Bleacher Report - Articles by Nick Vandiver

Eye of The Tiger: Missouri in The Elite Eight

Nick Vandiver — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 14:55:14 -0400

If I had told you at the beginning of the year that the Missouri Tigers would make the NCAA tournament, would you have believed me?

Probably not.

What if I had told you they would make the Sweet Sixteen?

You would've thought I was crazy.

What about the Elite Eight?

You'd have been making calls to put me in the nearest insane asylum.

But guess what?

You can find the black and gold of Mizzou in Glendale, Arizona. They're preparing to take on the Huskies of UConn for a chance to go to the Final Four.

Now how crazy am I?

These Tigers have so vastly exceeded everyone's expectations that it almost can't be described. Last year, they started out strong but finished with a 16-16 record. Many issues off the court led to several players being kicked off the team, and it made things worse for those who remained.

Stephon Hannah, the team's star point guard last season, was removed from the team after getting in a bar fight and having his jaw broken. The rest of the season seemed to just drag on. No on cared about the team because their best player was gone.

What in the world happened?

The Tigers came into this season with a new mentality. They were going to leave the issues of last year behind them, and they were going to play this season with the intensity that coach Mike Anderson expected of the Tigers.

The Tigers started the season on a roll, winning 9 of their first 10. The only loss came against Xavier in a late game thriller where the Tigers came up short in a 75-71 game. Their next loss didn't come until they played Illinois, 8 games later.

Mizzou finished the regular season with a record of 25-6. It was one of the best seasons in school history. Forward DeMarre Carroll was named to the Big 12 All-Conference team, and guard J.T. Tiller was named co-Defensive Player of the Year in the Big 12.

He shared the award with Kansas center Cole Aldrich.

Missouri then proceeded to blow past everyone in the conference tournament, beating Baylor in the championship. This guaranteed a spot in the Big Dance, and gave Tiger fans reason to celebrate.

But no one had high expectations. After all, they were only the Missouri Tigers. They couldn't go very far in the tournament...could they?

On Selection Sunday, the Tigers were given the 3 seed in the West bracket. That meant that their first game would be against Cornell out of the Ivy League.

Mizzou fans were thinking again: "Well, they'll probably make it past the first round, but nowhere after that."

Mizzou did beat Cornell, advancing to the second round against Marquette.

For anyone who watched that second round game, it was a thriller. Marquette guard Dominic James, who had missed the last 6 games with a broken foot, had been cleared to play.

The game came down to the wire. J.T. Tiller came flying down the baseline, looking for an easy layup. He was fouled on the play, but hurt his wrist and went to the bench.

Freshman guard Kim English came in and sank the two most important free throws of his life. As Marquette's Lazar Hayward tried to inbound the ball, he stepped over the line and gave the ball back to Mizzou.

The Tigers were going to the Sweet Sixteen.

It was this one that everyone thought would send the Tigers packing. In their Sweet Sixteen matchup, Missouri would be playing the Memphis Tigers.

Memphis had won Conference USA during the regular season and came into the tournament as the 2 seed in the West bracket. Outstanding freshman guard Tyreke Evans had been a force all year for Memphis, and no one thought he could be contained.

No one gave Missouri a chance against Memphis, who was also the best defensive team in the country.

Well, the doubters were half right.

Tyreke Evans could not be contained.

But it didn't matter.

The Mizzou Tigers finished the first half with a 13 point lead.

It was capped by freshman guard Marcus Denmon's 65 foot desperation heave at the buzzer. Just seconds earlier, Denmon had sunk a 3-pointer that had been reviewed and called a 2 point shot.

So he decided to step back 40 feet and say, "Is that one far enough for you?"

The Tigers started the second half hot, leading by as many as 24 points.

But it was the NCAA tournament. Nothing ever comes that easy.

Memphis staged a furious comeback, closing the gap to 6 points, though they could not finish. They used all of their energy to try and close the point gap, but it left them too tired to finish what they started.

Missouri won the game 102-91. It was the first time that anyone had hung triple digits on Memphis in nine years, and it showed the rest of the country that Mizzou is no slouch. They here to play basketball.

And it doesn't matter who stands in their way.

So now the Tigers are in the Elite Eight. Their opponent will be basketball powerhouse UConn, with 7'3" center Hasheem Thabeet.

No on gives Missouri much of a chance in this game. Most just think, "There's no way they going to get much over a guy as tall as Thabeet."

But you know what? I'm picking Missouri to win this game.

Their transition offense is as explosive as any in the country. Thabeet is going to continually be running back and forth down the court. He'll get tired.

You know what big men in basketball do when they're tired?

They foul.

And if Thabeet gets in foul trouble, there isn't going to be a 7'3" center standing there. DeMarre Carroll and Leo Lyons with be able to play their game and get points in the paint.

Even if that doesn't work, UConn only has one real 3-point threat on the team. That would be dynamic guard A.J. Price.

Guess who's going to be guarding Price for most of the game?

Defensive player of the Year J.T. Tiller.

The Tigers have several guards who can knock down 3-pointers. Matt Lawrence and Kim English have the pure shooting ability to turn a 5-point deficit into a 10-point lead in a heartbeat.

I like the Missouri Tigers to upset the UConn Huskies and advance to the Final Four. Crazy things happen in the Big Dance, and I think this will be one of them.

