Random thoughts and opinions from week 1

[campinfool]

First I have to admit that all these games today has gotten me to the point of being moist. I almost forgot how beautiful this game is. I know everyone has something to be excited or concerned about. I have some thoughts swirling around my head from what I saw today. These are just opinions feel free to add your own.

1. Colorado is a bad team. Probably one of the most self deflating losses a team could have. Mike, this sorrowful day may be as good as any to pen a classic tear jerking honky tonk song. You should be inspired today for that kind of thing.

2. Cal. After Aaron Rogers ran his mouth and got punked by Texas Tech I really enjoy seeing this team fail.

3. I wouldn't want to have to play Auburn. Can't really tell you why. That team scares me.

4. Texas defense is good. Except for one 3rd quarter drive they didn't give up crap against UNT. Granted it was UNT, but they are loaded.

5. Texas QBs are decent. I figured there would be route miscommunications, delay of games, false starts, or mishandled snaps. Both QBs played pretty calm and collected. Stats could have been better is not for some dropped balls. They may show their age next week when they face a defense that will be stocked with better players and provide some pressure. Otherwise I can't complain.

6. Ohio State looks like their offense is still clicking but that defense misses all those departed starters. Should make for a classic matchup in Austin. I hope Texas shreds them like NIU did at times today.

7. Oklahoma is going to give AD Earl Campbell syndrone. Until they get a better QB you might as well put 9 in the box and pre arrange airfare to San Diego for December.

8. Notre Dame is lucky. Very Lucky. I GT had an offense then we could have all forgone the sickening hype that Charlie and Brady will force us to endure. Even though they won I'm still trying to figure out how that team is supposedly a NC contender. With their schedule I can only pray that they lose a few down the road.

9. I really thought Arkansas was going to pull the upset. I guess USC reloaded faster than I figured they would. A road trip to SEC country should have spelled doom for a young team, but damn it they reloaded like nothing has changed.

10. Dish Network is a college football fan's best friend. I'm just bitter that I did not switch earlier.

11. I would like some insight on the Aggie game. Box score does not look impressive, but I can't tell how it went. I'd like to know if McGee played to his usual standards.

12. Buckeye fans are pretty awesome. I've already seen a few in Austin today. I think theyare going to wreak havoc on our town next weekend. Are you sure they are not really vikings. I just hope the raping and pillaging doesn't affect my commute.

[Cross Traffic]

The Idaho Vandals get a moral victory keeping the margin against the Sparties to 10 points. Certainly not the team that was whipped by BSU 77-14 last season.

[Bobby42]

6. Ohio State looks like their offense is still clicking but that defense misses all those departed starters. Should make for a classic matchup in Austin. I hope Texas shreds them like NIU did at times today.

Credit NIU's Garrett Wolfe for giving the Buckeye defense fits. The 5'7" running back ran for 171 yards on 26 carries and caught five passes for 114 yards and a score. Of course, he led the nation last year in rushing. While the game wasn't even close there was Garrett on TV during the 4th quarter taking a knee on the sidelines, obviously thinking: "I ran in this house."

[Sky]

Props to NIU and especially Wolfe....he gave us fits all day long. NIU had some chances and our D was certainly not up to par. I worry about Texas unless we make some changes. We made quite a few mistakes (2 redzone fumbles and 2 missed FGs) which cannot be repeated if we want to beat UT. Our D definately looked young and regardless of practicing against our offense all preseason I don't think they looked that good today. Hopefully we kept some things in the bag (I think Smith only ran a couple of times) but I feel less sure of a tOSU victory next week.

[Jimmy Medalions]

We are young and making lots of mistakes. Plenty of upside but the guys need to gel.

Still seeing a two loss season ahead of us, and that's fine.

RACK Kal getting their shit packed like a prison bitch.

[Vito Corleone]

1. Texas/Ohio State is going to be the game of the year. It is hard to tell just how good both team really are but Ohio State looks like they have the best offense I saw all day and Texas looks like they have the best defense I saw all day.

