Sunday, September 28, 2008
NFL Week 4 Fantasy Start 'em/ Sit 'em
Jonathan Hartman
Start ‘em
Cincinnati’s passing game (vs. CLE) – After finally showing signs of life last week against the NY Giants in a losing effort, the Bengals get to face Cleveland at home this week. Cleveland made the Ravens’ quarterback Joe Flacco look like Montana with a 13-out-of-19 passing performance last week. Look for the Carson Palmer to do much more this Sunday.
Sit ‘em
Donovan McNabb- QB- (@ CHI) – Nothing against McNabb or Philadelphia, far from it. They played great last week against Pittsburgh. It’s just that Chicago’s defense will respond after a horrible game last week, giving up 407 passing yards against Tampa Bay. Chicago’s defense has shown their ability to stop a high powered passing game during week one against the Colts. Look for Chicago to do the same against McNabb this Sunday at Soldier Field.
Jimmy Smith
Start ‘em
Jamal Lewis- RB- (@ CIN) – Last year Lewis went for 48 carries for 308 yards and a touchdown and five catches for 42 yards in two games against the Bengals. Cincinnati is allowing 174 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns this season.
Sit ‘em
Drew Brees- QB- (vs. SF) – He just lost he biggest remaining receiving threat in Jeremy Shockey (hernia) along with Marques Colston. The Saints will be better off running with Reggie Bush. San Francisco has done well against Arizona, Seattle and Detroit in pass defense, coming in with only two touchdowns allowed and four interceptions. The 49ers run defense is not as good, so the Saints will try to move the ball on the ground with Bush and Pierre Thomas.
Start ‘em
Cincinnati’s passing game (vs. CLE) – After finally showing signs of life last week against the NY Giants in a losing effort, the Bengals get to face Cleveland at home this week. Cleveland made the Ravens’ quarterback Joe Flacco look like Montana with a 13-out-of-19 passing performance last week. Look for the Carson Palmer to do much more this Sunday.
Sit ‘em
Donovan McNabb- QB- (@ CHI) – Nothing against McNabb or Philadelphia, far from it. They played great last week against Pittsburgh. It’s just that Chicago’s defense will respond after a horrible game last week, giving up 407 passing yards against Tampa Bay. Chicago’s defense has shown their ability to stop a high powered passing game during week one against the Colts. Look for Chicago to do the same against McNabb this Sunday at Soldier Field.
Jimmy Smith
Start ‘em
Jamal Lewis- RB- (@ CIN) – Last year Lewis went for 48 carries for 308 yards and a touchdown and five catches for 42 yards in two games against the Bengals. Cincinnati is allowing 174 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns this season.
Sit ‘em
Drew Brees- QB- (vs. SF) – He just lost he biggest remaining receiving threat in Jeremy Shockey (hernia) along with Marques Colston. The Saints will be better off running with Reggie Bush. San Francisco has done well against Arizona, Seattle and Detroit in pass defense, coming in with only two touchdowns allowed and four interceptions. The 49ers run defense is not as good, so the Saints will try to move the ball on the ground with Bush and Pierre Thomas.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Tip of the Hat / Wag of the Finger
Stealing a play out of Stephen Colbert’s arsenal, I now break down the Oregon State upset over USC. Final score USC 21 and Oregon State 27.
A Tip of the Hat to…
Jacquizz Rodgers (RB – Oregon State) – 37 carries, 186 yards rushing, 2 touchdowns
The 5’6”, 180 pound freshman running back made the supposed best defense in college football look silly. Rodgers ate up clock and converted key first downs with his speed and surprising power. Rodgers shook off defenders and ultimately shook up the BCS picture.
The Oregon State offensive line
In front of every great rushing performance, there is an offensive line that came ready to play. Additionally, the majority of Oregon State’s rushing yards came in between the tackles, which shows the offensive lines’ influence on the game.
The Oregon State defense
The defense held USC to 86 total rushing yards and held USC quarterback Mark Sanchez to 18-of-29 passing. Not to mention intercepting a Sanchez pass and returning it to the two-yard line, setting up a Rodgers rushing touchdown.
A Wag of the Finger to…
The Oregon State students
After Oregon State went up 27 to 14 with 2:30 left in the fourth quarter, Oregon State students started jumping over the railings and congregating behind the Oregon State bench. I am all for rushing the field, celebrating, etc. However, wait until the game actually ends! That is way too much time left on the clock, especially in the Pac 10 where crazy things happen to end games, like bands on the field or questionable celebration calls. In fact, USC marched down and scored a touchdown before the end, not that it ultimately mattered.
The premature Gatorade bath
Following the students lead, some Oregon State players gave their head coach Mike Riley a Gatorade bath. The problem, there was over two minutes left on the clock. Riley yelled at his players, and rightfully so, got to wait until the final buzzer.
The entire USC team
After a dominate performance against Ohio State, USC came out flat and unmotivated. It did not even look like the same team. What does this say about Ohio State? I don’t even know.
A Tip of the Hat to…
Jacquizz Rodgers (RB – Oregon State) – 37 carries, 186 yards rushing, 2 touchdowns
The 5’6”, 180 pound freshman running back made the supposed best defense in college football look silly. Rodgers ate up clock and converted key first downs with his speed and surprising power. Rodgers shook off defenders and ultimately shook up the BCS picture.
The Oregon State offensive line
In front of every great rushing performance, there is an offensive line that came ready to play. Additionally, the majority of Oregon State’s rushing yards came in between the tackles, which shows the offensive lines’ influence on the game.
The Oregon State defense
The defense held USC to 86 total rushing yards and held USC quarterback Mark Sanchez to 18-of-29 passing. Not to mention intercepting a Sanchez pass and returning it to the two-yard line, setting up a Rodgers rushing touchdown.
A Wag of the Finger to…
The Oregon State students
After Oregon State went up 27 to 14 with 2:30 left in the fourth quarter, Oregon State students started jumping over the railings and congregating behind the Oregon State bench. I am all for rushing the field, celebrating, etc. However, wait until the game actually ends! That is way too much time left on the clock, especially in the Pac 10 where crazy things happen to end games, like bands on the field or questionable celebration calls. In fact, USC marched down and scored a touchdown before the end, not that it ultimately mattered.
The premature Gatorade bath
Following the students lead, some Oregon State players gave their head coach Mike Riley a Gatorade bath. The problem, there was over two minutes left on the clock. Riley yelled at his players, and rightfully so, got to wait until the final buzzer.
The entire USC team
After a dominate performance against Ohio State, USC came out flat and unmotivated. It did not even look like the same team. What does this say about Ohio State? I don’t even know.
By: Jonathan Hartman
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Tennessee Can Never Shake 'Coon Stereotype
Pat Summit had a surgery thats' cause kinda flew under the radar. Its Tennessee, so use your imagination.
My guess is that it flew under the news and blog radar so because the injury was beyond laughable and the coach wanted to avoid the obvious headlines.
Tennessee basketball coach Pat Summitt had the shoulder surgery because of a run-in she had with a raccoon.
The winningest basketball coach in NCAA history had problems with her right shoulder after dislocating it while defending her dog as a raccoon was poised to attack.
This happened all the way back in March, just a few days before the SEC tournament.
Summitt had arthroscopic surgery Thursday in Knoxville.
Smokey doesn't mind a 'coon though.
My guess is that it flew under the news and blog radar so because the injury was beyond laughable and the coach wanted to avoid the obvious headlines.
Tennessee basketball coach Pat Summitt had the shoulder surgery because of a run-in she had with a raccoon.
The winningest basketball coach in NCAA history had problems with her right shoulder after dislocating it while defending her dog as a raccoon was poised to attack.
This happened all the way back in March, just a few days before the SEC tournament.
Summitt had arthroscopic surgery Thursday in Knoxville.
Smokey doesn't mind a 'coon though.
By: Jimmy Smith
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Now the Lions can win the Super Bowl
Matt Millen is out in Detroit.
The oft-scorned Lions team president and chief executive officer has left the position, his wife told ESPN's Chris Mortensen.
The Lions are 31-84 under Millen. But until this point, the Lions have not listened to the demands from fans that wanted Millen out of town.