Mike Anderson has said all year that his team plays "the fastest 40 minutes in basketball."

Over the course of the year, other teams expanded on that name.

Now they call the Tigers "40 minutes of hell."

And I don't think there's any better way to describe it.

From Bad To Worst: What Went Wrong For The Bengals

Nick Vandiver — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 10:53:04 -0500

Everyone knows all about the Bengals terrible play this season. Everyone loves to poke fun at them and talk down to them like they are an inferior team. And while it seems to be common knowledge that they've been down, nobody really seems to care why.

It's time to clear the air.

While some blame always needs to go to the coaches, that's not where things have gone wrong. Marvin Lewis should not be blamed for their troubles. The Bengals had a long playoff drought and he brought them back to the postseason.

Leave Lewis alone.

It's not talent either. This team has plenty of players, both rookies and veterans, who have all of the necessary skills. This team has some great young players and proven starters.

That's not the problem.

In all honesty, there are two things this team needs:

Confidence and leadership.

For the last few years, the Bengals' record has gotten worse every season. They are convinced that each season will only bring fewer wins and more disappointment. They have been robbed of their faith in the team.

When all of these Cincinnati players started getting arrested a few years ago, no attempt was made to fix these problems. Players were not held accountable for their actions, so they had no reason to be responsible. That one's on the coaches.

Slowly, this team started to get a bad reputation. Cincinnati became the jailbird team of the NFL and rather than rise to the challenge and prove the naysayers wrong, the Bengals seemed to just lose focus and accept these catcalls as the truth.

That is because of the other reason—leadership.

For many years now, the Bengals have not had a vocal leader on the team. Take Tom Brady, for example. He doesn't just sit on the bench and sulk when things don't go right. He finds out what went wrong, fixes any problems with his teammates, and gets everyone pumped up to win the game.

Can anyone give me a Cincinnati player who has been that kind of a leader? Not in recent memory. Carson Palmer was the voice in his first few years, but I think he has lost some swagger ever since that knee injury against the Steelers a few years back.

This leader can't just be someone who yells and screams for his team. This leader has to be someone who goes out and backs up his leadership by making plays. This leader needs to get the job done when it's crunch time. The Bengals need to have someone to hold them together.

Chad Johnson might have been that player. As recently as two years ago, he was one of the most feared receivers in the league. His touchdown celebrations would pump up the crowd and his teammates, and he was making plays all over the field.

But it got to his head.

He became Chad Ocho Cinco the superstar, instead of Chad Johnson the teammate. He lost sight of what was most important: the team. He demanded to be traded somewhere, and when Marvin Lewis refused, everyone said he made the wrong move. Ocho Cinco had to go.

When this season started, Johnson had lost all of his swagger as well. He no longer made the big plays to get the team back in the game. He didn't really seem to have his heart in it and that will never help a team.

All the talent in the world won't help if you don't have the people to tie it together. Someone is going to have to step forward and make this team prove that they are a force. The Bengals will never become a working team without a strong leader to follow.

Marv Lewis has no business in this. He isn't to blame for it and he shouldn't be fired, but he can't force one of his players to lead this team. Someone has to decide to do that. Some player has to have the heart to bring them together.

A jigsaw puzzle has all of its pieces meshed together like a full unit. Every piece has its own job as a part of a whole, but you can't complete the puzzle without that piece right in the middle. That piece knows where everything goes and uses itself as a stepping stone.

I ask the Bengals now:

Who will be your stepping stone?

What Went Wrong for the Oakland Raiders?

Nick Vandiver — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 03:18:21 -0500

Ah, what more could possibly go wrong with the Oakland Raiders? Several years back, they were a force to be reckoned with for any playoff-bound team. It used to be a nightmare to have to go play in Oakland. People were fearful of what the Raiders could do.

And then suddenly...it all vanished.

Aaron Brooks, for some reason, began to lose his touch. Randy Moss was injured, and it just didn't seem like his heart was in the game. Everything just started to go downhill. No one really knew why, but everyone knew to take advantage of the Raiders while they could.

We all know what happened after that—Randy Moss went to the Patriots in the trade of the century (for the Patriots), Aaron Brooks was released, and the Raiders tried to rebuild.

Last year, they took a chance on LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell in the hopes that he could re-ignite that spark that their offense used to have. Russell missed most of training camp and only played in two games that season.

In this year's draft, Oakland hoped that Arkansas running back Darren McFadden would become a home run threat in the Raider system. He has been injured for some of the season and hasn't exactly been great in games.

With the talent on this team, why can't they play better? JaMarcus Russell has a cannon for an arm and should be able to throw for at least 250-300 yards per game.

With Justin Fargas and Darren McFadden in the backfield, why isn't the running game more explosive? McFadden has great speed in certain situations, while Fargas is the all-around back who can bowl a linebacker over if needed.

Even their defense has suffered. Warren Sapp, a future Hall of Famer, retired in the offseason. That left a gaping hole on their defensive line that very few players could fill. Derrick Burgess is not the pass rusher he once was, but it seems that Oakland has sucked out whatever life he had left in him.

Their lone bright star has been cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, who has been called the league's top cover corner several times. But his numbers have been down as well.

The linebackers have the potential to be stellar, but things just don't ever seem to swing their way when it's crunch time.

