A Look Around College Football

Great Hire By Pittsburgh:  With Pitt now being on their fourth Head Coach in the last thirteen months, Athletic Director Steve Pederson had to get the right man, and they did with the hiring of Wisconsin Offensive Coordinator Paul Chryst, who has been the Badgers' Offensive Coordinator the last 7 seasons, while spending 2003-04 as the Oregon State Offensive Coordinator under Mike Riley.  Chryst is generally regarded as one of the bright young offensive minds in CFB, helping mold the 2011 Badgers' Offense around the skills of transfer QB Russell Wilson, as the Badgers averaged 44.6 points and 447 yards per game this fall.  

Chryst and the Badgers' Staff were also successful during his tenure of going into Ohio, Florida, New York, Missouri (Montee Ball) and New Jersey to recruit offensive weapons, and now with the scandal at Penn State, Chryst should be able to once again get a leg up in Pennsylvania recruiting.

PAC-12 will be stung by early defectors:  While everyone knows that it will be hard for Stanford to recover from the loss of Junior QB Andrew Luck to the NFL Draft, the Cardinal will also likely lose LT Jonathan Martin and All-American Guard, David DeCastro, as early entrants into the 2012 Draft.  Martin is a projected Top-10 selection, and DeCastro may ultimately end of up being the best offensive linemen from the upcoming Draft.  In fact, DeCastro could be the highest Guard selected since Chris Noeole went 10th to the Saints in 1997, especially if some teams project DeCastro as a potential Right Tackle.  

USC will also lose DE Nick Perry and LT Matt Kalil early to the Draft, and Oregon is going to lose RB LaMichael James.  In fact, if USC QB Matt Barkley enters the Draft, the PAC 12 could have as many as 5 of the Top 10 selections -- Luck, Kalil, Barkley, Martin and DeCastro -- with all of them being early entrants.  It would not even be a stretch to see the PAC-12 have the top 3 selections in the Draft in Luck, Kalil and Barkley.

Speaking of QB's and the 2012 Draft:  If Matt Barkley does declare for the Draft, we may see a run on QB's in April like we haven't seen since 6 of them -- John Elway, Jim Kelly, Dan Marino, Tony Eason, Todd Blackledge and Ken O'Brien -- were selected in the famous 1983 draft.  In addition to Barkley and Luck, Heisman winner Robert Griffin III of Baylor and Oklahoma Junior Landry Jones are also projected as potential Top-15 picks.  Former Wide Receiver and now QB Ryan Tannehill of Texas A&M has the size, toughness, arm strength and leadership qualities that scouts crave, and considering that he's only been a starting QB for less than 2 full seasons, he has the upside that coaches and GM's fall in love with prior to the Draft -- which could also make Tannehill a first rounder.  

Throw in Arizona's Nick Foles, a player with great size, experience and productivity who's never benefitted from being surrounded by a superior Offensive Line or Running Backs, and you may have this year's Christian Ponder after Foles spends a week at the Senior Bowl, where Ponder rose from a second rounder last January.

Urban's Impact:  While Ohio State and Athletic Director Gene Smith handcuffed new Coach Urban Meyer with a 2012 bowl ban by inexplicably failing to self impose a 2011 bowl ban after the University was hit with a Failure to Monitor Charge this fall on top of their potential repeat offender status from prior sanctions, Meyer has gone defensive in his first month on the job, landing commitments from 3 of the top 15 Defensive Linemen in the country in a recruiting class that arguably now has 2 of the Top 3 Defensive Ends in the nation in Noah Spence and Adolphus Washington, along with top-10 DE Se'von Pittman and former PSU commitment, DT Tommy Schutt.  Ohio State should have one of the Top-2 defensive line classes in the country in 2012, after having a Top-3 DL class last February.  

Meyer knows that the key to SEC football, which is now guaranteed the National Champion for the last 6 seasons, is fast, athletic future NFL Defensive Lineman, and he has made that his number one priority at Ohio State.  You have to look no further than the LSU vs Alabama National Title Game to see the importance that D-Linemen have had on those squads, as LSU boast 9-10 future NFL Defensive Linemen, including four potential future first rounders, and Alabama has at least 6-8 who will one day be drafted or in NFL camps.  

Furthermore, Meyer now has a Defensive Staff full of NFL pedigrees to coach these future stars to the next level, as new Co-Defensive Coordinator Everett Withers and CB Coach Taver Johnson have NFL coaching experience, and LB's Coach Mike Vrabel is former a 14-year vet.  Even Co-Defensive Coordinator Luke Fickell spent a year on the IR with the Saints.

Basketball Buckeyes Are Off to an Impressive Start, But Still Have Glaring Concerns

No. 2 ranked Ohio State's 85-63 victory Tuesday night over third-ranked Duke was a very impressive win in a game that was never really close.  However, despite Ohio State's 7-0 start, the talented basketball Buckeyes have four glaring deficiencies that will need to be addressed over the course of the season if they are to cut down the nets in New Orleans in April:  outside shooting, scorers who can create off the dribble, size and depth -- or at least Head Coach Thad Matta beginning to play more than seven players during a competitive game.

That said, Ohio State boasts the potential National Player of the Year in powerful Sophomore Jared Sullinger, Senior scorer William Buford, SF DeShaun Thomas and the scrappy glue who holds it all together, Sophomore PG Aaron Craft, giving the Buckeyes the horses to again run through the Big Ten.  However, if the team wants to accomplish its ultimate goal of winning a National Championship, then it must address the above issues to be able to match up against long, talented teams like North Carolina and Kentucky.

North Carolina starts two 7-footers in Tyler Zeller and John Henson, along with dynamic SF Harrison Barnes, an explosive scorer who is adept at creating his own shot.  The Tar Heels also have additional length and athleticism from impact Freshman F James Michael McAdoo.  Kentucky also has incredible athleticism and length up front from three future NBA Lottery picks, Sophomore F Terrence Jones, Freshman F Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and the potential number one pick of the 2012 Draft, 6-10 Anthony Davis.  Kentucky was a difficult matchup for Ohio State in last year's tournament because of their length and athleticism, and both the WIldcats and the Tar Heels would pose similar challenges to this year's Buckeyes.

However, there is hope for Matta and Buckeye fans, and that rests in trusting and developing some of their young bench players, notably Freshmen PG Shannon Scott, C Amir Williams and soon to be eligible Forward, LaQuinton Ross.  

Scott has a great handle and can penetrate.  He's also a polished, intelligent player with NBA bloodlines who could add depth and create scoring opportunities off the dribble.

The 6'11 Williams' development is crucial, as the Buckeyes will need his size and shot blocking skills if they are to have a deep run in the tournament and face a squad like North Carolina, Kentucky or even UCONN.  Currently, the Buckeyes seven-man rotation only has two players over 6'8",  F Evan Ravenel, who is generally listed at 6'8", and Sullinger.

