I watched several of the college football games that were televised throughout the day on Saturday. There were some good games, some blowouts, some close calls, and another upset for East Carolina.

I didn’t get to watch much of the late games because I had to go to work, but here are some things I observed about certain players and teams from the games I was able to see:

  • East Carolina is no joke. They are a physical squad that wasn’t afraid of West Virginia or their high powered offense. Just like last week against Virginia Tech, they were tougher than their BCS conference foe.
  • ECU could very well be the BCS bowl buster because there is not a game on their schedule they won’t be favored. They have games against two ACC losers: North Carolina State and Virginia; Central Florida; and potentially a matchup with Tulsa in the Conference USA championship game - all winnable games (especially if they play like they have these first two weeks).
  • West Virginia didn’t want to tackle anyone. Several missed tackles. They also got dominated at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.
  • It’s not often that you see a quarterback returning kicks, but Georgia’s third string QB Logan Gray also returns punts occasionally.
  • Matthew Stafford (UGA) looks like he has finally turned the corner in my mind. He has shown the maturity not try to force throws into tight windows just because he has a strong arm. He moved from the pocket to keep some plays alive even threw the ball away when he had nothing.
  • Demarcus Dobbs (UGA) got to live a lineman’s dream Saturday. The 282-pounder intercepted a deflected pass and returned it 78 yards for a touchdown.
  • I’ve always liked Knowshon Moreno (UGA). His name and the way he springs up after being tackled made him likable, but I didn’t think he was necessarily as good as he has been hyped this preseason. However, I have acquiesced and now agree after watching the way he cuts on a dime and almost NEVER goes down on first contact.
  • After both throwing and rushing for more yards than Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow last season, I figured Dan LeFevour (C. Michigan) would at least be a poor man’s Tim Tebow. However, against Georgia, LeFevour showed a tentativeness to run with the ball, which was strange to me because mobile quarterbacks usually always want to run. Needless to say, LeFevour didn’t live up to being a poor man’s Tim Tebow.
  • I understand that Georgia Tech is now a triple option team under coach Paul Johnson and you need a running quarterback, but starting quarterback Josh Nesbitt provides no passing threat at all.
  • Matt Ryan’s replacement at Boston College, Chris Crane has potential and looked good against Georgia Tech (and their strong pass rush) prior to falling awkwardly in the 3rd quarter. He remained in the game but looked tentative to put all of his weight down on his left leg.
  • Todd Boeckman (OSU) was inconsistent. He made some really good throws showing a little bit of zip but also looked like he was playing not to lose rather than to win. Maybe that’s all Tressel wants out of Boeckman, especially when Beanie Wells is in the lineup.
  • The officials seemed to miss multiple calls in the Ohio State/Ohio game. Maybe the refs thought an upset right before the big game in the Coliseum wouldn’t have been so great for college football? The big one being the non-call on Ray Small’s punt return TD of the obvious block in the back that was even pointed out on the ESPN broadcast
  • Is Colt McCoy that good? Or has Jevan Snead (Ole Miss) improved that much since McCoy beat him out for the starting QB job in Texas their freshman year? Because Snead was quite impressive despite losing 30-28 to Wake Forest. He was mobile, elusive, and accurate with his passes.
  • Central Florida should have a no close up clause in the televising of their games because their uniforms are hideous when you actually look at them up close.
  • USC’s win last week lost some of its luster when through 3 1/2 quarters, Virginia only led the Spiders of Richmond 3-0. They would score two late touchdowns to win 16-0, but it is obvious they are not of the caliber they were last year when they had Chris Long.
  • Another referee complaint: The referees need to let the kids play and realize that the football field is not the sanctuary…emotions and celebrations are a part of the game. They cost Washington the game when they threw a flag for excessive celebration after Huskies’ QB Jake Locker scored what would have been the game-tying touchdown with under 10 seconds remaining. Locker tossed the football into the air and began celebrating with his teammates in the end zone. BYU then blocked the extra point attempt that was pushed back 15 yards due to the penalty.
  • Syracuse may currently be the worst team and program in a BCS conference. No way
  • Steven Threet (Michigan) has awful accuracy. He missed open wide receivers several times, usually overthrowing them. Miami of Ohio’s Daniel Raudabaugh was a much better QB. Unfortunately for him and the RedHawks’ hopes of defeating Michigan, he left the game in the second half with a concussion.
  • Oregon State is no where close to as good as I thought they would and should be.
  • Penn State is better than I thought preseason. They completely dominated their Pac-10 foe.

Shotgun Spratling

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