You want to know the strangest part about this? All of this happened for a reason. It's not because the team is in Oakland. It's not because the players aren't at a high enough level. It's not because the coaches aren't up to snuff.

The reason the Raiders are always at the bottom of the league can be summed up in two little words:

Al Davis.

Yes, my friends. Everyone in football knows about Al Davis. The man knows his football, but he also knows how to kill football. He thought that he could rebuild the Raiders all by himself like a big boy, so you know what he did?

In this last offseason, he went out and spent $70 million on free agent cornerback DeAngelo Hall. Seventy million dollars for a guy who was an average corner for most of the year! He might have a good game every now and then, but DeAngelo Hall is not worth that much.

Davis also thought it would be smart to go out and spend $50 million on Tommy Kelly. Let's give this some thought. Before this season, how many people had heard of Tommy Kelly? Okay, how many have ever seen him in a Pro Bowl? Has ever been mentioned among the best?

No? I didn't think so. Tommy Kelly has played for five years, and he has only 14 sacks to show for it. He has one this season. Obviously $50 million was a little too much, huh, Al?

He also thought it was a genius move to fire Lane Kiffin. Lane Kiffin might be young, but he is a good coach. He had potential to be a great coach. He had that it factor that spurred on his players to always play their hearts out no matter the score.

He was a good coach because he knew the situation and what would be best for it. Things might not have exactly thrived under him, but what can you expect from a young coach? These things take time.

So I say it again: The Oakland Raiders can trace all of their problems back to "the Man." Al Davis has made some of the dumbest decisions regarding his players and coaches. Most owners are content to sit back and watch how their team does.

Al Davis seems to think it's his personal goal in life to wreck everything that the Raiders organization has tried to build. I think most people are getting tired of it.

So I can finally say this with my head held high, and I know that most people will give a hearty nod in agreement: The Oakland Raiders would be far better off without Al Davis.

The Matt Ryan Effect: Forgetting Michael Vick, Returning to the Playoffs

Nick Vandiver — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:49:17 -0500

Ah, how eager teams are to forget the troubles of the past. The Falcons finally thought they had their quarterback of the future way back when they drafted Michael Vick.

They thought that his great combination of arm strength and speed would do great things for the Atlanta offense. But they fell victim to one of the little known rules of football:

Never draft a running quarterback.

Running quarterbacks give more attention to their skills with their feet instead of their arms. Vick's running was like a receiver throwing a touchdown. It's flashy, and it works sometimes, but it's not what you were put there to do.

The Falcons needed Vick to be a great pocket passer, and he never rose to those expectations. While he does have the records for QB rushing yards in a game and a season, he never fully reached his potential as a passer.

Then, just last year, Falcon nation was horrified as their star quarterback became involved in a dogfighting scandal. People thought of it as a travesty in Falcon history. While Vick wasn't the greatest quarterback, he generally got the job done.

With Vick in court and prison for years, Atlanta Falcon fans thought the franchise was about to enter a depression. Who could fill the small, yet speedy shoes of Michael Vick? Who could ever come in and lead this team to the kind of season that they wanted several of from Vick?

And then came the draft.

The Falcons draft pick came down to a coin toss with the Raiders. The Falcons won the toss and wound up getting the third overall pick. Many wanted them to just take a safe pick like Darren McFadden or Jake Long.

Everyone knew that they would come to the NFL and do what they do best. But the most dangerous gamble in football is to take a quarterback in the first round. You never know if they have have the maturity and talent to play on the pro level.

But the Falcons had a good feeling. They had seen this kid from Boston College come back with less than a minute left to beat Virginia Tech and lead his team to a bowl game.

They had seen his natural throwing ability and marvelled at his leadership skills. So, taking a great risk at the chance for great gain, the Falcons made the pick.

"With the third overall pick of the 2008 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons select...Matt Ryan, quarterback-Boston College."

These were the fateful words that set it all in motion.

With the Falcons terrible record last year, no one expected Ryan to come in and work any miracles. A 7-9 or 8-8 record would have been a great stepping stone for the young QB.

But no...Matt Ryan would not settle for that.

With his live arm and quiet leadership skill, Matt Ryan has already led this team to five wins and they are looking to go to the playoffs in the first year of their rookie quarterback.

He showed his talent by leading the Falcons to a win against the Bears at the last second. Literally.

With 11 seconds left, Matt Ryan threw deep down the left sideline for Michael Jenkins. Jenkins, with great concentration, caught the ball way past midfield and tiptoed just in-bounds. With one second left, Jason Elam kicked the game-winning field goal to beat the Bears.

All in all, the Falcons couldn't have imagined a better outcome for their franchise quarterback. They expect him to be an elite aerial threat for years to come, and opposing teams hope that won't be the case.

One thing is certain, though: Whatever happens this year, the Atlanta Falcons will never regret taking a chance on a tall, skinny kid from Boston College.

The System Has Crashed: The Dominance of the Texas Tech Offense

Nick Vandiver — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:41:34 -0500

I've been hearing this term thrown around all the time. It just aggravates to me such a point that I almost need to take some pills and sit down. It just infuriates me how people these days try their absolute hardest to take away from the achievements of other people.

This term seems especially popular in college football, where offenses are so dominant.

Ready for the word?

I hate mentions of offensive "systems."

