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August 2007
Our Fearless Friday Forecast
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This summer, when we had those 99 days in a row over 100 degrees, I thought this day would never get here.
But here we are. The first good piece of news is the high today might actually be under 90. The second is that it is finally time for the Fearless Friday Forecast of the 2007 season.
Each Friday we’ll pick the best 10 games from the SEC, ACC and Top 25. Some weeks there will be more SEC than ACC games and vice versa. Some weeks, like this one, there won’t be any games outside of those two leagues. In short, it’s going to have to be a pretty compelling national game to make our Top 10. I know that will make my Big Ten and Big 12 friends a little upset. Hey, we’re in the South. I’ve got to take care of my base. Texas-Oklahoma? It’s got a chance. Michigan-Notre Dame? Let’s see how the Irish do with the Techsters.
Remember that these predictions are for entertainment purposes only. Don’t take them to the bank, your bookie, your ex-wife or anyone with the ability to affect your financial future.
And away we go.
1. Georgia Tech at Notre Dame: Playing the Domers in Notre Dame Stadium is never easy. Too many ghosts make the ball bounce funny in that place. But this time Georgia Tech goes up there with the better football team. If the offense plays smart and does not turn it over, the Fighting Chan Gaileys have real shot in this one. Look for RB Tashard Choice to have a good day. Georgia Tech 17, Notre Dame 14.
2. Oklahoma State at Georgia: This one’s pretty simple. If Georgia can run the ball with that baby-faced offensive line, then things will be okay at Sanford Stadium Saturday night. But if the Dawgs can’t run the ball and Matt Stafford has to throw it 35 times, this one turns into a shootout with one of the best offenses in the country. The Dawg Nation does not want that. Georgia 24, Oklahoma State 20.
3. Tennessee at California: A year ago the Berkeley surfer boys came to Neyland Stadium and got smacked in the mouth in the first two minutes of the game. The next thing you knew it was 35-0 and the Bears were looking for the exits. The Vols will have to get physical again if they want to win out on the Left Coast. QB Erik Ainge has a broken pinky but it won’t matter. Tennessee 28, Cal 24.
4. Kansas State at Auburn: The Tigers have been flying under the radar this summer with all of the fuss going on in Tuscaloosa. They are coming out of the box with a pretty good team from the Big 12. Auburn will be pretty good on defense, which will get after Kansas State QB Josh Freeman in a big way. The offensive line is a work in progress and that’s a concern. Auburn 21, Kansas State 14.
5. Wake Forest at Boston College: On paper BC appears to have the edge with the ACC’s best quarterback in Matt Ryan. But the Eagles have a new coaching staff and in the first game all sorts of crazy things can happen. The Deacs, by the way, want to prove that last season was not a fluke. Wake Forest 21, Boston College 20.
6. East Carolina at Virginia Tech: It will be an emotional day in Blacksburg as the school will honor the April 16 shooting victims before the game. But after that the Hokies tune up for next week’s trip to LSU. Watch the play of QB Sean Glennon. That will tell you if Virginia Tech has a shot in Baton Rouge. Virginia Tech 35, ECU 10
7. Troy at Arkansas: This will be a tougher game than most people think. Troy QB Omar Haugabook can make a lot of big plays and the Hogs are trying to fill a lot of holes on defense. But Darren McFadden, the Heisman Trophy favorite, gets rolling in the second half as Arkansas pulls away: Arkansas 31, Troy 14.
8. Louisiana-Lafayette at South Carolina: The Head Ball Coach will keep it pretty vanilla on offense because: A) his starting quarterback (Blake Mitchell) forgot to go to class and will not play and B) Georgia’s coming up next week in Athens. Still, the Gamecocks get off to a good start on what should be another bowl season. South Carolina 30, La.-Lafayette 10.
9. UCF at N.C. State: This will not be an easy opener for Tom O’Brien, the new head coach at N.C. State. George O’Leary’s Knights return 17 starters from a team that underachieved (4-8) last season. Still, N.C. State has enough weapons to win. N.C. State 24, UCF 17.
10. UConn at Duke: This one is significant because Duke will kick a late field goal to win and finally break its 20-game losing streak. Duke 24, UConn 23.
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Projecting the conference champs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The season FINALLY gets underway tonight with four of the Top 25 (No. 2 LSU, No. 16 Rutgers, No. 10 Louisville, and No. 24 Boise State) in action. So before toe meets leather, as the great Al Ciraldo used to say, let’s pick the 11 conference winners for 2007. On Friday I’ll do weekend predictions.
ACC: Florida State Everybody’s picking Virginia Tech but I think Georgia Tech beats the Hokies on Nov. 1 in Atlanta. Toughened by a brutal road schedule, Florida State beats Georgia Tech in Jacksonville for the championship.
SEC: LSU There is a pretty significant talent gap, particularly on defense, between LSU and the rest of the league. Still, this is the most balanced the SEC has been in a long, long time. LSU beats Florida in the SEC championship game.
BIG EAST: West Virginia There is a reason Rick Rodriguez didn’t take the Alabama job. He knew this team was good enough to run the table and reach the BCS championship game.
BIG TEN: Michigan The Wolverines are loaded with QB Chad Henne, RB Michael Hart, and OT Jake Long, who would have all been high NFL Draft picks. If Michigan can beat Ohio State, something the Wolverines haven’t done since 2003, they could push West Virginia out of the big game.
BIG 12: Texas QB Colt McCoy, RB Jamaal Charles, and WR Limas Sweed are all-conference caliber players. The Longhorns will have to beat Oklahoma on Oct. 6 to get to the Big 12 championship game, where they will face Missouri or Nebraska.
PAC-10: Southern Cal The Trojans start the season No. 1 and will stay No. 1. The only potential stumbling block is a Nov. 10 trip to California.
CONFERENCE USA: Southern Miss The Golden Eagles, led by sophomore RB Damion Fletcher, beat Tulsa in the conference championship game.
MID-AMERICAN: Central Michigan: The defending champions lost coach Brian Kelly to Cincinnati, but will win the title again under new coach Butch Jones. QB Dan LeFevour threw for over 3,000 yards as a freshman last season.
MOUNTAIN WEST: TCU The Horned Frogs, who have won 10 or more games in three of the past four seasons, have the BCS on their minds. A Sept. 8 trip to Texas gives them a chance to be this year’s Boise State.
SUN BELT: Troy QB Omar Haugabook will be the league’s offensive player of the year for the second straight season.
WAC: Hawaii: It appears the only thing standing between the Warriors and a 12-0 season is a Nov. 23 home game with Boise State. But with that schedule, an undefeated season will not get Hawaii into the BCS.
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Projecting the BCS bowls
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The first BCS standings don’t come out until Oct. 14. But let’s go ahead and get the argument started today. Here, gentle readers, are the projected BCS Bowl matchups for the 2007 season.
BCS CHAMPIONSHIP, JAN. 7, NEW ORLEANS
Matchup: Southern Cal vs. West Virginia
How it happens: No. 1 Southern Cal rolls through its schedule without breaking a sweat. West Virginia gets a scare from Louisville at home but finishes 12-0. West Virginia gets pushed in the BCS Standings by once-beaten LSU, Texas, Oklahoma, and Michigan but holds on to play in the big game.
ORANGE BOWL, JAN. 3, MIAMI
Matchup: Florida State vs. Oklahoma
How it happens: Florida State wins the ACC championship game over Georgia Tech. Oklahoma finishes 11-1 with its only loss to Texas on Oct. 6.
FIESTA BOWL, JAN. 2, GLENDALE, ARIZ.
Matchup: Texas vs. Wisconsin
How it happens: Texas wins the Big 12 championship but a stumble at Texas A&M on Nov. 23 keeps the Longhorns out of the BCS championship game. Wisconsin finishes 11-1 for the second consecutive season and this time the Badgers get a BCS at-large.
ROSE BOWL, JAN. 1, PASADENA
Matchup: Michigan vs. California
How it happens: Michigan wins the Big Ten despite losing to Ohio State on Nov. 17. California loses twice-to Tennessee on Sept. 1 and to Southern Cal on Nov. 10. Still, the Bears get the at-large Rose Bowl bid at 10-2 because they were squeezed out by Texas in 2004.
SUGAR BOWL, JAN. 1, NEW ORLEANS
Matchup: LSU vs. Louisville.
How it happens: LSU loses at Alabama on Nov. 3, which keeps the Tigers out of the BCS championship game. LSU beats Florida for the SEC championship to finish 12-1. Louisville goes 11-1 with a loss at West Virginia.
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Five final questions about the ACC
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Five burning questions about the ACC that will finally get answered this weekend:
1. Will Jimmy Clausen get on the field against Georgia Tech? Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis said he knows who the starter will be but won’t announce it. My pick is junior Evan Sharpley. But does Clausen, top player in the Fighting Irish recruiting class, even get a taste of the action against a good Georgia Tech defense? Brady Quinn, a first-round draft choice, had his problems with Jon Tenuta’s defense last year in Atlanta. What will a rookie like Clausen do?
