With one week in the books, let’s take a look back at some of the notable moments from this monster holiday weekend.
Thursday Night started off with a bang:
Wisconsin racked up almost 500 yards, and ushered in the 2011 season in style. Russell Wilson at QB proved to be just what the doctored ordered. He went 10 for 13, 255 yards, with 2 TD and no picks. Wilson rushed for 64 yards and a TD. The ground game is right where it should be with White and Ball in the backfield. Behind one of the best Offensive lines in the country, they combined for 21 rushes, 127 yards and 5 TDs. Wisconsin 51 - UNLV 17.
Syracuse under Doug Marrone has heart, and they did not give up in The Carrier Dome against Wake Forest. The Deacs led almost the entire game, led behind upstart Tanner Price. The QB for Wake Forest had a monster game in the losing effort and had he stayed healthy, I’m certain this game would not have gone to OT. But Tanner did go down early in the 4th Quarter (at the time the Deacons were up 29-14). But The Orangemen came back and rallied. Star performances from QB Ryan Nassib who went 20 for 28, 178 yards and 3 TDs. The balanced attack was carried out by Antwon Bailey (RB) who carried the ball 25 times for 114 yards and 2 TDs. The nail in the coffin came in overtime as Nassib threw a 4 yard TD pass to Van Chew for the go ahead score. The Syracuse D held out on the following possession and they escaped with a dramatic W. Syracuse 36 - Wake Forest 29 (OT).
Mississippi State was playing Memphis on Thursday night and The Bulldog offensive consistency and output is a thing of beauty. Mississippi State scored 14 or more points in every quarter. QB Relf was 13 of 21 for 202 yards and 2 TDs, but the star of the night was none other than Vick Ballard. He rushed 10 times for 166 yards and 3 TDs! Mississippi State 59 - Memphis 14.
Friday Night was Robert Griffin III Night:
The TCU - Baylor game was supposed to a good one, and boy did it live up to the hype. TCU’s defense gave up an astounding 564 yards to Baylor. Better stated: Baylor took those 564 yards from TCU, which is no small feat against a Gary Patterson led defense. TCU lost a lot, but no one predicted Robert Griffin’s absolute marvelous performance. RGIII went 12 for 27, 359 yards in the air, 5 TDs and 38 yards on the ground. With Terrance Ganaway at RB, the Bears have a very nice balanced attack. Ganaway had 24 carries for 120 yards and 1 TD. If this Baylor team can stay healthy…watch out. Baylor 50 - TCU 48.
Saturday was a wild one:
The majority of the noon games on Saturday went according to plan.
Iowa beat up on Tennessee Tech winning 34-7. James Vanderberg had a solid, productive day. Throwing for 2 TDs and 219 yards, Vanderberg was also aided by his defense which snagged a pair of interceptions. Iowa 34 - Tenn. Tech 7.
Ohio State pounded Akron. Joe Bauserman threw for 163 yards, 3 TD passes to Tight End Jake Stoneburner. Rod Smith and Carlos Hyde combined for 167 yards and a TD on the ground. Ohio State 42 - Akron 0.
Penn State started the season off in style as the opening kickoff was returned 95 yards by Chaz Powell for an early 7-0 lead. The Nittany Lions never looked back as JoePa and company cruised to victory behind a conservative running attack. Penn State rushed for 245 yards on the ground, racked up 21 first downs and had 0 turnovers. Penn State 41 - Indiana State 7.
The Auburn – Utah State game was crazy to say the least. Auburn barely got out of dodge on this one, but credit is due to the Auburn coaching staff. Those guys never say die and it shows. They pulled another one out of the hat in an inspired late game comeback that was highlighted most notably by a creative onsite kick that was literally snagged in the air by super clutch, Emory Blake. Blake also led Auburn receivers with 95 yards on 3 receptions and 1 TD. Dyer punched in a TD late for The Tigers to escape their season opener. They might have a bumpy post national championship season this year, but they were celebrating on The Plains today. Auburn 42 - Utah State 38.
