Bleacher Report - St Louis

Missouri Finds No Answer for Vanderbilt's Ogilvy, Lose 89-83

Robert Givens — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:52:19 -0500

Even with the increased elevation from the court, porous defense and continued cold shooting proved to be the shovels as the Missouri Tigers dug themselves into a six point halftime hole that they could not pull themselves out of.

As MU clanged shot after shot off the Memorial Arena rims, the Vanderbilt Commodores gobbled up each rebound like a squad full of rainbow-haired Dennis Rodmans. Vanderbilt operated their own carwash, cleaning the glass to a 45-24 rebound advantage which proved to be the deciding factor in Nashville Tuesday night.

The combination of poor outside shooting and the lack of second-chance shots left Missouri helpless, often times cycling the ball around the perimeter only to settle for a forced, low percentage shot. On the other end, Vanderbilt grabbed six more offensive rebounds and tipped countless others to keep second and third chance shots available.

Many times in the first half, Vanderbilt guards brought the ball up the court with no pressure whatsoever. They slashed into the lane, dishing for easy lay-ups and open three's.

And then there was A.J. Ogilvy. The 6'11'' center scored a season high 25, including 11-12 from the free throw line. MU did not have an answer to the Aussie. Ogilvy powered through double and triple teams for baskets down low early. The Tigers then resorted to a hack-a-Shaq philosophy on the junior from down under, only to watch him put the game continually just out of the Tigers' reach.

Ogilvy's biggest contribution to the game might have been on the other end of the court. MU guards were hesitant to work the ball down low. When post players did get touches, they nervously shoveled it off to a man two feet away, kicking it out of bounds on numerous occasions.

Ogilvy, Australian for basketball.

The quick whistle officiating did MU no favors either. Missouri was unable to get into any sort of rhythm, essential to their "Fastest 40 Minutes" style of play. Despite consistant calls for both sides, the stop-and-go nature of the game matched the Tigers up-tempo style as well as plaid pants and a striped shirt:it was just painful to look at.

The Tigers went on an 11-0 run that brought the game to 81-80 with just under three minutes to play. A controversial charging call on JT Tiller gave the ball back to the Commodores. They didn't look back from there.

Coming back to Mizzou Arena to face Oregon Saturday, the Tigers must either grow a few inches or something between the legs to toughen up on the boards. On the defensive end, all five Tiges on the floor must hit the glass. Tiller and Taylor and Dixon do not need to lead the team in rebounding. But they can be pests inside, tipping balls to open players, using their quick hands to deflect balls out of opponents' hands. Anything but stand idly by and watch.

Or else the Tigers will be doing a lot of watching come March.

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Bleacher Report's All-Big 12 Team Features Names Familiar To Missouri Fans

Ryan Faller — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:31:14 -0500

'Tis the season for postseason accolades.

As the college football regular season comes to a close and teams await their bowl invitations, it's merely customary to roll out the recognition for those who have performed so brilliantly at their respective positions. And in the Big 12, which will likely only send one participant to a BCS game to cap an otherwise unpredictable season, there's plenty of praise to be had.

Without further ado, here's my Bleacher Report First Team All-Big 12 ballot for 2009:

Offense

QB Colt McCoy (Texas)

The numbers (3,696 combined yards, 27 TDs) are there, but McCoy likely solidified this spot, as well as a Heisman Trophy, with his consistent leadership and graceful piloting of arguably the nation's best team—both of which are becoming of college football's winningest quarterback.

RB Daniel Thomas (Kansas State)

The former Florida recruit turned junior college transfer nearly single-handedly pioneered the resurgence in Manhattan, as his 1,265 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground highlighted the nation's 31st-ranked ground attack and was crucial to the Wildcats' surprise ascension in the Big 12 North.

RB Keith Toston (Oklahoma State)

The senior from Angleton, Texas, was a driving force for Pokes' offense when his fellow playmakers were dropping like flies, rushing for 1,177 yards and 11 scores to nearly match his output from the previous three seasons combined and soften the blow of the absences of starting running back Kendall Hunter and wide receiver/return man Dez Bryant.

FB Bryant Ward (Oklahoma State)

If you insist on honoring a player from this antiquated position, let's go with someone who played a significant role on a team that featured one of the nation's most-feared running games. A key cog in the Cowboys' 21st-ranked rushing attack, the 5'11", 233-pound Ward also shined in Oklahoma State's pass-protection schemes, which surrendered only nine sacks all season.