That's right, "systems." It's really just a calm little word that doesn't say much. You wouldn't think this word could make someone very angry—but that's where you'd be wrong.

People these days, especially analysts, love to say that certain players aren't really as good as their numbers say because they are in an offensive "system." They say that because they are in an offense that is specifically designed for their talents, they aren't really as good as they think.

Let's just get one thing straight here, people: The system doesn't make the players. The players make the system. Oh sure, maybe a speedy receiver might not be as much of a threat in the Nebraska running offense of old. They would hardly ever get the ball.

But because today's offenses are either balanced or pass-oriented, there really isn't any kind of system out there. Every team runs some similar style of plays and formations, with slight variations.

Of course, the biggest example would be the Texas Tech Red Raiders. As most college fans know, they are probably the most lethal offense in the country. The combination of Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree is probably the best in the country, and this is coming from a big Chase Daniel/Jeremy Maclin fan.

I digress. The Red Raider offense has often been called a system simply because they throw more than anyone else. But what does that matter? The New England Patriots pass just as much, but Tom Brady was MVP, wasn't he? No one calls him a system quarterback, do they?

The fact of the matter is that Graham Harrell has become the victim of an age-old discrimination that spread offense quarterbacks don't succeed as much in the NFL because they don't ever get used to the higher caliber defenses.

Here's the truth, naysayers: Graham Harrell is an elite quarterback and has been for three years now. He has the arm to make all the throws, and he has great size and pocket presence for a college quarterback.

Michael Crabtree has also been neglected. It has been said that the only reason he has great numbers is because he has Graham Harrell. Well, let's put Crabtree on any other team.

Let's watch him take a little middle screen 50 yards down the sideline as he burns everyone on the defense.

Michael Crabtree is simply a playmaker. There's no other way to say it. He makes crazy catches at the most clutch moments and does miraculous things after he catches it. He's the complete package.

All in all, I think I've said my piece. The "system" has become a frequently used term, yet these systems wouldn't work with other players. Do you think that Drew Brees would be as great as he is in a running offense?

The players make the offense. Not the other way around.

Long Horns/Long Fangs: The Tigers Take on The Longhorns

Nick Vandiver — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:43:29 -0400

Well, last week was certainly a rocky one for the Top 5. Texas upset Oklahoma to take the number one spot in the rankings, and Oklahoma State came out of nowhere to beat the Missouri Tigers.

While the Red River Rivalry was an air-it-out attack from both sides, the Missouri game left a little to be desired. Chase Daniel was off the whole night, throwing three interceptions. His third pick sealed the win the the Cowboys, and the Tiger offense was out of sync every drive.

But what do you know? This week, the upsetter meets the upsetee.

That's right. This week the Missouri Tigers and the Texas Longhorns face off following last week's strange turn of events.

For the Longhorns, this is just a chance to further pad their No. 1 ranking and prove they're the best in the nation.

For Missouri, this is almost a must-win. After being held to only 23 points by the Oklahoma State Cowboys, this offense is eager to get back on track. If they can pull off the upset, it might just be the shot in the arm they need to stay in the race for the national title.

This game, though, has a very special meaning for Chase Daniel. It's a chance to rebound from last week's less than stellar performance. It's a chance to upset the No. 1 team in the country. But most of all, it's a chance to go back to his home state and stick it to the school that refused to even give him a chance.

Colt McCoy, on the other hand, was the quarterback that Texas took over Chase Daniel. This is his chance to prove the the Longhorns made the right decision.

Texas is going to have to air it out against the Tiger defense because not many runningbacks can get around Lombardi Award finalist Sean Weatherspoon.

Known to Tiger fans as "Spoon," the Missouri linebacker is strong in all areas on his defensive game. He picked off three passes in the first three games of the season, returning two of them for touchdowns. He regularly stuffs running backs for little or no gain, and he gets great support from his defensive line.

The Missouri offense just needs to get back in their rhythm and get the ball in the hands of their playmakers. This offense doesn't need deep passes or tricks to be successful. As many fans will remember, Jeremy Maclin took a short slant 56 yards for a touchdown against Nebraska. Let the receivers do what they do best.

They will also have to rely on their newest weapon. Derrick Washington has been a phenomenal replacement for Tony Temple, and he has been tearing up defenses all year long. Look for him to have a big game against Texas.

The Missouri pass defense is going to have to have a good day. Colt McCoy has a live arm, but he's not afraid to tuck it and run it. They're going to have to respect his ability to do both. William Moore should be a big presence.

Missouri has a slight advantage in the return game. Jeremy Maclin is a dangerous man returning kicks and punts. But don't count out the Longhorn returners.

Jordan Shipley returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown in their upset of Oklahoma. Maclin hasn't notched a return touchdown since Week 1 against Illinois, so a special teams touchdown would help Missouri tremendously.

When you add everything up, the Tigers actually seem to have the edge. They have the big name quarterback, the big time receivers, and the strong run game. If Missouri can keep the game running at their own pace and do what they do best, the Tiger can easily come out with a win.

However, Texas won't back down so easily. Expect Colt McCoy to have a big day, as he'll constantly keep the Tiger defense off balance with his dual threat capability. Jordan Shipley has all the skills to beat the Mizzou pass defense in any way, so this should be an all-out aerial attack.

