Opppppsss Pow Suprise: Big Hits in College Football 2008

Here are some of the most vicious hits that have happened this year in college football. Enjoy

Raiders Suck, Falcons Aren't the "Real Deal"....Yet

You don’t need to look any further than this past Sunday to know that the Raiders have been nothing short abysmal this season. Oakland went off for all of 77 yards of offense while getting blanked by the Falcons. The Raiders are last in the league, or close to it, in points per game (32nd), passing yards per game (29th) and overall yards per game (31st). You’d like to hang a lot of that on the quarterback, but that wouldn’t paint the whole picture for the problems the Raiders are having.

We all know JaMarcus Russell’s been greatly compensated with the physical tools needed to be a stud in the league, and that he hasn’t yet developed into the type of player most thought he would. But it’s not totally his fault. They also have a lot of guys who should be able to get it done at the skill positions. You could blame the O-line that’s played like a sieve, the trio of talented backs that are underachieving (also pointing back to the O-line), or a defense that can’t finish. But the real blame needs to be hoisted on the shoulders of owner/tyrant Al Davis.

In all his infinite football wisdom, Al Davis has succeeded only at destroying his organization. His absolute power approach to ownership may have worked in the day, but this isn’t the day. Effectively what’s happened is Davis has allowed the rest of the league to pass him by while he’s just been working on the strength of his iron grip. It’s no secret that as an organization the Raiders are light years behind others like the Colts and the Pats, but at least early in the season the Raiders looked competitive under Lane Kiffin. Davis can’t keep the coaching carousel spinning and expect to become a legitimate playoff contender. It’s also not the 70’s, and he may have to reach a little deeper into the pockets of his big boy pants to help produce a team worth watching, because right now the Raiders wouldn’t even look decent in the Canadian league.

In short, if the Raiders can’t shore up things in the front office it’s going to be pretty difficult for things on the field to fall into order. Don’t expect miracles anytime soon, as you know Oakland really has become a ‘black hole’.

On the flip, the Falcons are another team that’s been less than good (since the Michael Vick debacle), but are starting to turn it around. A lot of it has to do with getting some stability back in the organization with an experienced head coach in Mike Smith, but it also has to do with a great first-round pick this past draft in quarterback Matt Ryan out of Boston College. Would I call the Falcons the ‘real deal’? Not yet. Their offense has blossomed a bit under the first year QB, and they’ve seen the emergence of a few playmakers (other than Roddy White) in Jerious Norwood and Michael Turner. They’ve also been able to win a couple games against a few decent teams, but most of the Falcons wins have come against the NFL’s basement squads.

Also, while Ryan has been a pleasant surprise, his numbers are far from those of league leaders at his position. Actually, Ryan ranks 19th currently among NFL QBs. While Ryan will progress with time, it’s the rest of the team that leaves me reluctant to give them the ‘seal of approval’ just yet. While Norwood, Turner and White have stepped up nicely in the A, it’s going to take more than one good season together for me to be convinced. The Falcons will also need to work on a defense that’s currently giving up almost 330 yards per game, and ranks in the middle of the league. If they can build on the current campaign, they should be able to put the Vick era in the past and become a serious contender again in the NFC.

Peace,

J-Dix
True Frosh sub 4.4

Pac 10 and Big 10, Come to this Century

Okay before I sound like an idiot and rip both of the conferences for not having a conference playoff, I did a little research and found out it is an NCAA rule that a conference must have 12 teams. Pac -10 has ten teams and the Big 10 has eleven teams. Big 10 really needs to scoop up Notre Dame to make it 12 teams so they can have a playoff.

The Pac-10 does a nice job I guess, with their round robin system, but if you have a 3-way tie at the top there will be hell to pay to those left out.

I was going to go on a huge rant about how these conferences are stupid and need to give up the Rose Bowl tradition if that is keeping them from having conference championships, but its not.

Who does the blame go to? The NCAA, they are more sleazy than oil men. I have yet to go on my NCAA sports rant of how it truly is modern slavery in its most sophisticated form. We are gonna leave that conversation to December, when the BCS chaos is at its highest and players are getting dumped left and right from teams for academic issues. 'Til then....see you when I see you.

Peace,

Ricky Writer

OK State vs Texas Tech Preview

Texas Tech has to have the best fusion leap(vertical and long jump combined) of any team in the nation. A home victory catapulted them from 7th in the BCS to 2nd. Wow. What do you do for an encore? You welcome the Oklahoma State Cowboys to Lubbock this weekend.

Unless you have been living under a rock, OK State is good, scary good. They exposed Mizzou for who they really are, and have shattered that teams' confidence for the rest of the year. They gave UT all they could handle in Austin, and should have won that game had it not been for a stupid middle screen on 4th down call. They have baby Crabtree in Dez Bryant and Zac Robinson is proving Mike Gundy to be a genius in going with Robinson over the highly hyped Bobby Reid last year.

