebacker position and the running game. Speaking of the ground game, you have a better chance running threw a brick wall than the Spartan runners have finding running lanes. Carlton Ray has only 128 yards rushing this year. Javon Ringer had double that a year ago.

Sparty will have all they can handle with an irritated Notre Dame team annoyed about last week’s loss and the talk of a 6 game home losing streak. If both these problems are not fixed soon it’s going to be a long day for Michigan State and provide a fitting way to end the streak.

What a difference a week makes in Big 12 country.
One week the conference looks like one of the best in the Nation and the next it looks overrated. Week 2 was a huge hit for the Big 12’s reputation. It’s not easy when an improved Colorado squad starts 0-2. It’s not any better that they were manhandled by a Toledo team that was blown apart the week prior. I guess Missouri was looking ahead as they need a 4th quarter rally to hold off Bowling Green.

Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, and Texas Tech made ends meat of their cupcake warm ups. Oklahoma State took a rough spill at home versus Houston and made week one’s defensive performance look like an aberration.
Its put up or shut up time this week. With Virginia Tech taking on Nebraska and Texas avenging last season’s lost to the Red Raiders we will see who is a contender and pretender.

Look for VA Tech to present challenges towards Nebraska’s stout defensive front. Ryan Williams looked great a week ago and is oozing with confidence. Nebraska has scored an abundance of points versus subpar talent. However, the cornhuskers face a true litmus test this Saturday. Virginia Tech got knocked around by Alabama but led for most of that game. They established a running game thanks to Freshmen Ryan Williams and racked up over 300 yards rushing versus Marshall. The key for the Cornhuskers is can their offense put up points on Bud Foster’s defense. This is a true test to see if Bo Pelini has Nebraska back in the discussion amongst fans in the land of the corn.

Colt McCoy and the Longhorns have not looked sharp but have outscored their two previous opponents. Texas Tech is hot and triggerman Taylor Potts is nothing short of confident. He leads the nation in passing and expects him to toy with the Texas secondary all day.

West Virginia and Cincinnati will either wave their conference banners like Mel Gibson in the Patriot or sound a retreat in the heat of battle. West Virginia’s Jarrett Brown has given the mountaineer faith a short memory of Pat White. Last week he succeeded in a minor test versus East Carolina’s stifling defense. He torched the Pirates for over 300 yards and 4 touchdowns through the air He is also one of the nation’s leading passers.

Auburn is a rabid animal and finally clicking on all cylinders. Gene Chizik is proving his legitimacy down at Auburn and the offense is backing it up thanks to Gus Malzan’s spread scheme. The defense is playing well but is not what it was last year.
Still, West Virginia has not been tested like this in a hostile environment and Mountaineer fans will watch Bill Stewart closely. South Florida’s win down there two years gives them hope.

Cincinnati travels to Corvallis to take on Oregon State. This will be the first true test for the Bearcats and their brand new 3-4 defense. Jaquizz Rodgers is a tiny 5-6 scat back that terrorized USC last year. Plugging Rodger’s running lanes, blitzing Hunter Cantfield, and doubling James Rodgers are keys to an undefeated exit from the Pacific Northwest. Rutgers’s Offensive line was the best in the Big East so you know that Cincinnati has been tested. It is time for them to separate them as a conference elite. Knocking off a Pac-10 team in their own yard is the key.

The Who belted out “Who are you?” over a decade ago. In Week 3 this musical number is a distinct theme. The lyrics will be sung on Saturday.

(eds. Note-JK wasn't Born Yet when the Who Released "Who Are You" in 1978! I got to see That Tour-My freshmen year in College-with Ted Nugent and AC-DC as the Openers!!)

FRO’s Favorite Five College Football Picks By Max Baez


FRO’s Favorite Five College Football Picks
By Max Baez
Contributing Writer-Football Reporters Online
(photo: Brandon James of Florida Returned a Punt for a TD in last years win Over the Vols, How Bad will it Be This Year?-Photo Via PicApp)

While this week doesn’t have the big time matchups between top 10 teams that occurred the first two weeks of the season, there are still plenty of intriguing games this weekend. The most talked about game of this weekend is taking place at Florida, who hosts Tennessee. Of course, this game isn’t hyped because of their performances so far this season, instead, it is fueled by the trash talk that new Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin threw at the Gators in the offseason. Now, for the predictions of the five games that are the biggest, at least in my mind, this weekend.