This game shapes up good for both teams, but someone's defense has to force some three-and outs to let the offense go to work with a lead. In the end, it'll come down to turnover margin and time of possession. Keep the ball away from the opposing offense, get touchdowns instead of field goals, and the game is yours.

Pick: Missouri

Red River Rumbles: Can Texas Pull Off the Upset?

Nick Vandiver — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:36:34 -0400

The Texas Longhorns—one of the most storied teams in the history of college football.

They've been one of the most dominating forces in the Big 12 for longer than anyone can remember.

Every year, teams would change. All-Americans would go to the NFL and the best teams would become the worst teams.

But Texas was the one team you could always count on. They were great, year after year. But the biggest concern of Longhorns was during the Vince Young era.

If they couldn't win a national title with VY, how could they win one with anyone else? After all, he was one of the most exciting players to ever play the sport.

I think it's safe to say that this year's teams have calmed those troubled minds.

Colt McCoy is obviously a very gifted quarterback. He is one of the top five in passer rating across the country. If not for the feet of Vince Young, McCoy would be given much more credit for the running ability that he has. He is incredibly efficient and knows who he needs to get the ball to.

Quan Cosby has really been McCoy's go-to guy at wide receiver. He leads the team in catches and receiving yards. McCoy knows that he needs to get the ball to his playmakers to win, so expect good numbers from him.

Jordan Shipley, though, is a big time threat for Texas. He's only caught 24 passes up till now, but seven of them have been for touchdowns. Most teams know the McCoy has a live arm, but because of his ability to run, defenses have to stay honest. That means plenty of opportunities for Cosby and Shipley.

The weak spot of the offense seems to be their run game. McCoy leads the team with 317 yards. The leading runningback is Cody Johnson with 193 yards.

This seems to bode ill for the Texas offense, but they don't have a problem with it. The quarterback touches the ball more than anyone else on the field, and this is even more true for McCoy.

If he drops back to pass and can't find an open man, he'll run it. He has topped 80 yards three times, and 100 yards once. His four touchdowns are second on the team and his longest run is 35 yards. Obviously, the guy can move.

The defense is stingy as well. They only allow 11.4 points per game, and teams seem to have a hard time putting points on the board.

And on the other side is Oklahoma. Boomer Sooner, all that stuff.

What it comes down to is that the Sooners are a very good football team. They wouldn't be No. 1 in the nation if they weren't. They fight with Texas every year for the Big 12 South title, and they seem to be coming out on top recently.

It all starts with Sam Bradford. He has thrown for over 1,600 yards and 18 touchdowns in five games. He doesn't have the most well-known corps of receivers, but they get the job done well.

The sophomore quarterback is incredibly accurate and aware, and he has turned the Oklahoma offense into a scoring machine.

Manuel Johnson and Juaquin Iglesias form the go-to tandem for Bradford. They both have over 400 yards and five touchdowns, so you can't double cover one and expect to win. They can both beat you on any play.

You can't hope for Bradford to not see the open man and make the throw. His great vision keeps defensive coordinators awake at night.

The rushing attack provides great balance as well. The two-headed attack of DeMarco Murray and Chris Johnson gives the offense plenty of dimensions against even the toughest defense. Murray seems to get the ball a little more, but don't underestimate either. It might be the mistake that loses you the game.

Sooner defenses have always been good. That's a given. They allow 13.8 points per game, and it's hard to get anything by them. The Texas offense will have a hard time doing what they want to do on offense.

When you look at the big picture, this is a great match-up. Two Top Five teams playing for control of the Big 12 South, bragging rights at stake. On paper, it's an even game. But once you get on the field. Look for both offenses to struggle early, but for the second quarter and onward to be an air-it-out bonanza. This game will be tight until the very end.

Keys to Victory: Texas

Let Colt McCoy air it out early. Don't be afraid to try and test the Sooner secondary. An early lead will be a big help. On defense, don't let the Sooner rushing attack roll early. Make Sam Bradford beat you with his arm and make the offense one-dimensional.

Key to Victory: Oklahoma

Location, location, location. This game will be in the Sooner's house, and that could be the deciding factor in this game. If they play Sooner football the way they want, they have a great chance to win the game.

Pick:Oklahoma

Do the Heisman: Who's the Best Player in the Country?

Nick Vandiver — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 14:33:18 -0400

Ah, the Heisman trophy. The dream of all college football players. Who wouldn't love to have that shining piece of metal sitting up in their own trophy case?

It's a representation of how someone was the best football player in the entire nation, and they were that good all year long. There's nothing more gratifying than that.

Nowadays, there are other trophies for every position. Even if you don't win the Heisman, you can still win an award and you'll feel good about yourself.

But you know what?

You didn't win the Heisman.

That's why the people who do win it are so valuable when it comes to bowl games and even to the NFL Draft. Today's college football has so many exciting players that it's always hard to pick out one as the best player in the country.

Do you go with the electrifying receiver who always makes the big player, or do you go with the uncannily accurate quarterback who throws it to him? Do you award the running back who can bust a 50-yard gain every game, or does it go to the speed linebacker who runs him down?

It's always a hard choice, so you really have to give credit to the Heisman voters. They go through the choices over and over, and when they finally pick the winner, it means that they earned it. You don't win the Heisman unless you fully earn it.

Today's Heisman candidates all have their strengths and weaknesses. But they are exceptional because their upside cancels out the weaknesses. These players all have plenty of reason to be given the award. In the end, though, only one can win it.

