Bleacher Report - Articles by Eddie Griffin

Can Tony Romo And the Cowboys Stay Hot in Second Half?

Eddie Griffin — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:05:57 -0500

The way that they were playing in the first month-plus of the season, it looked like the Dallas Cowboys would be lucky to be a .500 team at season’s end, that Wade Phillips would be lucky to have his job come Jan. 4, 2010, and that Tony Romo would have to endure criticisms about his intestinal fortitude and big-game ability for yet another year.

There's no telling as to how each of those things will play out, but after a 2-2 start, Dallas heads into the second half as one of the league's hottest teams. Thanks to a four-game win streak, the Cowboys are now 6-2 and all alone atop the NFC East after their 20-16 win at Philadelphia on Sunday night.

With the slumping Giants on a bye week (at just the right time, for their sake) and the Eagles facing a tough road trip to streaking San Diego, the Cowboys could be two games ahead in the division if they can win at Green Bay on Sunday afternoon.

So what's propelled the Cowboys to an unexpected place at the top of the heap in the East?

Well, for starters, there’s the emergence of receiver Miles Austin as a prime target for Romo. Over the last four games, Austin has 22 catches for 531 yards (24.1 yards per catch) and six touchdowns.

It looked like the Cowboys missed T.O.’s propensity for playmaking in the early going, but Austin’s producing big plays, and more importantly, doing it without all of that unnecessary extra stuff that perpetuated T.O.'s exit from Dallas.

It also doesn’t hurt that Romo is sharp right now. In the first four games, Romo was completing 58 percent of his passes for 990 yards, with just four touchdowns and four interceptions. Over the last four games, Romo is completing 62 percent of his passes for 1,215 yards, nine touchdowns, and one interception.

Defensively, Dallas has had at least three sacks in each of the last six games, and they’ve forced seven turnovers in the last three games after forcing seven in the first five games.

So are the Cowboys for real? As nice as the Philly win was, it does have to be taken into consideration that their previous three wins came against the 1-7 Chiefs, an Atlanta team that’s 4-0 at home and 1-3 on the road, and a Seattle team that was in the middle of a run of five losses in six games.

But whether it’s the Seahawks or the Steelers, a win is a win is a win, and the Cowboys have a chance to rack up a few more and build their lead in the NFC East, all the while building a lot of steam for a brutal stretch run that will make or break their season.

Over the last five weeks, Dallas faces the Giants on the road, the Chargers at home, the Saints on the road, and after a tricky road game at Washington, host the Eagles to end the regular season.

The Cowboys went from a seemingly sure-fire playoff team to a postseason spectator by struggling in a tough final stretch last season, but Sunday night’s game in Philly was a sign that the results may be different this time around.

Against the Giants and Broncos, and Chiefs, the defense didn’t make plays when they needed in the fourth quarter, and against the Broncos, the Cowboys failed to punch it in from the two in the final minute in a 17-10 loss.

But against the Eagles, the offense made the plays, and so did the defense. Philly drove from their 25 to Dallas’ 45, and after needing one yard and having three downs to get it, the Eagles turned the ball over on downs after being stopped short three straight times.

On the next drive, Dallas had a 2nd-and-24 from their 41, and after shrinking it to a doable 3rd-and-14, Romo went for it all instead of staying conservative and playing for field position. He connected with Austin on a 49-yard score to put Dallas up 20-13 with 8:04 left, and then it was time for the D to come up big again.

On the next drive, the Cowboys held the Eagles to a field goal instead of allowing them to drive for a game-tying touchdown, and from there, the offense closed out what could prove to be a very vital road win come later on in the season.

Of course, nothing can be perfect with the Cowboys, as shown by the recent issues involving receivers Roy Williams and Patrick Crayton and their dissatisfaction with their respective situations.

However, for the time being, Dallas seems to have weathered those potential storms and a so-so start, and the Cowboys go into the second half of their season with a real chance to prove that they are who we didn't think they were—a contender.

This article was originally published on The Red Zone Report .

Can the Titans' Chris Johnson Rush For 2,000 Yards This Season?

Eddie Griffin — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:52:17 -0500

In case you didn’t know, Chris Johnson is fast. Very, very fast. If he gets past you, good luck, and goodbye.

Of course, there’s no good in being really fast if you don’t know how to make the most of it, and Johnson is certainly making the most of his blazing speed.

After running for 1,228 yards and nine touchdowns as a rookie last season in a virtual split role with Lendale White, Johnson has become the main option in Tennessee’s backfield this season. He’s certainly the last person you could point to for the Titans’ atrocious start to the season.

After running for 491 yards in Tennessee’s last three games, Johnson has taken over the NFL’s rushing lead with 959 yards through eight games, putting himself a full game’s worth of yards ahead of second-place Cedric Benson (an excellent story in his own right, certainly).

At the halfway point, Johnson is on pace for 1,914 yards, but with the roll he’s currently on it’s not too early to speculate on his chances to be the sixth back in NFL history—and the first since Jamal Lewis in 2003—to run for 2,000 yards.

How realistic are his chances? Here’s a look at how the remainder of the Titans’ schedule breaks down, and as you can see, there are more than a couple of favorable matchups for Johnson.

Week 10: vs. Buffalo — Johnson wasn’t listed as one of the must-starts in the Week 11 fantasy start & sit, but it’s safe to say that starting him against the league’s worst run defense is a must.

The Bills are allowing an average of 174 rushing yards per game, and gave up 222 rushing yards to New Orleans, 250 to Miami, 318 to the Jets, and even 171 to the Browns.

Don’t be surprised if Johnson runs for 200-plus yards for the second time in three games.

Week 11: at Houston — The Texans may have outlasted the Titans 34-31 in Week Two, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying by Johnson. He was a one-man show, carrying the ball 16 times for 197 yards and touchdowns of 57 and 91 yards, and he caught nine passes for 87 yards and had a 69-yard touchdown catch.

Week 12: vs. Arizona — Arizona’s defense is statistically one of the best in the league against the run, but in Week Eight, they allowed the Panthers to run for 270 yards, including 158 by DeAngelo Williams.

Week 13: at Indianapolis — Johnson’s lowest output of the season came against the Colts in Week Four, but he was only limited to nine carries because the game was out of hand so early.

Indy’s run defense is decent statistically, but as we‘ve seen, they‘re prone to allowing big games on the ground. Ronnie Brown ran for 136 yards against the Colts in Week Two and Steven Jackson went for 134 in Week Seven, so Johnson could get his share if the Titans can stay in the game long enough for him to get a decent amount of touches.

Week 14: vs. St. Louis — The Rams are 27th in the league in rushing yards allowed per game at 134.8, but only two running backs have been able to top the 100-yard mark against the Rams this season.

Julius Jones ran for 117 yards against St. Louis in Week One, but 62 of those yards came on one carry. Maurice Jones-Drew ran for 133 yards and three scores against St. Louis in Week Six, but it took him 33 carries to reach that total.

Week 15: vs. Miami — Miami is fifth in the league against the run, but that’s helped by having given up next to nothing in their first four games.

Since then, they haven‘t been nearly as stingy against the run, giving up an average of 128 yards over their last four games.

Week 16: vs. San Diego — This could be one of Johnson’s least productive games if the Chargers continue to play the run like they have in recent weeks.

Over San Diego’s first four games, opponents averaged 4.6 yards per carry and 151 rush yards per game. Over the last four games, those numbers have dropped to 3.6 and 109.

Week 17: at Seattle — The Seahawks haven’t had to face many elite rushers so far, but remember what happened in Week Two at San Francisco? Frank Gore had 207 yards and touchdowns of 79 and 80 yards.

So, can Johnson reach the hallowed 2,000-yard mark?

Here’s what the others averaged in each half of their 2,000 yard seasons, and what Johnson has done thus far:

O.J. Simpson (1973 - 14-game season): 1st half - 177 carries, 1,025 yards, 2nd half - 155 carries, 978 yards
Eric Dickerson (1984): 1st half - 178 carries, 925 yards, 2nd half - 201 carries, 1,180 yards
Barry Sanders (1997): 1st half - 163 carries, 893 yards, 2nd half - 172 carries, 1,160 yards
Terrell Davis (1998): 1st half - 202 carries, 1,150 yards, 2nd half - 190 carries, 850 yards
Lewis (2003): 1st half - 187 carries, 1,045 yards, 2nd half - 200 carries, 1,021 yards
Johnson (2009): 1st half - 144 carries, 959 yards

As you can see above, one big, big thing in Johnson’s favor is freshness.

Simpson had 20 or more carries 12 times in 14 games, and had games of 29, 34, and 39 carries. Dickerson had 20 or more carries 14 times, and 25 or more seven times. Davis had 20 or more carries 14 times, and five games of 28 or more carries.

Lewis had 20 or more carries 13 times, 25-plus carries eight times, and 30-plus carries three times. Sanders carried the lightest load, logging 20-plus carries only eight times and 25-plus only three times.

So far, Johnson is averaging only 18 carries a game, which puts him on pace for just 288 carries. He has 20-plus carries only three times, and two of those times have been in the last two games.

I expect him to average 20-plus carries per game in the second half, but with White in the backfield, a half-decent QB on the field, and with Johnson’s freshness in mind, it’s hard to see him having to tote the load 30-odd times in one game at any point.

But provided he does continue to stay fresh, he could be able to perform like Dickerson and tote a major load down the stretch.

And of course, there’s the matter of keeping his YPC high. Dickerson averaged nearly six yards per carry in the second half, Sanders averaged nearly seven, and Johnson goes into the second half with fewer carries than either and a number of favorable opponents ahead.

So, even if his YPC drops below the 6.7 it's currently at, it's hard to see it dropping too far, even with an increased load.

Overall, you have to like Johnson’s chances to, at the very least, make a real run at 2,000 yards.

Could his amount of touches hurt him in the end? Perhaps, but simply from looking at the last couple of weeks, his chances are all the more realistic the more competitive Tennessee is in each game. The more competitive they are, the more of a factor the run game will be.

More competitive ---> more chances for Johnson ---> more yards for Johnson = 2,000-plus? It's going to be fun to find out...unless you're one of the unlucky people trying to stop him.

This article was originally published on The Red Zone Report.

On The Mark: Ingram's Heisman Half Fuels Bama's Comeback vs. LSU

Eddie Griffin — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:29:11 -0500

In the three games prior to yesterday’s showdown against LSU, Alabama’s offense consisted of Mark Ingram, Mark Ingram, Mark Ingram, and very little else.

While Greg McElroy struggled in the face of dealing with strong defenses from South Carolina, Ole Miss, and Tennessee, Ingram flourished, establishing himself as perhaps the man to beat for the Heisman.

So then, it would only make perfect sense for the Tide to come out throwing early and often in the first half against LSU, while seemingly underutilizing their best offensive weapon, right?

Perhaps it was all a part of a master plan by Nick Saban and Bama’s coaching staff to keep Ingram fresh for the second half so that he could dominate and wear down LSU’s defense. If that was the case, it worked to perfection in Alabama’s SEC West-clinching 24-15 win.

After McElroy’s struggles over the last few weeks, it was quite a show of confidence in the coaching staff to have him throw from the outset, to the tune of eight passes on the first drive and 28 in the first half - more than he’s thrown in five games this season and one less than what he threw against Tennessee two weeks ago.

In the meantime, Ingram carried the ball only six times for 38 yards (with most of that coming on a 25-yard run) and caught two passes for 13 yards.

McElroy threw for more yards (151) in the first half than he had in any of Alabama’s first four SEC games, and Alabama produced more than 200 yards of total offense.

But, he also completed only 50 percent of his passes and threw a costly interception deep in LSU territory late in the first half, and for all the forays into LSU’s half of the field in the first half, there were all of three points on the scoreboard for the Tide going into the locker room.

The results likely weren’t what Saban was hoping for, but as I said, it must’ve been a part of the master plan, as a fresh Ingram was unleashed on the LSU defense from the start of the second half and duly responded.

LSU was able to accomplish what Alabama’s last six opponents hadn’t been able to do and score a first-half touchdown, but their 7-3 lead wouldn’t last long into the second half.

Alabama threw on the first play of the second half, but McElroy’s 29th toss of the afternoon went to #22 for a 12-yard gain. From there, Ingram reeled off 46 yards on four carries, netting three first downs and moving the ball on his own from the Tide‘s 19 to the LSU 23.

Two plays after an 18-yard run moved it to the 23, McElroy hooked up with Darius Hanks for a 21-yard touchdown, and Alabama had the lead before LSU had time to blink.

After trying to stick with the first-half strategy cost Alabama two points and set up LSU to take a 15-10 lead, the Tide went back to their bread and butter on the next drive, as Ingram carried the ball seven times for 46 yards.

An eighth carry would’ve likely landed him a touchdown with the way he was routinely breaking off positive gains, but Julio Jones’ substitution penalty on third and goal from the 2 moved the ball back to the 7. Then, instead of going for it on fourth and goal from the 2, Bama went for the field goal to make it 15-13 with 12:35 to go.

But after the Tide took a 21-15 lead on Jones’ 73-yard catch and run and a two-point conversion, and Bama’s defense followed with a quick stop, you-know-who got the call on a big 4th and 1 from LSU’s 45. The gain was only two yards, but it was a massive first down that allowed Alabama to drain the clock and ice the victory.

All told, Ingram carried the ball 16 times for 106 yards in the second half, and he finished the game with 144 yards on 22 carries and added five catches for 30 yards.

More telling is the fact that nine of his second-half touches went for first downs. He might have gone without a touchdown for the second straight game, but the impact he had on the final result was as good as having two or three.

Credit McElroy for not folding, and credit Jones for redeeming himself and finally making the kind of game-changing play that we’ve been waiting for this season.

Credit also goes to Alabama’s hard-hitting defense for knocking Jordan Jefferson and Charles Scott out of the game, because LSU’s offense might have been more of a threat in the fourth with those two in.

But once again, Mark Ingram proved just how much he means to his team, and by doing so, did himself a world of individual good as well.

This article was originally published on The Red Zone Report. Check out tomorrow's weekly Heisman Watch to see where Mr. Ingram ranks after his big day against LSU.

Notre Dame Football: Floyd's Return Boosts Clausen's Heisman Hopes

Eddie Griffin — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:02:54 -0500

When Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd went down with a broken collarbone against Michigan State on Sept. 19, it looked like his season would be over, and the Irish would have to make do without one of the nation’s top big-play receivers.

However, it’s a different story just a little over six weeks later, as the sophomore has been cleared to make his return when the Irish host Navy on Saturday.

Floyd started the season by catching four passes for 189 yards and three touchdowns against Nevada, and he followed that up with seven catches, 131 yards, and another touchdown against Michigan. Against Michigan State, he had two catches for 38 yards and a touchdown before sustaining his injury in the second quarter, and he very nearly had a second touchdown on the play on which he was injured.

So, it’s certainly understating the obvious to say that he’s been missed, with the numbers that he’d been putting up prior to his injury. However, in Floyd’s absence, Golden Tate has stepped up and then some, putting himself in position to earn at least a few Heisman votes. From the point that Floyd was injured, Tate has 42 catches for 745 yards and seven touchdowns, and he’s also run for two touchdowns.