When Ross becomes eligible on December 9th, he will be the best athlete on the squad, as he has great length to defend and the ability to create and score from the outside, as the team misses the outside shooting of David Lighty and Jon Diebler from last year's squad and needs additional options other than Buford and Thomas, as both players have proven to have streaky moments from the perimeter.  If Matta is willing to work him into his rotation, Ross, like Scott and WIlliams, has the ability to overcome some of the deficiencies of a very solid Buckeyes team.

Matta is an excellent coach, but if he wants his young Buckeyes to cut them down in New Orleans, then he needs to trust and develop his young bench and focus not on how to match up against Big Ten teams, but on how to beat teams like Kentucky and North Carolina.

Hiring Meyer Will be Great for Ohio State, But Not for the Rest of the Big Ten

From Bowling Green to Utah to Florida, Urban Meyer has won early and won big.  And when the Ohio native becomes the next Head Football Coach at The Ohio State University, he will have the talent and the resources to have an immediate impact and turnaround on a young, but extremely talented Buckeye squad

Twenty-five years ago, Meyer started his college coaching career as a Grad Assistant for former Ohio State Head Coach and now mentor and close friend, Earle Bruce.  While at OSU, Meyer would openly tell student athletes that he would one day be the Head Football Coach at Ohio State, fulfilling both his and his late father's dream.  Now, that dream is about to become a reality for Meyer and Buckeye fans.

When Meyer assumes the Head Coaching reigns, he will be positioned to compete for a Big Ten Championship and a BCS birth next season, as Ohio State returns 10 starters on Defense and several talented skilled athletes on Offense, led by Freshman Quarterback Braxton Miller, who Meyer called one of CFB's "best athletes" earlier this fall.  Miller will be the centerpiece of the turnaround under Meyer, as he possesses the unique combination of passing skills and elusiveness to star in Meyer's Spread Option attack.  Miller has shown great promise as a Freshman, running for 7 scores and 695 yards, while passing for 11 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions.  He was also able to lead his team to dramatic 4th Quarter comebacks at home against Wisconsin and on the road vs Purdue.

While Miller must improve his footwork and his accuracy, he is an extremely hard worker who should greatly benefit from improved coaching this spring.  Moreover, he possesses incredible acceleration, lateral quickness and a unique ability to almost always make the first defender miss.

And while it helps that Meyer will inherit a potential Heisman candidate in Miller and arguably the Nation's best 2011 Freshman Class, he will also have the unmatched resources to dominate the Big Ten for the foreseeable future.  

For one, Ohio is the only top-5 High School Football State in the Nation -- Ohio, Florida, Texas, California and Georgia -- without an in-state rival to recruit against.  Moreover, Meyer, an Ashtabula, Ohio, native, has strong relationships with Ohio High School Coaches and should be able to once again "lockdown" the state in the same manner as previous Head Coach Jim Tressel.  Moreover, Meyer is rumored to be adding several Assistants to his staff who also have Ohio ties.  And while Michigan's Brady Hoke is taking advantage of Tressel's dismissal and the NCAA's ongoing investigation of Ohio State in recruiting Ohio this year, expect that to end immediately under Meyer.

Furthermore, Ohio State has one of the Nation's largest Alumni bases, top-5 facilities, storied tradition and tremendous University and Alumni support.  And unlike the SEC where Meyer's Florida teams would have to face physical opponents on a weekly basis with similar elite athletes drawn from both high schools and the Nation's top Junior Colleges, he will not have to worry about that at Ohio State.

While Michigan has improved under Hoke, and Michigan State's Mark Dantonio, Iowa's Kirk Ferentz, Nebraska's Bo Pelini and Wisconsin's Bret Bielema have all built solid programs, they simply do not have the recruiting bases in their states to consistently compete with top Ohio High School talent.  Michigan is primarily a high school basketball state, and only produces 3-5 potential impact recruits each year, while Ohio can consistently boast 10-15.  Moreover, the Wolverines appear to be losing a little of their national recruiting appeal, as only 2 out-of-state recruits from their last 6 recruiting classes have been chosen First Team All-Big Ten.

Iowa, Nebraska and Wisconsin are similar to Michigan in that the states rarely produce more than 3-5 top prospects a year, though each University has been very successful in recruiting and developing linemen.  Furthermore, Nebraska will no longer be able to recruit extensively from the JUCO ranks, as the Big Ten has more restrictive rules and higher standards for accrued credit hours for transfers than do other Conferences like the Big 12 and the SEC.  Pennsylvania's high school football talent has been declining in recent years, and the current situation at Penn State doesn't bode well for the immediate future of the program.

Therefore, each of Ohio State's competitors must continue to recruit outside of their state -- often in Ohio -- to have any chance to compete athletically against Ohio State, who historically cleans up Ohio and goes into Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana and occasionally Texas to add speed and talent in positions where Ohio may be thin during a certain year.  Meyer should only make the Big Ten talent gap between Ohio State and their rivals wider, as he will have even better recruiting inroads for the Buckeyes in Florida, Georgia, Maryland (ex-Gator Joe Haden), Philadelphia (current Florida DT Sharif Floyd), New York and New Jersey, while again building a wall around Ohio, the one Northern State whose High School football seemingly remains unaffected by the Nation's vast migration toward the Sunbelt and the West Coast.

And, unlike Tressel, Meyer will be more aggressive on both sides of the ball and will be much more explosive and imaginative on offense.  However, like Tressel, Meyer will have the resources and talent to not only dominate the Big Ten, but to again win a National Championship as soon as his second season in Columbus.

The NFL's Balance of Power Has Clearly Shifted to the NFC

From 2002-2007, the AFC won five out of six Super Bowls, including three by the Patriots.  Those six seasons also boasted several excellent Steelers, Ravens, Chargers and Colts squads.  It was truly an era of AFC dominance.

Although the AFC has still won six of the last ten Super Bowls, the balance of power has clearly shifted to the NFC, as they arguably boast the NFL's four best teams -- Packers, 49'ers, Giants and Saints -- and winners of the last two Super Bowls.

The Packers are the NFL's only undefeated team at 9-0 and are led by the NFL's best player and highest rated passer, QB Aaron Rodgers, who has five solid receivers and an outstanding tight end at his disposal.  Their talented defense will also send 5-6 starters to the Pro Bowl.  Furthermore, they have one of the NFL's youngest squad's with ten starters who are 26 or younger.

The 49'ers are the League's only 8-1 squad and are lead by a defense that boasts four potential Pro Bowlers -- LB's NaVorro Bowman, Patrick Willis, Aldon Smith and DE Justin Smith.  They also possess a physical, rugged rushing attack led by RB Frank Gore.  They beat an outstanding Giants team on Sunday, 27-20.