1) Chase Daniel, Missouri QB

What else can be said about Chase Daniel? No one in the country is more capable of running offense than the Missouri quarterback. The senior led his team to the Cotton Bowl with Arkansas last year, and the Tigers are 4-0 so far this year.

Daniel's incredible accuracy always serves him well, whether he's throwing it short or deep. And he does get to throw it deep when he's the got the receiving corps that he has.

Of course, none of his receivers are more talented than Jeremy Maclin. An All-American as a freshman, Maclin is one of the biggest deep threats in the country, and that only means more yards and touchdowns for Chase Daniel. Look for Daniel to be the front-runner for most of the year.

2) Sam Bradford, Oklahoma QB

What a talent this kid is! Bradford set the record for touchdown passes as a freshman, and his incredible numbers have transferred over to this season. He set a career high in passing years three straight games, and he done it without any incredible receiving talent.

He has great vision down the field, and when he finds his man, he gets him the ball. Bradford might just be the only person who can take the Heisman away from Chase Daniel, but it'll be close.

3) Max Hall, BYU QB

Well, who saw this guy coming? BYU might have been considered a surprise this year, but with the way Max Hall has been playing, how can you not be great? He has absolutely no real playmakers around him, but his own skills make the players around him better and they play together like they're 10-year veterans.

He throws touchdowns by the bucketload, and defensive coordinators have an absolute nightmare trying to keep him under wraps. If there's a real dark horse candidate in this race, it's Max Hall.

4) Javon Ringer, Michigan State RB

Think about this one real hard. Javon Ringer lead the NCAA in individual scoring, and he leads the nation in rushing touchdowns. He gives the Spartan offense a real home run threat every time he runs the ball, and he takes a load of pressure off the passing game.

Defenses only hope to contain him, and he's the best Heisman candidate who isn't a quarterback. Being a running back might give him an edge over the others.

5) Jeremy Maclin, Missouri WR

A lot of people might have some outrage at this pick. Of course Michael Crabtree should go here, he's so much better than Maclin! You can say what you want, but Jeremy Maclin is the best all-purpose threat in the country. He can score by running the ball, catching it, returning a kick or returning a punt.

There really is no way to beat him on every play. He has the best quarterback in the country throwing to him, and his own elite speed allows him to beat any cornerback in the country or a deep route. There simply is no way to win against Maclin.

Well, these candidates are simply some of best players in the country. If the Heisman was meant for more than one person, there would be more people on this list. But only the best of the best get it. So I only list the elite.

Scream and shout, please. Tell me who you think gets this award. But if I had to pick right now, Chase Daniel gets the Heisman.

No one leads their offense better, and he gets everyone in on the game. He has great accuracy, arm strength and mobility. No other player is even to close to being so dynamic.

Chase for the Heisman.

Welcome to the Jungle: Who is the New No. 1 in College Football?

Nick Vandiver — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:15:51 -0400

College football has become such a big part of sports today. Everyone in the country lives within a couple hundred miles of some major college, so everyone roots for somebody.

It's not just about being a fan. Every college football fan has several reasons for why their team should be No. 1 in the country.

It just doesn't work that way though.

That's why there are virtually hundreds upon thousands of sites and blogs dedicated to sorting out the mess. This year, things seem to be even more confusing than ever. There really is no clear-cut No. 1. Everyone has a different opinion for who it should be.

Does Oklahoma deserve it because of their great offense? Does Alabama deserve it because of their hot start? Should LSU be on top because of tradition?

Yes, all of these names and more seem to be piling up, each deserving consideration.

However, there is one team that I don't think has gotten nearly enough praise.

That team would be the Missouri Tigers.

Think about it. Chase Daniel is arguably the greatest quarterback in the country. Throw all the other names in the ring, and I can tell you why Chase Daniel ousts them. His uncanny accuracy clearly offsets his height disadvantage and any other flaws you can see in his skills (though there aren't many).

Jeremy Maclin would be a top 10 pick if he went to the NFL today, and it's not like he doesn't have competition. The Tigers have an incredibly talented corps of receivers, including Tommy Saunders, Danario Alexander, and Jared Perry. It doesn't hurt to have Chase Coffman to throw to either.

Also, the Tiger ground game gets far too little credit. Derrick Washington has all of the skills to be an elite back. His quickness and vision allow him to find holes quickly, and his up-end speed always lets him take the ball those 50 extra yards down the sideline.

Their defense is very underrated. Sean Weatherspoon is making a serious case for All-America honors at linebacker, and having Ziggy Hood on the defensive line makes it even better. Hood is a football player through and through. He can take down the best running backs in the country, and he'll get a few sacks if you let him.

Van Alexander and Brock Christopher finish the linebacking crew, with Stryker Sulak and Tommy Chavis holding down the fort at defensive end. Jaron Baston has done an excellent job replacing Lorenzo Williams, who was an absolute beast.

Their special teams unit is something to fear. Jeremy Maclin is one of the fastest players in the country, and kickers fear giving the ball to him. All I can say is, if he finds a seam, you had better hope you have Usain Bolt chasing him down or he's gonna find that end zone.

The only weakness for Mizzou seems to be their pass defense. Juice Williams of Illinois threw for over 400 yards in the season opener in St. Louis. But you have to remember that William Moore hasn't played in two of their four games this season. Carl Gettis has all of the skills to be a good cover corner.