WR Jordan Shipley (Texas)

Let's not discount all the skill and impact he brings to the Texas return game, but Shipley makes his living at the wide receiver position, where he caught 80-plus balls for more than 1,000 yards for the second straight season. And it's not only his talent that makes him a threat on every play. Shipley seems to share some kind of creepy ESP-like connection with quarterback—and roommate—Colt McCoy that makes the Longhorn offense one of the country's best.

WR Danario Alexander (Missouri)

Not much to say here, other than the fact Alexander was hands-down the NCAA's most potent receiving option the second half of the season. In his final five games, the senior racked up 943 yards (188.6 per game) and eight touchdowns en route to shattering MU's single-season receiving mark of 1,260, which was set by Jeremy Maclin in 2008, by nearly 400 yards.

Alexander's absence from the list of candidates for the Biletnikoff Award should go down as one of college football's all-time biggest snubs.

WR Dezmon Briscoe (Kansas)

Kansas fans may have seen the last of Briscoe, but you could argue to the death that he gave the faithful in Lawrence two of the best receiving seasons in school history. After posting more than 1,400 yards in 2008, Briscoe nearly outdid himself this season, totaling 1,337 on 84 receptions. And Briscoe, a junior who is heavily considering entering the 2010 NFL draft, potentially ended his career at KU in style, catching 14 passes for a career-high 242 yards in the season finale versus Missouri.

TE Riar Greer (Colorado)

One of the few glimmers of hope amid a tumultuous season in Boulder, Greer enjoyed what was easily the most productive year of his career. Finishing the season with 36 catches for 402 yards and four scores, Greer lead all Big 12 tight ends in receiving yards, receptions, and yards per game, and tied for the conference lead in touchdowns.

OL Nick Stringer (Kansas State)

Veteran KSU left tackle served as the lone senior on an offensive line that helped the program obtain bowl eligibility for the first time since 2006.

OL Adam Ulatoski (Texas)

Three-year starter and former two-time All-Big 12 selection started all 12 games at left tackle in 2009 and was entrusted with protecting quarterback Colt McCoy's blind side.

OL Brandon Carter (Texas Tech)

Mammoth right guard backed up preseason All-American hype as one of the key elements of the Red Raiders running game, which amassed 22 touchdowns, the fifth-best total in Lubbock since 1990.

OL Trent Williams (Oklahoma)

Versatile senior lineman provided leadership and stability to young and inexperienced OU offensive line, starting all but one game at left tackle.

OL Russell Okung (Oklahoma State)

Arguably the nation's most talented offensive lineman, Okung helped the Cowboys lead the Big 12 in rushing for the fourth season in a row and did not surrender a sack all season long from his left tackle position.

PK Grant Ressel (Missouri)

Easy call here. Given the unenviable task of succeeding Jeff Wolfert, the most accurate placekicker in NCAA history, Ressel drilled 24 of 25 field goals to lead the nation in accuracy. The Lou Groza semifinalist also made all 38 of his extra points.

KR/PR Brandon Banks (Kansas State)

Any time a player returns four kickoffs for touchdowns in a single season, the competition is non-existent.

Defense

DL Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska)

The 6'4", 300-pound tackle epitomized the toughness and grit of Nebraska's defensive unit, which ranked as the third-best in all of college football, surrendering just 11 points a game. A unanimous selection, Suh led the Huskers with 70 tackles, including 7.5 sacks.

DL Gerald McCoy (Oklahoma)

Though slightly less praised than Suh, McCoy once again made a name for himself as a disruptive force in the middle of the OU defense. A junior, McCoy started all 12 games in 2009 to boost his streak to a team-high 39, and tallied 14.5 tackles for loss and five sacks.

DL Von Miller (Texas A&M)

Playing a number of roles for the Aggie defense, Miller excelled mostly as a pass-rushing specialist, posting 17 sacks to lead the nation. Just three sacks shy of the school record, the junior defender, who plays the defensive end/linebacker hybrid position, also forced a team-high four fumbles and defended five passes.

DL Jared Crick (Nebraska)

Partnering with Suh along the Nebraska defensive line, Crick benefited from the extra attention his All-American teammate received from opposing offenses. In 12 games, the sophomore registered a team-high nine sacks to give the Huskers one of the most effective one-two punches at defensive tackle in the country.