Tennessee @ Florida

We heard it from Lane Kiffin in the offseason, who falsely accused Gators coach Urban Meyer of recruiting violations while also claiming that he was going to be “singing Rocky Top all night long” after beating Florida. These statements will be very hard to backup, considering many believe Florida to be the best team in the country while Tennessee’s offense looked anemic last weekend in a home loss to UCLA. Florida is the superior team, they are out to get the Vols after all the offseason comments, and the game is in the swamp, so all signs point to a blowout.

Florida 52, Tennessee 10


Nebraska @ Virginia Tech

Winning this matchup would go a long way to restoring Nebraska’s status as one of college football’s elite programs. Even though Bo Pelini has already ripped the team’s defense for being soft (after they allowed only 3, that’s right, 3 points against Florida Atlantic), the defense is very solid, and the same goes for Virginia Tech. I’m expecting a low scoring affair, but I think Tyrod Taylor and the Hokies offense get just enough done to secure a win.

Virginia Tech 16, Nebraska 13


Cincinnati @ Oregon State

This game has been overlooked by practically everyone, but this should be an exciting, high scoring affair. Cincinnati won the Big East last year and looks very strong again this year, while Oregon State is still a bit of an unknown due to having a completely new defense. Their game against UNLV last week was way too close, so I have a feeling this week won’t be a great one for the home crowd. There will be lots of points, however, with Cincinnati QB Tony Pike putting up big numbers in a Bearcat victory.

Cincinnati 41, Oregon State 31


Florida State @ BYU

It feels weird saying that once powerhouse Florida State beating non-BCS school BYU would be an upset, but in 2009, it definitely would be. BYU is off to a hot start this season, already knocking off Oklahoma, and a win against FSU wouldn’t just strengthen their profile to be selected to a BCS game, it would actually give them a glimmer of hope that they could play for the national title if they run the table. However, I expect the BYU BCS talk to stop here. FSU had a wake up call last week, almost losing to Jacksonville State, but their to the wire performance against Miami shows that the team has the ability to be very good, especially since the Miami team they lost to has looked very good since. FSU has better athletes than BYU, and if FSU puts it together, this is a very winnable game. The one thing working against FSU is BYU’s potent offense, led by darkhorse Heisman candidate Max Hall, but if FSU can slow down the offense while putting up points of their own (which they should be able to do, as long as they play like they did week 1 as opposed to week 2), then the Noles will win.

Florida State 31, BYU 24


West Virginia @ Auburn

This would have been a marquee game three years ago, when West Virginia was the powerhouse of the Big East and Auburn was a top tier SEC team. West Virginia has clearly lost a step after losing Rich Rodriguez, and losing Pat White doesn’t help things either, but the offense still has plenty of weapons, led by Noel Devine. However, West Virginia hasn’t been particularly impressive in their first two wins, while Auburn has been a surprise. Last year, the Auburn offense was, to put it lightly, not very good, but new coordinator Gus Malzahn has been able to implement his version of the spread offense with lots of early success, averaging 43 points a game. Traveling down to Jordan-Hare Stadium will be tough for the Mountaineers, and with a spread offense that actually works, I expect Auburn to win this one.

Auburn 38, West Virginia 24

Other games to watch this week: Texas Tech @ Texas, California @ Minnesota, Arizona @ Iowa, Georgia @ Arkansas, Utah @ Oregon

The SEC Wrap Up Week 2


 
                                         The SEC Wrap Up Week 2

By Rafael Garcia Sr. Contributing Writer-Southeast Region-Football Reporters Online
 
So it’s the second week of the season and some teams had some easy ones to start the year. A week later there were expected wins and of course unexpected losses. So sit back and let’s talk about how this weekend unfolded.
 