2. Will Duke break its 20-game losing streak? The Blue Devils need to get that piece of business out of the way on Saturday against Connecticut because after that it looks like 11 miles of bad road. The next four games after UConn are all on the road (Virginia, Northwestern, Navy, Miami). Then it’s Wake Forest, the defending ACC champs, Virginia Tech, at Florida State, Clemson, Georgia Tech, at Notre Dame. If the Blue Devils don’t win Saturday, the next chance may not come until Nov. 24 against North Carolina.
3. Which Bowden is going to be unhappy late Monday night? Clemson’s Tommy Bowden has beaten his dad, Florida State’s Bobby Bowden, in three out of the last four meetings. Tommy Bowden really needs a win at home on Labor Day night on national television. It’s going to be a big test for new QB Cullen Harper of Alpharetta. Harper is going to get a lot of pressure from the Florida State front seven.
4. How will Micah Andrews play? The Wake Forest running back from Duluth missed all but three games last season with an injury. He will not get a chance to ease back into competition as Boston College returns nine starters on defense. It’s the first game for new BC coach Jeff Jagodzinksi and Wake Forest is anxious to prove that last season’s championship was not a fluke. If Andrews plays well, Wake Forest will win.
5. How intense will Miami be? The Hurricanes, who played for the national championship in 2002, are starting over under new coach Randy Shannon. Miami is also beginning its last season in the Orange Bowl. Marshall returns 14 starters from a team that went 5-7 so the Thundering Herd is not going to roll over. It will be interesting to see how well the offense plays under new coordinator Patrick Nix. The defense will be awesome.
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Five final questions about the SEC
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Game week is finally here, but there are still so many things we don’t know. Here are five burning questions I still have about the SEC as we head into this weekend’s opening games.
1. Will Tennessee’s no-huddle offense work? When the no huddle is working well (think Peyton Manning), it dictates the pace of the game and limits the number of defensive substitutions. When it’s not working well it is a pretty ugly thing to watch. California returns only five starters from a defense that finished eighth in the Pac-10 last season (366.2 ypg). For Tennessee, this is all about getting the no-huddle in shape in time for a Sept. 15 trip to Florida.
2. How will South Carolina’s quarterbacks play?After his appeal was turned down on Monday, we know now that Blake Mitchell of LaGrange won’t play against Louisiana-Lafayette because he skipped too many classes in summer school. If Mitchell is not available redshirt freshman Chris Smelley will start but sophomore Tommy Beecher will also see some action. If they play well, does Mitchell start against Georgia? Probably, but you can bet Coach Steve Spurrier will make Mitchell sweat.
3. Can Georgia hold Oklahoma State to under 28? The Cowboys were second in the Big 12 and seventh nationally in scoring last season (35.2 ppg). In conference games they averaged 33 points. Eight starters are back including WR Adarius Bowman, who was first in the league in yards per catch (19.7 avg.). Folks, this offense is very, very good.
4. What will be Tim Tebow’s completion percentage? The sophomore left hander has to prove that he is more than brute force and a strong arm. He needs to show that he can throw touch passes and manage the offense. Against Western Kentucky Tebow should complete between 55 and 60 percent. Let’s see what the final number is.
5. When will the RVs start showing up in Tuscaloosa? Alabama fans showed how they feel about the future under Nick Saban when 92,138 showed up at the spring game in April. The Crimson Tide Nation is looking forward to a successful opening night against Western Carolina. My bet is that the first arrivals to the RV lot will be Tuesday night.
Five freshmen who will have an impact
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
An old coach used to say that the best thing about freshmen is that if they survive, they eventually become sophomores. But some freshmen can come in and make an immediate impact. Here are five from the ACC and SEC who will do exactly that when the season begins on Saturday.
1. Eric Berry, CB, Tennessee: The native of Fairburn (Creekside) could start the first game versus California. There is also the temptation to use him on offense with his own special package of plays, a la Darren McFadden at Arkansas. He’s so good that folks around the program are already starting to call him “The Truth.”
2. Chris Rainey, RB, Florida: The Gators have a lot of talented freshmen but Rainey is intriguing. He’s small (5-9, 156) but incredibly explosive. Had 15 touchdown runs of 50 yards or more as a senior at Lakeland (Fla.) High School. Florida will find a way to get the ball in his hands.
3. Willy Korn, QB, Clemson: He is the Tigers’ future, but coaches want to bring him along slowly. But, like Georgia’s Matthew Stafford in 2006, he is too talented to redshirt and coach Tommy Bowden knows that. He will get on the field and will make plays. If he doesn’t make a lot of mistakes, he’ll get a chance to make even more plays.
4. Trinton Sturdivant, OL, Georgia: Conventional wisdom says that a true freshman cannot line up at left tackle in the SEC. Well, Andre Smith of Alabama proved that conventional wisdom to be wrong last season. Coaches don’t trust a freshman to play that spot unless he has a lot of talent and is mature beyond his years. Sturdivant is just such a player.
5. Marvin Austin, DL, North Carolina: If Austin wasn’t the nation’s best high school defensive lineman last season, he was certainly in the top three. And when the Tar Heels line up on Saturday against James Madison, the Washington, D.C., native will be in the starting lineup. The Tar Heels gave up 172.8 rushing yards per game last season. That will change.
The five best places for tailgating
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Let’s take a short break from the X’s and O’s. A week from today a lot of you are going to be taking part in one of the most glorious traditions that the Good Lord ever put on this Earth: tailgating. I don’t get to do a lot of it on Saturdays in the fall because I’m working. But when I do, here are my top five places to tailgate in the South:
1. Ole Miss: There is nothing quite like a Saturday afternoon at the Grove, where you will see everything from pickup trucks to silver candelabras on white linen table cloths. The last time I tailgated at Ole Miss was 2003 for Eli Manning’s last game against LSU. They estimated that over 10,000 people who didn’t have tickets stayed in the Grove and just had a big party while the game was going on.
2. LSU: There is no smell quite the combination of jambalaya and bourbon as it drifts through the parking lots around Tiger Stadium. There is no group of people who can put on their “game face” quite as well as the folks in the Bayou. Man, are they going to have some great parties this season!
3. Clemson: You see everything from fried chicken to a low country boil in that parking lot in front of the West end zone. I have never walked through that lot without a total stranger pulling me over and trying to feed me. I miss my good friend, Mr. Bob Bradley, who always welcomed us with Clemson’s legendary butterscotch brownies.
4. Georgia: In the interest of full disclosure, I have to confess that this is my alma mater and I started tailgating in Athens when I was just 12 years old. But even UGA’s rivals have to admit that it’s a good place to spend a college football Saturday.
5. North Carolina: With the Carolina pines that surround Kenan Stadium, it’s one of the most beautiful places in all of college football. There is a lot of football tradition in Chapel Hill, which is why the Tar Heels can’t wait until Butch Davis gets it going.
Five moments that will define the ACC
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Yesterday we looked at five moments that will define the SEC in 2007. As we enter the last weekend before the start of the 2007 season, let’s look at what could be the most important moments for these five teams in the ACC.
1. Florida State: Because it will be playing Alabama on a “neutral” site (Jacksonville), Florida State will only have five games at Doak Campbell Stadium. The first game at Clemson (on Sept. 3) is big, but the season will be defined in November when Florida State plays on the road at Boston College, Virginia Tech, and Florida.
2. Clemson: Clemson had a horrible finish in 2006, losing four of its last five games after a 7-1 start. So the Tiger faithful are looking for an early sign that things are going to be better in 2007. They expect to see it on Sept. 3 at home when Clemson hosts Florida State. Win that one and the Tigers should be 4-0 when they go to Georgia Tech on Sept. 29. Lose and the whispers start about Bowden’s future after nine years and no championships.
3. Georgia Tech: Winning at Notre Dame on Sept. 1 would be nice and I think the Yellow Jackets are going to win in South Bend because, quite frankly, they are the better team. But it’s hard to look at the Georgia Tech schedule and not focus on that Nov. 1 game against Virginia Tech at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Tech will have three tough ACC road games (Virginia, Maryland, Miami) before the Hokies come to Atlanta. But you have to believe that Thursday night game will have a lot riding on it.
4. Miami: I don’t expect Miami to win at Oklahoma on Sept. 8. The Sooners are just too good. But 12 days later Texas A&M comes to the Orange Bowl for a Thursday night game. If the Hurricanes want to make a statement that they are back, or at least on the way back, here is where it gets done. Miami is going to need a big shot of confidence because later on the Hurricanes will have to play road games at Florida State, Virginia Tech, and Boston College.