That includes game-winning touchdown catches against Michigan State and Boston College, big grabs on key drives against Purdue and Washington (which was part of a 9-catch, 244-yard performance against the Huskies), so Tate (and his draft stock) have certainly been seen a boost with him flourishing in the role of go-to guy.

However, Floyd has definitely been missed. You know he would’ve been a target on Notre Dame's final drive against USC, when the Irish came up just four yards short of the end zone.

Not only that, but Jimmy Clausen's numbers, while excellent, would be even more so if Floyd were in the lineup. Clausen threw for 315 and 338 yards in the first two games, and he threw for 300 yards against Michigan State, but he’s been over that mark only once in the last five games and not once in the last three. That was when the Irish needed every one of Tate’s 244 yards and Clausen’s 422 yards to pull out the win over Washington.

Tight end Kyle Rudolph has been a reliable weapon, and Robby Parris and Duval Kamara have both stepped up in games, but none of those are nearly the explosive threat that Floyd is. And it’s worth mentioning that Notre Dame's ground game didn’t have a ton of success against Washington, suddenly sieve-like USC, and Boston College in three nail-biters.

Not only will Floyd’s return be an overall boost to the offense, but if anything, the return of Floyd could well help put Jimmy Clausen over the top in the Heisman race.

Clausen has consistently performed week-to-week, with clutch performances coming against Michigan State, Purdue, Washington, and Boston College (and two that came to naught against Michigan and USC), and with Sam Bradford not a factor and Tim Tebow and Colt McCoy not exactly dominating, the door’s still very wide open for Clausen if Tebow, McCoy, or Mark Ingram don‘t slam it shut.

With two of the nation’s elite receivers to throw to once again, Clausen has a chance to put up monster numbers against some quality opposition down the stretch.

The Irish follow the Navy game with a trip to Pittsburgh, who’s one bad 11-minute stretch in Raleigh away from being 8-0 and in the top 10.

Following their trip to Pitt, there’s a home game against Connecticut, who might be the best (and unluckiest) 4-4 team that you might ever see. All four of the Huskies’ losses have come in the final minutes.

Then there’s the season finale at Stanford, who’s lost to Notre Dame by a touchdown in each of Jim Harbaugh’s first two seasons and won’t be the least bit fazed by the Irish after having faced Oregon, USC, and Cal in the three weeks prior.

If ND can win out through this final stretch and finish 10-2, and Clausen posts some eye-catching numbers (and perhaps another clutch fourth-quarter performance or two), he’ll certainly nail down a trip to New York, at the very least. From there, it’ll be on the rest of the favorites to (not) do their part.

But with Floyd back in the saddle, the chances for Notre Dame to add to their collection of Heisman winners got just a little better.

This article was originally published on The Red Zone Report .

Heisman Trophy Watch (Week Nine): Well, Someone Has to Be No. 1, Right?

Eddie Griffin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:00:16 -0400

1. Kellen Moore , QB, Boise State

Moore leads the nation in passing efficiency and touchdown passes, is 10th in completion percentage, threw for five touchdowns in his last game, and has five games of three touchdown passes or more. And hey, his team’s undefeated and in the top five.

I’m no Boise State bandwagon rider, but when no one from one of the BCS schools is separating themselves from the pack, his chances are (or should be) as good as anyone else’s.

Last Week (54-9 W at Hawaii): 18-for-30, 222 yards, 5 TD
Season Stats: 132-for-195, 1,627 yards, 21 TD, 2 INT

2. Mark Ingram , RB, Alabama

Thanks to a certain field-goal blocking man mountain, Alabama’s SEC and national title hopes are alive and well. But am I going to dock Ingram a few points for his late fumble that let Tennessee back in a game that was on the verge of being done and dusted? Yes.

Take out the fumble, and he did have a solid day even without a touchdown, coming just short of a 100-yard day against a tough Tennessee defense.

Just for his sake though, Greg McElroy needs to start playing a little more like he did before he came face-to-face against some grown-man defenses.

Last Week (12-10 W vs. Tennessee): 18 carries, 99 yards
Season Stats: 153 carries, 1,004 yards, 8 TD; 19 catches, 186 yards, 3 TD

3. Jimmy Clausen , QB, Notre Dame

Is he up this high because he plays for Notre Dame or because he’s earned it? For me, it’s the latter. If not for Clausen stepping up time and again in the late stages, it’s fair to say that the Irish could well be 2-5 instead of 5-2.

Last Week (20-16 W vs. Boston College): 26-for-39, 246 yards, 2 TD
Season Stats: 150-for-230, 2,050 yards, 16 TD, 2 INT; rush TD

4. Case Keenum , QB, Houston

Keenum didn’t have a prolific outing against SMU, but as long as the Cougars keep winning, Keenum’s chances to be high in the Heisman voting look good.

Last Week (38-15 W vs. SMU): 25-36, 233 yards, TD
Season Stats: 241-344, 2,734 yards, 20 TD, 4 INT; 3 rush TD

5. Dan LeFevour , QB, Central Michigan

Central Michigan takes their seven-game win streak to Boston College this weekend. If LeFevour can lead the Chippewas to their second win over a BCS opponent this season, it would not only vault CMU into the Top 25, but it’d also put LeFevour in an excellent position to be a Heisman finalist.

Last Week (24-10 at Bowling Green): 16-for-22, 147 yards, 2 TD passing, 22 carries, 128 yards rushing
Season Stats: 156-for-223, 1,696 yards, 16 TD, 4 INT passing; 112 carries, 522 yards, 9 TD rushing

6. Colt McCoy, QB, Texas

Now that’s a little more like the Colt we’re supposed to see. The Longhorns have their most important game of the season on Saturday when they visit Oklahoma State, and not only could it be a make-or-break game for Texas’ national title hopes, but it could also be the same for McCoy’s Heisman hopes.

Last Week (41-7 W at Missouri): 26-31, 269 yards, 3 TD, INT
Season Stats: 182-254, 1,806 yards, 14 TD, 8 INT, rush TD

7. Tim Tebow , QB, Florida

Florida‘s futility in the red zone wasn‘t helping Tebow‘s numbers as it was, but another inept night inside the 20, plus two pick-sixes put Timmy in a must-perform position from here on out. But hey, at least he doesn’t have to worry about facing Johnthan Banks again.

Last Week (29-19 W at Mississippi State): 12-for-22, 127 yards, 2 INT passing; 22 carries, 88 yards rushing
Season Stats: 84-for-132, 1,159 yards, 8 TD, 4 INT; 121 carries, 466 yards, 6 TD rushing

8. Bill Stull , QB, Pittsburgh

Dion Lewis is having a fantastic freshman campaign, but Pittsburgh wouldn’t be 7-1 overall and 4-0 in Big East play if Stull hadn’t made such a big leap from last year to this year.

Last season, his first two-touchdown pass game came in the Panthers’ regular-season finale at Connecticut. This season, he already has six games with multiple touchdown passes.

Last Week (41-14 W vs. South Florida): 18-for-25, 245 yards, 2 TD, INT
Season Stats: 132-for-196, 1,654 yards, 16 TD, 4 INT; rush TD

9. Dion Lewis , RB, Pittsburgh

LeSean who? Lewis has run for 444 yards in his last three games, and with Stull playing as well as he has all season, Pittsburgh’s offense is a force to be reckoned with.

Last Week (41-14 W vs. South Florida): 23 carries, 111 yards, 2 TD; 2 catches, 10 yards
Season Stats: 185 carries, 1,029 yards, 11 TD; 14 catches, 92 yards, TD

10. C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson

It’s no secret what Spiller can do at any given moment, and he showed it in Clemson’s road upset of Miami, logging 310 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns.

Last Week (40-37 W at Miami): 23 touches, 310 all-purpose yards, 2 TD—14 carries, 81 yards; 6 catches, 104 yards, TD; 90-yard kick return TD (three kick returns, 125 yards)
Season Stats: rushing—108 carries, 547 yards, 3 TD; receiving—18 catches, 267 yards, 2 TD; kick returns—38.3 yards per return, 3 TD; punt returns—36.4 yards per return, TD

11. Noel Devine , RB, West Virginia

Devine’s gaining some steam and could really throw himself into the thick of the conversation in November if the Mountaineers can remain unbeaten in the Big East heading into the home stretch.

Last Week (28-24 W vs. Connecticut): 23 carries, 178 yards, TD; 1 catch, 10 yards
Season Stats: 137 carries, 912 yards, 10 TD; 13 catches, 105 yards, TD

12. Ryan Mathews , RB, Fresno State

Mathews has run for 100 yards in all seven of Fresno State’s games this season, and he’s run for at least 145 yards in each of the last five. At the very least, he’s helping his draft stock tremendously to where it’d be pretty hard to return for his senior season.

He hasn’t become the nation’s leading rusher (by yardage) by beating up on patsies either. He had 486 rushing yards total against Wisconsin, Boise State, and Cincinnati.

Last Week (34-3 W at New Mexico State): 25 carries, 157 yards, 2 TD; 1 catch, 27 yards
Season Stats: 156 carries, 1,131 yards, 9 TD; 5 catches, 68 yards

13. Christian Ponder , QB, Florida State

FSU can go into November with a realistic chance to win the Atlantic Division, and it’ll be because of Ponder, who’s posted career highs in back-to-back-to-back games. If he can keep it up through the end of the season, he’ll go into 2010 as a Heisman frontrunner—if he doesn’t elect to jump ship to the pros.

Last Week (30-27 W at North Carolina): 33-for-40, 395 yards, 3 TD
Season Stats: 180-for-257, 2,176 yards, 12 TD, INT passing; 137 yards, 2 TD rushing

14. Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame:

In the past three games, Tate has 28 catches for 489 yards and five touchdowns. Not bad at all.

Last Week (20-16 W vs. Boston College): 11 catches, 128 yards, 2 TD;
1 carry, minus-2 yards
Season Stats: 52 catches, 847 yards, 8 TD; 15 carries, 94 yards, TD

t15. Jacquizz Rodgers , RB, Oregon State

Rodgers wasn’t able to replicate last season’s heroics against USC, but he did a lot more against the Trojans than many a running back has during the Pete Carroll era.

Last Week (42-36 L at USC): 20 carries, 113 yards, TD; 4 catches, 10 yards, TD
Season Stats: 148 carries, 810 yards, 14 TD; 42 catches, 279 yards, TD

t15. Toby Gerhart , RB, Stanford

So far, so good, but with the Cardinal’s final four opponents all being teams who are currently ranked (Oregon, USC, Cal, Notre Dame), Gerhart can really earn himself some votes if he can produce.

Last Week (33-14 W vs. Arizona State): 27 carries, 125 yards, 2 TD; 1 catch, 5 yards
Season Stats: 195 carries, 994 yards, 13 TD; 7 catches, 78 yards

Honorable Mention

Jahvid Best, RB, Cal

After knocking himself out of the race with back-to-back bad performances against Oregon and USC, Best has rebounded with back-to-back good days against UCLA and Washington State. Too little, too late?

Last Week (49-17 W vs. Washington State): 13 carries, 159 yards, 2 TD; 1 catch, 27 yards, TD
Season Stats: 114 carries, 775 yards, 11 TD; 14 catches, 156 yards, 3 TD

Thaddeus Lewis, QB, Duke

Lewis definitely deserves at least a little mention due to his play over the last few weeks. Lewis has thrown for 1,174 yards and nine touchdowns with only one interception in his last three games, and the Blue Devils are 4-3 overall and 2-1 in the ACC.

In case you didn’t know already, David Cutcliffe knows a thing or two about quarterbacks.

Last Week (17-13 W vs. Maryland): 30-for-43, 371 yards, 2 TD, INT
Season Stats: 164-for-256, 1,972 yards, 14 TD, 3 INT; 3 rush TD

Tony Pike , QB, Cincinnati

It looks like Pike is going to miss his second straight game when the Bearcats visit Syracuse, but if he wasn’t injured, he’d likely be at the top of the Heisman heap right now.

Last Week (41-10 W vs. Louisville): DNP (wrist)
Season Stats: 128-for-199, 1,633 yards, 15 TD, 3 INT; 2 rush TD

Zac Robinson , QB, Oklahoma State

Robinson will get his chance to really impress voters come Saturday when the Cowboys host Texas. The last time the Longhorns came to Stillwater, Robinson set career highs in completions (30) and yards (430) and threw for two touchdowns in a near-upset.

He won’t have Adarius Bowman, Dez Bryant, and Brandon Pettigrew to throw to on Saturday like he did that day, but perhaps the Longhorns will get to know Hubert Anyiam more than they’d like to.

Last Week (34-7 W at Baylor): 23-for-27, 250 yards, 3 TD
Season Stats: 115-for-176, 1,547 yards, 12 TD, 3 INT; 4 rush TD

Picking the Bayou Biggie: With or Without Tebow, Florida Will Beat LSU

Eddie Griffin — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 12:42:55 -0400

So, LSU has won 21 straight night games and 32 straight Saturday night games at Tiger Stadium.

So, Florida may go into their toughest game of the season without their field general and inspirational leader, and if he does take the field, he won’t be anywhere near 100%.

And if he doesn’t take the field, the Gators will have to turn to someone who doesn’t have a collegiate start to his name or experience in pressure situations like the one he’ll be facing.

So, Florida has given up fourth-quarter leads to lose in their last two trips to Tiger Stadium?

Throw out the home-field advantage, the Tim Tebow factor, and Florida's recent history in Death Valley, because the Gators are going to leave Baton Rouge as they came in: as the nation’s No. 1 team.

Why? Here are the three keys that will drive Florida to the victory tonight, and as promised in this week’s college football picks, a score prediction for the week’s marquee matchup.

1. Florida's offense will be fine with or without Tebow.

Will he play? Will he sit?

Frankly, I think he should sit. Even if he’s ‘okay’, it’s going to be hard for Tebow to not play like Tim Tebow when you know he’ll be under strict instructions not to, well, play like Tim Tebow.

And with that in mind, it’s just a little too early to stick him out there, even if he says he’s ready, because his present and future health >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> beating LSU.

Now, will I be surprised if he starts and plays the entire game? Not in the least. Like I told The Chump, if he could’ve come back in against Kentucky after the hit he took, he would’ve. But should he start and play significant time? No.

If he doesn’t start, redshirt sophomore John Brantley will make his first career start, and though it’s a daunting prospect to make your first start in an environment like Tiger Stadium, there’s no doubt that he’ll be ready.

If the shoe was on the other foot, and LSU had to turn to Jarrett Lee with Jefferson sidelined, then there might be reason to panic, but there’s no reason to.

Speaking of Jarrett Lee, Florida have does to be wary of turnovers against the Tigers, who have a +5 turnover margin coming into the game and have intercepted eight passes.

However, they have almost as many sacks as 40+ yard pass plays allowed (5), so if Florida's offensive line gives Brantley (or Tebow, if he plays at all) time, the Gators can burn LSU for some big plays through the air.

If Tebow doesn’t start, it’ll put the onus on the Gators’ stable of running backs to perform, and they will.