DL Brandon Sharpe (Texas Tech)

The senior defensive end and first-year starter recorded 15 of Tech's school-record 40 sacks to finish second in the nation. Sharpe was also named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week twice this season.

LB Sean Weatherspoon (Missouri)

The undisputed heart and soul of the Mizzou defense, Weatherspoon continued to refine his reputation as one of the Big 12's premiere linebackers. A senior, Weatherspoon finished the regular season with 104 tackles, marking the third consecutive season he has eclipsed the century mark.

LB Jesse Smith (Iowa State)

The understated Smith was one of the conference's top defensive players. The leading tackler in the Big 12, Smith tallied nearly 70 percent (91) of his 128 total tackles in conference games to lead a Cyclone defense that aided Iowa State in earning bowl eligibility for the first time in four seasons.

LB Travis Lewis (Oklahoma)

The sophomore linebacker proved his impressive freshman campaign was no fluke. Named the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2008, Lewis finished the 2009 regular season with a team-high 100 tackles to headline an OU defense that ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring average, rushing yards allowed, and total yards allowed.

DB Earl Thomas (Texas)

Presumably the frontrunner for the Jim Thorpe Award, which is given annually to the country's top defensive back, this sophomore safety is as good as it gets. Not only does Thomas quarterback the Texas secondary, but he finished the regular season second on the team in tackles (66) and ranks second nationally with eight interceptions.

DB Perrish Cox (Oklahoma State)

An ultra-athletic and ballhawking corner, Cox is arguably OSU's best defender, but he provides further value as a dangerous return man. In 11 games this season, Cox averaged 20.9 yards per kickoff and returned one punt for a touchdown.

DB Brian Jackson (Oklahoma)

A second-year member of the OU secondary, Jackson experienced unprecedented success all across the board in 2009. And though many will clamor for Dominique Franks in this slot, Jackson had more tackles (47), interceptions (4), and pass breakups (8) than his senior teammate, as well as lead the Sooners in the latter two categories.

DB Jordan Lake (Baylor)

There's probably more electrifying and overall athletic defensive backs in the Big 12 than Lake that got left off this list, but few are more active than the Bears' free safety. Lake was Baylor's second-leading tackler behind linebacker Joe Pawelek, but he averaged nine tackles per game in Big 12 play, second most in the conference.

DB Larry Asante (Nebraska)

Often lost in the shuffle on a defense loaded with stars up front, Asante enjoyed a stellar senior season as the unsung leader of the Nebraska defensive backfield. Asante tied for the team lead with 70 tackles and also nabbed two interceptions.

P Tress Way (Oklahoma)

My initial instinct was to go with Missouri's Jake Harry, especially after his barrage of punts that found their way inside the 20 against Kansas, but Way gets the nod. Not only did Way churn out the conference's biggest punt this season (74 yards), but his average of 45.5 was nearly two full yards more than the next closest player, Derek Epperson of Baylor.

Individual Awards

Offensive Player of the Year : Danario Alexander (Missouri)

Alexander's gaudy numbers (107 rec., 1,644 yards, 13 TDs) win out over those of Colt McCoy

Defensive Player of the Year: Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska)

Close call between Suh and Earl Thomas, but Suh was consistently the conference's most intimidating defensive presence

Offensive Newcomer of the Year: Daniel Thomas (Kansas State)

The guy came out of nowhere to lead the conference in rushing yards

Defensive Newcomer of the Year: David Sims (Iowa State)

The former Oklahoma DB signee has flourished after arriving in Ames on the heels of a successful stint in junior college

Offensive Lineman of the Year: Russell Okung (Oklahoma State)

Sure-fire NFL first round pick often looked like a man among boys as the anchor of the OSU offensive line

Defensive Lineman of the Year: Ndamukong Suh

No explanation necessary

Offensive Freshman of the Year: Christine Michael (Texas A&M)

Why he only started three games is beyond me, but his team-leading 767 rushing yards suggest superstardom isn't far off

Defensive Freshman of the Year: Aldon Smith (Missouri)

Stated his case by tying MU's single-season record with 11 sacks and leading all freshman in the nation with his 18.5 tackles for loss

Special Teams Player of the Year: Brandon Banks (Kansas State)

No player was more explosive or feared on kickoff and punt returns

Coach of the Year: Paul Rhoads (Iowa State)

Because a program like Texas is expected to do great things, Mack Brown makes absolutely no sense here. Meanwhile, Rhoads has made football at Iowa State relevant again, and his fundamental approach to the game has the Cyclones bowling one season after the program endured a 2-10 debacle.