2. I'm not 100% sold on Colt McCoy but I feel a lot better than I did over the summer. He looked extremely poised for a first start. As Nostradumbass Mo so cleaverly pointed out I am much more worried about Ohio State than any other team on the Texas schedule.

3. USC is again the class of the PAC 10 which again might be the worst BCS conference.

4. One week does not make a season but right now I would say the Big 10 and SEC are the top two conferences. The ACC is an incomplete til Miami/FSU play.

5. Penn State is going to kick Notre Dame's ass next week. (It's never too early to call my shot)

6. I feel bad for Dan Hawkins, he is going to turn CU around but damn that was ugly.

7. I still suck at Pick'em

[campinfool]

.

3. USC is again the class of the PAC 10 which again might be the worst BCS conference.

Are you sure you would put the Big East above the PAC 10?
You might change your mind after UO rolls OU.

[Vito Corleone]

Just because UO beats a marginal B-12 team does not make them a good team. We shall see.

[Cross Traffic]

Wow, Arizona wins a close game.

[SoCalTrjn]

USC's d looked pretty good but they got banged up on that side of the ball again.
Oscar Lua pulled a hammy on the first defensive play of the game
Kevin Thomas injured an ankle
Josh Pinkard injured his knee on punt coverage late in the game and it looks like the worst injury of the game

[RadioFan]

We are young and making lots of mistakes. Plenty of upside but the guys need to gel.

Still seeing a two loss season ahead of us, and that's fine.

RACK Kal getting their shit packed like a prison bitch.

You should have heard and read some of the area hacks talking about how Arkansas was all ready for "revenge" and shit. Almost as bad as the OKC radio homers looking all but past Saturday's game while discussing every micro nuance, ad nauseum, regarding Paul Thompson and the blocking schemes. "Will Paul Thompson's inner ligament in his elbow be able to strech as far as Bomar's when he's going to his left and the receiver is going to the right?" "Can the lead blocker for Peterson carry out his role when AD is running out of the shotgun and will Thompson be able to mix up play action while still making AD effective and connecting with his receivers who are going left while he's going to the right?" etc, etc ...

USC is a scary looking machine. Still rusty because it's the start of the season, but even tonight, they started to gell against a vastly improved Arkansas team from last year, playing in their house.

Of the other teams I was able to watch today (and I did a LOT of channel surfing all day and night ...)

Those that looked impressive included Auburn, Texas, tOSU, Florida, LSU, WVa., and Tenn. Based on the way Tennessee played, the Sept. 16 game of Fla in Knoxville may be really big (beyond the rivalry) this year, with the winner going to a BCS game.

Of course, next week's prime time game is going to be absolutely huge. I predict that I will not be channel surfing during that game.

Penn State is going to kick Notre Dame's ass next week.

I hope you didn't just jinx it. I nearly threw up tonight listening to Cuntsberger's taint licking of ND. Jesus Christ, I wish that guy would get another DWI and get prison time so we wouldn't have to listen to his rambling worship idiocy. Notre Dame is ranked really, really high this year, and Brady Quinn is the smartest, bestest QB in the history of football -- WE GOT IT THE FIRST 47 TIMES, BRENT.

[M2]

Brady Quinn is the smartest, bestest QB in the history of football -- WE GOT IT THE FIRST 47 TIMES, BRENT.

[OUMO]

7. Oklahoma is going to give AD Earl Campbell syndrone. Until they get a better QB you might as well put 9 in the box and pre arrange airfare to San Diego for December.

Like Earl Campbell is a bad thing?

Anyway if you ever watch a game that does not involve your team, well this is how it goes..

Thompson was not the problem, that would be OU's QB if you did not know. If anything I was more impressed by him on O than any other facit of that particular part of the team. The INTs were mostly the cause of the recievers not ready to catch the ball.