5. Virginia Tech: With eight starters returning on the nation’s No. 1 defense, the Hokies believe they can contend for the national championship if a few things fall their way. They’ll know for sure if they are ready for prime time on Sept. 8 when they travel to Baton Rouge to play No. 2 LSU. Not many people outside of Blacksburg, Va., will give the Hokies a shot on a Saturday night in Tiger Stadium. Find a way to pull off the upset and running the table looks very possible.
Five moments that will define the SEC
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Just about every school has a defining moment in their season. It is a game, a group of games or a moment within a game that tips the balance of the season towards great, good, mediocre or bad.
Last season I thought that moment for Florida came at home on the last play against South Carolina. Florida blocked a field goal, won the game 17-16, and then went on to put itself in position to win the national championship.
Here are five such potential moments for teams in the SEC.
1. Georgia: The first two games with Oklahoma State (Sept. 1) and South Carolina (Sept. 8) will set the tone for the entire season. Win them both and I think the Dawgs will be 5-0 when they go to Knoxville on Oct. 6. Confidence is going to be a huge factor with this team because there are so many young players.
2. Alabama: Starting on Sept. 8, the Crimson Tide plays these games on four consecutive Saturdays: at Vanderbilt, Arkansas and Georgia in Tuscaloosa and then Florida State in Jacksonville. If Alabama goes 2-2 in those games, it will have a good season. If it goes 1-3, Bama will struggle to make a bowl. If it goes 3-1, watch out.
3. Tennessee: Some are picking the Vols to have a pretty good year if they can survive the first three weeks which includes trips to No. 12 California (Sept. 1) and No. 6 Florida (Sept. 15) that sandwich a dangerous home game with Southern Mississippi (Sept. 8), the favorite to win Conference USA. If Tennessee doesn’t get too beat up in those three games, the Vols could run the table after that with Georgia, South Carolina, Arkansas, and Vanderbilt all in Knoxville.
4. Arkansas: Houston Nutt’s quality of life would really improve if the Hogs beat Troy in the opener, take a week off to heal, and then find a way to win at Alabama on Sept. 15. There is a portion of the Arkansas fan base that is still unhappy with the way the Mitch Mustain situation was handled. They are looking for a reason to criticize and turn up the heat. If Arkansas loses to Bama, they’ll have their reason.
5. South Carolina: When South Carolina beats Georgia, it usually means the Gamecocks are going to have a good season. Since 1984 the Gamecocks have beaten the Bulldogs seven times and only once (1993) did they fail to produce a winning record. Four of the best seasons in school history-1984 (10-2, Gator Bowl), 1988 (8-4, Liberty Bowl), 2000 (8-4, Outback Bowl), and 2001 (9-3, Outback Bowl)-were all set up by a September win over Georgia. South Carolina plays at Georgia on Sept. 8.
Will Alabama fool the “experts?”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Every season we have surprise teams that defy the “experts” and surpass expectations. Last year it was Wake Forest, which came out of nowhere to win the ACC championship. Who will be the surprise team this season? Try these five on for size:
1. Alabama: Everybody (me included) is picking Alabama to finish fourth in the SEC West. Why do I keep getting this feeling that Nick Saban, the $4 million man, is going to do something with this bunch? With nine starters back on offense and a bunch of holes on defense, this looks like a seven-win team at best. Why do I get the feeling it will be 8 or 9 wins?
2. South Florida: Everybody’s conceding the Big East championship to West Virginia and Louisville. It would be wise not to overlook the Bulls. They have the Big East Rookie of the Year from 2006 in quarterback Matt Grothe (2,576 yards passing, 15 touchdowns). Eight starters return on each side of the ball. They get West Virginia and Louisville at home.
3. Arizona State: Say what you want about Dennis Erickson, but he took Oregon State to the Fiesta Bowl and won two national championships at Miami. The man can coach ball. He expects to be very competitive in his first season in Tempe with 10 starters back on offense and six on defense. This team will go to a pretty decent bowl game.
4. N.C. State: Everybody (me included) is picking N.C. State to finish last in the ACC Atlantic. But there is a new sheriff in town in coach Tom O’Brien. There are some tough non-conference games in UCF, Louisville, and East Carolina, but O’Brien could get this team to six wins.
5. Missouri: Yeah, I know. A lot of people are picking the Tigers to win the Big 12 North. But Missouri has not won any kind of football championship since 1969 so I’ll believe it when I see it. Missouri has a very good quarterback in Chase Daniel, one of nine starters returning on offense. If Missouri is in the Big 12 championship game, I’ll be surprised.
Am I wrong about any of these teams? What teams did I leave out? What would be your top five?
Memo to players: “Know who you are.”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
My favorite saying from Bill Parcells is: “You are what you are.” His point? In football, it’s not smart to try to be something you’re not. If you are a slow running back, don’t pretend to be Darren McFadden. Take what talent you have and make the most of it.
Today we’re going to introduce a new slogan, just for college athletes: “Know WHO you are.”
If you are football player at a major Division I-A institution, you can’t for one minute think you’re just another Joe College, free to soak up whatever fun and human experience just happens to be in your path. You are not a regular student and if you pretend to be one you’re asking for trouble and it, my friend, will find you.
Some guys out there obviously don’t know who they are:
1. Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame: Clausen was the most high profile recruit in the nation last season. He made sure of that by calling a press conference at the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, arriving in a stretch limo, and making the announcement. Turns out that Clausen, 19, received a citation on June 23 for “transporting alcohol as a minor.” All he did was sit in a car behind the steering wheel while someone of legal age went into a store to buy alcohol. It’s a stupid law and behind the scenes the Notre Dame people are livid.
But that’s not the point. The point is when you bring that much attention to yourself, everything you do-right or wrong—is magnified. It doesn’t matter if the law is stupid. It’s several days of bad headlines you don’t need. Know who you are.
2. Simeon Castille, Alabama: Simeon’s dad, Jeremiah, was a great football player and is even a better man. Simeon comes from a good family. He knows better. But Simeon was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct at 2 a.m. last Sunday. There is some dispute over whether the charges were warranted.
Doesn’t matter. If you’re a team leader, which Simeon Castille is, you’re asleep-or at least at home—at 2 a.m. during preseason practice. If you’re a team leader, you don’t put yourself in position for bad things to happen. When the focus should be on the rebuilding program at Alabama, here are bad headlines for a player who has a good chance to be All-SEC. Know who you are.
3. Josh Riddell, Mississippi State: Given the fact that Michael Henig, Mississippi State’s starting quarterback, suffered two broken collarbones last season, the backup quarterback should probably be ready to play. But two newspapers have reported that Riddell was suspended indefinitely for driving under the influence of alcohol. Sylvester Croom is a no-nonsense head coach. Mississippi State opens with LSU and chances are the Bulldogs were going to need Riddell. He won’t be ready, even if he’s there. Know who you are.
If the Michael Vick saga teaches young players anything, it should be this: It doesn’t matter how talented you are. A lifetime of work and every dream you’ve ever had can be taken away with one stupid decision.
And it doesn’t have to be a monumentally stupid decision like Vick’s. Once you get labeled as a guy who makes bad decisions, it really doesn’t matter what the facts are. The tag sticks.
Is that fair? Of course it’s not fair. Fair’s got nothing to do with this.
Know who you are.
Does Spurrier have problems on the O-line?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s getting close.
With only 10 days left before the opener between LSU and Mississippi State, here are five things we think we know from the first two weeks of practice:
1. Steve Spurrier is really concerned about his offensive line. Spurrier’s entire offensive system is based on giving his quarterback enough time to make the reads and for his receivers to run very precise routes. If Spurrier has to keep an extra body or two in the backfield to protect his quarterback, then the offense is not nearly as effective. If the problem is not solved by Sept. 8, when South Carolina goes to Georgia, then Spurrier will pull in the reins and try to win a very low scoring, defensive game.
2. Nick Saban downplays everything with the media. That’s okay because what coaches do. But it is significant if place kicker Jamie Christensen of Norcross does not answer the bell on Sept. 1 against Western Carolina. Christensen, who missed several games with a groin injury last season, suffered a strained quadriceps muscle last week. He has proven to be a clutch kicker and with Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Georgia, and Florida State in consecutive weeks in September, it’s fair to say that Alabama will be in some close games. Maybe Leigh Tiffin can make those kicks. We’ll see.
3. This would be a very good time to own a bar in Baton Rouge and season tickets to LSU football.
How good is this home schedule: Virginia Tech, South Carolina, Florida, Auburn, and Arkansas? And the Tigers will probably be favored to win every one of them.
Here’s another question: You think they might be able to sell a few tickets to a Southern Cal-LSU national championship game in New Orleans? How big would that be?
4. Florida State needs to be tougher on the offensive line. While everyone is looking at the quarterbacks-Drew Weatherford and Xavier Lee-the reality is that the Seminoles may not be good enough on the offensive line to do what new OC Jimbo Fisher wants to do. Florida State was No. 103 nationally in rushing last season (96.54 ypg). LSU, where Fisher worked in 2006, averaged 165.77 yards per game rushing even though it had a quarterback and two wide receivers that were picked in the first round of the NFL draft. Fisher’s offense won’t work if there is no running threat.