UCLA 19 Tennessee 15
 
After a laugher against Western Kentucky the Vols found themselves at reality check’s door week 2. The Bruins were a different monster on this day even though they were supposed to lose this game. Remember all the noise that Lane Kiffin made before the season began? Well he is a bit quiet after the debacle on Saturday. He is beginning to realize that it is going to take some time for this rebuilding process. The Vols offense was nothing short of anemic turning the ball over four times. They managed just 208 total yards and one touchdown. Kiffin left quarterback Jonathan Crompton in too long and he admitted it cost his team big. Crompton finished 13-26 for 93 yards and three picks. The problem for Tennessee is that he is all they have. He beat out Nick Stephens for the job so what does that say about their depth at that position? There was some infighting between players after the game, prompting Kiffin to rally his troops, but it will be on the field where they will have to make a difference. Either way the problems that hurt them last year seem to be creeping up again and that won’t fly in Knoxville. Kiffin will have to make decisions to change the team. Will he go with Stephens or stick with Crompton? What changes will he make to generate more offense? Next is Florida and a performance like this one is going to get them blown right out of the swamp. One way or another there will have to be change or this season will be a long one.
 
Georgia 41 South Carolina 37
 
Wow was this a crazy game or what? This one had special teams play, defense and a lot of penalties too. With all that happened it all came down to one last play before this one would be decided. There was 22 seconds left and the Gamecocks had the ball at the 7-yard line. South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia tried to win it but was turned back when his pass was swatted away by Rennie Curran. It helped the Dawgs avoid a 0-2 start for the first time since 1996. Garcia had a big day as he went 31-53 for 313 yards two scores and one pick. His counterpart Joe Cox was 17-24 for 201 yards and two touchdowns. He also had one interception returned 35 yards for a score too. South Carolina kicker Spencer Lanning tied a team record with five field goals. It was a much-improved offense after scoring just seven points last week. As for Georgia, well they could ill afford to be winless and were able to eek out the win on that big play at the end. Brandon Boynkin had a huge game with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and set up another score with an interception. DeAngelo Tyson had the huge play of the game when he blocked an extra point try. That block did not allow South Carolina to tie the game with a field goal. Instead they had to go for the win and missed out. The defenses obviously had a hard time of it giving up so many points in the first half that ended with Georgia up 31-23 at the half. So there is next week now and much more work to do.
 
LSU 23 Vanderbilt 9
 
On a rain soaked afternoon the Tigers found out they still have much work to do although they got the win. Head coach Les Miles said after the game that he was happy to get a win, but acknowledged that his team must play better in the weeks to come. The Dores were trying to win at LSU for the first time in nearly 50 years. They were still in the game until Keiland Williams caught a late touchdown pass. The Vandy defense played well in a loss holding LSU to three filed goals after allowing them inside their 20.  Tiger quarterback Jordan Jefferson was 20-29 but had only 138 yards passing to show for it. He had problems finding deep receivers all day and had to check down to the short routes in order to move the ball. Freshman Russell Shepard got in some playing time in the wildcat rushing three times for 27 yards and catching a six-yard pass that he fumbled away. Their defense turned it up in the second half as they shut Vanderbilt down in the second half. The Commodores really hurt themselves bad when penalties allowed the Tigers to keep drives going. Quarterback Larry Smith had the only touchdown for Vandy and went 11-24 for only 88 yards with one interception. All in all head coach Bobby Johnson has reason to be pleased. He saw his team stay almost toe-to-toe with a national power. That will only help his team’s confidence going forward. They will need all they can get a hold of as they try to get to consecutive bowls.
 
Elsewhere, the Gators turned it up as AT&Tebow racked up four touchdown passes plus another rushing score. It put him third in the SEC for rushing touchdowns and within five of the lead for overall touchdowns. The Gators won the game 56-6 in preparation for Tennessee. Down in Tuscaloosa Alabama had no problem with Florida International as they whipped up on them in a 40-14 rout. Highly regarded freshman Trent Richardson showed out as he rushed for 118 yards on 15 carries with two scores in his first full action. The Auburn Tigers went wild with their new offense and racked up 589 yards with Ben Tate ran for 159 yards and freshman Onterio McCalebb had 1220. It was the first time a freshman has had over 100 yards rushing ever for Auburn Yes folks that would include the likes of Bo Jackson.

His Stock is Falling Fast By Nick Haswell-Football Reporters Online



His Stock is Falling Fast By Nick Haswell-Football Reporters Online

With one swing of his fist, Oregon RB LaGarrette Blount might have lost himself a lot of money. The difference in guaranteed money for a late first round draft pick and a late round draft pick is $5-$6 million for the late first round pick and $25,000-$75,000 for a late round draft pick. Had Blount stayed out of trouble and produced on the field in 2009, Blount could have been one of the first running backs taken in the 2010 NFL Draft. But after he connected his punch with Boise State DE Byron Hout last Thursday night, Blount saw his NFL Draft stock drop dramatically. He is now projected as a 7th rounder or undrafted free agent.