Yeah you will hear The Sooner Nation "sup Schnelly" get upset, but the offense preformed by status way better than the defense did.

Here are the facts, OU is 1 and 0, that is scoreboard.

[OUMO]

Frozen, maybe I am wrong but Thompson looked a hell of a lot better than I had seen him play before, mind that it was his first full game.

I am not sitting here saying he is going to win the Heisman but I thought he was disiplened. He was okay this game, he does need to improve, but I do see the potential of really good things.

The defense upsets me much more than the offense, while they did not give up any big plays they were driven on.

All that being said first games are a bitch, sometimes it is better to be challanged than not because it gives you things to work on.

The coaching mantra is that teams improve the most from week 1 to week 2, that is what I am looking for.

[OUMO]

Oh, no, don't get me wrong. I was pleasantly surprised with Thompson's play. I just didn't think his play was what I'd call impressive. Solid, sure.

Agreed, his play was not impressive, but it was not the major problem in the game either.

[campinfool]

7. Oklahoma is going to give AD Earl Campbell syndrone. Until they get a better QB you might as well put 9 in the box and pre arrange airfare to San Diego for December.

Like Earl Campbell is a bad thing?



.

What I was implying is that he is gonna get so manyacrries he may not last. Either worn down or injured. You know the old Oiler play book. Earl up the middle, Earl to theright, Earl to the left. I can almost see the resemblence of OU relying on one player. Seems like OUMO needs to mellow out a little.

[OUMO]

I will not disagree with you that OU yes "we" are depending on AD too much.

As far as me mellowing out.. it is football season mother fucker, so game on.

You want some soft pink feelings then go watch Oprah, I am a meat eating beer drinking football machine until early January and you are just lucky that Brad is not around

[Killian]

5. Penn State is going to kick Notre Dame's ass next week. (It's never too early to call my shot)

While we looked like ass, PSU didn't exactly look like world beaters against Akron. It will be a good game.

[Killian]

5. Penn State is going to kick Notre Dame's ass next week. (It's never too early to call my shot)

While we looked like ass, PSU didn't exactly look like world beaters against Akron. It will be a good game.

[Vito Corleone]

5. Penn State is going to kick Notre Dame's ass next week. (It's never too early to call my shot)

While we looked like ass, PSU didn't exactly look like world beaters against Akron. It will be a good game.

Yes, but Penn State proved to me that they have a QB and that was my big question with them. The ND dbs are going to get schooled by the Penn State receivers. I think ND will hold their own but this is a game that I like state because they have the defense to slow down the ND offense much better than vice versa.

Frozen, maybe I am wrong but Thompson looked a hell of a lot better than I had seen him play before, mind that it was his first full game.

I am not sitting here saying he is going to win the Heisman but I thought he was disiplened. He was okay this game, he does need to improve, but I do see the potential of really good things.

The defense upsets me much more than the offense, while they did not give up any big plays they were driven on.

All that being said first games are a bitch, sometimes it is better to be challanged than not because it gives you things to work on.

The coaching mantra is that teams improve the most from week 1 to week 2, that is what I am looking for.

You do realize you played Alabama Birmingham, not Alabama. This is the Alabama team that had no business playing within 40 points of you. Using the words of Killian, your whole team looked like Ass yesterday. Outside of Peterson I think the spooners are going to be dogshit to every team in the Big 12 including Baylor who almost beat you last year.

[campinfool]

After further review one of the most enjoyable plays of the day was the UAB kicker laying out a OU player on a return play. Don't see kickers laying wood too often.

[Van]

-Kal was an embarrassment. Then again, what else was to be expected? They were playing on the road. Kal has never won a significant road game under Tedford. Not one.

-My Texas buddy and I have been going over this season all off season. My BCS championship game pick has been Auburn vs the winner of the Texas-OSU game. I saw nothing yesterday that'd make me change that pick.

-Tennessee looks very fast at WR and in the defensive backfield. Ainge looks like he might be ready to actually play QB. They could pose some problems this season in the SEC.