Alabama took care of business at home by beating Kent State 48-7. Much to Coach Saban’s chagrin, The Tide had 5 turnovers on Saturday. AJ McCarron (starter) and Phillip Sims combined for 4 interceptions, and DeAndrew White fumbled. That will get worked on this week in practice I can assure you. Trent Richardson punched in 3 TDs and Marquis Maze snagged a TD as well.
Minnesota – Southern Cal was a highlight reel, record setting day for Robert Woods. Woods caught 17 for 177 yards and 3 TDs and sets a USC single game record. The Gophers showed some serious heart and would not go away. If QB Marqueis Gray does not go down with leg cramps late in the game, ushering in backup QB Max Shortell who threw a pick, then maybe we have a different outcome. Either way the Trojans performed when it mattered most converting a late drive into a TD to seal the deal. USC 19 - Minnesota 17.
The South Florida – Notre Dame game outside of the weather delays was a thriller. The Bulls came in and took advantage of a sloppy play on Notre Dame’s part. Coach Brian Kelly almost had an aneurysm, but hey I think it is great to have a coach with passion. He expects his players to do likewise. Look for Notre Dame to tighten up and right the ship. South Florida 23 - Notre Dame 20.
Now independent BYU travelled to Oxford to hand Ole Miss its first loss of the season. Ole Miss was up 13-0 coming down the stretch, but BYU put up 2 TDs to come back and win it. BYU had a total yards advantage on the day that was hard to miss 316 compared to Ole Miss’ 208. Turnovers were the Rebels undoing. BYU 14 - Ole Miss 13.
East Carolina – South Carolina started out a little shaky for The Gamecocks with Conner Shaw, but as soon as Garcia came in, the planets aligned. I was not surprised that Shaw started. After Garcia’s offseason antics, it was a more of punishment from up top than anything. This one was closer than many would have liked though. Pretty even total yards comparison: 345 (East Carolina) – 351 (South Carolina). Gamecocks will have to keep the turnovers to a minimum with UGA on the schedule next. Garcia threw for 110 yards and a TD. Lattimore had 23 carries, 112 yards, and 3 TDs. He also had 3 receptions for 33 yards. Alshon Jeffery had 5 catches for 92 yards. USC 56 - ECU 37.
Boise State – Georgia was a showcase for how far Boise has come and just how far UGA has slipped. Gone is the memory of the whooping that Georgia put up on Boise years ago. The Broncos marched in with one of the elite quarterbacks in the country, found wide open receivers. They played great defense, and Georgia looked confused and mediocre (again). Brandon Boykin (CB) was the leading rusher, and anytime your star cornerback is your leading rusher…there is trouble ahead. Star linebacker Alec Ogletree went down with a broken foot and it was over at that point. Score should have been worse. By my count it was 42-14, but Boise showed mercy and it was 35-21. For a Georgia team trying to find its way, they should start by looking up the term "Iron Man Football" and take it from there. Boykin, Smith, and Samuel should all be playing both ways from here on out. Moore was 28 of 34, for 261 yards, and 3 TDs, is now 39-2 over his last 41 games.
Oregon – LSU had all the makings and the off field drama for a heavy weight title bout, but in the end it was just another showing that Oregon is still not ready to hang with the SEC’s elite. LSU roughed up The Ducks and ended up with a slew yards on the ground. LSU behind Spencer Ware and Michael Ford rushed for a combined 195 yards and 3 TDs. On the other side of the ball Oregon’s touted ground game had just 95 yards on the ground going against one of the best defenses in the country. Oregon was outmatched: 4 turnovers and just 27 points illustrates. LSU now has 34 straight nonconference game wins (best in the nation). LSU 40 - Oregon 27.