In 2008, LaGarrette Blount rushed for 1,002 yards and averaged 7.3 yards per carry. He also broke Oregon’s school record for rushing touchdowns in a season with 17. One of the lasting images of the 2008 Oregon Ducks season was Blount’s final touchdown run versus Oklahoma State in the Holiday Bowl, where he hurdled a defender, bounced off two tackles, and stiff-armed a final defender en route for a 29 yard touchdown. Following the Holiday Bowl, Blount contemplated declaring for the 2009 NFL Draft, but LeGarrette ultimately decided to return for his senior season at Oregon.

Blount’s scouting report reads that he is a big back at 6-1, 240 lbs. that is tough to bring down. He also has decent quickness and athleticism (he routinely hurdles defenders in the open field) and a great nose for the endzone. But his speed is not great, as he gets caught from behind in the open field, and he is not the most patient runner. He has almost no experience as a receiver out of the backfield and is very passive as a blocker. Also, his off the field problems had been a concern before his altercation against Boise State. He was suspended during the spring in 2009 for his poor attendance at voluntary workouts in the winter. He then showed up to spring practice overweight, and appeared slow and overweight in the 2009 opening game versus Boise State.

Before being suspended for the remainder of the 2009 season, I projected LeGarrette Blount as a 5th or 6th round prospect in the NFL Draft. After his inexcusable actions in Boise and being suspended for the remainder of the season at Oregon, I can’t give Blount a higher grade than being an undrafted free agent. If I were an NFL team, I couldn’t afford to risk a draft choice on him. It’s unfortunate that Blount likely ended his collegiate career with that punch. It would have been interesting see if he matured from the incident and continued to showcase his talent. As of now, it seems unlikely that he would be able to petition the NCAA for another year of eligibility. For whoever picks up Blount for 2010, it is definitely a buyer beware situation.

The BCS Needs Fixing-By Max Baez Football Reporters Online

Photo: Not Even Tim Tebow, shown here at the "BCS Celebration" can fix this problem
The BCS Needs Fixing-By Max Baez Football Reporters Online

We all know the BCS is going to be controversial come December, so why not write about it now?
The BCS has been around for over a decade. Before the BCS, the Pac-10 and Big 10 champion always played each other in the Rose Bowl, and because of this, it meant that the two highest ranked teams at the end of the season were not always playing one another in the national title game. To change this, the BCS was created, where a system mixing polls and computer rankings was created to find the two “best” teams in the country to play each other on one glorious night to establish one national champion.

Of course, we all know this has worked out just as well as Jon and Kate’s marriage. In the majority of the years since the BCS was created, there has been a controversy over the two teams placed by the system into the national title game. As we all know, last year was a particularly good example of why the BCS is such a terrible system, with Utah and Boise State finishing the regular season undefeated and Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech, Alabama, Florida, Penn State, and USC all having one loss and all feeling as if they belonged in the title game.

One thing last year the perfect example of why the BCS is a failure comes from the Big 12, where we all remember that Oklahoma beat Texas Tech, who beat Texas, who beat Oklahoma, and that all three had one loss. They all had a legitimate reason for believing they belonged in the title game (although most recognize that Texas Tech was not as good as the other two, beating Texas on a series of fluke plays before being blown out by Oklahoma), and in the end, Oklahoma was selected to the title game, where they would lose to Florida.

This year, it is obviously yet to be determined what kind of BCS problem we will have. Maybe it will be like the problem of 2008, or maybe it won’t be a problem like it was during the 2005 season, when two and only two BCS conference teams finished undefeated (Texas and USC.) Still, even if the BCS works once in a while, it doesn’t work all of the time (or even half the time), and it’s time to finally fix this. It’s time for a playoff. I’m saying this even though I realize a playoff is likely to never happen, but college football absolutely, positively needs a playoff.

