Slippery Little Buggers Aren't They?

Amazing comeback by UCLA. I flipped their game on with 8 minutes to go (how lucky was that, to turn it on just at the right time?) and I'm thinking, "ok so the USC/UCLA game might not be the event I thought it might be", and in a matter of 3 or 4 minutes I'm thinking, "I can't believe Stanford is going to blow this thing." The Bruins must have some kind of twisted sense of humor to let all these teams go into the 4th quarter ahead and then rip their guts out in the last few minutes. But they can't keep doing this can they? I mean it's like me continuing to watch Lindsay Lohan movies with my wife---At some point this has to end badly. (Note: it might have happened at the end of Herbie:Fully Loaded when she realized that I was only paying attention to the movie when Lindsay was in a tight shirt or showing some cleavage)......anyway.....UCLA needs to kick it into gear a bit sooner or they are going to be sleeping on the couch too.

 

Settle Down People

Before people start dusting off a seat for Brady Quinn at the Heisman ceremony coming off that 400 yard plus game last week, they should realize it came against a BYU secondary that gave up 5 touchdown passes to Air Force Saturday! Air Force has always been a running team but even these guys knew they could torch a defensive backfield that has to be one of the worst in the nation. Lucky for BYU, the Falcon's secondary might be worse. The Cougars hung 62 points on them.

 

Cut Em Some Slack

The Gators didn't wow me against Georgia (especially considering Shockley wasn't playing) but they are still in contention for the SEC and Urban Meyer has them playing tougher than Zook ever did. It will take another year (and better running of the option by the QB position) for his offensive system to click but I think they are headed in the right direction.

 

Taxi please?

Caught a little bit of the Oklahoma/Nebraska game. When does Bill Callahan start to get bricks thrown through his windows, or has that already begun?

 

Ok, Whatever

 This is how sad football is at Kansas. They tore down the goalposts after beating Missouri. Missouri? I mean, come on, they're no doormat but...please. That's the equivalent of Atlanta Hawk fans storming the court after beating the Toronto Raptors....in pre-season.

I thought that was a pretty good showing by VA Tech last night. Vick was as good as I've seen him this season. Yes, he does remind me of his brother but the guy he most reminds me of is Donovan McNabb when he played at Syracuse. Runs when he needs to but has decent touch on his passes. I think this kid as shot at being better than older brother Michael. That's saying a lot because the Falcons star may not be the best passer in the NFL but he's still a force at QB because of his legs. Brother Marcus has a ways to go but other than a few bumps this season he has played great for a first year starter. If he can keep his head straight and not be tempted by the draft after the season, he will return as a frontrunner for the Heisman with a legitimate shot at being the first player chosen in the 2007 draft. We'll get a better idea of how good Vick and the Hokies are this season after they play Miami and possibly Florida State (ACC title game).

I read Scoop Jackson's article today on ESPN's website about the split loyalties in Chicago for the Cubs and White Sox (and the bitterness that comes when the other team wins) and wondered why people can't root for two different teams, especially when they are in different leagues. This doubles your chance of having a team that might do well in a particular season and gives you twice the joy if they both do well. The only time you have to choose up sides is when they meet in inter-league play or if they meet in the World Series. I was a big Yankee/Mets fan back in my early teens (when Srawberry, Gooden, & Mattingly ruled NY) and had no problem with this idea. Why can't Angel fans have the Dodgers as a close second in their hearts or vice versa? It could be that because I don't come from a baseball city like Chicago or NY, I'm missing something here. Scoop tries to imply that race is involved with it in Chicago. I'm not buying that. I can understand a feeling that maybe the Cubs are your team and you just can't get into cheering for another team. That's one thing. It's the hatred, bitterness and openly rooting against the other team in your OWN city that I don't get. This post (http://www.gapersblock.com/airbags/archives/hate_hate_hate_the_white_sox/) by a White Sox fan is typical of this die-hard attitude. Another blog to check out that gives Cub's fan view is http://graceandwayne.blogspot.com/2005/10/sox-nation.html With the Red Sox and Yankees you have two teams from rival cities and there is a history of playing each other and ripping each other's hearts out (mostly one sided by the Yankees). It makes sense for these fans to hate each other and each other's teams. The Astros are in the Cub's own division for pete's sake. If Cubbies want to look for a rival, they might start with the team that helped prevent them from sniffing the post-season.