-If only Georgia Tech had anything besides Calvin Johnson on offense ND would be staring at a three loss season right now.

-Besides the fact that they have a true playoffs there's only ONE other argument fans of the NFL can use against college football fans, and there it was again on display yesterday: There should NEVER be a game where the spread is 45 points...and the over-under is something like 52. Vegas: "Ummm, one team will be lucky to score even one TD, and the other team will score whatever they wish..." Ie, Texas should NEVER plays someone like N. Texas...nor should LSU ever play La. Lafayette. Those types of matchups should simply never be scheduled. Has a 45 point dog ever won??

-USC made the expected amount of early mistakes to keep Arkansas in the game. The offensive line had way too many procedure calls. On the plus side the defense looked much improved. In particular there's a lot of speed there at LB. Most importantly, if you squinted while watching the offense you would've been hard pressed to tell that the QB wasn't Carson Palmer or a mirror image Leinart. Booty looked that sharp and that much in command. Fantastic opening performance for Booty, deep in SEC country. Also, the freshman RB Gable looks more promising than the much more hyped Chauncey Washington. In terms of their much hyped receivers, well, Patrick Turner looked great but Jarret and Smith didn't. They were reduced to being position type receivers, with Jarrett in particular being reduced to using his "big body" to screen away defenders for short yardage catches. Arkansas' DBs were all over them and they completely took away any deep threat. Looks like USC plans on using the tight end quite a bit this year. USC's regular season winning streak will end this season. "Reloaded" or not, they lost too much this off season. I'm thinking they'll definitely lose one game and maybe even two.

-Looks like only the Big 10 might give the SEC a run for its money this year. Maybe the ACC too, but....nah. The Big 12 needs Nebraska to seriously rejoin the party and the Pac 10 will need to see huge years from the likes of Oregon, ASU and UCLA, otherwise both conferences will be one team wonders.

-Arkansas had some seriously old fashioned and plain looking cheerleaders, especially compared to USC's hotties, looking even better than usual with their recent switch to the midriff baring short sweaters.

-Nothing better than having college football back. I hardly ever watch tv anymore and yesterday I channel surfed in my tv cave room to the tune of seven hours worth of college football.

-Would it be too much to ask TPTB to remove garble mouthed Lou Holtz from intubation before they drop that old feeb back on my tv next week?

[Killian]

Morelli made some very dumb throws when Akron got anywhere near him. There were two balls that should have been picked. Morelli looked good at home throwing to wide open recievers.

The ND/PSU game will come down to Tony Hunt. If he runs well, it will be a very good game. If not, it will put the game directly in Morelli's hands in his first start on the road. I like those odds.

[Killian]

Morelli made some very dumb throws when Akron got anywhere near him. There were two balls that should have been picked. Morelli looked good at home throwing to wide open recievers.

The ND/PSU game will come down to Tony Hunt. If he runs well, it will be a very good game. If not, it will put the game directly in Morelli's hands in his first start on the road. I like those odds.

[Vito Corleone]

ND put their true fish corners on an island yesterday, if you do that against Penn State it is going to be game over early. Your dline isn't good enough to get that much pressure on Morelli to cover up the talent difference between the State receivers and the ND fish.

[SoCalTrjn]

-USC made the expected amount of early mistakes to keep Arkansas in the game. Kyle Wright had way too many procedure calls. On the plus side the defense looked much improved. In particular there's a lot of speed there at LB. Most importantly, if you squinted while watching the offense you would've been hard pressed to tell that the QB wasn't Carson Palmer or a mirror image Leinart. Booty looked that sharp and that much in command. Fantastic opening performance for Booty, deep in SEC country. Also, the freshman RB Gable looks more promising than the much more hyped Chauncey Washington. In terms of their much hyped receivers, well, Patrick Turner looked great but Jarret and Smith didn't. They were reduced to being position type receivers, with Jarrett in particular being reduced to using his "big body" to screen away defenders for short yardage catches. Arkansas' DBs were all over them and they completely took away any deep threat. Looks like USC plans on using the tight end quite a bit this year. USC's regular season winning streak will end this season. "Reloaded" or not, they lost too much this off season. I'm thinking they'll definitely lose one game and maybe even two.