Have the Lions' fans used all their energy getting rid of Millen that they won't give the new guy a chance. Its Detroit, so the answer is:
Millen let the boxes do the talking.
By: Jimmy Smith
The oft-scorned Lions team president and chief executive officer has left the position, his wife told ESPN's Chris Mortensen.
The Lions are 31-84 under Millen. But until this point, the Lions have not listened to the demands from fans that wanted Millen out of town.
Have the Lions' fans used all their energy getting rid of Millen that they won't give the new guy a chance. Its Detroit, so the answer is:
Millen let the boxes do the talking.
By: Jimmy Smith
Braves for hire
Thanks to the guys over at braveslaunchpad.com
“The plan had the Braves forfeiting all but two games to Philadelphia while doing everything in their power to stop, in particular, the late season insurgence of the New York Mets.
Investigations heated up after the Braves won their last two series with the Mets in a week that saw the Phillies finalize a 9-0 sweep of the Braves at Turner Field.”
Funny post by the boys. My only question is do the Braves think the Falcons are so bad that they need take a bribe for Eagles tickets and cheese steaks?
After actually thinking about it, yeah they do.
By: Jimmy Smith
“The plan had the Braves forfeiting all but two games to Philadelphia while doing everything in their power to stop, in particular, the late season insurgence of the New York Mets.
Investigations heated up after the Braves won their last two series with the Mets in a week that saw the Phillies finalize a 9-0 sweep of the Braves at Turner Field.”
Funny post by the boys. My only question is do the Braves think the Falcons are so bad that they need take a bribe for Eagles tickets and cheese steaks?
After actually thinking about it, yeah they do.
By: Jimmy Smith
For the Browns, its an easy Ten-Step program
Step One: Draft “Future QB”
Step Two: Start schmuck QB
Step Three: Get Lucky
Step Four: Pay schmuck to star status
Step Five: “Star” gets hurt
Step Six: “Star” sucks and so does team
Step Seven: Tease fans with a chance that “Future QB” could play
Step Eight: Don’t play him
Step Nine: Lose all hope
Step Ten: Repeat
By: Jimmy Smith
Step Two: Start schmuck QB
Step Three: Get Lucky
Step Four: Pay schmuck to star status
Step Five: “Star” gets hurt
Step Six: “Star” sucks and so does team
Step Seven: Tease fans with a chance that “Future QB” could play
Step Eight: Don’t play him
Step Nine: Lose all hope
Step Ten: Repeat
By: Jimmy Smith
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Weekly Top 4 "T"s
Tuesday starts with T, you know what else starts with T…
1. Texas Tech Speed Dating
Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach was asked for dating advice from a TTU freshman. And candidly, he helped a brother out.
The only quote you need to remember:
“And then, if it’s a huge night and you’re really having a good time, then you can trade computer schemes. And emails and all that mischief people are up to nowadays which I know nothing about.”
2. Trent Green and the football field, friends again
After going 0-3 to start the season, the St. Louis Rams have benched quarterback Mark Bulger. Trent Green will start on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.
He just got feeling back in his hands. So we will see about this. After all, only the stars in the NFL are getting hurt.
3. The Girl Next… to the Eagles Wide receiver
Girl Next Door Two Dollar Whore, Kendra Wilkinson, addressed her relationship with Eagles receiver Hank Baskett. She said that she and Hank are just friends and are not engaged… using Myspace.com like normal attention whores.
And I quote:
“hiiiiii just wanna let yall know that i am not engaged! if i was id be very happy though n i wouldnt hide it..hahahahaha!!!!! rumors are sooooooooo fuckin funny. yaa trickk yaaaaaa lololol!! Love is a beautiful thing n i think the world needs more of it. lol..”
4. Toot toot, blah blah, Brady Quinn
John Clayton hates it when Josh Elliot calls during “me time.”
Asking about Derek Anderson makes me gassy too.
By: Jimmy Smith
1. Texas Tech Speed Dating
Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach was asked for dating advice from a TTU freshman. And candidly, he helped a brother out.
The only quote you need to remember:
“And then, if it’s a huge night and you’re really having a good time, then you can trade computer schemes. And emails and all that mischief people are up to nowadays which I know nothing about.”
2. Trent Green and the football field, friends again
After going 0-3 to start the season, the St. Louis Rams have benched quarterback Mark Bulger. Trent Green will start on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.
He just got feeling back in his hands. So we will see about this. After all, only the stars in the NFL are getting hurt.
3. The Girl Next… to the Eagles Wide receiver
Girl Next Door Two Dollar Whore, Kendra Wilkinson, addressed her relationship with Eagles receiver Hank Baskett. She said that she and Hank are just friends and are not engaged… using Myspace.com like normal attention whores.
And I quote:
“hiiiiii just wanna let yall know that i am not engaged! if i was id be very happy though n i wouldnt hide it..hahahahaha!!!!! rumors are sooooooooo fuckin funny. yaa trickk yaaaaaa lololol!! Love is a beautiful thing n i think the world needs more of it. lol..”
4. Toot toot, blah blah, Brady Quinn
John Clayton hates it when Josh Elliot calls during “me time.”
Thank god for “Live” SportsCenters.
Brady Quinn is lurking, but that’s not all that is lurking.
Brady Quinn is lurking, but that’s not all that is lurking.
Asking about Derek Anderson makes me gassy too.
By: Jimmy Smith
Saturday, September 20, 2008
NFL Week 3 Fantasy Start 'em/ Sit 'em
Jonathan Hartman
Start ‘em
Brett Favre QB- NYJ (vs. SD) – Favre called this weeks game against San Diego a must win. It’s debatable if that’s true, but either way that’s encouraging for fantasy stats. Not to mention, San Diego’s secondary has given up 247 and 350 passing yards in weeks one and two. Add in the questionable status of LaDainian Tomlinson and the referee debacle from last week, and everything is in place for a Favre blowout game.
Sit ‘em
John Kitna QB- DET (vs. SF) – It’s been a long first two weeks for Kitna, and week three doesn’t look much better. Nothing has been clicking for the Lion’s passing game, and it probably won’t start against a 49ers’ defense that held Matt Hasselbeck to 189 passing yards last Sunday. Look for San Francisco to win big at home.
Jimmy Smith
Start ‘em
Julius Jones RB- SEA (vs STL) – New face in a new place. The Seahawks passing game is that bad. The additions of Keary Colbert and Koren Robinson help, but not all that much. But the Rams’ secondary is Swiss and should allow Matt Hasselbeck a chance to carve them up, which in turn, will allow Jones some space. He ran for 127 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries against the 49ers.
Sit ‘em
Both Cincinnati’s primary receivers (vs. NYG) – Carson Palmer has had an atrocious start to the 08 campaign. That along with his shoulder last week against the Titans makes for slim pickins’ for Ocho Cinco and Ocho Quatro. Granted Tennessee and Baltimore are good defensive units, Palmer and he receivers have never been on the same page from day one. And the Giants are no pushovers either.
Start ‘em
Brett Favre QB- NYJ (vs. SD) – Favre called this weeks game against San Diego a must win. It’s debatable if that’s true, but either way that’s encouraging for fantasy stats. Not to mention, San Diego’s secondary has given up 247 and 350 passing yards in weeks one and two. Add in the questionable status of LaDainian Tomlinson and the referee debacle from last week, and everything is in place for a Favre blowout game.
Sit ‘em
John Kitna QB- DET (vs. SF) – It’s been a long first two weeks for Kitna, and week three doesn’t look much better. Nothing has been clicking for the Lion’s passing game, and it probably won’t start against a 49ers’ defense that held Matt Hasselbeck to 189 passing yards last Sunday. Look for San Francisco to win big at home.
Jimmy Smith
Start ‘em
Julius Jones RB- SEA (vs STL) – New face in a new place. The Seahawks passing game is that bad. The additions of Keary Colbert and Koren Robinson help, but not all that much. But the Rams’ secondary is Swiss and should allow Matt Hasselbeck a chance to carve them up, which in turn, will allow Jones some space. He ran for 127 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries against the 49ers.
