This year we got entertaining marquee games (TCU (5) beat Oregon State (24) 30-21 and LSU (21) took out UNC in a nail biter (18) 30-24). We got plenty of routs (Alabama (1) drubbed San Jose State 48-3, Nebraska (8) manhandled Western Kentucky 48-10, and Oregon (11) devastated New Mexico 72-0). But we also saw quite a few top ten squads struggle against inferior opponents.
It started with Florida, the fourth ranked team in the country, managing only 212 total yards against a Miami (OH) team that ranked 108th nationally in total defense last year. Now let's put those 212 yards in true perspective: 187 of them came in the final 13 minutes, 72 of those were gained on one Jeff Demps' scoring run, and through three quarters the Gators had amassed all of 48 yards. Repeat. 48 yards total.
Tim Tebow's replacement John Brantley couldn't live up to the "Messiah" and an offense that returns only one starter from 2009 looked not just ineffective, but unprepared and confused.
Fortunately for the fans at the Swamp, the Florida defense bailed out the offense with four interceptions while the special teams netted a touchdown. A series of Miami (OH) mistakes also helped the game end in Florida's favor, 34-12.
Then No. 5 Texas took on Rice at home. While the Longhorns largely controlled the game, Garrett Gilbert, Colt McCoy's replacement, had an underwhelming performance, completing 14 of 23 passes for 172 yards. In the end, Texas beat a Rice team, which won all of two games last season, just 34-17.
But the day was not yet done for the top ten scares.
No. 7 Oklahoma faced Utah State in Norman. The same Utah State team that finished seventh in the WAC last year. The same Utah State team that is facing a season without two of their best players, running back Robert Turbin (ACL) and receiver Stanley Morrison (broken foot).
Despite that that Sooners gave up 340 yards passing to Utah State quarterback Diondre Borel while Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones, successor to Sam Bradford, completed just 47% of his passes and threw two interceptions. Oklahoma needed a sideline interception by Jemell Flemming in the final five minutes to prevent the Aggies from tying the game which ended 31-24.
What do all of these teams and games have in common? All three are breaking in brand new quarterbacks who are replacing some of the top names in college football over the past three years - Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford.
Which begs the question: How much of these teams' rankings are based on the reputation of their former signal callers?
I'm willing to bet two of these three teams do not end the season in the top ten.
Quick Hits:
- In the first of two FCS upsets, 1AA Jacksonville State upset Ole Miss in a double OT thriller. Quarterback Coty Blanchard completed a 30 yard touchdown pass on fourth and 15 in the final overtime before a shovel pass on two point conversion sealed the win 49-48. Later, North Dakota State stunned Kansas and new coach Turner Gill with a 6-3 victory.
- Cancer-survivor Mark Herzlich returned to the field at linebacker for Boston College. The 2008 ACC defense player of the year missed the 2009 season when he was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. He had five tackles in BC's opener against Weber State.
- The Pac-10 was 6-4 on opening weekend. Six teams played on the road. Only Oregon State played a ranked team, losing to No. 6 TCU at the new Cowboys Stadium.
Good write-up Penguin, let me give my two cents.
ReplyDeletePeople on the board are proclaiming this week as a failure for the Pac-10 because of the overall showing by the "big dogs" in conference, I don't see it that way. In the preseason all conferences especially the SEC have overrated teams when in reality in good conferences you have 2 or 3 top teams.
Even with the loss by Oregon State, what's lost in the Pac-10 self loathing is that Oregon State were ranked 24th in the nation playing the 6th ranked team in a virtual home game for them. I don't think it changes much as far as conference perception to the outside world, the Pac-10 still has 4 quality squads in USC, Oregon, Arizona and Oregon State.
Since we can't go to a bowl lets hope they learned a lesson last year and perform well in the bowl season.
COYS.
BlueCrew,
ReplyDeleteFirst, thanks for reading. Second, I think you are spot on in your assessment. The way I see it, Oregon State had a good loss and Washington State had an expected loss. I can't fault either of those two teams. It would have been nice for the Pac-10 if Washington and UCLA had won and I think both certainly had a chance. So as it stands, the conference really only had two disappointing performances this week. Definitely not a failure in my mind.
Nice job Penguin, USC is better than that game showed, Washington, WTF, Oregon State ran out of gas, UCLA lived up to expectations.
ReplyDelete