5. Eric Berry is the real deal. The freshman cornerback from Fairburn (Creekside) has impressed coaches with his athleticism and football knowledge. He is competing with sophomore Marsalous Johnson for a starting cornerback’s job. Conventional wisdom says you shouldn’t start a freshman on the road against a California offense the scored 32.85 points per game last season. But Berry might be one of those guys who goes against conventional wisdom
Is Southern Cal really that good?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Random thoughts about the preseason AP Poll:
1. Is Southern Cal really THAT good?: The coaches poll gave the Trojans 45 out of 60 first-place votes. The AP media poll gave them 62 of 65. Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh is saying the 2007 Southern Cal team could be the best in the history of college football.
Let’s just hold on a second.
The 2005 Trojan team had two Heisman Trophy winners (Matt Leinart, Reggie) Bush but got beat by a hot quarterback (Vince Young of Texas). Southern Cal plays six road games (Nebraska, Washington, Notre Dame, Oregon, California, Arizona State). I’m just asking.
2. LSU gets love: For a team that lost four first-round draft choices, including the No. 1 overrall pick (QB JaMarcus Russell), LSU is getting a lot of love from the voters, who have them at No. 2 in both polls. It’s got to be based on a great defense that returns eight starters and the fact that the toughest games are in Baton Rouge. But can any team go undefeated against a schedule that includes Virginia Tech, South Carolina, Florida, Auburn, and Arkansas?
3. Two teams are going undefeated: Just call it a hunch. If Southern Cal is one, then I’m betting that No. 3 West Virginia will be the other. Notice that the media voted the Mountaineers No. 3 while the coaches had them at No. 6. Just an opinion, but I think coaches vote based on their assessment of the quality of the team. Media votes on the quality of the team AND that team’s likelihood of getting to the big game.
4. No respect for Tech? I remain surprised that Georgia Tech did not crack the Top 25 in either poll. Yep, the Yellow Jackets did lose Calvin Johnson but they return 15 starters and both kickers from a team that won nine games. Four of its five losses last season were by four points or less. Four of five starters return on the offensive line. Eight starters return on defense. What am I missing?
5. There is a mini-playoff: Except for Southern Cal, every team in the Top 10 has to play another Top 10 team in the regular season. No. 2 LSU plays two (No. 9 Virginia Tech, No. 6 Florida). No. 3 West Virginia plays No. 10 Louisville. No. 4 Texas plays No. 8 Oklahoma. No. 5 Michigan plays No. 7 Wisconsin. Southern Cal plays No. 12 California, No. 14 UCLA and No. 20 Nebraska.
Bonus thought: The protests of coach Charlie Weis to the contrary, I think it’s fair to say that Notre Dame is in a rebuilding year. The Irish received only 11 points in the media poll, which was good enough for No. 37.
Miami should leave Orange Bowl
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
When it comes to college football, I’m a traditionalist and I don’t apologize for it. Traditions like Tennessee’s checkerboard end zone, Georgia’s hedges, The Grove at Ole Miss, and Auburn’s Tiger Walk are the glue that bind the generations of fans together. It is why college football is the greatest game in the world.
Having said all that, it is time for the University of Miami to leave the Orange Bowl and go north to Dolphins Stadium.
The decision is probably coming Tuesday when the UM executive board meets. On the one hand the board will hear from the city fathers of Miami, who are willing to put $206 million into renovating the leaking, rusting structure. The Dolphins offer a clean, modern stadium with plenty of parking plus at least another $1.5 million per year for the Miami athletics department.
It’s a no-brainer. The Hurricanes have to go.
Of course it’s always about the money. Miami doesn’t have a lot of it, relative to the richest programs in the ACC, and needs all the help it can get. But it’s also about moving the program forward. Miami, to its credit, has overcome a bad stadium, poor facilities and other obstacles because it won national championships and great athletes wanted to play there.
But moving to the ACC has changed the entire dynamic of the Miami athletics program. Miami is now competing with programs that are pumping millions into their facilities on a regular basis. The stadiums and other support structures for football have become so elegant that it is hard for Miami, even with its tradition of winning, to overcome.
It’s a dangerous thing to lean too long on tradition, thinking it will carry you forever. Just ask Alabama.
In short, the Orange Bowl is not befitting an upper echelon ACC football program, which is what Miami was brought on board to be by the league.
It’s okay to shed a tear for the old girl. She has a lot of history to be proud of. She hosted a 58-game winning streak, five national championships and some of the greatest games and greatest players in the history of the sport.
Miami should play this season as a tribute to the OB. Soak up every minute of every game. Then on Nov. 10, at the end of the last regular season game against Virginia, raise a toast and say thanks for the memories.
Then kiss her on the cheek and say goodbye. It’s time for Miami football to turn the page.
Ranking the BCS conferences
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Associated Press preseason poll comes out on Saturday. The season starts two weeks from yesterday. So this is as good a time as any to get a real argument started. Let’s rank the BCS conferences for 2007.
1. SEC: Two teams in the top three (LSU, Florida) in the coaches poll. Five teams in the Top 15 and six in the top 20. Four coaches (Steve Spurrier, Phillip Fulmer, Nick Saban, Urban Meyer) who have won national championships, more than any other conference. The defending national champions reside in this league. Can there be any argument?
2. Big Ten: This was a close call but the Big Ten gets the edge over the Pac-10 in a couple of areas. Yes Ohio State, which played for the national championship last season, has a lot of rebuilding to do. But the Big Ten does have three teams in the preseason Top 10: Michigan (5), Wisconsin (7) and Ohio State (10). Penn State is at 18. The Big Ten has three coaches who have won national championships: Jim Tressel (Ohio State), Lloyd Carr (Michigan), Joe Paterno (Penn State).
3. Pac-10: An argument can be made for the Pac-10 at No. 2. Southern Cal is going to be No. 1 in every major poll and will very like play in the BCS championship game on Jan. 7. California is No. 12, UCLA is No. 17 and there are a host of teams, like Arizona State under new coach Dennis Erickson, who are on the rise.
4. ACC: By any measure, the ACC had a down year in 2006 because Miami and Florida State, who were supposed to be running with the big dogs, were instead sleeping under the porch at 7-6. Both schools have shaken things up and are expected to rebound. Only two teams (No. 9 Virginia Tech, No. 21 Florida State) made the coaches top 25 but Boston College and Georgia Tech got enough votes to be tied for No. 26. There are four new head coaches in this league and the defending champions, Wake Forest, are going to be better than people think.
5. Big 12: Texas, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M can play with just about anybody. Oklahoma State is not ranked but has a scary offense, as does Texas Tech. All of those teams, however, are in the Big 12 South. The Big 12’s North Division continues to hold this league back. Over the last four seasons the Big 12 North is 21-51 against the South. Seven of the North’s wins have come against Baylor. The fact that Missouri, not Nebraska, is picked to win the North Division this season tells you everything you need to know.
6. Big East: My Big East friends won’t be happy with this because the top of the league is so strong with No. 6 West Virginia, No. 11 Louisville, and No. 16 Rutgers. But the rest of this league is having a hard time getting any love. South Florida and Pittsburgh are headed in the right direction but I just don’t see any upsets where any of the bottom four beats the top three. And what in the world is going on at Syracuse?
Am I wrong with any of these rankings? If so, let’s hear about yours.
Will Hawaii get any love?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Last season Boise State beat Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl in one of the greatest games these old eyes have ever seen. When it was over and Boise was 13-0, fans asked why the undefeated Broncos didn’t at least get a sniff at the national championship.
So we have to ask: Will those same folks rally to support Hawaii?
The Warriors were 11-3 last season, losing to Alabama, Boise State, and Oregon State. The way the schedule sets up, June Jones and the gang have a pretty good shot at going 12-0. And with a quarterback like Colt Brennan, who threw for an incredible 5,549 yards and 58 touchdowns last season, Hawaii will stay on the national radar as long as they are winning.
But there is a problem. The schedule is an absolute mess with a pair of non-conference games against Division I-AA Northern Colorado (1-10 in 2006) and Charleston Southern (9-2 in the Big South). The Warriors have only one game against a BCS school in Washington, which was 5-7 last season. They also travel to UNLV (2-10 in 2006).
Will 12-0 against that schedule get Hawaii into a BCS game?
No, no, a thousand times no.
It’s not all Hawaii’s fault. After Brennan lit up Purdue for 433 yards passing in a 42-35 win last season, other teams wanted no part of Hawaii. Michigan State paid $250,000 to get out of a trip to Honolulu this season and as a result the Warriors have only 12 regular season games. Hawaii is allowed to play 13 regular season games by the NCAA.
ESPN tried to put together a game between Hawaii and Michigan at Ann Arbor, but the Wolverines would not go for it.
