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1. That Alabama's O-line is Overpowering. Of all the impressive moments in the Crimson Tide's depantsing of Georgia -- and if you watched, you know there were many -- the one that stood out to me most was a seemingly simple four-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter. Roy Upchurch took a quick handoff on the draw -- and proceeded to run through a hole the size of Athens. Each 'Bama blocker sealed off his man like he was forming a police baracade, and Upchurch was not touched until his teammates were congratulating him.
It was like that all night for the Tide, just like it was in their season-opening rout of Clemson. A replay of one long running play showed tackle Andre Smith manhandling an opposing defender 10 yards downfield. Meanwhile, 'Bama QB John Parker Wilson (13-of-16, 205 yards and a TD) spent most of the night standing on his own private island. Other top-10 teams may have more stat-happy QBs or more flashy skill players, but if, like me, you believe games are won in the trenches, you know why Nick Saban's team is as suited as anyone for a national-title run.
2. That the Urban Meyer aura is wearing off. He arrived from Utah as the sport's most intriguing new coaching figure, and he backed up the hype almost immediately by delivering a national title in just his second season. But following the Gators' inexplicable home loss to Ole Miss on Saturday, Meyer's team has gone just 6-4 over its past 10 SEC games. Most puzzling of all is how the coach's once-feared offense -- the one that was expected to truly take off once he had "his own guys" -- has regressed considerably in Tim Tebow's second year at the helm.
While Tebow, whose rushing stats are way down from his Heisman season, is the easy scapegoat, the bigger mystery is how, despite four loaded recruiting classes, there are seemingly so few weapons around him. On Saturday, stars Tebow and Percy Harvin combined for 401 of the Gators' 443 yards. Where were RBs Chris Rainey and Emmanuel Moody (six combined carries)? And how is it that none of Florida's young pass-catchers have stepped up to fill the void left by Andre Caldwell and Cornelius Ingram? Until they do, the Gators will be very predictable.
3. That Penn State is the class of the Big Ten. I realize many of you feel this is akin to being dubbed the prettiest girl in Pittsburgh, but last we checked, at least one of this conference's teams will be playing in Pasadena, if not Miami -- and the Nittany Lions look more and more like they could be that team. I had been leaning toward Wisconsin, but the Badgers' offense leaves a lot to be desired. While Michigan's fourth-quarter surge ultimately did in Bucky, the seeds were sown when it failed to convert any of the Wolverines' five first-half turnovers into a touchdown.
In its first game against a ranked opponent (Illinois), Penn State showed exactly what the skeptics were waiting to see: An explosive spread offense with a plethora of weapons and a defense that wasn't exactly immune to big plays but produced enough turnovers (three) and key stops that the Illini couldn't close the gap. The Nittany Lions are the league's most complete team right now. Ohio State could soon reclaim that status with Beanie Wells back, but it's a lot to ask of a true freshman -- even one as talented as Terrelle Pryor -- to lead his team to a championship.
4. That Tommy Bowden and Al Groh have hit their ceilings. The last time I did a "worst coaches list" in the summer of 2007, three of the five choices (Dennis Franchione, Bill Doba and Karl Dorrell) were fired by season's end. The other two, Clemson's Bowden and Virginia's Groh, came within a game of winning their respective ACC divisions, achieving temporary redemption and earning fat offseason contract extensions. A year later, any semblance of momentum is shot.
Following Saturday's loss to Maryland, the most talented team of Bowden's tenure is 3-2 and Clemson fans are likely resigned to the likelihood that no Bowden-coached team is ever going to make it past the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Meanwhile, Groh's program is sinking like a rock. It's one thing to have a down season; following a 31-3 loss to Duke, the Cavs -- a year after reaching the Gator Bowl -- appear well on their way to a 1-11 nightmare. It appears both schools have a whole lot invested in a pair of coaches who will never eclipse anything greater than they already have.
5. That anything other than the "White Out" is not worth it. If I was a Circuit City employee trying to woo a customer into buying a $2,000 HD plasma TV, the first thing I would show him is Saturday night's broadcast of the Penn State-Illinois game. Even seeing it for a third time, it was impossible not to be awed by the visual grandeur of Penn State's "White Out," which manages to turn a 110,000-seat stadium one enormous flashbulb. It's powerful, it's organized (right down to the block "S" in one corner) and, quite frankly, it's awesome.
Two words of advice to all the other schools trying to mimic it: Just stop. Seriously. The only tangible effect of Georgia's much-hyped "Black Out" was to turn Sanford Stadium into exactly what that Alabama strength coach prophesized: A funeral. And while the electric atmosphere at Reser Stadium last Thursday unquestionably contributed to Oregon State's upset of USC, an "Orange Out" doesn't make the slightest linguistic sense. (Is it akin to peeling an orange backward?) College kids are a creative bunch. I'm putting my trust in you to come up with something new.