Some quick thoughts on the Monday night game:

- Warrick Dunn is a stud. I've always like the way this guy runs. He's quick and elusive with some Barry Sanders type moves, yet he will (as John Madden likes to tell us) run in between the tackles pretty well also. He is a consistent runner who you can count on to get you over 100 yards if you get him the ball 20 times. But what's with the dog collar chain he was wearing? If he's not horse collared with it by the Jets then he risks getting mugged for it on the way home.

- Mike Vick is absolutely fun to watch run and escape in the pocket but if your a Falcon fan you have to hold your breath every time he does for two reasons: First, he might get hurt, and second he might (and does many times) fumble the ball. He doesn't tuck the ball away at all until he's beyond the line of scrimmage (sometimes) and he tends to hold it down near his thigh when he's dodging defenders in the pocket. This leads to many cough ups. The Falcons just have to hope it doesn't happen in big games or critical series. He is who he is. Vick is a spectacular runner that can change a game with his legs. He is also a very mediocre passer (but with one of the prettiest spirals and strongest arms you'll ever see) due to his lack of touch and patience. All I know is I'm not a big Falcon fan but their games are set to record on my Tivo every week. Vick is the reason for that.

- You really have to feel for Jets fans this year. I mean they came into the year thinking they might contend for a division championship and they are at a point now where they're thinking (with some guilt) maybe a number 1 pick on draft day could bring them a quarterback. I really think Pennington is done. With the stuff that has happened to his arm he will be lucky if he gets back to form. Ever. And Vinny, what can you say about him. You have to admire that he is in the kind of shape at 42 to still play in the league. But like many NFL quarterbacks he is just not very good. Vinny has has occasional good years in his career. This won't be one of them.

I just want to say I’m ticked off with Direct TV for not including their new NFL channels in their basic Sunday NFL ticket. I really would like to have the channel where 8 games are on single screen. You have to have their Superfan package to get this channel, and there is no way in hell I’m going to shell out what they want for it. Despite my wife’s insistence to the contrary, I’m not that big of a sucker (in other words I don’t have the dough or I probably would be). Anyway, I spent another day flipping between games hoping not to miss something good. Here are my thoughts on what I saw today:  

 

Cowboys/Seahawks

-Drew Bledsoe’s game just about sums up his career. Decent numbers, promise and hope of success, to be followed up by ….stupid turnovers and disappointing results. I guarantee that before that last series, Parcells told Drew not to force anything because they could always take it into OT and have a shot to win it then. Instead he underthrows a sideline out-route that is double covered. Sorry Bill, but if you live by the Bledsoe, you die by the Bledsoe.  

 

Lions/Browns

Ugly game but the Lions showed they were already better with Garcia. He knows Mariuchi’s system and he’s more mobile than Harrington. Hey, everybody including Joey, knew that Garcia was going to take over at some point during the season. Garcia was terrible last year with the Browns (a year that started out with his Playboy centerfold girlfriend getting in a catfight with his old girlfriend...um…wow…and T.O. publicly calling him out as gay….did I mention he had a centerfold girlfriend?.....no wonder it was a crappy year…everything after that is anti-climactic) but a return to Mooch’s west coast offense could be exactly what he needs. The Lions are running away with this division at 3-3.  

 

Colts/Texans

When it was 14-14 in the first half, I briefly wondered if I could be witnessing the makings of a huge upset. Then I slapped myself and remembered that the Texans are in the Matt Leinart/Reggie Bush sweepstakes for a reason. By the way, is anybody else amazed by Edgerrin James? He looks like he’s just skipping around in the backfield and before you know it he’s got 5-6 yards. He’s got incredible footwork and he follows blockers better than anybody in the league.

 

Rams/Saints

The Saints got screwed on the fumble recovery for a touchdown taken in by the Rams in the 4th quarter. Conwell was definitely down before the ball was snatched away. But since I’m a Rams fan I’m not going to lose sleep over it. My guy (played for both my alma maters, Snow College and Utah State) Kevin Curtis made some big plays. The Saints really should have won this game with the way the Ram’s defense has been playing lately and the fact that Bulger, Holt, & Bruce were all gone. Look for Jim Haslett’s head to explode at 3 am this morning.

 

Chargers/Eagles

Geez, the Chargers are really killing me. I keep picking them to win and they manage to lose games in the 4th quarter every week (ok, I’m exaggerating, after all they plowed the Patriots). It’s freaky the way they lost to Philly. Tomlinson only had 7 rushing yards, yet you could still say they outplayed the Eagles. San Diego should be 5-2 and instead are 3-4. This is exactly why I don’t bet on Pro football. If I wanted to give my money away I would just let my wife have a credit card……wait….oh crap....(sigh).