So Brennan is going to roll up some huge numbers and make his case for the Heisman Trophy. But the BCS formula is going to absolutely crush these guys when it comes out in October.
This is why it’s tough being a little guy in Division I-A football. As long as you’re bad, you can get all the games you want with the big boys. But if you have the audacity to get good and starting beating the big schools, the BCS conferences won’t return your phone calls.
So let me ask you. If Hawaii just kills every team it plays and goes 12-0, should the Warriors go to a BCS bowl?
Five games you have to watch
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
If you can only watch five college football games this season (and if that’s the case, how sad for you), make sure you’re near a TV set (or in the stadium) for these:
1. Florida at LSU, Oct. 6: The defending national champions have two difficult games before this (Tennessee, Auburn) but both are in The Swamp. This will be the first tough road trip for the Gators against a team that some believe is good enough to win the national championship. And there is a better than even chance that we’ll see these two meet again in Atlanta for the SEC championship on Dec.1
2. Louisville at West Virginia, Nov. 8: This will be an incredible offensive shootout, probably with the Big East championship on the line. There will be a lot of future NFL talent on the field and Morgantown should be rocking on a cool Thursday night.
3. Virginia Tech at LSU, Sept. 8: The Hokies have never been to Baton Rouge and will be anxious to find out what all the fuss is about. Virginia Tech beat LSU in Blacksburg (26-8) in 2002. Some believe LSU can win the national championship. If the Tigers win this game, they just might get a shot.
4. Southern Cal at California, Nov. 10: If the No. 1 Trojans are going to stumble anywhere this season, this trip to Berkeley just might be it. The Bears of Jeff Tedford have played Southern Cal tough over the years and return eight starters from the Pac-10s best offense from a year ago. It will be the Trojans’ third road game in four weeks.
5. LSU at Alabama, Nov. 3: I don’t how good the game is going to be, but the drama will be off the charts. Since Nick Saban took the job at Alabama, LSU fans have talked about nothing other than this game. They desperately want to show up en masse in Tuscaloosa and spank their former coach for having the audacity to go to a rival school. LSU coach Les Miles, you might have heard, is not a big Saban fan. He has gotten a little tired of hearing that he’s winning with Saban’s players. The Tigers will be ready to play.
Okay. It’s your turn. Which great games did it leave out?
Should freshmen be ineligible?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
My good friend Tim Brando often says that one of the college football’s biggest problems is that it doesn’t speak with one voice. There is not one person looking out for the good of the entire sport. College football doesn’t need a commissioner. It needs a czar. If I were the czar of college football, here are five changes I would make today:
1. Freshmen are ineligible: Many of the ills in college football can be traced back to the decision to make freshmen eligible in 1971. Too many 18-year-olds become stars of the recruiting process (and their own minds) and have press conferences before they have attended a single college class. College coaches have to make promises of playing time that they know they can’t keep. Then they have to “de-recruit” the freshmen once they get on campus. Just end the silliness. You sit out the first year and prove you can handle the academics. Then you get four more years of eligibility.
2. Four team playoff using the bowls: It’s taken me a while to get around to this. I’m a traditionalist and I’m proud of it. But if it’s handled properly, this could be the biggest shot in the arm that college football has ever had. The calendar is in place to play the semifinals on Jan. 1 and the championship on Jan. 8. Rotate the semifinals and finals among four bowls and open up the process and allow other bowls to bid. And if the Big Ten and Pac-10 don’t want to play and stay in their own sandbox in Pasadena (Rose Bowl), that’s fine. As soon as a 12-0 Ohio State gets left out the national championship game, that tune will change.
3. You MUST win your conference championship: No team can play for the national championship or get into the four-team playoff without winning its conference championship. The idea of an Ohio State-Michigan rematch for the BCS title was silly. Michigan had their shot. College football has the healthiest regular season of any sport because conference championships are so important.
4. Polls don’t start until mid-October: This won’t happen because too many people have a financial interest in the current system. But there is a reason the BCS standings are not released until a number of games are played. If you’re going to use the polls to determine who plays in the national championship game, then the only fair thing to do is not to release then until after some games are played.
5. Early signing date: It’s bad for coaches. I’ll admit that. They will have to spend too much of their fall recruiting instead of taking care of the players they have. But it would be good for the high school players, who are committing earlier and earlier. And it would also take some of the pressure and the silliness out of the final weeks of recruiting. Too much money is being spent babysitting players who have already given a verbal commitment and are just waiting to sign. If they want to sign in December, then let them.
What changes would you make?
Why the SEC is smiling
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sometimes this job is just too easy.
Sometimes people just tee it up and allow us to hit it out of the park.
Thank you, Jim Harbaugh.
Harbaugh, you should know, is a former Michigan quarterback who is now the head coach at Stanford. Like his former coach (the late Bo Schembechler), Harbaugh has a tendency to tell the truth as he sees it and let the chips fall where they may. It’s one of the reasons we all loved Bo and miss him.
During the Pac-10’s media days Harbaugh suggested that the 2007 team from Southern Cal might be one of the best of all time. It was hyperbole, to be sure, but harmless.
But then he did the unthinkable, at least for a Michigan man. Harbaugh, for reasons known only unto him, suggested that…GASP!…his alma mater cuts academic corners to get great football players into school and keep them eligible.
Needless to say, Harbaugh has been cut out of the Michigan family quicker than Michael Corleone dispatched Freddo.
What makes this all so delicious, and the reason the is SEC smiling today, is that Harbaugh’s comments come about five months after some well-chosen words on academic integrity by Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany.
Last February Delany’s conference was getting its collective chops busted after national signing day when the SEC basically cleaned the Big Ten’s clock in recruiting. And national signing day came about a month after Florida’s 41-14 beat down of No. 1 Ohio State in the BCS championship game where the difference in talent and speed was very evident.
A writer in a Chicago newspaper suggested that the Big Ten needed to rethink how it does business in order to improve recruiting and compete more favorably with the SEC.
In response, Delany wrote this in an open letter to Big Ten fans on the league’s website: “I love speed and the SEC has great speed, especially on the defensive line, but there are appropriate balances when mixing academics and athletics.”
Say what?
No, wait. It gets better.
“I wish we had six teams among the Top 10 recruiting classes every year, but winning OUR WAY (my emphasis) requires some discipline and restraint in the recruiting process.”
Trust me when I tell you that Mike Slive, the SEC Commissioner, wanted to fire back with both barrels. He took the high road.
Fortunately, we don’t have that problem here.
Will this come up again the next time the SEC and Big Ten square off? What do you think?
Three things we have learned
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The first week of practice is in the books. Three things we have learned:
1. Blake Mitchell is on thin ice: You would think that a fifth-year senior would have learned the basic rule of playing quarterback for Steve Spurrier : You don’t tick off the Head Ball Coach and give him any reason to question your commitment or your leadership ability.
But Mitchell missed the first two days of preseason practice at South Carolina because he missed too many classes.
Please.
“I hope that’s embarrassing to him,” Spurrier told reporters. “It should be.”
Mitchell had better hope that freshman Stephen Garcia doesn’t have a great training camp or he’ll be holding a clipboard on Sept. 1.
2. LaMarcus Coker has not been paying attention: Tennessee, you might have noticed, is deep in running backs. After spring practice, coach Phillip Fulmer praised the work ethic of Arian Foster, one of those running backs.
He did not mention Coker. Coker, an extremely talented kid who can make big plays, responded to the challenge by earning an indefinite suspension for an undisclosed rules violation.
Maybe LaMarcus didn’t get the memo but coaches today are quicker to cut a guy loose than ever before. A guy who won’t follow the rules just isn’t worth it any more, regardless of his talent. Hey LaMarcus: Ever heard of Brent Schaeffer?
3. Spurrier is not going anywhere, but he does have a point: Steve Spurrier is not going to leave South Carolina because of a flap with the academic side of the university. And it’s not up the head football coach of any institution to set academic standards.
It’s probably not the wisest thing to do to put your president out there on a limb because he has to deal with the faculty. But Spurrier is not a politician.
Still, Spurrier has a point.
When a kid who is eligible by NCAA standards is told the day before practice that he can’t get in school, the system is flawed. Fact is, Clemson had already gone through this a year ago so the issue should have been addressed before now. Each institution is free to set its own standards for admission. That’s the way it should be.
But there is an issue of fundamental fairness to the student athlete given their unique situation.
Ranking the ACC’s best defensive backs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Today we wrap up the position-by-position breakdown of the best players in the ACC and SEC. I can’t think of a better group of athletes with which to finish. Here are the best five defensive backs in the ACC for the 2007 season:
1. Kenny Phillips, Jr., Miami: Ed Reed and Sean Taylor set the standard for safeties at Miami. This guy has a chance to be just as good. Missed three games last season due to injury but was still a third-team All-America as a sophomore.
2. Brandon Flowers, Jr., Virginia Tech: Flowers was an All-ACC pick last season after breaking up 21 passes in 13 games. He’ll make a number of All-America teams this season.