There’s no doubting the dimension that having Tebow in the mix adds to the offense and the ground game in particular, but Jeff Demps (10.9 yards per carry), Chris Rainey (8.4 yards per carry), and Emmanuel Moody (10.4 yards per carry) can all make big plays on the ground.

LSU held Georgia to only 45 yards rushing last Saturday, but they can be run upon. Mississippi State’s Anthony Dixon ran for 106 yards (on 27 carries), Washington’s Chris Polk ran for 90 (on 21 carries), and Vanderbilt’s Zac Stacy ran for 89 (on 20 carries), so the opportunity is there to be able to run a balanced offensive attack with success.

If that can be done, the Gators are well on their way.

2. Florida's defense will make things difficult for Jordan Jefferson: For all of the ‘will he, won’t he?’ with Tebow, the quarterback facing more pressure is LSU's sophomore quarterback.

LSU's offensive line has surrendered 13 sacks and 29 tackles for loss in five games, and they’ll be under a lot of heat from a fierce Florida front line.

If Florida can keep Charles Scott and Keiland Williams from having too much success on the ground, it’ll put Jefferson in a position of having to do more, and that’s not exactly a position that the Tigers (or Jefferson, judging by his comments post-Georgia comeback) want to be in.

And if Jefferson does make mistakes, Florida's secondary can, and will, make him pay dearly.

3. No mental meltdowns for the Gators: Tiger Stadium is an intimidating place to play, and it can bring out the best in the Tigers and the worst in their opponents.

That’s something Urban Meyer and all of the Gators who were a part of that fourth-quarter heartbreak at LSU in 2007 know very well.

Florida led 24-14 going into the fourth quarter, and a Tebow interception deep in Florida territory following an LSU missed field goal turned the tide and set up a touchdown that made it 24-21 with 10:50 to go.

Then, following a quick three-and-out by Florida, LSU drained the clock (and the energy of Florida's defense) with an eight-minute, 15-play drive that culminated in Jacob Hester’s touchdown run with 1:05 left, and the Tigers went on to win 28-24.

However, don’t expect that to happen this time around. Besides being an extremely talented team overall, the last thing that this team will be is intimidated.

Those who were youngsters on that 2007 team are now much more experienced and have dealt with more tough games like this, and they’ll be prepared mentally.

Prediction: Florida (-8) 24, LSU 14 - It might be more slugfest than shootout, but Florida will get the job done and win this battle of unbeatens.

This article was originally published on http://theredzonereport.com/

College Football Picks: Week 6

Eddie Griffin — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:06:29 -0400

Texas (-32) vs. Colorado:

Texas was in control of last year’s meeting in Boulder (a 38-14 win) after barely 10 minutes elapsed, and I don’t see a mistake-prone, defensively-challenged Colorado team providing much resistance in Austin.

Prediction: TEXAS 48, Colorado 13

Ole Miss vs. Alabama (-5):

Alabama has owned this rivalry, and they currently have a five-game win streak over the Rebels. However, each of the last four meetings has been decided by four points or less, and I expect this one to be close as well.

But as has been the case in each of those four close encounters, Ole Miss will be left disappointed.

Prediction: Alabama 24, OLE MISS 21

Virginia Tech (-13 1/2) vs. Boston College:

Virginia Tech has beaten Boston College in the ACC Championship Game in back-to-back seasons, but the Eagles have won three straight and four out of the last five regular season meetings between these two former Big East foes.

Perhaps they’ll meet in the ACC title game for a third straight season (hooray?), but Va. Tech will be going for the season sweep if that does happen.

The Eagles will find the going tough against Va. Tech’s defense, and they’ve also given up back-to-back 300-yard games through the air, which is good news for Tyrod Taylor’s improved passing skills (well, if last week’s performance against Duke is any indication) and Virginia Tech’s hopes to beat BC with a balanced offense.

Prediction: VIRGINIA TECH 28, Boston College 13

Ohio State (-16) vs. Wisconsin:

Considering that Wisconsin comes in at 5-0, I’m a little surprised that the Buckeyes are favored by more than two touchdowns.

The Badgers have won in three of their last four trips to Columbus (1999, 2001, 2004, lost in 2007), and though I don’t see them being able to pull off the upset, I see it being a little closer than the oddsmakers do.

If Wisconsin can avoid mistakes, they can move the ball at least a little on the Buckeyes, but in the end, I still foresee a double-digit win for the home team.

Prediction: Ohio State 27, Wisconsin 17

Air Force vs. TCU (-10):

Three of their four meetings since TCU joined the Mountain West have seen the Horned Frogs win by 24 or more points, but the last time TCU went to Colorado Springs, Air Force won 20-17 in 2007, and they can pull this one out as well.

TCU’s known for their defense, and they’ll bring it against Air Force’s potent rushing attack, but they’ll be facing a defense that has already scored five touchdowns this season.

And though the Falcons came out on the short end in their two toughest games, they led at Minnesota going into the fourth and held Navy to only 16 points, which is no small feat.

Scoring opportunities won’t be plentiful, and we might see as many (or more) defensive touchdowns as offensive touchdowns, but this one’s going to be my big upset special of the week.

Prediction: AIR FORCE 20, TCU 16

For my picks on more than 20 other college football games this weekend, check out the original post here: http://theredzonereport.com/2009/10/08/college-football-picks-oct-8-10/2868/.

Who Could Be the Big Ten's 12th team?

Eddie Griffin — Wed, 27 May 2009 20:07:03 -0400

A couple of days ago, I discussed comments that Penn State coach Joe Paterno made about the Big Ten expanding to 12 teams, and I came to the conclusion that changes, in some way, do need to be made in order for the conference to return to being a real power on the national stage.

Is expansion that change that needs to happen? An expansion to 12 teams may well make the Big Ten need to change its name, but it would allow the conference to have a championship game, and if the right team is added, it would make the conference stronger in more than just football.

Making expansion happen is a lot easier said than done, because the potential candidates have to be interested in the first place, and then there’s also the matter of getting out of conference commitments, but there are quite a few teams that could be realistic possibilities. Paterno mentioned Big East members Syracuse, Rutgers, and Pittsburgh, but the first name that might jump to mind for most is Notre Dame.

A decade ago, it was a near reality, but in the end, Notre Dame voted against the move. Notre Dame has its TV deal, its BCS benefits, scheduling freedom, and its membership with the Big East in other sports, so it’s sitting pretty right now.

But, as SI's Stewart Mandel mentioned in an open letter to former Notre Dame AD Kevin White and Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany in September 2007, Notre Dame to the Big Ten makes perfect sense all around.

How into the idea would Notre Dame be now? There’s no telling, but if the Big Ten really starts searching for a 12th member again, South Bend is the first place they’ll look.

In the event that Notre Dame once again passes on the chance to join the Big Ten, are there any other viable options besides ND?

What of Syracuse, Rutgers, and Pitt? Out of those three, Pitt would be the best fit, and in my mind, they’re the next best fit after Notre Dame. They’d bring in a competitive football program, and they’ve also got one of the best basketball programs in the nation. Besides that, they make sense geographically, and Pittsburgh is a highly-rated university academically.

Syracuse. with its fan base, a highly successful basketball program, and quality academics, could very well win out over Pittsburgh, and there’s support from the Orange contingent for such a move. It’d be very intriguing to see the Orange compete for Big Ten hoops titles on a regular basis, but I can’t say I’d be too interested in watching Syracuse in the Big Ten in football, unless there’s significant improvement on the gridiron in the next few years.

There could be a dark horse candidate in West Virginia. West Virginia isn’t the worst fit geographically, and if they can continue their recent success on the gridiron, they offer up a name that’s known on a national level. West Virginia’s basketball program is also a consistent winner, and they have a nationally-known coach in Bob Huggins. It’s not exactly a sexy choice, but it’s one worth considering.

What about someone from the Big 12? There’ve been rumors about both Iowa State and Missouri in recent years, and there‘s also Nebraska. Name-wise, Nebraska would be the second-biggest football draw behind Notre Dame, but they are a little out of the way on the map, and academically, they might not be on the same level that several other Big Ten members are. But when you’re talking about ratings, exposure, and interest, Nebraska in the Big Ten = an A+ move.

One of the MAC schools? I can’t say I see that one happening, unless one of the MAC schools started being a regular fixture in the nation’s conscience. Even then, it’d be a hard sell.

When it comes down to the issue of the Big Ten expanding, I honestly can’t say that I see Delany (if he’s still the commish when expansion comes about) advocating a 12th team that wouldn’t benefit the conference competitively.

When the ACC expanded from nine to 12, they got three quality programs, and before that, they hit the jackpot with Florida State in the 90s. The additions that the Big East made in replacing BC, Miami, and VT, at least from a football standpoint, have worked out well. Louisville (2006) and Cincinnati (2008) have both won conference titles, and South Florida has made strides since joining. The SEC did well with their additions of Arkansas and South Carolina, and it can’t go without mentioning that Penn State's addition to the Big Ten worked out well, to say the least.

If expansion is to happen, the best all-around fits, in my opinion, would be:

Top Options

1. Notre Dame: If expansion does become a serious topic of discussion, you’d think that they would be the first to get an invitation. Name alone, they’d be a big draw week in, week out, and they’re a fantastic fit academically and geographically.

2. Pittsburgh: They’d lose their Big East rivalry with West Virginia, but they’d renew their old rivalry with Penn State, which would make for a highly-anticipated game every season (say, Penn State replaces Michigan State as their end-of-season opponent with Pitt). As mentioned, they’d benefit the conference in both football and basketball, and they fit academically and geographically.

3. Missouri: They’d have a ready-made conference rivalry with Illinois in football and basketball, and they’re not a bad fit geographically. Not as much of a big-named draw as Nebraska would be, but competitively, both school and conference would benefit greatly.

4. Syracuse: As mentioned, they get pluses for the academics, the fan base, and the basketball program. Football-wise, they’d be a great fit a decade ago, but not now. However, there might be a lot of love for them come expansion time, especially if the football program can start winning again in the next few years.

Darkhorses

1. West Virginia: From a competitive standpoint, they’d as great of a fit as can be on the gridiron and on the basketball court. As for travel, they’re pretty reasonable as well. But how big of a draw would they be?

2. Nebraska: A stretch in terms of travel, but there’s a definite argument for their inclusion.

Remote Possibilities

1. Rutgers: Competitive football program, great fit academically, but they’re a backup backup option at best.

2. Iowa State: Wouldn’t add a great deal competitively at this point, and they can land a much bigger name. Their football program is in the rebuilding stages, and their basketball program isn’t exactly thriving right now either.

Does the Big Ten need to expand to 12 teams to be more of a player on a national level in football? If the Big Ten does expand, who should be added?

NFL Draft Stock: Is the 40-Yard Dash Overrated?

Eddie Griffin — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:56:42 -0500

The NFL Combine is over and done with for another year, yet the madness is still very much just beginning. This year’s batch of draft prospects still have to go through the motions at least one more time between now and draft weekend.

There were some impressive performances, and then there was Andre Smith.

For many followers of the action in Indy, it's not about how a player performed in their respective position drills—it's all about the 40. No, not the stale bottle of Old English sitting in your refrigerator, but the 40-yard dash.

With the exception of those of us who prefer digital watches (I‘d raise my hand if I hadn‘t given up on buying watches after losing or breaking every one I had), there are two times when stopwatches are relevant to the masses. We just concluded one.

The other comes about every leap year.

Don’t get me wrong, I like to see if that 330-pound offensive linemen can clock in at a low five-second clip in his "invisible" doughnut/fried chicken/pizza chase.

Who doesn't love watching to see Mr. Stud Receiver break 4.3 while trying to catch up with the "invisible" Marisa Miller/Megan Fox/Beyonce/Alessandra Ambrosio.

Don't forget watching to see how many defensive ends can break 4.7 chasing an "invisible" doughnut-holding Marisa Miller/Megan Fox/Beyonce/Alessandra Ambrosio.

But is it the be-all, end-all of an elite draft prospect’s stock?

It shouldn’t be, but many mock draft's will be adjusted based on how fast so and so ran in Indy. The real draft? It will be affected at some point by it too.

Am I envious because I’m slow? Maybe. But only because I’d have been late for a lot less classes if I could run a 4.4, and maybe I‘d stop waking up out of breath after all those doughnut dreams.

How important do you think the 40 is to a prospect’s draft stock? Do you think it’s a major factor with general managers, coaches, and scouts in regards to their draft decisions? How high will you be putting Darrius Heyward-Bey in your updated mock drafts?

Andre Smith: How To Kill Your Draft Stock

Eddie Griffin — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:31:45 -0500

I was occupied over the weekend, so I didn’t see this until today (late, I know). I wondered what to make of Andre Smith’s disappearance from the NFL Combine?

Yeah, he apologized for it, as he should’ve, but this was the last thing that the reigning Outland Trophy winner needed two months before the 2009 NFL Draft.

Coming into the combine, few prospects had more of a spotlight on them than Smith. When it comes to his actual talent, there are questions about his pass-blocking (or are there?). But it‘s not footwork, agility, 40 time, or anything of that nature that trips up many prospects that has him under scrutiny.

His long-term struggles with weight, and staying in shape have been well-documented. Which may have been a major reason why he 86ed it in Indy.

Most recently—before his disappearing act in Indy—he was suspended for Alabama’s Sugar Bowl loss to Utah because he blatantly withheld information from coach Nick Saban and the school regarding contact with an agent rep. Not a smart move, to say the least.

In my most recent 2009 NFL mock draft (updated Friday), I had Smith falling to the Washington Redskins at No. 13, after he was No. 2 (St. Louis) in the previous update.

Just how far will he fall? His talent is known, but a lot will depend on what kind of shape he is in at his Pro Day.

If he shows up in the right shape and proves that he has his head in the right place, he’ll be back in the mix for a spot in the top 10. With the Rams, Cincinnati, Oakland, and possibly Seattle and Jacksonville all looking for offensive linemen, the potential is there.

If he doesn't, it's a realistic possibility that he drops to the Redskins...or farther. In the end, he could end up with Detroit...just not in the spot many of us thought he might not too long ago. The drop may not stop at No. 20, depending on whose opinion you like to rely on.

The big question is whether or not he’s really worth the investment. Talent and potential-wise are the reasons why he‘s been so high on everyone‘s board all this time.

But there are only so many times you can make mistakes and apologize for them, and the pattern that he’s setting isn’t an encouraging one. Not for his future or for the teams.

Andre Smith Shows How to Kill Your Draft Stock

Eddie Griffin — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:31:45 -0500

I was occupied over the weekend, so I didn’t see this until today (it's late, I know), but what to make of Andre Smith’s disappearance from the NFL Draft combine?

Yeah, he apologized for it, as he should’ve, but this was the last thing that the reigning Outland Trophy winner needed, with the 2009 NFL Draft only two months away.

Coming into the combine, few prospects had more of a spotlight on them than Smith. When it comes to his actual talent, there are questions about his pass-blocking (or are there?), but it‘s not footwork, agility, 40 time, or anything of that nature that trips up many a prospect that has him under scrutiny.

His long-term struggles with weight and staying in shape have been well-documented, and that may have been a major reason why he 86ed it in Indy.