The playoff, a fixture in American sports, is used to determine the title winner of everything, except, of course, the champion of NCAA D1 FBS football. Even all of the other NCAA football divisions use it, everyone but the FBS. Of course, there’s a reason for this, since if everyone agreed that a playoff was the best option, we would have it.
The reason why a playoff doesn’t exist is because the college presidents of BCS schools don’t want one. They like the BCS. It guarantees them a ton of money, with no team having to play more than one game. It makes it hard for non-BCS conference schools to get involved, and thus take away from the money for BCS conference schools. It insures that the season ends right before the start of the spring semester of college, meaning less practice and travel time for athletes. However, there are arguments to be made against these key reasons why college presidents want to keep the BCS.

In terms of money, the BCS presidents love that they make so much off of one game, but with a playoff, there will still be tons of interest, great TV ratings, and more games, meaning more money. With a playoff, college football’s postseason would rival the greatness of the NCAA basketball tournament, and it surely would be a huge cash win for all of the college presidents. In reality, this should entice college presidents towards supporting a playoff.
In terms of non-BCS conference schools, it’s about time to give them a shot of winning a national title. Utah probably would not have won the title last year, as I doubt they would have beat Florida or Oklahoma, but the regular season they had means they deserved a shot, which would make college football a whole lot more fair (and is something a playoff would provide.) Secondly, not only is a playoff the most fair system, but with more postseason games, there would be more profits for the colleges involved.

Thirdly, we’ve heard college presidents give their speeches about how a college playoff would make the academic schedule harder for the players. This is funny, because they are only using this argument because it’s convenient for them. I don’t see these same college presidents crying foul about baseball players playing up to five games a week, forcing players to miss the majority of the school week at times. Football games are played on Saturdays, players can fly out on Friday and barely miss any classes (if any at all.) Also, the playoff would be during the beginning of the spring semester, which isn’t exactly the most stressful time in the classroom anyway.

Opponents of the BCS are also concerned that a playoff system would take away from the bowls, but this isn’t true at all. The same bowl games for 7-5 teams will have the same meaning for those involved with a playoff than they are now. Also, certain bowl games can be mixed into a playoff system. The first round of a sixteen team playoff can be at the home sites of the highest ranked teams. I propose sixteen teams, because I feel eight could leave some deserving teams out, although an eight team playoff would be better than none at all. The quarterfinals would be Fiesta, Sugar, Rose, and Orange Bowls, allowing these bowl games to retain an elite status. Semifinals and finals are neutral sites.

There it is, a sixteen team playoff. A true national champion. Conference champions of the “big six” conferences, ten at-larges determined by a selection committee. Winners of the small conferences could potentially have a shot. Lose two early games and then get hot towards the end of the season, and you still have a chance at winning at all. This is my dream, and this is how college football needs to be.

2009 Pac-10 Predictions


2009 Pac-10 Predictions
By Max Baez For Football Reporters Online

While much of the country sees the Pac-10 as USC and nine others, every year lately it has been just that: nine other teams trying to knock off USC as the conference champion. USC has held at least a share of the conference title every year since 2002, and with consistent top five recruiting classes and an absolutely loaded roster, it is easy to see how they are able to achieve this. However, USC is not invisible, as they have not gone undefeated in conference play since 2005 and Oregon State was one game away from winning the title last year. However, will this be the year USC is finally not at the top?

And with the predictions, USC is at the number one spot. While USC lost some key talent, including QB Mark Sanchez and all of their starting linebackers (two of whom were first round picks), they have reloaded as they always have someone waiting in the wings. Freshman QB Matt Barkley has been given the starting job, and QB Mitch Mustain, who went 8-0 as a starting QB as a freshman at Arkansas in the SEC, is a third stringer, which just shows how loaded their roster is. There are really no weaknesses on the roster at all, and S Taylor Mays is certainly one of the best defenders in America.

Now, for the rest of the rankings:

2. California. It’s tough to choose between Cal and Oregon for the two spot, but coach Jeff Tedford has Cal in a great position to succeed this year. The defensive backs are the best in the Pac-10, especially at corner, and RB Jahvid Best may just be the best running back in America. With 17 starters returning, Cal looks solid to challenge USC. However, they should fall just a bit short, especially since Cal’s passing game, led by QB Kevin Riley, leaves something to be desired.