3. Jamal Lewis, Sr. Georgia Tech: A first-team All-ACC player last season after switching to safety from corner the previous spring. He was Tech’s third-leading tackler with 74 and had three interceptions. Returned an interception 97 yards for a touchdown against Samford.
4. Myron Rolle, Soph., Florida State: He has just scratched the surface of his talent. Rolle started 10 games as a true freshman and was the ACC defensive rookie of the year. He may play both rover and safety this season.
5. DeJuan Tribble, Sr., Boston College: Has 26 career starts at cornerback for the Eagles. He has 11 career interceptions and returned three picks for touchdowns during the 2006 season.
HONORABLE MENTION
Tony Carter, Jr., Florida State: Carter, who has started 24 of his last 26 games at Florida State, had four scores last season (two on interceptions and two on blocked kicks).
Chris Clemons, Jr., Clemson: The safety was Clemson’s second leading tackler last season with 102. Had five games with double-digit tackles.
Isaiah Garner, Sr., Maryland: A Notre Dame transfer who had 63 tackles last season as a cornerback. Very strong and very athletic.
Victor Harris, Jr., Virginia Tech: Teams with Brandon Flowers to give Virginia Tech one of the best set of cover corners in the country. Had four interceptions in 2006.
Glenn Sharpe, Sr., Miami: This guy deserves to be on this list for sheer persistence. He returned to action last season and played in 12 games after missing most of 2004 and 2005 with injuries. Had 44 tackles and two interceptions.
Rating the SEC’s best defensive backs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We’re winding down our look at the best at each position in the SEC and ACC. These guys are the last line of defense and some of the best athletes anywhere. Here are my top five defensive backs in the SEC for 2007.
1. Simeon Castille, Sr., Alabama: One of the best cover corners in the country. Grabbed five interceptions last season and had two games (Vanderbilt, Tennessee) with two interceptions. Castile certainly has the bloodlines. His dad, Jeremiah, was a great, great player for the Crimson Tide (1979-82).
2. Jonathon Hefney, Sr., Tennessee: Hefney had five interceptions last season and finished second on the Tennessee team in tackles with 96. Hefney also averaged 12.1 yards on punt returns.
3. Chevis Jackson, Sr., LSU: Great cover corner who has 25 starts and has played in 38 games during his career at LSU. Had two interceptions and broke up 14 passes last season.
4. Derek Pegues, Sr., Miss. State: Great combination of DB and return specialist. Had four interceptions last season and returned two for touchdowns. He averaged 21.9 yards on 57 kickoffs. He also returned punts for a 14-yard average.
5. Kelin Johnson, Sr., Georgia: The safety is Georgia’s leading returning tackler with 60. He had two interceptions in 2006. He has played in 38 career games with 13 starts.
HONORABLE MENTION
Eric Brock, Sr., Auburn: Strong safety has played in 36 games with 18 starts in his career at Auburn. Finished with 50 tackles and one interception last season.
Tony Joiner, Sr., Florida: Joiner has played in 34 career games with 15 starts. He is one of just two returning players on Florida’s defense. Had two interceptions at strong safety a year ago.
Jamarca Sanford, Jr., Ole Miss: A versatile athlete who started seven games at safety and four at linebacker last season. He was a freshman All-America in 2005.
Craig Steltz, Sr., LSU: With star safety Laron Landry gone to the NFL Steltz, who had four interceptions last season, is expected to be the leader in a very talented LSU secondary.
Jonathon Zenon, Sr., LSU: Teams with Jackson to give LSU the best pair of cover corners in the country. Had four interceptions last season.
Rating the ACC’s best linebackers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’d stack this group of linebackers against any in the country. Here are my top five in the ACC as we head into the 2007 season. Who did I leave out?
1. Vince Hall, Sr., Virginia Tech: Led the nation’s best defense (219.46 ypg, 11.0 ppg) with 128 tackles. Had 10.5 tackles for loss. He has 304 tackles in 38 career starts. Coaches believe he is the best linebacker to ever play for Virginia Tech.
2. Phillip Wheeler, Sr., Georgia Tech: An All-ACC player last season who will be an All-American in 2007. Wheeler is so fast and so athletic that it is almost impossible to knock him off his feet. Had nine sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss last season.
3. Xavier Adibi, Sr., Virginia Tech: This guy would be the defensive star on any other team in the country. He was second on the team with 82 tackles and has six interceptions in his career. He was second team All-ACC last season. Barring injury, he’ll be on the first team in 2007.
4. Jolonn Dunbar, Sr., Boston College: The Eagles will be without LB Brian Toal, who is recovering from shoulder surgery. But Dunbar is a big time player. He had 7.5 sacks last season and recovered two fumbles for touchdowns against Maryland.
5. Nick Watkins, Sr. Clemson: Led Clemson in tackles last season with 116. Has been the model of consistency throughout his career with at least five tackles in each of his 25 career starts.
HONORABLE MENTION
Gary Guyton, Sr., Georgia Tech: Guyton moves over to take the spot vacated by KaMichael Hall, the All-ACC performer. Guyton had a big 2006 with eight tackles for loss and a fumble return for a touchdown in the win over Virginia Tech.**
Geno Hayes, Jr., Florida State: Spent the spring working at middle linebacker but coaches decided he wasn’t big enough (6-2, 218) to handle the position. He returns to outside linebacker, where he started 10 of 13 games as a sophomore.
Erin Henderson, Jr., Maryland: Henderson led the team with 114 tackles last season. Had 17 tackles in a win over Clemson. The Terps are expecting this guy to become a star this season.
Derek Nicholson, Jr., Florida State: The Seminoles’ middle linebacker is coming off a knee injury that knocked him out in the middle of the 2006. If he stays healthy, Nicholson will have a huge year.
Michael Taulilli, Jr., Duke: He was a freshman All-America in 2005 and last season had 94 tackles.
Rating the SEC’s best linebackers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The SEC lost some great linebackers after the 2006 season like Juwan Simpson of Alabama, Patrick Willis of Ole Miss, Sam Olajubuta of Arkansas, and Tony Taylor of Georgia.
But there is still a very impressive group coming back for this season. Here are my top five. Disagree? Then give me your top five.
1. Jasper Brinkley, Sr., South Carolina: Had 107 tackles in his first season after transferring from Georgia Military College. He has an incredible nose for the football. He had 85 solo tackles last season and will be the bell cow on a very good South Carolina defense.
2. Ali Highsmith, LSU: May be the best outside linebacker in the country. Has played in 38 games with 24 starts at two different positions for the Tigers. Has incredible speed and delivers the big hit.
3. Jerod Mayo, Jr., Tennessee: If he stays healthy, Mayo has a chance to be an All-American this season. Had three games last season with 12 tackles and two more games with 10 tackles. Coaches believe he could be as good as any linebacker who has ever played at Tennessee.
4. Jonathon Goff, Sr., Vanderbilt: Has started 28 straight games for the Commodores and has played in all 34 games since he got to campus in 2004. His 194 career tackles is the third best total of any returning player in the SEC this season. Had 93 tackles last season, a career high.
5. Wesley Woodyard, Sr., Kentucky: The league’s coaches made Woodyard a first-team All-SEC pick after posting 122 tackles as a junior. Had 100 tackles as a sophomore. With 256 career tackles, Woodyard could become the first Kentucky player in 14 years to reach 300 tackles. Will start the season with a cast on his broken hand.
HONORABLE MENTION
Tray Blackmon, Soph., Auburn: If the LaGrange native gets this act together off the field, he can be an all-conference player this season.
Darry Beckwith, Jr., LSU: Beckwith moved from outside to middle linebacker midway through last season and has found a home. Had 65 total tackles and should have a big year.
Freddie Fairchild, Soph., Arkansas: Fairchild was a freshman All-America in 2005 and then had 12 tackles in the 2006 opener with Southern Cal. Then he was lost for the season with a knee injury in the second game. Now he’s back and ready for a big year. The NCAA gave him a medical redshirt so he is still a sophomore.
Prince Hall, Soph., Alabama: Hall is the only returning linebacker and will get a lot of work in Alabama’s new 3-4 defense.
Brandon Miller, Sr., Georgia: With all of Georgia’s starters from 2006 gone Miller, who had five starts last season, needs to step up at middle linebacker. He will. He is a huge key as the Bulldogs rebuild their defense.
Ranking the ACC’s defensive linemen
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s going to be a big year for defense in the ACC. In the final NCAA statistics of 2006, the ACC placed seven teams (Virginia Tech, Miami, Clemson, Virginia, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Boston College) in the top 34 in total defense. Those seven teams return 57 of 77 starters from a year ago.
And it all starts up front. Here is my list for the top five defensive linemen in the ACC as we head into the 2007 season.
1. Calais Campbell, DE, Sr., Miami: He’s the best defensive end in college football, period. At 6-8, 282, he doesn’t have to get to the quarterback to have an impact on the passing game.