Monday night capped off a great weekend:
Miami – Maryland was headlined by new coaches, new uniforms for Maryland, and a thrilling cap to the Labor Day weekend action. Maryland, behind the stellar performance of QB Danny O’Brien prevailed 32-24. O’Brien passed for 348 yards, and a TD. Maryland put almost 500 yards of total offense, and definitely enjoyed have Davin Meggett in the backfield. He carried the ball 21 times and accounted for 92 yards. Coach Randy Edsall has to like his team’s resolve. Exhibiting some red zone issues and some turnovers in the rain, The Terps hung in there and pulled out a victory. Maybe it was the new Under Armor uniforms, maybe it was the absence of a slew of Miami players, maybe it was life after The Fridge, or maybe this Maryland team finally realizes its future atop the ACC with FSU. Maryland 32 - Miami 24.
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Thursday, September 8, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
VOTE: WHICH SEC WEEK 1 MATCHUP ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO?
With College Football just days away, vote now for you favorite Week 1 SEC matchup.
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Saturday, August 6, 2011
CAN'T MISS IT 2011: OREGON vs LSU
Recent news of Coach Steve Kragthorpe being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, has me writing this article with an air of sadness. Coach Kragthorpe (46) has been a stalwart of the college football community. Our thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family. He is going to stay involved in the day to day operations and guide the offense where he can, but Greg Studrawa, stepping up from his offensive line coaching duties, promises to lead a balanced attack.
News came out this week concerning the USA Today Coaches Poll. LSU is #4 and Oregon is #3, so you could not have asked for a better Saturday night match up in Arlington, Texas. In our second installment in the Can't Miss It 2011 Series, we cover the upcoming game between the Oregon Ducks and the LSU Tigers.
Oregon vs LSU
8:00 PM - September 3rd
ABC
Coach Les Miles is one of the best Coaches in the country. Often misunderstood and second guessed, he finds himself in the toughest division in the toughest conference in the country, The SEC West. Last year's squad went 11-2, and convincingly beat Texas A&M in The Cotton Bowl (41-24). They return 8 offensive and 7 defensive starters.
LSU has been known over the years for a menacing disruptive defense, and this year looks to be more of the same. D Coordinator, John Chavis, who is an SEC veteran, knows what it takes to get the 3 and out. There were some key losses to the NFL draft this year, including 2 All-Americans in CB Patrick Peterson (Arizona Cardinals) and DT Drake Nevis (Indianapolis Colts). Losses on the defense include big time contibutors including Lazarius Levingston (DL) and All-SEC Kelvin Sheppard (LB), so some impact will be felt there. LSU is loaded with players, and they will step up.
On the Defensive short list of players to keep a close eye on this year and this game in particular include a pair of great cornerbacks in Morris Clairborne and Tyrann Mathieu. They lead a very talented LSU secondary. The defensive line is headed up by Sam Montgomery, and the line backing crew looks solid with Ryan Baker and Stefoin Francois. Last year's defense ranked second overall just behind Alabama, and this year should stay near the top of the pack again.
The Offense is a bit of a different story. Last year they were near the bottom of the SEC in almost every category, and a lot of attention has been paid by Coach Kragthorpe and company in tweaking for improved numbers. It all starts up front with the O Line, and LSU loses just one on the front lines in Joseph Barksdale (Oakland Raiders). Holding down the O Line will be P.J. Lonergan (Center), some combination of Will Blackwell, Josh Dworacyzk, and T-Bob Hebert at Guard, and Alex Hurst (Tackle), and Chris Faulk at Left Tackle. They should give Senior QB, Jordan Jefferson, some time to distribute the ball. His efficiency has to go up this year and his interceptions have to come down for LSU to navigate a very tough schedule.
A pair of solid receivers in Rueben Randle and Russell Shepard, and a very solid Tight End in Deangelo Peterson will be stretching the defense as LSU's downfield passing game looks to be improved. The ground game will be led by Spencer Ware, who has a shifty bruising style made for goal line and 3rd and short conversions. Ware was showcased in The Cotton Bowl as a sign of things to come were he produced 102 yards on 10 carries. Look for a team as good as last year's squad on both sides of the ball.
