Week 2 - Games to Keep an Eye On

We've got one week in the bag. Michigan was destroyed by Alabama. Southern Cal, Clemson, Tennessee all put on good shows. I was extremely impressed by Le'Veon Bell (Michigan State), Andre Ellington (Clemson), Matt Barkley (Southern Cal), Tyler Bray (Tenn.), Todd Gurley (Georgia), Marcus Mariota (Oregon) and T.J. Yeldon (Alabama). They all had monster week 1 games, and it will be fun to keep an eye on them as the year progresses.

With Week 2 upon us, let's dive into the key matchups.


Miami at Kansas State (Saturday Noon)

• Miami is coming off a pretty good road win to start the season. They beat up Boston College, but the game was a little sloppy and lackluster for my taste.
• Duke Johnson is the real deal for Miami. He blew it up last week (7 carries, 135 yards & 2 TDs).
• This weekend's matchup versus K-State is a much different animal. Remember K-State beat Miami last year, and they play much better ball the Boston College
• K-State has not been shutout in over 190 games (longest streak in BIG-12)
• Look for Kansas State to have their hands full, but to win this one by a field goal with solid D and a great running attack

(Photo courtesy Al Diaz)

Auburn at Mississippi State (Saturday Noon)

• These two programs really hate each other. Last year's matchup or the year before for that matter.
• Bottom line these games are always exciting and close
• Keep both eyes on this one
• Auburn got a little roughed up against a solid and not yet 100% Clemson squad last week in the Dome. Tackling was poor and the offense was pretty vanilla.
• Miss. State is fired up for this one and Dan is looking for Win #2 and with a solid QB in Tyler Russel at the helm, I can understand why
• I see Auburn going 0-2 and loosing this one by 7

(Photo courtesy of Vince Ferrara)

 

East Carolina at South Carolina (Saturday 12:30 PM)

• Scary news out of last week's game. Conner Shaw with a deep bruise on throwing arm. Look for more of the same as he really likes to run
• Lattimore is back and after a 1st touch fumbe he reeled of 2 TDs and 110 yards
• And boy did DJ Swearinger get away with a pass interference late in the game. Vandy would have had the ball late in the game on the other side of the 50 with less than 2 minutes to play down by 4. Deep sigh of relief USC fans the SEC officials had your back.
• South Carolina should be concerned in the big picture - I don't see anyone on the edge that scares me. Maybe a WR will step up in Alshon's absence...either way they've got Lattimore and a stingy defense up front
• South Carolina will pull away around halftime and never look back

(Photo courtesy of Streeter Lecka)

Florida at Texas A&M (Saturday 3:30 PM)

• Welcome to the 2012 season and to the SEC
• A&M did not play last week, so it's a blessing and a curse
• They have plenty of time to prepare for Florida, who really has nothing to game plan against since there is no relevant game footage of them, but they could come out a little rusty due to no live reps
• Florida looked rough against Bowling Green. For a second there, I thought we were going to have an upset. Florida is very bland on offense and lacking in confidence
• Driskel is the QB but I'm not so sure if it will not take him until mid-season to hit stride behind that shaky Offensive Line. Defense is pretty good, but there are holes.
• I'm looking for A&M to make a splash and pull an upset

(Photo courtesy of Sam Greenwood)

Washington at LSU (Saturday 7:00 PM)

• LSU trotted out ex-UGA quarterback Zach Mettenberger and he looked as UGA predicted pretty darn good.
• LSU's ground game and defense picked up right where they were last year and they played and all around solid game
• Washington will have their hands full in this
• Look for LSU to win by 4 TDs

(Photo courtesy of Richard Reddman)

Nebraska at UCLA (Saturday 7:30 PM)

• Taylor Martinez lit it up against Southern Miss. You might say well its Southern Miss. 354 yards passing and 5 TDs is stout whatever you're measuring against.
• Coach Pellini has Nebraska charting towards the top in almost every statistical category and I expect them to keep it up with solid play again on Saturday and lace up UCLA
• Nebraska has a solid ground game that balances everything out with Ameer Abdullah and Rex Burkhead in the backfield
• Look for Nebraska to win by 10

Georgia at Missouri (Saturday 7:45 PM)

