College Football It truly was a great New Year's day of football. From Northwestern v. Auburn's insane over 1,000 yards and 8 turnover pickup game to PSU v. LSU's Mud Bowl wrestling contest to Bobby Bowden throwing a flaming spear to the Rose colored Mountains providing a backdrop to a budding college superstar to Tebow's record setting finale. Each had their own moment and each was enjoyable for unique reasons. I realize I'm beating a lonely drum at this point but I maintain that a playoffs would suck the meaning out of what truly is a wonderful and enjoyable day of football.
Mighty is a little embarrassed to admit he likes the BCS system While I'm loathe to read too much into bowl games I think a few things can be divined. While not to make over-sweeping generalizations I think its clear that the entire Pac 10 conference can't play a lick of defense. Oregon State was victimized for 44 by BYU, Cal gave up 37 to Utah, Arizona gave up 33 to the previously anemic Nebraska offense, and Oregon was smoked by Ohio State's low rated passing attack. Not to take anything away from the victor's by a common thread of Pac 10 whiffing on defense seems prevalent.
The corollary to the Pac 10 being worse than expectations is how much better the Big 10 defenses were . Wisconsin roughed up Miami's highly touted QB, Penn State shut down LSU for most of the day, and Ohio State held Oregon to 27 under its scoring average with Masoli at the helm. This was primarily a function of speed and strength on the D-Line. Look for a lot of Big 10 defensive ends to be drafted this year.
Big 10 defenses helped defeat the Nazi Whale.
NFL
I'm not sure what to make of Green Bay's and Dallas' blowout victories. Both of the victories were impressive but the irony/weirdness is that both teams play the same opponents next week. Back to back games playing the same team produces weird dynamics both in the initial game (how much was Arizona holding back?) and in the follow up game (what adjustments are going to be made). Should definitely back for interesting games next week.
In a lot of ways I hope all the sound and fury about Goodell's unhappiness over teams resting players will signify nothing. Why? Exhibit A is Wes Welker. Sorry at the end of the day as much as I enjoy watching football does anyone doubt that interest and excitement for the playoffs (you know the important thing in the NFL) will be lower with more injured players?
While the Browns have elevated their level of play from historic awful to merely regular awful the question going around is what to do about Mangini. My answer continues to be fire him - for two reasons. The first is that Mangini has shown an inability to work with others. Having the front office and coach on different pages is grounds for failure. Secondly, Mangini and his staff have failed to develope anything close to a passing attack. The NFL is a QB league and any team that is 20 points below Jamarcus Russel on QB ratings needs to change coaching staffs as its not only a deficit of talent. Yes it's unfair to not give a coach two years but it was Mangini unwillingness or inability to have anything close to a functioning front office opened the door.
NBA
While a lot of hype is given to OKC young players, a team that might be as good is Memphis. Don't look now but the Grizzlies are at .500 and 7-3 in their last 10. Spurned on by great young players (namely Gay, Mayo and Gasol) the Grizzlies will make the push for the final few Western playoff spots exciting.
Very Important
To pay attention to Marissa Miller's ass. For umm National Security reasons...
3 comments:
First, a happy new year to all!
Second, you're not alone in liking the current BCS system. Although I wouldn't classify myself as a never-nude like Tobias Funke (shown above), I would agree that we're the stigmatized few who actually think that the preservation of meaningful bowl games is a worthwhile cause. All this nonsense about keeping the names "Rose Bowl" etc. but making them part of a tiered playoff system is rubbish.
Third, I don't think we can glean any useful information about conference strength from bowl games. Just as no one should've written Oregon off after their opening night loss to Boise State -- teams evolve during the course of the season, after all -- so too can we say that the Big 10 progressed during the year. Terrelle Pryor went from a seriously flawed sophomore quarterback to an improving junior quarterback. One bowl game doesn't mean the world has changed vis-a-vis conference strength, it only means means that teams themselves have evolved and results previously thought to be assured are no longer the case. However, I'll buy that Pac-10 defenses are overrated, as I think we can look at the bowl game data and say that much.
Fourth, I wouldn't read too much into Arizona's loss to Green Bay. The Cardinals are inconsistent and fluky and they don't look like a good bet to repeat as NFC champs but they also didn't have a lot to play for yesterday. The Eagles, however, had a lot to play for (the #2 seed and homefield) so we can definitely add meaning to their thoroughly humbling defeat to the Cowbitches yesterday. I don't know if Dallas can beat Philly for a third time this year -- the odds are against it -- but the Eagles had a lot to play for and got destroyed.
Fifth, I have no idea what to say about Memphis. Somehow I see them fizzling down the stretch. It's too soon to look at what's happening in Memphis and think it's anything more than a little hot streak. At least from where I'm sitting.
I forgot to mention, Marisa Miller is one of my favorites. Her T's and her A are national treasures. Frankly, they should be on display at the Smithsonian...
1) Happy new year everyone!
2) I too am a fan of the BCS and the bowl system. To somehow believe that playoffs will make things better is short-sighted... the BCS makes the entire season must-see-TV b/c you really aren't allowed to screw up (though sometimes, 1-loss teams make it, but you know what i mean). If we have playoffs the regular season wouldn't be as special, and i like how college football is the opposite of the other sports in this regard.
3) for better or for worse, bowl results do matter for perceptions of the conferences. there's nothing else to use, so we're stuck with it.
4) I agree w/ MJ - cards loss didn't mean much (they didn't even try)... but eagles? they had to have been trying at least at first!
5) Memphis is very talented. I think they will hang around until April and battle OkCity and others for the final spot. just think if they had drafted a PG though instead of Thabeet... that's an amazing what if! Granted, their GM is dumb enough to screw everything up come April. If not him, the owner will do something dumb.
6) Marissa Miller is a goddess!
Post a Comment