gotta love the Internets, everyone can be Bill Braski if they want to. Lucky
runs an INTERNET company, 90 percent of those complaining haven't met the
guy but know his login handle. Given that is our relations in a lot of
respects, why can't he let the customers know how this is going and what
happened and why it needed addressing. That's leadership not picking and
choosing when you want to be a leader.I love when everyone becomes an attorney when there is a legal issue, a CEO
when these matters happen, and ex NFL stars when the draft comes
around...
Now on to more random thinkings....
More Football thinkings
There are a lot of new wrinkles that Hightower's injury has allowed to happen it seems. I have noticed a few that really peaked my interest to follow:
Dareus plays NT in the nickel I really like this one because Marcel is a pure pass rushing lineman and has a quick burst. He is a much more effective lineman in passing situations than Cody and he gives them more opportunities to disrupt or create double downs on him and allow a linebacker or end running a scissor blitz to get free shots in the backfield.
I really think they can't find enough ways to get him in the game because he's disruptive when he plays. He isn't as solid a run end as Deaderick, yet, but he does well laterally and makes plays when they run at him.
Reamer is still the Will in Nickel Reamer is a solid linebacker, I've said it all year, just scroll down. He gives them some real solid opportunities to use him in space and allow McClain to rush the QB more. When they play nickel, which is probably 45-50% of the time, they get a lot of playmakers on the field with him, Anders, Upshaw (who I have reserved optimism for), Dareus, and McClain on the field at one time and it can really confuse the QB because all of them can rush and most can cover space.
Barron moves to Money in the Dime This was happening a fair amount before but now it is pretty well the way it is. I noticed they walked him and/or Woodall up with McClain and had them basically as a linebacker a few times to give Snead a scare on pre-snap. One thing they need to work on is keeping Woodall from tipping his blitz. You can't skip up to the line and not signal that you aren't blitzing, I think everyone but Snead knew he was coming. The big thing that Barron in the Money does is it gets Green in the field and gives them an additional cover guy. Green's play has really stepped up and has been a good reason why Jackson and Johnson have been a little more willing to jump routes and try to make plays when in the Dime.
Marquis Maze was a TE for one play It was a fine job of "boo blocking" if there ever was, but on the 4th and 1 TD, he lined up on the line and confused Ole Miss because they thought it was up the gut or a pass to his side.
Julio in the slot They have tried it a little more over the last 2 games and I think it will pan out with more fine tuning. They really tried to catch Ole Miss off guard by putting him inside of Hanks, but it never caught on. The issue with it is that defense are instantly shading him regardless, so whether he is the Flanker, Split, or Slot, he's got eyes on him.
The Wildcat still fizzles when it centers on the back Unless Ingram can pass it or they can do more with it than just direct snap plays, it really isn't going to be fruitful. They may be nesting that play for Florida or something, but right now it is just another play that teams are now covering pretty well across the board.
Speaking of Cody, the trimmed down one has gotten some shots at pass situations and has just not been all that effective. Teams have pretty well Codyproofed their playcalling to move the pocket or run opposite of him to just avoid the situation of a big guy on a little coat...er, quarterback. I really was hoping that he could be a more complete tackle, but he's a run stuffer and that will make him millions on its own.
Some fine coaching jobs by guys not named Saban...
This past weekend, I got the opportunity to watch some teams that really have come a long way and their coach's should be congratulated for their efforts. Now, some of you will do the stooopid thing and say "They lost to so and so, they can't be that good", that's not the point. The point is that they have turned the ship in the right direction and are playing good football compared to a year or so ago. On the list that caught my eye are:
Jim Harbaugh, Stanford- They are 4-2 and tied for 2nd in the Pac 10 aka USC and the 9 other guys. They did lose to Oregon State, but that isn't a shameful loss, and they lost to Wake on the road. Nobody expects Stanford to be a national power, but they have turned things around from where they were 1-11 in 2006 to a solid program under his watch. I noticed that they play with a lot more consistancy on both sides of the ball now and while they wouldn't win 9 games in the SEC world, they are good enough to be a mid tier bowl team and slip into a BCS spot every so often under his lead.
Chip Kelly, Oregon- If you had told me that the same Oregon team that looked like a steaming pile of crap on opening night would be a BCS bowl game contender, I would have said pass the bong over. However, Coach Kelly has rallied the team together and they look like that pesky Oregon team that nobody likes playing. The spread offense is a live and well again and their defense is still pretty tough.