Sit ‘em
Both Cincinnati’s primary receivers (vs. NYG) – Carson Palmer has had an atrocious start to the 08 campaign. That along with his shoulder last week against the Titans makes for slim pickins’ for Ocho Cinco and Ocho Quatro. Granted Tennessee and Baltimore are good defensive units, Palmer and he receivers have never been on the same page from day one. And the Giants are no pushovers either.
Friday, September 19, 2008
A House Divided
# 4 Florida vs. Tennessee
Saturday
3:30 CBS
I hate Florida. Ok, now its out in the open.
I grew up in Nashville so I am a big fan of Tennessee (and a fair weather fan of Vandy. Hey just being honest)
This is a big game for the Vols because Phil Fulmer's job SHOULD hang in the balance this season.
Not all that much should be put on this game. UT hopes should not be too high after that embarrassing loss to UCLA. Although, Arian Foster is an exciting and steady source of rushing yards and new QB Jonathan Crompton has a huge upside.
So UT shouldn't be seeking a win this weekend. But scaring the Gators is always a great thing.
My girlfriend is the Gators' fan. It makes zero sense because she can't name a single player that has ever played for Florida...ever. I think its a spite thing. All I know is that she likes to do that damn "gator chomp." She uses my agony as a cue for the chomping.
I know that the secondary of the Vols is pretty good. Eric Berry is a premier DB in college football and Rico McCoy is an underrated linebacker in that run stopping core.
But how do the Vols matchup against their most bitter rival, the Gay-tors.
Saturday
3:30 CBS
I hate Florida. Ok, now its out in the open.
I grew up in Nashville so I am a big fan of Tennessee (and a fair weather fan of Vandy. Hey just being honest)
This is a big game for the Vols because Phil Fulmer's job SHOULD hang in the balance this season.
Not all that much should be put on this game. UT hopes should not be too high after that embarrassing loss to UCLA. Although, Arian Foster is an exciting and steady source of rushing yards and new QB Jonathan Crompton has a huge upside.
So UT shouldn't be seeking a win this weekend. But scaring the Gators is always a great thing.
My girlfriend is the Gators' fan. It makes zero sense because she can't name a single player that has ever played for Florida...ever. I think its a spite thing. All I know is that she likes to do that damn "gator chomp." She uses my agony as a cue for the chomping.
I know that the secondary of the Vols is pretty good. Eric Berry is a premier DB in college football and Rico McCoy is an underrated linebacker in that run stopping core.
I am just worried about the offense other than the running game of Foster and Hardesty. Time to prove yourself Crompton.
But how do the Vols matchup against their most bitter rival, the Gay-tors.
By: Jimmy Smith
What Do You Think Wade?
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Florida Gators at Tennessee Volunteers
Florida Gators at Tennessee Volunteers
Saturday, September 20th
3:30 p.m.(CBS)
Knoxville, Tennessee(Neyland Stadium)
Quarterback Tim Tebow and the fourth-ranked Florida Gators travel this Saturday to Knoxville, Tenn. to square off against Arian Foster and the Tennessee Volunteers in a heated SEC showdown.
Florida quarterback Tim Tebow will look to lay some punishing hits on Tennessee defenders this Saturday in Neyland Stadium!
The Gators are coming off a bye week and it couldn't have come at a better time, because it gave them an extra week to allow game-breaker Percy Harvin to rest his heel. Sure, he played against Miami on September 6th, but he only touched the ball six times. It's going to be interesting in this match up to see if Harvin will finally be 100 percent after it's taken him longer than expected to recover from off-season heel surgery on his right heel.
The Virginia native spoke to the media earlier this week and sounds like he's licking his chops: "Coach just came to me and said he's ready to cut me loose." That's bad news for the Volunteer defense. Urban Meyer is excellent at getting his do-it-all playmaker the football in a variety of formations and plays. Look for Harvin to receive the ball on a variety of end-arounds, jet sweeps, and zone read handoffs .
These type of plays allow the speedster to cut on the burners and turn the corner against opposing defenses. Perhaps no other receiver in college football besides Missouri's Jeremy Maclin is a greater all-purpose threat on the football field than Harvin. Last season he racked up over 1,600 all-purpose yards for the Gators and 10 touchdowns on the bad heel.
Imagine what kind of numbers he can put up if he's 100 percent for a change, which he claims he hasn't been since his heel bothered him in high school. Look for him to get more than 15-20 touches on Saturday in a variety of ways.
While the Gators are excited to have Percy Harvin back to full health, that's not to say they don't have a variety of offensive weapons at their disposal. Senior receiver Louis Murphy is an emerging big play threat who has posted dizzying numbers this year for the Gators' offense. He's already hauled in 6 passes for 128 yards and 2 touchdowns, averaging over 21 yards per catch. Those are video game numbers, folks!
Then there's yet another all-purpose threat, receiver/punt returner/kick returner Brandon James, who also happens to be one of the most dangerous return men in all of college football. So far this season, James has 7 punt returns for 144 yards, averaging over 20 yards per return. He already has a 74 yard punt return for a touchdown. As dangerous he is as a punt returner, he's arguably even more dangerous on kick returns- he has 3 returns for 82 yards-a blistering 27.3 average per return. Make no mistake about it, James is definitely a man the Vols want to keep an eye on.
Urban Meyer is excellent about getting his playmakers touches and James also has 5 catches on the season and is the Gators' second-leading receiver thus far. He will be all over the place so the Volunteer defense might get sick of seeing him on the field, but if they want a chance at winning this one, they must limit James' big plays.
Running back Jeff Demps is yet another burner the Volunteer defense must worry about. He ran the 100-meter dash at an eye-gouging 10.01 seconds in high school and like many of other Florida's players, he can hurt opponents with his lethal dose of speed.
Running back Chris Rainey is yet another weapon to watch out for on the offensive side of the ball for the Gators. Rainey is in the mold of a Reggie Bush, in that he's blessed with scintillating speed and jaw dropping jukes in the open field that allow him to leave defenders in his wake with ease. He's averaging over 7 yards per rushing attempt this season and has one touchdown. Look for a breakout year this season from Rainey. As long as he gets the touches, the sky is the limit.
Last, but not least on the Florida offense is junior quarterback Tim Tebow, the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner that ESPN just won't stop talking about. Tebow is one of the finest players in all of college football, because of his ability to bruise through defenders and run between the tackles with such tenacity and force, it is almost unbelievable.
The man is a living legend on the gridiron, because his superhuman strength allows him to play through almost any injury, break any tackle, and carry a variety of defenders on any given play. He's already thrown for nearly 400 yards through the air this season, while completing over 60 percent of his passes and 3 touchdowns, with no interceptions.
He's also currently the Gators' leading rusher, gaining 92 yards on the ground so far on 22 attempts. Tebow's body was smashed and jostled around more than you could believe last season and head coach Urban Meyer has said that he will limit Tebow's running opportunities this season to keep his star fresh. If there is one man you will be seeing a lot of, and by that I mean a ridiculous amount of on Saturday, it's number 15, Tim Tebow. As he goes, so does the entire Florida Gators' offense. He is the engine, he is the catalyst. Without him, the entire operation wouldn't be nearly as successful.
On defense, if the Volunteers wish to slow the Florida Gators' offensive arsenal of weapons, then they must look to the defensive line and linebackers to create a push in the backfield and disrupt the offense. If they allow playmakers like Harvin to turn the corner uncontested, it won't be a pretty sight for Volunteer fans.
Linebacker Ellix Wilson currently leads the Vols' defense in tackles and they are going to need a huge day from him on Saturday if they wish to have a chance against UF. He's been all over the place for the Volunteer defense this season, racking up 19 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and 1 interception. Another playmaker for Tennessee is sophomore sensation of a cornerback Eric Berry. The kid was one of the most highly rated high school recruits in the country last season and he hasn't disappointed a bit. He is currently tied for the team lead in interceptions(2) and is second on the team in tackles(10). Trust me, Eric Berry is a man that Tim Tebow and the Florida Gators' must be aware of at all times on Saturday or he will make them pay and pay dearly. He'll be helped by senior defensive back DeAngelo Willingham who also has two picks for the season.