The Giants are 6-3 and have one of the League's best defenses, featuring one of the NFL's deepest defensive lines, which includes rising second year Defensive End Jason Pierre-Paul -- who has 9.5 sacks -- and veteran Osi Umenyiora.  However, what has propelled the Giants to one of the NFL's top squads has been the outstanding play of QB Eli Manning, who is having his best season, completing 63.1% of his passes for 2,688 yards (298.7 a game), 17 scores and a 97.0 Quarterback Rating.

The Saints improved their record to 7-3 on Sunday with a hard fought overtime victory in Atlanta.  Drew Brees is having another Pro Bowl season, completing 71% of his throws for 3,326 yards, 23 scores and a 101.3 Rating.  His production has been further buoyed by the offseason acquisition of versatile RB Darren Sproles and the emergence of second year TE Jimmy Graham, who leads all NFL tight ends with 62 catches for 873 yards; he also has 6 touchdown receptions.

The Packers, 49'ers and Saints also have three of the top four point differentials in the NFL.

On the other hand, the AFC top four teams -- the Ravens, Steelers, Texans and Patriots -- are all deeply flawed.

The Steelers have a suspect offensive line without a standout offensive tackle, an aging defensive line, a liability at corner, and they lack a true downhill, pounding running back, with Rashard Mendenhall averaging only 3.8 yards a carry.

The Ravens are 2-3 on the road, with losses to Jacksonville and to Seattle, and still have inconsistent moments on offense.  The Texans have already lost Pro Bowler Mario Williams for the season, and now QB Matt Schaub is out indefinitely with an injured foot, while the Patriots entered Week 10 with the NFL's lowest rated defense, as Bill Belichick starts three former undrafted free agents, including two in the secondary.  The Patriots problems are compounded by the lack of a true starting caliber running back on offense.

With the Packers and 49'ers being two of the NFL's youngest squads, we may well be entering a new era of NFC dominance and a true shift in the NFL's balance of power.

Aaron Rodgers and the Packers Headline the NFL's Midseason Awards

Top Team:  The Packers were a young team that had an incredible 16 players on the Injured Reserve List when they won the Super Bowl last season, and now that they are relatively healthy and a year older, they are off to a very impressive and undefeated 8-0 start.  Quarterback Aaron Rodgers continues to grow and mature and is now playing at the elite level that we saw in last season's playoffs.  He benefits from as many receiving weapons as any quarterback in football and has been buoyed by the return to health of athletic Tight End Jermichael FInley and Running Back Ryan Grant.  The injury to Left Tackle Chad Clifton is a concern, though the steady veteran vows to return this season.  Throw in arguably the League's best and deepest LB corp and three outstanding Corners, and the Packers defense also continues to excel and improve.

Most Surprising Team:  This was a close call between the upstart and overachieving Bills and Jim Harbaugh's 49'ers.  I will give the edge to the 49'ers due to their 7-1 start, which includes road wins at Detroit, Cincinnati, Philadelphia and Washington.  Jim Harbaugh has transformed both sides of the ball, with a physical power running game and ball control offense and an aggressive, attacking defense -- not to mention elite special teams.  Moreover, the work that Quarterbacks Coach Geep Chryst and Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman have done with QB Alex Smith is remarkable, while Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio has several starters playing at a Pro Bowl level, including DE Justin Smith and LB's NaVorro Bowman, Patrick Willis and Rookie Aldon Smith.  Fangio has also helped resurrect the career of LB Ahmad Brooks.

Most Disappointing Team:  The Colts are 0-8, but I always felt that they had NFL bottom-5 talent -- especially on defense -- that was camouflaged by the brilliance of the injured Peyton Manning.  Therefore, I will go with the Eagles (3-4) who many "experts" thought had the most talent prior to the start of the season.  Unfortunately, these experts ignored the fact that the Eagles had a new starter at Center and at Right and Left Guard, and lacked a true two-gap Defensive Tackle and run stuffer, along with not having one difference maker at the second level of their defense, as they Eagles currently start Rookie Brian Rolle, Moise Fokou and Jamar Chaney at Linebacker.  Throw in a revolving door at Strong Safety and the health scare of DT Mike Patterson, and the Eagles have struggled defensively.

Best Player:  Aaron Rodgers is the clear choice here, leading the Pack to an undefeated start by completing 171 of 239 passes (71.5%) for 2,372 yards (338 a game) and 20 scores with only 3 interceptions.  Rodgers also boasts an incredible 125.7 Quarterback Rating.  Simply put, he continues to improve and is the NFL's best player on the League's best team.

Best Offensive Rookie:  While Rookies like the Bengals WR A.J. Green and QB Andy Dalton have excelled, Carolina QB Cam Newton has been outstanding, completing 174 of 287 passes (61%) for 2,293 yards (299 yards a game) and 11 scores.  Moreover, Newton became the first Rookie QB in NFL history to throw for over 400 yards in each of his first two starts.  The Panthers GM Marty Hurney was wise to surround Newton with a young QB's best friend:  solid veteran Tight Ends, as Hurney brought in Jeremy Shockey and Greg Olsen this offseason.   The return to health of WR Steve Smith, a solid offensive line and three starting-quality running backs have given Newton great support in his incredible first half.  That said, Newton's mechanics, touch, pocket presence and ability to read defenses are light years ahead of where most scouts thought he would be at this point in his development.

Best Defensive Rookie:  While Broncos LB Von Miller has been solid, and Bills DE Marcel Dareus is starting to make an impact, the 49'ers OLB Aldon Smith has 6.5 sacks through seven games, even though he has yet to become a starter.  Smith has tremendous edge quickness, bend and natural pass rush skills that remind me of a young DeMarcus Ware.  Moreover, Smith will only get better as he continues to add bulk and strength to his frame, as well as game reps.   What is even more exciting for 49'ers' fans is that all of Smith's sacks -- 6.5 -- have come in the last four games, resulting in Smith being named the NFL Rookie Defensive Player of the Month for October.

*Player statistics are through Week Eight.

The LSU vs Alabama Showdown WIll Feature Several Future NFL Defenders

Last week, I wrote about how the USC-Stanford game would feature more future NFL offensive draft choices than any other game this fall.  This week's LSU vs Alabama contest is not only a matchup between CFB's top two teams, the game also showcases more future NFL defensive draft choices than any other game this season.  While each squad has plenty of future NFL offensive talent, this week's showdown in Tuscaloosa could feature as many as 10 future NFL defensive first round draft choices.