• This weekend's marquee game of the day as Missouri is formally introduced with an in-conference matchup against Georgia.
• This is the 5 star take the phone off the hook game of the day
• Expect a lot of UGA fans to be in attendance (with the Falcons in KC on Sunday, many are making a big football weekend out of it)
• Missouri will be pumped and Franklin is an amazing dual threat QB
• Missouri also has a stud freshman in Dorial Green-Beckham, but don't get caught looking because WR Jimmie Hunt can get it done too
• If UGA's defense is up to the task they should handle business and come home with a W
• Aaron Murray is veteran at this point, Todd Gurley made a big Freshman splash last weekend
• UGA will have to play sound defense where they keep their lanes to mitigate Franklin's running out of the pocket
• Latest from the program is Alec Ogletree, Bacarri Rambo, Chase Vasser, & Sanders Commings will not play in Saturday night's game (all starters)
• All that aside, I like GA by 10+ in this one

CAN'T MISS IT 2011:BOISE STATE vs GEORGIA

Finally, it is August, and that means September is on the horizon. College Football is finally right around the corner.

With the season just weeks away, it is time to preview the upcoming great games of the season, and we will showcase those in the Can't Miss Games of 2011 series. We'll start, of course, in the SEC. The conference is at an all time high right now, and they have won an astounding 5 National Championships in a row.

Two games set if off right out of the gate this year. The Boise State/Georgia game and the Oregon/LSU game.  Technically, both games are at neutral sites, but both are regionally close strong SEC fan bases. Coverage of the Atlanta game is below, and we'll showcase the Arlington game later this week. We will continue to showcase the best games of the year in our CAN'T MISS IT 2011 series.

Boise State vs Georgia
8:00 PM - September 3rd
ESPN/ESPN3.com

Boise State travels back to the state of Georgia to square off in The Dome against Georgia. Boise returns 7 starters on Offense and 7 starters on Defense. The last time they met Jared Zabransky threw 4 picks, and Georgia, led by DJ Shockley, had their way with an outmatched Boise State team. The Boise State team of 2011 is very different from the 2005 squad. This team is led by All-American Kellen Moore (QB) and is chock full of seniors and talented players. Moore is acclimated to big stage games and he's super-efficient. He is set this year to pass Colt McCoy as the All-Time winningest QB in NCAA history. Don't look for a 4 pick interception night from him. Doug Martin (RB), Tyler Shoemaker (WR), and Kyle Efaw (TE) will be the primary threats for Moore, and they should get the ball early with solid protection from a veteran Offensive Line led by Thomas Byrd, 1st Team WAC Center, and Nate Potter, left tackle.


The Bronco defense is stout. They showcase 9 seniors, and it is important to note that Boise State's 2010 squad was #2 in the country in total D. Some names remain familiar with Billy Winn (1st Team WAC, DT), J.C. Percy (team leading tackler, LB), George Iloka (1st Team WAC, FS), and Shea McClellin (1st Team WAC, DE). The weak point looks to be portions of the secondary.

Head Coach, Chris Peterson, is in his 6th year at Boise State, and he knows the drill. His leadership and motivational skills are right up there with the best of the business as his tightly focused unit has the win/loss record to back it up. Boise State has put up a combined 61 wins over the last 5 years. Key losses for Boise State include: Titus Young, Boise's All-Time leader in receiving yards and Austin Pettis, Boise's All-Time leader in receptions.

Atlanta is considered the crossroad of The South, and this year is no different as Mark Richt, who has been under some fire, brings in a struggling but re-energized UGA program coming off a losing season last year (6-7). Not known for his especially fiery disposition or ultra-intensity, Mark Richt has quietly guided a UGA program, without any major NCAA violations or sanctions in a time when it seems like football programs are being picked off like target practice. Just ask (Southern Cal, Ohio State, and North Carolina). All eyes will be on him though regardless of the young men’s lives he has helped positively shape over the past 11 years in Athens.

Fact of the matter is, when Dawg fans want a return to the earlier days in Mark Richt's career in Athens and the defensive power houses that Brian Van Gorder pumped out, they need to take a closer look at the point of attack, the defensive line. Georgia lost its way post Van Gorder at locking in the best and brightest in the Defensive Tackle and Defensive Lineman spots. They lost their way in cultivating talent and ensuring they were prepared from a weight room perspective. There is a lot of the positive energy radiating out of Athens these days at the noticeable refocusing of attention on these key spots. With Defensive Coordinator Todd Grantham at the helm of the 3-4, a desire to land some beef up front has returned to the front burner. Jonathan Jenkins, one of the top nose tackles in the country in the JUCO ranks was signed this year, and he looks to back up a surging Kwame Geathers and vie for a starting role. Flanking at the DLine positions will be DeAngelo Tyso and Abry Jones. If Georgia fans want to know where the beef is, then start here. It is back. The average weight off the aforementioned: 328 lbs. Georgia's defense made great strides last year righting the ship from Willie Martinez, but Coach Grantham knows they have to get even stingier, especially better on 3rd down. Look for Georgia’s Defense to continue to improve in every category as players shuffle around: Hard hitting Alec Ogletree is up from Safety and now at Line Backer, and Jarvis Jones looks to start after transferring from Southern Cal. Georgia's secondary Led by Brandon Boykin (CB), Bacarri Rambo (SS), Branden Smith (CB) and Sanders Commings (FS), the secondary hopes to be the strong suit that is shooting to move from middle of the SEC pack.