Another man who is super talented as long as he keeps his head on straight is safety Demetrice Morley. He posted a phenomenal sophomore season for the Volunteers but left school after the 2006 season due to academic issues. He could definitely be a factor on Saturday. Linebacker Rico McCoy is another man to watch on the Volunteers' defense, he's fourth on the defense in tackles(8) and was a second-team All-SEC selection last year. If the Tennessee defense wants any chance of stopping Tim Tebow, they must not allow him to have a day like UCLA's Kevin Craft did. The Volunteer secondary allowed the Bruins' clearly rattled third string quarterback to throw for over 250 yards against them. Those numbers won't be acceptable on Saturday.
On offense, the Tennessee Volunteers offense is centered around running backs Arian Foster, Montario Hardesty, and Lennon Creer. Foster has 25 attempts for 196 yards on the ground this year, while Hardesty and Creer have combined for over 180 yards and 5 touchdowns between them.
The Vols' senior quarterback Jonathan Crompton is dripping with jaw-dropping potential, but he's unfortunately never had the work ethic to realize it. The kid is oozing with talent, but it remains to be seen if he can post the kind of numbers that he's capable of. This season he's completed over 52 percent of his passes for 429 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. Those numbers are less than impressive for a kid who was touted as one of the nation's top quarterbacks out of the state of North Carolina in high school.
Crompton's favorite target is senior receiver Lucas Taylor, who leads the team in catches(12) and receiving yards(169). Another man he'll be looking for is sophomore Gerald Jones, who has hauled in seven passes for 79 yards this season and two touchdowns. Jones is a dynamic playmaker in the open field and the Volunteers will also utilize his speed on kickoff and punt returns. He's averaging 38 yards per return on kickoffs and 19.5 on punt returns. The Gators' will definitely be keeping an eye on the Vols' version of Brandon James.
On defense for the Florida Gators, their undisputed leader is junior linebacker Brandon Spikes. He is currently tied for the team lead in tackles(11) and has 1.5 tackles for loss. He's one of the best linebackers college football has to offer and it will be a treat to watch him on Saturday. Lookout for number 51. Junior defensive end Jermaine Cunningham has come on strong as of late for the Gator defense, he is tied for the team lead in tackles(11), has racked up 2.5 sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 1 forced fumble already! Defensive back Joe Haden will look to cause problems for Crompton once he attacks the air, he already has 8 tackles and 1 fumble recovery on the season. Ahmad Black is a sophomore safety who has stepped up big for the Gator defense early, picking off two passes this season. Sophomore defensive lineman Carlos Dunlap was one of the most highly touted members of Florida's recruiting class a few years ago and I'd look for him to have a big season as the year progresses. This Florida defense has looked extremely sharp in their first two games, only allowing 13 points total in two games.
Tennessee defensive back Eric Berry shows off his vertical leap as he goes to breakup a pass against a Florida receiver. The stud sophomore is one of the best cover corners in college football.
Final analysis: Quarterback Jonathan Crompton has all the potential in the world. If he ever played up to his potential, it would be a thing of beauty. He's struggled early on this season and I can't see him performing any better against a stiff Gator defense that's only allowed 13 points so far this season. The Vols' strength lies in their running game, which is ranked in the top 20th in the country, racking up over 221 yards per game. The Gators' defense has only allowed a stifling 60.5 yards per game on the ground. The match up of this game will likely be won and lost in that area. Tennessee's offensive line must be able to move the pile and help the Vols running backs find space against the Gators.
I can't see the Tennessee defense stopping Tim Tebow and the Gators high-powered attack, although Miami did an excellent job for three quarters last week. Percy Harvin will be a difference maker that will cause problems all day long for the Vols. If he says he is ready to be unleashed, I'd be very afraid if I was a Volunteer fan. Percy Harvin at full speed is flat out unstoppable and the Vols will find out on Saturday. Their only chance to stay in this one is to force some interceptions from Tebow with their ball-hawking secondary, which has 7 interceptions already.
I think Tennessee stays in this one for a half until Florida pulls away in the second half. Speed, speed, and more speed. Florida has it all over the place and on Saturday it will be in full display. A healthy Percy Harvin is simply lethal for opposing teams.
The pick
Florida 31 Tennessee 17
By Wade Peery
Check out more from Wade at http://www.associatedcontent.com
Saturday, September 20th
3:30 p.m.(CBS)
Knoxville, Tennessee(Neyland Stadium)
Quarterback Tim Tebow and the fourth-ranked Florida Gators travel this Saturday to Knoxville, Tenn. to square off against Arian Foster and the Tennessee Volunteers in a heated SEC showdown.
Florida quarterback Tim Tebow will look to lay some punishing hits on Tennessee defenders this Saturday in Neyland Stadium!
The Gators are coming off a bye week and it couldn't have come at a better time, because it gave them an extra week to allow game-breaker Percy Harvin to rest his heel. Sure, he played against Miami on September 6th, but he only touched the ball six times. It's going to be interesting in this match up to see if Harvin will finally be 100 percent after it's taken him longer than expected to recover from off-season heel surgery on his right heel.
The Virginia native spoke to the media earlier this week and sounds like he's licking his chops: "Coach just came to me and said he's ready to cut me loose." That's bad news for the Volunteer defense. Urban Meyer is excellent at getting his do-it-all playmaker the football in a variety of formations and plays. Look for Harvin to receive the ball on a variety of end-arounds, jet sweeps, and zone read handoffs .
These type of plays allow the speedster to cut on the burners and turn the corner against opposing defenses. Perhaps no other receiver in college football besides Missouri's Jeremy Maclin is a greater all-purpose threat on the football field than Harvin. Last season he racked up over 1,600 all-purpose yards for the Gators and 10 touchdowns on the bad heel.
Imagine what kind of numbers he can put up if he's 100 percent for a change, which he claims he hasn't been since his heel bothered him in high school. Look for him to get more than 15-20 touches on Saturday in a variety of ways.
While the Gators are excited to have Percy Harvin back to full health, that's not to say they don't have a variety of offensive weapons at their disposal. Senior receiver Louis Murphy is an emerging big play threat who has posted dizzying numbers this year for the Gators' offense. He's already hauled in 6 passes for 128 yards and 2 touchdowns, averaging over 21 yards per catch. Those are video game numbers, folks!
Then there's yet another all-purpose threat, receiver/punt returner/kick returner Brandon James, who also happens to be one of the most dangerous return men in all of college football. So far this season, James has 7 punt returns for 144 yards, averaging over 20 yards per return. He already has a 74 yard punt return for a touchdown. As dangerous he is as a punt returner, he's arguably even more dangerous on kick returns- he has 3 returns for 82 yards-a blistering 27.3 average per return. Make no mistake about it, James is definitely a man the Vols want to keep an eye on.
Urban Meyer is excellent about getting his playmakers touches and James also has 5 catches on the season and is the Gators' second-leading receiver thus far. He will be all over the place so the Volunteer defense might get sick of seeing him on the field, but if they want a chance at winning this one, they must limit James' big plays.
Running back Jeff Demps is yet another burner the Volunteer defense must worry about. He ran the 100-meter dash at an eye-gouging 10.01 seconds in high school and like many of other Florida's players, he can hurt opponents with his lethal dose of speed.
Running back Chris Rainey is yet another weapon to watch out for on the offensive side of the ball for the Gators. Rainey is in the mold of a Reggie Bush, in that he's blessed with scintillating speed and jaw dropping jukes in the open field that allow him to leave defenders in his wake with ease. He's averaging over 7 yards per rushing attempt this season and has one touchdown. Look for a breakout year this season from Rainey. As long as he gets the touches, the sky is the limit.
Last, but not least on the Florida offense is junior quarterback Tim Tebow, the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner that ESPN just won't stop talking about. Tebow is one of the finest players in all of college football, because of his ability to bruise through defenders and run between the tackles with such tenacity and force, it is almost unbelievable.
The man is a living legend on the gridiron, because his superhuman strength allows him to play through almost any injury, break any tackle, and carry a variety of defenders on any given play. He's already thrown for nearly 400 yards through the air this season, while completing over 60 percent of his passes and 3 touchdowns, with no interceptions.