Frank Beamer, Va Tech- They don't have a high power offense and they lost their top running back before the season, but that hasn't stopped them from being a BCS title contender in waiting. Their defense is still the foundation for all things that happen at Tech, and they will need it this week because Georgia Tech is looming ahead.
Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech- As most of you know, Johnson is a guy that I'm really high on in the coaching ranks and he has once again affirmed why. They took out an emotional FSU team trying to win one for coach and the weather, drubbed MSU, and UNC. The only blemish was the ambush they walked into at Miami.
Randy Shannon, Miami FL- Whether you want to admit it or not, he's gotten the swagger back in the Cane D. Like Tech did with Miami, Miami walked into a hornet's nest when they played Virginia Tech, but outside that, they've played some of their best football against some of the nation's best. The same team that was scrumming with FIU not long ago is not far from being the U again folks.
Kirk Ferentz, Iowa- Everytime the masses start calling him overrated, he pulls out a gem. This year's team reminds me a lot of the old Stallings teams that played down to the lower competition, but played their best when the TV was on them. Circle 11/14 down on the calendar, a more than likely undefeated Iowa goes to Columbus to face Ohio State and decide the BCS spot and possibly the BCS championship slot. This is the first Iowa team to start 6-0 since Chuck Long by the way.
Rich Rodriguez, Michigan- I know by just typing his name, some of you will be pissed because he jilted the Tide. Putting the envy and bullshit aside and really just looking at how they played last year and now, on top of all the drama right before the season with the sissy benchwarmers complaining about hard work, he's done a heck of a job. He has found more players to play the spread and has gotten a defense that had been runover well before he was there in better shape, and now they probably are a mid tier bowl team again. Beating Notre Dame, and giving Iowa a run for their money are good signs that with another year of recruting and practice, they'll be back where the boosters want to be.
Jim Leavitt, South Florida- He has continued to beat his critics on the field with a quietly solid program. They are once again undefeated, at least until tonight, but to recruit against FSU, UF, and Miami and be this good is impressive. Watching them dethrone FSU to be the 3rd best team in the state was a moment in school history and it doesn't look like USF is going to be content there for long....
Brian Kelly, Cincinati- By far the best job of all the list so far. Cincy is real close to being a dark horse in the big picture and they are playing very, VERY good football. They have quality wins over Fresno and @ Oregon St. They have USF tonight at Raymond James Stadium, and from here they go on the march to undefeated if they win tonight. They continue to grow as a team and program and are no longer the homecoming dijour for most teams.
Gary Patterson, TCU- The real Coach Fran has continued to win year in and year out without much fan fare from the national media. I always wonder why he isn't on the big list for major programs like UT, AU, Nebraska, etc when they have had job openings. I know this much, I watch them play 2 or 3 times a year and am always thankful to not see them play SEC teams often because his defenses are tight.
Looking forward to a weekend of good football.
I am not a big better any more on football. I know one person on here espouses great betting wisdom, but college football is always a volitile thing when it comes to spreads. However, these games are interesting....
Cincy v. USF, UC -3.5 What a faith line if there was one. Just knowing what happens when teams go to USF, I wouldn't bet that one, but it tells me they expect a true dogfight tonight. They are a lot alike and they do the fundamentals rather well, so this may be a game where whomever gets the ball last wins.
OU v. Texas, UT -3.5 This game never disapoints and it won't this year. OU has been snake bit again and has choked a time or two to live up to their Chokelahoma background. Mack Brown has reminded us every week that he didn't get to send Texas in to represent the conference. I would take Texas on the points because they aren't slowing down to let the pollsters beat them.
Iowa v. Wisconsin, UW-3 There is no way on earth that the very mediocre Badgers can hang a win on the Hawkeyes if they come to play.
Auburn v. Kentucky, AU -13.5 Take KY on the points, but Auburn probably squeaks by this one in a 38-31 type game. Should be a good one to watch though, KY is gritty and AU is flashy. Classic style battle to watch and see which one has more umph.
USCar v. Bama, Bama -17 I never bet on Bama games, ever. You do it once or twice and you learn your heart is not connected to your brain or wallet. I also don't know that they cover that spread, 10 maybe, but 17 will be pushing it.
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