Oregon's Head Coach, Chip Kelly as well as Les Miles, have been dealing with Willie Lyles talk during this off season, and I'm sure they are both ready to get through camp and onto the season. Coach Kelly is entering his 3rd season at Oregon and he's lost just 4 games in the stretch. Oregon has secured 2 PAC-10 titles in his 2 years, and they now find themselves in the PAC-12 North (which also includes, Oregon State, Stanford, Washington, Washington State, and California). So aside from Stanford, the North is there for the taking.
The NFL draft did not pluck Oregon completely dry, but they will feel the loss of 1st Team PAC-10 Linebacker Casey Matthews (Philadelphia Eagles), and a pair from the D Line in Rowe and Bair. The Defense last year was at or near the top of every conference statistic, with D Coordinator, Nick Aliotti, at the helm. This year should be a bit different as Oregon returns only 5 on Defense. Stopping the run, which looks to be their weakness, will have to be a focus in this game against LSU.
The Linebackers will be a step down from last year's squad. Take note the team's returning tackle leader is Strong Safety, Boyett. Look for sack production to continue from one of Oregon's best threats, Senior, Josh Kadu (LB). Big things are also expected from Michael Clay (LB).
The secondary will be led by All-American, Cliff Harris, but not for this game. He was driving a University employee's car earlier this year at 100+ speeds, and he has been suspended from the team. He will miss the LSU game. Harris will be missed, he is a great defensive back and is also proficient at returning kicks. He is always a menacing threat. The rest of the Oregon Secondary is highlighted by John Boyett (SS) and Eddie Pleasant (FS).
Oregon has been known recently for their high powered offense, and with All-American, LaMichael James at RB, Darron Thomas at QB, and Kenjon Barner it is no wonder. These three combined for a formidable force racking up almost 3000 yards and 32 touchdowns. Look for another boost in the backfield as the very anticipated Lache Seastrunk (RB) gets on the scene. The receivers have benefited from opposing teams stacking the box, and look for Lavasier Tuinei (WR) and David Paulson (TE) to take the lead as the Ducks rebound from the loss of their top 2 receivers in Jeff Maehl and D.J. Davis, who combined for 119 receptions, 1546 yards, and 15 touchdowns last year. This could be another sore spot, especially on 3rd and long as Darron Thomas needs to finds a sure handed go to receiver to step up.
Bottom Line:
This looks to be every bit of a great one with a cranked up runing game threat from Oregon lining up against LSU's proven run stoppers. LSU is geared to stop the run, and don't think for a second that they have not watched the championship game over and over, training up on Oregon's tendencies. Look for Chip Kelly to throw in a couple new wrinkles to consistently get past LSU's defense. There are 2 key match ups in this one. (1) LSU's run D against Oregon's Ground Game that at times last year was unstoppable. The relentless and creative Oregon play calling, makes it extremely difficult for opposing defenses to hang in there for 4 solid quarters, but if anyone is up to the challenge, then look no further than John Chavis. (2) LSU's passing attack against Oregon's secondary, minus Cliff Harris. How will LSU's newly renovated downfield passing attack stack up? Will Jefferson come up and play an efficient game, or will he chuck up a couple picks, with one going all the way to the house? Look for the proximity of this one, being so close to Louisiana showcasing a revved up LSU squad.
Update August 22nd:
Oregon Running Back Lache Seastrunk has been unconditionally released from the team this past Sunday. He reportedly wants to be closer to his family back in Texas. Oregon's high powered running attack will be without its newest highly touted star who was working his way onto the depth chart. Nothing official yet. He will be transferring to Baylor.
Update August 27th:
In a recent flurry of unexpected and quite frankly out of left field events, LSU will be without 3 players for the season opener against Oregon: Jordan Jefferson (6-5, 224 lb, SR, starting QB), Russell Shepard (6-2, 118 lb, JR, starting WR), and linebacker Joshua Johns. Jefferson and Johns were involved in the now infamouse Tiger Beatdown, where the 2 have been recently charged with second degree battery (Bar Fight). Reportedly there were a number of LSU players involved. Russell Shepard on the other hand, will miss the opening game against Oregon for discussing an ongoing NCAA investigation with a teammate, before the teammate was scheduled to be interviewed on the matter by the NCAA. The line opened at 2, but has recently moved to 1. If you have not read it, I highly encourage you read the Police Report involving Jefferson and Johns.You really have to woner what was going on in Jordan Jefferson's head.