He's also currently the Gators' leading rusher, gaining 92 yards on the ground so far on 22 attempts. Tebow's body was smashed and jostled around more than you could believe last season and head coach Urban Meyer has said that he will limit Tebow's running opportunities this season to keep his star fresh. If there is one man you will be seeing a lot of, and by that I mean a ridiculous amount of on Saturday, it's number 15, Tim Tebow. As he goes, so does the entire Florida Gators' offense. He is the engine, he is the catalyst. Without him, the entire operation wouldn't be nearly as successful.
On defense, if the Volunteers wish to slow the Florida Gators' offensive arsenal of weapons, then they must look to the defensive line and linebackers to create a push in the backfield and disrupt the offense. If they allow playmakers like Harvin to turn the corner uncontested, it won't be a pretty sight for Volunteer fans.
Linebacker Ellix Wilson currently leads the Vols' defense in tackles and they are going to need a huge day from him on Saturday if they wish to have a chance against UF. He's been all over the place for the Volunteer defense this season, racking up 19 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and 1 interception. Another playmaker for Tennessee is sophomore sensation of a cornerback Eric Berry. The kid was one of the most highly rated high school recruits in the country last season and he hasn't disappointed a bit. He is currently tied for the team lead in interceptions(2) and is second on the team in tackles(10). Trust me, Eric Berry is a man that Tim Tebow and the Florida Gators' must be aware of at all times on Saturday or he will make them pay and pay dearly. He'll be helped by senior defensive back DeAngelo Willingham who also has two picks for the season.
Another man who is super talented as long as he keeps his head on straight is safety Demetrice Morley. He posted a phenomenal sophomore season for the Volunteers but left school after the 2006 season due to academic issues. He could definitely be a factor on Saturday. Linebacker Rico McCoy is another man to watch on the Volunteers' defense, he's fourth on the defense in tackles(8) and was a second-team All-SEC selection last year. If the Tennessee defense wants any chance of stopping Tim Tebow, they must not allow him to have a day like UCLA's Kevin Craft did. The Volunteer secondary allowed the Bruins' clearly rattled third string quarterback to throw for over 250 yards against them. Those numbers won't be acceptable on Saturday.
On offense, the Tennessee Volunteers offense is centered around running backs Arian Foster, Montario Hardesty, and Lennon Creer. Foster has 25 attempts for 196 yards on the ground this year, while Hardesty and Creer have combined for over 180 yards and 5 touchdowns between them.
The Vols' senior quarterback Jonathan Crompton is dripping with jaw-dropping potential, but he's unfortunately never had the work ethic to realize it. The kid is oozing with talent, but it remains to be seen if he can post the kind of numbers that he's capable of. This season he's completed over 52 percent of his passes for 429 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. Those numbers are less than impressive for a kid who was touted as one of the nation's top quarterbacks out of the state of North Carolina in high school.
Crompton's favorite target is senior receiver Lucas Taylor, who leads the team in catches(12) and receiving yards(169). Another man he'll be looking for is sophomore Gerald Jones, who has hauled in seven passes for 79 yards this season and two touchdowns. Jones is a dynamic playmaker in the open field and the Volunteers will also utilize his speed on kickoff and punt returns. He's averaging 38 yards per return on kickoffs and 19.5 on punt returns. The Gators' will definitely be keeping an eye on the Vols' version of Brandon James.
On defense for the Florida Gators, their undisputed leader is junior linebacker Brandon Spikes. He is currently tied for the team lead in tackles(11) and has 1.5 tackles for loss. He's one of the best linebackers college football has to offer and it will be a treat to watch him on Saturday. Lookout for number 51. Junior defensive end Jermaine Cunningham has come on strong as of late for the Gator defense, he is tied for the team lead in tackles(11), has racked up 2.5 sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 1 forced fumble already! Defensive back Joe Haden will look to cause problems for Crompton once he attacks the air, he already has 8 tackles and 1 fumble recovery on the season. Ahmad Black is a sophomore safety who has stepped up big for the Gator defense early, picking off two passes this season. Sophomore defensive lineman Carlos Dunlap was one of the most highly touted members of Florida's recruiting class a few years ago and I'd look for him to have a big season as the year progresses. This Florida defense has looked extremely sharp in their first two games, only allowing 13 points total in two games.
Tennessee defensive back Eric Berry shows off his vertical leap as he goes to breakup a pass against a Florida receiver. The stud sophomore is one of the best cover corners in college football.
Final analysis: Quarterback Jonathan Crompton has all the potential in the world. If he ever played up to his potential, it would be a thing of beauty. He's struggled early on this season and I can't see him performing any better against a stiff Gator defense that's only allowed 13 points so far this season. The Vols' strength lies in their running game, which is ranked in the top 20th in the country, racking up over 221 yards per game. The Gators' defense has only allowed a stifling 60.5 yards per game on the ground. The match up of this game will likely be won and lost in that area. Tennessee's offensive line must be able to move the pile and help the Vols running backs find space against the Gators.
I can't see the Tennessee defense stopping Tim Tebow and the Gators high-powered attack, although Miami did an excellent job for three quarters last week. Percy Harvin will be a difference maker that will cause problems all day long for the Vols. If he says he is ready to be unleashed, I'd be very afraid if I was a Volunteer fan. Percy Harvin at full speed is flat out unstoppable and the Vols will find out on Saturday. Their only chance to stay in this one is to force some interceptions from Tebow with their ball-hawking secondary, which has 7 interceptions already.
I think Tennessee stays in this one for a half until Florida pulls away in the second half. Speed, speed, and more speed. Florida has it all over the place and on Saturday it will be in full display. A healthy Percy Harvin is simply lethal for opposing teams.
The pick
Florida 31 Tennessee 17
By Wade Peery
Check out more from Wade at http://www.associatedcontent.com
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Week 4 Thursday Night Spotlight
Photo Courtesy of Colorado Athletics Department
Week 4 Thursday Night Spotlight
Thursday September 18th, 8:30 p.m. EST (ESPN)
(21) West Virginia Mountaineers at Colorado Buffaloes
Last week, the Mountaineers and Pat White simply got it handed to them by Patrick Pinkney and the ECU Pirates, 23-3. It was a display that has come all too familiar for West Virginia football fans—their team failing to live up to their lofty preseason expectations. Their running back of a quarterback Pat White is surely one of the most overhyped players in college football. Don’t get me wrong he’s fun to watch run in the open field and he’s ultra-elusive, but the guy simply cannot attack the football field through the air. He’s a playmaker, but he will never be as good of a passer as he is a runner. West Virginia has to put passes in the playbook to try and keep defenses honest, but any good defensive coordinator with the right personnel will be able to shut White down(he only had 72 passing yards against ECU).
This Thursday night matchup should figure to be one of this weekend’s most entertaining games. The biggest match-up to watch in this game will be whether or not West Virginia can run the ball against a stiff Colorado defense that has only allowed 59 yards per game over their first two contests. The Buffaloes’ front seven features one of the most talented defensive linemen in college football, defensive tackle George Hypolite. He led the Buffaloes’ defense last season with six sacks and I’d look for him to cause problems for Pat White and company. Look for him to get after the quarterback early and often. Another Colorado player you should watch for is linebacker Jeff Smart, who leads the team with 20 tackles this season. Defensive backs Ryan Walters and Cha’pelle Brown will roam the secondary for the Buffs. Brown led the Buffs defense in pass breakups last season.
On offense, the centerpiece of the Buffaloes offense is without question their gifted signal-caller, Cody Hawkins, who is the son of head coach Dan Hawkins. When Cody was first named the starting quarterback at CU, I was suspicious and figured he was just getting the job because he was the coaches’ son. He turned out to prove me wrong in a big way last season, tossing for over 2,600 yards through the air while completing over 56 percent of his passes during the 2007-2008 season. He’s posted stellar numbers early in the 2008 campaign, completing 71.6 percent of his passes for 475 yards, four TDs, and two INTs.
His favorite target is receiver Scotty McKnight, who leads the team with 11 catches for 157 yards and 1 touchdown. Another dangerous receiver for the Buffaloes is Mr. All-Purpose himself, Josh Smith. The sophomore is a big-play threat for Colorado on special teams. He’s averaged 50 yards per return on kickoffs this season and has already taken one the distance. The California native also has averaged 19 yards per punt return, extremely impressive numbers to say the least.