Most recently before his disappearing act in Indy, he was suspended for Alabama’s Sugar Bowl loss to Utah because he blatantly withheld information from coach Nick Saban and the school regarding contact with an agent rep. Not a smart move, to say the least.

In my most recent 2009 NFL mock draft (updated Friday), I had Smith falling to the Washington Redskins at No. 13, after he was No. 2 (St. Louis) in the previous update.

Just how far will he fall? He has known talents, but a lot will depend on what kind of shape he is in at his Pro Day. If he shows up in the right shape, shows that he has his head in the right place, then he’ll be back in the mix for a spot in the top 10, with the Rams, Cincinnati, Oakland, and possibly Seattle and Jacksonville all looking for offensive linemen.

If he doesn‘t, it’s a realistic possibility that he drops to the Redskins…or farther. In the end, he could end up with Detroit after all…just not in the spot many of us thought he might not too long ago. And the drop may not stop at No. 20, depending on whose opinion you like to rely on.

The big question is whether or not he’s really worth the investment. Talent and potential-wise, there‘s a reason why he‘s been so high on everyone‘s board all this time. But there are only so many times you can make mistakes and apologize for them, and the pattern that he’s setting isn’t an encouraging one, not for his future or for the teams.

NFL Scouting Combine Storylines: Defense and Special Teams

Eddie Griffin — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 16:26:26 -0500

There’s no Glenn Dorsey, Chris Long, Sedrick Ellis, or Vernon Gholston to get wild about in the 2009 NFL Draft, at least at this point.

All of those guys were in contention to be the No. 1 pick in the 2008 draft, and all four were off the board in the first seven picks.

What this year’s draft class may lack in headliners, it makes up for in terms of plenty of depth throughout the defensive positions, and a lot of talent will be on display this weekend in Indianapolis.

Who will garner the most attention, and who should you be watching for this weekend? Here’s a look at the defense. Oh, and special teams too.

Defensive Linemen

This year’s draft is light on headliners at the top, but momentum seems to be picking up at just the right time. Boston College tackle B.J. Raji had an impressive Senior Bowl, and looks to be a good bet for the top 15, at worst.

As he goes, so might Ole Miss tackle Peria Jerry. Jerry was an absolute force this past season for the Rebels, and his stock is also on the rise. If Raji goes in the top 10, Jerry could be off the board soon after.

Keep an eye on Auburn’s Sen’Derrick Marks. Indianapolis is need of a tackle, but the way things are starting to look, Raji and Jerry won’t be there at No. 27. But if Marks does the opposite Pat Sims this week, he’ll be a more than viable option there.

The defensive ends group features a bunch of sack machines who might be better suited for that hybrid rush linebacker position than a spot on the front line.

Florida State’s Everette Brown is becoming a popular name at No. 3, and he could prove why in Indy.

Then you have the big name (Texas’ Brian Orakpo), the freakish athlete (Georgia Tech’s Michael Johnson), the ‘upside’ guy (Penn State’s Aaron Maybin), and the guys that those who don’t watch the big conferences will get to know this weekend (Utah’s Paul Kruger, Northern Illinois’ Larry English, Cincinnati’s Connor Barwin).

Linebackers

Wake Forest’s Aaron Curry is considered by many to be the top defensive prospect on the board, but where will that land him? Cleveland at No. 5 seems to be a popular destination, but what about No. 3 to Kansas City? No. 2 to St. Louis?

Could the Lions want to make him the cornerstone of their defense? We’ll have a better idea after the next several days.

There is a big gap between Rey Maualuga and James Laurinaitis and the other top inside linebackers on the board, so that’s where a couple of SEC ‘backers in LSU’s Darry Beckwith and Georgia’s Dannell Ellerbe, who were slowed by injuries in their senior campaigns, need to prove that they’re first-day talents.

If they do, the James Laurinaitis drop watch could be on. I don’t think he’ll drop nearly as far as Dan Connor did last year, but don’t pencil him into the first round for sure.

But, instead of filling that gap with, say, one of those guys, how about a Clint Sintim or a Brian Cushing?

Both might project more on the outside, but Cushing can move inside, and so can Sintim, and both could lock down a spot in the first round (or early in the second, depending on need) with impressive workouts.

Another guy to watch for is Southern Miss star Gerald McRath. McRath has first-round talent, but his size (6’3, 220) hurts him. If he somehow drops to the third round, he’d be the steal of all steals.

But, with a great combine, he could at least position himself to be taken in the second round, where he’d still be a steal.

Defensive Backs

Malcolm Jenkins could’ve left a year early and been the first corner selected in the 2008 draft.

Waiting has hurt many a top prospect’s draft stock over the years, but that’s not the case for Jenkins, who’s still the top corner on the board.

That being said, he has to continue to prove it, otherwise Illinois’ Vontae Davis could yet jump him. Vontae won’t go as high as his brother Vernon, but he could make himself an attractive option to New Orleans (#14) or Houston (#16), and ensure that he doesn’t last past the top 20.

The sooner he goes, the better for Vanderbilt’s D.J. Moore, who could fall to the second round, because corner isn‘t a need for most of the teams drafting late in the first, but could use a bump in Davis‘ stock and his own stock to be an option in the top 20.

Safety wasn’t a strong position at the top in last year’s draft, and with the lack of a headliner in the group (sorry, William Moore), just how good of a decision did USC’s Taylor Mays make by staying for his senior season, when the talent pool will be a lot bigger at the top in the 2010 draft?

Still, there’s a lot of quality depth throughout, to the point where a team looking for a safety could, wait a few rounds, and still get a quality prospect.

Keep your eyes on Missouri’s Moore, who needs to rebound from a rough Senior Bowl to put himself back into solid first-round status.

If he doesn’t, then Western Michigan’s Louis Delmas can lock himself down as the top safety available.

Just as much, watch for a bunch that includes guys like Oregon’s Patrick Chung, Alabama’s Rashad Johnson, and Utah’s Sean Smith, who may well prove themselves worthy of consideration late in the first round.

Special Teams

Believe it or not, these guys have to go through all of the drills too. Will we have a long snapper make headlines like San Diego State’s Tyler Schmitt did last year?

Utah’s Louie Sakoda and Florida State’s Graham Gano, the reigning Lou Groza Award winner, are the top two kickers on the board, and both are equally adept at punting.

If long distance is your game, watch out for UTEP’s Jose Martinez, who hit from 57 and 64 yards in his time in El Paso, and LSU’s Colt David, who was 4 of 6 from 50+ in 2008.

NFL Scouting Combine Storylines: Offense

Eddie Griffin — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 21:03:05 -0500

This weekend, many an NFL Draft fanatic will be tuned into the NFL Network or sitting in front of their computer as the stars, starters, busts, and footnotes of tomorrow will showcase their talents at the combine in Indianapolis.

New venue, new prospects, same process.

Through all of the interviews and drills, we’ll have a prospect or three whose physical abilities shoot him up the draft board, a highly-touted prospect or seven who don’t live up to the hype, the feel-good story, and a few prospects whose off-field issues pick a nice time to come to light. And we’ll hear the words ’potential’ and ’upside’ about 5,937,468 times over the next several days and weeks.

So, while the draft’s top prospects get ready for the most anticipated sprints in sports besides the 100 at the Olympics, sharpen their brains (and pencils) for everyone’s favorite aptitude test, and prepare to be sized up, down, left, right, inside, and out, here’s a position-by-position breakdown of who and what to watch for this weekend in Indy, starting with the offensive units.

Quarterbacks

Unless he decides to mail it in completely, Georgia’s Matthew Stafford likely won’t be displaced as the top QB prospect in the ‘09 class. Hopefully he’s already checking out houses in the Detroit area…that, and doing a lot of praying.

Is there room for USC’s Mark Sanchez to change a few minds? I like him to go in the top 10, and he could even go as high as No. 3 to Kansas City, but if he wows at the combine, I don’t see why Detroit wouldn’t consider him at No. 1. Pete Carroll’s probably still seething about his decision to leave despite only one full season as a starter,

Past Stafford and Sanchez, the only other first-round prospect is Kansas State’s Josh Freeman, who I currently have going No. 22 to Minnesota. An impressive showing this weekend could solidify him as a first rounder, and if Stafford goes No. 1 and Sanchez goes No. 3, don’t rule him out of San Francisco’s plans at No. 10.

The senior crop of signal-callers isn’t rated too high, and after all of the quarterbacks drafted on the first day last year were seniors, the only hope for one being drafted on the first day this April might be Rhett Bomar.

Running Backs

2008’s draft class of backs produced five first rounders, and three rookie backs ran for more than 1,000 yards. Years down the line, it could be looked at as one of the greatest class of backs in draft history, if most of the promising prospects pan out.

This year’s class has some top-10 talents in Knowshon Moreno and Chris Wells, but there won’t be as much of a spotlight on the backs as there was last year. It’s not a position of need in this year’s draft, which means that the first back could go off the board outside of the top 10 and even the top 15, the first time that will have happened since 2004, when Steven Jackson was taken by the Rams with the 24th pick.

Moreno, Wells, McCoy, and Ringer might get the most attention, but Shonn Greene and Donald Brown might be the backs a team like Cleveland might key on in the second round. Looking for speed? How about Wyoming’s Devin Moore? Small-school stud? Liberty’s Rashad Jennings. Big-named back who needs a big weekend to up disappointing draft stock? Clemson’s James Davis.

Of course, we’ll only mostly be watching what they do in their 40s, but that’s the only thing that matters, right?

Wide Receivers

I’ll admit that I was one of the horde who thought that last year’s class of receivers was destined for greatness. Then, none of them were drafted in the first round, and several of them didn’t make discernible contributions in their rookie seasons.

We’re not going to get burned this time around, but there is a solid class of pass-catchers, led by Michael Crabtree, who won’t get knocked off of his pedestal even though he won’t run the 40 in Indy.

After St. Louis, Seattle, and maybe Oakland, there’s a long gap to the next team who might have receiver at the top of their list. Jeremy Maclin looks to be a lock for the first round as well, but what of Percy Harvin?

Fast 40 or not, his lack of size could see him fighting with Maryland’s Darrius Heyward-Bey and North Carolina’s Hakeem Nicks, along with Rutgers’ Kenny Britt, to be the target of teams like Baltimore, Tennessee, and the New York Giants who could be looking for a receiver at the bottom of the first round.

Tight Ends

Oklahoma State’s Brandon Pettigrew is unequivocally the top tight end on the board, but how high will he go? A great combine could see Buffalo think just a little about him at No. 11, but the Bills could rather keep their focus on seeing how Missouri’s Chase Coffman and South Carolina’s Jared Cook perform to see if either will be a viable option in the second round.

Offensive Linemen

Offensive line was the most heavily drafted position in the first round last year, as eight linemen were taken. This year, up to seven tackles could be taken in the first round, and with the draft’s top guard (Oklahoma’s Duke Robinson) and center (Cal’s Alex Mack) both looking like solid first-round picks, at least nine linemen could be taken in the first 32 picks.

However, there’s no consensus No. 1 tackle heading into the combine. Alabama’s Andre Smith, Virginia’s Eugene Monroe, Ole Miss’ Michael Oher, and Baylor’s Jason Smith could all go in the top 10, but who will go first (to either St. Louis at No. 2 or Seattle at No. 4)?

Smith is the top guy for many, but if he looks more blob than beast this weekend, that could open the way for Monroe. The ‘other’ Smith has less hype than the rest, thanks in part to the program he hails from, but with little separation between the quartet, the chance is there to prove that he’s the best in the bunch.

College Football: Which School has the Richest Tradition?

Eddie Griffin — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 09:22:31 -0400

If you want to spark a debate among friends or really piss off a sensitive message board poster, talking about a program’s tradition, or lack thereof, is one of the best ways to do it.

With that in mind, what better way to kick off our ‘bests’ series than by taking a look at who the most storied programs are. And when we think of ’storied,’ we (most of us, at least) think of sustained success, championships, and how recognizable the program is, from iconic coaches and players to the stadium.

In the ‘what have you done for me lately?’ world that we live in, the accomplishments of some certainly carry more weight than others with many fans, so as tempted as I was to include Yale, Princeton, Harvard, or even Army, Minnesota, or Michigan State, those missed the cut.

Alabama

The program that the Bear built has fallen out of the national spotlight over the last several years thanks to a few questionable coaching hires and the SEC being a lot deeper than it was back when the man in the houndstooth hat roamed the sidelines in Tuscaloosa.

But, the Tide have enough success to last a few lifetimes, with their 12 national championships, 25 outright or shared conference titles (21 in the current SEC), 56 bowl appearances (most all-time), 32 bowl wins (most all-time), and 92 First-Team All-Americans.

The only thing that Alabama is lacking is a Heisman Trophy winner, but that’s a minute blemish on a laundry list of accomplishments before and after Bear Bryant.

Florida

Nearly all of Florida’s success has happened over the last 50 years, or more notably, the last few decades, but they’ve built up a nice resume over that time period.

The Gators have won two national championships, produced three Heisman Trophy winners and made 35 postseason appearances.

We think the most about what they’ve done since the start of the Steve Spurrier era, but they had a lot of success before that, back to when the Ol’ Ball Coach was a Heisman Trophy-winning QB in the 60s.

Florida State

FSU got a little later jump on their history than most of the rest of the programs on this list, seeing as how they were a women’s college until 1947, and though there were some good years, pre-1976, the Seminoles weren’t really on the map until Bobby Bowdenarrived to save the day.

The current decade has seen a lot of frustration of FSU fans, but two national championships, two Heisman Trophy winners, a run of 14 straight 10-win seasons and top-five finishes from 1987-2000, and 26 straight bowl appearances (18-7-1 record) is a nice resume for a late starter.

Georgia

A commenter brought it to my attention that I’d left out the Georgia Bulldogs, which given my SEC roots, I feel pretty bad about.

Georgia has bagged a couple of consensus national titles (1942 and 1980), produced two Heisman Trophy winners in Frank Sinkwich and Herschel Walker, won 12 SEC championships, played in 43 bowl games (won 24), and has produced quite a few All-Americans and College Football Hall of Fame inductees.

So, they definitely have a place in this list, without a doubt. Apologies to Bulldog fans for the oversight the first time around!

LSU

The defending national champions have really made the jump back into the nation’s elite in the last several seasons, winning two national titles in five seasons, which gives the Tigers three, along with the title that they won in 1958.

LSU has also won 10 SEC titles and has 20 bowl wins in 39 appearances. Since Nick Saban took over from Gerry DiNardo, LSU has been geauxing, geauxing, geauxing all the way back to the prominence that they held off and on from Bernie Moore in the 30s and 40s to Bill Arnsparger in the 80s.

Provided Les Miles doesn’t get fidgety anytime soon, expect sustained success for the near future.

Miami

Like their in-state and conference rival Florida State, Miami got a late jump, as ‘Da U’ was anything but a standard bearer until Howard Schnellenberger arrived in 1979 and started getting the talent, wins, and championships flowing to the OB in short order.