Follow more of my college football articles at Examiner.com .

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Missouri-Vanderbilt: Tigers Must Utilize Short Memory, Prepare for Commodores

Robert Givens — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:30:58 -0500

After feasting on skyhawks, broncs, and mockingbirds early in the season, the Missouri Tigers slogged through the rest of the 2009 South Padre Island Tournament as if they had just woken up from a post-Thanksgiving feast nap.

Over the semifinals and finals of the tournament, the Tigers managed to shoot only 35 percent from the field while averaging 13 turnovers a game.

That will have to change come Wednesday when coach Mike Anderson and company travel to Nashville, Tennessee. There the Tigers will take on the Vanderbilt Commodores in their first true road game of the year.

Vanderbilt held a No. 24 ranking in both polls before dropping an EA Sports Maui Invitational game to upstart Cincinnati.

Aside from the unconventional court layout at Vanderbilt, the Tigers will have to contend with a raucous home crowd in what will be only Vanderbilt's second home game of the season.

Those in the stands will do their best to take the Tigers' focus off of those on the court. This includes a deep Vandy team that includes nine players averaging double-digit minutes. Missouri counters with 10 players logging considerable minutes.

One of those nine, junior A.J. Ogilvy, looks to be a bigger deciding factor than the depth of both teams. But it all depends on what version of the 6'11" center shows up. Will it be the version who mopped the floor with Arizona with a 20-point, seven-rebound, and four-block performance? Or will it be the timid rag doll that managed only three field goals and six rebounds in 22 minutes against Cincinnati?

Another interesting niche in this game will be to watch how J.T. Tiller responds after his first action after missing time with an injury. In his first two games back, Tiller averaged 29.5 minutes.

That conditioning will be needed to keep Vanderbilt senior Jermaine Beal in check. The Commodores' only senior playing considerable minutes, Beal leads Vandy in minutes (31.8), scoring (15.4), and assist to turnover ratio (2.3/1). In his last outing, Beal tore up Arizona's talented guard duo of Nic Wise and Brendon Lavender for 18 points on 50 percent shooting, five assists, and two steals.

Vanderbilt holds its opponents to just 38 percent shooting while forcing 16 turnovers a game. For MU to be successful, they must trust in the senior backcourt of Zaire Taylor and Tiller to handle the pressure of Memorial Arena. The Mizzou guards must take care of the ball, exhibit patience, and find open, high-percentage shots to snap their cold shooting streak.

Or else the Thanksgiving hangover is bound to continue.

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Questions Loom for the St. Louis Cardinals in a Pivotal Offseason

Jeffrey Lage — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:30:27 -0500

The St. Louis Cardinals' front office has many questions that need to be answered this year. Building for a successful 2010 season is not the only goal. The moves made this offseason will likely dictate much of the franchise's success over the next decade.

The elephant in the room is obviously outfielder Matt Holliday. Holliday was traded for on July 24 for a set of prospects in the hopes that the Cardinals would have a successful postseason in 2009. Holliday had a tremendous second half offensively and helped to anchor a fearsome lineup. Re-signing Holliday will not be as easy as trading for him was. He is widely considered the top free agent this year.

The Cardinals also have several players such as 3B/LF Mark DeRosa, SP John Smoltz, SP Joel Pinero, 3B Troy Glaus, OF Rick Ankiel, SS Kahlil Greene, and Pitcher Todd Wellemeyer all coming off the books this year. Which carries some positives, several million coming off in payroll, and several options now present themselves for filling future holes.

The dominoes will be dictated by outfielder Matt Holliday's decision. Being a Scott Boras client, chances are, a decision will not be made for a couple more months. Boras has a history of getting every penny for his client and will fully test the market to see what offers exist for Holliday.

This carries several negatives with it, the main one, being that we are not sure who will be in that bidding still, and the other negative is that we cannot start building our 2010 roster until we know what will happen with our prized free agent.

So that leaves the questions of the rest of the free agents this year for the Cardinals and the way the market is set up. If Matt Holliday is not retained, there is a pretty significant drop off in overall talent behind he and Jason Bay (whom Mozeliak has already dismissed the notion of signing), meaning that we could see an internal outfielder such as Allen Craig in left next year.

