Week 1 College Football Observations

First things first-the Michigan game. Wow. Just plain wow. I’m certainly glad I didn’t rank the Big Blue in my Preseason Top 5 (link). The Wolverines were absolutely awful on defense (to take nothing away from Appalachian State’s offense), allowing big play after big play and continually failing to make stops when they needed them at critical junctures in the game. If you had told me before the game that Chad Henne would be average and Mike Hart would go for 188 yards and 3 TD’s, I would have told you, “Michigan still wins by 20, no problem”. I don’t think anyone could have seen this coming.
College football is a fickle game, and this is another fantastic example of what makes Saturdays in the fall so enjoyable.

-Mario Manningham was a non-factor most of the game, but on his last reception of the game (to get the Wolverines into FG position with a chance to win the game) he displayed the outstanding deep speed and ball skills that will give him a chance at the first round whenever he declares. Henne lobbed a parachute down the field, and Mario waited patiently under the ball and showed some great focus to make the grab. It seems like he’s almost an entirely one dimensional player at this point though, and he must become a more consistent intermediate route-runner and short-game threat before he will be considered an elite prospect.

-If there’s a player I feel the worst for, it’s Mike Hart. He poured his heart out on the field today (23 carries, 188 yards, 3 TD’s) and even fought back from an injury he suffered in the first half, came back, and helped his team out. I can’t even begin to fathom where this team would be without Hart. If he goes down for an extended period of time this season with an injury, things will get very, very ugly in Ann Arbor.

-Appalachian State QB Armanti Edwards is one heck of a player and I think he may have a future in the league. He’s electric and creative with the pigskin in his hands. I would consider taking him with a Day 2 pick and working him in as a situational role player on offense and giving him a crack at return duties.

-Assigning blame is always a tricky task in the wake of a loss like this, and frankly, I’m not exactly sure who is at fault here. I’ll say this though: the people calling for Lloyd Carr and Defensive Coordinator Ron English’s heads need to shut their mouths. Carr and English were not the ones on the field today, the Michigan players were. Sure, Carr might be somewhat at fault for not preparing his team enough, but who are we to assess this? Like I said, I don’t pretend to have a clear cut idea of whose fault it was, but I’m certainly willing to bet the players deserve an equal share of the blame. Let’s let the university determine whether or not some house cleaning needs to be done after the season is over.

-The Virginia Tech/East Carolina game was an interesting one. The Virginia Tech D seems to be as good as advertised, and they did a nice job limiting an underrated ECU offense.

-The VT offense isn’t going to have to be a dominant unit for the Hokies to be an elite team, but they’re certainly going to have to do better than they did today. QB Sean Glennon performed satisfactorily, but it’s readily apparent he’s not going to be able to carry this offense or bring the Hokies back from big deficits, should they arise at some point during the season. The VT running game will have to improve, and Brandon Ore will have to produce more than 64 yards on 24 carries next week if the Hokies are going to have a shot vs. LSU next Saturday.

-Look for ECU to win Conference USA this year. They’ve got a playmaking D and an offense that is going to make a lot of noise against conference opponents this year. I really like Patrick Pinkney, even if he is the backup, and he reminds me of a (very) poor man’s Michael Vick-nice mobility in the pocket, nice arm. He’s a player.

-Sweet redemption for Cal, who bested Tennessee 45-31 after getting disgraced by an unranked Volunteer team down in Knoxville in their 2006 opener. Some thoughts on the game:

-Desean Jackson is the real deal, and it certainly looks like he’s headed for a top 10 selection in the 2008 NFL draft. As a receiver, he possesses a combination of toughness and gluey hands that belies his lack of bulk. He’s flat out electric with the ball in his hands, displaying a nice burst, crafty moves, and sub 4.4 speed with smooth running actions. What further distinguishes the Cal superstar from his peers though, is his patience and vision with the ball in his hands. Few in the college game could have let a play develop and waited so long before really taking the ball forward as he did during his punt return TD yesterday. It will be very interesting to see him and Early Doucet battle it out for the honor of being the first wide receiver selected in April (assuming Jackson declares; at this point, I can’t imagine he won’t).

-Justin Forsett really, really impressed me yesterday. He’s exceptionally quick through the hole with razor sharp cutting ability; he’s got a very nice top gear and runs with the type of compact, economical actions that the best running backs at the pro level have. For a back his size, he’s got an uncanny ability to drive a pile, drag defenders, and finish runs. His 154 yards on 25 carries with a long run of only 25 yards shows how gritty of a runner he is. He is undersized, but I wouldn’t rule this guy out of the first round.

-Erik Ainge looked exceptional tonight also. He showed some really nice poise in the pocket, and did an outstanding job working through his progressions, staying patient, and delivering the ball accurately to his receivers. His stat line (34 of 49, 273 yards, 3 TD) reflected the consistent excellence he showed all night. He’s not fleetest of foot, but he seems to have just enough mobility. His athleticism isn’t particularly jaw-dropping, either, but again, it seems to be sufficient. Let’s not rule this guy out of the first day of the 2008 draft yet.

-Arian Foster of Tennessee looked good. He’s versatile with the ability to return kicks, catch passes out of the backfield, and run effectively inside and outside. He’s deceptively fast and runs with good, crisp actions. He finishes runs well, too.

-Watch out for Cal freshman Jahvid Best. He’s got Reggie-Bush-esque acceleration and shake. By no means am I drawing a definitive, all encompassing comparison here, but he’s in that league. That, in and of itself, is quite impressive.

-Darren McFadden and Felix Jones are up to the same old tricks down in Fayetteville. Combining for 280 rushing yards and 2 rushing TD’s to go along with a kickoff return TD (Jones) and a passing TD (McFadden), the duo look like they will be Arkansas’ only shot at an SEC title this season. If either one goes down, the effects will be absolutely devastating for the Hogs.

-Auburn was able to pull out a 23-13 win over K-State, thanks to some gritty play to stay within reach in the middle of the game and some late turnovers. Their D is, as always, lighting quick and opportunistic. The Tigers are going to have to hit their offensive stride however, if they’re going to contend this year. It seems as if Tuberville’s squad has been in the midst of an offensive funk since last year. The return of TB Brad Lester, an explosive threat, should help them out. QB Brandon Cox gets beat up a lot, but he’s still got to find a way to improve his decision making and cut down on the picks. I’ve always been a believer in him; he’s got a silky smooth delivery and is a good athlete. I’m starting to question myself now. The next few weeks will say a lot.