Sure, a lot of people can’t stand the swagger, and sure, we can point and laugh at their struggles right now, and sure, the Orange Bowl may have needed to be put out of its misery, but five national championships, a couple of Heismans, and a ton of NFL stars can shut a lot of people up.

Michigan

From Fielding Yost to Bo Schembechler to Lloyd Carr, Michigan football has a tradition of success. Sure, all but three of their national championships are from before World War II, but they’ve bagged Big Ten titles in every decade since the 1890s to now.

There’s also the distinction of being on top of the all-time win charts (869 wins as of the end of the 2007 season), playing in the first Rose Bowl, three Heisman Trophy winners, the Big House, and the maize and blue you can see from a mile away.

Nebraska

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that Nebraska hasn’t been the same since Tom Osborne hung it up following the 1997 season.

But, that period that Nebraska reigned supreme from 1994-97 was no doubt sweet for Husker fans, especially since it’s worth noting that their three titles in four seasons were won while the option was becoming increasingly less popular.

But before and after those glory years, from Osborne predecessor Bob Devaney (national titles in 1970 and 1971) to successor Frank Solich, Nebraska set a standard with 33 straight seasons with at least nine wins.

All told, the Huskers sport five national titles, three national championships, and 21 10-plus win seasons over the last 38 years. Not bad, not bad at all.

Notre Dame

There isn’t anything that can be said about the current state of Notre Dame football that hasn’t been said already (they haven’t won [x] since [y], or the ever-biting ‘they suck’), but I suppose that’s just the standard that they’ve set for themselves since the Knute Rockne days.

13 national championships, seven Heisman winners, 48 players and coaches in the College Football Hall of Fame, the second most wins among I-A schools (824), and the undying hatred of many a college football fan.

Even though the Irish aren’t in their most fruitful period, South Bend is still a dream destination for quite a few young Catholic boys. Then again, it may be all about Rudy.

Ohio State

Sure, it seems like they’re allergic to championships, or at least SEC teams, right now, but when it comes to the championships category, The Ohio State University certainly isn’t lacking in that category.

The Buckeyes won six national championships from 1942 to 1970, the first coming under Paul Brown and the next five coming under Woody Hayes and broke a 32-year drought in 2002 when they shocked the Miami juggernaut for lucky No. 7.

Speaking of that lucky number, Ohio State has seven Heisman winners, tied for most all-time with Notre Dame and USC. But, if you want to be Mr. Technical, it’s only six, as Archie Griffin remains the only player to win the Heisman twice.

Oklahoma

Many records are made to be broken, but with the parity in college football today, there’s a good chance Oklahoma’s record of 47 straight wins from 1953-57 will stand for a long time, thanks in part to the team above them and their Red River rivals, who I’ll get to before long.

The program really came to prominence under Bud Wilkinson, who led the team to 145 victories, 14 conference titles, and three national titles from 1947-63, and though there’ve been some forgettable years (‘cough’ John Blake ‘cough’), the Sooners have tasted mostly success up to the current Bob Stoops era.

Seven national championships, four Heisman winners, 41 conference titles, and multiple NCAA records, including the aforementioned win streak, are the highlights of the Sooners’ proud history.

Penn State

Penn State has had some pretty bad years in this decade (by their standards), which has fueled a lot of ‘Joe should go’ talk. But, when you’ve established a standard for success like the Nittany Lions have, then it’s somewhat understandable.

From being one of the several schools to have a claim at being ‘Linebacker U,’ to national championships in 1982 and 1986 (and having an argument for a couple more), to 21 top-10 finishes under Joe Paterno, to a 27-11-2 record in bowls, and 790 total wins in their history, it’s been happy in Happy Valley for a long while.

While dozens of coaches have come and gone at many, many other schools, PSU has had only four coaches in 90 seasons. You’ve got to respect that.

Pittsburgh

The Panthers haven’t been in the national spotlight much for the last 25-odd years, though they may be primed for a return over the next couple of years. But, Pitt (or should I say Pittsburgh) has a pretty glittering history, well, up until the early 80s.

They’ve been home to coaches like Pop Warner, Johnny Majors, and Jackie Sherrill, and they’re the alma mater of Hall of Famers Dan Marino, Tony Dorsett, Mike Ditka, and Joe Schmidt.

Oh and the nine national championships (the school’s claimed total) don’t hurt either.

Tennessee

Though Tennessee has had some ups and downs over recent years, things have rarely been really rocky on Rocky Top through the school’s history.

Since the Southern Conference days in the 1920s and early 30s (or what it is now the SEC, in its more present form), Tennessee has had only 11 losing seasons in 87 years.

The Volunteers have bagged a few (as many as six, as few as two, depending on who you ask) national championships, 13 SEC championships, 48 bowl appearances, and well over 700 wins.

Texas

The David McWilliams and John Mackovic eras saw just as many downs as ups for the Longhorns, but under Mack Brown, Texas has returned to being a perennial power, winning the school’s fourth national title in that epic 2006 Rose Bowl against USC and posting seven straight 10-win seasons.

Brown has the program at (or close to, at least) the heights that it was during the Darrell Royaldays, when the Longhorns won national championships in 1963, 1969, and 1970.

All told, Texas has 29 conference championships and 820 wins (third all-time). Don’t mess with Texas, or the Horns (of Bevo) may literally hook you.

USC

While Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Florida are all strong contenders, USC currently holds the mantle as the team that everyone loves to hate, but it’s not a bad thing, because it shows how successful the Trojans have been under Pete Carroll.

In the last seven seasons, USC has two (complain all you want, but the AP one does count for something) national titles, three Heisman winners, and five straight Pac-10 titles, giving USC nine national championships, seven Heisman winners, and 37 conference titles dating back to the Pacific Coast Conference days.

There’s also the ability to stake a claim as ‘Heisman U,’ ‘Tailback U,’ ‘Linebacker U,’ and you can’t forget about the hallowed No. 55.

So, which school has the richest tradition? I’ll leave it up to the fans to decide before weighing in with my personal opinion, so try to be as unbiased as possible.

(Originally posted on The Red Zone Report - Check out the original post and place your vote!)

Roger Goodell, I Applaud You!

Eddie Griffin — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 22:56:25 -0400

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell might have just won the “average Joe six-pack” over. Today, Goodell was quoted as saying that rookie salaries are “ridiculous.”

“There’s something wrong about the system,” said Goodell to the Associated Press. “The money should go to people who perform.”

Goodell believes that money should go to proven veterans and not rookies. Many eyebrows were raised when Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Jake Long, the first pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, signed a five-year deal worth over $57 million, with $30 million guaranteed.

Not only is that the highest contract for a rookie offensive lineman, but it is also the biggest contract for an offensive lineman in NFL history.

Shortly after the draft, Atlanta Falcons rookie quarterback Matt Ryan also broke the bank. The Falcons inked him to a six-year, $72 million dollar deal with $27.3 million guaranteed.

Ryan’s contract received more scrutiny, because its numbers were close to the contracts of Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Ben Roethlisberger, just to name a few. Not to mention, Ryan’s contract is higher than those of David Garrard, Donovan McNabb, and Drew Brees, all proven quarterbacks.

“He doesn’t have to play a down in the NFL and he already has his money,” Goodell said during a Q&A session during a function at the Chautauqua Institution. “Now, with the economics where they are, the consequences if you don’t evaluate that player, you can lose a significant amount of money.”

You are 100 percent correct Mr. Goodell. Why should a young kid, who has never stepped on the field in the NFL, make more than a proven veteran? It’s, to quote Goodell again, “ridiculous.”

Many have pitched the idea that the NFL should bring in a rookie salary cap, much like the NBA's slot-system. Their rookie pay scale assigns salaries by their draft position (the first overall pick receives more than the second pick, the second more than the third, etc...).

The only problem is that Gene Upshaw, president of the NFL Player’s Union, doesn’t back it. He claims that by capping rookie salaries, veterans will miss out on bigger deals.

“[I’m] concerned that keeping rookie salaries too cheap could price veterans out of jobs, especially those who make one of the varying minimum salaries,” said Upshaw, “We don’t want to get into a position where the league is keeping four or five rookies because it’s cheaper than keeping one or two veterans.”

While there is credence to what Upshaw says, in the end, teams will keep talent no matter what age they are. In fact, most teams seem to be cutting veterans when they have to deal with the high-paid rookie.

And in some cases, it comes back to bite them.

Just look at the Chicago Bears. They traded Thomas Jones, a proven running back, to the Jets in order to put high-paid draft pick Cedric Benson on the field. Now the Bears are paying for it in the form of a cap hit.

So, maybe if the commish starts to speak out on big deals, Upshaw will have no choice but to step up and work out an agreement to please both sides.

Kudos Goodell! This is one of the many issues the NFL has to solve.

Terry Bradshaw's Steroids Revelation—Who Cares?

Eddie Griffin — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 22:00:47 -0400

Terry Bradshaw is like the Chuck Norris of the NFL: Every young quarterback wants to be him. Wearing four Super Bowl rings and getting cameos in films and television is living the dream.

Last Thursday on Dan Patrick’s syndicated radio show, Bradshaw admitted to using steroids during the 1970s in order to heal injuries. He said:

"We did steroids to get away the aches and the speed of healing. My use of steroids from a doctor was to speed up injury and thought nothing of it...It was to speed up the healing process. That was it. It wasn’t to get bigger and stronger and faster."

In 2008, steroids are seen in a negative light because of the life-threatening risks. It also takes away from the competitive balance of the game. When we think of these drugs, one word comes to mind: cheating. Players take the drugs in order to cheat and get an edge on their opponent.

So how could Bradshaw do this? Why would he cheat and tarnish the legacy of the “Steel Curtain?” How dare him…wait, what? He played in the 1970s? Oh!

In Bradshaw’s day and age, this was the culture, ladies and gentlemen. In fact, many books have been written about how the Pittsburgh Steelers reveled in the steroid culture.

Don’t believe me? One of those books was written by the late Steve Courson, a former lineman for the Steelers. Courson told Sports Illustrated that he took Anadrol-50, Dianabol, Winstrol, and Deca Durobilin as a player. (Editor's Note: Jose Canseco listed the same steroids on his own grocery list in his book, Juiced.)

Let me also throw out a number: 19. That is the number of former Super Bowl-winning Steelers who have died since 2000.

Some of the deaths certainly weren’t attributed to steroids, but there are rumors that some of the deaths may have been.

That’s alarming to think about, but remember, in the 1970s and even into 1980s, steroids were perfectly legal. Anybody and their mother could get their hands on steroids.

So what’s the issue? Bradshaw wasn’t using steroids to cheat. He actually used them to heal himself.

In those days, modern medicine wasn’t even near where it is today. That’s why when Rodney Harrison claims to have used HGH to heal himself, I can’t believe him. Nowadays, there are plenty of alternatives to healing yourself and speeding up the rehab process that don’t involve steroids.

Another important point to remember is that every team was using the stuff. Chris Mortensen, an NFL reporter for ESPN, said that when he began covering the NFL, it was hard not to find a team that was completely clean.

The league was plagued with users. Lyle Alzado, whose crazy antics on and off the field were legendary, was the poster boy for steroid use in the NFL throughout the 1970s and '80s. Before his death from a brain tumor in 1992, he too sat down with Sports Illustrated and told them about his experience on steroids.

"90 percent of the athletes I know are on the stuff,” Alzado said, “We’re not born to be 300 lbs or jump 30 feet. But all the time I was taking steroids, I knew they were making me play better. I became very violent on the field and off it.”

Alzado went on to share a story about when he beat up a guy for simply sideswiping his car. Sounds pretty bad, doesn’t it?

In the case of Bradshaw, he was using it to heal an injury. Heck, he even got a prescription for it. Like most football players, he wanted to be back on the field as quick as possible and in those days, there was really no quicker way.

Did it help him get better? With or without steroids, Bradshaw always had a strong arm and a lackluster brain. I doubt it did much to make him better.

So does the fact that Bradshaw and the Steelers won four Super Bowls while on steroids diminish the accomplishment? Probably not. Because when they were juicing, so was the rest of the NFL.

Philip Rivers Has Earned Respect, Wants a Ring

Eddie Griffin — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 22:00:25 -0400

Many publications list the San Diego Chargers as the AFC’s second favorite to reach the Super Bowl this season, but all of that optimism assumes that quarterback Philip Rivers is fully recovered from offseason ACL surgery.

Rivers suffered a tear of his right ACL in the Chargers’ AFC divisional upset win at Indianapolis. He then played through that in the close AFC title loss to New England. And while he is reportedly well ahead of schedule, these things generally take almost a full year to fully heal, meaning he could be a bit immobile for much of the season.

The one concern for Chargers fans is that Rivers, despite throwing the exact same number of pass attempts in both his seasons as a starter, had fewer completions, fewer yards, one less touchdown, and six more interceptions in 2007 than he had in 2006.

But he did get better late last season. In the final six games, he had a quarterback rating of over 100 in four of those games. From Week 12 until the AFC Championship Game, Rivers threw for 14 touchdowns and only seven interceptions.

“We were explosive,” coach Norv Turner said. “We were one of the top two or three offenses in the league over that stretch. I expect him to keep building on that.”

Rivers, who is 25-7 in the regular season, took nearly every snap in offseason workouts, so there’s no doubt he will be under center on Week One, although he likely will be handled cautiously through training camp and the exhibition season.

“I’ve certainly come a long way,” Rivers said. “I remember that first week, feeling like ‘This is bad.’ Just the whole thing. The first week or two was really miserable. Just hurting. I can’t sleep. Just getting situated. It hurts to straighten it out. Is it ever going to feel good?"

“It’s amazing now. There are some times when I don’t realize that I ever had anything. Out here, you have a brace and you’re a little bit more conscious of it. But just around the house and stuff, there are times when I can go hours and not even think about.”

Rivers admitted there is a sense of urgency felt around the organization and said there is no reason why the Chargers can’t take the next step forward. He will have receiver Chris Chambers for a full year, a second season under Turner, and, last but not least, still arguably the best back in football in LaDainian Tomlinson (who also is recovering well from injury).

No matter what happens, Rivers is now the unquestioned leader of the team after playing through injury in the AFC title game.

“That he played at all was amazing,” Chambers says. “He really proved a lot.”

UAB Football Preview: Will the Blazers Be Better in 2008?

Eddie Griffin — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 20:00:39 -0400

The good news: The Blazers return 19 starters from last season. The bad news: UAB only beat one Division I team (I refuse to say Football Bowl Subdivision) in 2007.

UAB Blazers

Coach: Neil Callaway (second year at UAB)

2007 Record: 2-10, 1-7 C-USA

Returning starters: 19 (Offense: Eight; defense: Nine; kicker/punter: Two)

Top Returnees: QB Joe Webb, WR Frantrell Forrest, C Jake Seitz, FS Will Dunbar, LB Joe Henderson, CB Kevin Sanders, PK/P Swayze Waters

Key Losses: G Adam Truitt, TE David Sigler, QB Sam Hunt

2008 Schedule

Aug. 30 Tulsa

Sep. 6 @ Florida Atlantic

Sep. 13 @ Tennessee

Sep. 20 Alabama State

Sep. 27 @ South Carolina

Oct. 2 Memphis

Oct. 11 @ Houston

Oct. 18 Marshall

Nov. 1 @ Southern Miss

Nov. 15 @ Tulane

Nov. 22 East Carolina

Nov. 29 @ UCF

Key game: Aug. 30 vs. Tulsa

Let’s be honest here: The Blazers aren’t going to contend in Conference USA this year. But maybe UAB can upset a Tulsa team that will be breaking in a new quarterback to replace Paul Smith.