The Buffaloes' backfield features one of the most hyped recruits of the 2008 college football season, freshman running back Darrell Scott from Ventura, California. The stud tailback chewed up over 3,000 yards during his junior season and was a nightmare for opposing defenses to tackle throughout his entire high school career. The freshman phenom already has 24 attempts on the ground for 93 yards and a touchdown. He has also hauled in three passes for 33 yards, averaging 11 yards per catch. The Buffs’ ground game has struggled this season and their offensive line must open up holes if the Buffaloes wish to have balance in their offense. Rodney Stewart and Demetrius Sumler will also be toting the mail for the Buffaloes. Sumler rushed for over 300 yards last season.
The Buffaloes ground attack has struggled this year, only averaging 3.5 yards per carry so it will be interesting to see if the offensive line can start clearing some holes for their talented running backs.
If the Mountaineers want to stop the Buffaloes’ offense, they will look to their top three tacklers, safety Quinton Andrews, linebacker J.T. Thomas, and linebacker Mortty Ivy. Ivy is the Mountaineers’ do-it-all playmaker on defense, and moved to strong side linebacker in the spring.
This year he has been at it again, posting eye-popping numbers through the first two games, 14 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 interception that he returned 30 yards for a touchdown. Andrews is currently tied for the team lead in tackles with 16 with J.T. Thomas.
Thomas has also blocked a kick and has racked up 2.5 sacks on the season.
Speaking of talented running backs, by far the most talented running back in this game is senior quarterback Patrick White of West Virginia. Sure, he’s not a conventional running back because he is listed as a quarterback, but make no mistake about it folks, White is a burner in the open field and can take it the distance on any given occasion. His speed in the open field makes him very difficult to defend and he is a master of the “zone-read” option. While his speed is his greatest asset, it’s also arguably his only asset. He has struggled mightily when teams force him to throw the football down the field, because he simply lacks accuracy and touch on his throws. As big of a playmaker he is, White has also had the tendency to fumble the ball in big games—he had two fumbles against ECU. One of those was one of the more bizarre fumbles ever—White dove out of bounds, placed the ball in bounds before he landed, and the ball just stopped completely. Of course, ECU recovered and it was a crucial turning point in that football game. If West Virginia wants to win this game, Pat White must take care of his “ball security” issues, in the words of Jay Bilas.
White’s running mate is arguably more dangerous in the open field, because of his uncanny acceleration. His name is Noel Devine, a sophomore who was a YouTube sensation well before he set foot on the West Virginia campus because of his electrifying runs in high school. Devine already has rattled off 141 yards on the ground, averaging a dizzying 6.7 yards per carry this season. Devine is what makes the zone-read at West Virginia a nearly unstoppable staple in the Mountaineers offense. He will help to keep defenses honest and from just keying in on Pat White.
Devine is also a threat on the Mountaineers’ kick return unit, which Colorado will have to be aware of. Also, look for Pat White to get the ball in the hands of running back Jock Sanders, who is WVU’s leading receiver with 11 catches and two touchdowns.
Before the season there were talks of opening up the offense for Pat White to throw more passes down the field and I think that would be a huge mistake. The Mountaineers need to keep their playbook to the simple passes that Pat White is comfortable with, like the bubble screen. Asking him to throw more passes down the field is to ask him to flirt with the weakest part of his game and that could mean interceptions for the Mountaineers. If West Virginia wants to win, it should stick to the option and the zone-read, because the combination of defending Pat White and Noel Devine in the same backfield as running threats is near unstoppable. West Virginia just needs to ask itself: Why would we change something that has been so successful for us over the years? If West Virginia does just that, they have as good of a chance as having two 1,000 yard rushers at season’s end as anybody in the country.
Final analysis: This is a huge game for both teams, I think it’s bigger for West Virginia because they have already been embarrassed once on a national stage this season. The ECU loss was a crushing blow to a program with unrealistically high hopes this season. Colorado is announcing this game as a “blackout” game in which fans are encouraged to wear black, so this atmosphere will be rowdy and hostile. Under the lights on ESPN, it is a great opportunity for both teams to capture college football fans’ attention.
I think Pat White and Noel Devine will definitely put up some points on Colorado, which allowed 24 points to quarterback Matt Nichols and Eastern Washington. Although, it must be noted that Eastern Washington could also sling the rock through the air(Nichols threw for over 3,700 yards in 2007-2008); it’s been well documented in this article that White has struggled with that.
On the other hand, Colorado allowed running back Gartrell Johnson of Colorado State to rush for 95 yards against them. Sure he's not as good as Pat White or Noel Devine, but he's pretty darn good. It will be tough for the Buffaloes to stop two of the best running backs college football has to offer. I think Pat White and Noel Devine rush for over 100 yards a piece, but it won’t be enough because Colorado will continue to ride the hot hand of quarterback Cody Hawkins to victory. This will be the game in which the nation is introduced to Darrell Scott, a running back phenom who is sure to terrorize opposing defenses in the Big 12 as soon as his offensive line blocks for him. Colorado wins this one in a classic.
The pick: Colorado 28 West Virginia 24
By: Wade Peery
Check out more from Wade at http://thegreatentertainer.blogspot.com
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Weekly Top 4 "T"s
Tuesday starts with T, you know what else starts with T…
1. Tarvaris Jackson...
1. Tarvaris Jackson...
Isn't all that good. Coach Brad Childress is no longer locked into Tarvaris Jackson as his starting quarterback. Backup Gus Frerotte also will be considered.
Or even John David Booty?
2. Tallest Basketball player
Kenny George, who suits it up for UNC-Asheville and averaged 12.4 points and 7 boards while leading the nation with a 69.6% shooting percentage last year, won’t be playing this year.
And now, after a second foot surgery this off season, the AP says, he might be out for the season.
Or even John David Booty?
2. Tallest Basketball player
Kenny George, who suits it up for UNC-Asheville and averaged 12.4 points and 7 boards while leading the nation with a 69.6% shooting percentage last year, won’t be playing this year.
And now, after a second foot surgery this off season, the AP says, he might be out for the season.
Some facts on George, he wears a size 28 shoe, has a wingspan of 8 feet 5 inches, and can dunk without leaving the ground.
3. Tony Kornheiser knows his spanglish
Or so he thinks:
I’m not sure if people even caught this. But apparently some were offended by it.
So here was the apology:
"I said something before I shouldn't have said, I apologize for it. Not my first mistake, undoubtedly won't be my last, but a 100% apology."
4. Technology is a bitch, huh Derek
Derek Jeter would like you to only film his good side.
The Yankees’ star shortstop, who calls the camera phone “the worst invention ever,” says he has learned to accept their presence.
“Now everyone’s got it in a phone, so everywhere you go, everything you do, you’ve just got to have the philosophy or the mind-set that they’re watching,” he said.
Come on Jeter, camera phones bother you. Not the fact that the Yankees suck
By: Jimmy Smith
3. Tony Kornheiser knows his spanglish
Or so he thinks:
I’m not sure if people even caught this. But apparently some were offended by it.
So here was the apology:
"I said something before I shouldn't have said, I apologize for it. Not my first mistake, undoubtedly won't be my last, but a 100% apology."
4. Technology is a bitch, huh Derek
Derek Jeter would like you to only film his good side.
The Yankees’ star shortstop, who calls the camera phone “the worst invention ever,” says he has learned to accept their presence.
“Now everyone’s got it in a phone, so everywhere you go, everything you do, you’ve just got to have the philosophy or the mind-set that they’re watching,” he said.
Come on Jeter, camera phones bother you. Not the fact that the Yankees suck
By: Jimmy Smith
Monday, September 15, 2008
The Blame Game Begins
I wanted to wait until the Buckeyes plummeted down the polls.
Eight spots down to 13. Well three points will do that to ya.
Chris Wells would have not done all that much OSU fans. Come on. You know that. Maybe the score would have been 35-10 instead of 35-3. Congrats about that by the way. At least the Buckeyes scored first.
Its safe to say, or at least ponder that Todd "too many vowels" Boeckman, is through. Leaving Terrelle Pryor the scraps. Its really too bad that he couldn't learn the ways of Boeckman. What a shame.