-Arkansas had some seriously old fashioned and plain looking cheerleaders, especially compared to USC's hotties, looking even better than usual with their recent switch to the midriff baring short sweaters.

Booty didnt throw deep much and it seemed like they were trying to ease him like they did with Leinart 3 years ago... Jarret and Smith will be fine once Sarkaffin loosens the reins on JohnDavid. Chauncey was hampered by his hamy and after 2 more weeks to heal he should be at full strength. Gable looked impressive but so did Moody. Kyle Wright was called for procedure (not being on the line) 3 times in the first half.... Drew Radovich replaced him and there were no more procedure calls. When Wright re entered the game he knew where to line up. USCs song girls have worn those sweaters before, they wore them at Allbarn a few years back and at Hawaii and ASU last year. Its was sticky humid yesterday so they pulled the hair up and went with sleeveless sweaters, they'll have the standard sweaters back on when it cools off a bit.

[Van]

...which sucks.

Personally, I think that along with the smaller sweaters the SC Song Girls also need to start incorporating sheer G-strings into the mix.

[Q, West Coast Style]

3. USC is again the class of the PAC 10

Oregon may have something to say about that, yet.

which again might be the worst BCS conference.

Could a team picked 7th or 8th any other conference's preseason polls hang at Jordan Hare for 3 quarters without half its defense and its starting tailback? WSU had the ball down 26-14 in the 4th.

[Bobby42]

New uniforms for the Buckeyes? Absent the grey along the
sleeves; otherwise WGRA.

[Killian]

ND put their true fish corners on an island yesterday, if you do that against Penn State it is going to be game over early. Your dline isn't good enough to get that much pressure on Morelli to cover up the talent difference between the State receivers and the ND fish.

ND put Walls on Johnson a few times. The one long completion was a perfectly thrown ball by Ball.

PSU doesn't have a WR that is a physical mis-match the way Johnson is. This is going to require Morelli to find and locate his receivers and place the ball on the money. In the second half, he seemed to stare down his primary receiver. As for the ND dline, if they play freshman Mo Richardson more on passing downs, that should take pressure of Abiamiri. Their DT's will get pressure.

[Terry in Crapchester]

ND put their true fish corners on an island yesterday, if you do that against Penn State it is going to be game over early. Your dline isn't good enough to get that much pressure on Morelli to cover up the talent difference between the State receivers and the ND fish.

Georgia Tech and Penn State are different teams, and ND will employ a different game plan against Penn State than against Georgia Tech.

Against Georgia Tech, Minter made the decision that if Ball was going to beat us, he'd have to do it with his arm and not his legs. Obviously, he won't go into Penn State with that same plan, although it's possible that he'll stack the box early in an effort to shut down the running game.

As far as the corners are concerned, we've shown more of an inclination to go into the nickel package this year than last, so that'll provide some help at least on the obvious passing downs.

[indyfrisco]

I've always thought the chest bump was ghey. It's also a cock bump. Even if there is padding and clothes in between, it is still crossing swords. Ewww......

[PSUFAN]

PSU doesn't have a WR that is a physical mis-match the way Johnson is.

Correct, that guy is a freak of nature. However, PSU has two big WRs, Terrell Golden, and Chris Bell. Both are in the 6'2" range...so it's possible that they will match up favorably in the red zone, especially Bell...

[PSUFAN]

He's in. He's returning kicks and punts, which is a pleasant surprise. Paterno's long been a "just catch the punt" kind of guy. No one thought he'd let DWill return punts...but there he was against Akron. I think he'll score at least 1 TD on a return this year...