3. Oregon. Former offensive coordinator Chip Kelly steps in as head coach and he certainly has some weapons to play with up in Eugene with a great running game and QB Jeremiah Masoli, who showed towards the end of last year that he has the skills to run Kelly’s run-oriented spread offense very effectively. Oregon is lucky in that they have the Pac-10’s best home field advantage and host both USC and Cal, but unfortunately they are just not at the same level as either of the two.

4. Arizona. Arizona was disrespected at the Pac-10 media day, where they were selected to finish 8th in the conference after making a bowl game for the first time in a decade last year. While key players QB Willie Tuitama, OT Eben Britton, and WR Mike Thomas departed, the core of the defense remains in tact, which should be one of the Pac-10’s strongest. The big question mark is at quarterback, where neither Matt Scott or Nick Foles has been able to solidify the starting job. However, whoever wins the job will have many weapons to work with, including TE Rob Gronkowski, one of the nation’s best, and 1000 yard RB Nic Grigsby. Arizona should be the surprise of the conference, and that means a similar win count to last year.

5. Oregon State. The Beavers were very close to winning the Pac-10 last season, beating USC early in the year and leading the conference until losing to Oregon in the season finale. Sophomore RB Jacquizz Rodgers was the Pac-10 offensive player of the year award last season, and the diminutive back is a pain for defenses to take down, but only three starters return on defense, so growing pains are to be expected in Corvallis.

6. Stanford. The academic powerhouse has turned into a recruiting destination under coach Jim Harbaugh, who recently brought in a top 20 recruiting class. RB Toby Gerhart is solid, QB Andrew Luck was very highly touted out of high school, and the defense is strong in the front seven. However, the defensive backs are a major liability, and while this team could potentially end up making a bowl game, they aren’t among the conference’s best, but Harbaugh has the team headed in that direction.

7. Arizona State. The biggest problem with Arizona State is the offensive line. It’s simply not very good. Rudy Carpenter got killed last year, and there’s little reason to believe things will be better for new starting QB Danny Sullivan. The strength of the team is on the defensive line, which is solid all around. ASU’s defense will also get a boost if standout freshman LB Vontaze Burfict qualifies, but that’s a major question mark at this time.

8. UCLA. Lots of people are very confident UCLA will have a major improvement this year, but I think they are still a year away. Coach Rich Neuheisel has built winners before, and based on how he’s recruiting, it looks like he’s on that track at UCLA. However, the offensive line is still likely to be terrible, the running game will probably still be awful (it was a dreadful 116th in college football last year), and starting QB Kevin Prince has no collegiate experience. The defense should be solid, but UCLA is going to have a lot of problems putting points up on the board.

9. Washington. The good news: QB Jake Locker is back. He could be the best QB in the Pac-10 this season. Also, coach Steve Sarkisian has gotten off to a great start recruiting, and the school is becoming confident that success is on the horizon. However, success will not come this year. But it could be worse, they could be…..

10. Washington State. This program is seriously a mess. Second year coach Paul Wulff has a major rebuilding job to do, and based on early recruiting measures, it doesn’t look like he’s bringing too much talent in. The Cougars aren’t strong in any area, and the fact that they had open tryouts on campus for QB last year just says it all. It will be a long season this year in Pullman.

Hofstra Vs. Stonybrook-The Long Island Classic By Dr. Bill Chachkes for Football Rep



Hofstra Vs. Stonybrook-The Long Island Classic
By Dr. Bill Chachkes for Football Reporters Online

It’s been a match up on the schedule for several years now. A game that puts two of the better college teams playing in the FCS (I still catch myself calling it “1-AA”) each year. It’s also the two “Major” college teams playing on Long Island. While both teams recruit outside of the region, it’s also a showcase for local talent as well. Both coaches are well rounded and respected football men who come from the same “coaching family tree” so to speak. They were both assistants under Coach Bob Ford at the University of Albany.

Hofstra has put many players into the NFL over the years, most recently OL Willie Colon of the SB XLIII winning Steelers and Marques Colston of the Saints. They play in the CAA conference, which is considered by many to be the top conference in the FCS. Even in “down” seasons the program has remained competitive in play and continues to draw recruits from many areas. Last year the field surface at Shuart Stadium was replaced, and is among the best I have ever set foot on. They return several starters from the 2006 and 2007 seasons, including QB Corey Christopher, who at 250 lbs and just over 6’1” looks more like an Inside Linebacker or a Fullback and is just as hard to bring down. Senior Linebacker Luke Bonus is the leader of a resurgent defense that will make life hard for every opponent they face this season.