 

Packers/Vikings

I was eagerly anticipating Minnesota fans picketing the stadium before the game with signs that said “Our raping and pillaging days were over 1,000 years ago” and “love boat losers”. By the way, what exactly where those guys celebrating that night out on the lake? It’s almost like a bunch of them got together and said, “hey you know what? This season is screwed, so what the hell, why don’t we get some strippers, a couple of boats and booze, and see if we cant’ get Tice’s ass out of here by Halloween!” The Packer’s blew this one (it was a theme Sunday with several teams blowing a sure win) and I felt for Favre. He played well enough to win this game. It’s amazing to me how so many teams that absolutely need to have good kickoff coverage in a key situation, like the one at the end of this game, simply cannot stop the other team (in this case the Vikings) from advancing to the 40 yard line or better. Still you got to hand it to their kicker (a 56 yarder is no gimmee) he literally kicked the Packers where it hurts.

 

Steelers/Bengals

Jerome Bettis looks like he’s joining me every morning for a Krispy Kreme breakfast. That guy is carrying a few pounds around that waistband isn’t he? Even so, the “Bus” still has it and is a load to bring down. As long as the Steelers can run the ball (and keep Tommy Maddox on the sidelines) with Willie Parker and Bettis, they will be tough to beat. Roethlisberger doesn’t have to throw much and when he does he’s pretty smart with it. This is a team that will contend for the AFC crown. It remains to be seen if the Bengals will do the same (when it counts). So far they’re 0-2 against teams over .500

 

Broncos/Giants

On the plus side for the Broncos, Jake Plummer has augmented his porn star mustache with a beard to give him a Brad-Pitt-“Legends of the Fall”-look (somebody should really tell him that movie sucked). The down side is that clean-shaven (peach-fuzz?) Eli-Manning played like a number 1 draft pick in the final moments of this game. He almost looked…dare we say it…Elway-esque on that final drive against the Bronco defense. Both of these teams are better than I thought they would be this year.  But Mike Shanahan’s eyes are still weird.

 

49ers/Redskins

Are the Skins this good or is San Fran that bad? I think the 49ers are pretty bad (how the Rams lost to this team is beyond me…oh wait…the Rams had Martz coaching then…oh yeah) but Santanna Moss and Brunell are playing out of their minds. I have to question the Redskin coaching staff who said Lavar Arrington hasn’t been good enough to get playing time this season (led the team in tackles today!) ---Coaches that say personal biases don’t interfere with their evaluation of a player’s ability to help the team are full of crock. Gibbs and Greg Williams (defensive coordinator) don’t like Arrington and they almost convinced themselves that their defense would be better off without him. Too bad they made the mistake of playing him Sunday. Now they can’t delude themselves any more. If guys were benched just because they were jerks, we wouldn’t have the blessed opportunity to watch T.O. come up with lame ass touchdown celebrations anymore. Good times.

 

Titans/Cardinals

These guys played? If a football game is played and nobody cares, did it really happen?

 

Bills/Raiders

Bills running back, Willis Mcgahee said this week he “is the best back in the NFL. Case closed.” He wasn’t even the best back on the field against Oakland as Lamont Jordan took it to Buffalo all day long. I guess Willis forgot about Ladanian Tomlinson, Sean Alexander, Warrick Dunn, Priest Holmes, Tikki Barber, Edgerrin James ….and the list could go on. Whatever helps Willis sleep at night. He also still believes in Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, and the innocence of O.J. Simpson.

 

Ravens/Bears

Another eyesore of a game. I’m not sure Baltimore would know what to do if they ever had an offensive explosion. They might just start running around naked and yelling obscenities. Actually, they should do that now, at least Raven fans would have something to whistle at.---The Bears defense is good though and add Cedric Benson to the holdout casualty club with San Diego Charger Phillip Rivers. Bear running back Thomas Jones doesn’t look like he’s giving up his starting spot anytime soon.

 

Chiefs/Dolphins

Ronnie Brown may not have Cadillac Williams moves, but he’s showing the speed and power that made him a high draft pick. If only the Dolphins quarterback was Gus (the Disney Mule) instead of Gus Ferotte. At least then they could kick 90 yard field goals. --The Chiefs can be dangerous this season but they aren’t going anywhere in the playoffs.  

 

Some good games, some bad games. Just another week of NFL bliss.