Aaron Murray brings a cool confidence back at the QB position, and an amazing arm. However, many are curious who he will be throwing it to on 3rd downs this year, as AJ Green is now a Cincinnati Bengal. Look for WR by committee this year, until a true WR steps up. Orson Charles (TE) has been outstanding while at UGA, and many are looking to Tavarres King to emerge as the go to wide out. Tailback is a bit of question mark, as Georgia more or less cleaned house with Caleb King and Washaun Ealey out of the picture. Georgia fans are a bit relieved and anxious on the matter. Just pull up their total yards and fumbles inside the red zone and move on. They were not an outstanding unit. We'll just have to wait and see on the running back situation moving forward. Richard Samuel is back at RB after a flirting with Line Backer last year. Isaiah Crowell is a highly touted freshman that many are resting their hopes. This could be the year Georgia fans see a return to a tougher hard nosed era, as strength and conditioning has received a much needed boost and a couple players look to contribute on both sides of the ball this year.


Bottom Line:
Mark Richt finds himself at the proverbial cross roads of his career. He is on shaky ground. Chris Peterson is shooting up the win column like like a rocket. Georgia has an extremely tough match up against Boise State. Boise will come in ranked in the Top 10, and they will be ready. The Dawgs will have to show up with a running game that is currently in question, and a passing attack, excluding Aaron Murray and Orson Charles, that is looking to create some household names. Georgia will have to focus with a strong point of attack with the hope of disrupting Kellen Moore, something which does not happen very often to him. Moreover, Georgia will have to play loose and fast and most importantly avoid the penalty to bug which has plagued their often sloppy play. Boise State is one of the most disciplined teams in the country, and it shows as they tend to win the close ones. This looks to be a barn burner, and a great way to start the season off.

Update (August 10th):
Word was released yesterday that Linebacker Jarvis Jones has been cleared to play, and this is big time news for the UGA defense. He was under review and investigation for possible improper benefits. He will not miss a game this year as a result. I want to underscore this, as it is apparent to me that UGA's Football Operations are running a much tighter ship than the previous Damon Evans administration. Greg McGarity and company are dailed in, and the program seems to be breathing fresh air. Jarvis Jones will be a starting spot from the opening kick and looks to have an immediate positive impace in Georgia's 3-4 defense.

Update (August 11th):
Boise State's Athletic Director, Gene Bleymaier, was fired by University President Bob Kustra yesterday. The University is facing numerous secondary violations which occurred during Bleymaier's watch. The secondary violations span Football, Track and Field, and Tennis. Boise has already begun its search for a new AD.

Update (August 18th):
Jakar Hamilton, Safety for UGA,  will miss the Boise State game or more than likely the entire 2011 season. The stress fracture is near his ankle. He played in all 13 games last year, and he started in 5. He does have the potential redshirt, which looks to be The Dawgs best option.
 
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DEEP SOUTH'S OLDEST RIVALRY HAS EPIC RAMIFICATIONS FOR BOTH PROGRAMS

As another installment of The Deep South's Old Rivalry approaches, one really has to wonder with everything at stake how this one is going to shake out. Auburn has National Title Aspirations and Georgia has been teetering on the Head Coach Hot Seat for some time now. Even though both programs are on different courses this year, the stakes appear to have never been higher.
 
Georgia has won four in a row in the series:

• 2009: AU 24 at UGA 31
• 2008: UGA 17 at AU 13
• 2007: AU 20 at UGA 45
• 2006: UGA 37 at AU 15

But this year's Auburn team has something the previous team's did not - an amazing talent at QB. So the history lesson is short lived and almost useless. Credit Gene Chizik for making an amazing turn around for an Auburn program that was 8-5 a year ago and 5-7 in 2008. Indeed, things have changed on The Plains.

With an excruciating (but close) loss to Florida this year, and a slew of other close but forgettable losses, The Georgia Bulldog fan base has to wonder: If Georgia can pull out a win against the #1 team in the country (which has eluded Mark Richt since he tenure in Athens), would the head coach be off the proverbial hot seat.