The Missouri coaching staff will have their ways to fix whatever problems they have in the defensive backfield.

Overall, you can say what you want about the other teams: Georgia, USC, Bama, Oklahoma—I don't care. The Missouri Tigers have everything they need to contend for this year's national title, but they had better win it this year. Chase Daniel and William Moore are seniors, and Jeremy Maclin could decide to opt for the draft.

That being said, this year's Tiger team is as talented (if not more) as any other team in the country. Welcome to the Zou.

Chris Carpenter Returns: Ace in the Hole

Nick Vandiver — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:52:46 -0400

This year in the NL Central seems to be shaping into a three team race. The Cubs have seemingly come out of nowhere to lead the division ,and are in prime position to at least get to, if not win their first World Series in almost a hundred years.

The Brewers have a roster full of young talent, their pitching staff keeps them in games, and they're led by a legitimate MVP candidate in Ryan Braun.

The Cardinals are trying to bounce back from a losing season after winning the World Series in 2006. They seem to be doing alright, as they are close to the top of the Central. The Redbird's offense is a little streaky, but they have a lot of power and run scoring potential. Their starting pitching has been good, but the bullpen leaves a little to be desired.

What do all these teams have in common, other that a division?

They all have recently acquired an ace in the starting rotation.

The Cubs acquired Rich Harden earlier in the season, and while he has a history of injuries, he averages 10 strikeouts per game, and he has been light out for the Cubs so far.

The Brewers acquired big name talent in CC Sabathia. The left-hander has been spectacular for Milwaukee, as he went 4-0 in his first four starts, while pitching three straight complete games.

The Cardinals, on the other hand, didn't acquire their ace from a trade or free agency. He is coming from the DL.

Chris Carpenter has finally returned.

The 2005 Cy Young award winner has finished his rehab after getting Tommy John surgery on his elbow. Mixed results in minor league starts pushed his return back even farther, but the Cardinals organization now believes that Carpenter is ready to return to the majors.

After being labeled as the best pitcher in the NL in 2005, and leading the Cardinals to a World Series win in 2006, Carpenter hasn't pitched since Opening Day 2007. St Louis is hoping that he can return to his old form.

If Carpenter can return with half of the ability he had when he won the Cy Young, the Cardinals pitching staff will be vastly improved. Adding another ace to the rotation will increase the amount of quality starts and reduce the pressure on the bullpen. With Chris Carpenter and Kyle Lohse delivering the first punch, Kyle McClellan and Russ Springer pitching the later innings, and Jason Isringhausen closing the door, Cardinals pitching will be hard to beat. When you combine that with their explosive offense, the Redbirds are the team to beat in 2008. I guess surprises can come from anywhere, even the disabled list.

NFL: Pros and Cons of the Two Running Back System

Nick Vandiver — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 05:56:29 -0400

Over the course of the 2007 season, something seemed to keep popping up all around the league. Nobody knew where it came from, and it was a surprise to most. In some cases, it was a good thing. In others, not so much. But it was a new tactic that could revolutionize pro football.

I'm talking about a two running-back system.

Last year, more than 60 different quarterbacks started in an NFL game. This instability, whether due to injury or bad performance, seems to be the root of this new two-back system.

Without a real franchise quarterback, most teams turned to their running game. It's obvious that if you run the ball 80-90 percent of the time, your star running back is going to get tired.

So teams like the Chargers, Falcons, and Jaguars came up with a brand new idea. What if they had two good running backs? They could share carries, each one would get a period of rest, and the tired defense wouldn't be able to handle having to deal with fresh legs each new series.

The Chargers obviously milked it for what it was worth. Even LaDainian Tomlinson needs a break every now and then. So the Chargers got Michael Turner, and look at what happened.

LT would a break every once in a while, and Turner would go in. Then Turner would tear up the defense. When LT had his break, he would go back in. And so on.

Having to deal with a rested and fully energized running back every series tends to wear out a defense. Many other teams saw the advantages that those teams gained from having two backs. So they decided to use this idea.

The Falcons acquired Jerious Norwood a few years ago, and used him to complement Warrick Dunn. The Jaguars had Fred Taylor, but they got Maurice Jones-Drew to give him a rest.

Even the Patriots implemented it in their gameplan this last season. They used several all-purpose backs like Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk. And, if they ever needed to run the ball, they had Laurence Maroney. It obviously worked to their advantage.

Since then, many teams have attempted the use of multiple running backs in a game. It seems to be fairly effective, especially for teams without a great passing game. Some head coaches are even changing their permanent system to involve two running backs, like John Fox from Carolina.

He intends to use both DeAngelo Williams and rookie Jonathan Stewart in the run game. Both have certain skills they bring to the table, and each makes the other better.

There are some disadvantages to this, though. Take Fred Taylor, for example. He already has over 10,000 rushing yards. Since he now has to share carries with Maurice Jones-Drew, his numbers will go down.

On his own, I think Fred Taylor could have put up the kind of career numbers to put him in the Hall of Fame. Now that he is losing time, his chance severely goes down. It might not be a huge deal if Taylor was only in his 20s and still had plenty of years left.