Players like Greene, Glaus, Wellemeyer, and Ankiel will all likely be playing for new teams in 2010. Pinero has a chance of coming back, but he will likely command a contract in the three year, $30 million range. I personally do not see the front office committing that sort of money to another starting pitcher with Carpenter, Wainwright, and Lohse already locked up.

You could see a trade made for a fourth starting pitcher, or you could see John Smoltz back in red at near average starting pitching. And the last rotation spot could go to top pitching prospect Jamie Garcia, a left-hander coming off Tommy-john surgery.

The Cardinals have a history of not offering multi-year deals to outside players. I do not see that changing this offseason, so players like John Lackey or Jason Bay will not likely wear the Cardinal red. Any pitching additions will almost certainly come from a trade.

The current payroll, post arbitration should be somewhere in the $70 million range, leaving around $20-25 million available to spend (assuming they match 2009's payroll dollars). Re-signing Matt Holliday could cost almost all of that, and be for a term of five to seven years.

Handcuffing Mozeliak's ability to resign players such as Mark DeRosa, any pitching, and possibly harming their ability to lock up long term franchise player Albert Pujols.

Albert Pujols is really the reason the decisions made this offseason could easily dictate the franchise's direction for the new decade. With a relatively thin prospect system, the team experienced a "win-now" philosophy in 2009. Other than Garcia, and possibly players such as Daryl Jones, David Freese and Allen Craig, there will not be any other prospects making an impact for several more years.

Albert Pujols has said he has 10 fingers, and only one ring. He wants nine more, and while he may not get nine more rings, he has also said he is willing to be a lifetime Cardinal, but he wants to win even more. The moves made this offseason will tell Albert, whose contract ends after 2011, if they will have a chance of making his dream a reality.

John Mozeliak has to get a little creative with his decisions this offseason; they will likely determine if the franchise player will remain a lifetime Cardinal. Signing a player like Matt Holliday sends a pretty clear message to Albert that the team is committed to spending money and being competitive for at least another five to seven years.

The other side to the issue is that locking up too much money could mean the Cardinals cannot afford Albert's extension, he could demand a record setting extension.

If the Cardinals can keep Matt Holliday, re-sign Smoltz to a one-year deal, and let Freese/Craig/Mather play third next year I think we have the room to give Albert his extension as soon as next year, and I think he will stay, so long as the team performs above average next year.

If we cannot re-sign Holliday, and we in turn just take compensation picks for losing players like Pinero, DeRosa, and Holliday, the job of resigning Albert may get that much harder.

The other question, if you cannot re-sign Holliday, do you sign B-level free agents such as Adrian Beltre and Xavier Nady? I have my recommendations, but I am curious what you think.

My vote is to re-sign Matt Holliday, and if possible something in the five to six year, $17-19 million a year range, going a little higher may even be worth it. Get Smoltz back, trade for back end rotation type pitcher that is under a small contract, and let third base be battled for. Craig is possibly major league ready, and can fill in the fourth outfielder spot.

DeRosa is commanding a lot of attention this offseason and will likely get a multi-year deal somewhere, same with Pinero. If a player like Ming-Wang is non-tendered, he could be an interesting option instead of Pinero on a one-year deal.

There are many options, but some of the decisions will be held hostage by Matt Holliday's decision. Until he makes one or allows us to know better where he is wanting to go, I doubt you see anything other than a few minor league deals, maybe a small time third basemen, or a trade for a back end rotation pitcher.

The other edge of the sword is that the Cardinals need to be somewhat aggressive. Waiting on Holliday is fine, but if you wait too long, and cannot land him, our future could have some serious questions.

John, we are all watching this offseason, we wish you the best of luck.

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Rams-Seahawks: Justin Forsett, Seattle Run over St. Louis

Ron Clements — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:12:55 -0500

ST. LOUIS—A potential 10-point swing late in the second quarter proved to be the difference.

With St. Louis driving for what would have been, at worst, a field goal attempt, Josh Wilson’s interception return for a touchdown gave Seattle a lead it would never relinquish.

The pick-six gave a 14-7 advantage to the Seahawks, who got a career-high 130 yards and two touchdowns from Justin Forsett en route to a 27-17 win Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome.