If they win that game, perhaps the Blazers could be 3-2 heading into full conference play in hopes of finishing .500 overall...but probably not. Facing three consecutive bowl teams to start the season will be rough on this club.

2008 Outlook

After splitting time between receiver and quarterback last season, junior Joe Webb has the full-time job under center. Webb beat out Anthony Speight in the spring, capping it with 173 yards passing and two touchdowns in the first half of the spring game. In three scrimmages, Webb went 51-for-83 for 706 yards with six touchdown passes and two interceptions.

“We know what Joe can do. He’s an outstanding player and we’re excited about him. We just have to correct some of the lapses and work on the consistency part of it, but he’s definitely a guy who can make plays,” coach Neil Callaway said.

Wide Receiver Frantrell Forrest will no doubt be Webb’s top target. As a freshman, Forrest had 49 catches for 563 yards and five touchdowns, and he was the No. 1 option in the spring, tallying 14 receptions for 238 yards and four touchdowns in three scrimmages, and then two TDs in the spring game from Webb.

But who will run the ball?

That’s likely to come down to either Dexter Barnett or Justin Brooks. Barnett was impressive in the spring game with 26 yards rushing on six carries and four receptions for 53 yards and a TD.

Webb also will be a running threat—he was the leading rusher in the spring game. UAB was 104th in I-A in rushing last season; there’s really nowhere to go but up.

The defense returns nine starters, but the Blazers are still young and small in a front seven that included 10 freshmen and sophomores in its two-deep last fall. The strength of the team might be a secondary that returns four players with starting experience, led by all-conference safety Will Dunbar, who led C-USA in tackles last year with 12.2 per game.

Two returning starters at outside linebacker, senior Joe Henderson and sophomore Mike Tashman, missed significant time in the spring with injuries but are expected to be ready to go by camp.

Senior PK Swayze Waters is a weapon any team would like to have: He was all-conference and a Lou Groza Award semifinalist last year after making 22 of 28 field goals and averaging 41.4 yards per punt.

UAB still has a ways to go before they’ll be a contender in Conference USA, but with a lot of their returning starters back, we should see a much-improved team in 2008.

Playoffs or Bust For Carolina Panthers' Jake Delhomme and John Fox

Eddie Griffin — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 20:00:23 -0400

Perhaps no coach-quarterback tandem in the NFL has their futures more closely tied together than Carolina’s John Fox and Jake Delhomme.

Delhomme went down in Week Three last season with a season-ending elbow injury, and the Panthers went down with him, to the tune of missing the playoffs for a second straight season.

Without Delhomme, who is 37-26 as Carolina’s starter since 2003, the Panthers were forced to trot out 23-year-old undrafted rookie Matt Moore, former No. 1 overall bust David Carr, and 21-year veteran Vinny Testaverde. No wonder the offense was ranked No. 29 in the NFL.

Fox said fixing the quarterback position was his top priority after the season. But the good news is that Delhomme has recovered quickly from Tommy John surgery. He has been throwing since April, and he is on track to be nearly 100 percent when training camp starts next month.

In fact, he says his rebuilt arm might be in better shape now than in several years. He has gotten all of the work with the first team in minicamp.

“The ligament is great,” he said.

Fox agreed, to a cautious point: “His arm is strong; it’s as strong as ever. He’s rehabbed it well, and I think he’ll be as good as new when we start camp."

“(But) we’ll be cautious,” Fox said. “We don’t want to go through what we did last season, so we’ll be cautious. Again, it’s in medical people’s hands. They understand it a lot better than us coaches. They’ll give us the go-ahead, and we’ll do things as they tell us he’s capable of doing them.”

Carolina will need a healthy Delhomme, because team owner Jerry Richardson, without actually saying it, has made it known that an overhaul will be coming if the Panthers miss out on the playoffs again. And the team didn’t bring in any veteran QBs to back up Delhomme, meaning Moore will be the likely No. 2.

Carolina did, however, bolster the receiving corps by bringing back Muhsin Muhammad and signing free agent D.J. Hackett away from the Seahawks.

“We needed more than just Steve (Smith),” Delhomme said. “We got some more weapons.”

Houston Cougars Football Preview: Sumlin Hopes for Big Splash in First Year

Eddie Griffin — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:19:00 -0400

The Houston Cougars lost more than just a bowl game in 2007—they lost a coaching staff and some of their best offensive skill players.

New head coach Kevin Sumlin, who helped coordinate a strong Oklahoma offense last season, is taking over a team that had one of the top offenses in the country a year ago.

After finishing 8-5 (6-2 C-USA), Houston is hoping that an improved defense is enough to reclaim a C-USA title, which they won just two years ago under Art Briles, who’s now at Baylor.

Houston Cougars

Coach: Kevin Sumlin (first year as head coach)

Key Returnees: QB Case Keenum, TE Mark Hafner, RG Michael Bloesch, WR L.J. Castile, LT SirVincent Rogers, DE Phillip Hunt, LB Cody Lubojasky, S Kenneth Fontenette, DT Tate Stewart.

Key Losses: RB Anthony Alridge, WR Donnie Avery, WR Jeron Harvey, WR Perry McDaniel, LB Trent Allen, LB Brendan Pahulu, S Rocky Schwartz

2008 Schedule

Aug. 30 Southern

Sep. 6 @ Oklahoma State

Sep. 13 Air Force

Sep. 20 @ Colorado State

Sep. 27 @ East Carolina

Oct. 9 UAB

Oct. 18 @ SMU

Oct. 28 @ Marshall

Nov. 8 Tulane

Nov. 15 Tulsa

Nov. 22 UTEP

Nov. 29 @ Rice

Key Game: Nov. 15 vs. Tulsa

Last year a 56-7 blowout loss at Tulsa cost the Cougars a shot at back-to-back conference championships. Once again the winner of this matchup should win the West Division. It’s clearly a battle of the best in the west, and this time there is a little bit of a revenge factor.

2008 Outlook

Sumlin will be without some key performers from an offense that finished the season ranked fourth nationally in total offense with 502 yards a game. The good news is that they do return a starter at the most important position on the field.

As a redshirt freshman, Case Keenum performed well in replacing Kevin Kolb at quarterback. Though his numbers were not eye-popping—2,259 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions—Keenum was efficient with a 68.5 completion percentage and a very respectable 147.61 quarterback rating.

Keenum also finished third on the team in rushing with 412 yards and nine touchdowns.

The sophomore will have to find some new weapons after losing most of his favorite targets from a year ago, including Donnie Avery, who was the first receiver taken in April’s NFL Draft. TE Mark Hafner does return, and he will play a key role after catching 40 passes for 445 yards and four touchdowns in ‘07.

None of the likely starting receivers reached double digits in catches last year. L.J. Castile put up the most numbers with seven catches, 106 yards, and one touchdown. Sumlin will also look for production from junior Chris Gilbert, sophomore Chaz Rodriguez, and junior Tim Monroe.

Another big hole will need to be filled at the running back position. The Cougars finished the season ranked 10th nationally in rushing with 224 yards a game, but they will have to find a replacement for Anthony Alridge, who rushed for 1,597 yards.

The top candidate for the job is Terrance Ganaway, who was second on the team in rushing a year ago with 550 yards and six touchdowns. If Ganaway is unable to get the job done, Sumlin will give the ball to another sophomore, Andre Kohn.

The strength of the offense will be on the line, where the Cougars return four starters. The line will be anchored by left tackle SirVincent Rogers, who may also have the best name in college football. The right side will be solid as well, with the return of senior Michael Bloesch at right guard.

The defense was good in ‘07, but it should be even better in ‘08. A strong line will be led by end Phillip Hunt, who led the league in sacks last season with 10.5 and should also be a first-team all-conference pick for the second straight year. Ell Ash and Tate Stewart also return at the tackle spots.

Senior Cody Lubojasky is the only returning starting linebacker. Juniors Matt Nicholson and Tyrell Graham will step into starting spots on both sides of Lubojasky.

All four starters return in the secondary, led by senior safety Kenneth Fontenette. With the return of cornerbacks Brandon Brinkley and Quinte Williams, along with senior Ernest Miller at the other safety spot, Houston could repeat as the top passing defense in the conference.

A strong pass defense will be a big help in a conference that thrives on passing. If the Cougars are able to find some playmakers at receiver and running back, they should be able to battle Tulsa for a trip to the C-USA championship game. Not having to face UCF in the regular season will help their chances.

Rice Football Preview: Defense the Key to Owls’ Postseason Hopes

Eddie Griffin — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:00:15 -0400

David Bailiff’s first season as head coach at Rice was a tough one, to say the least. The Owls went 3-9 and finished fourth in the C-USA West at 3-5.

A good offense kept the Owls close against some of the league’s top teams, but the inability to make stops on defense resulted in some tough losses against Tulsa, Houston, and Memphis.

An easier schedule in ‘08 should give Rice fans hope that they will have a chance to win their first bowl game since 1953.

Rice Owls

Coach: David Bailiff (3-9, second season at Rice, 24-24 overall)

Key Returnees: QB Chase Clement, WR Jarett Dillard, WR Toren Dixon, LT Scott Mitchell, RG David Berken, DE Scott Solomon, DE Cheta Ozougwu, LB Brian Raines, S Bencil Smith

Key Losses: WR Joel Armstrong, OL Lute Barber, OL Robby Heos, RT Lute Barber, NG George Chukwu, DB Justin Abt, DB Gary Anderson

2008 Schedule

Aug. 29 SMU

Sep. 6 @ Memphis

Sep. 13 @ Vanderbilt

Sep. 20 @ Texas

Sep. 27 North Texas

Oct. 4 @ Tulsa

Oct. 18 Southern Mississippi

Oct. 25 @ Tulane

Nov. 1 @ UTEP

Nov. 8 Army

Nov. 22 Marshall

Nov. 29 Houston

Key Game: Nov. 29 vs. Houston

Last year, the Owls nearly pulled off the upset on the road, but they came up short in a 56-48 loss to the Cougars. This year, the game could mean a lot for Bailiff’s squad. If Rice plans on becoming bowl eligible, they may need to win all of their home games, and Houston would like nothing more than to dash the Owls’ postseason hopes.

2008 Outlook

Fresh off their first bowl game since 1961, the Owls took a step back in 2007. Even with a passing attack that ranked 15th in the country, injuries and a below-average defense contributed to a disappointing 3-9 record. Bailiff and his staff are hoping the team can benefit from the experience a lot of the younger players gained after last year’s injuries.

Benefiting most from last year’s experience should be ends Scott Solomon and Cheta Ozougwu, who were forced to play as true freshmen in ‘07. Injuries also forced Andrew Sendejo to move over to free safety, where he became a force, leading the team in tackles (107) and interceptions (five).

Some key players will be returning from the list of the walking wounded and are expected to make big impacts on defense. Linebackers Brian Raines, Robert Calhoun, and Terrance Garmon all missed time in ‘07 due to injuries, but all are looking to make major contributions.

Safety Bencil Smith should give a boost to the secondary after missing all of last season due to a broken foot suffered on the season’s first play.

The defensive line has some question marks at the tackle positions after losing both starters. The Owls will look to fill the void with age, as junior Chance Talbert and senior Chris Ptaszek will look to help a run defense that gave up 192 yards per game on the ground (100th nationally).

As is the case throughout Conference USA, the strength of this team is its offense, specifically the passing game. The Rice offense returns most of its key contributors from a unit that averaged 37 points in league games.

Quarterback Chase Clement had a great year in 2007, throwing for 3,377 yards and 29 touchdowns. He also showed some impressive accuracy for a team that had no real running threat by completing 300 of his 508 passing attempts.

Not only was Clement solid in the passing game, he also led the team in rushing with 535 yards and eight touchdowns.

Clement will have plenty of options to throw to, including his favorite target, wide receiver Jarett Dillard. As a junior, he led the team in receiving with 79 catches for 1,057 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Tight end James Casey also returns after finishing second behind Dillard in receiving with 585 yards and four touchdowns.

The running attack will benefit from the return of last year’s opening day starter C.J. Ugokwe, who also suffered a season ending injury in ‘07. His replacement, Justin Hill, is coming off a shoulder injury suffered in the spring.

The offensive line returns three starters in tackle Scott Mitchell, center Austin Wilkinson, and guard David Berken. With the addition of some young talent up front, the Owls expect to improve a running game that averaged only 110 yards a game last season.

If the Owls are to make a bowl game appearance, they will need to shore up the defense and establish a running attack, both of which are easier said than done.

However, a favorable schedule could be enough to get them there. Rice should go into a three-game home stretch to end the year with their postseason goals still intact.

SMU Football Preview: New Leadership + New System = Postseason?

Eddie Griffin — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:53:49 -0400

It’s been a long two decades for the SMU Mustangs. Since their pre-death penalty run of success in the early 1980s, SMU has gone without a postseason appearance since 1984, when they finished up a five-year run in the national spotlight.

After going 5-6 and 6-6 in 2005 and 2006 and just missing out on that elusive winning season and bowl game, it looked like 2007 could’ve been a big year. Instead, it was a big disappointment, as the Mustangs went 1-11 and winless in Conference USA at 0-8.

Even though six of those losses were by 10 points or less, it wasn’t enough to keep Phil Bennett on the sidelines, as his tenure came to an end after six seasons.

But there’s reason for optimism in Dallas, as the Mustangs have a new head coach in June Jones, who turned Hawai'i from an also-ran into a premier program. Will he be able to do the same with SMU?

SMU Mustangs

Coach: June Jones (0-0, 1st year at SMU, 75-41 in nine seasons at Hawai'i)

Key Returnees: QB Justin Willis, WR Emmanuel Sanders, RB DeMyron Martin, OL Mitch Enright, OL Sean Lobo, OL Tommy Poynter, DE Youri Yenga, DL Serge Elizee, LB Will Bonilla, LB Justin Smart, CB Bryan McCann, FS Tyler Jones, SS Rock Dennis, DB David Haynes

Key Losses: RB James Mapps (suspension), FS Bryce Hudman (suspension), WR Zack Sledge, WR Columbus Givens, LB Wilton McCray, DL Cory Muse, DB Jonathan Lindley, WR/DB Devin Lowery, DB Brandon Jones, LB Damon Hurst

2008 Schedule

Aug. 29 @ Rice

Sep. 6 Texas State

Sep. 13 @ Texas Tech

Sep. 20 TCU

Sep. 25 @ Tulane

Oct. 4 @ UCF

Oct. 11 Tulsa

Oct. 18 Houston

Oct. 25 @ Navy

Nov. 8 Memphis

Nov. 15 @ UTEP

Nov. 29 Southern Miss

Key Game: Sep. 20 vs. TCU

The previous week's game against Texas Tech could be an intriguing one if SMU starts 2-0, but what better way to usher in a new era than to lay the wood on your archrival? The last time SMU hosted TCU, they upset the 22nd-ranked Horned Frogs 21-10 in 2005.