Update August 31st:
LSU will have to go against Oregon without their most experienced offensive lineman, Josh Dworaczyk. Josh is a 6-6, 300 lb. Senior. He is an anchor at left guard. With him out the offensive line looks to get shuffled around. Look for T-Bob Hebert to jump in. Hebert is one of the best reserves on the O Line.
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News came out this week concerning the USA Today Coaches Poll. LSU is #4 and Oregon is #3, so you could not have asked for a better Saturday night match up in Arlington, Texas. In our second installment in the Can't Miss It 2011 Series, we cover the upcoming game between the Oregon Ducks and the LSU Tigers.
Oregon vs LSU
8:00 PM - September 3rd
ABC
Coach Les Miles is one of the best Coaches in the country. Often misunderstood and second guessed, he finds himself in the toughest division in the toughest conference in the country, The SEC West. Last year's squad went 11-2, and convincingly beat Texas A&M in The Cotton Bowl (41-24). They return 8 offensive and 7 defensive starters.
LSU has been known over the years for a menacing disruptive defense, and this year looks to be more of the same. D Coordinator, John Chavis, who is an SEC veteran, knows what it takes to get the 3 and out. There were some key losses to the NFL draft this year, including 2 All-Americans in CB Patrick Peterson (Arizona Cardinals) and DT Drake Nevis (Indianapolis Colts). Losses on the defense include big time contibutors including Lazarius Levingston (DL) and All-SEC Kelvin Sheppard (LB), so some impact will be felt there. LSU is loaded with players, and they will step up.
On the Defensive short list of players to keep a close eye on this year and this game in particular include a pair of great cornerbacks in Morris Clairborne and Tyrann Mathieu. They lead a very talented LSU secondary. The defensive line is headed up by Sam Montgomery, and the line backing crew looks solid with Ryan Baker and Stefoin Francois. Last year's defense ranked second overall just behind Alabama, and this year should stay near the top of the pack again.
The Offense is a bit of a different story. Last year they were near the bottom of the SEC in almost every category, and a lot of attention has been paid by Coach Kragthorpe and company in tweaking for improved numbers. It all starts up front with the O Line, and LSU loses just one on the front lines in Joseph Barksdale (Oakland Raiders). Holding down the O Line will be P.J. Lonergan (Center), some combination of Will Blackwell, Josh Dworacyzk, and T-Bob Hebert at Guard, and Alex Hurst (Tackle), and Chris Faulk at Left Tackle. They should give Senior QB, Jordan Jefferson, some time to distribute the ball. His efficiency has to go up this year and his interceptions have to come down for LSU to navigate a very tough schedule.
A pair of solid receivers in Rueben Randle and Russell Shepard, and a very solid Tight End in Deangelo Peterson will be stretching the defense as LSU's downfield passing game looks to be improved. The ground game will be led by Spencer Ware, who has a shifty bruising style made for goal line and 3rd and short conversions. Ware was showcased in The Cotton Bowl as a sign of things to come were he produced 102 yards on 10 carries. Look for a team as good as last year's squad on both sides of the ball.
Oregon's Head Coach, Chip Kelly as well as Les Miles, have been dealing with Willie Lyles talk during this off season, and I'm sure they are both ready to get through camp and onto the season. Coach Kelly is entering his 3rd season at Oregon and he's lost just 4 games in the stretch. Oregon has secured 2 PAC-10 titles in his 2 years, and they now find themselves in the PAC-12 North (which also includes, Oregon State, Stanford, Washington, Washington State, and California). So aside from Stanford, the North is there for the taking.
The NFL draft did not pluck Oregon completely dry, but they will feel the loss of 1st Team PAC-10 Linebacker Casey Matthews (Philadelphia Eagles), and a pair from the D Line in Rowe and Bair. The Defense last year was at or near the top of every conference statistic, with D Coordinator, Nick Aliotti, at the helm. This year should be a bit different as Oregon returns only 5 on Defense. Stopping the run, which looks to be their weakness, will have to be a focus in this game against LSU.