“It was definitely fun and it was a blessing just to get an opportunity,” said Forsett, who started in place of the injured Julius Jones. “Any time I get an opportunity to start, it’s a dream of mine. The offensive line did a great job today opening holes and it all worked out.”

Forsett’s previous career-high came two weeks ago, when he ran for 123 yards in a 31-20 loss at Arizona.

His 25-yard gallop down the left sideline on Seattle's second possession set up his 3-yard run for the game’s first score.

St. Louis’ Steven Jackson, a game-time decision because of back spasms, finished with 116 total yards, including 89 on the ground and a late touchdown. Jackson’s first run was for 25 yards, but he was largely held in check after that. He had 53 yards on 12 carries at halftime.

“We knew I wasn’t going to be 100 percent, but we wanted to make sure that I was able to play,” Jackson said. “It held up enough for me to get through the game.”

The Rams were without starting quarterback Marc Bulger with a broken leg. Backup Kyle Boller was intercepted twice, including Wilson’s 65-yard return in the second.

“He seems to find the end zone whenever he gets the ball in his hands,” Seattle coach Jim Mora said of Wilson. “He’s done it more than once.”

The Seahawks were driving again late in first, but Louis Rankin’s fumble at the Rams 35 was recovered by Justin King.

Following the turnover, Ruvell Martin finally made an impact for the Rams—picking up 27 yards down to the Seattle 21 late in the first. After an 11-yard pass to Danny Amendola, Boller lofted the ball to Donnie Avery in the corner to knot things up at 7-7 with 13:34 remaining in the second.

Boller was able to make some plays with his legs but was still hit 13 times. The former first-round draft pick saw Kearney coming on a blitz but put a perfect touch on the ball out to a wide-open Martin for a 33-yard gain just before the two-minute warning. Martin had two catches in the game for 60 yards.

The Wilson interception quickly followed the big gain.

Boller finished 28-of-45 for 282 yards and a touchdown to Avery. He also ran for 26 yards. His second interception came in the end zone, when Jordan Babineaux grabbed an underthrown pass intended for Amendola.

The Seahawks did a good job of showing different coverages and blitzes to put pressure on Boller, who was sacked four times.

“It’s frustrating,” Boller said. “It felt like we were in the game and just couldn’t get over the hump. We needed to score more points and have fewer turnovers.”

Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck didn’t have to do much, finishing 14-of-25 passing for 102 yards. Seattle netted 170 yards on the ground to just 95 through the air.

“I’m not at all upset about that,” Hasselbeck said. “We’ve been working hard to get the run game going, and it was definitely a point of emphasis this week. The fact that we had some breakout, explosive plays in the running game and were able to punch it in a couple times is a really good thing.”

Rams linebacker James Laurinaitis sacked Hasselbeck on the game’s first play, leading to a 3-and-out, but it was the only St. Louis sack of the game.

Seattle (4-7) scored on its next possession after Josh Brown missed a 46-yard field goal. The field goal attempt came after Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo passed on a 4th-and-1 from the Seattle 29.

St. Louis later tried to convert a 4th-and-4, but Boller’s pass to Avery was deflected by Kelly Jennings and into Wilson’s hands.

“Kelly Jennings made a heck of a play,” Wilson said. “He broke up the pass and once I got the ball in my hands, I was thinking end zone the whole time.”

The interception return put the Seahawks up 14-7, but the Rams were able to get a Brown field goal before halftime. Spagnuolo didn’t second-guess his earlier decision.

“I think I would do it again,” Spagnuolo said. “The thought process there was I honestly thought we could make a first down. If we didn’t, I was OK with the defense and the way they were playing.”

The Rams moved the ball 43 yards on 10 plays in 1:38 to set up Brown’s 55-yard kick.

The teams exchanged punts to begin the second half, but K.C. Asiodu partially blocked the Seattle punt to give the Rams great field position at the Seattle 35. A few plays later came the Babineaux interception.

Runs of 10 and 19 yards, respectively, from Seattle quarterbacks Seneca Wallace and Hasselbeck helped drive the Seahawks deep inside St. Louis territory again. That led to an Olindo Mare field goal of 29 yards to put Seattle up 17-10 with 3:37 remaining in the third.

Mare, who played college ball at MacMurray College in Jacksonville before transferring to Syracuse, consistently gave the Rams a long field. He had four touchbacks, and Amendola returned the other two kickoffs to the 21 and 17. Mora said Mare’s impact was an “underrated aspect” of his team’s defensive showing.

