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.