For LSU, the Tigers have arguably the top two corner prospects in CFB in Junior Morris Claiborne and Sophomore Tyrann Mathieu.  If he declares early, Claiborne is a projected top-15 pick in the 2102 Draft, and Mathieu may be the finest defensive player in the nation as a true sophomore.  He has the same cover skills, big-play ability and the toughness that made Vikings CB Antoine WInfield a first rounder when he left Ohio State in 1999.  Rising Senior Safety Brandon Taylor is another player whose best football is ahead of him, as he continues to improve weekly, and hard hitting FS Eric Reid may be the nation's top 2014 Safety prospect.

LSU also features the deepest defensive line in country, with as many as 8-10 future NFL draft choices, highlighted by the top-ranked Sophomore DE in the country, athletic speedster Barkevious Mingo, along with rising Sophomore DE Sam Montgomery.  Both Mingo and Montgomery run in the 4.55-4.6 range and have incredible bend, burst and backside quickness that should allow both to be early choices in the 2013 or 2014 Drafts.  Sophomore DT Michael Brockers is a load and will remind you of a young Marcus Stroud, and many already see him as an eventual first-day pick.  Add in the number one Freshman DT prospect in the country, starter Anthony Johnson, and LSU could boast four future first rounders from their two-deep on their defensive line.   

Alabama, though a little older on defense than LSU, has plenty of NFL talent, as well.  Senior LB Courtney Upshaw, who is projected as a mid-late 2012 first rounder, has NFL versatility in that he could project as a pass rushing 3-4 OLB for a team like the Steelers, Patriots or Chargers, or could be equally as comfortable with his hand in the dirt as an upfield 4-3 DE in a scheme that uses quick, undersized ends like the Colts.  Junior ILB Dont'a Hightower is a physical specimen at 6'4' and 260-pounds and will remind you of former Bama and current Raider standout, Rolando McClain.  Hightower is healthy this year and is playing at a high level.  He is also a great 3-4 downhill fit and projects as a first or second rounder in 2013.  OLB Nico Johnson is another 3-4 projection who should make some noise on day one of the 2013 Draft.

Alabama Safety Mark Barron is generally regarded as the top Safety prospect for the 2012 Draft, showing big-play ability and toughness, though he still needs to polish his cover skills.  Junior CB Dre Kirkpatrick has great NFL size at 6'2" and 193-pounds and is considered a potential first rounder in 2013.  He would be an ideal cover-2 fit for a team like the Bucs, Bears or Colts.  Their other starting Safety, Robert Lester, is considered a potential first-day choice in 2013, as well.  Backup CB Dee Milliner and backup Safety Jarrick Williams also flash exciting NFL potential.

And what would a Nick Saban squad be without a deep defensive line full of NFL potential:  Senior Josh Chapman, a potential first-day 2012 draft choice, is an improving player with a great first step and a strong, sturdy base who shows next level versatility as a potential 3-technique or as a 3-4 Nose.  Junior Jesse Williams is a large 2-gap player who is also flashing future 3rd-4th round skills.

So sit back and relax Saturday night and watch these two great teams battle it out while you witness many of Sunday's next defensive stars.

Despite Sanctions, USC Continues to Improve as Undefeated Stanford Comes to Town

In a weekend that saw undefeated Wisconsin and Oklahoma lose, the team that caught my eye was the USC Trojans, who went into South Bend and dominated Notre Dame, 31-17.

Junior Quarterback Matt Barkley threw for 224 yards and 3 touchdowns, with star Sophomore WR Robert Woods catching 12 balls for 118 yards and two scores.  RB Curtis McNeal chipped in for 119 yards on the ground, as the much faster and more athletic Trojans racked up 443 yards in total offense.

USC improved to 6-1, with their only loss coming in Week Four at Arizona State, 43-22, when the Trojans had four turnovers and squandered momentum and a 22-21 lead late in the 3rd quarter.

For the season, Barkley has completed 68% of his passes for 2,006 yards, 19 scores and has only four interceptions.  Woods, who has become CFB's most dominant receiver, has caught 72 passes for 902 yards and eight scores.

More impressively, the SC offense that features several future NFL first round picks -- Barkley, Woods and LT Matt Kalil, etc. -- continues to improve each week as their interior offensive line grows and as young weapons such as WR Marquise Lee, TE Xavier Grimble and McNeal continue to gain confidence and game experience.

Throw in the veteran toughness of RB Marc Tyler and Five-Star freshman phenom George Farmer, and USC has as many or more future NFL offensive weapons as any team in CFB.  In fact, the recent decision to burn Farmer's redshirt has given SC another dynamic weapon with Olympic speed who can be used at RB, in the slot, at WR or in motion out of the backfield.

While the SC Defense does lack depth, they still start three future NFL defensive linemen and have a solid corp of young LB's and CB's, along with one of the top safeties in CFB in T.J. McDonald.

That said, it's the SC offense that will keep them in every game this season, and will make this week's home game vs Stanford one of the top offensive matchups of the 2011 season.

Stanford is of course led by the likely first pick of the 2012 NFL Draft, QB Andrew Luck, who has completed 72% of his passes for 1,888 yards and 20 scores.  Moreover, Luck carries the highest NFL grade of any college QB since John Elway came out of Stanford in 1983 -- higher than Troy Aikman in 1989 out of UCLA and Peyton Manning in 1998 out of Tennessee.

Stanford is averaging nearly 49 points a game, as Luck benefits from an outstanding running game, three future NFL tight ends, a solid offensive line and a standout WR in Chris Owusu.

While Stanford's defense is physical and can be opportunistic, Saturday's showdown in the Coliseum will be a classic matchup between two pro-style offenses that will feature more future NFL offensive draft choices than any other game this fall.

A Surprising First Place Showdown in Detroit

During the Preseason, few would've thought that a Week Six matchup between the Lions and the 49ers would have been the NFL marquee game of the week, but that's what happened Sunday in Detroit, as the 49ers handed the Lions their first loss of the season, 25-19, giving both squads an impressive and surprising 5-1 start.

The Lions early season success has been highlighted by the return to health and growth of young QB Matthew Stafford, who coming into Sunday had connected for nine scores with emerging superstar WR Calvin Johnson. Versatile RB Jahvid Best has also shown great burst on the ground and in the passing game to further buoy their offense.

The Lions opportunistic defense has been an even bigger surprise, led by NFL Defensive Player of the Year candidate, DT Ndamukong Suh, a deep defensive line and improved linebacker and secondary play.

However, on Sunday, the upstart 49ers stole the day, as RB Frank Gore rushed for 141 yards, giving first-year Head Coach Jim Harbaugh his 5th win.  Harbaugh, who quickly built unlikely Stanford into a national powerhouse and left a 2011 National Title contender behind, is authoring another incredible turnaround in San Francisco -- a turnaround built on the same formula he used with the Cardinal:  toughness, a power running game and an aggressive, attacking defense.