Forsett found the end zone early in the fourth to give Seattle a two-touchdown lead.

After trying to draw the Rams offsides on a 4th-and-1, Seattle went for it on the first play of the final quarter. Forsett went right up the middle for 11 yards, and scored two plays later to put Seattle up 24-10.

Nate Burleson’s 29-yard punt later in the quarter led to another Mare field goal to put Seattle up 27-10 with 9:24 remaining.

Jackson’s touchdown followed a Boller run of 26 yards to the 1 with just 44 seconds left.

A 1-9 team hosting a 3-7 club, coupled with Bulger’s injury and questions about Jackson’s availability, kept fans away from the Dome. The announced crowd of 47,475 was the worst in the Rams’ 15 seasons in St. Louis.

Rams tackle Jason Smith, who did not play, was taken away on an ambulance after struggling with symptoms from concussion. Center Jason Born went down in the first half with a knee injury and will have an MRI today.

The Seahawks won for the first time in six road games this season while dispatching the Rams for the 10th consecutive time.

“We accomplished what we wanted to do, and that was get a win on the road,” Mora said. “Nobody’s going to call it beautiful, except for those people who are in that locker room.”

This article can also be found at NFL.com's Blitz Zone. An abridged version is at The Alton Telegraph.

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Fighting Illini Struggle with Back-to-Back Losses

Frank Gasper — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:30:03 -0500

The Fighting Illini started off the year 4-0. I figured they were really what people expected them to be. Then came the next two games against the Utah Utes and Bradley Braves.

Against Utah they lost on a last second shot. It was a heart-breaker for the Illini, especially since they had led by 16 at half!

I was shocked when I saw this. The score was 60-58. I just couldn't believe it.

So they lost; I figured that maybe this was just an off game for the Illini, and that they would regroup for their game against Bradley. I guess not.

Against Bradley, they lost by four. This was kind of one of those weird games where both teams were up big at a point in the game.

After trailing 29-28 at halftime, the Braves opened a 47-38 lead with 12:59 left. But the Illini went on an 18-8 run and eventually took the lead on Mike Davis' three-point-play with 4:44 left 62-61.

After Illinois built a 66-61 lead, Bradley scored the next nine points, capped by Andrew Warren's three-pointer.

The Illini ended up losing 72-68, another heart-breaker.

Both of these games were part of the Las Vegas Invitational, where the Illini went 2-2.

Maybe the Illini are a fluke? Hopefully they can get it together and not lose any games for a while.

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Waning Moments of Border Showdown Symbolic of Two Different Big 12 Programs

Ryan Faller — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:32:10 -0500

In a matter of 18 seconds at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday, a pair of decisions were made by two coaches leading different programs seemingly heading in completely opposite directions.

His team trailing by three with 3:18 left in a game utterly void of defense, Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel took a calculated risk.

Rather than trusting his offense—which had amassed more than 500 yards and scored 23 second-half points to squash rival Kansas' once-commanding lead—to convert a delicate fourth-and-4 at the MU 39, Pinkel called on punter Jake Harry.

MU fans shuddered and cringed. KU fans giggled with devilish delight.

Harry, a rugby-style kicker who has become one of the many unsung heroes of Missouri's topsy-turvy season, rolled his kick inside the KU three-yard line. But the backfire potential of Pinkel's bold decision was still high.

"You look at percentages," Pinkel told reporters later, in defense of his gamble . "And you look at odds."

Nevertheless, after stating his surprise with the attention his decision was receiving, Pinkel admitted relief that everything worked out for the better.

"Wow," he said, "I'm just so glad we won the game."

But the odds Pinkel spoke of weren't exactly in Missouri's favor.

Kansas had already drug MU's defense up and down the field for nearly 600 yards, but it needed only 10 more to seal a second-consecutive win over its rival—and emerge as the victor in what was arguably the most entertaining game between the two sides in the 118-year history of the series.

With 2:45 left on the game clock, and Missouri armed with one harmless timeout, Kansas head coach Mark Mangino countered Pinkel's move with a calculated risk—or three—of his own.

Choosing to pass in the gleam of their own goalpost on first, second, and third down, Mangino and the Jayhawks failed to move the chains and, worse yet, did absolutely nothing to make friends with the clock.