2. Chris Long, DE, Sr., Virginia: A relentless defender who keeps constant pressure on the quarterback. The son of former NFL great Howie Long had five sacks and 12 tackles for loss last season.
3. Andre Fluellen, NG, Sr., Florida State: Fluellen has started 25 of the last 26 games on the defensive line for the Seminoles. Can play noseguard or tackle. Was the most dominating player in spring practice and is expected to have a huge year.
4. DeMario Pressley, DT, Sr., N.C. State: Has started 23 straight games and will anchor what will be a pretty good Wolfpack defense.
5. B.J. Raji, DT, Sr., Boston College: Raji was a second team All-ACC pick last season, when he had 6.5 tackles for loss. He’s a very underrated player because he plays on the same defense with LB Brian Toal.
HONORABLE MENTION
Chris Ellis, DE, Sr., Virginia Tech: Missed spring ball as he recovered from shoulder surgery but coaches believe he is going to have a big year. He had 8.5 tackles for loss last season.
Paul Griffin, DT, Jr., Florida State: This guy began last season in the starting lineup as a JUCO transfer. Then he injured his left knee in the second game and was lost for the rest of the season. If he comes back full speed he will be a force.
Adamm Oliver, DE, Sr., Georgia Tech: A second team All-ACC pick last season who had 70 tackles, including 11 for lost yardage.
Vincent Oghobaase, DE, Soph., Duke: There wasn’t a whole lot to smile about at Duke (0-12) last season but this guy came to play every Saturday. He passed up offers from Miami and Oklahoma to go to Duke.
Phillip Merling, DE, Jr., Clemson: Had a pretty good 2006 with Gaines Adams, the ACC defensive player of the year, on the other side. Adams is gone and the Tigers are relying on Merling to be the man up front.
Rating the SEC’s defensive linemen
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Pat Dye told me a long time ago that the thing that separates the SEC from other leagues is its defensive linemen. Not only are they big, they are very fast and they know how to hit.
Just ask Ohio State.
In the final NCAA statistics for 2006, the SEC placed three defenses in the top 8 (No. 3 LSU, No. 6 Florida, No. 8 Georgia) and three more in the top 26 (No. 19 Auburn, No. 23 Alabama, No. 26 Arkansas).
They all had great defensive linemen.
So here are my top five defensive linemen in the SEC as we head into the 2007 season. If you disagree, I’d be interested to see your top five.
1. Glenn Dorsey, DT, Sr., LSU: This one’s easy. Dorsey should be an NFL millionaire right now but he wanted to come back and see if he could lead LSU to a national championship. He’s the best defensive lineman in college football.
2. Derrick Harvey, DE, Jr., Florida: Ohio State’s Troy Smith is still having nightmares about this guy. He was the defensive MVP in the BCS championship game with three sacks. Speed, Speed, Speed.
3. Quentin Groves, DE, Sr., Auburn: Groves has 23 career sacks and needs just four more to become the all-time leader at Auburn. He has posted seven multiple sack games in his career and is on the watch list for every major defensive award for which he is eligible.
4. Tyson Jackson, DE, Jr., LSU: Will combine with Glenn Dorsey to give LSU the best defensive end/tackle combination in the country. Had 10 tackles for loss as a sophomore. He’ll be a first-team All-SEC player.
5. Antwain Robinson, Jr., DE, Arkansas: The Hogs lost Jamaal Anderson to the Atlanta Falcons but the Hogs return Robinson, who had 14.5 tackles for loss as a sophomore.
HONORABLE MENTION
Titus Brown, Sr., DT, Miss. State: Was a second team All-SEC pick last season. Over his career he has 23.5 tackles for loss.
Wallace Gilberry, DE, Sr., Alabama: After a solid junior season where he posted 10 tackles for loss and three quarterback sacks, Gilberry is ready to have a monster senior year.
Marcus Harrison, Sr., DT Arkansas: Harrison is still trying to recover from ACL surgery on April 10. But if this guy gets on the field in September at full speed, he just might be an All-SEC player.
Sen’Derrick Marks, DE, Soph., Auburn: Played 13 games at defensive tackle last season as a freshman. Last spring the coaches moved him to DE where he will get a lot of opportunities to make plays against offenses worried about Quentin Groves.
Xavier Mitchell, DE, Sr., Tennessee: The Vols were ranked No. 8 in every major defensive category that matters last season. That won’t change until the guys up front start making some plays. Mitchell had 13 quarterback hurries last season.
Questions about the coaches poll
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The USA Today preseason coaches poll came out on Friday and, as always, there are some questions. Here are my top five. Feel free to disagree:
1. Why did Florida get nine first place votes and finish No. 3? Yes, the Gators are the defending national champions and with the coaches that always seems to carry a lot of weight. But coaches are always the first to say that last year has no bearing on this year. The fact is the Gators lost nine starters on defense in a league where defense wins championships. Given the talent level, Florida probably deserves to be in the Top 10 but three seems a little high.
2. Should Tennessee be worried about its trip to Cal on Sept. 1? The coaches made the Bears No. 12 because they return eight starters from an offense that led the Pac-10 in scoring (32.6 ppg). But one of those missing is RB Marshawn Lynch. Still, any problems Tennessee may have in its secondary had better be buttoned up before the Vols get to Berkeley. Those guys can wing it and have revenge on their minds after a serious beat down last year in Knoxville.
3. Is the Big Ten REALLY that good? There are three teams in the Top 10 (No. 5 Michigan, No. 7 Wisconsin, No. 10 Ohio State). The good news is that, unlike last season when Wisconsin was complaining about not getting into the BCS at 11-1, all three teams play each other. That’s the good thing about having a conference championship game: If the regular schedule allows you to duck a really good team in your conference, chances are greater that you’ll have to eventually play them to win the championship.
4. Where’s the love for the ACC? Virginia Tech returns most of a great defense so the coaches made them No. 9. Florida State reworked its coaching staff to have to be better, right? The Seminoles are at No. 21. But that’s it. If the poll went to 28 Georgia Tech, Boston College and Miami would have gotten in. Wake Forest, the defending ACC champs, was 31. Does this league have something to prove this season? You bet it does. SEC fans, who have six teams in the Top 20, are going to take their shots.
5. Is West Virginia sitting in the catbird’s seat? Let’s start with the assumption that Southern Cal will go undefeated and stay at No. 1. So if everybody is is playing for No. 2, you have to like West Virginia’s chances.
The Mountaineers start at No. 6 and teams 2-5 (LSU, Florida, Texas, Michigan) all will find it very difficult to go undefeated. West Virginia’s two toughest road games will be at South Florida (Sept. 28) and at Rutgers (Oct. 27). They get Louisville at home on Nov. 8 in what will probably be for the Big East championship. And let’s go ahead and say this now: A one-loss SEC or Big Ten team is not going to get in the BCS title game ahead of an undefeated Big East champion because the human polls now dominate the formula. And if Southern Cal and West Virginia are the only two undefeated teams on Dec. 2, then that’s your game.
Is Steve Spurrier right or wrong?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I want to take a time out from breaking down the various positions to throw out this question to you:
Is Steve Spurrier right or wrong?
On Friday, the USA Today preseason coaches poll was released. For the past 15 years or so, except for the three years he was out of college football (2002-2004), Spurrier has given his No. 25 vote in the preseason poll to Duke.
Yes, Duke enters this season having lost 20 straight games and has lost 25 of its last 28 games in the ACC.
Spurrier does it so that for one week, long before any games are played, Duke will receive one point and be the last entry on the list of teams at the bottom of the poll that receive votes.
Spurrier sees it as a harmless gesture to a school that gave him his first head coaching job in college football. He rewarded them first in 1989 by winning an ACC championship, which was his springboard to Florida. From his standpoint, he is a very successful (and wealthy) man today because of the opportunity Duke gave him.
USA Today, however, has expressed concerns and will prevail upon the American Football Coaches Association, which picks the 60 coaches who participate in the poll, to get Spurrier to take his No. 25 vote as seriously as his No. 1 vote.
USA Today’s point is that if every coach did this, it would undermine the integrity of the poll. And polls are being watched more carefully now that they play a big part in determining who plays in the BCS championship.
I have long been a big proponent of full disclosure in the coaches poll, so that every vote is public every week. Right now, only the votes in the last regular season poll, the one that goes into the final BCS standings, are public.
Still, I agree with Spurrier.
If he’s voting Duke No. 25 when they are 0-2, that’s a problem. But if he’s voting them No. 25 when they are 0-0, like the other 118 teams in Division I-A, I don’t see a problem. Nobody is negatively impacted by the No. 25 pick in college football poll that is released on Aug. 3.
I think we all need to lighten up just a bit. The start of the season is still 26 days away.
Am I wrong? Is Spurrier wrong?
I’d like to hear your thoughts.