Last season, SMU held TCU to only seven points on offense, but a blocked punt TD and a pick-six were the difference in a 21-7 TCU win. This year, things could be much, much different if the Mustangs are riding high on confidence heading into this one, as they should be.

2008 Outlook

During their run in the '80s, a potent running attack led by the likes of Eric Dickerson and Craig James was the hallmark of SMU’s offense. The Pony Express will be back in business, but the new generation will keep in step with today’s technology and go more by air than ground.

The biggest beneficiary of the new wide-open, pass-friendly offense is QB Justin Willis. In his first two seasons, Willis has been one of the bright spots of the team, blossoming into one of the top quarterbacks in the conference.

As a freshman, he threw for 26 touchdowns and only six interceptions on the way to being the conference’s Freshman of the Year. Last season, his numbers suffered a little as he threw the ball a lot more (414 times, up from 270 in 2006) in shootout after shootout, but he did rack up 2,944 yards and 25 touchdowns.

He was a sore spot as well, thanks to off-the-field issues that caused him to be suspended indefinitely until recently.

With Willis on the field, Jones has his guy. If he can get the interceptions down (18 in 2007) and focus on the game, he could easily be one of the top quarterbacks in the country.

What gives Willis that extra dimension is his ability to make plays on his feet. Jones had a fairly mobile QB in Colt Brennan, but Willis, who led SMU with 699 yards rushing last season, is much more of a running threat.

Willis’ leading receiver, Emmanuel Sanders (74 catches, 889 yards, nine TDs), is back, and a 1,000-yard season is definitely within reach. Top running back James Mapps (suspension) will have to be replaced, but that will allow senior DeMyron Martin to make the starting job his once and for all.

The key for SMU is going to be defense, which had a big hand in last year’s struggles, giving up 39.8 points and 498.7 yards per game. Granted, they did have to replace Justin Rogers, Adrian Haywood, Joe Sturdivant, and Reggie Carrington, but there’s no doubt that the D took a big step back after a solid year in 2006.

However, several starters are back this year, and the other likely new starters all have some level of experience, so defensive improvement is a good bet. Safety and co-leading tackler Bryce Hudman is another player currently suspended indefinitely, but on the bright side, Rock Dennis is back after missing all of 2007 with a shoulder injury, and should start at strong safety.

There’s talent throughout the defense, from Yenga (six tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks) up front, to Bonilla (82 tackles, two INTs, two forced fumbles) and Smart (29 tackles, 2.5 for loss) at linebacker, and Bryan McCann (four interceptions in 2007) in the secondary. Smart and Jones (51 tackles, 4.5 for loss as a freshman) should provide plenty of big hits this season.

Special teams isn’t a concern in the least. Thomas Morstead is the conference’s top punter (44.6 yards per punt last season), and the strong-legged senior is also a reliable placekicker (26 of 38 field goals, 77 straight PATs made).

So what will it take for the Mustangs to end their bowl drought?

Winning the close ones is what will take SMU over the top. In the last three seasons, they've suffered 13 losses by ten points or fewer (four in 2005, three in 2006, six in 2007). If they want to take the next step, winning those games is a must.

If the defense isn’t a liability, the potential is certainly there for the Mustangs to make a challenge in C-USA and contend for a postseason berth.

Jones has engineered a major turnaround before, and with a great deal of returning talent in place, you can count on his Mustangs to take a big step forward this season.

Memphis Tigers Football: Primed For Another Bowl Bid

Eddie Griffin — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:00:54 -0400

Last season, Memphis rebounded from a 2-10 season in 2006 to make their fourth postseason appearance in five years.

The Tigers started the 2007 season with three losses in their first four games, but they won six of their last seven games to earn a place in the New Orleans Bowl, where they lost to upstart Florida Atlantic.

This season, Memphis has some key names to replace, but they have the talent to make yet another bowl game.

Memphis Tigers

Coach: Tommy West (41-44 at Memphis)

2007 record: 7-6, 6-2 C-USA (lost in New Orleans Bowl)

Returning starters: 18 (offense: 7, defense: 9, kicker/punter: 2)

Top returnees: WR Duke Calhoun, WR Steven Black, LG Dominik Riley, DT Clinton McDonald, FS Brandon Patterson, CB LeRico Mathis

Key losses: QB Martin Hankins, RB Joseph Doss, RG Andy Smith, LB Jake Kasser, S Dontae Reed

2008 Schedule

Aug. 30 @ Mississippi

Sept. 6 Rice

Sept. 13 @ Marshall

Sept. 20 Nicholls State

Sept. 27 Arkansas State

Oct. 2 @ UAB

Oct. 10 Louisville

Oct. 18 @ East Carolina

Oct. 25 Southern Miss

Nov. 8 @ Southern Methodist

Nov. 22 UCF

Nov. 29 Tulane

Key game: Sept. 13 at Marshall - The Thundering Herd should be much improved this season. Memphis should certainly beat Rice in its second game, so a win over Marshall would give the Tigers a 2-0 start in the conference and a huge potential tiebreaker in C-USA East.

2008 Outlook

The good news is a defense that has been a weak spot the past two seasons returns nine starters (wait, is that good news?) under new coordinator Tim Walton. The former Miami defensive coordinator is the team’s third in as many seasons.

“We’re better defensively,” Memphis coach Tommy West said. “We’re much more aggressive. We’re still learning. We’re still giving up a few too many big plays right now, but as far as the everyday play, it’s been good.”

That unit forced five turnovers in the spring game. Linebacker Terrence Thomas returned a fumble 28 yards for a touchdown, and defensive end Corey Mills and cornerback Michael Grandberry shared defensive MVP honors.

The biggest question will be who replaces two-year starter Martin Hankins at quarterback. The Tigers brought in junior college QB Arkelon Hall, and he may have the inside track on the starting job after sophomore Matt Malouf left the program after spring practice.

”I’m really surprised because I thought Matt had a good spring,” West said. ”And he’s someone who has been in our system for the past two years. I was looking forward to the competition between him and Arkelon in the fall.

”But things change. I wish Matt the best, no matter what he decides, and I hope he has a good career.”

Also in the mix for the starting job will be senior two-sport athlete Will Hudgens, who was recently drafted in the 23rd round by the Cincinnati Reds and is currently playing rookie ball for the Billings Mustangs.

However, Hudgens, who threw for 587 yards and five TDs (with no interceptions) and ran for two touchdowns last season, should be able to take part in fall camp.

Junior college transfer Curtis Steele looks to be the man at running back. He capped a strong spring with 94 rushing yards in the spring game, including a 38-yard touchdown dash. He gives the Tigers a breakaway threat they haven’t had since, well, DeAngelo Williams.

“The running game last year was basically chain-moving,” offensive coordinator Clay Helton said. “Curtis can be a guy that can create explosion plays. He brings the capability of having 20-yard runs and changing the field.”

In addition, West said that former Miami running back Charlie Jones could join the club in the fall. West said Jones, who started three games at Miami as a junior, is expected to graduate from the school with one season of eligibility left. If Jones transfers, he would be eligible this fall. “We are expecting Charlie to be a back here next year,” West said.

Lastly, the Tigers went through the spring without top wideout Duke Calhoun, who sat out while rehabbing a knee injury. Calhoun was limited by the injury through most of the 2007 season but he still managed to catch 62 passes for 890 yards and five touchdowns. Assuming he returns healthy, Memphis will have a strong group of receivers.

East Carolina Football Preview: Is This the Year of the Purple and Gold?

Eddie Griffin — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:00:36 -0400

The 2007 season was one filled with exciting games for East Carolina, as the Pirates won and lost games late, some in the most miraculous of endings.

Star RB Chris Johnson put up big numbers with 1,423 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns. The defense was led by leading tackler FS Van Eskridge, MLB Fred Wilson, LB Pierre Brown, and star CB Travis Williams.

The Pirates finished the season with an 8-5 record, ending the year in spectacular fashion by upsetting No. 24 Boise St. in the Hawaii Bowl, 41-38.

Coach: Skip Holtz (Fourth year at East Carolina, 20-17)

2007 record: 8-5, 6-2 CUSA

Starters returning: 16 (Seven offense, nine defense)

Top returnees: QB Patrick Pinkney, QB Rob Kass, RB Dominique Lindsay, WR Jamar Bryant, RG Doug Palmer, LG Cory Dowless, RT D.J. Scott, RT Terence Campbell, DE Zack Slate, DT Linvall Joseph, DT Khalif Mitchell, DT Jay Ross, FS Van Eskridge, MLB Pierre Bell, LB Quentin Cotton, CB Jerek Hewitt, P Matt Didge

Key losses: RB Chris Johnson, FB Jay Sonnhalter, WR Phillip Henry, WR Steven Rogers, LG Matt Butler, OT Josh Coffman, MLB Fred Wilson, CB Travis Williams

2008 Schedule

Aug. 30 Virginia Tech (Neutral: Charlotte)

Sep. 6 West Virginia

Sep. 13 @ Tulane

Sep. 20 @ NC State

Sep. 27 Houston

Oct. 11 @ Virginia

Oct. 18 Memphis

Nov. 2 @ UCF

Nov. 8 Marshall

Nov. 15 @ Southern Mississippi

Nov. 22 @ UAB

Nov. 28 UTEP

Key Game: Nov. 2 @ UCF. This early November battle between the Pirates and Knights should determine who takes the C-USA East Division crown. Both are solid, very talented teams, and both teams seem to have easy roads to the end of the season.

East Carolina and UCF have very similar ends to the season as they both play Marshall, Southern Miss, and UAB in three of their final four games. This is East Carolina’s most important and toughest road game of the season.

2008 Outlook

East Carolina will benefit from having 16 starters return and two veteran QBs, which perfectly complement one another’s style. Pinkney is the more mobile of the two and will likely be the starter out of the gate. Pinkney only started five games last year, but still led the team in passing yards (1,358), touchdowns (11), and completion percentage (60.5). He also had 306 yards rushing.

Pocket passer Kass (1,164 yards passing, nine TDs) has had some up and downs in his time at East Carolina, including a DUI last August. The rising junior returned against West Virginia, where he saw his first game action after Pinkney struggled. After coming in the second half versus Houston and leading the Pirates to a comeback win, Kass took over the starting role, though Pinkney eventually won it back.

They lose star running back Chris Johnson, who was drafted 24th overall by the Tennessee Titans, but RB Dominique Lindsay, who put up 205 yards rushing and five touchdowns as Johnson’s backup, is poised to assume starting duties. Backing him up will be sophomore RB Jonathan Williams, who has blazing speed.

Last year’s top wideout, WR Jamar Bryant (704 yards, six TDs) is back. Sophomore Dwayne Harris will move into the No. 2 receiver role with the departures of Henry and Rogers. Harris (246 yards receiving, 197 rushing, three TDs in ‘07) is an all-around threat.

The Pirates also boast the best offensive line in the conference, with possibly eight players returning, seven of which have full-time starting experience.

The majority of players are back on what should be a strong defense. Nine starters are back for another year with numerous others with starting experience on the bench. They only really lose MLB Fred Wilson and CB Travis Williams, although they were stars on last year’s team.

Six seniors will be back on defense, including DE Zack Slate, MLB Pierre Bell, and LB Quentin Cotton, among three others. Junior FS Van Eskridge led the Pirates in tackles last year with 104.

Skip Holtz has brought in several talented recruits, including DB Adrian Jones, DL Anthony Garner, and QB Josh Jordan. None of the recruits appear to see much playing time, if any, with this very talented, veteran squad.

If that is not enough, the Pirates also have the easiest schedule of any of the C-USA East contenders. They get to play three of the league’s weakest four teams on the road and get their best opponents on home field.

While having Virginia Tech and West Virginia in their first two games will prevent them from having a perfect record, there is a very good chance that the Pirates run the table the rest of the way.

This is the year for the purple and gold of East Carolina. The Pirates appear to have everything in place for a C-USA title run and a third straight bowl game.

Chicago Bears Say They Won't Add a Veteran Running Back

Eddie Griffin — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:00:11 -0400

Once the Chicago Bears cut loose Cedric Benson, many thought it was a foregone conclusion that the team would sign a veteran free-agent to compete with rookie Matt Forte for the starting job.

Yet, coach Lovie Smith dismissed that notion, saying the likes of Shaun Alexander, Travis Henry, Ron Dayne, LaMont Jordan (expected to be cut), or Kevin Jones are not on the team’s radar at the moment.

“We don’t have any plans to do that,” Smith said. “From Matt, to Adrian Peterson, Garrett Wolfe, P.J. Pope, and Matt Lawrence, we like all of our players, and those are the ones that we’re going with.”

Peterson and Wolfe averaged a combined 3.3 yards per carry last season as Benson’s backups. Pope spent last year on the practice squad, and Lawrence is an undrafted rookie out of powerhouse Massachusetts (yes, that’s sarcasm).

That’s not to say that the Jones, the former Lion, is giving up hope. He sent a personal workout CD to the team to show he is fully recovered from an ACL injury.

“Maybe that’s their plan right now, but things happen; changes are made all the time,” Jones said. “I’m still open-minded. No team shows all its cards. We’ll see what happens in the future.”

Forte, a second-round pick out of Tulane, who rushed for 2,127 yards in his senior season, has been touted as an every-down back and reportedly has looked great during offseason workouts—but that’s quite a different animal from the NFL regular season.

“We liked (Forte) coming in,” Smith said. “He hasn’t disappointed us at all. We feel real good about where he is. I feel like he’ll meet the challenge.”

The Bears are considering going with a rookie running back to go with two new starting receivers, and the best of two unproven quarterbacks in Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton. Let’s just say many don’t expect Chicago to improve upon its No. 27 offensive ranking from last year.

Packers are kicking the tires on Taylor

Eddie Griffin — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:26:10 -0400

With pass-rush specialist Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila rehabbing a surgically repaired knee, there’s some concern about the Green Bay Packer's

ability to put consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

So, maybe it’s not much of a surprise that the club recently contacted the Miami Dolphins about disgruntled DE Jason Taylor.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that the Packers have maintained “cursory contact” with the Dolphins about the six-time Pro Bowler and GM Ted Thompson has been talking about Taylor with defensive assistants Bob Sanders and Robert Nunn; Taylor played for Sanders and Nunn earlier this decade, and the Pack use the same defense Sanders used when with the Dolphins from 2001-2004.

“Anytime you can get a guy of that caliber, you’d want to try to get him,” Nunn said, who was with the Dolphins from 2000 to 2002. “But I don’t get involved in anything like that. All I know is that when I coached him, he was a great football player and a great person. I hope it works out for him because he’s had such a great career, and I’d hate to see it end on a bad note in the public’s eye.”

The report said Thompson wouldn’t consider acquiring Taylor without at least a two-year commitment. Taylor previously said he would play only one more year and then retire – likely to a Hollywood career.

In recent days, the Dolphins have indicated they’re interested in retaining Taylor, the NFL’s

defensive player of the year in 2006.