It is a very tough call.

This Georgia team has struggled mightily with an inspired concise offensive showing. They have moments, but they have not looked amazing and dominant in some time, especially in the big games where the lights shine the brightest. No offense to the amazing kicking game that Georgia has, but this teams settles for more field goals than anyone in the country.

Much of the criticism has fallen on Coach Mike Bobo, who has produced eerily similar game plans for the majority of his match ups. Under Coach Bobo's reign the offense has been lacking in inspirational play calls and imaginative offensive game plans. I can not recall the last fake punt or fake field goal I have seen from this unit. Dawg Nation has demanded more ingenuity that brings Georgia's bevvy of talented young men, especially the ones who look to turn pro this coming spring, to the forefront of every game.

Don't get me wrong here, I'm not stating that Georgia should rely on fake punts to win every game, but Georgia's offense has been lacking a bit on what I call the "A" game. Clock management aside, LSU has the "it" factor when it comes down to calling amazing plays that win games. Coach Bobo does not.

One would almost think it as simple as throw it to AJ Green. Keep it simple, don't over think it, but AJ has been in my eyes SEVERELY under utilized this season.

Of course Cam Newton will be the focus for Todd Grantham this week, and Grantham's squad will have to do something they have not done. Not give up a single big play due to busted coverage. Georgia's Defense, which is notably better than last year, will have to keep Auburn in front of them all day. Things look promising as Alec Ogletree (Newnan, GA) looks to be getting the start at Safety. He's a stud with a nose for the game, and its a shame Georgia could not have figured this out sooner.

In addition, Todd Grantham has 2 weeks to prepare and throw in a couple new looks on defense. News from Athens indicates that Mark Richt is opting not to spy Cam Newton this weekend. So my money is that Georgia will have a spy or some type of spy in place to counteract Cam's ability to run free. The news came out very early in the week, and it would not make any sense for UGA to tip their hand so early--unless they are bluffing.

Justin Houston is one of the fastest game-speed Dawgs in the arsenal, and I expect the Dawgs to use him to the fullest extent this coming Saturday in a number of creative looks and blitz packages.

Granted Auburn is a smoking hot team this season, and all signs point to them being in the national championship game, but they still have two games to go. They host Georgia (3:30 CBS), have an off week, and then they head to Tuscaloosa for their annual Iron Bowl match up to close out the regular season. But to say that Auburn is not without a flaw or two would be remiss. While I've been a huge fan of Auburn's defense, especially the front seven led by #90 Nick Fairley, the pass defense has been a bit lacking.

Ryan Mallett exposed some of the chinks in the armor October 16th, but he could not finish the game (reference Auburn's front seven). Heck, the backup came in and did a fine job for Arkansas that day. My point is, Georgia has a shot with Aaron Murray's arm and AJ Green. The question is will Coach Bobo use these weapons to the fullest extent? Will he accentuate this team's strengths?

In a season that quickly started out with high aspirations for Georgia then quickly nose dived, The Bulldogs could really use a signature win.  In a season where so many close games, could have gone the other way, the Dawgs could use a Big Time "W" in resounding fashion.

If Georgia can have a couple things go right, like recovering a fumble or two (reference the Florida game where they missed 2 fumbles that could have really turned the tide of the game), then this could be an extremely interesting match up.

One other thing is for certain as well, Georgia will have to focus on fundamental gang tackling, like never before. Going in for the highlight tackle in this game will not work against The Tigers. Auburn is just too good this season for that sort of tom foolery. Gang tackles must be stressed and arm tackling must be eliminated.

It is obvious but it needs to stated, Mark Richt would do his stock on staying in Athens a ton of help this Saturday by throwing a wrench in Auburn's season. He has never beaten a #1, but he did come into the season 20-4 against BCS teams.

Keep in mind, this is Aaron Murray's first visit to The Plains, and one has to wonder if he can keep the jitters at bay. He looked rattled and never felt at ease in his first trip to Jacksonville. But if he can get off to a good start, and take the crowd out of it, there is a chance.

This one currently sits at 9 (opened at 8.5), and I think they are on target. Maybe this Georgia team gets blown out, maybe they keep it close and respectable, and maybe they find a way to play out-of-their-mind-fundamentally-sound-up-to-expectations and find a win on the road.

Either way it has all the makings for a classic!

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SO CLOSE YOU CAN ALMOST TASTE IT - PART III

With our first full Saturday of College Football Games rapidly approaching, we are going to break these down by time slot, as there are a lot of games on the slate. Up first, the Noon to 3:30 Games.