Rating the SEC’s best wide receivers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
You want to try something REALLY hard? Try picking the top five wide receivers in the SEC. You can’t do it without relegating a great, great player to the Honorable Mention list. But here are my top five as we enter the 2007 season. Who would be your top five?
1. Earl Bennett, Jr., Vanderbilt: Has a remarkable 168 catches in just two seasons and needs just 48 receptions to become the SEC’s all-time leader as a junior. He is the only receiver in SEC history to catch 75 or more passes in two consecutive seasons. He led the SEC with 82 catches last season.
2. Percy Harvin, Soph., Florida: One of the most talented athletes to play in this league in many years. Because he was injured in the first half of the 2006 season, Harvin touched the ball “only” 75 times for 855 yards of total offense. You can bet that he’ll get many more touches this season. He can totally change a game each time he gets his hands on the ball.
3. Marcus Monk, Sr., Arkansas: He played on a team that had two 1,000-yard rushers last season. Still Monk caught 50 passes for 962 yards (19.2 ypc). He has 122 career catches with 24 touchdowns, which translates to a TD about every five catches. He needs only eight touchdown catches to break the career SEC record of 31 held by Chris Doering. At 6-6, it is almost impossible for a corner to cover him one-on-one.
4. Keenan Burton, Sr., Kentucky: Had a monster year in 2006 with 77 catches for 1,036 yards and 12 touchdowns. Is also a great kickoff return man, averaging 26.6 yards per return over his career. He’s playing with the best quarterback in the SEC (Andre Woodson) so expect Burton to put up huge numbers again.
5. Early Doucet, Sr., LSU: The Tigers had two receivers (Dwayne Bowe, Craig Davis) taken in the first round of the NFL Draft last April. That simply clears the way for Doucet, who had 59 catches last year and 103 career catches for 1,521 yards.
HONORABLE MENTION
Keith Brown, Sr., Alabama: Brown had 44 catches for 590 yards last season. Missed two games with a knee injury or his totals would have been higher.
Andre “Bubba” Caldwell, Sr., Florida: Had 57 catches last season to give him 129 in his career. Needs 44 to become the Gators’ all-time leader in passes caught. With Harvin on the field drawing attention from the defenses, Caldwell will get opportunities to make big plays.
DJ Hall, Sr., Alabama: How good is this guy? The great Ozzie Newsome holds the career record at Alabama with 2,010 receiving yards. Hall, from Fort Walton Beach, needs just 94 yards to break that record. With 127 career catches, he needs just 34 to break the current Alabama record held by Freddie Milons. If the offensive line plays well, Hall should have a huge year in Major Applewhite’s new offense.
Dicky Lyons, Jr., Kentucky: Caught 50 passes last season for 822 yards (16.4 ypc) and 9 touchdowns. Had the best average per catch on the Kentucky team.
Kenny McKinley, Jr., South Carolina: McKinley becomes the go-to receiver for the Gamecocks now that Sidney Rice is in the NFL. Caught 51 passes for 880 yards last season.
Ranking the ACC’s best wide receivers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Tech’s Calvin Johnson has gone to the NFL and we probably won’t see another like him for a while. But there are still some very, very good receivers returning in the ACC this fall. Here is just one man’s top five:
Greg Carr, Jr., Florida State: Carr caught 34 passes as a sophomore but had 12 touchdowns because, at 6-5, he was able to out-jump DBs in the end zone. But there is a problem. New offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher demands two things of his receivers: 1) They must be able to run very precise routes and 2) they must block downfield. Carr, for all his talent, needs to improve in both areas. But physically, he’s among the very best in this league.
Darrius Heyward-Bey, Soph. Maryland: Heyward-Bey’s 45 catches for 694 yards was the third best season ever by a freshman receiver in the ACC. He averaged 15.4 yards per catch in Ralph Friedgen’s offense.
Lance Leggett, Sr., Miami: When this guy got to Miami three years ago a lot of us thought he was the next Michael Irvin. He still could have a great end to his career if the offense finally clicks under new coordinator Patrick Nix. Leggett caught 38 passes and averaged 15.4 yards per catch in 2006. He’s bigger and stronger than a year ago.
Eddie Royal, Sr., Virginia Tech: Royal had only 31 catches last season but the Hokies have big plans for him in 2007. Virginia Tech is looking for a lot of ways to get Royal the ball in the open field. He is also a great kick returner.
Sam Shields, Soph., Miami: Shields caught 37 passes for 501 yards as a freshman, the most catches by a Hurricanes rookie since Reggie Wayne in 1997. Every school in the country wanted this guy coming out of Booker High School in Sarasota. This season Shields will show them why.
HONORABLE MENTION
Kevin Challenger, Sr. Boston College: Had 47 catches for 543 yards last season and will have to do even more now that Tony Gonzalez, the Eagles’ big play receiver, is gone.
De’Cody Fagg, Sr., Florida State: Fagg caught 34 passes last season and was the closet thing the Seminole offense had to a big-play threat.
James Johnson, Jr., Georgia Tech: Johnson had 39 catches for 608 yards last season but he has to prove he can get open on his own, and not because Calvin Johnson was being double teamed on the other side of the field. He’ll be the best of Georgia Tech’s committee of receivers.
Aaron Kelly, Jr., Clemson: Chansi Stuckey is gone and that leaves the door open for Kelly, who caught six passes in the Music City Bowl.
Hakeem Nicks, Soph., North Carolina: On a team that doesn’t have a lot of talent, this guy is a real playmaker. He caught 39 passes for 660 yards as a freshman and averaged 16.9 yards per catch.
Kenny Moore, Sr., Wake Forest: This guy will be a surprise star this season. He played running back last season when the Deacons got in a pinch. Now he is going to be their best big-play maker.
Ranking the SEC’s top rushers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Given the talent were discussing, not a whole lot of fanfare is needed. Ladies and gentlemen, the top five running backs in the SEC for 2007 …
1. Darren McFadden, Jr., Arkansas. A no-brainer. Doak Walker Award winner. Second in the Heisman Trophy voting. Leading rusher in the SEC (1,647 yards). But here is the question: Does this guy, as good as he is, belong in the same category as Herschel Walker and Bo Jackson? Let us know what you think.
2. Cory Boyd, Sr., South Carolina. Only one player in school history has recorded over 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving (Stanley Pritchett of Atlanta). With 102 yards receiving, Boyd will become the second. He’s had an up-and-down career, with some down moments off the field. But as a senior he’s finally matured enough to have a big season in Steve Spurrier’s offense.
3. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Sr., Ole Miss. Ran for 1,000 yards on a really, really, really bad offense. He is only the third player in Ole Miss history to run for over 1,000 yards in a season. He is tough runner who gets a lot of yards on his own. If the Rebels can throw it just a little bit, Green-Ellis is going to have another big year.
4. Felix Jones, Jr., Arkansas. This guy would start for any other team. Despite sharing time with McFadden, Jones rushed for 1,168 yards. Jones was also No. 4 in the SEC in kickoff returns, averaging 24.1 yards per attempt. That number will go up with the new rule that will have the ball kicked from the 30-yard line.
5. Rafael Little, Sr. Kentucky. Was a first-team All-SEC running back in 2005 when he ran for over 1,000 yards and led the league in all-purpose yardage. He is also one of the nation’s best punt returners. Little didn’t stay healthy last season and saw his production dip. If he can go the distance in 2007, Kentucky has a chance to make some noise in the SEC East.
HONORABLE MENTION
— LaMarcus Coker, Soph., Tennessee. As a rookie Coker posted two electrifying touchdown runs of 89 and 87 yards. Averaged 63.3 yards per game, which was tops among freshmen last season. Enormous talent.
— Arian Foster, Jr., Tennessee. Foster had a huge freshman season in 2005 but due to injuries, he never really got out of the gate last season. Coach Phillip Fulmer was singing Foster’s praises after spring practice and, barring injury, he is expected to have a huge year. If this guy can get 20-25 carries a game, he will have a monster year.
— Jacob Hester, Sr., LSU. When LSU absolutely, positively has to have a first down, the Tigers find a way to get the ball to Hester. He’s listed as a fullback but can play tailback and catch the ball out of the backfield. Has 14 career touchdowns (eight rushing, six receiving). Ask opponents how tough it is to bring this guy down once he gets rolling.
— Brad Lester, Jr., Auburn. The Parkview product had 104 carries for 510 yards but scored nine touchdowns last season. He’s a couple of biscuits shy of 200 pounds and needs to be about 210 in order to take the pounding in this league. Still, he can make big plays if his body will just hold up.
— Kregg Lumpkin, Sr., Georgia. Matthew Stafford is a very good quarterback, but Georgia is at its best when Lumpkin is getting the rock on a regular basis. He got 21 carries and 105 yards when the Bulldogs won at Auburn last season. Yes, he’ll be sharing time with Thomas Brown, Knowshon Moreno and maybe Caleb King. But this guy needs to get 20 carries a game if Georgia is going to make a run in the SEC East.
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