Harbaugh, who faced some criticism when he brought his two Stanford Coordinators -- Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio and Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman -- to San Francisco in the same roles, has so far proven doubters wrong.

Roman and Quarterbacks Coach Geep Chryst have helped transform former first round bust, QB Alex Smith, into more than a serviceable starter this season, as Smith is completing 66% of his passes and has a 104.1 QB rating.  The aforementioned Gore has been pivotal in the 49ers start, as well, rushing for 400 yards and three scores in 2011.  As mentioned, he was also huge yesterday vs the Lions.

The defense has also been incredibly stout, led by the solid play of veteran DL Justin Smith and the emergence of LB's NaVorro Bowman, Rookie Aldon Smith and Ahmad Brooks, along with improved secondary play and the consistent all-around game of Pro Bowl LB Patrick Willis.

In fact, Smith notched two more key sacks Sunday vs the Lions, bringing his season total to 5.5 and is looking more and more like a young DeMarcus Ware, while Brooks has always been an ultra-talented enigma who is finally putting it all together under Fangio.

Throw in the game breaking returns of WR Ted Ginn Jr, and Harbaugh has quickly molded this team into an NFC contender, which is quite remarkable when you consider that he's a first-year NFL head coach who did not have the usual benefit of a full training camp, minicamps or OTA's.     

Once again, Harbaugh, a coach's son, is leaving his own unique mark.

Breaking Down Ohio State's Shocking Collapse in Lincoln

For two and a half quarters on Saturday night in Lincoln, Ohio State appeared headed to a blowout win vs #14 Nebraska, as they had finally found an offensive identity behind the dazzling dual threat skills of Freshman Quarterback Braxton Miller and the downhill pounding of 240-pound Running Back Carlos Hyde.  The offense was further buoyed by the return from suspension of future first rounder, Left Tackle Mike Adams.

Then, Miller fumbled picking up a first down on the Ohio State 23 yard line with 7:54 to go in the 3rd quarter and the Buckeyes leading 27-6.  Nebraska quickly scored in two plays to draw within two scores at 27-13.  Miller injured his ankle in the ensuing drive and was replaced by Senior Joe Bauserman, and the collapse was on, as Nebraska ended up scoring 28 unanswered points in a stunning 34-27 comeback victory that featured several questionable moves by the Ohio State coaching staff, including:

* The offensive coaches seemed to panic without Miller at quarterback, over relying on the passing skills of Bauserman and going away from Hyde, who was not consistently stopped all night - 13 carries for 104 yards and two scores.  The offense needed a steady dose of Hyde behind the left side of TE Reid Fragel, LT Mike Adams and LG Andrew Norwell.

Instead, undersized RB Jordan Hall continued to run the ball without success between the tackles, and Bauserman went 1-10 for 13 yards and an interception.

* Senior RT J.B. Shugarts has been consistently beaten for three years by the inside move and by quick pass rushers off the edge -- evidenced by Arkansas in the 2011 Sugar Bowl and MSU last week, to name just two opponents -- and the Ohio State coaches still have not figured out that he doesn't have the feet to play tackle and is better suited at RG.  Throw in a one-per-game false start, and it should have been more than obvious to move Shugarts to RG and the aforementioned Norwell back to his natural RT position after this week's return of LT Mike Adams. 

* The Ohio State defensive backs continue to get caught peeking into the backfield, with Travis Howard the victim several times last week as well as last night when he and Christian Bryant were beat for a long 3rd quarter touchdown.  Unfortunately, no improvement in technique has been shown so far this season.

* Ohio State is the only team in CFB or the NFL that plays a 340-pound run stuffing future NFL 4-3 defensive tackle at defensive end, in Jonathan Hankins.  This same staff struggled for four seasons to realize that Cameron Heyward was a future NFL 3 or 5-technique and played him on the edge in the 4-3 in over 70% of his snaps at OSU.

With Nebraska essentially manufacturing their second half comeback through the two-man game of QB Taylor Martinez and overachieving RB Rex Burkhead, the Buckeyes made very few defensive adjustments.  One would have thought a natural move would have been to move the powerful Hankins inside for the remainder of the contest and shift talented Junior John Simon outside to Hankins LDE spot, or even add size by putting Hankins inside and replacing him with 290-pound Adam Bellamy or Freshman Michael Bennett.  While Hankins did finally rotate inside in the 2nd half, he still split snaps at DE, especially in the 3rd quarter.

However, much like last year's Wisconsin game, the defensive staff failed to adjust to the running attack of Nebraska.

* It was also curious why the Ohio State defense stayed in their standard 4-2-5 star package instead of adding size with an extra LB -- Ryan Shazier -- in their 4-3.  Martinez is a QB in name only, as he possesses pedestrian passing skills and is essentially an extra tailback for the Huskers.  Ohio State should have put eight or nine in the box in the second half against Martinez and forced him to beat them through the air.  Many of Nebraska's big 2nd half running plays came with only 7 Buckeyes in the box.

Ohio State's Offensive Meltdown Was Years in the Making

Ohio State's embarrassing 10-7 home loss to Michigan State on Saturday featured 178 yards of total offense and a near shutout, as Ohio State scored with 10 seconds remaining in the game.  In fact, Ohio State's scoreless first half was their first at home since 1982.  

Moreover, Ohio State's offensive line, which consists of four former 4-star recruits and a 5-star in Center Mike Brewster, was shredded for nine sacks.  Head Coach Luke Fickell even pulled promising Freshman starting QB Braxton Miller in the 4th quarter, just five days after proclaiming Miller to be "our Quarterback" and after affording Miller very few opportunities on Saturday to work out of the spread, shotgun or even throw the football on first or second down vs the Spartans.  Incredibly, very few designed quarterback runs were called, despite Miller's great quickness and open field skills, which were highlighted the previous week in his first start vs Colorado.

This complete offensive meltdown, unfortunately, doesn't fall totally at the feet of the overwhelmed first-year Head Coach or their embattled Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach Jim Bollman.  This debacle was actually years in the making due to the offensive control and the staff composition of former Head Coach Jim Tressel.  

During Tressel's ten year run at Ohio State, not one Assistant made over $309,000 annually, even though Tressel made $3,522,000 in 2010.  In fact, the three highest paid Big Ten Assistants in 2010 were Wisconsin's brilliant Offensive Coordinator Paul Chryst and Illinois Assistants Paul Petrino and Vic Koenig.  While many high profile schools like Florida, LSU, Texas, USC and Tennessee have made it common practice to pay their coordinators $500,000 or higher a season, Tressel never sought high profile coordinators.   