But Fred Taylor is now in his early 30s, and he's not going to play for six or seven more years. To put up elite numbers with half as much time as he needs, he would have to become a 32-year-old Adrian Peterson overnight.

Even the great Adrian Peterson felt the effects of the system. Had he not shared carries with Chester Taylor, Peterson could have possibly hit 1,500 yards or more. Taylor finished the year with 844 yards and 7 touchdowns.

If all of those yards and touchdowns had gone to Peterson, he would have set an NFL for rushing yards in a season and had more than 20 total touchdowns.

All in all, I think that, for the good of a team, having a two back system is incredibly handy. For the good of the running backs, it just seems to be a burden.

Everyone in the NFL plays in NFL because they want to. They wouldn't be there if they didn't want to play football and help their team. So when he a player suddenly plays less, he feels as if his opportunity to help his team is being taken away. His numbers go down. And when numbers go down, money is lost.

Nobody likes to lose money.

College Football's Top Five Teams to Start the 2008 Season

Nick Vandiver — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 04:46:50 -0400

After the 2007 season, it was clear that this year's rankings were going to be very hard to create. There were so many teams that had great years, and a lot of those teams have many of their skill players returning.

It's a constant debate—do you pick a team with a great offense? Defense? A balance of both? There's no way to really tell who the best team is, but people try anyway.

Keep in mind, these rankings are based on how good I think the teams are going into the 2008 season. This is not necessarily where I think they'll finish.

1) Georgia

The Bulldogs finished 2007 on a high note, absolutely crushing Hawaii 41-10 in the Sugar Bowl. The Warrior offense was one of the best in the nation, but the Georgia defense was too much for them to handle. They don't have a lot of big name players defensively, but they have talent—and a lot of it.

On offense, Georgia still has talents Matt Stafford and Knowshon Moreno. Stafford was electric last year as the starting quarterback, and he proved he can throw touchdowns against any defense. Moreno was just as good, rushing for the second-most yards in Georgia history by a freshman.

Expect Georgia to contend for the national title all year long.

2) USC

This is where it gets a little tricky. Each of the next four teams could take this spot, but USC is my pick. They have NFL-level talent on both sides of the ball, and their linebacking corps is arguably the best in the nation. They did lose big parts of their defensive line in Sedrick Ellis and Lawrence Jackson, but USC has the talent to replace them.

Offensively, all the pieces are in place. Vidal Hazelton seems to finally have it all together to be a number one receiver. Joe McKnight has the talent to be in the Heisman race all year, and I think he has the talent to win it.

The only question is at quarterback. Mark Sanchez isn't an established starter, and while he does have a strong arm, his decision-making abilities aren't the greatest. If Sanchez can be decent, look for USC to stay in the top five most of the season.

3) Oklahoma

The Sooners had a terrible end to 2007, losing to West Virginia 48-28 in the Fiesta Bowl. They just couldn't seem to get themselves together and put points on the board. Don't think that will carry over to this year.

Their offense will be in the top 15, with Sam Bradford leading the way at quarterback and DeMarco Murray taking the handoffs for touchdowns. Juaquin Iglesias has to prove himself as a receiver.

Their defense will be in the top ten. Their defensive line is stellar—maybe even the best in the country. They lost Curtis Lofton, but their current starters have enough ability to hold down the fort.

In the secondary, Nic Harris will continue to be a rock. An upset at TCU or Texas Tech might keep them from the national title, but they'll stay in the hunt for weeks.

4) Missouri

Here's where many people won't agree with me. A lot of people say they're a one-year wonder and won't repeat their 2007 performance. They're sadly mistaken.

Missouri has all the pieces in place to contend for the national title. The only thing that stopped them last year was a loss to Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship Game.

But none of that matters. They still have the best senior quarterback in the country in Chase Daniel, who still has three of his top receivers from last year in Jeremy Maclin (consensus All-American), Tommy Saunders, and Danario Alexander. Chase Coffman takes over tight end duties for Martin Rucker, and you should expect him to be just as good—if not better.

Tommy Chavis, Ziggy Hood, and Stryker Sulak anchor a defensive line that will wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks, even with the loss of Lorenzo Williams. Their linebacking corps is one of the top five in the nation, and their secondary returns the talents of a possible first round pick in William Moore.

Mizzou will be in the hunt for the BCS title game all year, and Chase Daniel will be one of the top candidates for the Heisman.

5)Florida

Here's my sleeper pick. Florida's offense was phenomenal last year under the talents of Tim Tebow. The defense wasn't the greatest, and they did finish the year on a low note by losing to Michigan in the Capital One Bowl—but Florida has too much talent to be weighed down by last year's mistakes.

Tebow had a great sophomore season, but he won't duplicate it. Expect his numbers to be decently high, but nothing like last year. He still has a great receiver in Percy Harvin, who'll be a first rounder next year. Cornelius Ingram will catch a lot of passes at tight end.

The defense doesn't have anyone with huge numbers. What they do have is 11 players who work together to get the job done. Games at Tennessee, LSU, and Georgia keep them from the title game, but don't expect 2008 to be a disappointment.

There's bound to be controversy about these rankings, but each team deserves its spot. 2008 is going to be a great season with an exciting race for the national title.

In the end, only one team can win it. I won't say who I think it will be, but whoever it is will have a high scoring offense, a good defense, and great special teams.

I'll say it again—2008 is going to be a great season.