Tech isn't too shabby themselves. We all know Tech can sling it and put up points with even your mom at quarterback. But these Red Raiders have a defense and running game. A defense that held Colt McCooy to 59% completions when he came in the game with 82% completion rate. Their run defense is 10th nationally 0nly allowing 98 yards per game.

OSU's rush offense ranks 5th nationally with 274 yards per game. The battle will be won in the trenches, and I give the edge to Tech's humongous offensive line and fiery defensive line. Dez Bryant will impress again and outshine Crabtree. But Graham Harrell will all but seal his bid to the Downtown Athletic Club in New York City by leading his team to victory. 38-24.

Alabama vs LSU Preview

Stats do not matter. No really, stats do not matter in this game. Only the facts. Saban coached at LSU and led them to a championship, only to make an abrupt departure to the Miami Dolphins for one year and then return to college football. Tiger fans didn't appreciate that from Saban. They moved on quite nicely by hiring former OSU Cowboy head coach Les Miles and three years later, winning a championship last year with Miles.

Saban is doing his thing in Bama, and is two years ahead of schedule having his team #1 in the BCS. Bama defeated an over-hyped Clemson team at the beginning of the year as well as a not as good as advertised Georgia team. Is Bama feeling themselves? Probably not with Saban at the helm, but as the "Rock" used to say, "It doesn't matter what you name is!"

Bottom line is this, Les Miles is a hell of a coach. If he was in Ann Arbor right now, Michigan's bowl streak would be continuing point blank. Ask Bob Stoops how good Miles is. Miles gave Stoops hell in the Big 12 South with the OSU Cowboys. He defeated Bob Stoops top 5 ranked Sooners two years in a row with far lesser talent. It was always said, what in the world would Miles do once he got blue chip talent. Well, he won a national title in 3 seasons recruting out of the blue chip friendly LSU.

Les Miles with talent versus Nick Saban with Young Jedi's who aren't quite there yet? I'll take LSU in a defensive struggle 10-7. Tiger Bait!

Peace,

Rajean Pierre Louis

BCS Busters Showdown

TCU and Utah meet this Thursday on the Utes home field in a meeting that will likely decide which team will get an at large bid into a BCS game in January.

TCU is 9-1 overall and 6-0 in conference play. The only blemish coming a top 5 ranked Oklahoma team early in the season. Since then the Horned Frogs have five straight games including a romping of then #8 ranked BYU. The Frogs will be looking for revenge since they last year's meeting with the Utes and a BCS berth is on the line.

The Utes are off to their best start since 2004 when they got their first BCS berth and didn't dissappoint with a defeat of then Big East Champion, Pittsburgh. Utah has won four of the last five meetings against the Horned Frogs and will use that mental edge to win on Thursday.

TCU ranks third in the nation in scoring defense (10.8 points per game), and second in total defense (214.5 ypg). Its run defense, which leads the nation with 38.9 yards allowed per game. Although Utah has rushed for 520 yards in its last two games that was to sorry New Mexio and Colorado State squads.

I give the edge to TCU in a close one, 17-14.

Peace,

Ricky Writer

JIMMY AWARDS Week 10

Here are the Jimmy Awards for the 10th football week of football

College JIMMYS

Michael Crabtree, WR Texas Tech

Screw the stats. They were great, but the don't matter, we'll mention them for the sake of it, but trust me, they do not matter. 10 catches for 127 yards and 1TD that just happened to be the game winning Moss/tight rope down the sidelines to defeat the #1 ranked Texas Longhorns.

LeSean McCoy, RB Pitt

McCoy carried the load as the Panthers defeated the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame with 32 carries, 169 yard and a touchdown.

Brendan Smith, SS Northwestern

Picked off a pass in the final minute of the game and returned it 48 yards to the house to the give the Wildcats the victory over the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

Percy Harvin, WR Florida

He was indeed the icyiest player this weekend. The Gators dawned the white on white look. Percy did his thing with the classic mid-white socks and white shoes with the orange trim. He topped it off with white knee bands. I am not a fan of white accessories in football at all, but this was definitely a good look by Mr. Harvin.


NFL JIMMYS

Donovan McNabb, QB Eagles

D-Mac got busy against the Seahawks and threw 28 for 43 times for 349 yards and 2TDs


Darrell Revis, CB Jets

Revis contributed five tackles, a sack and an interception in the Jets' 26–17 win over the Buffalo Bills. Revis also forced and recovered a fumble that led to a field goal.

John Abraham, DE Falcons

Abraham led Atlanta’s defensive effort with five tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble as the Falcons recorded their first shutout in six years, beating the host Raiders, 24–0.

Fred Smoot of the Redskins, Carlos Rogers of the Redskins, and Keiwan Ratliff of the Indianapolis Colts all get JIMMYS for being the most stylish NFL players this weekend. Smoot did what he does best and bucked the system and wore no white in his socks just the maroon legins and black tape on his shoes. Rogers was wearing orange/yellow soccer cleats which looked fly. Ratliff brought it back to the old school with double high white socks this past Sunday night for the Colts.