The Linebackers will be a step down from last year's squad. Take note the team's returning tackle leader is Strong Safety, Boyett. Look for sack production to continue from one of Oregon's best threats, Senior, Josh Kadu (LB). Big things are also expected from Michael Clay (LB).
The secondary will be led by All-American, Cliff Harris, but not for this game. He was driving a University employee's car earlier this year at 100+ speeds, and he has been suspended from the team. He will miss the LSU game. Harris will be missed, he is a great defensive back and is also proficient at returning kicks. He is always a menacing threat. The rest of the Oregon Secondary is highlighted by John Boyett (SS) and Eddie Pleasant (FS).
Oregon has been known recently for their high powered offense, and with All-American, LaMichael James at RB, Darron Thomas at QB, and Kenjon Barner it is no wonder. These three combined for a formidable force racking up almost 3000 yards and 32 touchdowns. Look for another boost in the backfield as the very anticipated Lache Seastrunk (RB) gets on the scene. The receivers have benefited from opposing teams stacking the box, and look for Lavasier Tuinei (WR) and David Paulson (TE) to take the lead as the Ducks rebound from the loss of their top 2 receivers in Jeff Maehl and D.J. Davis, who combined for 119 receptions, 1546 yards, and 15 touchdowns last year. This could be another sore spot, especially on 3rd and long as Darron Thomas needs to finds a sure handed go to receiver to step up.
Bottom Line:
This looks to be every bit of a great one with a cranked up runing game threat from Oregon lining up against LSU's proven run stoppers. LSU is geared to stop the run, and don't think for a second that they have not watched the championship game over and over, training up on Oregon's tendencies. Look for Chip Kelly to throw in a couple new wrinkles to consistently get past LSU's defense. There are 2 key match ups in this one. (1) LSU's run D against Oregon's Ground Game that at times last year was unstoppable. The relentless and creative Oregon play calling, makes it extremely difficult for opposing defenses to hang in there for 4 solid quarters, but if anyone is up to the challenge, then look no further than John Chavis. (2) LSU's passing attack against Oregon's secondary, minus Cliff Harris. How will LSU's newly renovated downfield passing attack stack up? Will Jefferson come up and play an efficient game, or will he chuck up a couple picks, with one going all the way to the house? Look for the proximity of this one, being so close to Louisiana showcasing a revved up LSU squad.
Update August 22nd:
Oregon Running Back Lache Seastrunk has been unconditionally released from the team this past Sunday. He reportedly wants to be closer to his family back in Texas. Oregon's high powered running attack will be without its newest highly touted star who was working his way onto the depth chart. Nothing official yet. He will be transferring to Baylor.
Update August 27th:
In a recent flurry of unexpected and quite frankly out of left field events, LSU will be without 3 players for the season opener against Oregon: Jordan Jefferson (6-5, 224 lb, SR, starting QB), Russell Shepard (6-2, 118 lb, JR, starting WR), and linebacker Joshua Johns. Jefferson and Johns were involved in the now infamouse Tiger Beatdown, where the 2 have been recently charged with second degree battery (Bar Fight). Reportedly there were a number of LSU players involved. Russell Shepard on the other hand, will miss the opening game against Oregon for discussing an ongoing NCAA investigation with a teammate, before the teammate was scheduled to be interviewed on the matter by the NCAA. The line opened at 2, but has recently moved to 1. If you have not read it, I highly encourage you read the Police Report involving Jefferson and Johns.You really have to woner what was going on in Jordan Jefferson's head.
Update August 31st:
LSU will have to go against Oregon without their most experienced offensive lineman, Josh Dworaczyk. Josh is a 6-6, 300 lb. Senior. He is an anchor at left guard. With him out the offensive line looks to get shuffled around. Look for T-Bob Hebert to jump in. Hebert is one of the best reserves on the O Line.
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Tuesday, August 2, 2011
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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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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