By the time KU quarterback Todd Reesing was taken down in the end zone by two Missouri defenders for a momentum-swinging safety, only 14 seconds had transpired.

What happened next wasn't necessarily unexpected. Given favorable field position off the free kick following the safety, Missouri moved down a short field to set up kicker Grant Ressel 's game-winning chip shot to give the Tigers the 41-39 win .

Afterward, Mangino was as silent about his game management as Pinkel was relieved that his paid off, leaving only his players to give the rest of us a glimpse into what exactly happened .

“We checked out of a run. We definitely saw something,” Kansas right tackle Brad Thorson said, referring to offensive coordinator Ed Warinner's decision to pass on first down. “Our offensive coordinator, he’s spot-on. He knows what the defense is doing, and we took a couple shots.”

Wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe , who compensated for two crucial fumbles by racking up a career-high 242 yards and two touchdowns, seemed surprised by the play-calling but nonetheless reluctant to question the decisions that were made.

“In my mind-set, I just thought we’d run the ball, get what we could get, run some clock, make them use their timeouts,” Briscoe said. “But the coaches thought different, so I can’t argue. I’m just a player. I just go out there and run what they tell me to.”

Saturday's Border Showdown was one for the ages. It was a game that wasn't supposed to exceed the excitement of the two previous meetings between the two teams, but it did.

It did so with reckless abandon, as the two offenses, each carried by its superstars, traded blows in an epic battle that highlighted Saturday's full slate of rivalry matchups across the nation.

What's more, not many people expected Kansas (5-7, 1-7) to show up. Many were under the assumption that Missouri (8-4, 4-4), winner of its last three games, would register a double-digit win, blow out of town, and pound the coveted War Drum with ear-to-ear grins all the way back to Columbia.

Well, the latter two parts of that scenario are true. And now the state of the two respective programs, particularly the two head coaches, couldn't be more different.

Thought to have been receding back into also-ran status prior to the season, Missouri dismissed the notion of 2009 being the first phase in a rebuilding project.

Despite inconsistency on both sides of the ball, a gimpy and inexperienced quarterback, and a devastating midseason, three-game losing streak, the young Tigers are going to a bowl game for a school-record fifth season in a row.

With a chance to win nine games—presumably in the Insight Bowl against Minnesota—the Tigers should reap benefits on the recruiting trail.

Talent is beginning to pile up in Columbia, the roster features underclassmen galore, and Pinkel will be the program's guiding force for the foreseeable future, having signed an extension through the 2015 season last November.

In all, the MU program appears to be erected on pillars of strength. On the other hand, in Lawrence, an already shaky foundation may have crumbled on Saturday along with Mangino's last-minute tactics.

Their bowl dreams dashed against the Tigers, the Jayhawks are now officially in a state of flux.

The school's all-time passing leader, Reesing, is now an alum of the program, as is receiver Kerry Meier , Kansas' record-holder for receptions in a single season.

Joining them is fellow cornerstone and senior defensive back Darrell Stuckey , and Briscoe, a junior, is strongly considering entering his name in the NFL draft.

Granted, Kansas has developing talent to act as replacements, but who exactly will coach them?

Fans will call for Mangino's head based on the Jayhawks' final possession on Saturday, but it's likely his fate has been decided for some time now.

The sticky situation involving him and athletic director Lew Perkins over allegations that Mangino mistreated players is not bound to simmer down any time soon, which spells trouble not only for the immediate future of Kansas football but also its long-term reputation.

If suspect play-calling were plausible grounds for termination, Mangino would be on the unemployment line by now.

But because KU owes him nearly $7 million if he's fired without cause, pending a settlement between the two sides, a lawsuit may very well be forthcoming if there's insufficient evidence to validate the allegations.

That scenario would be enough to make any candidate shy away from taking over the reins. And, as a result, recruits will be tentative about considering Kansas.

After the loss, Mangino took to the podium to field questions that targeted on one subject and one subject only.

For KU fans, the postgame press conference was a bittersweet moment that may have signaled the beginning of a transitional period for the program, which is something MU fans likely won't have to experience for a long time.

"I don't have anything to say to any decision-makers or anything," Mangino said. "A friend of mine told me something one time I think is a very good way to go about life. That is: I'd rather die on my feet than live on my knees."

Photo credit: Parker Eshelman/Columbia Daily Tribune

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