Boeckman averaged four yards a throw with two INTs.
There's three hours of my life that I am not getting back. At least Brent Musberger was a great MC.
Thanks to Deadspin.com for the nights entertainment as well.
OSU now (most likely) will not get a chance to defend its amazing record against SEC teams in largely important games.
By: Jimmy Smith
Week Two, man the Bengals suck
Did you hear that was Matt Cassel's first start since high school? He may be the real deal in beating the Jets. Aaron Rogers sure is with three TDs over the Lions.
Indy avoids going 0-2 and becoming a statistic. The Bills rustle up a win over the Jags.
Seattle really can’t do it without WRs. Denver “plays with house money” and wins a thriller over the Chargers who are now 0-2.
The Browns playcalling: Run (lose two yards) Run (lose one yard) Pass (gain one yard) Punt and complain
Fantasy Impact of Week Two:
QB: Aaron Rogers can be your number one QB, he has proven that. With a 328 yard and three TD performance over the Lions.
Matt Cassel, he didn’t win the game (Stephen Gostkowski did with 13 points), but he didn’t lose the game either. He is a good bye-week backup.
Jay Cutler and Philip Rivers had quite a day. Rivers for 377 yards and three TDS and Cutler for 350 yards and four TDs. But Cutler gets the heads up for the win.
RB: Chris Johnson of the Titans had another big day. 100 rushing yards but no TDs, those are left for Lendale White. I would say if Johnson is still available, its highly unlikely, then get him.
Darren McFadden ran for 164 yards against a bad defense, I would pick him up just to have him, he is not a smart start every week because of this
Larry Johnson cannot be your number one RB (12 carries for 22 yards). Seems like he wants out. Maybe to pursue another career.
Watch out for his backup Jamaal Charles.
WR: Brandon Marshall was out to prove that he can play drunk. 18 catches for 166 yards and a TD, suspension over now, back to normal.
In that same game, Eddie Royal was quiet until he caught the game winning TD and 2-point conversion.
Larry Fitzgerald isn’t all that upset in Arizona as the Cards win over the Dolphins and he catches six balls for 153 yards.
By: Jimmy Smith
Saturday, September 13, 2008
This will give Buckeyes fans hours of fun
Ok, all of us can enjoy this...
How to Argue College Football:
How to Argue College Football:
Friday, September 12, 2008
Michael Phelps… it’s a dick in a box?
Peyton Manning and Lebron James set the tone over the past year in hosting Saturday Night Live, now its time for the greatest athlete in the history of the great athletes.
Michael Phelps is set to host SNL Saturday at 11 PM ET. We will have to see about this one.
Even though the rehearsals have left Phelps "completely confident" about hosting SNL, he says he's "more nervous doing this than swimming in Beijing, I'll tell you that."
It’s SNL. Come on, if Jimmy Fallon can get paid to ruin skits by incessantly laughing for all those years. Michael my friend, you are golden.
Luckily for Michael, Lil’ Wayne, one of his favorite artists, is the musical guest of the evening.
Let’s just hope this doesn’t happen.
Plus, Phelps is set to appear on an episode of Entourage during the shows' current 5th season.
Let's hug it out.
By: Jimmy Smith
NFL Week 2 Fantasy Start 'em/ Sit 'em
Jimmy Smith
Start ‘em
1. Greg Jennings WR- GB (@ Det)- In his three career games against the Lions, Jennings has only nine catches, but three of them have been for touchdowns. He had two in his one game against them last season.
2. Michael Turner RB- ATL (@ TB)- The Buccaneers D allowed 24 points and 438 yards to the Saints on Sunday. Turner destroyed Detroit with 220 yards last week.
3. Brandon Jacobs RB- NYG (@ STL) – The Rams are bad and Jacobs had a 100-yard rushing performance against the Redskins in Week 1. Although he didn’t score, he finished the game with 116 rushing yards on 24 carries.
Sit ‘em
1. Patriots DST (@ NYJ)- Matt Cassel makes his first start since high school and I don’t think he will be able to keep the offense on the field long enough to let the Patriots D rest. Plus the Jets working under Favre is something to be seen.
2. Derek Anderson QB- CLE (HOME vs. PIT) - Dallas gave him trouble last week. As he completed just 11-of-24 passes for 114 yards and a TD pass. Pittsburgh is similar and a better blitzing team. Indecisiveness won’t work this week Derek.
3. Lee Evans WR- BUF (@ Jax) Evan caught four balls for 102 yards but the Jacksonville secondary is a lot tougher than the Seahawks.
Michelle Munoz of Sporting News
Start ‘em
1. Greg Jennings WR- GB (@ Det)- In his three career games against the Lions, Jennings has only nine catches, but three of them have been for touchdowns. He had two in his one game against them last season.
2. Michael Turner RB- ATL (@ TB)- The Buccaneers D allowed 24 points and 438 yards to the Saints on Sunday. Turner destroyed Detroit with 220 yards last week.
3. Brandon Jacobs RB- NYG (@ STL) – The Rams are bad and Jacobs had a 100-yard rushing performance against the Redskins in Week 1. Although he didn’t score, he finished the game with 116 rushing yards on 24 carries.
Sit ‘em
1. Patriots DST (@ NYJ)- Matt Cassel makes his first start since high school and I don’t think he will be able to keep the offense on the field long enough to let the Patriots D rest. Plus the Jets working under Favre is something to be seen.
2. Derek Anderson QB- CLE (HOME vs. PIT) - Dallas gave him trouble last week. As he completed just 11-of-24 passes for 114 yards and a TD pass. Pittsburgh is similar and a better blitzing team. Indecisiveness won’t work this week Derek.
3. Lee Evans WR- BUF (@ Jax) Evan caught four balls for 102 yards but the Jacksonville secondary is a lot tougher than the Seahawks.
Michelle Munoz of Sporting News
Start 'em
Aaron Rodgers- Ah, being right. I told everyone Aaron Rodgers wouldn't tank and lo and behold he didn't. He did quite well. And that was against a division rival. This week he's facing Detroit's defense, the same guys that made Matt Ryan and the Falcons look supernatural last weekend. Trust me, unless you have an elite Top 5 quarterback, he's a starter.
Sit ‘em
Matt Hasselbeck- This is nothing against Hasselbeck. He just has too many problems with his team right now. Deion Branch is still in recovery, he lost Bobby Engram and Ben Obomanu in the preseason and now Nate Burleson is out for the season. This just ain't good for Matt.
Jonathan Hartman
Start ‘em
Adrian Peterson – As the Vikings put up a lackluster performance against Green Bay on Monday night, Peterson still managed to gain 103 yards rushing on just 19 carries – continuing his streak of racking up yards with or without victories. This week Peterson faces an Indianapolis defense that struggled to stop the run against Chicago, giving up 183 rushing yards. Expect the Colts offensive to still look rusty, making the game close enough for the Vikings to rush Peterson the entire time.
Sit ‘em
Jake Delhomme – Keeping the last play alive by scrambling, Delhomme was able complete a 14-yard touchdown pass with no time remaining to pull out a victory Sunday against the Chargers. Sadly for the Panthers, Delhomme will not be allowed so much time against Chicago’s aggressive defense. The Bears showed no fear going into Indianapolis on Sunday night, and expect Chicago to blitz and get after Delhomme this Sunday.
Aaron Rodgers- Ah, being right. I told everyone Aaron Rodgers wouldn't tank and lo and behold he didn't. He did quite well. And that was against a division rival. This week he's facing Detroit's defense, the same guys that made Matt Ryan and the Falcons look supernatural last weekend. Trust me, unless you have an elite Top 5 quarterback, he's a starter.
Sit ‘em
Matt Hasselbeck- This is nothing against Hasselbeck. He just has too many problems with his team right now. Deion Branch is still in recovery, he lost Bobby Engram and Ben Obomanu in the preseason and now Nate Burleson is out for the season. This just ain't good for Matt.