If a deal could be reached – Miami reportedly wants a second-round draft pick - Taylor would team with Aaron Kampman to form a formidable defensive end tandem in Green Bay.

The Packers lost seven of their 36 sacks from last season when Thompson traded defensive tackle Corey Williams to the Browns this off-season.

In addition, Gbaja-Biamila might not be healthy by training camp.

His salary is $6.1 million in 2008, so if the Pack could get Taylor, they might let KGB go.

Green Bay asked about Taylor before the draft and was told it would take a first-round pick, which was too much for the Packers’ liking.

But Taylor’s price obviously has gone down in the past few months with his public posturing.

Oklahoma Football: Sooners Looking to Cure BCS Blues

Eddie Griffin — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 22:00:17 -0400

Not too many coaches in the country can win a second straight conference title and still have to answer to disappointed fans.

Such was the case for Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops after a blowout loss to West Virginia in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl. Once known as “Big Game Bob” because of his record in big games, Stoops has now come up short in each of his last four BCS appearances.

It’s not that the fans don’t appreciate the five conference championships the Sooners have won since Stoops arrived in 1999. It’s just that in Norman, coaches are judged by how many national titles they have won, not how many they have lost.

The 2008 Sooners may be more equipped to win the program’s eighth national title than any team under Stoops since 2000, with the main reason being quarterback Sam Bradford.

As a freshman, Bradford led the nation in pass efficiency and set a new freshman record for touchdown passes with 36. The sophomore had some trouble with interceptions in the spring, which could partly be attributed to adjusting to a new no-huddle system, but if there is any improvement from his freshman year, a Heisman Trophy and national championship won‘t be out of the question.

Bradford’s favorite target, Juaquin Iglesias, returns after a breakout 2007 in which he caught 68 passes and scored five times. Senior receiver Quentin Chaney, who had 4 catches for 129 yards and a touchdown in the Fiesta Bowl, also returns.

The Sooners will also display one of the best athletes in the country in Jermaine Gresham. The 6-foot-6, 250-pound tight end was third on the team a year ago in both catches (37) and receiving yards (518), and his 11 touchdowns prove his big-play ability.

The passing attack will undoubtedly get a nice boost from redshirt freshman Ryan Broyles, who was very impressive in the spring. The Sooners will also be adding two elite wideout recruits in Josh Jarboe and Jameel Owens.

Sooner fans are very excited to see RB DeMarco Murray get the bulk of the carries in what should be a very potent rushing attack. Despite having his season cut short with a dislocated kneecap, and playing backup to Allen Patrick, Murray was still able to collect 764 yards and a team-high 13 touchdowns.

The sophomore is already drawing comparisons to Reggie Bush, thanks in part to his two kickoff returns for touchdowns, blazing speed, and the versatility to line up as a wide receiver.

As is always the case under Stoops, the Sooners have plenty of depth at running back. Chris Brown returns after rushing for 611 yards on 158 carries while playing third string for most of last season. True freshman Jermie Calhoun, one of the nation’s top running back recruits, could make an early impact.

Despite all the talent in the backfield, the most impressive unit for the Sooners is the offensive line, which may be the best in the country. All five starters return along with two top backups. Though all five of the seniors starting on the line are solid, the left side is especially stout. Both Phil Loadholt and Duke Robinson, who weigh a combined 680 pounds, are already NFL-caliber blockers.

The strength of the defense will definitely be up front. Tackle Gerald McCoy is a possible First Team All-American and his combination of strength and speed has the attention of NFL scouts.

DE Auston English was impressive in 2007 with 9.5 sacks, and he’s also impressed scouts with his unique athletic ability. When you throw in tackle DeMarcus Granger, OU should have one of the best D-lines in the country.

With the departure of LB Curtis Lofton, the strength of the linebackers may depend on the health of Ryan Reynolds, who has battled both bad luck and injuries throughout his career at Oklahoma.

When healthy, Reynolds is an All-Big 12 caliber performer. JC transfer Mike Balogun make an impact, and coaches hope junior Keenan Clayton finally realizes his potential. There is also plenty of excitement surrounding redshirt freshman Austin Box.

Going into the spring, the secondary had some question marks thanks to the early departure of Reggie Smith. By the end of the Red-White game, most of those concerns were put to rest.

Defensive coordinator Brent Venables will not have to worry about safety Nic Harris (74 tackles in 2007), who will be up for several national accolades and could be the best safety in the Big 12. JC transfer David Sims made a big impression on coaches and should contribute at one of the safety positions.

At corner, sophomore Dominique Franks emerged as a shut down corner in the spring, intercepting Bradford twice in the Red-White game. The other corner spot will be manned by senior Lendy Holmes.

Holmes was solid last season, picking off three passes and returning one for a touchdown against Texas Tech. The former receiver also had eight tackles in each of the final three games.

So, the talent for a title run is there, but how does the road to a title stack up?

Oklahoma has a favorable schedule in 2008. They get Texas Tech and Kansas at home, and won’t have to play North favorite Missouri unless they meet for the conference title. Their toughest road game will be in Stillwater against Mike ‘I’m a man’ Gundy and his Oklahoma State Cowboys.

Once again the swing game will come in October in the Red River Shootout against Texas, with the winner having the inside track to the Big 12 South championship.

If Bradford avoids a sophomore slump, and the secondary continues to show the promise shown in the spring, the sky is the limit for this team.

Can Reggie Bush be great in '08?

Eddie Griffin — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 21:00:47 -0400

Will Reggie Bush be known more for his girl’s ass than his NFL talents?

The upcoming NFL season could prove pivotal toward answering that question.

While Bush’s girlfriend, Kim Kardashian, does have a wonderful posterior, I highly doubt he would be content being known as “that NFL player Kim Kardashian is with.”

Despite being behind only Peyton Manning in NFL endorsement deals, and despite being drafted No. 2 overall by the New Orleans Saints in 2006, Bush’s illustrious star has slowly dimmed to such a point that another lackluster season could potentially lead to Bush’s star-power fizzling out.

How could this happen to the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 player on nearly every draft board prior to the 2006 draft?

Despite not having a featured running back, the Houston Texans chose defensive end Mario Williams with the No. 1 selection, leaving Bush for the New Orleans Saints at the No. 2 pick.

The Saints gobbled up the former USC scat back, even though NO already had Deuce McAllister (a mainstay in the Saints’ backfield, rushing for over 1,000 yards in three of the four previous seasons before Bush’s arrival).

After breaking out for 141 all-purpose yards in a 19-14 win against Cleveland in his first NFL game, Bush experienced a roller-coaster rookie season:

Week Two: A week after showcasing his talents in Cleveland, Bush only accounted for five yards rushing on six attempts—the first of nine times Bush rushed for less than 30 yards in a game.

Week Five: Reggie was the hero after returning a punt for the game-winning, and his first career, touchdown with less than five minutes remaining.

Week 10: It wasn’t until Week 10 that Bush finally scored his first touchdown from scrimmage on a 15-yard double reverse.

Week 11: He put up his second game of over 100 all-purpose yards

Week 12: In an NFC South showdown with the Falcons, Bush managed only 44 total yards.

Week 13: Four touchdowns and 168 total yards.

Week 15: Only 33 yards from scrimmage.

Week 16: Bush rushes for over 100 yards for the first time, averaging 6.3 yards on 20 carries.

Week 17: Only 20 yards rushing.

Even with #25’s peaks and valleys in year one, he was a hot commodity, thanks to a couple of exciting plays (including an 88-yard TD catch in the NFC Championship game) and the Saints falling just one game shy of making the Super Bowl.

Bush had finished the season fairly strong, scoring seven touchdowns in the Saints’ final five regular-season games and finding the end zone twice in the playoffs.

Despite finishing with only 565 yards rushing (3.6 yards per carry), the Saints had found ways to utilize Bush’s skill set in the offense. His sure hands led to 742 yards receiving (8.4 yards per catch) and another 154 yards receiving in two playoff games.

Year two came with lots of expectations, and also a few questions of whether Bush could overtake McAllister and become the featured back. Would his slight build stand up to running between the tackles for 25 carries per game?

When Bush took over the majority of the carries after McAllister went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week Three, he was supposed to become the superstar he had been hyped to be since his days at Southern Cal.

Instead, he never had a 100+ yards rushing, he suffered injuries to his shin and PCL, he was not the threat he had been his rookie season, and he fumbled the ball eight times on the season, despite only playing in 12 games.

Bush finished with only 581 yards rushing—38th overall in the NFL — less than a seventh-round pick out of Ottawa College (Derrick Ward), a sixth-round pick out of Toledo (Chester Taylor), and a guy named Maurice (Morris).

The Saints’ third-string running back, Aaron Stecker, had only 140 yards less than Bush, despite getting 10 carries only five times.

More alarming, Bush’s receiving yards fell to 417, and he averaged only 5.7 yards per catch. New Orleans also elected to remove Bush from punt-return duties, limiting his ability to make the big game-changing play on special teams.

So what will it take this season for Bush to regain his superstar status?

If Reggie Bush wants to move into the upper echelon of NFL offensive players, he is going to need help. Now, I know that all football players need help because the game is so team oriented, but I am referring more to help from the sidelines. Bush needs head coach Sean Payton and offensive coordinator Doug Marrone to find a way to utilize Bush to the fullest extent possible.

It was proven last season that Bush is not big enough to last 17 weeks while running between the tackles. He is not built like LenDale White or even Warrick Dunn.

Therefore, Payton and Marrone have to always be searching for ways to get Bush out on the edge or in open space: screens out of the backfield, quick screens in the slot, halfback draws out of a four wide-receiver sets, well-timed “gadget plays”, quick routes out of the slot, lining Bush up wide and overloading the opposite side of the formation, etc.

If given space, Bush is capable of making big plays. Don’t look for him to make the same plays he made in college, or even the same plays Michael Vick was capable of making, but he has the ability to make defenders miss.

He is elusive, and his ability to stop on a dime allows him to do more than just a simple juke move (which works for many college running backs).

It is also important that he be used wisely as a decoy. Just like when Chicago’s Devin Hester is in the game on offense, it is important he is in on all types of plays. Bush can excel if the defense isn’t keying on him every play. The coaching staff must have him playing alongside McAllister at times, lined up in different formations, and being in motion on occasion.

Accompanying that, Bush needs to become an excellent blocker. The more Bush can be used to block...the more often he will be on the field. Amazingly, like most players, Reggie has to be on the field to be able to become an elite back.

Blocking will also lead to checkdowns, and checkdowns are an excellent open-field avenue that will allow Bush room, and will help him avoid the big uglies of the defensive line. Plus, with a top QB in Drew Brees, Bush has a slinger that is unafraid to find the short option rather than chucking for the deep ball.

But the No. 1 way for Reggie Bush to get out of the shadow of Kardashian’s derrière and regain his star status? Well, the Saints have to win, of course. It’s easy to be forgotten on a team that is losing, but hard pressed for a winning squad to be unnoticed.

Boston College Football: QB Chris Crane Has Big Shoes to Fill

Eddie Griffin — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:00:32 -0400

Heisman finalist Matt Ryan was Boston College football last year, becoming the most heralded BC player since Doug Flutie. But now that he’s an Atlanta Falcon, the Eagles have a big hole to fill if they want to remain at the top of the ACC.

Fifth-year senior-to-be Chris Crane takes the reins at quarterback for BC. He will make his second college start when the Eagles face Kent State to open the season.

Crane, who spent the past three seasons watching Ryan, separated himself from junior college transfer Codi Boek and redshirt freshman Dominique Davis during the spring.

Crane completed 18 of 35 passes for 155 yards and one touchdown in the Eagles’ spring game—the most productive he’s been since a 2006 start against Buffalo (his only one).

“I’d say I’ve done very well,” Crane said after the spring game. “A lot of people didn’t know what to expect. People weren’t even expecting me to come in and get the starting job going into the season. I think I really solidified that and I think people are getting more and more confident, so I have to give myself a passing grade.”

Crane made just four pass attempts last season and is 27-of-40 in his career, but he’s the only experienced quarterback on the roster.

Coach Jeff Jagodzinski believes Crane “will get better every game.”

“He needs teamwork. He needs game-like situations. He just hasn’t had those repetitions in his career. He’s been playing behind Matt. I think that’s what he needs and I think he’s going to get better and better with every snap he takes,” Jagodzinski said.

Crane has the physical skills to succeed: He’s 6'4", 236 pounds, and has a strong arm and surprising mobility. His strength is in the mid-range throws.

He will have some experienced receivers to throw to in tight end Ryan Purvis and wide receivers Brandon Robinson, Rich Gunnell, Clarence Megwa, and Justin Jarvis. That group caught a combined 223 passes for 2,906 yards and 20 touchdowns last season as Boston College led the ACC in total yardage.

However, the Eagles have little experience at running back, which could mean Crane will have to win those early-season games on his own. If he can, the Chris Crane era, while short, could be a successful one.

Terry Glenn Says He Wants Out of Dallas, Then Changes Tune

Eddie Griffin — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:10:28 -0400

The Dallas Cowboys didn’t address their lack of receiver depth in the offseason, which looked damaging when number two wide out (well, maybe 2A) Terry Glenn said Tuesday that he wanted the team to release him if it continued to insist that he sign an injury waiver before playing.

“I’m not signing any waiver,” he said Tuesday. “If the Cowboys don’t want me, it’s time to move on.”

Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones responded to those remarks by saying that Glenn had not directly informed him of his desire to be released and that he certainly wouldn’t negotiate through the media.

“I’d like for him to come back, but the nature of his injury is one that it can go in the next step,” Jones said. “So that’s too big of a risk for our team to take, and I don’t think any team will take that risk.

“He made a lot of money from us last year for not playing.”

Glenn made $5 million last season, when he missed the first 15 games after two operations on his right knee. He has refused to agree to a $500,000 injury waiver, the amount the Cowboys want to give him instead of his $1.74 million base salary this season if he re-injures his right knee and is unable to play again.

He said he’s been doing football and basketball drills to ensure he has no pain or swelling in the knee, but he has yet to be able to practice. The 33-year-old is scheduled to count $3.190 million against the cap this year.

However, Glenn softened his stance considerably on Wednesday. He didn’t deny what he said 24 hours earlier, but put it in context.

“I want Jerry to understand that I know he has the ultimate power in everything that goes on with the Cowboys, and I’m not trying to challenge him in any way, shape or form,” Glenn said to ESPN.com.

“He can—and will—determine the outcome of this because it’s ultimately his decision. But what I want is to remain a Cowboy. I’ve been here for five years and I’ve made Dallas my home, and I would love nothing more than to be a Dallas Cowboy.

“I’m not trying to be at odds with Jerry,” Glenn said. “These words and comments coming from me were strictly frustration, knowing football season is right around the corner and I don’t know if my future is here, there, or anywhere. I’m ready to give 100 percent. I just want to know if this is going to be my home.”

The Cowboys need Glenn because their current number two receiver Patrick Crayton often has a case of the drops. Beyond Crayton and Glenn there are really only young players such as Miles Austin, Sam Hurd, and Isaiah Stanback, who aren’t exactly a stable of receivers that would scare other teams.