The Seawolves may not have any players in the NFL just yet, but a move to a new conference(the Big South), a seasoned staff of assistants, a quality stadium of their own, and their share of televised games make them a tough opponent as well. The 1-2 punch of Conte Cuttino and Edwin Gowins from the backfield makes it difficult for the opposing defenses to key on just one rusher. Like Hofstra’s Dave Cohen, Coach Chuck Priore is also a master teacher of the game. Both teams also have a loyal fanbase, and the respect of opposing coaches. They both follow the tenant of honoring the great game of Football at it’s core.

So why will this match up end after next season? Shouldn’t this be a highlight of the start of the season for both these teams? Shouldn’t it be treated like the “classic” games that are played among teams in the southeast? Why not make it a “worthy cause” game that benefits a local charity or two.

Hofstra would most likely want to get a game or two a year against
Higher graded division 1 teams like Army or even Rutgers. Stonybrook would probably love to get a televised game against a higher ranked “1-AA” team like Appalachian State (even though Costal Carolina is a huge match up for them this year). But why take on those steep climbs at the cost of eliminating this game?

Hopefully the School’s presidents will come to terms on extending this yearly match up which I now call “The Long Island Classic.”

Successful CAA Football Begins 2009 Picking Up Where It Left Off


Successful CAA Football Begins 2009 Picking Up Where It Left Off
September 3, 2009
Jon Wagner, Sr. Writer At-Large, Football Reporters Online


With two–thirds of its conference (8 of 12 teams) accounting for one-third of the top 24 of the 2009 Football Championship Subdivision preseason coaches poll, the Colonial Athletic Association embarks on its third season of football with high expectations as unquestionably the best FCS conference top to bottom.

And, why not?

In its first year of existence, the CAA placed a record-tying five teams in the 16-team 2007 FCS playoffs, while springing a few upsets over top seeds from other conferences and placing Delaware in the FCS championship game.

For an encore, the CAA broke that record, sending six teams to the 2008 FCS playoffs, while producing last season’s FCS national champion, the Richmond Spiders. There’s every reason to believe that CAA success will continue in 2009. Richmond is ranked second in the nation, heading a group of four CAA teams ranked among the top eight in the 2009 preseason FCS coaches poll.

One of those teams, #5 Villanova, and another nationally-ranked team, #19 Maine, kicked things off for the CAA in 2009 on Thursday night. In one case, the CAA impressed against a superior division. In the other, it was the opposite. However, the final results of each were along the same lines of the CAA’s first two seasons –- winning in the CAA continued, and in dramatic fashion each time.

Villanova 27, Temple 24
Seventeen days before the Philadelphia Eagles’ scheduled home opener on the same field, Villanova used a big second half to rally from deficits of 10-0 at halftime and 24-14 in the fourth quarter, to capture the inaugural Mayor’s Cup game with a 27-24 victory over Football Bowl Division opponent Temple, at Lincoln Financial field in Philadelphia, when redshirt freshman kicker Nick Yako calmly booted a 32-yard game-winner as time expired.

Ironically, Villanova’s last win against an FBS opponent was a different three-point win over Temple, 23-20, in 2003, in the first game ever played at the same stadium affectionately called The Link.

This time, the opportunistic Wildcats won the turnover battle 5-1, while their second-half comeback was sparked by signal caller, senior quarterback Chris Whitney, who rebounded from a mediocre 7-for-14 first half to complete 17 of 21 passes after halftime, to finish 24 of 35 for a career-high 278 yards. Whitney’s favorite target was a big one –- both in physical stature and in his ability to come up big on Thursday night –- 6-foot-4 senior wide receiver Brandyn Harvey, who had game-highs of 9 catches and 142 receiving yards, including a clutch 6-yard touchdown reception from Whitney with 1:24 left in the game, to tie the score, 24-24, setting the stage for Yako to be the hero… Up next for the 1-0 Cats is Lehigh at home, on September 12th.