Jessica Gomes
Irina Shayk
Did You See That?
Back in Time: July 3
Comments (205) Add A Comment
Thank you Stewart for confirming what I have been saying all along: Offensive and Defensive line play is the difference in ANY ballgame. I don't care how much hardware your RB or QB is sporting, if he has no blocking he is going nowhere.
The other side of that coin is that if their offense can't even get on the field, they sure aren't going to do much. The long, clock-eating, ground-pounding drives that Alabama has been putting up each week are back breakers for defenses and sitting-on-the-sidelines offenses. With that strong offensive line and up to 4 hard-running backs that are ripping up the middle of defenses, JP Wilson doesn't have to have gaudy numbers. Why pay extra for air express when you can deliver it via ground much more effective.
BruceS1G
Pelham , AL
Total Comments (3954)
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my time has come
Total Comments (1196)
Tebow is 12-5 as a starter.
Why does Florida always have such whiny coaches?
Seminole Bob
Tallahassee, FL
Total Comments (7)
Not to defend Urban Meyer, but isn't this as much the fans, boosters and particularly the media's fault? Let's look at Rutgars. Greg Schiano could have been a head coach elsewhere, perhaps won a national championship at say Michigan last year. But what does it say about him as a head coach given the Scarlett Knight's play this year? Personally, I think it says that in addition to missing Ray Rice, that team needs someone like Brian Leonard. Florida lucked into their championship -- and part of that Meyer aura esp. by the media, made it possible. I don't know enough about their team to know what they are lacking this year from that year, but just as Meyer doesn't deserve all the credit, he doesn't deserve the blame. You might as well say Pete Carroll can't really coach in the Pac 10 but can certainly coach any big game on the country.
Franco
Total Comments (78)
It will be interesting to see if Les Miles ends up being the next Urban Meyer. Exciting at first, but when it comes to recruiting his own players, not up to the challenge. As far as the pollsters go, I don't know who they are watching. Alabama is so far ahead of every other team (except for Penn State), that is should be sitting alone atop the rankings. Oklahoma and Texas haven't beaten strong opponents. Missouri won in a shoot out over Illinois. And I personally believe USC and Florida should have dropped much farther in the rankings. Not that anyone wants to hear this, but I believe Ohio State will win out, making for another convoluted Championship game dilemma.
agricolac78
Salt Lake City , UT
Total Comments (1)
You are absolutely correct about Meyer, until the dull, boring, predictable, hapless, idiot, sorry excuse for an offensive coordinator called Mullen is replaced Florida's play book of Tebow left, right, up the middle and then Harvin to the left sideline and Harvin to the right sideline are replaced with other plays that include our other talent Florida will be easy to stop. Mullen with his BB sized brain doesn't realize SEC Football is a whole lot faster than where he came from. Meyer has yet to learn it as well or he would have given Mullen (Mullet head) his walking papers by now.
Mullen has got to go or Florida will fast become the bottom feeder of the SEC East.
gatornation1120
Buford, GA
Total Comments (5)
Florida lucked into their championship? Please put the moron filter back on before you post. They beat undefeated and #1 team in the nation 41-14 and held them to 86 total yards of offense. That isn't luck.
KingFootball
Total Comments (2897)
King you are right. There was no luck there, just a really good football team.
However, I also have to agree with gatornation. Ole Miss showed the way in how to stop the Gators offense. They have become incredibly predictable and their lack of any real running game (other than Tebow) is going to cost them dearly. But I don't think you can lay the blame entirely on the O-coordinator. Florida's most glaring weakness is the offensive line. And that is Meyer's fault. I don't care if you have the best QB and receivers in the nation, if you can't block and stop the rush it is useless.
BruceS1G
Pelham , AL
Total Comments (3954)
It's true that Bama's line play on both sides of the ball has been impressive, and that is definitely where games are won or lost. It will be interesting to see what happens when they come up against a team with O and D lines that are just as dominant. It really makes me look forward to the LSU-Alabama game in November.
LSUSteve71
Baton Rouge , LA
Total Comments (87)
Florida won it's national championship with defense and the will to win by Chris Leak and Tim Tebow in spite of Dan Mullen, surely there is a high school football program that needs a water boy. He has no idea how to run an offense.
When your highly ranked running backs are not on the field and your recievers are not being used then please explain how you intend to win games?
What wide receiver recruit or running back recruit in his right mind wants to play for Dan (No Idea) Mullen. He is a hapless, useless, unimaginative coach. Please take your worthless playbook and go to some place else.
gatornation1120
Buford, GA
Total Comments (5)
You are so right Steve. Now that this week has passed, the Bama vs LSU game has to be THE game in the SEC. I hope both can remain undefeated for that matchup. Man, what a year it has been so far for the SEC and big games and national interest. That November game could very well be a key decider in the BCS.
