The Off Week

One of the themes I repeatedly hit on is the importance of fans keeping their perspective.

*For instance, for all of LSU’s struggles on offense, at least they did not go on the road to a 1-5 team and score a grand total of 18 points. Terrelle Pryor, for all the hype, finished 17 of 31 with two INT’s versus the 76th ranked defense in the nation. OSU is ranked 108th in the nation in passing offense. Pryor was the consensus #1 player in the country coming out in 2008.

*Some of these “dual-threat QB’s” may be viewed as fool’s gold. OSU and LSU have interesting parallels in this respect. I am sure during the recruiting of these two, coaches were looking at their athletic ability and drooling. But are they good fits for these programs? Tressel and Miles are Big Ten guys who believe in good defense, pounding the run and mixing in the pass. Look at Miles first four seasons, Russell, Flynn and Lee lined up under center for the Tigers, traditional pocket passers that could throw downfield and hand the ball off. Tressel has had Craig Krenzel, Troy Smith and Todd Boeckman before Pryor. In 2002, Krenzel ranked 14th in the nation in passing efficiency as he led OSU to a national title. In 2006, Troy Smith won the Heisman trophy finishing the season ranked 7th in passing efficiency. Boeckman led OSU to the 2007 National Championship game.

*You cannot underestimate the importance of talented coordinators. Look at Florida, the Gators lose offensive coordinator Dan Mullen and we see a regression in the offense. I know UF lost Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy, but you have TIM TEBOW at QB.

*USC’s TE Anthony McCoy is a freak. He’s 6-5, 250 lbs. and can RUN. He had 5 catches for 153 yards versus ND.

*The Hogs went toe to toe with Florida but thanks to the officials and wasted opportunities by Arkansas we will have to wait at least another week to see that come to pass. Florida has no receivers to speak of.

*Iowa is 7-0 but travel to Michigan State this weekend. Since 2002, the teams have played five times, the home team winning all five.

*The angst expressed upon Nick Saban’s hiring at Alabama was well founded. Not for the silly reason of betrayal or hurt feelings, but because he would elevate the Crimson Tide to the juggernaut you now see. Using MIKE SHULA’S players (seems that Saban is getting a TOTAL pass on this) Saban has led Bama to a 26-8 record thus far and a 19 game regular season winning streak. Alabama’s defense is as nasty as the 2003 LSU crew. BUT…and this is a bigger BUT(T) than Terrence “Mount” Cody’s, if Bama does NOT win the SEC Title this season, Bama fans will have nothing of importance to show for Saban’s first three seasons.

*BCS Standings are out and LSU is ranked 9th. In my mind, LSU can still play for the National Championship. Foolish you say?! I would probably have to agree. But if LSU can get past Auburn, the Tigers will head to Tuscaloosa in November with a 7-1 record and its fate squarely in its hands.