Maine 34, St. Cloud State 27
While Villanova knocked off an FBS team on a neutral field, Maine struggled in what should have been a fairly easy season-opening tune-up at home, against feisty and inspired Division II St. Cloud State. After a St. Cloud State field goal, Maine took its first lead, 7-3, on a first quarter 80-yard kickoff return from Desmond Randall, who bounced back nicely after missing the entire 2008 season with an injury. However, the Black Bears, could not contain wide receiver Fred Williams, who set a school record with a game-high 15 catches (all but 7 of St. Could State’s 22 completions for the game) for 171 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown pass, putting St. Cloud State ahead, 24-20, with 8:42 left in the fourth quarter. But, what senior quarterback Mike Brusko was limited to (9-13 for 101 yards) with his arm, he did with his legs, carrying 22 times for 86 yards, as the Black Bears’ running game was in session –- that is, with sophomore tailback Derek Session, who led the way with 133 rushing yards in 22 attempts, including a 10-yard touchdown run that gave Maine a short-lived 27-24 lead with 1:59 left in regulation, before Brusko plunged into the end zone with what proved to be the game-winning score in overtime, from a yard out… the Black Bears next game is its CAA opener at Northeastern, on September 12th.

Other CAA Teams Kicking Off This Weekend
Nine other CAA teams will start their seasons this weekend. Of special note…

A pair of CAA teams will challenge the FBS and the ACC on the road on Saturday:
- #2 Richmond will play at Duke while…
- #14 William & Mary stays in state to play at Virginia.

Meanwhile, also on Saturday:
- #18 UMass will play an FBS and Big 12 opponent when it travels to Kansas State, and…
- Hofstra, whose #24 ranking following a 4-8 campaign in 2008, demonstrates the depth and quality of the CAA, will host fellow Long Island FCS rival Stony Brook.

Report from the Rose Bowl: San Diego State vs. UCLA By Will Osgood –Football Reporters Online


Report from the Rose Bowl: San Diego State vs. UCLA By Will Osgood –Football Reporters Online

If you only watched the first quarter of the San Diego State UCLA game on Saturday night, you would’ve thought the Aztecs are going to challenge for the Mountain West title this season, and that UCLA is going to go winless. But the reality is that neither of those events are going to happen. The Bruins’ play in the final three quarters assured us of that.

Being in the Rose Bowl on Saturday night gave me a unique perspective on what was otherwise not thought of by most college football fans as a big game. One could see that UCLA is a much more talented team in year two under Rick Neuheisel, and that his style and schemes are beginning to pay off. Of course, next week in Knoxville the team will have a nice little test on national television to show just how improved they are.
Regardless, Saturday night there were a few athletes that stood out, and proved 2009 will be a breakout year for their NFL stock.

The truth is that even wildfires could not stop players such as Brian Price, Alterraun Verner, Reggie Carter, Luke Laologi, and Vincent Brown from making their presence known early and often. And that is only a list of upperclassmen. UCLA sophomore safety Raheem Moore picked off three passes on the day.

Two of those three passes were thrown up in the face of pressure by SDSU Redshirt sophomore QB Ryan Lindley. And who caused that pressure? Brian Price and Reggie Carter. Price, a junior defensive tackle, left the game for a series early in the game, but came back to terrorize Lindley and give Carter and other linebackers countless opportunities to hit Lindley and shut down the running game.

Carter, the middle linebacker, did a wonderful job of getting his defense aligned properly to San Diego State’s multiple formation West Coast Offense. Beyond just aligning properly, Carter had six tackles, and pressured the quarterback on a number of blitzes.

Also contributing largely for UCLA was Alterraun Verner who proved to be an elite special teams player when he returned a blocked kick 70 yards for a touchdown. He also recorded two tackles and had zero missed tackles, a large improvement from a season ago.

For San Diego State, Vincent Brown proved that despite being a junior, the NFL is a very real possibility even this year, although I’m definitely not advocating he leave early. He looked quicker than most of UCLA’s defensive backs, save Verner, although the two rarely went one-on-one (crazy to me given they were the two best “speed” players on the field). Brown regularly beat his man to get open, and even caught a 78 yard touchdown pass on a play where Lindley just threw it up and let Brown run under the ball. Brown beat the UCLA coverage many other times and finished with five catches for 139 yards and a touchdown.

Finally, SDSU linebacker Luke Laolagi, was swarming the field all day, putting pressure on Kevin Prince on blitzes and showed great athleticism and instincts when he picked off a pass and returned it over twenty yards in the second half.
 

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