Jonathan Hartman
Start ‘em
Adrian Peterson – As the Vikings put up a lackluster performance against Green Bay on Monday night, Peterson still managed to gain 103 yards rushing on just 19 carries – continuing his streak of racking up yards with or without victories. This week Peterson faces an Indianapolis defense that struggled to stop the run against Chicago, giving up 183 rushing yards. Expect the Colts offensive to still look rusty, making the game close enough for the Vikings to rush Peterson the entire time.
Sit ‘em
Jake Delhomme – Keeping the last play alive by scrambling, Delhomme was able complete a 14-yard touchdown pass with no time remaining to pull out a victory Sunday against the Chargers. Sadly for the Panthers, Delhomme will not be allowed so much time against Chicago’s aggressive defense. The Bears showed no fear going into Indianapolis on Sunday night, and expect Chicago to blitz and get after Delhomme this Sunday.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
The New Must Watch College Football Game This Weekend is...
Close your eyes and throw some darts. Hopefully some of them will hit the OSU fans who are calling party foul after another big game loss. No Beanie my ass. Two words, Todd "Too many vowels" Boeckman. I guess thats four but who's counting.
How about this one,
No. 13 Kansas (2-0)
at
No. 19 South Florida (2-0).
It's a matchup of two BCS dark horses. Watch out for a good battle between the two QBs: Kansas' Todd Reesing and USF's Matt Grothe.
Doesn't have the glitz and the glamor. But no one is hurt and thats all we really want.
By: Jimmy Smith
How about this one,
No. 13 Kansas (2-0)
at
No. 19 South Florida (2-0).
It's a matchup of two BCS dark horses. Watch out for a good battle between the two QBs: Kansas' Todd Reesing and USF's Matt Grothe.
Doesn't have the glitz and the glamor. But no one is hurt and thats all we really want.
By: Jimmy Smith
Don't worry Vince, just laugh it off...
Vince "Talk In Circles While Smiling and Giggling The Whole Time So Everyone Thinks Your A-Ok" Young got a chance to tell his side of the story.
Your honor I would like to call Giggles McGee to the stand:
VIDEO CREDIT: ESPN.com
By: Jimmy Smith
Your honor I would like to call Giggles McGee to the stand:
VIDEO CREDIT: ESPN.com
By: Jimmy Smith
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Alex Smith: Enter Stage Right
Tom Brady, Vince Young, Shawne Merriman and Maeques Colston. That is a list of some of the best the NFL has to offer. Now add Alex Smith and what do you have…
Four All-Pros and a quarterback vagabond that are hurt for extensive periods this season.
Head coach Mike Nolan announced that Alex Smith has been placed on injured reserve and is done for the year.
Smith sustained a “non-contact” (what ever that is) injury to his surgically repaired throwing shoulder during last Friday’s practice.
At least he doesn’t have to sit on the bench and rot behind J.T. O’Sullivan. He can blame it on the injury.
Alex, you still suck. And are the worst fantasy backup of all time (I took that chance, don’t do it, don’t you take that chance).
By Jimmy Smith
Four All-Pros and a quarterback vagabond that are hurt for extensive periods this season.
Head coach Mike Nolan announced that Alex Smith has been placed on injured reserve and is done for the year.
Smith sustained a “non-contact” (what ever that is) injury to his surgically repaired throwing shoulder during last Friday’s practice.
At least he doesn’t have to sit on the bench and rot behind J.T. O’Sullivan. He can blame it on the injury.
Alex, you still suck. And are the worst fantasy backup of all time (I took that chance, don’t do it, don’t you take that chance).
By Jimmy Smith
Tough times for all – even the ballers
It seems like the subprime mortgage crisis has made life tougher for everyone, including two NBA stars. According to the Wall Street Journal’s Private Properties column, Allen Iverson and Rasheed Wallace have cut their prices on houses they each put on the market last year, by 37 percent and 6 percent respectively.
Iverson and his wife, Tawanna, put their 14,000-square foot Villanova, PA house on the market in 2006 after Iverson was traded to the Denver Nuggets. The Nugget’s guard purchased the house for $5 million in 2003. Iverson originally listed the house for $6.3 million, before being forced to lower the Chanel Overton Long & Foster Co.s’s listing to $4 million.
Features
• Built in 1991
• Four-acre property
• French style house with arched palladian windows
• Four-floors
• Six bedrooms
• Movie theater that seats 12
• Marble bathrooms
• Billiard room
• Lounge with custom wood bar, holding more than 200 bottles of wine
• Coffee bar
• Media room
• Guest suite
• Pool house
• Outdoor pool with stream and waterfall
Wallace has also lowered his price on his Portland, OR home from $5.2 million to $4.9 million. Wallace bought the house in 2000 for about $3 million. According to the listing agent Tricia Epping, with Coldwell Banker, Wallace has spent more than $1 million on improvements to the house. The Detroit Pistons’ forward left Portland to join the Pistons for a six-year deal worth roughly $60 million.
Features:
• Built in 1924
• Tudor-style house built with bricks
• Five bedrooms
• Five baths
• Tennis and basketball court
• Theater
• Built-in saltwater aquarium
• Office
Picture Gallery
I guess it’s tough times for all of us.
PHOTO CREDITS: YAHOO Sports & Luxist.com
By: Jonathan Hartman
Iverson and his wife, Tawanna, put their 14,000-square foot Villanova, PA house on the market in 2006 after Iverson was traded to the Denver Nuggets. The Nugget’s guard purchased the house for $5 million in 2003. Iverson originally listed the house for $6.3 million, before being forced to lower the Chanel Overton Long & Foster Co.s’s listing to $4 million.
Features
• Built in 1991
• Four-acre property
• French style house with arched palladian windows
• Four-floors
• Six bedrooms
• Movie theater that seats 12
• Marble bathrooms
• Billiard room
• Lounge with custom wood bar, holding more than 200 bottles of wine
• Coffee bar
• Media room
• Guest suite
• Pool house
• Outdoor pool with stream and waterfall
Wallace has also lowered his price on his Portland, OR home from $5.2 million to $4.9 million. Wallace bought the house in 2000 for about $3 million. According to the listing agent Tricia Epping, with Coldwell Banker, Wallace has spent more than $1 million on improvements to the house. The Detroit Pistons’ forward left Portland to join the Pistons for a six-year deal worth roughly $60 million.
Features:
• Built in 1924
• Tudor-style house built with bricks
• Five bedrooms
• Five baths
• Tennis and basketball court
• Theater
• Built-in saltwater aquarium
• Office
Picture Gallery
I guess it’s tough times for all of us.
PHOTO CREDITS: YAHOO Sports & Luxist.com
By: Jonathan Hartman
Not to be outdone... Merriman and Colston attempt to upstage Brady and Young
Shawne Merriman, in an attempt to show the NFL that there are more players in the league than just Tom Brady, pulled the plug on his 2008 season when he told the Chargers that he will have surgery on the two torn ligaments in his left knee.
According to Michael Kaplan, an ESPN medical analyst:
"This is major surgery with a long and difficult rehabilitation of nine months plus. It was folly to think he could make it through the season unrepaired. His future after recovery is optimistic for full return to football without limitation."
So now, just like Brady, Merriman is out for the year as well. Boy with those injuries and the Colts embarrassing loss to the Bears, the AFC is wide open.
And not half of a day later, Marques Colston will miss four to six weeks recovering from surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb.
The 1,000 yard receiver is a big loss for the Saints who will now have to rely on Devery Henderson and David Patten.
Hopefully, this NFL season won't have many more weeks like this one. Four high-profile players get hurt for a sizable amount of time.
By: Jimmy Smith
According to Michael Kaplan, an ESPN medical analyst:
"This is major surgery with a long and difficult rehabilitation of nine months plus. It was folly to think he could make it through the season unrepaired. His future after recovery is optimistic for full return to football without limitation."
So now, just like Brady, Merriman is out for the year as well. Boy with those injuries and the Colts embarrassing loss to the Bears, the AFC is wide open.
And not half of a day later, Marques Colston will miss four to six weeks recovering from surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb.
The 1,000 yard receiver is a big loss for the Saints who will now have to rely on Devery Henderson and David Patten.
Hopefully, this NFL season won't have many more weeks like this one. Four high-profile players get hurt for a sizable amount of time.
By: Jimmy Smith
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
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