Rival Michigan even went out this offseason and lured Offensive Coordinator Al Borges into Ann Arbor along with former former Ravens Assistant Greg Mattison.  Mattison, Michigan's Defensive Coordinator, is being paid $750,000 in 2011 and will receive an additional $150,000 if Michigan wins this year's Big Ten Championship; Borges will make $350,000 in 2011.

However, Jim Tressel primarily chose or retained two types of assistants while he was at Ohio State:  friends or cronies who he had known and/or coached with for years who were not in demand, such as his brother Doc Tressel, Defensive Coordinator Jim Heacock and the aforementioned Bollman; and young coaches who had limited or no BCS Conference Coaching experience, such as Mel Tucker, Paul Haynes, Darrell Hazell, Luke Fickell, John Peterson, Tim Beckman and Nick Siciliano.  

Mark D'Antonio, Taver Johnson and Mark Snyder were exceptions to these categories, but for the most part, Tressel chose assistants who were not going to be in immediate demand from other schools.  What the program gained in continuity and stability, it lost in vision and creativity, as the staff seldom, if ever, challenged the controlling Tressel.  That was especially true on offense where Tressel was the real Offensive Coordinator, play caller and Quarterbacks Coach.  

When Tressel announced his resignation on May 30th, Athletic Director Gene Smith, a former football player himself at Notre Dame, should have known that Tressel's ten years of failing to attract the nation's top Assistants, especially on offense, would finally catch up to the program this season.  Through five games, we are all clearly seeing what Smith should have known and should have attempted to rectify long before Tressel's resignation in May.

This Year's National Title Should Once Again Run Through The SEC

An SEC team has won the BCS National Championship the last five football seasons, and this year should be no different.  While Alabama continues to improve each week as their young Quarterback AJ McCarron matures, LSU is looking like the most dominant team in College Football in all three phases of the game.

LSU dismantled 16th ranked West Virginia, 47-21, in Morgantown, boasting a ferocious NFL-style defense which features many playmakers, including two future NFL first day defensive ends -- sophomores Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo, who are athletic freaks with the ability to crash upfield on every down.  They also run and chase and create havoc from the backside on both running and passing downs.  The Tigers are two-deep at defensive end and defensive tackle, featuring as many as 7-8 future NFL defensive linemen.  

The defense also has an athletic linebacker corp and the best cornerback tandem in CFB, in future NFL corners Morris Claiborne and Tyrann Mathieu.  I featured Mathieu after the Oregon game, and he continues to make big plays -- intercepting a pass, recording 6 tackles, forcing a fumble, breaking up a pass and downing a punt at the one-yard line vs West Virginia.  His play vs the Mountaineers earned Mathieu the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week honors -- the week after Claiborne won the award for his play vs Mississippi State.  The defense also has Senior safety Brandon Taylor, who has good range, ball skills and solid instinct for the position.  He also picked off a pass vs WVU.

What makes this LSU defense so smothering is their speed, toughness and depth, which allows them to utilize a number of looks and schemes.  They also have the athletes in the secondary and on the defensive line to play a lot of press and man coverage.  It's a unit that starts four sophomores and one true freshman, so as scary as it may seem, they should only get better as the season progresses.

However, as dominant as LSU's defense has been so far in 2011, the one thing that may separate this LSU team from other Tigers teams of the recent past, is their offense.  Senior QB Jarrett Lee continues to improve each week, becoming more of a playmaker and not simply the game manager we saw in spot duty over his first three seasons in Baton Rouge.  Though the offense welcomed back dynamic playmaker Russell Shepherd Saturday night, Lee has found a few new weapons while waiting for Shepherd's return, including the dynamic running back duo of Sophomores Spencer Ware and Michael Ford, along with TE Deangelo Peterson and Freshman speedster, WR Odell Beckham.  Junior WR Reuben Randle has improved his consistency and has given Lee a tall, angular presence and a go-to receiver.  The offensive line has also been solid and physical.  The offense, like the defense, is young, starting seven underclassmen.

So far, LSU team is the one dominant team in CFB and should only improve as November 5th and a trip to Tuscaloosa looms.

Some Quick Thoughts Before Football Saturday

Ohio State's embarrassing performance last Saturday vs Miami (FL) had more to do with what happened in the spring and more importantly during their preseason camp than with what happened in South Florida.  Coach Luke Fickell's decision to go with 25-year-old Senior Joe Bauserman as the starter out of preseason camp was the ultimate head scratcher, since Bauserman had the four prior seasons to show the Ohio State Staff that he lacked the physical skills to make a big play and win a game as their quarterback.  

WIth an offense devoid of playmakers after the departure of QB Terrelle Pryor and the suspensions of RB Boom Herron and WR Devier Posey, the Bucks needed the potential of Miller's arm and feet from day one.  The decision at the end of the spring to not elevate Miller over Bauserman led to the Staff splitting reps between the two in preseason camp, when Miller should have have received the vast majority of first team reps.  The real competition should have been between Bauserman, Kenny Guiton and Taylor Graham for the backup position behind Miller.  This egregious error cost Miller numerous invaluable reps in preseason camp -- reps that would have made a difference in Miami.  Moreover, many close to the program felt that, had Jim Tressel remained Head Coach, he had already decided to go with Miller over Bauserman in the opener.

The season ending injury to Stanford Junior LB Shayne Skov is a devastating blow for the Cardinal.  The 6-foot-3, 251-pound Junior led their defense last season with 84 tackles and 7 1/2 sacks.  More importantly, he called their signals and was their emotional and physical leader, often swarming to the ball and delivering big hits like he did in last year's Orange Bowl Game vs Virginia Tech.  He also provided a pass rush boost to a defense that was replacing two of their three defensive linemen.  With an offense led by QB Andrew Luck and several other outstanding playmakers, the real question coming into 2011 was whether their defense could slow down teams like Oregon, USC and Notre Dame.  Now, that question becomes even more compelling.

Boise State Senior RB Doug Martin is one of top three running backs in College Football, if not the best.  The 5-foot-9, 215-pound Martin, has great hands, acceleration and toughness, consistently showing the ability to move the chains, while also being a key cog in QB Kellen Moore's passing attack.  

He is one of CFB's top players and would be a serious Heisman candidate if he did not play at Boise State and in the shadow of Moore.  Martin rushed for 1,260 yards (6.3 avg.) and 12 scores in 2010, while also catching 28 balls for 338 yards and two touchdowns.  Last week vs a tough, blue collar Toledo defense, Martin picked up a physical 70 yards on the ground, while chipping in with 5 catches for 122 yards, including a key 71-yard grab in the first half.  Martin will have a long NFL career as a versatile true 3-down player in the mold of Chiefs RB Thomas Jones, and gives Boise one of CFB's most dynamic, yet underrated, weapons.