I hate to sound like a broken record but if are any kind of SEC fan, these are the kind of games that you live for. What other conference can claim that week to week, each game has national championship implications.
BruceS1G
Pelham , AL
Total Comments (3954)
What happened to Chris Rainey this weekend? Newton, Moore, Williams? Did Mullen Moron forget we have these players? Oh that's right, he never uses anyone except Tebow and Harvin.
PLEASE LEAVE MULLEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
JUST LEAVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
GO TO FLORIDA STATE THEY NEED A COORDINATOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO TO ANYWHERE.........JUST LEAVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
GATORNATION DESERVES BETTER THAN YOU.
gatornation1120
Buford, GA
Total Comments (5)
Bruce, Absolutely THE game if both can remain undefeated. LSU's got a pretty tough row to **** between now and then, though. Bama actually has the more favorable schedule for making a run this year. It's definitely starting to look like whoever wins the West will be the favorite in Atlanta, too, so the winner of the LSU-Alabama game may end up having a shot at the BCS chammpionship. Talk about high stakes poker! This was going to be a great matchup anyway, but now it has the potential to be the game of the year.
LSUSteve71
Baton Rouge , LA
Total Comments (87)
Give it to the Tide - great game against the 'Dawgs, "between the hedges". They're a good team, but the Tide was better.
As a die-hard LSU fan, looks like the November 8th game in Death Valley will probably determine the SEC West winner, as likely will determine one half of the BCS NC game (assuming the winner of the LSU/'Bama game wins out).
Given the schedule both teams play, if either wins out and is undefeated, I doubt there's another team in the country that could hang with 'em. Give the Tide props, but I still bleed Purple and Gold. Nick Saban, come on home for a reunion. We're waiting for 'ya.
Looking forward to November 8th.
PS: Looks like LSU has now found a deep-threat QB in Lee to go with Lafell and Byrd. PLUS, they now have a week off before taking on the 'Gators in the Swamp to get him ready. Scott on the ground behind Mount Johnson, Byrd and Lafell streaking down on a post to catch frozen ropes from Scott, Holliday on the "little man sneaky sweep", sounds like a good offense.
Need I say much about the defense? As long as our safety's can hang, and the front four can get a pass rush, I don't see it as being to much to worry about in Florida (assuming we get Alexander and Jean-Francois back for the game).
November 8th. Mark it on your calendars, folks. The game of the year in the SEC.
Dotarian
Total Comments (60)
Uh, sorry, Scott's a great RB, but that would be General Lee throwing the "frozen ropes" to Byrd and Lafell. My bad...
Dotarian
Total Comments (60)
http://videos.centredaily.com/vmix_hosted_apps/p/media?id=2227998&item _index=1&all=1&sort=NULL
Here's a great video of Penn State's White-Out against Illinois. I thoroughly agree with Stewart. If you watch this video, I think we can all agree with Stewart that schools not-named Penn State should accept they're not going achieve this level of organized awesomeness, and just try to create their own thing.
LionsPrideHV
Total Comments (12)
Dotarian, I wouldn't worry too much about Alexander and Jean-Francois. I went to the game last night. Alexander went back into the game briefly in the 4th quarter and Jean-Francois seemed like he was moving around pretty well on the sidelines. The bigger concern for me is getting Darry Beckwith back for the Florida game. The D wasn't that great last night. There were a few missed tackles and some broken coverages. Beckwith not only brings some serious tackling to the game, but he also calls the defenses in the huddle and makes checks based on the offensive alignments. We really need his experience on the field.
LSUSteve71
Baton Rouge , LA
Total Comments (87)
One other programming note...
To any USC fanboys who watched the LSU/MSU game (or the LSU/{anybody} game this season), is it any wonder Joe McKnight jumped ship for LaLaLand? Given how good Scott, Williams, Hollday, Murphy, and even the water boy run the ball, there's no way McKnight would have seen any action for two or three years.
Sorry, SoCal, guess you'll have to continue making do with LSU leftovers and also-rans....
Dotarian
Total Comments (60)
I'm excited for the Tide. I've got a soft spot for crimson-clad traditional powerhouses who have occasional run-ins with the NCAA infractions committees and have to mount program comebacks after being crippled by years of probation and poor coaching.
Congrats to Alabama fans. Looks like you guys are back.
SoonerGirl
Total Comments (3197)
How the hell does Georgia not drop farther than 11th after how they were embarrassed AT HOME by the Tide? 41-17 at one point. Which game were the pollsters watching?
brianjgault
Petersburg , MI
Total Comments (65)
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