A Glance Around The Big Ten

Those who watched the Ohio State vs Toledo game on Saturday saw a very sloppy performance by a Buckeye team who, in fairness, were without seven suspended players, including five starters, and injured DE Nathan WIlliams.  That said, the Buckeyes punted six times, had a punt blocked and missed a field goal.  The Offensive Line had trouble anchoring effectively or getting much of a push, and LB's Storm Klein and Andrew Sweat missed several open field tackles.  The Safeties also played slow, took some bad angles and were often out of place.

Toledo Head Coach Tim Beckman is very familiar with Jim Tressel's offense and Jim Heacock's defense from his two years -- 2006-06 -- on Tressel's staff, and it showed as Toledo only ran 4-5 plays the whole game but was successful in executing them, led by speedy WR Eric Page, who burnt the Buckeyes on numerous bubble screens and short passes

On the other hand, the peculiar handling of the QB rotation, or lack thereof, by Ohio State Head Coach Luke Fickell was a definite head scratcher, especially after Fickell had stated that both 25-year-old Senior Joe Bauserman and Freshman Braxton Miller would play vs Toledo, as each QB had been bracketed with an "or" as the starters on the depth chart the last two weeks.  Both Bauserman and Miller performed well vs Akron, with Miller completing 8 of 12 passes for 130 yards and 1 score; he also had two passes dropped and was active running the ball.  

However, on Saturday, Bauserman struggled mightily after a smooth opening touchdown drive.  In fact, the Buckeyes went four straight possessions in the first half without points, but for some reason the talented Miller never entered the game.  Bauserman was indecisive in the pocket, was holding the ball too long at times and missed several open receivers.  Miller, of course, adds the extra element of tremendous quickness and pocket awareness that seemingly would have taken some pressure off an offensive line that was not having its finest day in pass protection.  

Bauserman's second half struggles continued, as he rarely looked beyond 10 yards downfield in his progressions and was settling for a lot of safe dump offs and underneath routes.  He finished the day 16-30 for 189 yards and a score.  Miller, who last week was called "one of the best athletes in College Football" by ESPN Analyst Urban Meyer, never saw the field, and the Buckeyes dodged a bullet, 27-22, in game where they were outplayed by a scrappier Toledo squad.  

With starting LT Mike Adams still suspended for the next three games along with WR Devier Posey and RB Boom Herron, the Ohio State offense is short of playmakers, and one would think that they could use another weapon like Miller, especially with Miami (FL), Colorado and Michigan State upcoming.  Bauserman is an ideal backup and game manager, but he is not going to be a difference maker at the game's most important position.  If the Buckeyes had an elite defense, a dominant running game and a solid kicking game, then Bauserman could indeed manage the offense.  

That said, the immediate future of Ohio State football, as well as Luke Fickell's, rest with the arm and development of Braxton Miller.  In fact, the best chance of Fickell becoming the Head Man in 2012 and beyond is with the development and success of Miller during Fickell's one-year job interview  -- an interview which has 10-12 weeks remaining.  Whether Fickell's decision was based on the concern of potentially dividing the locker room between upper and lowerclassmen as was rumored to have in happened in 2008 when Terrelle Pryor replaced the 2007 starter and All-Big Ten Senior QB Todd Boeckman, a bizarre oversight, or a belief that somehow a commitment to Bauserman as the starter in Week 2 gives the Buckeyes the best chance for success this season, it was the wrong decision and message to send this young team -- a decision that could retard the offense's development and hurt morale.  

Miller needs to showcase his immense playmaking skills if the Buckeyes are going to defeat an angry Miami (FL) team on Saturday and compete for another BCS birth.

If you like offense and turnovers, then the Michigan/Notre Dame game was a great way to end your Saturday night.  Notre Dame dominated Michigan's porous defense for much of the game, amassing over 500 yards while holding the ball for 37 minutes.  In fact, Notre Dame WR Michael Floyd was a man amongst boys, catching 13 balls for 159 yards -- almost at will.  However, ND had four huge turnovers, with two coming in the red zone and another in Michigan territory. 

Then, after Michigan QB Denard Robinson struggled for much of the first three quarters in Offensive Coordinator Al Borges' new system, Borges took some off the structure out of his attack and turned the offense over to the playmaking Robinson, who made some big plays on the ground and benefitted from Notre Dame DB's, who showed some of the worst ball skills in recent memory down the stretch.  

While it was a nice win for the Michigan program, it was gift wrapped by an ND offense who has now committed ten turnovers in two games.  

Overall, it was a  pretty rough weekend for the Big Ten:  Penn State still doesn't have the playmakers on offense or the team speed to play with a quality SEC team like Alabama.  Purdue lost on the road to Rice, and Minnesota lost at home to New Mexico State.  The real shocker, though, was in Ames where Iowa State upset in-state rival Iowa 44-41 in triple overtime.  While one could figure that Iowa State would have kept it close in a rivalry game, the loss is a disappointing start for a young, but talented, Iowa squad.  Nebraska also needed a late kickoff return at home to hold off an athletic Fresno State team.

On a positive note, Russell Wilson continues to look like a great fit and a playmaker for the Badgers, who blanked Oregon State 35-0 and were more stout in their Front 7 on defense than in Week 1 vs UNLV.  While Ohio State still has the most NFL talent in the Conference, Wisconsin is showing early on that they are once again the team to beat in the Big Ten.

Packers and Saints Put On a Show in the NFL Opener

Thursday night's NFL opener between the Packers and Saints was a chance for football fans to watch two of the NFL's top five signal callers each lead two of the NFL's top five teams, when Aaron Rodgers' Packers outlasted Drew Brees' Saints, 42-34, in a dynamic offensive contest.  Both Brees and Rodgers were in midseason form, showing tremendous accuracy and precision.  

Rogers went 27/35 for 312 yards and 3 touchdowns, while Brees completed 32/49 for 419 yards and 3 scores.  What was nearly as impressive as Rodgers' performance was the stable of receiving weapons that the Packers possess.  Greg Jennings continues to be one of the more unheralded stars in the League, and was again his consistent self with 7 catches for 89 yards and a score, while future opponents had to loathe the healthy return of TE Jermichael Finley, who seemed well on his way to the Pro Bowl last season before he went down in Week 5 with a season ending injury.  Finley possesses rare speed and athleticism and is Cover 2 and matchup nightmare for defenses, as he can stretch the seam and be flexed out.  Finley caught 3 balls for 53 yards and made an impact.  

WR Jordy Nelson continues to improve, as well, and to make matters worse for the NFC North, Rookie Randall Cobb, a former QB at Kentucky, showed off his tremendous acceleration, quickness and open field ability with an electrifying 108-yard kickoff return and an exciting touchdown catch.  Cobb is a very intelligent player who will only get better as he learns the nuances of the WR position from vets like Donald Driver and Jennings.  He has game changing open field ability, and gives the Packers another weapon after the catch and on special teams -- a weapon they lacked in 2010.

Brees also showed off his stable of weapons, including WR's Robert Meachem, Devery Henderson, Marcus Colston and emerging TE Jimmy Graham, who also has the size and speed to be an elite difference maker at the TE position.  Considering that he's only in his third season of football since high school, Graham will only get better and may earn a Pro Bowl trip as soon as this season.  Underrated spark plug Darren Sproles was also a huge factor Thursday night, catching 7 balls for 75 yards and returning a punt 72 yards for a score.  Sproles is one of the more dynamic players and matchup nightmares in the NFL and will have a major impact this year in New Orleans, as long as he can remain healthy.  Rookie Mark Ingram will also make a splash at some point this season, though undervalued Pierre Thomas remains a fine player and the best overall back on the team.  Moreover, Brees' arsenal will soon be further buoyed when WR Lance Moore returns from a groin injury.

After watching these two offensive juggernauts one can wonder if they have any weaknesses?  While they each possess unique offensive talent, the Saints still have a question mark at RT with first year starter Zach Strief, and the Packers have a 35-year-old LT in Chad Clifton and a new starter at LG in T.J. Lang, while still lacking a difference maker at RB -- though Ryan Grant appears to be healthy and James Starks has flashed.

That said, the Packers are also blessed on defense with a great LB corp, which includes one of the League's top three pass rushers in Clay Mathews, and a deep secondary that includes three outstanding corners.   They will miss DL Cullen Jenkins, but this team has great overall depth on defense, especially at LB and DB.  They also have great depth at WR and even have one of the NFL's top three backup QB's in Matt Flynn.

The Saints, on the other hand, are a little thin at DE and lack impact OLB's.  They also really missed suspended DE Will Smith on Thursday night.  They will need young defenders like Martez Wilson, Patrick Robinson and Cameron Jordan to improve and increase their impact as the season progresses, if the Saints defense is going to consistently help out Brees and company.  Moreover, the DT's, including the enigmatic Shaun Rogers, will need to play at a higher level than they did in the opener against the Pack.

The bottom line:  Both teams will score a ton of points this season and will again be good bets to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. 

The NFL is back, and Rodgers and Brees made sure to remind us all just how much they've been missed.

Flash Monday -- A Review of the Weekend's Top Performers

The LSU Tiger Defense flashed Saturday night, disrupting an Oregon Duck Offense that's largely predicated on tempo, precision execution, some trickery and big plays.  The LSU Defense was physical and cut off inside running lanes and put Oregon in a lot of 2nd and 3rd and longs, much like Ohio State did vs the Ducks in the 2010 Rose Bowl, with Auburn also using a similar formula against them in last January's National Championship Game.

On Offense, LSU was physical, as well, controlling the line of scrimmage and the clock with the two headed monster of Sophomore RB's Spencer Ware and Michael Ford.  Again, it was a formula we saw in the Ducks' previous two Bowl defeats, and one that Stanford will try to install against them later this fall.

Notre Dame surprised many, including yours truly, with a very flat performance at home vs a South Florida team that looked more athletic and faster, especially in their front seven on Defense.  They took it to ND physically, and now Brian Kelly's squad has to quickly rebound on the road against an improving, but still young and defensively thin, Michigan team -  with a potential quarterback controversy brewing between preseason starter Dayne Crist and backup Tommy Rees.

It's hard to say that the 2nd game of a season is pivotal for a team, but it would be fair to say that for ND, as they travel to the Big House next Saturday night.

And is Boise State Head Coach Chris Petersen the NFL version of Bill Belichick - a brilliant mad scientist whose football knowledge is far superior to his coaching peers?  Like Belichick, Petersen and his staff continue to find players who fit or can be molded into their system, and their victory against Georgia on Saturday is probably Boise State's most impressive performance and win under Petersen.

For Georgia Head Coach Mark Richt, the loss is one of his worst and may go a long way in determining whether he's back next season.

Though they played lowly Akron, you have to be impressed with Ohio State's ability to once again reload on Defense.  The LB's and DB's look more athletic than last year's units, and the Defensive Line is again solid, though the front four's inability to mount much of a pass rush vs Akron is a concern -- especially with Michigan State and Wisconsin on this year's schedule.

Flash Performers:

LSU RB's Spencer Ware and Michael Ford:  The talented Sophomore duo combined for 195 yards on the ground and helped the Tigers control the clock and keep the high powered Oregon Duck Offense off the field.  Both Ware and Ford are powerful runners with NFL futures, and both give LSU Head Man Les Miles the physical, between-the-tackle pounders that he craves.

LSU CB Tyrann Mathieu: He was a spot starter and nickel back as a freshman last season, but flashed in many games in 2010, including against Ole Miss, Alabama and during the Cotton Bowl.  Though only 5'9" and 175 lbs, he plays bigger and is always around the ball, bringing a physical, ball-hawking style reminiscent of a young Antoine Winfield.  Matthieu scored a touchdown after he picked up the fumble that he forced on a punt return against the Ducks and was arguably the best player on the field Saturday night in Cowboy Stadium, totaling 10 tackles and playing all 82 snaps on Defense.

Ohio State RB Carlos Hyde:  The 235 lbs Ohio State Sophomore filled in for the suspended Boom Herron and Jordan Hall, and laid claim to the starting job.  He rushed for 93 yards on 19 carries and ran hard, breaking numerous tackles.  He runs downhill with great forward lean and according to reports was electronically timed at 4.42 in the forty this summer, which is not overly surprising since he had numerous 50+ yard runs in high school in Florida.

Wisconsin QB Russell Wilson:  Though the NC State transfer had a few hiccups Friday night vs UNLV, Wilson has only had three weeks of practice in Wisconsin Offensive Coordinator's Paul Chryst's system.  With very limited practice reps, he still flashed playmaking skills not normally seen from a Wisconsin QB, both on the ground and in the air.  The ultra bright, charismatic Wilson gives the Badgers a skill set at QB that they have not had under Bret Bielema.

Minnesota Head Coach Jerry Kill:  The hiring of Kill was not a flashy hire, like former NFL Assistant Tim Brewster, but it was exactly what Minnesota needed.  Kill is a tough winner who I first met when he was the Head Man at Saginaw Valley State.  Kill impressed me then, and he continued winning at Northern Illinois, before landing at Minnesota.

His Golden Gophers were down 19-3 in the Coliseum to a much more talented USC team, but they battled back to bring the score to 19-17, before an interception ended their comeback attempt in the game's final minute.  His Team's toughness and fight on Saturday are great signs for the program's future and are consistent with the values of their new Head Coach.